M. Z. Kiani

Who is M. Z. Kiani?

Major-General Mohammad Zaman Kiani was an officer of the British Indian Army who joined the Indian National Army and went on to be appointed its Chief of General Staff.

A keen Hockey player in his youth, Kiani joined the British Indian Army in 1931 at the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, sitting for the entrance exam in preference over a trial for the Olympic Hockey trials at Calcutta.

He won Sword of Honour & Gold Medal for the most outstanding Cadet in 1935 from Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on the Special List 15 July 1935 and attached to the 2nd battalion, Highland Light Infantry as of 10 August 1935.

He joined the 1st Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment as a Second Lieutenant 24 January 1936, and was promoted Lieutenant 4 May 1936.

At the start of World War II, he was sent to the south-east Asian theatre and was stationed in the Malayan theatre during World War II when Singapore fell. He later joined the Indian National Army when it was formed in 1942 and was put in charge of the INA at the time of its revival in February 1943. After the proclamation of Azad Hind under Subhas Chandra Bose, Kiani was appointed the commander of the first division, and later went on to be appointed the Chief of General staff. which had been earlier held by Lt. Col J.K. Bhonsle. At the time of the fall of Rangoon, Kiani led the personnel of the Indian National Army and the Azad Hind Government who, along with Subhas Chandra Bose, marched overland to Bangkok.