Syed Mahdi Hasnain

Major General  S  M Hasnain, PVSM, was the raising CO of the 4th Battalion The Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army. He was commissioned in the British Indian Army in the 1st Royal Garhwal Rifles in 1943.

Early life and Education
He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) and LLB from the University of Lucknow. He opted to remain in the Indian Army over the Pakistan Army citing his Indian culture and heritage after the partition of British India in 1947.

Military career
He attended the British Imperial Defense College in 1965 on being nominated to the institution by the Indian Army. He has commanded the Indian Army's 20 Mountain Division and also the 19 Infantry Division.

Miscellaneous
His son Syed Ata Hasnain is a general officer in the Indian Army. His other son, Raza, was an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, who elected to retire early, and is presently working in the corporate sector.