Former Cabinet Secretariat official dead

NEW DELHI - Victor Longer, a retired official of the Cabinet Secretariat, who played a pioneering role in developing defence information in the country and supported communication efforts during the India-Pakistan War of 1971, died here on Saturday. He was 92.

Longer was the author of many books on the Indian defence forces, the most notable being the history of the Indian Army, entitled: “Red Coats to Olive Green”.

He joined government service during the Second World War in the counter-propaganda directorate, and later became the spokesman for the Indian Army and held the rank of a Colonel.

Longer was in charge of the press camp in Tezpur during the Sino-India War of 1962, and later became Director of Public Relations in the Ministry of Defence. He formulated procedures for the coverage of activities of the armed forces during both peace and war.

He was also the first Public Relations Officer of the Indian contingent at the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea in 1951-52, and later with the United Nations Emergency Force in the Gaza Strip.

He moved over to the Cabinet Secretariat in 1971 and was a close associate of late Ramnath Kao.

Longer is survived by his wife Urmila and two sons - Major General Sanjiv Langer and Colonel Vijay Langer.

His last remains would be cremated at the electric crematorium in Lodi Road on Sunday at eight in the morning. (ANI)