Lt Gen (Retd.) Madan Mohan Lakhera, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (born 21 October 1937) is the former Governor of the Indian state of Mizoram. He held that position from July 2006 till September 2011. During 2004–2006, he was the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Puducherry, then known as Pondicherry. He has also served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while holding additional charge. Education and early life Madan Mohan Lakhera was born in 1937 to a Brahmin family, in Village Jakhand, Tehri Garhwal, located in what is today the Indian state of Uttarakhand. He was educated at the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, and later, the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. He was commissioned as an officer into the Indian Army from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on 8 June 1958. He also attended the elite Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu. Army career Early service During his service in the Indian Army, MM Lakhera participated in the 1961 liberation of Goa, and the Indo Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 in the Jammu and Kashmir sector. He later attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington (South India) and the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the School of Artillery, Devlali. He also attended Senior Defence Management Course at College of Defence Management of Secundrabad. He served as an instructor at the School of Artillery from 1967–70, and subsequently at the Army War College from 1978–81. Eventually, Lieutenant Colonel (at the time) Lakhera rose to command the 4th Battation of the Kumaon Regiment in Jammu & Kashmir from December 1975 to July 1978. Higher command On promotion to brigadier, Lakhera assumed command of a brigade at Kanpur. The formation took part in operation 'Blue Star' in Punjab in 1984 and also provided effective aid to Civil authority at Kanpur during 1984 riots. For his successful handling of these operations, (then) Brigadier Lakhera, was awarded the Chief of Army Staff's Commendation Card twice—i.e., on 15 January 1985 and 15 August 1985. He subsequently held the appointment of sub area commander in Kashmir valley, in the rank of brigadier, where besides being responsible for logistical support to forward troops, he was responsible for aid to civilian authorities in the sensitive Kashmir valley. For his successful efforts in performing varied tasks, and for his professional competence in the discharge of his duty, Lakhera was