The Indian community in Adelaide is mourning the loss of one of its most loved and respected members, Major General Vikram Madan (Retd), OAM, VSM and BAR.
He breathed his last on 17 August following a brief illness. He was 76.
He was farewelled in a poignant ceremony on 24 August with full military honours, his family at the forefront. South Australia’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison was in attendance, alongside other dignitaries.
Maj Gen Madan served the Indian and mainstream community as President of the Indian Australian Association of South Australia (IAASA), a member of SAMEAC (currently SAMC) for eight years, and Chairman and member of the Board of SA Multicultural Aged Care. Late last year he was appointed to the federal Aged Care Council of Elders where he was a voice for the elderly in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2019 for his service to multicultural communities in South Australia.
Maj Gen Vikram Madan had vast and varied experience including in military, corporate, business and community services. He had a distinguished career as an Infantry Officer in the elite Gurkha Regiment of the Indian Army where he served for 37 years.
During his time in the Indian Army, he saw action in the Bangladesh war, in Sri Lanka, and during insurgency operations in India’s north-east. He served eleven years in high altitude postings including Kargil at the India-Pakistan border and commanded a Division in Punjab/J&K, fighting militancy.
Major General Vikram Madan was decorated with the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) – awarded to recognise “distinguished service of a high order” in the Indian Armed Forces, not once but twice.
After retiring from the Indian Army, he migrated to Australia in 2007. For the first few years he worked as a strategic security consultant helping local entrepreneurs secure business opportunities in India. He also undertook guest speaker assignments on strategic security issues and Indian Subcontinental affairs. Later he decided to devote time to social and community work on voluntary basis and took a deep interest in multicultural affairs.
Around 2009 – 2010 when Vikram Madan was president of the Indian Australian Association of SA, there was a large influx of students and migrants from India. It was also a time when there was some conflict in the wider community towards migrants and new arrivals. In his role as IAASA President, Madan did outstanding work to help and support the victims of crime and their families, and advocate for quick resolution of the issues.
Acknowledging his leadership and community involvement, the Government appointed him to the Board of SAMEAC (now called SAMC – South Australia Multicultural Commission). He also served as a member of the Passenger Transport Standards Committee.
Vikram Madan ji also got interested in the issues of Aged Care in multicultural communities; he joined Multicultural Aged Care (MAC) as an ambassador. He then became a member of the MAC Board, was Chairman in 2020, during the difficult time of the pandemic. He later relinquished the Chair but continued as a Board Member.
It was mainly Maj Gen Vikram Madan’s efforts that secured Indian defence veterans the right to march in the ANZAC Day Parade in South Australia.
He was also an Ambassador of the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
Most recently, on Christmas Eve last year, the Federal Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells appointed him to the Aged Care Council of Elders where he was a voice for the elderly in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
The Order of Australia Medal (OAM) is one of the highest honours in Australia and was awarded to Vikram Madan for his service to multicultural communities.
Maj General Vikram Madan (Retd) is survived by his wife Veena, children and grandchildren. He will be much missed by the Indian community in South Australia.
