Lt Gen Sumer D’Cunha as DG Army Air Defence led the charge against enemy aerial threats during op; his father Late Maj General Ivan D’Cunha fought three wars; brother Commodore Sanjay D’Cunha is a senior Navy officer
When Pakistan counter-attacked India with missiles and armed drones in response to our ‘Operation Sindoor following the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam, Goa’s son Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, heading the Army Air Defence (AAD) along with his brave soldiers neutralised almost every incoming aerial threat and ensured minimal damage to his countrymen. While the country lauded the efforts of Lt Gen D’Cunha and his gallant fellow soldiers, this was not new for the Director General of AAD, since the D’Cunha family has a rich legacy of protecting their motherland since the last two generations. Lt Gen Sumer D’Cunha’s younger brother, Sanjay D’Cunha is protecting the country’s shores as a Commodore in the Indian Navy. His father late Maj General Ivan D’Cunha served in the Regiment of Artillery’s Air Defence Artillery regiment and fought three wars 1962, 1965 and 1971.
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Hailing from Curtorim, the D’Cunha family is an inspiration for not only all Goans, but also all Indians. Maj Gen Ivan D’Cunha passed away in 2019. Commenting on her family’s rich military legacy, Gemma D’Cunha, mother of Lt Gen Sumer and Commodore Sanjay D’Cunha, who is also a writer, said, “All I can say is that I am very proud of my family legacy. My both sons have been very fine persons throughout their lives. I just want people to pray for them as it is not an easy task to be a soldier.”
She added that her sons were inspired by their father’s illustrious career as an army officer and they too decided to join the forces eventually. “In fact, my elder son (Lt Gen Sumer D’Cunha) actually followed his father’s foot-steps and joined the Army Air Defence. Sumer’s wife Farah is daughter of Major General Eustace Fernandez, who died a martyr in Kashmir in 1994, days before he could assume his promotion as Lieutenant General,” she informed.
When asked about her message to fellow Goans, she ex-horted the youth to join the armed forces and serve the country.
“Since Goa doesn’t have much representation in the armed forces, I would love to see more youth taking up this profession. However, for that they have to like this field as it is very challenging and recquires a lot of hard work. They must be educated, especially if they want to hold good positions and go up the ladder. Because success doesn’t come easy,” she said.
