general sundararajan padmanabhan pvsm, avsm, vsm (born 5 december 1940 in thiruvananthapuram, travancore) is a former general officer of the indian army. he served as the 17th chief of army staff of the indian army. gen. padmanabhan succeeded general v.p. malik on 30 september 2000. he also served as chairman of the chiefs of staff committee.