NEW DELHI, Oct. 23 -- A corner of the Army chief's office in New Delhi's South Block has quietly evolved over the years, reflecting the choices of successive chiefs of the world's second-largest army. From Chetwode's "country first" motto that hung on the wood-panelled wall for decades to Dinkar's stirring verses and now a Field Marshal's ceremonial baton, each change has reinforced the office's military character and gravitas, people aware of the matter said on Thursday. It is the prerogative of an Army chief to shape the office to his own taste, they added. The corner, which also displays a pair of elephant tusks, has long served as a favoured backdrop for successive Army chiefs to strike a pose with visiting dignitaries and exchange mementos. It has also been the setting for photographs of outgoing chiefs with their successors during the change of command. The longest-standing fixture in the Army chief's office was Field Marshal Philip W Chetwode's motto, delivered by him at the inauguration of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in 1932. It read, "The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time." Chetwode's words remained on the wall for decades, including during General VP Malik's tenure as Army chief from 1997 to 2000, Malik confirmed to HT. The two most recent Army chiefs added their own touch to the office. After General Upendra Dwivedi took over as Army chief in 2024, the Chetwode motto gave way to verses from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's poem Shakti Aur Kshama, which underscores that restraint and forgiveness must be backed by strength. Dwivedi, who retired in June 2026, completed the corner's makeover by installing portraits of Field Marshals Sam Manekshaw and KM Cariappa. Dinkar's verses made way for the Field Marshal's baton under the current Army chief, General Dhiraj Seth. Portraits of the two military legends have also been replaced with newer versions, recasting the corner as a tribute to India's Field Marshals. Seth made another change. In the Army chief's lounge, the painting titled Karam Kshetra-Field of Deeds has been replaced by the Indian Army emblem. The Karam Kshetra artwork, inspired by Mahabharata, had replaced an iconic painting depicting the signing of the Instrument of Surrender at the end of the 1971 war with Pakistan, which led to the liberation of Bangladesh....