Introduction
As one of the largest volunteer armies across the globe, the Indian Army boasts a rich history and legacy spanning over 300 years. Right from the time of the East India Company during the 1700s, the wheels had been set in motion for the modernisation and development of the Indian Army. Since then, it has evolved into a professional and versatile force to be reckoned with through its active participation in numerous conflicts ranging from both the First and Second World Wars to the Post-Independence wars (1947-48, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999), three against Pakistan and one against China. Besides effectively discharging its primary functions of defending and upholding the territorial integrity, security (both internal and external) and sovereignty of India, the Indian Army has also contributed to several United Nations peacekeeping, Counter-Terrorism, Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance Operations.
About the Book
Co-edited by Major General Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM (Retd) and Major General Jagatbir Singh, VSM (Retd) on behalf of the Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies of the USI of India, India’s oldest think tank which was established in 1870 and published by Pentagon, Valour and Honour: Indian Army through the Ages and costs Rs 1495 chronicles the evolution and contributions of the Indian Army over the years.
This book comprises of nine chapters, each written by a different author(s), predominantly distinguished scholar warriors, which center around a particular time period, theme or facet pertaining to the Indian Army. Each chapter is extremely well-researched and contains a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter in a chronological order, making it easy for readers to follow and understand. In order to appeal to a wider audience, they stick to a straightforward descriptive narrative structure while discussing key events and developments pivotal in the story of the Indian Army. Despite being arranged in a thematic fashion, the chapters maintain a sense of chronology, interconnectedness and logical flow which paves way for a smooth transition from one chapter to another but at the same time enabling each chapter to be read independently.
The book begins with a macro-overview of the Indian Army’s trajectory, diverse composition, contributions, core values and customs from the colonial period to the present. This chapter sets the scene for the rest of the book which has individual chapters dedicated to each of these key elements. The next three chapters are an in-depth exploration of the Indian Army’s involvement in various conflicts and the chapters are divided chronologically right from the First and Second World Wars to the 1971 India-Pakistan War. While delving into each of these conflicts, these chapters follow a consistent structural pattern which includes a historical background (strategic rationale of the warring nations), details of the operations and overall assessment of the entire conflict.
For example, the chapter focusing on the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan Wars begins by clearly outlining Pakistan’s strategic thinking which sowed the seeds for Operations Gibraltar and Grand Slam that aimed to disturb the peace in J&K and isolate Kashmir from the rest of India by capturing the strategically vital Akhnoor. However, the Indian Army was able to successfully foil these attempts by Pakistan by launching counter-offensive Operations Riddle and Nepal to compel Pakistan to divert manpower and resources to the Punjab Theatre, which the Indian Army had opened, to weaken the Pakistanis at Akhnoor. In the assessment subsection, the authors stress that any warring nation must ensure “that the politico-military objectives are well defined and once defined, these must be pursued vigorously”
But India should have been more proactive and used the Rann of Kutch incident as a precursor to strengthening their overall capabilities. Similar assessments have been conducted for the other conflicts, wherein the strengths, shortcomings and lessons are highlighted to provide readers with a 360-degree view of the conflict under examination.
Moving forward, the book explores the specialised roles of the India Army including the operations beyond war, counter-terrorism activities and UN peacekeeping missions. Major General (Dr) AK Bardalai (Retd) underlines that out of the 71 peacekeeping operations that have been conducted since the inception of the UN, India has significantly contributed to 49 of them by deploying troop contingents and medical units to varying conflict zones around the world. This is testament to the fact that “India believes in the UN Charter and adhering to the cardinal principles of peacekeeping in their true spirit.”
The last two chapters of the book are centered around the ethos, values and training; and gallantry & war memorials of the Indian Army. Major General Cardozo asserts that “Training in the Indian Army is thus an ongoing process for booth officers and men-an activity which keeps their skills honed at all times.” This is evident since the Indian Army considers its participation in other spheres, besides preparing for war, including Counter-Insurgency and Disaster Relief Operations as a form of firsthand training which provides them with the necessary practical knowledge and experiential learning.
One of the key strengths of this book is that a sense of continuity is present in each Chapter which accentuates how the Indian Army applied the learnings from past conflicts to enhance their capabilities and preparedness. Perhaps considering the lessons from the previous India-Pakistan conflict regarding preparedness, General SHFJ Manekshaw, the Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1971 War, made the prudent call to request PM Indira Gandhi to delay India’s military offensive in East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh) to November to buy more preparation time for Indian troops. Simultaneously, India provided logistical support to the Mukti Bahini with aim of getting Pakistan to strike first which would provide them with the motive to launch an offensive to liberate East Pakistan and garnered support from the international community. In hindsight, this demonstrates India’s strategic brilliance and adept planning which paid dividends during the conflict.
Furthermore, using visual images and language that is easy to understand, a concerted effort has been made to explain aspects peculiar to the Army which a layperson may lack awareness of. This is evident when each of the gallantry awards for the Indian Army, during both war and peacetime, is thoroughly elucidated and complemented by detailed tables of the awardees over the years. Major General Cardozo, in particular, sheds light on the intricacies of the Indian Army’s training approaches which include terrain-specific training and operational along training along with functions of institutes ranging from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun to Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington.
The book also highlights how Tri-Services coordination has evolved through India’s participation in various conflicts and operations besides war. For instance, it is stated that the synergy and coordination between the three Services was outstanding during the 1971 India-Pakistan War compared to the previous conflicts such as the 1962 Sino-India War where the Air Force was not brought into action where it would have made a significant impact. The turning point was the formation of the Kargil Review Commission (KRC) which called for “a thorough review of the National Security System in its entirety”, resulting in the creation of HQ IDS which bolstered coordination and integration of the three Services.
Greater flow would have been maintained had the Kargil War of 1999 been highlighted in the Chapter focusing on the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971 to showcase how the Indian Army had to adapt to the metamorphosing and diversifying nature of warfare with relation to the conflicts against their hostile neighbour Pakistan. As India’s neighbourhood is quite volatile and the nation faces national security risks from all corners, I feel that this merits greater examination so that we are able to enhance our defensive and counter-offensive capabilities especially with the advent of technology and artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
The book provides a sweeping view of the Army’s history from the mid-1700s till current times. The Indian Army one of the largest armies in the world, is also unique in the sense that it is a volunteer army. The Army has evolved from colonial times into a truly modern, professional service that guards the nation’s borders. It has fought four major wars since independence; of these, the 1971 India-Pakistan War which led to the creation of Bangladesh is considered its greatest victory.
The book also covers the extensive experience of the Indian Army in counter-insurgency and internal security within the borders of India as well as externally in peacekeeping activities undertaken under the aegis of the United Nations.
The Indian Army which has the distinction of being considered as one of the most professional armies in the world today is a true reflection of the diversity of India. A unique ethos and set of values, customs and traditions, and the Regimental spirit underpins the cohesiveness of this vast organisation.
With a compilation of wonderfully written and insightful chapters, this book is a must-read, not only for military history enthusiasts, but for all those interested in understanding the institution which has left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of our nation.
Aditya Bhalla is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies, United Service Institution (USI) of India.
