New Delhi recently hosted the Third Annual Indian Military Heritage Festival at the United Service Institution of India (USI). This event, held on November 14-15, gathered military leaders, policymakers, scholars, and the public to celebrate India’s rich military history.
Inaugurated by Deputy Defence Minister Sanjay Seth, the festival featured notable attendees like Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. It was a vibrant platform for discussing India’s military legacy and its current strategic challenges.
One highlight was an exhibition of military art by Lt Col Arul Raj (Retd). The festival also saw the launch of key publications, including “The Sukraniti: Statecraft and Warcraft” by Col PK Gautam (Retd) and “75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping” by Maj Gen PK Goswami, VSM (Retd).
The festival’s sessions focused on a variety of important themes. Some discussions included “Operation Sindoor: Catalysing Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” exploring India’s self-reliance goals. Others addressed lessons from the 1965 Indo-Pak War and India’s evolving foreign policy, aiming to highlight how history informs current strategies.
Experts in military strategy emphasized the importance of focusing on modern conflicts and technological advancements. Recent research from the Indian Defence Ministry suggests that understanding past conflicts can guide future military planning. This point was highlighted during panels that examined India’s military processes and leadership figures throughout history.
The festival also engaged with contemporary issues like gender equality in the military. Landmark judgments enabling women‘s roles were discussed, reflecting a shift in military culture. Discussions on heritage conservation at Raigad added to the diversified topics covered during this year’s event.
Since its start in 2023, the Indian Military Heritage Festival has grown to become a key forum for celebrating military history, with each edition deepening the understanding of India’s defense landscape. For more information, visit the official [USI website](https://usiofindia.org/milfest/).
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Indian military heritage, Usi festival, Defence ecosystem, Military paintings, Un peacekeeping, Aatmanirbhar bharat
