Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Nehru Era’s Defence and Security Policies and Their Legacy

Introduction During the nationalist movement and struggle for independence, there was little attention paid to articulation of India’s defence and security policies by the Indian National Congress (INC). Allusions to concepts and precepts of defence of an independent India were entirely absent from INC party resolutions and documents or for that matter in the speeches of the political leadership. Click here to read full Paper

March 19, 2014 Paper

Nuclear Energy in India’s Energy Security Matrix: An Appraisal

Major General (Retd.) Ajay Kumar Chaturvedi, AVSM, VSM

Abstract Energy is essential for the economic growth of a nation. India, which is in the lower half of the countries as far as the energy consumption per capita is concerned, needs to leap frog from its present position to upper half, commensurate with its growing economic stature, by adopting an approach, where all available sources need to be optimally used in a coordinated manner, to bridge the demand supply gap.

March 14, 2014 Paper

‘Defining Hindutva’ Released at VIF

‘Defining Hindutva’, authored by Amb O P Gupta, was released at the VIF on February 24, 2014 by Dr Mohan Rao Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, RSS in the presence of Ajit Doval, Director, VIF and Santosh Taneja, Coordinator, Sankalp. Listing out the manifold intellectual challenges before the nation, Doval, in his introductory remarks, emphasised on the importance of a common past and a common vision to build a strong nation. For this, the current ideology would have to change, he said.

February 25, 2014 Event Report

Talk on Global Climate Change and India’s Maritime Interests

Ms Cleo Paskal, well known strategic analyst on maritime affairs, delivered a talk on 'The global climate changes and the resultant strategic challenges to maritime interests of India' at the VIF on January 17. During the talk, Paskal also highlighted the growing presence of China in the Pacific Ocean and the developments in India’s neighbourhood. Former Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, Lt Gen (Retd) N S Malik and Brig (Retd) R B Sharma also spoke on the occasion. K G Suresh, Senior Fellow and Editor, VIF, summed up the deliberations.

January 28, 2014 Event Report

Round-Table Discussion on Credibility of India’s Nuclear Deterrence

A Round-Table Discussion to deliberate upon the credibility of India’s Nuclear Deterrence especially in the light of Pakistan’s development of Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) was held at the VIF on 18 November 2013. The discussion was chaired by Gen NC Vij, former Chief of Army Staff. The participants included members of the strategic community comprising former diplomats, military personnel and representatives from think tanks.

November 21, 2013 Event Report

Launch of Kishtwar Cauldron: The Struggle against ISI’s Ethnic Cleansing

On 13th September, Kishtwar Cauldron: The Struggle against ISI’s Ethnic Cleansing, authored by Maj. Gen. (Retd) Dr G D Bakshi, SM VSM, was launched at the VIF. The book was released by Lt. Gen. (Retd) S K Sinha, PVSM, former Governor of Assam and Jammu & Kashmir. Also present as panellists were Dr Romesh Raina, President of the Kashmiri Pandit Samaj and Ms Sandhya Jain, eminent writer of contemporary political affairs and a columnist at Pioneer.

September 19, 2013 Event Report

India’s National Security: A Reader ; Edited by Kanti P Bajpai and Harsh V Pant; Oxford University Press; PP 486; Price Rs 995

Brig Vinod Anand, Senior Fellow, VIF

The book is part of a series by Oxford University Press dealing with ‘critical issues in Indian politics’. It is a compilation of papers on major national security challenges facing the nation. It looks at the different facets of insurgency, terrorism and state response, nuclear issues including nuclear weapons and strategic stability and defence reforms.

August 27, 2013 Books/Book Review

Launch of Red Revolution 2020 and Beyond: Strategic Challenges to Resolve Naxalism

Red Revolution 2020 and Beyond: Strategic Challenges to Resolve Naxalism authored by Lt Gen V K Ahluwalia, Army Commander, Central Command, was launched at a release function at the Vivekananda International Foundation on August 19, 2013. The book was jointly released by Mr Ajit Doval, KC, Director, VIF, Mr Ved Marwah, former Governor and Director General, National Security Guard and Lt Gen K M Seth, former Governor of MP and Chhattisgarh and a highly decorated officer, who led the counter insurgency operations in Nagaland.

August 22, 2013 Event Report

Seminar on Defence Procurement Procedures 2013

Towards Expeditious Procurement and Indigenisation Despite several initiatives undertaken by the Government, the stated goal of self reliance in defence production still remains elusive. One of the main reasons is that for too long India has been importing over 70 percent of its armament and hardly any worthwhile technology has been developed indigenously.

July 24, 2013 Event Report

Kashmir: The Unwritten History; Christopher Snedden; Harper Collins; PP 434; Rs 599

Sushant Sareen

Over the last few months, there is suddenly a lot of unnecessary, unwarranted and self-serving focus of Western academics, analysts and authors on the India-Pakistan equation – the issue of Jammu and Kashmir inevitably being a centre-piece of the discord between the two countries. Essentially the argument being made is that the problem in Afghanistan is more than anything else an outcome of the India-Pakistan proxy war and that the road to Kabul runs through Kashmir.

July 24, 2013 Books/Book Review