New Delhi, 11th April 2025- The Indian Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), hosted a prestigious symposium titled “General Zorawar Singh: Up, Close and Personal” at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment, today. The event aimed to commemorate the remarkable life, military campaigns, and enduring legacy of General Zorawar Singh, one of India’s most celebrated military leaders.
General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The symposium witnessed participation from esteemed veterans, serving officers – particularly from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Ladakh Scouts – their families, and distinguished scholars from academia.
The event brought to the fore General Zorawar Singh’s strategic brilliance, mastery in high-altitude warfare, and his pivotal role in shaping the formation of the modern-day state of Jammu and Kashmir and the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army.
A highlight of the symposium was the unveiling of two significant books by General Dwivedi: “The Warrior Gurkha” by Mrs. Madhulika Thapa daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa, PVC who was from First Battalion of Eight Gorkha Rifles (now 3rd Battalion the Mechanised Infantry Regiment) , and “A Kashmir Knight and the Last 50 Years of the Princely State of J&K” by Lieutenant General Ghanshyam Singh Katoch (Retd). These literary works add depth to the understanding of India’s military history and the enduring heritage of the Indian Army.
In addition, General Dwivedi felicitated the winners of the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Essay Competition–2024, organised by CLAWS under the theme “India’s National Security and Emerging Challenges.”
The symposium served as a fitting tribute to General Zorawar Singh’s indelible contributions to Indian military history and underscored the importance of preserving military heritage through scholarly dialogue and literature.
