- From Battlefields to Borders: A motivational saga
By Lt. Gen Vinod Bhatia PVSM, AVSM, SM, (Retd.)
“On Army Day, we honour the extraordinary courage, unwavering commitment and sacrifices of our Army personnel. Their relentless dedication to protecting our nation and upholding our sovereignty is a testament to their bravery. They are pillars of strength and resilience.” — PM Narendra Modi – 15 Jan 2024
New Delhi. 13 January 2025. On 15 Jan 2025, India celebrates the 77th Indian Army Day across the country. The core theme for the Army in 2025 is “ Honouring Legacy, Inspiring Patriotism, Safeguarding the Future” The theme encapsulates the values of dedication, resilience and futuristic thinking displayed by the Indian Army for over seven decades. The Army will highlight its advancements in technology and combat readiness as part of its 2025 modernisation roadmap.
Army Day is celebrated as a tribute to the extraordinary courage, dedication, sacrifices and professionalism of our soldiers both past and present. This day honours the gallant soldiers of the great Indian army for securing and safeguarding our contested borders ensuring territorial integrity and sovereignty at all costs. In 2024, the focus of the Indian army was to be a modern military force, terming 2024 as the ‘Year of Technology Absorption’. Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ with the aim of transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations.
2024 has been a landmark year for Indian Armed Forces in particular for the Indian army. On 21 October 2024, China agreed to disengage along the two remaining areas of Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh. The credit for this unprecedented Chinese withdrawal is rightly attributed to the synergy between India’s military – diplomatic and political efforts. However, it is the effective dominance and deployment of the Indian army which has been a major contributor to the disengagement. The army displayed an unparalleled ‘ Strategic Resolve’ and ‘ Strategic Restraint’ for over four and a half years along the contested India – China Line of Actual Control (LAC) at heights of over 4500 meters, battling adverse weather conditions and a treacherous terrain.
The disengagement though only a beginning to a possible peace and tranquillity along the 3488 km long India – Tibet ( China) border, has been possible on account of the determination of the soldiers who stood their ground, guarding our frontiers against all odds. It is not that the Chinese threat along the LAC can not manifest again, however, the present Indian army’s stand has paid dividends in meeting and mitigating the China threat. Indian army will have to continue to defend the LAC effectively upgrading the infrastructure and being ‘Future Ready’ to deter China.
India’s aim and dream of a ‘ Viksit Bharat 2047’ is contingent on a ‘ Surkshit Bharat’ – long-term peace, stability and development. The army will need to be both present-relevant and future-ready. The Indian Army Roadmap for 2025 emphasises a multifaceted approach to modernisation and operational readiness. As the armed forces get ready to finally create the ‘ ‘Integrated Theatre’ the army will need a transition management roadmap as it will have to continue to effectively safeguard the LAC and India – Pakistan Line of Control (LoC), while at the same time adopting and adapting to new organisations and command and control structures. Army’s primacy in Counter-terrorist operations in J&K and the North East will continue in the near future. Given the emerging turmoil in Bangladesh, India and the Indian army will do well to factor in an anti-India China – Pakistan – Bangladesh Axis. Hence the security challenges for the nation, armed forces and in particular the Army have multiplied. Given the present and emerging adversarial threats along the LAC, LoC and Bangladesh the army’s additional deployment will continue, giving it little or no time in peace stations to retrain and reorient for warfighting.
2025 is the ‘Year of Reforms’. The army needs to identify – induct – absorb and exploit new-age technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, Machine / deep Learning, Cyber and EW capabilities. The focus should be on capability building, capacity enhancement, Infrastructure development, and ISR capabilities specially along LAC. In addition, the Army needs to contribute to an ‘Atamnirbhar Bharat’ in the defence sector enhancing collaboration with Indian industry and startups.
The army is also a major contributor to Military diplomacy strengthening ties with friendly foreign countries through combined exercises and knowledge-sharing platforms. The army has also contributed effectively to the United Nations Peacekeeping operations earning much respect for professionalism and compassion. Army has contributed to 49 peacekeeping missions deploying nearly 200,000 troops – among the largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping missions worldwide.
2024 saw a change of Guard with General Upender Dwivedi taking over the leadership of the largest voluntary army in the world from General Manoj Pande. The year also marked the ‘ Forty Years’ of the army’s effective deployment in Operation Meghdoot – Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world.
The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir continued to be near stable despite the occasional challenges in the valley with a spurt in terrorist activities South of Pir Panjal. The successful conduct of state and parliamentary elections in J&K with a record voter turnout is another tribute to the army-led Security Forces. The situation in the North East continues to be stable with violence levels being sub-critical except of course situation in Manipur, which is a major concern.
In the sports arena, too Indian Army continued to excel and contribute to national honours with Subedar Major Neeraj Chopra winning a Silver medal at the Paris Olympics with Subedar Dhiraj securing a fourth position in Archery. In another first, the army in association with the United XErvices Institute (USI) commenced a new initiative – ‘ Battlefield Tourism’ curating and conducting tours for our citizens to various battlefields. The aim and intent is to acquaint the citizens of India, particularly the youth with India’s rich military heritage, and border areas and foster people-to-people contact with a view to imbibe a spirit of nationalism and the pride associated with it.
It is only right to highlight the many successes and sacrifices of our army, however, the army faces many challenges in the coming year and ahead. The major challenges are Budgetary constraints which impact the pace of modernisation, technology induction and acquisition of much-needed military hardware both indigenous and ex-import. The China threat along the LAC will continue to be a primary challenge and has expanded to a China- Pakistan – Bangladesh axis. Cross-border terrorism supported and sponsored by Pakistan will continue to try and destabilise J&K. As the armed forces finally are ready to implement and operationalise the ‘ Integrated Theatres’ it is the army as the primary arm, which will have to address and accommodate the concerns and apprehensions of the sister service to ensure a smooth transition. Another major challenge for the army is the implementation of the skewed Agnipath Scheme which will impact the major strength of the army – the SOLDIER.
It is time for the nation to salute and honour the soldiers for their many sacrifices in safeguarding our borders and ensuring peace and stability.
Lt. Gen Vinod Bhatia PVSM, AVSM, SM, (Retd.) – a paratrooper, a die hard soldier and gentleman to the core, is former Director General of Military Operations(DGMO) Indian Army, former DG Infantry and former Director CENJOWS. Here he traces the Indian soldier’s role in securing India and brings his sacrifices and successes infront of the nation. The views in the article are solely the author’s. He can be contacted at editor.adu@gmail.com).
