India’s Quest For An Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

It was indeed fortuitous for our navy that at the moment of India’s independence, those charged with planning for the nation’s embryonic maritime force included many men of vision. In 1948, within six months of freedom, a ten year naval expansion plan had been prepared, largely by Royal Navy officers serving on secondment, for consideration [...]

No Use of Combat Air Power in 1962

In 1962 as the war clouds gathered over the Himalayan mountains, Indian Army beefed up its defences. As a result IAF was asked to undertake tremendous surge in air maintenance – nearly thrice the normal amount. The air maintenance flying in Sep 1962 was 1179 hours. It increased to 3263 hours in Nov 1962. However, [...]

Women in the Armed Forces

The recent debate about the entry of women officers in the armed forces has been highly ill- informed and subjective in nature. People have taken stands and expressed opinion without analysing the matter in its entirety. It is imprudent to consider it as an issue of equality of sexes or gender bias or even women’s [...]

Women in the Armed Forces: Part 2 Findings of the British Equal Opportunities Commission

A joint survey was carried out by the Ministry of Defence and the Equal Opportunities Commission to determine the nature and extent of sexual harassment and sexualised behaviour in the British armed forces. Sexualised behaviour was described as ‘unwanted sexual contact, sending of explicit material, unwelcome comments and sexual assaults’.

Women in the Armed Forces: Part 3 Sexual Harassment of Women Soldiers in the US

The US society is highly emancipated and liberal with women having equal status in all walks of life. However, the recent case of Specialist Suzanne Swift of 54th Military Police Company has traumatised the entire nation and exposed the degree of ill-treatment meted out to women in the US forces. Swift has declined to serve [...]

Women in the Armed Forces: Part 4 Women Soldiers and the Liberated Societies

During the recent debate over the issue of women’s induction in the Indian defence services, the military brass came under severe criticism for it’s allegedly anti-women bias. Many senior officers are reluctant to have women subordinates because of their concern for their safety and dignity. They are over-cautious in assigning duties to them lest [...]

Women in the Armed Forces: Part 5 The Indian Armed Forces

Despite the historical disruptions and distortions caused by rulers and invaders belonging to other civilizations, the Indian civilisation can boast of not only equality between two sexes but also much beyond as far as the emancipation of women is concerned. Women in India have in fact been conferred superior status. In this country, Sita [...]

The Winnable War

On a scale of 1 to 10, an American editor of a defence newspaper told me that his threat perception on terror attacks inside the United States would merit an eight.  A German minister rated it at four adding that war against terrorism was difficult to win “as they were far too many”.  An Indian [...]