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The Indian Military Heritage Festival

The Indian Military Heritage Festival

The Indian Military Heritage Festival is the flagship annual event organised by the USI of India through its Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies (CMHCS) to increase public awareness of India’s military history traditions and strategic priorities. The first annual IMHF was held on 21-22 October 2023 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, drawing an overwhelming public response and extensive media coverage. Featuring multiple high-profile panel discussions, exhibition kiosks, and cultural programs, the event was inaugurated by Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon’ble Defence Minister of India, and received delegations from all branches of India’s armed forces. The second IMHF was held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on 08-09 November 2024 and was inaugurated by General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff. The third edition of the IMHF is tentatively set to be hosted on 14-15 November 2025. The Festival aims to create an international platform to generate discussion of debate using contemporary writings on Indian military history and heritage; and to further military engagement and diplomacy by establishing communication channels with partner nations and organisations.

Speakers

"Powerful Voices, Insightful Perspectives"

General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

General Anil Chauhan is the current Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, serving since September 30, 2022. A four-star general with nearly 40 years of service,

General Anil Chauhan is the current Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, serving since September 30, 2022. A four-star general with nearly 40 years of service, he has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East India.
Born on May 18, 1961, he was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, he commanded an Infantry Division in Baramula, a corps in the North East, and the Eastern Command from September 2019 until his retirement in May 2021. He has also served as Director General of Military Operations and participated in a UN mission to Angola.
General Chauhan’s distinguished service has earned him the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal.

General NC Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (Retd)

General NC Vij, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM (Retd)

Gen Vij was the 21st Chief of the Army Staff from Dec of India from Dec 2002- Feb 2005. He was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) during the very successful operations by Indian Army for eviction of Pakistani Intruders in Kargil in 1999.

Gen Vij was the 21st Chief of the Army Staff from Dec of India from Dec 2002- Feb 2005. He was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) during the very successful operations by Indian Army for eviction of Pakistani Intruders in Kargil in 1999. He was Vice Chief of the Army during OP PARAKRAM.
His tenure as the Chief is remembered for many notable improvements in operational & administrative postures of the Army. The most notable amongst them being the laying of 740 Km long fence along the Line of Control within one year plus, which brought the infiltration down to insignificant numbers.
After his superannuation from the Army, he was appointed Founder Vice Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, for five years from Sep 2005 - 2010. He was a member of the VIF for almost 7 years and then took over as Director, after Mr Ajit Doval became the NSA. Gen Vij finally left the VIF in 2017.
He is the author of the books ‘The Kashmir Conundrum - The Quest for Peace in a Troubled Land’ and ‘Alone in the Ring - Decision Making in Critical Times’.

Air Mshl (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd)

Air Mshl (Dr) Rajeev Sachdeva, AVSM (Retd)

Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva AVSM, PhD (Retd) had a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force (IAF), culminating in his role as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Additional Secretary (Air) at the Defence Ministry under the first Chief of Defence Staff.

Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva AVSM, PhD (Retd) had a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force (IAF), culminating in his role as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Additional Secretary (Air) at the Defence Ministry under the first Chief of Defence Staff. Air Marshal Sachdeva is an alumnus of prestigious institutions such as FIS, CDM, and NDC. A Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he has logged over 7,200 hours on various transport and trainer aircraft. He is a Certified ‘A’ Project Manager and holds a Doctorate in Business Management. Air Marshal Sachdeva also holds important positions in various prestigious institutions across the country. He is a Distinguished Fellow at USI and CAPS. His previous leadership roles included commanding An-32 Squadron, CI at Fixed Wing Training Faculty, Centre Director (Aviation) NTRO and SASO, HQ SAC. He has co-authored DAP-2020 and established key verticals like the Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency and Special Operations Division as DCIDS (Ops) in 2018. A recipient of the Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 2016, he has also contributed to numerous academic publications and lectures across military and civil institutions.

Air Mshl VK Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, VrC** (Retd)

Air Mshl VK Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, VrC** (Retd)

Air Marshal Bhatia was awarded the Veer Chakra (VrC) twice, for striking deep into enemy territory during the wars of 1965 and 1971. He is also a recipient of the PVSM and AVSM Presidential awards for distinguished services of the highest order.

Air Marshal Bhatia was awarded the Veer Chakra (VrC) twice, for striking deep into enemy territory during the wars of 1965 and 1971. He is also a recipient of the PVSM and AVSM Presidential awards for distinguished services of the highest order.
He has a total of 5,500 hours of flying to his credit, accumulated on approximately 20 types of fighters, including Mysteres and Hunters (1960s), MiG-21s and Su-7s (1970s), as well as on military transport aircraft and helicopters such as An-32, Avro HS-748, Dornier 228, Chetak/Cheetah, and Mi-8/Mi-17.
He has been a Qualified Pilot Attack Instructor and an Air Force Examiner.
A pilot of outstanding repute, Air Marshal Bhatia held a multitude of command and staff appointments at all levels of the IAF during his illustrious career spanning more than 40 years.

Air Vice Mshl (Dr) Arjun Subramaniam, AVSM, PhD (Retd)

Air Vice Mshl (Dr) Arjun Subramaniam, AVSM, PhD (Retd)

Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam (Retd.) is a former fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force, a distinguished military historian, and a leading strategic affairs commentator.

Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam (Retd.) is a former fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force, a distinguished military historian, and a leading strategic affairs commentator. With a career spanning the IAF and academia, he currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty at Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad, and lectures at war colleges across India’s armed forces.
He is the author of several acclaimed books, including the two-volume series India’s Wars (HarperCollins), which provides a comprehensive account of India’s military history. His other notable works include Shooting Straight: A Military Biography of Lt. Gen. Rostum K. Nanavatty and Reflections of an Air Warrior (Revised Edition, 2025). He frequently writes on strategic and national security issues, offering insights into India’s defence policies and military history.

Air Vice Mshl Anil Golani (Retd)

Air Vice Mshl Anil Golani (Retd)

Director General, CAPS

A Qualified Flying Instructor and an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner, commissioned into the Fighter stream of the IAF in Dec 1982.

A Qualified Flying Instructor and an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner, commissioned into the Fighter stream of the IAF in Dec 1982. Fully Ops on the erstwhile Ajeet and Jaguar aircraft. Raised and commanded the first Harpy squadron of the Indian Air Force. He commanded an Air Defence Direction Centre and an operational base. One of the few to have served in senior ranks in both the Joint Services Commands of the country, Andaman & Nicobar Command as the Air Force Component Commander and Strategic Forces Command as the Chief Staff Officer (Air Vector).
The other joint services appointments include Air Officer Commanding Maritime Air Operations in Mumbai and Chief Instructor, Air Force, at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Superannuated from service in Nov 2019.
An avid writer and author, he has written a number of articles on air power, national security, strategy and integration of the Armed Forces. He has Co-edited two books ‘Air Power and Emerging Technologies’; 2022 and ‘Indian Air Force in its Centennial Decade’; 2023. He took over as Additional Director General CAPS on 07 May 2021.

Amb Dilip Sinha, IFS (Retd)

Amb Dilip Sinha, IFS (Retd)

Dilip Sinha is a former diplomat who in the course of his career handled relations with neighbours, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh and multilateral negotiations including in the United Nations and on Climate Change.

Dilip Sinha is a former diplomat who in the course of his career handled relations with neighbours, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Bangladesh and multilateral negotiations including in the United Nations and on Climate Change. He is now an independent researcher and writes for journals and the media. He is also a public speaker and author of Legitimacy of Power – The Permanence of Five in the UN Security Council, published by the Indian Council of World Affairs.
His book, Imperial Games in Tibet, is an insightful and comprehensive look at British and Russian rivalry in Central Asia; the role China played in Tibet historically and in contemporary times; and brings out with clarity the Indian views of these developments.

Amb Manjeev Singh Puri, IFS (Retd)

Amb Manjeev Singh Puri, IFS (Retd)

Manjeev Singh Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982 and has served as Ambassador of India to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg, Nepal and as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN.

Manjeev Singh Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982 and has served as Ambassador of India to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg, Nepal and as Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN. In addition, he has served twice in Germany (in Bonn and Berlin), in Cape Town, Muscat, Bangkok and Caracas.
From 2005 to 2009, he headed the UN-Economic & Social Affairs Division in the Ministry of External Affairs of India and led the Indian delegation for the first meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Brussels in July 2007 and the presentation of various reports by India at the Human Rights Council. During 2011-2012, when India served on the Security Council, he was a senior member of its delegation.
Major areas of his experience and professional focus relate to the environment, in particular, climate change and sustainable development. He was a lead negotiator for India at the UN on issues relating to the post-2015 development agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. He was a key member of India's delegation at various Climate Change negotiations, including the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen in December 2009 and before that at Montreal, Bali, Bonn and Poznan. Furthermore, he was closely involved with India's participation in the G8-G5 Summits from 2005, and he was the point person on the Indian side at the Major Economies Forum.
Puri has a Master's degree in Management and did his BA (Honours) in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He is a Distinguished Fellow and on the Advisory Board of TERI.

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Schedule

Programme Details

Day 1 | 14 November 2025

Day 2 | 15 November 2025

Featured At

Special Highlights and Exhibits

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Inauguration - Proj Udbhav

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Band Performance by Indian Army

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Band Performance by Indian Navy

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Band Performance by Indian Air Force

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Exhibition

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Future of the Nation

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Bookseller Stall

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Closing Ceremony

Venue

United Service Institution of India,
New Delhi

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