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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 (Dr) Arjun Subramaniam is the former President’s Chair of Excellence in National Security Affairs at National Defence College, New Delhi. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty at the Kautilya School of Public Policy and a Visiting Faculty at all of India’s war colleges.

Air Vice Marshal (Dr) Arjun Subramaniam is the former President’s Chair of Excellence in National Security Affairs at National Defence College, New Delhi. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty at the Kautilya School of Public Policy and a Visiting Faculty at all of India’s war colleges. AVM Subramaniam is a retired fighter pilot from the Indian Air Force who has flown MiG-21s and Mirage-2000s. He has commanded a MiG-21 Squadron and a large flying base and held several operational, staff and instructional assignments in the IAF. He is an air power doctrinal expert having crafted the current IAF doctrine in 2012. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service by the President of India in 2011. A PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Univ of Madras, he has been a Visiting Fellow at The Harvard Asia Center and Oxford Universities, and a Visiting Faculty at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Ashoka and Jindal Universities. He has lectured extensively at a wide range of Universities, think tanks and war colleges in India and abroad and his current areas of focus are international and regional security, contemporary Indian military history, air power in joint operations and the India-China security relationship. He is the author of five books including ‘India’s Wars: A Military History: 1947-1971’ and its sequel India’s Wars 1972-2020,’ and a recently released military biograph titled ‘Shooting Straight: A Military Biography of Lt Gen Rostum K. Nanavatty.’ He is also the editor of an anthology of essays titled ‘Force in Statecraft: An Indian perspective. He is on the review editorial board of several journals and writes extensively for leading newspapers and magazines on military and strategic issues.

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 TCA Raghavan, IFS (Retd)

Amb TCA Raghavan, IFS (Retd)

TCA Raghavan is a former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan (2013-15). He had earlier served as Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan (2003-2007) and High Commissioner to Singapore from 2009 to 2013.

TCA Raghavan is a former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan (2013-15). He had earlier served as Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan (2003-2007) and High Commissioner to Singapore from 2009 to 2013. He was Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi from 2018 to 2021.
He was awarded a PhD by the Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1992 for his dissertation relating to the economic history of India.
He is a member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, Adjunct Professor, School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore and Visiting Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawahar Lal Nehru University.
He is a recipient of the Jadunath Sarkar Gold Medal for 2024 by the Asiatic Society, Calcutta.
He is the author of: Attendant Lords, Bairam Khan and Abdur Rahim - Courtiers and Poets in Mughal India (HarperCollins, 2017) awarded the Mohammad Habib Memorial Prize by the Indian History Congress in December 2017; ‘The People Next Door- The Curious History of India’s Relations with Pakistan’, (Hurst & Co, 2017); History Men: Jadunath Sarkar, G S Sardesai, Raghubir Sinh and Their Quest for India’s Past (HarperCollins, 2020) and (coauthored) Sapru House, A Story of Institution Building in World Affairs (ICWA, 2021). His latest book is Circles of Freedom: Friendship, Love and Loyalty in the Indian National Struggle (Juggernaut, 2024).

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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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