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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 IMHF was held at the United Service Institution of India in New Delhi on 14-15 November 2025 and was inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri. The fourth edition of the IMHF is tentatively set to be hosted on 30-31 October 2026. 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"

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM and BAR (Retd)

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM and BAR (Retd)

Hon’ble Governor of Bihar

Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, The Garhwal Rifles, the unit raised by his father, Maj Gen Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM. He served in Op Pawan and with the UN in Mozambique and Rwanda, and is an alumnus of Army War College, Mhow, the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, and King’s College London.

Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, The Garhwal Rifles, the unit raised by his father, Maj Gen Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM. He served in Op Pawan and with the UN in Mozambique and Rwanda, and is an alumnus of Army War College, Mhow, the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, and King’s College London. He commanded 15 Corps and 21 Corps, and served as Military Secretary before retiring. A widely respected commentator on strategic and security affairs, he writes regularly for major newspapers and is now the Governor of Bihar.

Gen N S Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

Gen N S Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

General Raja, commissioned into The Garhwal Rifles, is the 3rd Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. An alumnus of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Bracknell, and National Defence College, he holds degrees from King’s College London and Madras University.

General Raja, commissioned into The Garhwal Rifles, is the 3rd Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. An alumnus of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Bracknell, and National Defence College, he holds degrees from King’s College London and Madras University. Previously, he was GOC-in-C Central Command, 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff and Military Adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

Adm Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, PhD

Adm Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, PhD

Chief of the Naval Staff

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has held a wide range of operational, staff and training appointments during a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has held a wide range of operational, staff and training appointments during a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. Adm Swaminathan’s sea commands include the guided missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, guided missile corvette INS Kulish, guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi. He was subsequently appointed as Flag Officer Sea Training and later commanded the Western Fleet, the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy. Subsequently, he was appointed as Flag Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group and Advisor, Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India. On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, he tenanted the appointments of Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; and Controller Personnel Services, Chief of Personnel and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. Prior assuming charge as the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Swaminathan was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the prestigious Western Naval Command. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. His academic qualifications include a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; MSc in Telecommunications from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London; MPhil in Strategic Studies from Mumbai University; and a PhD in International Studies from Mumbai University.

V Adm Sanjay Jasjit Singh, SYSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD (Retd)

V Adm Sanjay Jasjit Singh, SYSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD (Retd)

Director General, USI

Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh has held a range of command, training and staff appointments, and served on most class of ships over his four decades of service in the Indian Navy. He superannuated on 31st July 2025.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh has held a range of command, training and staff appointments, and served on most class of ships over his four decades of service in the Indian Navy. He superannuated on 31st July 2025.

He excelled in all training courses and graduated with top honours at each level. He has served in a wide range of Naval & Joint Staff appointments, including Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and Vice Chief of Naval Staff at New Delhi. His training command appointments include the Navigation & Direction School, Flag Officer Sea Training and Commandant Naval War College. His operational command appointments include two multi role Frigates, the Western Fleet, and recently as the FOCinC Western Naval Command, in 2024-25, wherein he was responsible for ensuring India’s maritime security across the Western IOR, through a period of highly intense and resurgent maritime security challenges, including piracy, drone/ missile attacks on ships, and Op Sindoor. He is the recipient of several awards for his distinguished service.

A perennial student and scholar, he has contributed research papers in professional Journals, Seminars & Conferences. He was the lead drafter for the Indian Navy’s Maritime Doctrine 2009, Strategic Guidance to Transformation 2014, and Indian Maritime Security Strategy 2015. He has undergone several post Graduation programmes, and holds MA (History), MA (Defence Studies), MSc (Defence Studies), MPhil (Defence Studies), MPhil (Defence & Strategic Studies), and PhD (Arts).

Since 01st January 2026, he Is serving as Director General of the United Service Institution, Delhi, which is India’s oldest think tank on defence and security, founded in 1870.

Sqn Ldr Rana Chhina, MBE (Retd)

Sqn Ldr Rana Chhina, MBE (Retd)

Director, CMHCS, USI

Squadron Leader Rana TS Chhina served in the Indian Air Force as a helicopter pilot. He is currently Director of the Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies (CMHCS).

Squadron Leader Rana TS Chhina served in the Indian Air Force as a helicopter pilot. He is currently Director of the Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies (CMHCS). The author of a number of books, he was Vice President of the Indian Military Historical Society (2004-2020), and a member of the Government of India’s Archival Advisory Board. He is a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
Independent Advisory Panel and is actively engaged in promoting the preservation of India’s rich tangible and intangible military heritage. A recipient of the Macgregor Medal for best military reconnaissance, he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2016 and an Officer of the Belgian Order of Leopold in 2018.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM (Retd)

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM (Retd)

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in June 1978. An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, NDA and DSSC Wellington, he led 17 Sqn (Golden Arrows) in evicting the enemy during Kargil.

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in June 1978. An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, NDA and DSSC Wellington, he led 17 Sqn (Golden Arrows) in evicting the enemy during Kargil. As Chief of the Air Staff from December 2016, he headed the IAF in the February 2019 Balakot Air Strikes deep inside Pakistani territory.

Air Mshl A K Bharti, SYSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)

Air Mshl A K Bharti, SYSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)

Air Marshal A K Bharti, commissioned into the fighter stream in 1987, is an alumnus of the NDA, DSSC Wellington and NDC, New Delhi. A Fighter Combat Leader and accomplished Su-30MKI pilot, he commanded a fighter squadron and air base, and served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command, and Director General of Air Operations.

Air Marshal A K Bharti, commissioned into the fighter stream in 1987, is an alumnus of the NDA, DSSC Wellington and NDC, New Delhi. A Fighter Combat Leader and accomplished Su-30MKI pilot, he commanded a fighter squadron and air base, and served as Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command, and Director General of Air Operations. Under his leadership, the IAF enhanced readiness during Operation Sindoor.

Air Mshl B R Krishna, PVSM, AVSM, SC (Retd)

Air Mshl B R Krishna, PVSM, AVSM, SC (Retd)

An alumnus of NDA, DSSC and NDC, he is a Fighter and Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours, contributing to the LCA programme and Saras flight testing. He was DG Air Operations, AOC-in-C Western Air Command and CISC.

An alumnus of NDA, DSSC and NDC, he is a Fighter and Experimental Test Pilot with over 5,000 flying hours, contributing to the LCA programme and Saras flight testing. He was DG Air Operations, AOC-in-C Western Air Command and CISC. Post-retirement, he served on the DRDO Reforms Committee and is a Member of ISpA’s National Advisory Committee and Visiting Professor of Practice, IIT Kanpur.

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Schedule

Programme Details

Day 1 | 30 October 2026

Day 2 | 31 October 2026

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

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BigFM

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Stalls at IMHF

Venue

United Service Institution of India,
New Delhi

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