Varied roles of the Indian Army

FUNDAMENTALS, DOCTRINE AND CONCEPTS INDIAN ARMY: Prepared and published by Army Training Command; Available through Army Training Command, Simla.

THE INDIAN Army, after nearly five decades of post- Independence experience, has assumed major importance, being the fourth largest standing army in the world.

Its role, commitment and responsibilities towards the state, people of India and the Constitution have got more clearly defined with implications on international relations, political stability and preservation of democratic norms.

The Army training command, which was formed six years ago, has brought out a well postulated book which delineates the doctrine and concepts for the Army's varied roles with a clear linkage of the state, the bureacracy and foreign policy.

For the first time, this book, which will be read by all commanders, has spelt out in a very unambiguous manner the role of the army and the difference between national strategy and military strategy.

It has spelt out the nuances of the army's grand strategy shaped by the Central Government as well as military strategy which guides the functions of higher commanders.

There is also an attempt to explain the parameters of operational art which has to be studied and developed by the senior commanders.

While dealing with the principles of war and the art of war, a number of case studies of previous operations in the Indian sub- continent and some overseas, such as the Middle East and in South-East Asia, have been brought out to simplify the understanding.

The close relationship between the impact of technology and the psychological elements of modern warfare have been put across so that future conduct of our operational strategy is well synchronised. Obviously, due to the advent of nuclear deterrence and emergence of biological and chemical warfare, the army's operational concepts and its field execution have to be further modified. This manual has also clearly postulated the legal issues of Geneva conventions, internal security duties and the political factor which play an important part in all low intensity conflict operations.

While dealing with operational functions, an attempt has been made to enlarge the scope of defensive operations, operations other than war and special operations by select forces, e.g. paratroopers and commandoes.

The book has surprisingly criticised even some of the trends in higher command, intelligence set-up, lack of integrated command and some of the serious problems in conducting counter-insurgency warfare.

On aspects like training logistics and leadership it has deviated from the usual army manuals and focussed on many important developments in our organisational concepts and future development.

The book, having been authored by senior army officers and edited by the army training command, is surprisingly devoid of jargon and is lucid enough for reading even by managers in the private and public sector.

Being an official publication, its availability in the open market is ruled out; however, it would be prudent if the army headquarters provides it to established institutions, research groups and state libraries.

BRIG A. THYAGARAJAN (Retd.)

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