While talking at the function, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, underlined that today there exist a variety of challenges to the security landscape of the country; from border disputes to terrorism, cyber threats, instability in the region—a number of challenges powerfully argue the case for modernizing the armed forces to navigate through such times.
Addressing a seminar at the Air Force Auditorium in Subroto Park, the IAF chief said modern warfare was evolving into constant technological up-gradation and asymmetric threats. "Modern militaryman needs more than combat skills; he needs an intricate understanding of the geopolitical, social, and cultural context," he said.
The seminar, organized by the IAF and College of Air Warfare in association with Centre for Air Power Studies, culminated the Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Programme. Reflecting on the impact of this unique program on its denouement, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said all it did was much to strengthen the idea of "scholar warriors" — military professionals who are as adept at intellectual pursuits as combat.
He then went on to quote Thucydides: "The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools," thereby putting forth that the scholar warriors play an integral role in strategic thinking.
He outlined the strategic culture of India, conditioned by its historical experience and contemporary geopolitical reality, flavored with strategic autonomy, caution, and integrity of territory. He impressed upon what he felt was a requirement for building up of armed forces through modernization, strategic partnerships, indigenous defense production, and an integrated approach towards internal and external security challenges.
The event saw the attendance by air warriors and retired senior officers, scholars, and others. He traced the strategic ethos of India to the ancient Arthashastra that most emphasized realpolitik and strategic pragmatism—the very tenets of relevance for India in handling contemporary problems.
His speech did refer to India's soul-crushing colonial past but focused on the cautious and sovereign-centric foreign policy and defence strategies pursued by the country. He said "Atmanirbharta" and "Make in India" were part of India's strategic culture and imperative for national security.
In summary, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari concluded the conference by reiterating that although one may somehow agree to the idea of differing opinions on India's strategic culture, it is realpolitik, statecraft, and diplomacy that had always found their place within the historico-political weft of the country to shape its contemporary geopolitics and way of reaching out to global affairs.
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