Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first edition of the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi on October 21, 2023. This two-day festival is dedicated to celebrating India’s rich military culture and heritage through various forms of expression, including conversations, art, dance, drama, storytelling, and exhibitions. The festival features panel discussions by eminent scholars, practitioners, and serving and retired officers to provide different perspectives on India’s military heritage.
During the event, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh also launched ‘Project Udbhav,’ a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India. This project aims to promote indigenous discourse by exploring and integrating India’s ancient strategic acumen into the contemporary military domain. Several dignitaries, including Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew, and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, were present at the event.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized that the Indian Military Heritage Festival showcases the unmatched bravery and invaluable role of the Armed Forces in the security of the country, inspiring the youth to learn more about the Indian military and their gallant deeds.
Military Heritage Festival | The Indian Military Heritage Festival aims to create a benchmark for public engagement with military history and heritage, contributing to the development of the Armed Forces in the 21st century. It will explore various facets of Indian military culture, traditions, and history, adding value to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives. The festival provides a platform to discuss contemporary issues related to security, strategy, and international relations.
The festival features military culture showcases, including military band performances by the Army Symphony Band and Brass band displays, along with a Cultural Gala Evening. An exhibition in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Heritage, Ministry of Culture, highlights and celebrates select milestones and achievements in India’s long and illustrious military history.
Project Udbhav | ‘Project Udbhav’ acknowledges that modern-day military concepts, largely shaped by western armies, do not fully address the unique, localized requirements and rich cultural-strategic legacy of the Indian Army. This project aims to develop new, indigenously-resonant military concepts, building upon existing strategies while intertwining them with India’s historical documents that provide rich, diverse tactical and strategic wisdom in statecraft, warfare, and diplomacy.
The initiative seeks to create a strategic vocabulary and conceptual framework rooted in India’s philosophical and cultural heritage. ‘Project Udbhav’ signifies in-depth research, discussions, studies, and engagements to delve into and disseminate the treasures of India’s strategic thought and military history. It aims to shape a robust, progressive, and future-ready Indian Army that combines historical military sagacity with the demands of contemporary warfare and diplomacy.
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