The stage was set at the Manekshaw Centre Delhi bustling with top defence officials, military historians, international defence experts, academicians, authors, bureaucrats and students. They all were there to take part in the inaugural Indian Military Heritage Festival, a flagship program organised by the United Service Institution of India in association with the Indian armed forces.

The two-day bespoke program was held on 21–22 October and graced by the Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of the Army Staff — General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, , ,     AVSM, NM, Lt General J.P. Mathew UISM, AVSM, VSM, CISC and President of USI Council, and Director General of USI Maj Gen B.K. Sharma AVSM, SM and Bar (Retd).

The second day of the festival also hosted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM as the Chief Guest. As the distinguished officials converged on the venue for this special occasion, the festival focused on India’s rich military heritage. Panel discussions were held on a wide range of topics including contemporary issues like security, strategy and geo-politics as well as the success of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector.

Unveiling the Udbhav Project: A Journey to Our Military Roots

The Raksha Mantri digitally launched Project Udbhav, a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India (USI) during the Indian Military Heritage Festival. Udbhav, which translates to ‘origin’ or ‘genesis,’ is an ambitious undertaking to revisit the roots of Indian military thought and statecraft. This project seeks to contextualise the enduring nature of war as well as its changing character, within an Indian context using indigenous texts and through the study of indigenous military systems.

The primary objective of the Udbhav project is to synthesise ancient wisdom with contemporary military pedagogy, creating a unique and holistic approach to address modern security challenges.

Indian Knowledge Systems: A Treasure Trove of Wisdom

The Indian Military Heritage Festival was an occasion to celebrate Indian knowledge systems visible in the extensive collection of manuscripts and schools of thought across various knowledge domains.  Speakers at the festival emphasised that policymakers and thinkers of modern India must explore the relevance and applicability of ancient texts like the “Arthashastra" its alignment with current military practices, international co-operation and soft power projection. It is worth noting that the teachings of Chanakya, the author of the “Arthashastra," are imparted at the US War College in Pennsylvania, emphasising the global significance of these ancient principles.

Speakers at the festival reverberated that the ancient Indian scriptures hold knowledge that transcends time and should be intermeshed with policymaking in the 21st century.

Self-Reliance and an Atmanirbhar Bharat

At the Indian Military Heritage Festival, Sh. Amitabh Kant, G 20 Sherpa, author of Made In India: 75 years of Business & Enterprise emphasised the integration of Atmanirbhar Bharat into the military domains. He called for private sector investment in research and development, particularly in sunrise industries such as battery and electric manufacturing, high-tech, and deep-tech manufacturing. He underscored the need to establish manufacturing units where consumption is prevalent. Sh. Kant further proposed that universities should morph into incubators of innovation and the private sector must collaborate with universities, fostering research and commercialising innovative ideas.

On Day One of the festival, sessions also delved deep to into the operations of the Territorial Army (TA) and the critical role of the TA in India’s defence system. The festival was also a perfect platform to listen to the courageous tales of legendary warriors with authors and writers bringing their untold stories of grit  and valour to the audience.

Conclusion

The Indian Military Heritage Festival, with its centrepiece, the Udbhav Project, is a testament to India’s commitment to preserving its rich military traditions, fostering self-reliance in defence, and showcasing the wisdom of ancient Indian knowledge systems. This festival paid homage to India’s historical military achievements and paved the way to blend heritage with modern military practices.

As India celebrates her military heritage, we invite you to witness the extraordinary journey of rediscovering Indian military roots and better understand the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat at

This is a partnered post.