Jaibans Singh
The Indian nation is trying to come to grips with the shocking terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on 22 April 2025. Pakistan’s diabolic hand in the attack is suspected. Agencies are conducting investigations on a war footing.
In the meantime, the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken firm diplomatic and punitive measures to pressurise Pakistan. These include visa restrictions, call backs from the High Commission of Pakistan in India, and most of all, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. All action will have serious consequences for Pakistan.
The people of India seem to have lost all patience with Pakistan’s shenanigans. A cursory study of media, social media and the public sentiment on the streets points towards a deep desire for revenge in the form of a tit-for-tat action.
The government is very rightly not allowing emotions to overrun logical decision making. Meetings are being held with all departments like defence, home, NSA, external affairs, finance etc. It is apparent that the government will move in a mature manner, keeping the highest principles of justice and righteousness primary in its decision making spectrum.
The incumbent government has always demonstrated a nation first approach and has a declared policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. The people of the nation need to maintain complete and unrelenting faith in the capacity and capability of the government to maintain the sovereignty, security and pride of the country.
Atal Ji’s Iconic Vision
As we prepare for a future full of grave challenges, one is reminded of an incident narrated by former Prime Minister of India, late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. On a visit to Afghanistan he made a request to his hosts to visit Ghazni. His hosts were astounded since Ghazni is nothing more than a small village.
The point that Atal Ji wanted to highlight was that despite being from a small, ineffectual region Mohammad Ghazni collected some looters and brigands and sacked the Somnath Temple. While dwelling on the reason behind his victory Atal Ji said, “As the battle was underway the number of people standing outside and seeing the “Tamasha” (spectacle) was more than the number of people fighting. They were waiting to hear the outcome of the battle. The destiny of the country was to be decided but the entire country was not involved in it because the Indian nation was divided in classes. Only the Kings and the Kshatriyas were supposed to fight. The end result was that Somnath Temple was looted and reduced it to rubble.”
In the present scenario not only has the number of enemies of India increased, they are also more powerful and diabolic. It is time for Indians to pay attention to the iconic vision of Atal Ji that has cautioned us to the need for unity to meet the challenge of aggressors.
The Whole of Nation Approach
In the modern world, particularly in the wake of the two world wars, and later due to the increased connectivity provided by technology, the concept of a whole of nation approach for meeting challenges has gained traction.
The primary element of Israeli military doctrine is that it cannot afford to lose a war despite having to go through routine civilian activity with its small population. The Israeli’s realised that their defence was possible only if all citizens played a role. So, they maintain a well-trained reserve force. Military training, therefore, is compulsory for all Jews. It is this policy and national attitude that is helping them hold their own in a conflict ridden and vitiated environment.
During World War II, when Germans occupied France its people immediately organised themselves into resistance groups. These small groups of armed men and women conducted guerrilla warfare and published underground newspapers. Interestingly, they came from all classes to include aristocrats, businessmen students and academicians among others. The resistance effort also cut across religious lines with Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Communists etc. joining hands for the common cause of national security.
During World War I and World War II, British civilians made a considerable effort towards the war effort. The entire nation went through food rationing, black outs and other inconveniences stoically. With many men joining the military, women entered the workforce in large numbers, filling jobs in factories and other industries. Civilians participated in the war effort through organizations like the Home Guard, Air Raid Precautions, and the Auxiliary Fire Service. Even Queen Elisabeth, then a princess, joined the war effort and served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a mechanic and driver.
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji expressing views on Ghazni
India’s Nationalist Tradition
The Indian tradition of civilians fighting for the country is laudable and noble. We have so many freedom fighters who took to arms against the British during the freedom struggle and lost their lives in the bargain.
The Indian National Army (INA) created by Subash Chandra Bose attracted people from all walks of life. Those too old to join gave away their entire properties for the war effort. It played a sterling role in the freedom struggle.
During the Indo-China War 1965, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called upon the people to donate money and woollens. The response was overwhelming. Many families decided to send at least one son into the army apart from making huge contributions. It is estimated that more than $220 million were collected in cash for the Defence of India Fund.
From Punjab, then Chief Minister Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, persuaded his ministers and MLAs below the age of 50, to sign up for active service; those above 50 offered to do whatever work could be found. Deputy commissioners were ordered to take special care of family members of soldiers. General Mohan Singh, a veteran from INA, organised military training for students to prepare them to defend the country. The people of Punjab donated so many ornaments that 130 Kg of gold was handed over to the government of India from Punjab.
During the Kargil war the National Defence Fund witnessed a surge of public donations to support the war effort and the welfare of armed forces personnel. The government provided financial assistance to the families of Kargil martyrs. The collected amount was so much that one-time financial assistance of Rs. 50,000/- was provided to the eligible NOK of all fatal battle casualties w.e.f. 15th August 1947 to 30th April 1999 from the National Defence Fund.
Civil Society and National Security
India has every reason to be proud of its defence forces. There is no dearth of volunteers to join the army. They also come from all castes and walks of life which meets the vision of Atal Ji. The Indian soldiers are well trained, well equipped and motivated. They know that the nation stands behind them like a wall.
What better example can be given about the confidence of the nation in its soldiers than the recent free hand given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the forces for response against Pakistan. This does not imply that the forces can trigger a war against the neighbouring country. It implies that they can, without looking over their shoulders, do whatever is necessary to contain misadventures by the enemy. Military professionals will agree that this is the ultimate in confidence that a political leader can repose on the military. It also puts an immense responsibility on the shoulders of the forces.
Unlike the times that Atal Ji referred to, modern India has adequate boots on ground. Paramilitary, other police and vibrant reservist’s veterans are a force multiplier. Hence, civilians may not be called upon to augment the security effort unless there is an extreme emergency.
The Challenges of New Age Warfare
Modern times witness several kinds of warfare other than the conventional wars. There are kinetic, proxy, asymmetric, guerrilla, insurgency terrorism and other types of operations. The psychological warfare of the old times (propaganda) is now in a different dimension classified as the information and perception warfare. Associated with this is network centric, cyber, electronic and other warfares that are the product of technology.
It is in this spectrum that civilians have a big role to play. Insurgency and terrorism cannot thrive without local support. Enemy nations cannot plan covert operation till there is a chink in the political environment of the targeted area. The role of political parties and other institutions is crucial in projecting nation power of the type that leaves the enemy powerless.
The required convergence of political thought on matters of security seems to be lacking in modern India. Here again the caution given by Atal Ji takes centre stage. I will narrate just one example. A threatening poster has been found outside the West Bengal residence of an Indian Army Para in West Bengal. The soldier is presently deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The note in Bengali carried threats against his family and warning of consequences for “saving Hindus.” Any countrymen who think like this and any country that allows such incidents can easily be termed as most vulnerable to foreign forces.
Civil society has an important and sensitive role to play in the psychological domain, especially so, against the background of unfettered social media, wherein, “Influencers” rule the roost. For militaries across the world “rumour mongering” is an important subject. Today, rumour mongering is unchecked with facts and truth taking a dangerous hit.
The new age influencers need to understand the difference between political comments in favour of the party of their choice and politically loaded comments being made on national security issues. While addressing national security, politics have to be set aside for a nation first policy. This does not seem to be happening. The academicians, role models and leaders of civil society need to educate the masses on this sensitive domain.
While curbing rumours the civil society can also contribute in giving a message of national strength and will power. The all-important aspect of integration that Atal Ji was referring to needs to be fine-tuned into a well-established national policy. For example, the forces may not need recruitment but if all able bodied youngsters of the nation throng to the military recruitment centres and demand recruitment, imagine what effect it will have on the enemy. Only civilians can invoke such mobilisation.
Conclusion
The adage “survival of the fittest” is more relevant today then it was ever before. National strength lies only in unity of thought and purpose especially when it comes to national security. All nations continue to remain vulnerable to internal dissension, India is no exception. In fact, if not handled with care, India’s diversity can become a threat rather than being the strength that it is. Every citizen has a big and responsible role to play in the security of the nation.
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