Pen Pictures from NDA to Op Sindoor: a legacy of brotherhood, jointmanship

Indian Express

5 days ago

AS INDIA secured a formidable geopolitical and strategic edge over Pakistan in Operation Sindoor — which showcased exemplary jointness and strategic foresight — the Indian Armed Forces were under the leadership of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, along with the three service chiefs: General Upendra Dwivedi, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
The roots of this unparalleled synergy germinated on the hallowed grounds and rugged terrain of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, where these military leaders first imbibed the ethos of jointmanship and inter-service camaraderie. Here is a journey back in time to their NDA days, drawn from the personal archives and collections of Dr Kishori Lal — an author and retired professor from the NDA — whose early years at the Academy coincided with the formative cadet days of these four future military leaders.
Jointness in Operation Sindoor
Launched in the early hours of May 7, Operation unfolded across land, air, and sea — a seamless demonstration of synergy between the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a crucial role in delivering precision strikes against terror infrastructure across Pakistan. The Air Force's air defence ecosystem proved pivotal in protecting Indian airspace during retaliatory drone and UAV attacks from across the border. The IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System enabled real-time coordination of air assets, allowing Indian forces to neutralise aerial threats efficiently and maintain network centric operations.
Simultaneously, the Indian Army demonstrated its preparedness and effectiveness in both defensive and offensive roles. The Army's air defence units worked in tandem with the Air Force, deploying a wide array of systems. These units were instrumental in countering waves of drones and loitering munitions launched by Pakistan.
The Indian Navy played a critical role in asserting maritime dominance by operating as a composite networked force. The Navy deployed its Carrier Battle Group (CBG) equipped with MiG-29K fighter jets and airborne early warning helicopters. The CBG maintained a powerful air defence shield that prevented hostile aerial incursions. The Navy's presence created a strong deterrent and effectively bottled-up Pakistani air elements along their western seaboard, denying them any operational space.
Roots in the Academy
Dr Lal, 78, retired from the NDA in 2007. He has till now written over half a dozen books which document various facets of the NDA, including a book that is dedicated to the humorous side of the premier triservices institute. He says that the driving force behind his works has been his long innings as a faculty member at the academy and also as the chief editor of the NDA Journal for more than a dozen years.
Speaking to Express, Dr Lal said, 'If we trace the history of NDA as a tri-service academy, we will come to know that in the 1940s, the renowned military training academies of the world were run by individual services. At the time, the Indian officers and cadets used to be trained in the service specific military academies in the UK. The military commanders of India envisaged that if any war came to be fought in India, in the years ahead, it would have to be fought by it to protect its territory and integrity.
After the attainment of Independence, the founding fathers and foresighted leadership took a conscious call to depart from the Western custom of having separate academies to an integrated training Academy. When we talk of success in Operation Sindoor, due credit has to be given to this vision.' Dr Lal has brought out these aspects in his book The National Defence Academy of India (1949 — 2024) which he presented to Gen Chauhan in May last year.
Dr Lal said, 'Integration and synergy are the key words for armed forces world over. But their most essential prerequisites are mutual understanding, teamwork, interdependence, and seamless unity between any two or three fighting forces. These values cannot be grafted on the battlefield but have to be ingrained in training.'
Walk down memory lane
Dr Lal said, 'When I joined the department of English at the NDA in 1980, the then now General and then Cadet Anil Chauhan, who is from the 58th course, was in his sixth term. General Upendra Dwivedi and Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi were schoolmates at Sainik School Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. Air Chief Amar Preet Singh and Gen Dwivedi are course mates from the 65th course at the NDA who trained alongside the Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi who is from the 66th course. On this timeline, all were contemporary to me. I distinctly remember cadet Amar Preet Singh as a student in the third term. At the peak of military hierarchy, with Gen Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff, this exceptional team of the Academy luminaries are together again and concurrently occupying the highest echelons, leading the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. I feel proud and privileged to have seen them as cadets undergoing rigorous training and also of the fact they have carried with them the legacy of the NDA and the hopes of the nation that looked to them to safeguard its sovereignty and integrity.'
Following are some interesting details about the four from their academy days with the highlight being the short and crisp testimonials referred to as 'pen pictures' in the NDA collectively written by their junior term cadets — especially second term cadets — for the passing out cadets The details have been obtained from the personal collection and archives of Dr Lal which includes issues of the NDA journal, which he was editor of.
General Anil Chauhan joined the NDA in May 1977 with the 58th Course and passed out in May 1980. He was from the J (Juliet) squadron. At the time of his passing out, his junior cadets collective wrote in his pen picture: 'As OIC (referred to as officer-in-charge in lighter vein) Battalion Entertainment, attracted the whole Academy.'
General Dwivedi was from the 65th Course C (Charlie) Squadron. He joined the NDA in January 1981 and passed out in December 1983 as Division Cadet Captain. His junior course cadets wrote in their testimonial: 'The PT captain proved to be a jazz DCC (Division Cadet Captain).'
Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi joined the NDA in the 66th Course in D (Delta) squadron in June 1981 and passed out as CQMS (Company Quartermaster Sergeant) Dinesh Kumar Tripathi in June 1984. His pen picture by juniors read: 'Good at x-country (cross country) and boxing. Academic torchie (An award winner for academic performance).'
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh joined the NDA in the 65th Course in K (Kilo) squadron in January 1981 and passed out in December 1983 as the Squadron Cadet Captain. His pen picture read: 'had all the metal torches, the light of which illuminated his cheerful disposition.'
Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010.
Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune.
Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More