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India.com
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
‘War Isn't Glory – It's Grief': Why India Chose Pause Over Provocation
New Delhi: In an age where conflict often plays out like viral entertainment and social media sentiment demands escalation over restraint, former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane offers a reminder – war is not a cinematic climax. It is a human catastrophe. Speaking in Pune at a defence and economic policy forum on May 11, General Naravane addressed the public discourse surrounding India's recent military offensive – Operation Sindoor – and the subsequent decision to suspend further hostilities with Pakistan. While many online commentators clamored for a 'decisive finish', Naravane asked, 'At what cost?' 'Not a Bollywood Movie' 'War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is serious business. A wise commander calculates the cost long before it becomes unbearable,' he said, addressing the nation's growing appetite for spectacle. The pragmatic reflection came just days after India's tri-service strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and later on military bases across the border. Though the precision of the strikes shocked observers and altered strategic equations in South Asia, Naravane emphasised that the cessation of military operations was not a sign of retreat but of responsibility. 'It is not a ceasefire. It is a pause. One that allows us to weigh what truly matters – lives, stability and the long-term consequences of escalation,' he clarified. The Human Toll The general did not mince words about what is often left out of war coverage – trauma. While missiles and drones dominate headlines, the emotional wreckage lingers in silence. 'There are children who lose their parents. Civilians who spend the rest of their lives with PTSD. No camera shows that. But it is real,' Naravane said. He stressed that behind every 'strike' is a ripple effect of lifelong scars, not only on soldiers but on border communities – scars that run deeper than any tactical victory. First Offensive – Diplomacy Though his credentials are steeped in military service, Naravane's outlook champions dialogue over dominance. 'If ordered, I will go to war. That is my duty. But it will never be my first choice. Diplomacy must be,' he stated. In an era where national security debates often polarise into 'guns versus butter', the former Army chief argued for strategic prudence, not emotional chest-thumping. He acknowledged the financial strain of defence investments but framed them as an insurance policy, not a sunk cost. 'A well-equipped military does not just respond to threats, it prevents them. Just like insurance, its value lies in deterring the accident before it happens,' he explained. Strength Isn't Always Loud Naravane's words serve as a quiet counter-narrative to the dominant noise demanding vengeance. He framed India's actions as strategic deterrence, not a step away from confrontation but a step ahead of chaos. 'Pakistan got the message. Loud and clear. Their response was not negotiation, it was desperation,' he said, referencing Pakistan's call to halt escalation after suffering operational losses. Peace Is Strength So Is Perspective As India stands at a geopolitical crossroads, Naravane's insights urge citizens to look beyond the immediate drama and into the generational consequences of conflict. 'We must learn to resolve disputes at every level, not just between nations but within families, communities and states,' he said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New, Limited-Edition Release from Washington State's Esteemed Rasa Vineyards Achieves Perfect Rating
Rasa Vineyards' ultra-premium 2021 Naravane Cabernet celebrates the power and elegance of Eastern Washington wine, inspired by generations of Naravane family matriarchs WALLA WALLA, Wash., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasa Vineyards, the premier producer of ultra-premium, terroir-specific wines from Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon, today announced the launch of its inaugural icon wine, the 2021 Naravane Cabernet Sauvignon. Crafted by Rasa Vineyards' co-owners and co-winemakers Billo Naravane, Master of Wine, and Pinto Naravane, the limited-edition namesake release, 18 years in the making from the winery's 2007 founding in Walla Walla, Wash., celebrates the power and elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon and is inspired by the grit and grace of generations of Naravane (pronounced nuh-row-né) matriarchs. The premium bottling recently achieved a perfect, 100-point score from wine reviewer, journalist and northwest wine expert Owen Bargreen and esteemed senior editor and wine reviewer Jeremy Young of the International Wine Report. "When we founded Rasa Vineyards in Walla Walla in 2007, we felt we'd stumbled upon a hidden gem – an area with incredibly diverse terroir capable of high-quality winemaking and a still-nascent wine industry that would allow us the freedom to develop our own unique approach to Bordeaux- and Rhône-style wines," said Pinto Naravane, co-owner and winemaker at Rasa Vineyards. "The release of our newest wine, the 2021 Naravane Cabernet, is the culmination of 18 years of honing our craft to produce our first namesake wine that honors the terroir of the Columbia Valley and interplay of power and finesse possible with Cabernet. This wine is also deeply personal to us and is an homage to our mother and grandmother, whose fortitude, strength and love shaped our own journey as people and entrepreneurs." Billo Naravane, co-owner and winemaker at Rasa Vineyards, continued, "We're driven to create expressive wines that tell a story and to inspire meaningful connection among those who open and share a bottle of our wine. This wine showcases two sides of Cabernet – its incredible structure and depth and a soft elegance we've achieved through judicious extraction techniques, use of multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, and a pitch-perfect match to the rarest of French oak barrels. The 2021 Naravane Cabernet exemplifies the unique character and exceptional quality of Columbia Valley, on par with its perhaps greater-known cousins, Napa and Sonoma Valleys, to the south." The 2021 Naravane Cabernet features a blend of the highest-quality Cabernet Sauvignon grapes hand-picked from four carefully selected vineyards in Columbia Valley, including Red Mountain's Ciel du Cheval, planted to vines in 1975. In 2021, these vineyards yielded grapes with high fruit concentration, intensity and depth of phenolics. Aged for 36 months in 100% new French oak barrels, this old world-style cab delivers incredible fruit purity, elegance, and concentration in a complex, thought-provoking style. To commemorate the first vintage of the 2021 Naravane Cabernet, the Naravane brothers partnered with esteemed designer and creative director Benny Yarnell to craft the custom label, an homage to feminine strength and two generations of strong Naravane women, including Pinto and Billo's mother, Ajita, and grandmother, Laxmi. Featuring a hand-drawn classical female bust with abstract gold foil layering, the artwork is intended to evoke timelessness, grace and complexity – a balance of beauty and power that mirrors the intensity and elegance of the wine itself. The 2021 Naravane Cabernet has a suggested retail price of $800 and is now available for purchase for Rasa Vineyards' wine club members, online at and at select fine wine retailers nationally. For more information or to find a retailer near you, please visit or contact info@ About Rasa VineyardsFounded in 2007 by brothers Pinto and Billo Naravane, Rasa Vineyards is a boutique winery based in the heart of Walla Walla, Wash. With roots in the tech world and a shared passion for fine wine, the Naravane brothers left their careers to pursue a calling sparked by a profound tasting experience. Billo later earned a Master's in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and became a Master of Wine in 2017—the most prestigious designation in the wine world. Pinto is currently in the MW program. Together, Pinto and Billo built Rasa on a foundation of intellectual curiosity, precision winemaking, and a commitment to expressing the distinctive terroirs of Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. From its inception, Rasa Vineyards has focused on small-lot, terroir-driven wines, with fruit sourced from exceptional sites, including their 25-acre estate in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Their first releases, including the 2007 QED and 2007 Principia Reserve Syrah, drew immediate critical acclaim and established Rasa as a rising star in American wine. With a minimalist, hands-off winemaking approach, the Rasa portfolio ranges from Rhône and Bordeaux-inspired reds to expressive whites. Each label reflects a passion for science, logic, philosophy, and poetry—think "QED," "Occam's Razor," "Principia," and "Dream Deferred." These aren't just names; they embody the intellectual spirit, passion, and soul that define the winery. Media Contact:Kathleen Bush for Rasa Vineyards395269@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rasa Vineyards Sign in to access your portfolio
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
War is neither romantic nor a Bollywood film: Ex-Army chief
New Delhi: General Manoj Naravane, war, diplomacy, PTSD, Operation Sindoor, India-Pakistan relations, military response Former Indian Army chief General Manoj Naravane has slammed questions being raised on the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, saying war is not romantic and is not a Bollywood movie. Naravane said if ordered, he would go to war, but diplomacy would be his first choice. He said there is trauma among people living in the border areas, including children who have seen shelling and have to run to shelters at night. 'For those who have lost their loved ones, that trauma will be carried through generations. There's also something called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). People who have seen gruesome scenes wake up sweating even after 20 years and need psychiatric care,' he said. 'War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is very serious business. War or violence should be the last thing we should resort to, which is why our Prime Minister said this is not an era of war. Although war will be forced upon us by unwise people, we should not cheer for it,' he said. 'Still, people are asking why we have not gone for a full-out war. As a military man, if ordered, I will go to war, but that will not be my first choice,' the former Indian Army Chief said. Naravane said his first choice would be diplomacy, settling differences through dialogue and not reaching the stage of armed conflict. 'We are all equal stakeholders in national security. We should try to resolve differences not only between countries, but amongst ourselves, whether in families or between states, regions and communities. Violence is not the answer,' he said. General Naravane pointed to India's strategic strikes on terrorist infrastructure and airfields deep within Pakistan's territory. He asserted that these actions demonstrated to Pakistan the heavy price of continuing on a path of aggression, ultimately leading to discussions between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both nations on the possibility of a cessation of hostilities. Speaking on the Operation Sindoor Gen Naravane (Retd) said that the Pakistani response to cessation of hostilities would need to be watched.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
War not a Bollywood movie but a serious and expensive last resort: Former army chief MM Naravane
Pune: Former army chief General MM Naravane has said that a war is not a "romantic" or "Bollywood" movie but a very serious and expensive last resort. "War or violence should be the last thing that we resort to. And that is why our Prime Minister said that this is not an era of war," he was addressing a diamond jubilee function of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (Pune Chapter) on Sunday. "Unwise people will force us into wars, but it should not be what you cheer for, and again, people are asking why we did not go for all-out war. As a military man, if ordered, I will go to war, but that will not be my first choice. My first choice will always be diplomacy, how to settle differences through dialogue, and not let it reach the stage of armed conflict. We should try to resolve all our differences through dialogue, not only between countries but even amongst ourselves," he a war breaks out, there is death and destruction, Naravane said. "It has its own costs, the cost of rebuilding, but also the cost of the military equipment that is lost." He further said war and warfare are an expensive business. "If we have long, drawn-out conflict stretching into weeks and months, then imagine what each loss would mean in the immediate terms. And what each of these losses cumulatively added up to would mean when you have to recoup that at the end of the war." Naravane said when the Kargil conflict occurred, the total cost was close to Rs1,500 crore out of which Rs800 crore was of the Indian Air Force. "The reconstruction cost in the bunkers in the border regions and remaking of roads was hundreds of crores of rupees." On the social aspects, Naravane said the scars of the war remain in the minds of families for generations. "The lives that are lost. The children who lose their parents. Children who themselves are killed in indiscriminate shelling in the border areas. Nobody takes that into account. The displacement of the population that is happening. It leads to trauma among adults and children. There is trauma among the children in the border areas, who have seen the shelling, who have run for shelter every night, and those who have lost their loved ones. That trauma carries on for generations. There is post-traumatic stress disorder. People subjected to intense combat and combat conditions, witnessed gruesome acts, wake even 20 years later, bathed in sweat and need psychiatric care," he he said the Indian armed forces, by carrying out strikes deep within Pakistan, have proved that Pakistan would have to bear a very "heavy cost" if they wish to continue on their "foolish path". "Our forces not only targeted Pakistani terrorists' camps but also damaged their airfields deep down. If they continued their foolish path, it would cost them too much. This forced their hands to call for cessation, and that is why their Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called our DGMO to discuss cessation," the former army chief to questions from members in the audience, Naravane said, "Nuclear weapons have always been a cause for concern but we have a nuclear doctrine of no first use, especially against non-nuclear nations and history has shown that nuclear weapons work very well as a deterrent but have never been used actually except for the first two times against Japan at the closing stages of World War II.""Even now, if you see the conflict in Ukraine, it is actually between nuclear powers — Russia on one side and the whole of NATO on the other side, which has two, three of the major nuclear powers of the world, but nobody talks about nuclear weapons. They are used for posturing; whenever some reverses are there, you dangle that nuclear card, but everybody knows in their hearts of hearts, it is only a threat," he added. Pune: Former army chief General MM Naravane has said that a war is not a "romantic" or "Bollywood" movie but a very serious and expensive last resort. "War or violence should be the last thing that we resort to. And that is why our Prime Minister said that this is not an era of war," he was addressing a diamond jubilee function of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (Pune Chapter) on Sunday. "Unwise people will force us into wars, but it should not be what you cheer for, and again, people are asking why we did not go for all-out war. As a military man, if ordered, I will go to war, but that will not be my first choice. My first choice will always be diplomacy, how to settle differences through dialogue, and not let it reach the stage of armed conflict. We should try to resolve all our differences through dialogue, not only between countries but even amongst ourselves," he a war breaks out, there is death and destruction, Naravane said. "It has its own costs, the cost of rebuilding, but also the cost of the military equipment that is lost." He further said war and warfare are an expensive business. "If we have long, drawn-out conflict stretching into weeks and months, then imagine what each loss would mean in the immediate terms. And what each of these losses cumulatively added up to would mean when you have to recoup that at the end of the war." Naravane said when the Kargil conflict occurred, the total cost was close to Rs1,500 crore out of which Rs800 crore was of the Indian Air Force. "The reconstruction cost in the bunkers in the border regions and remaking of roads was hundreds of crores of rupees." On the social aspects, Naravane said the scars of the war remain in the minds of families for generations. "The lives that are lost. The children who lose their parents. Children who themselves are killed in indiscriminate shelling in the border areas. Nobody takes that into account. The displacement of the population that is happening. It leads to trauma among adults and children. There is trauma among the children in the border areas, who have seen the shelling, who have run for shelter every night, and those who have lost their loved ones. That trauma carries on for generations. There is post-traumatic stress disorder. People subjected to intense combat and combat conditions, witnessed gruesome acts, wake even 20 years later, bathed in sweat and need psychiatric care," he he said the Indian armed forces, by carrying out strikes deep within Pakistan, have proved that Pakistan would have to bear a very "heavy cost" if they wish to continue on their "foolish path". "Our forces not only targeted Pakistani terrorists' camps but also damaged their airfields deep down. If they continued their foolish path, it would cost them too much. This forced their hands to call for cessation, and that is why their Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called our DGMO to discuss cessation," the former army chief to questions from members in the audience, Naravane said, "Nuclear weapons have always been a cause for concern but we have a nuclear doctrine of no first use, especially against non-nuclear nations and history has shown that nuclear weapons work very well as a deterrent but have never been used actually except for the first two times against Japan at the closing stages of World War II.""Even now, if you see the conflict in Ukraine, it is actually between nuclear powers — Russia on one side and the whole of NATO on the other side, which has two, three of the major nuclear powers of the world, but nobody talks about nuclear weapons. They are used for posturing; whenever some reverses are there, you dangle that nuclear card, but everybody knows in their hearts of hearts, it is only a threat," he added.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘It is not your Bollywood movie'; diplomacy first choice says ex-Army Chief Naravane
Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane has criticised people raising questions about the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan, saying war is not romantic, nor is it a Bollywood movie. Speaking at an event in Pune on Sunday (May 11, 2025), General Naravane said he would go to war if ordered, but diplomacy would be his first choice. Also Read: India-Pakistan ceasefire updates on May 12, 2025 The former Army Chief pointed out it has been a tumultuous week, starting with Operation Sindoor, the strikes by the Indian Armed Forces on terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (POK), followed by four days of intense aerial and some land battles. "It finally culminated in an announcement regarding the cessation of military action. I would like to repeat that it is only a cessation of military operations, not a ceasefire as such. Watch how things unfold in the days and weeks to come," he said. He noted that several people have raised questions about the suspension of military hostilities and whether it was a good thing. "If you consider the facts and figures, particularly the cost of war, you'll realise that a wise person makes that call before the losses become too large or insurmountable," he said. "I believe we proved to Pakistan — through the strikes we carried out not only on terrorist infrastructure but also on their airfields deep within their territory — that the cost of continuing on their path would be too high. That compelled them and ultimately led their DGMO to call ours to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire," he said. He added that there is a third aspect, the social component. "I mentioned strength and destruction, but this social part includes the lives that are lost: children who lose their parents or who themselves get killed in the shelling in border areas. Nobody accounts for that kind of destruction," he said. He noted that for those who have lost their loved ones, the trauma gets carried through generations. "There's also something called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). People who have seen gruesome scenes wake up in cold sweat even after 20 years and need psychiatric care," he said. General Naravane was speaking at a programme organised by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. "War is not romantic. It is not your Bollywood movie. It is very serious business. War or violence should be the last thing we should resort to, which is why our Prime Minister said this is not an era of war. Although war will be forced upon us by unwise people, we should not cheer for it," he said. "Still, people are asking why we have not gone for a full-out war. As a military man, if ordered, I will go to war, but that will not be my first choice," the former Indian Army Chief said. General Naravane said he would choose diplomacy, settling differences through dialogue and not reaching the stage of armed conflict. "We are all equal stakeholders in national security. We should try to resolve differences not only between countries, but amongst ourselves, whether in families or between states, regions and communities. Violence is not the answer," he said. Highlighting the importance of a strong defence budget, General Naravane said the debate about "guns versus butter" is as old as time. "How much should a country spend on defence when there are so many other conflicting priorities? Should you spend on all those things you've seen on the TV screen, or should you spend on education, healthcare, hygiene, sanitation, and so many other equally pressing demands, especially for a developing country like ours?" he said. He pointed out that the Defence Ministry takes up about 15% of the national budget, and that's the kind of investment which has to be made. "Now you will ask, is it a worthwhile investment, or is it money down the drain that has to be pumped back up? So, let me put it in two or three different ways. Firstly, I would like to say: look at it as an insurance premium." The country needs a backup plan for emergencies, and this was starkly evident last week, he said. "If your armed forces are well-prepared and well-equipped, they are capable of dealing with any such emergency that may be thrust upon the country without warning — just like accidents happen without warning," he said. He added that the key difference was that in the case of insurance, the benefit comes after the accident, while a well-prepared military helps prevent the accident from happening in the first place. "If you are well prepared, others will think twice before attacking you," General Naravane said.
