Army Releases Book on 1965 Indo Pak War

Army Releases Book on 1965 Indo Pak War 

The Indian Army has released a book on 1965 Indo Pak War today. The book, “1965 : Stories from the Second Indo-Pak War” by Rachna Bisht Rawat , is an authoritative narrative in collaboration with the Indian Army to mark fifty years of the historic Indo-Pak War of 1965. Lt Gen KJ Singh, Army Commander Western Command released the book and is published by Penguin Books India. The book includes five key battles from the 1965 war and is extensively researched, with interviews and profiles of war veterans. 


The book release is part of the celebrations being organized by the Army and the government to mark the occasion of fifty years of the war. Rare pictures of the battles from the Army archives add to the experience of reading the book. 

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Indian Army Releases Amar Chitra Katha & Aan Comics on Inspirational Stories of War Heroes 

Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, Adjutant General of Indian Army released a new series of Amar Chitra Katha and Aan Comics today. 

Amar Chitra Katha, India’s favorite storyteller, is presenting a book on inspirational stories of 21 Param Vir Chakra Awardees, as a tribute to the recipients of the highest gallantry award in India. The new 248 page comic narrates inspirational stories of 21 of India’s brave sons who have been awarded India’s highest gallantry award. The all-colour, beautifully illustrated comic tells the story of each hero’s life from childhood to the battle in which they proved themselves victors over incredible odds. 

Four Aan Comics were also released today based on the heroics of four war heroes who fought in 1965 Indo Pak war and were awarded Maha Vir Chakra. They were Maj Asaram Tyagi, Maj Bhaskar Roy, Sub Ajit Singh and Sub Tika Bahadur Thapa. 

From the numerous wars on India’s borders, to intervention in military crisis abroad, the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces have displayed their bravery in the harshest and most alien of conditions. They have battled fearlessly with only one objective in their minds – to fight for their objective and not back down. The PVC is India’s highest military honour; awarded to those soldiers who display the greatest degree of valour and self-sacrifice on the battlefield. The MVC is the second highest gallantry award in India, given to those soldiers who display a very high level of valour & self sacrifice in the face of the enemy. The sensitively portrayed stories in the comics take the readers into the heart of the battles they fought and gives an insight into the lives and minds of some of the most courageous men our country has ever known. 

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Exercise Ekuverin – 2015 

The Sixth Joint Military Training Exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces (EXERCISE EKUVRIN – VI), will be conducted at Pangode Military Station, Trivandrum, Kerala from 31 Aug to 13 Sep 2015. A total of 45 soldiers each from the Maldivian National Defence Force and the Indian Army will take part in this exercise. 

The bilateral annual exercise, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, India, is alternately held in India and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two countries and increased understanding between both armies. 

The Exercise will commence with an opening ceremony on 31 Aug 2015 at Pangode Military Station. The concluding phase of the exercise will incorporate a tactical exercise which will be witnessed by senior military officers from both the countries, who will review the standards achieved by both the contingents. 

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INS Trikand Visits Port of Valencia, Spain 

In continuation of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to West Asia, Africa and Europe, INS Trikand, entered port at Valencia today for a three-day visit. The ship will engage extensively with the Spanish Navy during its stay in the country. Apart from professional interactions, a number of sports and social engagements are also planned, which would go a long way in enhancing cooperation and understanding between the two navies. 

Indian naval assets are regularly deployed as part of the Indian Navy’s mission of building ‘bridges of friendship’ and strengthening international cooperation with friendly countries as well as to address maritime concerns of the region including piracy in the Gulf of Aden. In addition, Indian Navy has also been involved in capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly navies in the Indian Ocean Region, besides providing assistance in hydrographic survey, search and rescue and improving maritime domain awareness. A notable recent employment of the Indian Navy was the evacuation of over 3000 Indians and citizens from 35 other countries from strife-ridden Yemen in April this year. 

India and Spain have enjoyed warm relations over the years. A number of bilateral arrangements for co-operation and cultural exchange exist between the two nations. The current visit seeks to underscore India’s willingness and ability to work closely with friendly countries on maritime issues of mutual concern and, in particular, to further strengthen the existing bonds between India and Spain. 

INS Trikand, commanded by Captain Vinay Kalia, is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all the three dimensions – air, surface and sub-surface. The visiting ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and is under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, with its Headquarters at Mumbai. 

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Two Indian Naval Ships Visit Iran 

As part of a goodwill visit to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and Iran, two Indian Naval Warships, INS Betwa and INS Beas today entered Bandar-e-Abbas port. During their five day stay in Iran, the ships are scheduled to undertake various professional interactions with their counterparts in the Iranian Navy, including exercises at sea. The visit would also include training and sports events between the two navies. This deployment would add another chapter to the cordial relations and defence cooperation between India and Iran. 

INS Betwa and INS Beas, both are indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Frigates of the Brahmaputra Class. The ships are 125 metres (about 400 feet) in length, displacing 3,600 tonnes and are capable of operating at extended ranges, with speeds up to 30 knots. They have state-of-the-art sensor suites and an impressive weapon package, including long range surface-to-surface missiles and anti-missile defence systems. Their combat capability is further augmented by the capability to embark two multi-mission capable Seaking helicopters. 

The ships have completed over a decade of glorious service with the Indian Navy. INS Betwa is presently commanded by Captain KM Ramakrishnan and INS Beas is commanded by Captain Deepak Bhatia. 

Iran and India relationship is centuries old. There is a great deal of commonality in their language, culture and traditions. Contemporary relation is characterised by interactions in the fields of commerce, energy and education. Traditional close relations have also been further strengthened by regular cultural exchanges, commercial interactions as well as bilateral meetings and high profile visits between both countries. There are a number of Indian students in Iran. India also provides scholarships to Iranian students and presently about 8000 Iranian students are studying in India. India is also one of the favourite destinations for Iranian tourists; around 40,000 visitors come to India every year. 

It has been India’s national objective to ensure a secure and stable regional environment, which is conducive for economic and social development not just at home, but also in immediate and extended neighbourhood. The Indian Navy, while shouldering its security responsibilities, is committed to these objectives and has been contributing towards humanitarian assistance, capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly foreign countries when so needed.