Former Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari delivered a stark lesson on the realities of modern warfare, revealing how persistent cloud cover during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes complicated India's ability to present irrefutable evidence of the operation's success. He made these remarks while addressing a packed audience at the prestigious IIT Bombay Techfest, underscoring that contemporary conflicts are judged as much by verifiable proof as by operational execution.
The Evidence Challenge in Modern Warfare
Speaking at the 29th edition of the festival, the former Indian Air Force chief elaborated on the critical role of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and bomb damage assessment in today's military campaigns. Referring to Operation Sindoor, Chaudhari pointed out that "persistent overcast skies prevented us from taking pictures" of the target site in Pakistan. This absence of immediate visual imagery, he explained, allowed the adversary to sanitize the area and created a vacuum of proof, leading to international questions about whether the strikes had indeed occurred.
Chaudhari's insights were part of a unique symposium that featured three former service chiefs who were coursemates from the 61st course of the National Defence College. He issued a warning about rapidly evolving battlefields, stating there is currently "no defence against a hypersonic missile," a weapon already deployed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Leadership, Values, and Strategic Vision
Former Army chief General Manoj Pande, sharing the stage, spoke on the enduring principles of leadership and institutional values. He described the Indian Army as "a microcosm of the nation" that faithfully reflects India's core principles, "most importantly its secular nature." Addressing a hall filled with school and college students from across Mumbai, Gen. Pande encouraged the youth to pursue their dreams with passion. He stressed that effective leadership is cultivated through a positive organisational culture, unwavering accountability, and the ability to make sound decisions under intense pressure.
Securing Prosperity: The Maritime Imperative
Completing the triad of military leadership perspectives, former Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar highlighted the paramount strategic importance of the seas for India's future. He noted that while nearly 70% of the Earth is covered by water, only about 5% falls within national maritime boundaries. The vast remainder is governed by complex global maritime laws, an area where historical awareness has been limited. Admiral Kumar recalled that even the great Emperor Akbar is believed to have seen the coastline only once in his lifetime.
As India's economy continues its growth trajectory, Kumar emphasized that the bulk of the nation's trade will traverse these open seas, making maritime security central to national prosperity. He championed shipbuilding as the "mother of industries," citing the example of India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. The project, he noted, sustained 2,000 direct jobs and generated an impressive 6.4 ancillary jobs for each direct position, showcasing the sector's massive economic multiplier effect.
The collective message from the former chiefs at IIT Bombay's Techfest was clear: future security hinges on technological adaptation, evidence-based operations, steadfast leadership, and a profound understanding of India's strategic domains, from the skies to the seas.
