NARRATIVES IN CONFLICT / LT GEN DP PANDEY / LT GEN P R SHANKAR

Lt Gen D P Pandey (R) and I discussed how narratives in conflict are spun. It is now common to generate narratives in line with political and military goals by all nations. These narratives shape public opinion before , during and after the conflict. Historically, India has been poor at generating or maintaining a narrative which satisfies its own public leave alone international opinion. The Armed Forces have specially been inept in building public opinion on their capabilities or action. It has placed them at a great disadvantage historically. This is strange considering that the Indian Armed Forces are the most trusted of institutions in the country. There is necessity for introspection and doing a lot about it.

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Don’t Burn the Last Bastion by Lt Gen P R Shankar (R)

‘Sir, will China invade us?’ ‘We hear China has increased activities on the border’. Chinese consolidation activities on the LAC have prompted such reactions and fears. Lot of such inquiries from citizens within and outside India. Why? Bodies floating down Ganga, mass graves, lack of oxygen, medicines or hospital beds, botched vaccination program, uninterrupted work on Central Vista - all these have eroded our political capital immensely and seeded such doubts. Our national institutions are being compared to ‘rottweilers’ in the media. Economy? Unemployment figures and stock markets – both rattling up. Strangest combination. Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. An ominous divergence which bodes ill. Leadership? Kis Chidiya ka naam hai bhai? National level paralysis in responding to the second wave. Erosion in comprehensive national power. Many have never experienced India being so weak. Nor did I for that matter. This frightening experience ...

THE POST BALAKOT REVIEW BY LT GEN P R SHANKAR (R)

The Pakistani FM to BBC: War would be suicidal. Pakistan has already started negotiating with a gun to its head! Welcome home Wing Commander Abhinanadan. Well done. You flew into the Valley of Death and survived. India is proud. Sincere condolences to Air Marshal Waseem Ud Din on the loss of his son Shahaz Ud Din under most unfortunate circumstances. He was incredibly brave to continue his mission when others had turned around. Paradigm Emerged A lot has happened since Balakot. Some in focus some out. Some hyped. Some diffused. Time to sum up the situation and see where things are heading. Militarily it is called Review of the Situation. I will do it journalistically so that the intellectual western media understands it. They might or not buy our story. Incidentally it is not a story. It is not for sale. This is real live action. Nuclear exchange receding. Not ruled out. A fundamental paradigm has emerged. India’s fight is ag...

GUNNERS SHOT HITS THE MILLION MARK

IT GIVES ME A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE THAT ' GUNNERS SHOT ' HAS HAD ITS 'MILLIONTH VIEWER' TODAY MORNING. PLEASE SEE THE TABLE BELOW. I STARTED THE BLOG IN MARCH 2019 WHEN SOME OF MY ARTICLES WERE REJECTED BY NATIONAL MEDIA AND REPUTED PLATFORMS. THEY PROBABLY FELT THAT MY ARTICLES DO NOT DESERVE SPACE IN THEIR PUBLICATIONS. HOWEVER I THANK THEM FOR NUDGING ME TO STRIKE OUT ON MY OWN. SO I SET MY OWN STANDARDS. I ALSO COULD NOT COMPROMISE IN PUTTING ACROSS MY VIEW POINT THE WAY I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW. I CHOSE TO BE UNBIASED AND EXPRESS WHAT IS GOOD FOR INDIA WITHOUT ANY COLOURING. I HAVE ALSO FELT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY INDIAN TO KNOW WHAT IS RELEVANT FOR OUR SECURITY IN AS SIMPLE TERMS AS POSSIBLE. IT IS ONLY THEN THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCE...

Gunners Shot

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