

Gen Bipin Rawat Memorial Event Seminar
Transformation Imperatives for Indian Armed Forces
Thursday, 8th December 2022
Command Hospital, Pune
Synopsis
The seminar dwelt on issues that were close to the late General Bipin Rawat’s heart and on which he was focussed relentlessly as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Mrs Krithika Rawat, daughter of the late General Bipin Rawat, attended the event. Both, Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh and Lt Gen Patankar paid rich tributes to the late Gen Rawat and spoke of the significance of his initiatives for defence preparedness. The Army Commander elaborated on the roadmap laid by the first CDS for seamless integration between traditional ethos and modern technologies to strengthen the nation. He brought out the challenges faced by the Armed Forces and highlighted the increasing influence of India in the present geopolitical order.
A number of eminent speakers including Mr Vijay Gokhale, former Foreign Secretary; Dr Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary; and veteran service speakers such as Lt Gen Subrata Saha (Retd), Lt Gen Sanjeev Langer (Retd), Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar (Retd), Lt Gen SS Hasabnis (Retd), Lt Gen AK Singh (Retd), Air Mshl SS Soman (Retd) and Rear Admiral Praveen Nair spoke at the various sessions in the half-day seminar. The event witnessed overwhelming response from all three services, with officers from National Defence Academy, INS Shivaji, Western Naval Command, Mumbai, Air Force Station, Lohegaon, and members of PIC and CASS (Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies, Pune) participating in the event.
The proceedings were broadcast live for all the outstation formations of HQ Southern Command.
Agenda
Thursday - 8th December, 2022 | |
---|---|
0830 – 0900 hrs | Assembly and Registration |
Opening Session
0900 – 1000 hrs |
Inaugural Address by Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in C, Southern Command Opening Remarks by Lt Gen VG Patankar, PVSM, UYSM, VSM (Retd) "India in the Emerging World Order" Talk by Shri Vijay Gokhale, Former Foreign Secretary, Govt of India |
Session 1 1000 – 1115 hrs |
|
1115 – 1145 hrs | Tea/Coffee Break |
Session 2 1150 – 1325 hrs |
Introductory Remarks by Chairperson: Air Marshal SS Soman, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)
|
Concluding
Session 1330 – 1400 hrs |
“Strategic Military Leadership” Talk by Lt Gen AK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) Felicitation of Speakers |
About the Distinguished Speakers

Lt Gen VG Patankar, PVSM, UYSM, VSM (Retd)
Former Quarter Master General who has also commanded a Corps in counter insurgency area. He articulates his views both in written and verbal form and is acknowledged as an accomplished strategist amongst various think tanks.

Mr Vijay Gokhale, IFS
Retired Indian Diplomat and 32nd Foreign Secretary of India. He has served as the Ambassador of India to China. Currently he is engaged with various universities and is a part of various think tanks.

RAdm CR Praveen Nair, NM
Surface warfare officer who specializes in communications and electronic warfare. He is an alumnus of US Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA and has commanded the Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya. He is presently posted as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans).

Lt Gen Subrata Saha, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM & Bar (Retd)
Former DCOAS and has also tenanted several operational appointments including the command of a Brigade and Corps in the Northern Sector. He is a regular contributor to Indian and Foreign Journals

Lt Gen Sanjiv Langer, PVSM, AVSM (Retd)
Military veteran who has commanded an operational Infantry Division and a Strike Corps. He was also appointed as Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff and is a former member of the Armed Forces Tribunal.

Air Marshal SS Soman, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd)
Former Air Officer Commanding in Chief and has more than 3400 hours of flying on fighter aircrafts. He has also served as Assistant Defence Adviser at High Commission of India, Dhaka.

Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM ADC (Retd)
Former Commander in Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. He articulates his thoughts in various forums which are appreciated by the strategic community.

Lt Gen Sudarshan Srikant Hasabnis, PVSM, VSM, ADC (Retd)
Sapper officer with a military career spanning over four decades. He has commanded an Infantry Division and a Mountain Strike Corps. M Phil in military studies, he is an avid speaker in various forums.

Dr Ajay Kumar, Former Defence Secretary, GOI
Indian Administrative Service officer of 1985 batch. He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and University of Minnesota. He has tenanted several key appointments in the Central and State Governments including the Union Defence Secretary and the Secretary Defence Production.

Lt Gen AK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd)
The erstwhile Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. He also was the General Officer Commanding in Chief of Southern Command. He has co-edited three books on Defence Strategy and is a frequent speaker at various forums