The United Service Institution of India (USI), the country’s oldest think tank, is set to organize the first Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) later this month. The festival aims to bridge the gap in the national discourse and cultural calendar by enhancing the understanding of India’s rich military heritage, contemporary security concerns, and the drive for self-reliance in military capability through Atmanirbhar Bharat programs.
Objectives of IMHF:
- Enhancing Understanding: IMHF seeks to educate the public about India’s military history, heritage, and security challenges, which often go unnoticed despite the country’s profound military culture and history.
- Informed Sessions: The festival will host informed sessions covering a range of topics, including indigenous historical knowledge systems, India’s role in the world wars, post-independence challenges, and the analysis of war and conflict through fiction and media.
- Audience Inclusivity: IMHF aims to cater to audiences from all walks of life, making military history and security discussions accessible to a broad cross-section of society.
Project Udbhav:
The Indian Army’s Project Udbhav focuses on rediscovering India’s Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thought derived from ancient texts on statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy, and grand strategy. The Army, in collaboration with USI, seeks to explore India’s historical narratives in statecraft and strategic thought as part of this project.
Key Themes and Discussions at IMHF:
- Comprehensive National Security: IMHF will acquaint future thought leaders with the dynamics of comprehensive national security, emphasizing India’s strategic culture, military heritage, education, modernization of security forces, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
- Military Gallantry and Indigenous Strategic Vocabulary: Discussions will cover India’s culture of gallantry, the role of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defense sector, and the development of an indigenous strategic vocabulary rooted in culture and history.
- Exhibition: An exhibition in collaboration with the National Museum will showcase select milestones and achievements in India’s military history.
