'India a peace-loving nation, but cannot be pacifist, peace without power is utopian': Defence Chief

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday stated that India is a peace-loving nation but cannot be considered pacifist. Speaking at the first Ran Samwad Tri-Services Seminar at Army War College, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh, he said, “India has always stood on the side of peace. We are a peace-loving nation, but don't get mistaken, we cannot be pacifists. I think peace without power is utopian. If you want peace, prepare for war.” He highlighted that India needs to remain armed, secure, and self-reliant to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Gen Chauhan called for a focus on academic studies and awareness of war tactics and strategies. He said, “As a Viksit Bharat, we also need to be 'Sashastra' [armed], 'Suraksit' [secure], and 'Aatmanirbhar' [self-reliant], not only in technology, but also in ideas and in practice. Hence, there is a need to increase awareness on all fragments of our society on doctrinal and conceptual aspects, that's the academic pursuits of how war is fought and practical and actual war fighting techniques and tactics.”

Citing historical examples, the CDS emphasised the importance of combining wisdom and military power. “We have always spoken about 'Shastra' and 'Shaastra' in the same breath. They are actually the two blades of the same sword. We know that a combination of military strategy and warriors is essential to win, and the foremost and best example of this are the Mahabharata and the Gita. We are aware that Arjuna was the greatest warrior, yet he needed a Krishna to guide him towards victory. Similarly, we had Chandragupta who needed the wisdom of Chanakya,” he said.

Gen Chauhan also highlighted India’s tradition of non-violence through historical figures. “India has been a land of Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Jain and Mahatma Gandhi, all champions of non-violence,” he said. He stressed that contemporary military scholars should engage in discussions on strategy and operations, and that detailed research on historical wars should be conducted to strengthen knowledge on modern warfare.

The CDS called for collaboration between the younger generation familiar with technological advancements and experienced veterans. “Today's generation is much more aware of technological advancements and the tactics; it is necessary to hear their point of view. We need harmony between the old and the new. New ideas which are tempered by the experience of the veterans. Ran Samvad must encourage debate,” he said. Ran Samwad 2025 will also feature joint doctrine releases, Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap, and participation from top military leaders, defence experts, and international security professionals.