Books | Arjun Subramaniam, author of Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020

Without Engaging in Hyper-Nationalism, it is Essential to Include Military History as Part of the Standard Historical Discourse in Schools and Colleges

What inspired you to write this book?

Among the several reasons that propelled me to write this book, there are four or five that are dear to me. First was a desire to give contemporary Indian military history its rightful place in the overall history narrative of independent India. The second was a conviction that India’s Wars: A Military History 1947-1971 had to be followed in a chronological sequel before the latter’s impact faded away. The third was to contribute to jointmanship and synergy among the three services and foster a greater understanding of India’s armed forces among different constituencies of Indian society. Lastly, to fulfil my childhood passion for military history and walk the path of military historians, such as, John Keegan.

As the book is based on India’s wars until now, how do you think India’s war strategies have evolved?

Strands of strategy run throughout my book and I am particularly satisfied with Chapter Two that I have named ‘Chameleon Wars’ as it echoes the various dilemmas faced by the Indian military leadership from the Eighties onwards as it suddenly grappled with multiple hues of conflict other than conventional conflict. War strategies emerge from political directives as it should be in democracies and India’s military strategies have primarily revolved around deterrence and protection of sovereignty and internal stability.

India’s military strategies have supported its aspirations of b