Letter from the Editor | January 2025

Happy New Year!

FORCE’s first issue of the year has always been the Indian Army special to commemorate the Army Day. And so, it is this year. However, except for one article on artillery modernization, the focus in this issue is on more basic subjects instead of procurements. Though the lead article is on the future threats of which the Indian Army seems both unaware and ill-prepared, the overarching theme of the issue is the importance of leadership. A good leader will ensure that his troops are never found underprepared; and in case they are inadequately equipped for some reason, his leadership will tide over the gap to a large extent. With this theme, it was only appropriate that we hark back to the best—Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw—to extract whatever little remains unknown about his legacy. Even the smallest nugget from his life holds great lessons for military leadership.

We also have an article on the contentious subject of women leadership in the army. This is an evolving matter and needs widespread and unprejudiced discussion. More importantly, this discussion needs to factor in the new realities of high technology warfare, which would require more brains than brawn--From scholar-warriors to scientist-soldiers. Shouldn’t these realities also shape recruitment, training, education and the human resource policies of the Indian Army? This is one subject FORCE will keep returning to in the coming months.

A substantive part of the January edition is devoted to encapsulating the year gone by. However, instead of merely chronicling the events of the year, we have tried to put them in a context so that the readers can see how the situation will unfold in this year. As you would realise, 2024 has been a very eventful year, both for India and the world. Unfortunately, most of these events have added to global instability and human insecurity. Given the flux in the global geopolitics, it is unlikely that the shape of the world will change this year. Perhaps, there will be more pain for the poor and the weak.

Yet, we must hope for the best. And with that hope, may 2025 be the best year of your life.