Capital meet for ex-Army chiefs

Army Chief General N.C. Vij will make presentations on the current status of the force, its recent operations and its future profile. The former chiefs are expected to bring up their concerns about the Army and call attention to trends they consider significant.

This is likely to include the evolution of the War Doctrine, strategic issues, analyses of the Army’s performance in operations over the past few years and recommendations on where the Army could improve. The conclave will also include a formal function and an equestrian event honouring the ex-chiefs.

Former Army chiefs invited to the conference include Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, General S.F. Rodrigues, General S. Padmanabhan, General V.P. Malik and General Shankar Roy-Chowdhury.

The wives of deceased ex-chiefs General B.C. Joshi and General A.S. Vaidya have also been invited. While Field Marshal Manekshaw, who lives in Wellington, is apparently arranging his own travel and accommodation for the conclave, some of the other chiefs are understood to want a longer stay in the Capital.

General V.P. Malik told The Indian Express: ‘‘I think the conclave is a good idea — a forum where our experience can be tapped and our views can be taken.’’

General S. Padmanabhan said the conclave was an excellent idea, but did not want to comment further on its significance. ‘‘It would be a forum for direct interaction between function and experience,” said sources in the South Block.