Garhwal Post Bureau
SRINAGAR GARHWAL, 21 Feb: It was historic day for Garhwal University, on Saturday with the presence of the nation’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan as the chief guest of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University. He delivered a talk on “Strategic Thinking and National Security” at the Swami Manmathan Auditorium on the Chauras campus.
In his detailed address on “Strategic Thinking and National Security,” General Chauhan commended the university’s achievements in the 50 years since its establishment and congratulated the Vice Chancellor and the entire teaching community. He also shared his views on the true nature of national security and Uttarakhand’s potential contribution. He clarified that national security is not just the responsibility of the military, but is the shared responsibility of every citizen, which should begin in schools and universities. Citing lines from Sahir Ludhianvi, he emphasized national consciousness and collective resolve. He said that India’s visionary strategic thinking is inspired by traditions such as Vedic literature, Chanakya Niti, and Dhanurveda, but this vision weakened during the Mughal and British periods of history. Describing self-reliance as a central element of national security, he cited internal and external threats, the example of 1971, changing war concepts, and technology-driven conflicts. He described India’s borders and nuclear-armed neighboring countries as India’s major challenges, emphasizing the need for a strong government, a strong military, and strategic preparedness. Finally, he highlighted the strategic importance of Uttarakhand and urged students to constantly learn, remain vigilant, and remain connected to their roots.
CDS General Anil Chauhan interacted with the students in the closing session of the programme. Later, he also donated 227 important books to the university library. These books cover various strategic, historical, and research topics, providing significant academic benefits to students and researchers. The university administration described this initiative as a significant contribution to the expansion of knowledge.
Education and Health Minister of the Uttarakhand Government, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, attended the event as a special guest. The event, chaired by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Shriprakash Singh, commenced with the lighting of a lamp and the singing of the national anthem, “Vande Mataram.”
The Vice Chancellor welcomed the dignitaries, the MLA, military officers, and the city’s distinguished citizens and said that the land of heroes, Uttarakhand, is honored by the arrival of General Chauhan. He remarked that this sacred land has given the country many brave sons. Expressing special thanks for the valuable research books donated by General Chauhan to the university library, he expressed confidence that the students would benefit from them. The Vice Chancellor presented a brief biography of General Anil Chauhan and enumerated the university’s achievements. He stated that MoUs have been signed with the Army for Agniveer training programmes, and that the university is committed to realizing the vision of a “Developed India 2047.”
During the interactive session, Pallavi Uniyal asked a question regarding the recruitment of women in the Army and their role. General Chauhan clarified that just as women’s empowerment is being promoted in various sectors of the country, women are being provided equal opportunities and responsibilities in every field of the Indian Army. He stated that merit and commitment, not gender, are the basis for selection. University students Manisha Singh, Shubham, Ashish Kumar, and others also asked questions related to national security, military service, and career, to which General Chauhan provided detailed and satisfactory answers.
On this occasion, Minister of Health and Higher Education, welcomed General Anil Chauhan and all the guests on the stage. He stated that the book donation initiative to the university was made possible by the special efforts of Anupama Chauhan. Dr Rawat also invited her to visit her native village, Gavana. Finally, Dean of Student Welfare, OP Gusain, expressed his gratitude to all the guests and extended special thanks to General Chauhan for donating books to the university library.
Also present on the occasion were Vinod Kandari, MLA from Devprayag Assembly constituency, and Mahendra Pratap Singh Bisht, Mohan Panwar, Manjula Rana, HBS Chauhan, Brigadier Vinod Negi, Colonel Gaurav Batra, Chief Controller Deepak Kumar, NS Panwar, Anish Uj Zaman, Prof Rakesh Dodhi, Director of Chauras Campus Rajendra Singh Negi, Public Relations Officer Ashutosh Bahuguna, along with faculty, researchers, and students were present.
