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NEW DELHI: Former Army chief Manoj Naravane has said the controversy surrounding his unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny was “not warranted,” as he moves ahead with new literary work, including his latest release The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries.
Speaking in an interview, former Army chief Gen Manoj Naravane said the issue had effectively ended after the Ministry of Defence asked the publisher to hold the memoir for vetting. He added that repeatedly quoting the unpublished book unnecessarily brought him into the limelight.
The memoir had triggered a political controversy earlier this year when Rahul Gandhi was stopped from citing excerpts in the Lok Sabha, as the book had not yet been published.
Former Army chief Gen Manoj Naravane said he has since moved on and focused on writing, producing two books with a third expected soon. His latest book, published by Rupa Publications, explores lesser-known stories, traditions, and myths of India’s armed forces in an engaging format rather than a purely academic approach.
In the book, former Army chief Gen Manoj Naravane traces the origins of the military greeting “Jai Hind,” noting that it was first adopted by the Indian Air Force before being embraced by the Indian Army and Indian Navy. He also highlighted that earlier salutes were silent, with regiments using greetings such as “Sat Sri Akal” or “Ram Ram.”
The book also recounts wartime stories, including that of Badluram of the Assam Regiment, who died during the Battle of Kohima, but whose rations continued to arrive, helping sustain his unit. The story later inspired the regimental song “Badluram ka Badan.”
Another account features Pedongi, a military mule captured during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which escaped captivity and returned to its unit through minefields. The mule was later honoured and retired, living for 37 years.
Former Army chief Gen Manoj Naravane said such stories reflect the deep-rooted traditions, resilience, and lesser-known legends of the Indian armed forces.(Agencies)
