Naravane's book not cleared in Army scrutiny, says Military Literature Fest organiser
Brigadier Advitya Madan says Naravane’s manuscript has not received clearance from Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence
Memoirs and operational accounts by senior military officials often face prolonged scrutiny before publication due to national security concerns, a member of the Military Literature Festival Association said on the sidelines of the festival at Khalsa College, Patiala.
Brigadier Advitya Madan said former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane was not the only high-ranking officer whose book has remained unpublished due to official objections.
He cited the case of Lt Gen (Retd) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, popularly known as Tiny Dhillon, whose book Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strike Inside Pakistan initially drew 37 interactions from Army Headquarters.
Madan said Dhillon had to make multiple visits to Army Headquarters to clarify concerns, following which the book received clearance within about 90 days. The book, which was displayed and discussed at the festival, details the planning and execution of a complex, integrated joint military operation, as well as the restraint exercised in a highly informationised operational environment.
In contrast, the unpublished memoir of Naravane, Four Stars of Destiny, continues to be a topic of discussion at the literature festival.
Madan explained that once a manuscript is submitted, three outcomes are possible: outright clearance; partial objections requiring modifications or deletion of sensitive content; or rejection if the material has grave operational implications or risks national security.
He said Naravane’s manuscript has not received clearance from Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence, resulting in the book being held up for the past two years. The manuscript was reportedly ready for publication in 2024 but ran into objections, including references to the Agnipath scheme.
Madan noted that Naravane had earlier recommended a higher retention ratio under the scheme than what is currently implemented.
“He had recommended 75 per cent retention, whereas 25 per cent are being retained and 75 are being eased out. However, the proposal is underway, and I think the government is now increasing the percentage of retention,” Madan said.
“The clearance process is meant to balance transparency with national security. What gets published ultimately depends on whether the content has operational implications or could compromise the interests of the armed forces,” he added.
