Friday, August 8, 2025

YourTurn

From Op Vijay(Kargil) to Op Sindoor—Social media and 24/7 news channels queer the pitch

If “message is also strategy” where are policies and structural reforms?

File photo of a press briefing during Operation Sindoor that was launched in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

SURESH BANGARA

08 August, 2025 03:00 pm IST

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A former media Advisor to the Prime Minister titled his piece as, “lessons from Vajpayee, Manmohan Governments on strategic communication.” It left many of us that were engaged in implementing the post Kargil review committee recommendations, wondering why politics often trumps well intended policy recommendations of experts appointed by Governments in power.    It was during Kargil operations in 1999 that the Indian Armed forces and the electronic media learnt to coexist in order to bring the war to our drawing rooms. Given that 24/7  news broadcasting was relatively  new and that privately owned broadcasting with all its frills was just coming of age, neither the reporters nor the Military had grasped the impact it was to make on the viewers. Real time reporting and compromise of security imperatives thereof came to light at a cost, certainly to the Army.

In 2000, the Committee on Defence Management led by Shri Arun Singh made over 100 recommendations to reform the entire structure of higher defence management. One of them pertained to Media handling during peace and war. Public relations as it was known was entirely under the MOD. The reforms needed to be aligned to the joint structures of operations under the CDS as well as integration of service headquarters with MOD. However, neither creation of CDS nor the Integration with MOD were executed till 2019.More importantly, the Theatre Commands when constituted may well have their own structure for Media management. Hence from OP Vijay to OP Sindoor media briefings followed the old system. When CDS is finally vested with an operational role, an amended joint format is likely to materialise.

The electronic media stumbled during the Kargil operations in 1999. Since media management continued to be nebulous and vague, the Mumbai terror attack of 2008 resulted in compromises of live operations. Quite clearly, media management needed much more coordination.

During OP Sindoor, 24/7 TV news channels in their effort to make their coverage interesting and “educative” appeared to be desperate to garner credibility by enrolling veterans. As in all professions, the perspective offered to the viewers depends on the rank and service of the veteran. Very few of those would have been in the war room or at briefings leading to decisions of the higher defence management, especially during hostilities. The anchors however who attempted to pose questions to the veterans assumed that most of them would be familiar with the politico-military nuances. The combined output during a debate, bordered on acute speculation and inordinately long-winded questions posed by the anchor. Predictably the domain expert ended up with least ‘Airtime”. Some channels without remorse mastered the art of combining contents of Wikipedia and Chat GPT to display their knowledge on modern trends in warfare. Over confidence coupled with unsolicited advice to the Military and the the Govt were on display. Although advisories were issued to the media to restrict debates to areas not pertaining to inadvertent compromise of operational plans, no arm of the Govt showed any intentions to “curtail” the freedom of the media. The viewer got what he deserved i.e, theatrics and drama.

On the contrary, viewers across our border were recipients of all possible combinations of tactics and choice of weapons-free of cost!

We have to prepare to combat instant communications and the ills of social media. The latter provides freedom to anyone to become an expert with no responsibility but with a possible role in influencing minds of the unsuspecting reader. Countering fake news has to be fought jointly by IW and Cyber experts. IW is recognized as an integral function of operations. The navy was the first to create an IW cell in the mid-1990s. It played a vital role during Op Vijay.

With Theaterisation on the horizon, and the CDS assuming an operational role, Media management would need to be accorded the much-needed focus. Dissemination of information on the progress of war perhaps would fall under the purview of VCDS. Additional SEC (XP) and Spokesperson MEA would undoubtedly continue to coordinate the briefing. The missing link may well be a senior Rep of the GOI/NSA whose statements on intentions and directions on the conduct of operations would be invaluable to contain speculations in the social media and 24/7 news channels.

So, Op Vijay (Kargil) resulted in a high-powered Committee and many sub committees under the group of Ministers to correct long neglected and endemic structural weaknesses in higher defence management of India. That the implementation took about 17 years and counting, does not augur well for our ability to reform at a fast pace.

2025 has been declared as the year of reform in which Media management ought to be a focus area. If the message is faulty, it would lead to strategic mis communication. Hence the old dictum, “If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.

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     MY ANNUAL CHAT WITH SAMIR BANGARA

IN THE MIDST OF OP SINDOOR ET AL

     

          OUR LAST HOLIDAY AT CHICKMAGALUR - MY PLACE OF BIRTH. 

So, my son, another year goes by. It is five years, but it feels like 25.

During your drive back home after a very long day, often spilling over to the following day, you would have followed all the actions of OP Sindoor. As was your wont, you would have asked me some loaded questions, hoping I would spill the beans. I would, as always, tell you to rephrase your questions as the answers exceeded what you needed to know. And then, using all your persuasive arguments, you would say that it was your right to know. And I, predictably, would explain why it is not your right when the Operations are underway. Such banters would continue till we met later and boxed each other till we laughed together. The beans were never spilled! Deeply in your heart, you knew the outcome, but you never failed to provoke me. Little did I know that you would precede me years before my last journey. Would I have handled it differently? Certainly not, for we enjoyed the banter and the ensuing reconciliation hours/days later!

Two of your professional interests continue to make headlines. Knowing how passionate you were about digital applications and innovations, it would have warmed your heart to see startups prosper like never before. Your desire to invest in some of them as a generous Angel investor would have been irresistible. You never relied on profits. It was always the quality of innovation. 

Three major family events would have pleased you. The first was the 100th birthday of  Nani in Fremont, California.  I knew how deeply you loved her and always found time to share with her. I was not going to miss the event. My presence was meant to be symbolic, but I managed to spend quality time with her by arriving a few days earlier. 

                         

 WITH NANI AT 100

You and Deena would have enjoyed choreographing the whole event. Nevertheless, as you can see, your presence was strongly felt at the culminating event in the Town Hall.

                                               AT THE FREEMONT TOWNHALL

The next was meeting up with John-Aradhana and their little baby boy, Oliver Rajan. Nice to have some Greek blood in our cosmopolitan family. As you can see, I did what you would have dearly loved to do with Rajan.      

                                  

                                       HELLO OLIVER RAJAN PAPANDRIOP0ULOS

                                 

               

The third event was the icing on the cake. Despite her dance performances and extracurricular activities as the school's head girl, Jahnavi not only managed the process of applying to various schools in the USA but also secured admission at  TUFTS in Boston under the Early Decision Plan. In cricketing parlance, she hit the ball out of the stadium! You, as indeed we are, would be proud of Raihan at UMASS and Jahnavi now at TUFTS. The credit goes to the manager and coach of the team -Take a bow, Avantika.

There was so much Navy in your blood that you remembered many who kept in touch years after I relinquished Command of my ships. Some have ascended the ladder.  Some have even retired as Flag Officers. My two Flag Lts are now in Command of powerful Destroyers. You even had the good fortune of spending time on a Carrier at anchor commanded by a well-known colleague and a trusted staff officer. Indeed, they were part of our family and they still are. It is just that the presence of your Mother and you would have meliorated their interaction with so much more fun and love.

I was delighted to be invited to the Beating Retreat ceremony in Mumbai. Guess who accompanied me. Avantika and Jahnavi. It was when your daughter threw a barrage of questions to understand each of the events that I was reminded of you. In all those years spent in the Navy, this was her first exposure, as she was too young to be invited till I retired in 2006.  I am glad she witnessed one of the most powerfully evocative ceremonies of the Navy. Here are some pictures.

                 

AT THE NAVY HOUSE, MUMBAI

                                  

Ironically, as I was completing my chat with you, the horrendous sight of IC 171, the Dreamliner crashing at Ahmedabad, was brought live to our drawing rooms. 241 perished on board. One survivor was seen walking out almost nonchalantly. Four more perished in their hostel rooms, where the tail section of the aircraft impacted. My loss five years ago momentarily took a back seat. The survivor reinforced one of life's many lessons. You have got to go only when your time is up. 

Like the Commanding officer has to live with the pain of losing his men in action, a father, too, has to bear his son's loss. Ask me which is easier.. I don't have a ready answer yet. 

I end this year's conversation with Sayonara or Auf Wiedersehen, even as I regret why it cannot be "Jeete Raho"!!