New Delhi, Nov 14 (NationPress) The Minister of State (MoS) for Defence, Sanjay Seth, officially launched the third iteration of the annual Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) on Friday. He emphasized the significance of preserving historical knowledge through literature as a means to enhance military strength.

In his inaugural remarks, MoS Seth stated, "This festival serves as a vital link to our illustrious military traditions and inspiring heroic narratives that motivate us towards a promising future."

He conveyed an important message to the youth, asserting that understanding our military history is not merely a source of pride, but also a critical opportunity to establish a robust foundation for self-reliance and national security.

Organized by the United Service Institution of India, this two-day event, taking place on November 14 and 15, is centered on promoting dialogues about India’s military history and heritage while addressing national security and geopolitical issues.

The IMHF is designed to function as a collaborative platform for dialogue, engaging stakeholders from the three Services, government officials, diplomats, academia, think-tanks, as well as both private and public sectors, as highlighted in an official statement.

This year's IMHF features engaging attractions, including an exhibition of prominent military artwork by Lieutenant Colonel Arul Raj (Retd) and the unveiling of significant publications such as "The Sukraniti: Statecraft and Warcraft" by Colonel P.K. Gautam (Retd) and "Honours & Awards of the Indian Armed Forces" by A.K. Mishra. The festival also offers panel discussions with renowned authors discussing various topics related to India's military history and heritage.

Among the sessions are titles like Operation Sindoor, The War India Forgot, Contested Partitions, Tussles over Tibet, and BSF and Bangladesh. The previous edition of the festival marked the launch of Project 'Shaurya Gatha', an initiative by the Department of Military Affairs and the United Service Institution (USI) of India, aimed at preserving and promoting India's military heritage through education and tourism.

During the two-day program, notable publications on military subjects were highlighted, including "Because of This: A History of the Indo-Pak Air War December 1971" by Air Marshal Vikram Singh (Retd); "Valour and Honour", a joint publication by the Indian Army and USI of India; and "Silent Weapons, Deadly Secrets: Unveiling the Bioweapons Arms Race" edited by Lieutenant General Vinod Khandare (Retd), Principal Advisor, Ministry of Defence, among others.

In 2024, the Defence Research and Development Organisation will showcase a photo exhibition highlighting its contributions to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' through advancements in defense research.

"The involvement of NCC Cadets and students from various schools and colleges in the Delhi-NCR region inspired the younger generation to consider pursuing careers in the armed forces. Informative stalls from the three Services will outline their roles and the opportunities available for aspiring youth," the statement mentioned.

The inaugural IMHF took place on October 21-22, 2023, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.

"The event showcased India's military culture through performances by military bands from the three Services and various exhibits demonstrating the diverse initiatives of the Indian armed forces," the statement further added.