Vaad

Manish Bhatnagar, a former Major in the Indian Army, is widely known for being the first officer to report the initial Pakistani intrusions during the Kargil War in 1999. Despite his early warnings, the intelligence was overlooked by the higher command, leading to significant consequences. Major Bhatnagar has since become a vocal advocate for accountability and transparency within the military, especially concerning the lapses during the Kargil conflict. His experiences and insights offer a compelling perspective on the challenges and responsibilities faced by those in uniform.

Ami Ganatra is a bestselling Indian author and management professional who has built a rare bridge between the corporate world and India's classical knowledge tradition. An alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, she spent over fifteen years in consulting and business management across sectors and geographies before turning her deeper intellectual energies toward the texts that shaped the civilisation she grew up in.Her work is defined not by imaginative retellings but by a strict commitment to the original Sanskrit sources, presenting their insights with a focus on contemporary relevance — a rare discipline in a space crowded with popular mythology. She first made her mark with the Unravelled series — Mahabharata Unravelled and Ramayana Unravelled — which have since been translated into several Indian languages.Her latest book, Why Are We This Way: A Guide to Hindu Shastras is now out (Order your copy here: https://amzn.in/d/07TzUnpz).Beyond her work for adults, she has also authored several children's books including Avadhut and His Teachers, My Friend Arjun, and My Sister Devi Amazon, driven by the belief that value-based learning must begin young. What sets Ami apart is the particular vantage point she writes from — that of an ordinary, practising Hindu who followed rituals before she understood them, and who decided, with an engineer's rigour and a devotee's sincerity, to go back to the source.

Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd) A seasoned fighter pilot and strategic military thinker, Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd) brings over 25 years of distinguished service in the military (Indian Air Force) and civil aviation. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Dec 1996, after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA), he has operated high-performance fighter jets, besides handling various command and staff appointments.He has extensive experience in aerospace operations, force application in support of national security, and planning of complex operations. He is a qualified civil aviation pilot as well and holds type ratings on the Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and Gulfstream G-200. His military tenure was defined by key leadership roles such as Commanding Officer of the IAF Hawk training squadron and Operations staff at HQ Western Air Command. He was nominated for various international courses by the IAF, including- Qualified Flying Instructor with the Royal Air Force (UK), Advanced Air Power specialization with RAAF (Australia) and Air Staff course at the Air University (Maxwell AFB, USA). With a Master’s degree in Operational Art and Science, he has contributed to doctrinal development, joint warfare planning, and strategic policy formulation within the IAF.His academic and operational exposure in the USA, UK, and Australia reflects a deep engagement with traditional and emerging military thought with a global military perspective and thought leadership. Beyond the cockpit, he served as a subject matter expert in air warfare and strategy, helping shape the IAF warfighting doctrine. Since transitioning from active service, he continues contributing as a defence expert and commentator on strategic affairs, frequently appearing in media and publishing insights on regional security, air power, space based applications and military modernization.

S.S. Virk is a decorated Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1970 batch who played an instrumental role in tackling militancy in Punjab throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Deputed from the Maharashtra cadre to Punjab during its most turbulent period, he served as SSP Amritsar, DIG (CRPF), and spearheaded key counter-terror operations, including the historic Operation Black Thunder in 1988 where he survived a critical AK-47 gunshot wound in the line of duty. He later rose to serve as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab as well as DGP of Maharashtra.

Jagdish Kaur Sandhu is a civilian recipient of the Shaurya Chakra, awarded for her exceptional bravery alongside her husband, Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Shaurya Chakra), brother-in-law Ranjit Singh, and sister-in-law. Based in Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran, Punjab), the Sandhu family stood as an unyielding bulwark against terrorism throughout the 1980s and 1990s, surviving over 40 armed attacks and fierce sieges by Khalistani terror outfits. In October 2020, Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu was martyred after his security was abruptly withdrawn, and Jagdish Kaur continues to fight relentlessly for justice, truth, and national integration.

Ranju Aery Dadhwal is an author, researcher, and independent journalist who has documented the socio-political history and human cost of the Punjab militancy era. Through extensive ground research, oral histories, and documentation—most notably in her book RED CARD —she sheds light on the lived experiences, massacres, and long-standing struggles of victims and displaced families from the 1980s and 1990s.

Harpreet Walia is an Indian globetrotter with roots tracing back to undivided Punjab. Having traveled across Pakistan twice—visiting Lahore, Gujranwala, and beyond—he shares raw, eye-opening accounts of ground realities, unexpected encounters with intelligence networks, and what everyday life across the border truly looks like beyond official narratives.

Colonel Rajesh Pawar (retd) is a former officer of the Indian Army and is now a seasoned war correspondent and defense journalist for India Today. He is best known for his fearless ground reporting from some of the most volatile conflict zones in recent history.His expertise lies in global geopolitics, modern warfare tactics, and defense strategy. Most notably, he provided extensive on-ground coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, reporting live from Kyiv even as the city was under siege.More recently, he has covered the Israel-Hamas war, reporting from locations like Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea to analyze the conflict's military and human impact. His work often focuses on the intersection of military action and its geopolitical ripple effects, making him a critical voice for understanding how global conflicts impact India's strategic interests.

Manish Bhatnagar, a former Major in the Indian Army, is widely known for being the first officer to report the initial Pakistani intrusions during the Kargil War in 1999. Despite his early warnings, the intelligence was overlooked by the higher command, leading to significant consequences. Major Bhatnagar has since become a vocal advocate for accountability and transparency within the military, especially concerning the lapses during the Kargil conflict. His experiences and insights offer a compelling perspective on the challenges and responsibilities faced by those in uniform.Shubham Sharma is a researcher on Indian Military History and Warfare.

Bank details of Sukhwinder Singh Ji:UPI ID: Sukhwinderdayalsingh@axisbankName - Sukhwinder singhBank - Axis bankA/C no - 925010014248741Ifsc code - UTIB0002804Name - Sukhwinder singhBank - PNB Kapurthala branchA/c no - 3492000110276098Ifsc code - Punb0349200Sukhwinder Singh, also known as Dayal Singh or Kaka, is a significant figure in the history of Khalistani militancy in Punjab. Born into a turbulent era marked by the rise of separatist movements, Sukhwinder witnessed firsthand the violence and chaos that engulfed Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.Sukhwinder was born in Punjab and grew up in a region deeply affected by the Khalistani movement, which sought to establish a separate Sikh state. His early experiences shaped his understanding of the socio-political landscape, leading him to become involved in counter-terrorism efforts.Sukhwinder was wrongly labelled as an “A” category terrorist by the Punjab government. He experienced both sides of the conflict—being targeted by Khalistani groups while also witnessing the actions of the Punjab Police.In a notable turn of events, Sukhwinder took a stand against Khalistani terrorism. He played a crucial role in efforts to dismantle these militant networks, helping Punjab Police to combat the violence that had plagued his homeland. His commitment led him to establish a secret organization named Indian Lions, aimed at countering Khalistani forces.Due to his activities against Khalistani militants, Sukhwinder became a target himself. The Khalistani organizations placed a bounty on his head, with millions offered for his assassination. Despite numerous close encounters with these groups, he has managed to evade capture and harm through miraculous interventions.Sukhwinder Singh’s journey serves as a testament to the ongoing struggle against extremism and the personal sacrifices made by individuals in service of the nation. He continues to live under constant threat.