Former Army chief General Manoj Naravane has said that it was “not warranted” to unnecessarily draw him into controversy over his unpublished memoir earlier this year, adding that he has since moved on and closed that chapter.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Naravane said the Ministry of Defence had asked the publisher to hold the memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, pending vetting. “As far as I am concerned, the matter rested there, and I have moved on… so that is a closed chapter,” he said, adding that it was unnecessary to “drag the unpublished book into the limelight” and, by extension, him as well.
The remarks come months after political controversy erupted when excerpts from the unpublished manuscript were sought to be cited in Parliament, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi being prevented from doing so as the book had not yet been released.
Since then, Naravane has shifted focus to writing. His latest book, The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, published by Rupa Publications, marks a lighter departure from memoir-style writing. He described it as an “entertaining read” rather than a serious academic work, and said he has already completed two books since the controversy, with a third expected soon.
The new publication explores lesser-known stories, traditions, and folklore from the Indian armed forces, spanning the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Among the themes he highlights is the origin and evolution of the military greeting “Jai Hind”, which he traces back to the freedom movement and its early adoption within the armed forces.
Naravane noted that the Indian Air Force was the first to adopt “Jai Hind” as a formal greeting, later followed by the Army and Navy. He also pointed out that earlier regimental greetings such as “Sat Sri Akal” and “Ram Ram” were commonly used alongside largely silent salutes.
“‘Jai Hind’ has now become universal across the three services,” he said, adding that he himself was surprised by its deeper historical roots. “It was a revelation to me as well. I must have said ‘Jai Hind’ a million times without knowing this.”
The book also revisits military legends, including the story of Badluram of the Assam Regiment. According to Naravane, Badluram died during the Battle of Kohima in 1944, but rations continued to be delivered in his name, inadvertently sustaining his unit during a critical phase of the battle. The incident later inspired the popular regimental song “Badluram ka Badan”, widely regarded as an unofficial anthem of the Assam Regiment.
He described the song as both “foot-stomping” and morale-boosting, noting that while it is widely known within military circles, few are aware of its historical origins.
Naravane also recounted the story of Pedongi, a military mule associated with the 1971 war. According to him, the animal was taken by opposing forces to carry loads but eventually escaped, navigating difficult terrain and minefields to return to its unit. The mule reportedly served for 37 years and was later given a ceremonial retirement, no longer used for operational duties.
He described the animal’s journey as an extraordinary act of “loyalty and instinct,” adding that it lived out its remaining years in Bareilly before dying of natural causes.
Naravane’s latest work continues his exploration of lesser-known military narratives, blending folklore, history, and anecdotal accounts from India’s armed forces.
(With inputs from PTI)