Defending India

Defending India attempts to comprehensively analyse the management of conflicts and security challenges faced by India during its first half century as a free country. The book is unique in being both the first in its genre and also in that it has been authored by a prominent Indian public figure, a parliamentarian of high standing, and a senior member of the present government in New Delhi. This book plumbs the sources of Indian strategic culture and thought, the evolution of its armed forces, the management of conflicts in the past 50 years (some 37 in all), and along with examining India's defence expenditure patterns, the author also addresses huimself to the challenges that India faces in the future. While presenting a new insight into the last 50 years, Defending India also suggests essential structural changes for the future.

JASWANT SINGH is Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, in the Indian cabinet, and a leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the course of an illustrious parliamentary career, he has held various important appointments. These include key parliamentary committees, as Deputy Leader of the Opposition on two occasions, and as the Finance Minister of India. He is the author of National Security; An Outline of our Concerns and Shaurya Tejo.