In a unique initiative resourced out of MPLAD funds, Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament from Chandigarh and former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, partnered with a think tank called 'Gyan Setu' to create a unique 'Fauji Adda' in the Government Post Graduate College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, which is one of the oldest and the most iconic academic institutions in the 'City Beautiful'.
The Gyan Setu think tank, which comprises senior officers who retired from the Indian Army, the Air Force, and Navy and who regularly organize discussions on strategic affairs and national security, felt that there was an imperative need in order to pass that institutional wisdom they had acquired over years of serving the nation to the younger generation.
Given the fact that the Government Post Graduate College Sector 11 has the oldest academic course in defence studies, dating back to 1982 in the Quad Cities of Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali and New Chandigarh, as well as the fact that they have started a course in defence journalism, a facility has been created in order to apprise young students about not only career opportunities which are available in the armed forces, but more importantly, a place where they can come and browse subjects of international relations, strategic affairs and national security, as well as conference with each other and the institutional wisdom, which is available on this subject in these Quad Cities, as well as do podcasts and various other such activities in order to promote an interest in international relations, strategic affairs and national security among the younger generation.
Mr. Tewari while inaugurating this facility on Sunday stressed the fact that we are living in an extremely fluid and volatile global situation where the world is completely adrift and the old order which was built post-World War II has completely collapsed and a new order has not emerged. Therefore, it requires the collective heft of India as a nation to navigate these extremely choppy waters over the coming decade.
Lt. General KJ Singh, Chandigarh Congress President HS Lucky, Lt. Gen Satinder Saini, former VCOAS, Maj Gen Manmohan Singh, Maj Gen JS Nanda, Brig HS Chahal, Col Kulbir Singh, Col Amit Vig as well as the principal of the college and other faculty members attended the inauguration of this 'Fauji Adda', which is an initiative which will be replicated across other academic institutions in the city.