– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Veterans continue to question the removal of the iconic painting of 1971 India-Pakistan war from the Army chief’s lounge. In a tersely worded letter addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and all three service chiefs, Brigadier Inder Mohan Singh (retired), President of the Indian Ex-Services League (IESL) of which the Defence Minister is the patron-in-chief, questioned as to why one would “bring religion” to the armed forces and dismantle “our edifice and remove our roots” referring to the Garuda and Lord Krishna’s chariot in the new painting.
The Indian Army has replaced a painting depicting the historic 1971 Bangladesh war surrender with a new artwork in the Army Chief’s lounge, sparking mixed reactions among military veterans. The new painting, titled Karam Kshetra – Field of Deeds, shifts the narrative towards portraying the Army as a “guardian of Dharma,” emphasising its role in upholding justice and protecting national values while reflecting its modern capabilities.
The updated artwork, ‘Karam Kshetra – Field of Deeds’ created by Lt Col Thomas Jacob of the 28 Madras regiment, weaves together themes of mythology, philosophy, and advanced military strength.
It features a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the Pangong Tso Lake in Eastern Ladakh on the right, and Garuda and Krishna’s chariot on the left and an array of modern assets such as tanks, infantry vehicles, Light Combat Helicopters, and Apache attack helicopters.
Critics argue that the original painting represented a pivotal moment in India’s modern military history, symbolising unity and strategic prowess. The removal of this historical artefact from a space where foreign dignitaries and military leaders are hosted has raised questions about the Army’s priorities in balancing its heritage with its contemporary identity.
“Pangong Tso with mountains in the background, some military equipment. What is the significance? We have lost our patrolling rights from Finger 4 to 8. I know this because I commanded the then neglected 114 Infantry Brigade from 2001 to 2003. Then, we have Chanakya. Do we go by what was taught by him about 2,400 years back? If his philosophies were so sound, India would not have broken into so many regions, kingdoms, principalities, etc. And weren’t the British wise they brought all of them into one geography and today the armed forces are a result of that success and not Chanakya,” Brigadier Mohan questioned in the letter.
