Four Stars of Destiny An Autobiography

Description

In 2019, General Manoj Mukund Naravane became the twenty-eighth Chief of the Indian Army. His journey to the highest echelons of the Indian Armed Forces was not short of events both exciting and challenging.

In his memoirs, General Naravane recounts the myriad experiences that shaped his character, from his childhood to his years in the Services and beyond. From his fi­rst encounter with the Chinese as a young officer in Sikkim to dealing with them in Galwan when he was Chief, from daily incidents of fi­ring across the LC to implementing a ceasefi­re with Pakistan, General Naravane takes us through his distinguished career spanning over four decades that saw him serve in all corners of the country. This is a specialist’s take on the things that make our forces unique, particularly those that deal with the planning and conduct of operations?the raison d’être of the Army.

In Four Stars of Destiny, General Naravane shares lessons on leadership and management with universal applicability, and gives us an insider’s perspective on what else needs to be done to make the Armed Forces a more potent instrument of national power, ready to meet the challenges of the twenty-fi­rst century. General Naravane’s life and career illustrate the strength and resilience required to overcome adversity, and the importance of family and maintaining a work-life balance?something that has been lost sight of in today’s 24×7 work culture.

About the Author
General Manoj Mukund Naravane (retd) served as the twenty-eighth Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 31 December 2019 to 30 April 2022. He did his initial schooling in the Air Force Central School, Delhi Cantt, and Jnana Prabodhinee Prashala, Pune. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune); the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; and the Army War College, Mhow, where he was also on the faculty. Gen Naravane holds a master’s degree in defence studies, an MPhil degree in defence and management studies, and a PhD based on his experiences in Nagaland.

In a distinguished military career covering more than four decades, he served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training and Eastern Commands. He has vast experience in foreign affairs, having been part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, a Defence Attaché at Yangon, Myanmar, and the head of the Indian delegation to several countries.

Gen Naravane has many national and international awards to his credit, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Distinguished Public Service Award 2022, conferred by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). Since September 2023, he has been an adviser to the USISPF board. He has delivered a number of talks on national security and leadership at prestigious institutions, including the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, London; the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore; and the Institute of National Defence Studies and Research, Taiwan. Gen Naravane also writes a bi-weekly column for ThePrint India, on matters of national security.