- From reactive defence to pro-active denial: Sekhon PVC Memorial Lecture sets strategic tone
- Land and Air Power Veterans unpack lessons and strategic way forward
- India Rewrites India–Pakistan Rule Book without escalation
- Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor honoured for damage-free victory on South-Western Front
- AFA Gujarat underscores national resolve against terror and hybrid threats
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, DEC 14
The Air Force Association (AFA) Gujarat Branch organised the Ninth Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon Param Vir Chakra Annual Memorial Lecture at Neelambar Auditorium, Headquarters South Western Air Command (HQ SWAC), Gandhinagar, focusing on Operation Sindoor and India’s evolving national security doctrine.
Held on 14 December, the solemn anniversary of the martyrdom of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC, the event brought together senior military veterans, serving officers and strategic experts to deliberate on India’s transition from reactive defence to proactive denial of terror threats.
AFA Gujarat Chief Sets the Context: Why Sindoor Matters
Setting the tone for the memorial lecture, Air Marshal A Desai PVSM AVSM VSM (Retd), President, Air Force Association Gujarat Branch, underlined the larger national significance of the event and the legacy it seeks to uphold.
“It takes tremendous courage and resilience to face persistent terrorist, maritime and border threats and yet stay firmly on the path of long-term peace and economic stability,” Air Marshal A Desai said.
Explaining the purpose of the memorial lecture, he added: “That is precisely why the Annual Memorial Lecture is named after Flying Officer Sekhon—to remind the nation that deterrence is built on sacrifice, preparedness and the moral courage to act decisively.”
He emphasised that Operation Sindoor reflects India’s doctrinal shift: “Post Operation Sindoor, India’s security posture has decisively moved from reactive responses to proactive denial of threats, while retaining strategic restraint.”
Operation Sindoor: Lessons from the Land Warfare Domain
Delivering the first keynote address, Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh PVSM AVSM (Retd), Director General, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, spoke on “Operation Sindoor – Takeaway and Way Forward.”
“Operation Sindoor demonstrated that deterrence today is not about mass mobilisation, but about calibrated dominance, precision and political clarity,” Lt Gen Dushyant Singh observed.
Highlighting future conflict paradigms, he noted: “The core takeaway is clear: India will impose c sts on its adversaries while controlling escalation through superior planning and jointness.”
Air Power and the New Strategic Rule Book
The second keynote address was delivered by Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (Retd), Director General, Centre for Air Power and Strategic Studies, on “Operation Sindoor – Rewriting the India–Pakistan Rule Book.”
“Operation Sindoor shattered the assumption that air power automatically leads to escalation. India demonstrated precision, restraint and strategic messaging in one calibrated package,” AVM Golani said.
He added: “Air power has emerged as the foremost instrument of signalling—reshaping adversary behaviour without crossing the threshold of war.”
Chief Guest Honoured for Visionary Leadership
The event was graced by Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM, AOC-in-C, HQ SWAC, Gandhinagar, as the Chief Guest.
He was recently awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) by the President of India for his visionary leadership in decisively neutralising adversary capabilities on the south-western front during Operation Sindoor, without any war-related damage to Indian territory under his area of responsibility.
The honour was described as a moment of national pride and special distinction for Gujarat.
Sekhon PVC: The Legacy That Inspires a Nation
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC remains the only officer of the Indian Air Force to receive the Param Vir Chakra, for his gallantry during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, when he engaged multiple Pakistan F-86 Sabre jets in unequal combat while defending the Srinagar Airfield and was martyred in action.
To commemorate his legacy, the Sekhon IAF Marathon-2025 was organised on 02 November across over 60 locations pan-India, witnessing overwhelming participation.
Air Force Association Gujarat
Established in 2007, the AFA Gujarat Branch, under the parent body founded by Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh DFC (Marshal of the Indian Air Force), works for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. Nationally, the association has over 1.10 lakh members, including more than 8,000 widows, providing sustained financial, legal and social support.
