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CHENNAI: Army chiefs are decorated for the wars they lead, but when Sundarajan Padmanabhan retired he came to be known as the general who got the Army together for a war that was not waged.
When his more controversial successors have penned their lives, Padmanabhan, who chose to retire to a quiet colony in Adyar, has chosen to write books on India's relations with other countries. "A book on what happened when I was chief would be controversial and I'm too old for that now," said the 74-year-old former General, who is known for mobilizing the Army during Operation Parakram.
Operation Parakram involved India's military standoff with Pakistan in response to the 2001 terror attack on the Parliament. The operation — which involved massive army build-up along the LoC — was however called off, leaving many questions unanswered. "We were well placed. Pakistan had problems on its Baloch front and Afghanistan, and if at that time war had taken place, the outcome would have been decisive," said Padmnabhan, who earned a reputation as a tough, aggressive commander in Kashmir. He said the Indian government had a lot of inhibitions. "We stayed put for 11 months and eventually withdrew. It's an old story I may write about some day, but I'm not ready now," he said.
Twelve years later, it isn't Pakistan that he sees as the biggest foe to India, but China. In his latest venture, 'China-India War - World's First Water War - 2029', he predicts a conflict between the two countries over the Brahmaputra. The seeds for this conflict have already been sown: China recently announced that it has completed a major dam on the Brahmaputra, which it calls Yarlung Zangbo, in Tibet. India has raised concerns that the dam could cause flash floods and landslides downstream.
But Padmnabhan's 'futuristic fiction' is based on the friction between the two countries over China diverting the Brahmaputra, which flows south into India and Bangladesh, to north to Northwest China. "We could be in serious trouble if that happens. War should be the last option, and tact the first," he said, "My book is based on the year 2029, when hopefully India's growth is far ahead of China. Even if a conflict on these lines turns out to be a reality, what India needs to do now is to garner support from its neighbours like China is doing now with Pakistan, Myanmmar and to some extent Sri Lanka".
Although he has penned two other books on military and diplomacy, it is children's books that Padmanbhan hopes to write some day. "People are usually surprised when I say I have a penchant for writing children's books. I think catering for them will be more challenging than anything I've taken on," said the septuagenarian.
He may have retired, but Padmanabhan's link to the Army is still strong. Former Army chiefs still drop into his apartment, where idols of deities share space with vestiges from his days in the Army.
An idol of Lord Ganesha sits atop a polished empty shell, a framed picture of a battle scene painted by a colonel shares the same space on the same wall as another deity.
Padmanabhan begins his day by reading five newspapers and poring over a crossword puzzle.
"People ask me how I have been spending my retired life. They expect me to say I exercise and try to be fit and attend lots of functions. The truth is I don't do any of that. I prefer sitting with a paper and pencil and writing whatever inspires me," he said.
Man behind Operation Parakram sees China as big enemy - The Times of India
When his more controversial successors have penned their lives, Padmanabhan, who chose to retire to a quiet colony in Adyar, has chosen to write books on India's relations with other countries. "A book on what happened when I was chief would be controversial and I'm too old for that now," said the 74-year-old former General, who is known for mobilizing the Army during Operation Parakram.
Operation Parakram involved India's military standoff with Pakistan in response to the 2001 terror attack on the Parliament. The operation — which involved massive army build-up along the LoC — was however called off, leaving many questions unanswered. "We were well placed. Pakistan had problems on its Baloch front and Afghanistan, and if at that time war had taken place, the outcome would have been decisive," said Padmnabhan, who earned a reputation as a tough, aggressive commander in Kashmir. He said the Indian government had a lot of inhibitions. "We stayed put for 11 months and eventually withdrew. It's an old story I may write about some day, but I'm not ready now," he said.
Twelve years later, it isn't Pakistan that he sees as the biggest foe to India, but China. In his latest venture, 'China-India War - World's First Water War - 2029', he predicts a conflict between the two countries over the Brahmaputra. The seeds for this conflict have already been sown: China recently announced that it has completed a major dam on the Brahmaputra, which it calls Yarlung Zangbo, in Tibet. India has raised concerns that the dam could cause flash floods and landslides downstream.
But Padmnabhan's 'futuristic fiction' is based on the friction between the two countries over China diverting the Brahmaputra, which flows south into India and Bangladesh, to north to Northwest China. "We could be in serious trouble if that happens. War should be the last option, and tact the first," he said, "My book is based on the year 2029, when hopefully India's growth is far ahead of China. Even if a conflict on these lines turns out to be a reality, what India needs to do now is to garner support from its neighbours like China is doing now with Pakistan, Myanmmar and to some extent Sri Lanka".
Although he has penned two other books on military and diplomacy, it is children's books that Padmanbhan hopes to write some day. "People are usually surprised when I say I have a penchant for writing children's books. I think catering for them will be more challenging than anything I've taken on," said the septuagenarian.
He may have retired, but Padmanabhan's link to the Army is still strong. Former Army chiefs still drop into his apartment, where idols of deities share space with vestiges from his days in the Army.
An idol of Lord Ganesha sits atop a polished empty shell, a framed picture of a battle scene painted by a colonel shares the same space on the same wall as another deity.
Padmanabhan begins his day by reading five newspapers and poring over a crossword puzzle.
"People ask me how I have been spending my retired life. They expect me to say I exercise and try to be fit and attend lots of functions. The truth is I don't do any of that. I prefer sitting with a paper and pencil and writing whatever inspires me," he said.
Man behind Operation Parakram sees China as big enemy - The Times of India
