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Air Marshal PK Dey Memorial Lecture: Transparency, Accountability and the Threats to Independent Institutions of Indian Democracy

 

Air Marshal PK Dey Memorial Lecture was held on 18 May 24

 

 

Organised by the Dey Family & School for Democracy

at Bangalore International Center

 

 

Programme

 

 

Topic and the Speakers

 

 

The Eminent Speakers

 

 

Introduction to the Air Marshal and the topic

by Air Mshl Anil Khosla (Retd)

 

 

News Coverage (Deccan Herald 19 May 24)

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/experts-push-for-collective-citizen-action-to-keep-power-excesses-in-check-3028741

 

 

The Gist of the Talk

(as reported in the Deccan Herald)

 

At a lecture in Bengaluru on Saturday, Prof Trilochan Sastry and Major General Anil Verma (retd) stressed the need to protect institutional independence.

Addressing a packed hall at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) on Saturday at the fifth Air Marshal P K Dey Memorial Lecture, Major General Anil Verma (retd.) and Prof Trilochan Sastry of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) dissected the threats to independent institutions such as the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Supreme Court (SC), They emphasised the need for the citizenry and civil society to collectively act to ensure that excesses of power by the executive are kept in check and such institutions’ independence are not affected.

Major General Anil Verma, head of the Association for Democratic Reforms, explained that some of the challenges faced in the country related to the inability to deal with corruption, money, and muscle power effectively.

“The role of money and muscle power is evident from the fact that all major political parties have fielded 31% of candidates who are crorepatis, 19% of the candidates who have criminal cases, and 14% of the candidates who have serious criminal cases against them.

“When the results come out, you will find that these numbers will more than double because the guys who win are those who have maximum criminal cases and maximum money,” he said, noting that this hurts the principle of free and fair elections, participatory democracy and a level playing field.

The need of the hour, Verma said, is to examine how independent constitutional bodies are functioning. Some of the potential solutions to tackle these challenges are to provide voters with as much information as possible, independent journalism, safeguarding rights, and empowering independent institutions, he added.

Prof Trilochan Sastry, Chairman, Founder Member and Trustee of ADR, noted that the Constitution of India is the document that will protect against excesses of power. Still, the government’s “toying” with the Constitution is evident.

“The government amended the Finance Act, the RBI Act, the Income Tax Act, the Companies Act, and the Representation of People Act.
They amended four laws to introduce a scheme of completely opaque electrical bonds. If we did not have the power of judicial review, that scheme would still be on,” he said.

Noting that three laws—the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Sedition Act, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)—were being misused in the country, he pushed for citizen action and “taking to arms like Lord Rama” to ensure independent institutions are truly independent, transparent, and accountable.

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/experts-push-for-collective-citizen-action-to-keep-power-excesses-in-check-3028741

 

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CHANGING DYNAMICS OF AIR DEFENCE OPERATIONS AND THE WAY AHEAD

 

Article published on the Chanakya Forum Site.

 

CHANGING DYNAMICS OF AIR DEFENCE OPERATIONS AND THE WAY AHEAD

 

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, during the Air Force Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on 26 Oct 23, pointed out that new trends have emerged in the field of air warfare, and there is a need to analyse and learn from them to strengthen defence preparedness. He urged the IAF to focus on strengthening air defence systems, using drones, and making headway in aerospace to protect India’s air domain.

 

On 07 Oct 23, Hamas-led militant groups attacked Israel, infiltrating using powered para-gliders under the barrage of several thousand rockets. In the ongoing war, Iran launched Operation ‘True Promise’ on 13 Apr 24, firing hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles at Israel. It is reported that the salvo deployed by Iran comprised more than 30 cruise missiles, at least 120 ballistic missiles and 170 drones. The attack, it is suspected, was aimed at overwhelming Israel’s air defences.  However, Israel claims to have shot down most of the incoming projectiles. Israel’s multi-tiered air defence system consists of various components, including man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), short-range air defence systems (SHORADS), Spyder air defence system, Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Patriot air defence system, Arrow anti-ballistic missiles, Iron Beam and the naval air defence system or C-Dome. In the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, the skirmishes now are mainly in the form of attacks on each other by long-range vectors and armed drones. There have been reports about the use of hypersonic weapons (Zircon and Kinzhal missiles) by Russia. These developments indicate the likely threats air defence would have to deal with.

 

Air Defence (AD) operations have undergone extensive transformation in recent years. The development of new threats and technologies has triggered these changes. Research is underway on new technologies, such as Quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence, Hypersonics, Nanotechnologies, and Unmanned systems, which will also have a transformational impact on AD. A Review of the concept of AD operations is advisable to take stock of the present situation and crystal-gaze into the future.

 

AD Perspective

Continue reading “CHANGING DYNAMICS OF AIR DEFENCE OPERATIONS AND THE WAY AHEAD”

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REMEMBERING DADU: SELF MADE LEGEND

 

“Legends are made, not born”.

Some are self-made.

Their actions speak rather than the words.

 

 

Air Marshal Partha Kumar  Dey PVSM AVSM

Former AOC-in-C South Western Air Command, Indian Air Force

 

 

Fifth PK Dey memorial lecture is scheduled on 18 May 24 at Bangalore International Center. 

 

 

 

Air Marshal PK Dey Was well known in the Indian Air Force for his acumen, Intelligence and straight forward approach. He was an exceptional professional, a good human being, a true friend, a loving – son, husband, brother, father and grand father. He was known as Babi in his friend circle, at home he was Baba for all of us. Once the grand children were born, all of us fondly started addressing him as DADU. 

 

We all do miss him.

Thinking of you, and wishing you a peaceful and happy time wherever you are. With love from Asha, Nikhil, Deepshikha, Anil, Adhir, Pranav, Adithi and so many of us !!

 

He had a very Illustrious career 

      • Youngest officer to be commissioned in the IAF at the age of 19 years and 8 months.

 

      • Youngest to become a test pilot at the age of 24 years.

 

  • Youngest to be awarded AVSM as a Wing Commander.

 

      • Flew almost sixty types of aircraft.
    •  
      • Served in ASTE in every rank. Commanded it twice (as air commodore and as Air Vice Marshal).
    •  
      • Commanded two fighter squadrons and two bases.

The list is endless…….

 

His Air Force Journey in his own words

 

 

 

 

I Learnt from him……..

Air Marshal PK Dey( Baba / Dadu) was much more than a Father-in Law to me. He was my role Model.  Some of the things I picked from him:-

 

      • Be a good human being first and then a professional.

 

      • Do not procrastinate (His table was always bare as he cleared all the work and files immediately).

 

      • Do not hesitate to take considered decisions.

 

      • Delegate and give subordinates freedom to work.

 

      • Be aware – read, read and read.

 

      • Be frank and speak your mind – call spade a spade. Give your honest opinion.

 

      • Be tolerant to others, their views and beliefs. Do not impose your ideas and beliefs onto others. 

 

      • Maintain Balance. Work hard and play harder.

 

 

Some Coincidences….

      • Both of us played Squash in our earlier years.

 

      • Both of us were keen puzzle and crossword solvers.

 

      • His service number was 4404, and that is number of hours I flew in my service career.

 

 

रास्ते बदल जाते हैं, मौसम बदल जाते हैं
बस बातें रह जाती हैं, यादें रह जाती हैं

 

His Testing Memories

 

The Partition: As he remembered.

 

Tribute  by Gp Capt Kapil Bhargava

 

 

 

 

 

As remembered by  Air Marshal Inamdar

 

As Remembered by Air Marshal Raghu Rajan

 

As Remembered by Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

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References and credits

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Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.