Chandigarh, May 21

To harness the vast repository of knowledge possessed by a large number of senior defence officers residing in the tricity, a think tank on defence and strategic affairs, “Gyan Chakra”, was launched by the Western Command in Chandimandir today.The institute was inaugurated by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command Lt Gen KJ Singh. The event coincided with the Army Commanders Conclave that is being attended by former chiefs of the Western Command. On the occasion, Lt Gen KJ Singh presented the future vision and developments for the Command with particular reference to the veterans’ issues.He said since a large population of veterans, including senior officers, were residing in the tricity, there was a need to generate new ideas on national security and defence-related issues for the benefit of the serving community in particular and society at large.The institute will also conduct exchange programmes with other similar institutes such as United Service Institute of India, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi, and Defence and Strategic Affairs Departments of various Universities of the region. Lectures, seminars, conferences, workshops, research work, literary festivals and publishing of a journal will be undertaken under the aegis of the institute.A seminar on social media and a military literary festival that would include presentations on service as well as offbeat subjects pertaining to the armed forces are also proposed to be held next month.Among former chiefs of the Western Command who were present included Lt Gen SK Sinha, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Gen JJ Singh, former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt Gen HB Kala, Lt Gen Surjit Singh, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi and Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra. Lt Gen HS Panag, Lt Gen GS Sihota and Lt Gen BS, who had headed other command and are now settled here, were also present, along with a host of senior serving and retired officers. — TNS