General MM Naravane’s New Book Explores the Untold Stories and Mysteries of India’s Armed Forces
Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane is back in the spotlight with his latest book, The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries, published by Rupa. The book takes readers beyond battles, operations and military strategy, exploring lesser-known stories, traditions, legends and unusual incidents from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Interestingly, Naravane says the idea for the book was inspired by Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s A Wonderland of Words, which he came across at a friend’s house about two years ago. The book’s exploration of the quirks of the English language made Naravane wonder whether a similar approach could be used to tell fascinating stories from the Indian armed forces. The idea stayed with him and eventually took shape when he began working seriously on the book in mid-2025. Rather than writing a conventional military history, Naravane aimed to create an engaging and accessible book that could introduce the lesser-known and human side of military life to a wider audience. Stories Behind Military Traditions and Legends The Curious and the Classified brings together a wide range of stories from the armed forces. Among the subjects covered are the origins of the popular phrase “Chak De Phatte”, the traditions behind military call signs, the story of INS Khukri, the legend of Baba Harbhajan, stories of airmen and even the unusual tale of Pedongi, a military mule. One of the most interesting stories in the book is that of “Badluram Ka Badan”, the well-known regimental song of the Assam Regiment. The Story Behind ‘Badluram Ka Badan’ The story goes back to the Battle of Kohima in 1944 during the Second World War. Rifleman Badluram of the 1st Battalion, Assam Regiment, was killed during the early stages of the fighting. According to the account cited in Naravane’s book, Badluram’s name was not removed from the unit’s ration strength after his death. As a result, his authorised ration continued to arrive while supply lines were still functioning. When Japanese forces later besieged the unit and supplies were cut off, the accumulated surplus reportedly became a crucial source of food for the soldiers. The unusual wartime episode eventually inspired the marching song “Badluram Ka Badan.” Naravane writes that Major M. T. Proktor composed the song in 1946. It later became closely associated with the Assam Regiment and continues to be performed during military ceremonies, including passing-out events at the regiment’s centre in Shillong. A Book for General Readers, Not Exam Preparation Naravane has made it clear that the book is not intended to be an academic work or a guide for competitive examinations. His aim is to tell real-life military stories in a way that ordinary readers can enjoy while also getting a glimpse into the values, humour, traditions and human side of the armed forces. He also notes that the stories originate in real events, although some details may have become embellished over the years through repeated retelling. The larger purpose, he says, is to make military history relatable and help bridge the gap between the armed forces and civilian society. What About ‘Four Stars of Destiny’? Naravane’s latest book comes months after controversy surrounding his memoir Four Stars of Destiny. The memoir itself has not been officially published. Penguin Random House India, which holds the exclusive publishing rights, clarified in February 2026 that the book had not gone into publication and that no authorised print or digital copies had been released to the public. The Delhi Police also registered a case over the alleged circulation of a pre-print version of the unpublished memoir and began investigating how the material had been circulated. Unlike that controversy, The Curious and the Classified focuses on a lighter and more accessible side of military life. Through stories of soldiers, traditions, wartime incidents and military folklore, Naravane seeks to show that the armed forces are not defined only by battles and strategy, but also by humour, camaraderie, sacrifice and deeply rooted traditions.
India-Nepal 14th Joint Working Group Meeting Begins in Dehradun to Address Border Disputes, Security & Trade…
The 14th Joint Working Group meeting between Indian and Nepali officials began today in Dehradun. Four rounds of meetings will be held over the two-day period, August 20th and 21st. The first round of meetings began today, August 20th. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the ITBP, the SSB, and the Survey of India participated in the meeting. It should be noted that last year, a meeting between Indian and Nepali officials was held in Pokhara, Nepal. Following this, the two-day 14th Joint Working Group meeting was held in Dehradun on August 20th and 21st. The first session of the crucial meeting will discuss issues such as border disputes, border management, and strengthening trade relations. It should be noted that the study of old records and maps related to border demarcation will be a key part of the meeting. The British-era axes of the Survey of India will be reviewed. The aim is to arrive at a clear conclusion on the disputed area by matching these historical documents with current ground conditions. This two-day meeting will focus on resolving border disputes using historical landmarks and criminal infiltration along the border. This high-level meeting will also discuss security measures along the porous border between the two countries, measures to prevent smuggling and criminal activities, and resolution of border disputes. Nepal’s concerns and concerns regarding India-China trade through the Lipulekh Pass will also be discussed. The Indian delegation at this important meeting is led by Ms. Pausumi Basu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Nepali delegation is led by Anand Kafle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. Officials from both countries arrived at the hotel on Mussoorie Road for this meeting on Wednesday night, August 19th. Prior to the meeting in Dehradun, at the coordination conference between India and Nepal in Lucknow on August 14th, 2026, the survey departments of both countries agreed to use modern technology to assess the actual conditions of land, agriculture, and construction along the border. The proposed survey included joint analysis of drone-based aerial imagery and ground-based data.
PM Modi’s Big Assurance on Tarique Rahman’s India Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will receive a warm and honorable welcome in India, according to Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi. Speaking at an event in Dhaka, Trivedi said PM Modi wants the two prime ministers to meet and has expressed his desire to make Rahman’s proposed visit to India a memorable one. The Indian envoy said the relationship between India and Bangladesh is important for both countries and that differences should be addressed through dialogue and diplomatic engagement. Rahman’s possible visit to India comes at a time when bilateral relations are facing several challenges. One of the key issues between New Delhi and Dhaka is the presence of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India. Bangladesh has been seeking her extradition, making the issue a sensitive part of bilateral discussions. The proposed India visit could provide an opportunity for the two sides to discuss several important matters, including trade, connectivity, energy, border management and regional cooperation. While the timing and details of Rahman’s possible visit have not yet been finalised, the Indian High Commissioner’s remarks indicate that New Delhi remains open to strengthening high-level engagement with Bangladesh. The development is being closely watched as both countries seek to manage their differences and maintain cooperation on issues of mutual interest.
Jharkhand Govt Cancels JSSC-CGL 2024 Exam, Scraps TDPL Results After 24-Day Student Protest…
Amidst the ongoing 24-day student protest in Jharkhand, the Jharkhand government has accepted the protesting students’ biggest demands and has decided to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam scheduled for 2024. This decision was made on Monday, August 17th, after nearly four and a half hours of discussion in a special cabinet meeting chaired by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Chief Minister Hemant Soren addressed the media after this information. He stated that the decision to cancel the 14th JPSC PT and backlog civil service exams had already been made during talks with the protesting students. He added that the government has now decided to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the recruitment exams conducted by the GPSC and JSSC from 2014 to the present. All major and minor errors since 2014 will be investigated. Major responsibilities was given to TDPL Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren stated that the results published by the TDPL and all TDPL activities are cancelled. The Chief Minister stated that a decision has been made to form a committee headed by IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal to implement examination reforms. The committee will study the necessary reforms in the examination system and provide necessary suggestions. Furthermore, the government has also sought suggestions from the people of the state regarding examination reforms, and a system for submitting suggestions has been established on an online portal. He stated that the government wants the new examination system to be one that leaves no room for malpractice at any level. The entire process, from exam administration to question paper security, the role of agencies, evaluation, and results, will be made more transparent. The Chief Minister stated that the government has enacted strong laws in student interests and has the capacity to implement them. He stated that the government does not want to allow the interests of the youth, their future, and their confidence to be compromised under any circumstances. The Chief Minister stated that several issues related to examination reforms were agreed upon in previous meetings between students and ministers during the agitation. The government will implement those agreed points to bring transparency in the examination system. TDPL was given the responsibility of conducting about 10 major examinations of JPSC. These include examinations like Civil Services PT and Main Examination, Civil Judge, APP, Inspector of Factories, Project Manager, Boiler Inspector and JET. Along with this, TDPL was also entrusted with the work of five important examinations of JSSC. These include JGGLCCE, Technical/Special Graduate Level Examination, Field Worker, Forest Guard and PGT Teacher Recruitment Examination.
NTA Scraps Three UGC-NET Papers Over Spelling Mistakes, Wrong Names & Repeated Questions; Rahul Gandhi Attacks Modi Govt..
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has admitted to significant irregularities in the UGC-NET June 2026 exam question paper. Serious allegations surfaced, including numerous spelling mistakes, strange names of thinkers, and blatant copying of old questions from previous years. Following this, the NTA has cancelled the English, Commerce, and Sociology exam papers. This decision was made by the NTA based on the report of an audit committee formed after complaints from candidates and experts regarding serious irregularities in the question papers. The NTA will conduct re-exams for these three affected subjects in September 2026. The NTA has released a new exam schedule for the re-exams. Candidates will not be charged any additional examination fees for re-exams. Here is the re-exam schedule: According to a report in the Indian Express, on Sunday, August 16, the NTA released the provisional answer keys for 84 subjects for the UGC-NET June 2026. However, the answer keys for some papers were withheld. Following this, the NTA issued a separate notice in the evening. It stated that a major decision had been made regarding English, Commerce, and Sociology. According to the NTA, the committee formed to review these three papers found several errors. These included factual errors, typos, and translation errors. The committee found the names of several prominent scholars misspelled in the question paper. The names of some books were also incorrect. Furthermore, some questions contained language errors. Grammar errors were also found in several places. Gender and number mismatches were also found. There were also punctuation errors. Moreover, non-standard terms were used for concepts for which pre-established and commonly used terms exist. It was also discovered that many questions had already been asked in previous exams. Following these discrepancies, the committee recommended that the NTA re-examine the three subjects. Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi and the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the decision to re-examine the UGC-NET exam in three subjects due to errors in the question papers. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X, “Modi ji, look what your NTA has done again.” The UGC-NET exams for Sociology, English, and Commerce were held between June 22 and 30. After nearly two months, the NTA canceled all three exams because they had prepared incorrect question papers and re-asked old questions. Rahul Gandhi said, “Thousands of candidates who prepared diligently for years, filled out forms, paid fees, and traveled to far-flung exam centers will now have to do it all again in September. The NTA makes mistakes, but the students of the country suffer the consequences. I said this in Kota, Dehradun, and Prayagraj, and I will continue to say it. This is no longer an education system. It has become just a money-and-labor-sucking machine. It takes away your money, your years, your mental health, and your self-confidence, and gives you nothing in return, not even a job. The NTA is still not answering the real question. Were these papers leaked before the exams?”
New ‘Dimaggi Naxal Janata Party’ Account Goes Viral, Gains Massive Following Overnight…
Following the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), another new party has emerged in the headlines. The party is being called the ‘Dimaggi Naxal Party’. Similar to the Cockroach Janata Party, a new social media account called the ‘Dimaggi Naxal Janata Party’ has emerged. The party is gaining popularity on social media. This account has gained more than 1.7 lakh followers in just 24 hours. Party gained more than 50,000 followers On the other hand, this account, named @DNJP_India, currently follows more than 15 accounts, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, comedian Kunal Kamra, actor Prakash Raj, and many other popular names on social media.This account emerged on social media after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech on August 15th. In that speech, he referred to the elimination of armed Naxalites and urged the nation to be vigilant against “mindful Naxalites” lurking in ambushes. In his speech, PM Modi targeted those with Naxalite ideologies who seek to spread unrest despite the weakening of armed Naxalism. Although PM Modi did not name any specific group during his speech, his comment sparked a significant political controversy. Opposition leaders retaliated. Some leaders, including Congress leader P. Chidambaram, said they were proud to be called “mindful Naxalites.” In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said, “Even though the Naxalites who took up arms in the jungles have been eliminated, the mindless Naxalites are still looking for opportunities. They are seeking ways to resort to violence and trying to lead the country down the wrong path. Such people must be identified and isolated.” Following his speech, the “Dimaggi Naxal Party” has come into the spotlight. Several accounts with this name are visible on Instagram. Pages created by the “Dimaggi Naxal Party” on various social media sites are rapidly gaining popularity. Within a day of its launch, it gained more than 50,000 followers. Currently, its Instagram page has more than 150,000 followers. The party’s slogan is “Think, Research, Protest.”
Assembly Elections 2027: Top leaders from the Congress and AAP may visit Uttarakhand in September…
To strengthen the organization ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, senior leaders from the Congress and AAP parties may visit Uttarakhand. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi may address the public in Garhwal or Kumaon in September. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may also visit Uttarakhand once again. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu is also scheduled to visit Uttarakhand. The Congress party says that senior central-level leaders have taken the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly elections very seriously. State party president Ganesh Godiyal stated that when All India Congress Committee National President Mallikarjun Kharke met with Uttarakhand Congress leaders, he stated that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharke himself would be making several visits to the state. Consequently, the Uttarakhand Congress is planning a visit by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to Uttarakhand in September. The Congress party will finalize the venue and date after consulting with all these leaders. Additionally, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh may visit Dehradun. According to Ganesh Godiyal, the Himachal government has implemented the OPS, so the Uttarakhand Congress also wants Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh to come to Dehradun and attend the press conference to convey to the people of the state that the same work we did in Himachal will be done in Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, in view of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, the Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to invite its central leaders to Uttarakhand. AAP’s state executive president, Uma Sisodia, stated that discussions are underway with the party’s high command regarding the party’s central leaders’ visit to Uttarakhand. The party’s state in-charge’s visit is scheduled for August 23rd. Following the in-charge’s visit, every effort is being made to invite former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh to Uttarakhand. Uma Sisodia stated that she is hopeful that this effort will be successful very soon.
Nehru, Astrology and Midnight: The Story Behind Why August 15 was Celebrated at Midnight
Every year, India celebrates Independence Day on August 15, but few people know why the country formally became independent at the stroke of midnight on August 14-15, 1947. The answer lies in a combination of political circumstances, Lord Mountbatten’s choice of date and, according to historical accounts, concerns raised by Indian astrologers. Why Was August 15 Chosen? The British government had initially planned to transfer power by June 1948. However, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, decided to bring the date forward amid growing political tensions and fears of further violence. Mountbatten selected August 15, 1947, partly because the date marked the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. He had served as Supreme Allied Commander in Southeast Asia during the war, making the date personally significant to him. Why Did Independence Happen at Midnight? Historical accounts say some Indian astrologers considered August 15 inauspicious and advised against beginning the new nation on that day. Since Mountbatten had already fixed the date, the independence ceremony was held around midnight. However, astrology is only one part of the historical account. The documented reason for choosing August 15 was Mountbatten’s decision to advance the transfer of power. Nehru’s Historic ‘Tryst With Destiny’ Speech As the clock approached midnight, members of the Constituent Assembly gathered in Parliament House. Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his famous “Tryst With Destiny” speech, marking one of the defining moments of India’s independence. Nehru declared that at the midnight hour, India would “awake to life and freedom.” The speech captured the emotion of a nation emerging from nearly two centuries of British rule. August 15 Became India’s Independence Day The Indian Independence Act, 1947 ended British rule and created Dominions of India and Pakistan on August 15. India celebrates this historic date as Independence Day, with the midnight ceremony marking the country’s transition to freedom.
CM Yogi Attacks Congress, Says 1947 Partition Was Proof of Cowardice
CM Yogi Adityanath said that if India had leadership like Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 1947, the country would never have been partitioned and the mass killings of millions of people could have been avoided. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a sharp attack on the Congress over the Partition of India in 1947, accusing the party’s leadership of putting political interests ahead of the country. Yogi said the 1947 Partition was the result of Congress’ “cowardice and lust for power” and claimed that a stronger political leadership could have prevented the division of the country. Yogi Praises PM Modi’s Leadership The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also compared the situation in 1947 with the present political leadership. He said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been leading the country at that time, “no one could have harmed India.” Yogi was speaking during his political campaign in Maharashtra, where he also criticised Congress for what he described as following a “divide and rule” approach similar to the British. Congress Accused of Putting Power First Yogi alleged that Congress repeatedly prioritised political gains over national interests. He said the Partition resulted in widespread violence and the loss of many lives. He also accused the party of continuing to follow divisive politics and contrasted it with what he described as the BJP-led government’s focus on national unity. Remarks Come Amid Political Debate Over Partition Yogi’s comments come amid renewed political discussions around the legacy of the 1947 Partition. His remarks have added to the ongoing debate between the BJP and Congress over the political decisions and leadership that shaped India’s independence and Partition.
Japan Expresses Displeasure Over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Visit to Iturup
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup for the first time on Thursday, August 13th. It is one of the Kuril Islands, located at the southern end of the Kuril chain, which is near Japan. Putin’s visit has caused displeasure in Japan, prompting a strong protest against Russia. It is reported that these islands once belonged to Japan. The Kremlin, the Russian presidential palace, released a video of President Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands. Before visiting the Kuril Islands, Putin visited the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where the Russian Navy was conducting military exercises. In Sakhalin, Putin held a meeting on “ensuring the security of Russia’s eastern borders.” After observing the naval exercises, Putin visited the Yasny fish-processing plant. State news agency TASS described this as Putin’s first in-person visit to the Kuril Island chain. This visit comes amid a long-standing territorial dispute that has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal World War II peace treaty. Japan calls the disputed islands the Northern Territories. Japan has expressed strong displeasure over Putin’s visit. Relations between Russia and Japan have deteriorated further following Russia’s major invasion of Ukraine in 2012. Meanwhile, Russia’s relations with China and North Korea have strengthened. According to an AFP report, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi strongly opposed the visit, stating that the Northern Territories are Japan’s “rightful territory” under its historical and international-law claims.