Special lecture on topic “India’s Borders and their Manning” 

Chandigarh, January 15, 2025: On the occasion of the Army Day, the Department of Defence and National Security Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, today organised a special lecture on the topic “India’s Borders and their Manning” by Brigadier Gurwant Singh Baghiana (Retd.).
 
A veteran of the Indian Army, Brigadier Baghiana served in various capacities and missions for 34 years.
 
Brigadier Baghiana began his lecture with a historical perspective on India’s formation as a modern nation-state. He emphasised the imperatives of national security for the political, economic, and cultural development of India. He discussed the evolution of the “one border, one force” principle and the establishment of the Department of Border Management in 2004. He elaborated on the structure, role, and significance of India’s Armed Police Forces, namely the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
 
In his lecture, Brigadier Baghiana stressed the importance of maritime border security, given the presence of major extra-regional powers and the significance of sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean. He shed light on the ongoing Sir Creek water dispute and its economic implications for both countries involved.
 
Brigadier Baghiana further discussed the active borders of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and the state of Arunachal Pradesh, explaining the complex nature of these borders and the challenges posed by the adversaries and terrain to Indian forces.
 
The lecture was organised under the guidance of Dr. Jaskaran Singh Waraich, Chairperson of the Department of Defence and National Security Studies. Dr. Waraich felicitated the speaker and welcomed the guests, faculty members, research scholars, and students in attendance. He also introduced the theme of the lecture, highlighting its relevance to India’s security and territorial integrity.
 
Later, Dr. Harmanpreet Singh proposed the vote of thanks.
 
The seminar was attended by faculty members, research scholars, students, and student officers of the department.