Weeks after controversy erupted over his yet-to-be-published memoir, former Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane addressed the issue publicly and clarified the meaning behind the phrase “jo uchit samjho, woh karo” (do whatever you consider appropriate), which was allegedly communicated to him during the India-China border standoff. In his first detailed response since the matter gained attention, he explained that the remark, conveyed through Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, reflected the government’s complete trust in the armed forces rather than any absence of direction or responsibility.
Naravane emphasized that the statement signified a high level of confidence from the government in the military leadership and its decision-making abilities. He stated that the armed forces were effectively given operational autonomy to respond to the situation on the ground, and such trust demonstrated faith in the chain of command and institutional judgment. He also stressed that the issue should not be politicised, noting that the armed forces function as an apolitical institution.
He elaborated that the government trusted the Army, its hierarchy, and senior leadership to make well-informed decisions while considering all relevant strategic, operational, and geopolitical factors. According to him, the message indicated confidence rather than neglect, and decisions during the crisis were taken with careful coordination between civilian leadership and military authorities.
Naravane, who served as Army Chief from 2019 to 2022, also warned against drawing the military into political debates. He remarked that the Indian armed forces remain apolitical in nature, unlike in some neighboring countries, in an apparent reference to Pakistan, where the military has historically played a dominant role in governance.
The controversy initially began in February during the Budget session of Parliament, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from Naravane’s unpublished memoir titled Four Stars of Destiny. Since the book had not yet been officially released, he was stopped by the Speaker from citing it during proceedings. Despite this, Gandhi continued to raise the issue outside the formal debate and was seen carrying a copy of the manuscript within the Parliament premises during the session.
At the center of the dispute was the interpretation of the message “jo uchit samjho, woh karo,” which Gandhi claimed had been relayed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Naravane via Rajnath Singh during a critical phase of the border tensions with China. Referring to excerpts from the unpublished book, Gandhi alleged that Naravane had informed the government about the movement of Chinese tanks but did not receive a direct response for some time. He argued that the message suggested a lack of responsibility on the part of the Prime Minister and even claimed that the Army Chief felt isolated and unsupported at that moment.
The events referenced in the controversy relate to August 31, 2020, when Chinese forces were advancing toward Rechin La during the standoff along the Line of Actual Control. The memoir, which was expected to be published in 2024 by Penguin Random House, has not yet been released and is currently awaiting approval from the Ministry of Defence. Naravane confirmed that the publisher remains in communication with the government regarding its publication.
Addressing concerns about the content of the book, Naravane clarified that the memoir represents his personal experiences and viewpoints and is not based on classified or sensitive documents. He described it as a narrative of his career and leadership journey, including insights into key military operations such as the border standoff with China.
On the broader issue of the standoff, Naravane asserted that India maintained a position of strength during the confrontation. He pointed out that global observers witnessed Chinese forces dismantling their own structures and withdrawing troops from certain contested areas. Rejecting opposition claims that India lost territory during the conflict, he firmly stated that no land was ceded.
He concluded by highlighting that there was close and continuous coordination between the government and the armed forces throughout the crisis, and that decisions were made collectively with careful consideration of national security priorities.
