Bhartache Lashkari Sangharsha and Rajanya

जनरल वेद प्रकाश मलिक यांचा जन्म १ नोव्हेंबर १९३९ रोजी डेरा इस्माईल खान  (आताचा पाकिस्तान) येथे झाला. त्यांनी १९९७ ते २००० या कालावधीत भारतीय लष्कराचे  १८ वे प्रमुख म्हणून काम केले आणि याच काळात ते चीफ्स ऑफ स्टाफ कमिटीचे अध्यक्षही होते.  कारगिल युद्धाच्या वेळी भारतीय लष्कराचे नेतृत्व केल्यामुळे ते विशेषतः ओळखले जातात.  या युद्धात त्यांनी ‘ऑपरेशन विजय’च्या नियोजनात आणि अंमलबजावणीत महत्त्वाची  भूमिका बजावत पाकिस्तानी घुसखोरीला यशस्वीपणे परतवून लावले. आपल्या दीर्घ लष्करी  कारकिर्दीत त्यांनी विविध कमांड आणि प्रशासकीय पदांवर कार्य केले असून पायदळ विभाग  आणि कोरचे नेतृत्वही केले आहे तसेच अनेक महत्त्वाच्या लष्करी मोहिमांमध्ये सहभाग घेतला आहे.  त्यांच्या उल्लेखनीय सेवेसाठी त्यांना परम विशिष्ट सेवा पदक (PVSM) आणि अति विशिष्ट  सेवा पदक (AVSM) यांसारख्या भारतातील सर्वोच्च शांततेतील लष्करी सन्मानांनी गौरविण्यात  आले आहे. सेवानिवृत्तीनंतरही त्यांनी राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षेविषयक चर्चांमध्ये सक्रिय सहभाग घेतला  आणि नॅशनल सिक्युरिटी अॅडव्हायजरी बोर्डचे सदस्य म्हणून काम केले. Kargil: From  Surprise to Victory आणि India’s Military Conflicts and Diplomacy यांसारख्या  महत्त्वपूर्ण पुस्तकांचे ते लेखक असून त्यांच्या लेखनातून लष्करी धोरण, निर्णयप्रक्रिया आणि  संरक्षण व्यवस्थापनाबाबत सखोल मार्गदर्शन मिळते. भारताच्या अत्यंत महत्त्वाच्या लष्करी  संघर्षातील त्यांच्या नेतृत्वामुळे त्यांना मोठा सन्मान मिळाला असून संरक्षण सुधारणा, नागरी-लष्करी संबंध आणि राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा याबाबतचे त्यांचे विचार आजही भारताच्या धोरणात्मक  विचारांना दिशा देत आहेत.

General Ved Prakash Malik, born on 1 November 1939 in Dera Ismail Khan (now in Pakistan), served as the 18th Chief of Army Staff of India from 1997 to 2000 and also held the position of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee during this period. He is best known for his leadership of the Indian Army during the Kargil War, where he played a crucial role in planning and executing Operation Vijay, which successfully repelled Pakistani intrusions. Over the course of his distinguished military career, he held various command and staff appointments, including leading infantry divisions and corps, and participated in several significant military operations. He has been honored with prestigious awards such as the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), among India’s highest peacetime military decorations. After retirement, General Malik continued to contribute to national security discourse as a member of the National Security Advisory Board and as an author of notable works like Kargil: From Surprise to Victory and India’s Military Conflicts and Diplomacy. His writings offer valuable insights into military strategy, decision-making, and defence management. Widely respected for his leadership during one of India’s most critical conflicts, his perspectives on defence reforms, civil-military relations, and national security continue to shape strategic thinking in India.