5:15 PM Registration & High Tea
6:00 PM
Welcome Address
Mr Mahalingam K
President MMA & Partner/Director, TSM Group of Companies
6:05 PM
6:20 PM
Release of the Book & Address by the Chief Guest on the theme “Technological Advancements impacting future war fighting and need for Industry collaboration”
Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar, AVSM
General Officer Commanding
Dakshin Bharat Area
6:25 PM
Introductory Remarks
7:10 PM
Address by the Author
Air Marshal S Varthaman (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM
Former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force
Sqn Ldr Pushp Vaid, VrC (Retd)
Author & Independent Management Consultant and Advisor
Q & A Session
7:25 PM Vote of Thanks
Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM
Executive Director, Madras Management Association
LtGenKaranbir SinghBrar,AVSM
Lieutenant General Karanbir Singh Brar, took over as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Dakshin Bharat Area, Chennai on 15 April 2023.
The General Officer KS Brar has an enviable career spanning close to four decades, across varied operational areas and sectors to include North East, Jammu & Kashmir, deserts and plains. His command appointments include Command of a Brigade in Jammu & Kashmir in Counter Insurgency Operations, a Sector in the UN Mission in South Sudan and an Infantry Division in the Western Sector. Before assuming Command as GOCDakshin Bharat Area, the General Officer was the Director General-Armoured Corps and he was driving the Light Tank, Swarm Drone and other niche technology projects for the Army.
The General Officer has excelled in all courses, has two M. Phil degrees to his credit and is an IT savvy. He has the distinction of being part of the team which took the first tank to Ladakh Sector way back in 1987 and has also led a delegation to Bangladesh to conduct a Joint Indo-Bangladesh Seminar on UN Peacekeeping. The General Officer was conferred with AVSM, awarded twice each with COAS and GOC-in-C Eastern Command Commendation Cards.
The GOC on assuming command of Dakshin Bharat Area pledges to keep up the rich traditions of the Armed Forces and to effectively lead Dakshin Bharat Area and ensure operational readiness, judicious administration and welfare of veteran community.
SqnLdrPushp Vaid,VrC(Retd)
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Squadron Leader Pushp Kumar Vaid was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 1963 and served with distinction for 11 years as a helicopter pilot until he resigned in 1974. He participated in the 1971 Bangladesh War as a flight lieutenant with the 110 Helicopter Unit, which was engaged in carrying troops from Tripura in India on the southeastern border of Bangladesh, across the river Meghna to various combat zones. As a flight commander with 8 Mi4 Helicopters under him, he airlifted thousands of troops to enemy territory, braving hostile fire, which enabled the Indian Army’s 4 Corps to advance on Decca with lightning speed and bring about the surrender of the Pakistani forces over there, post-haste. He was decorated with Vir Chakra for outstanding gallantry displayed during the operations. After leaving the IAF, Sqn Ldr Vaid migrated to Scotland and joined British Airways Helicopters. He flew with them for 19 years and switched over to a Dutch company, Schriener Helicopters, wherein he flew for another 12 years before retiring to settle down in Scotland, engaged in charity work, golf and his other passion, cooking. On 6 November 1986, a Chinook helicopter of British Airways he was captaining broke up in midair and fell into the North Sea killing 45 of the 47 people on board, leaving him and one passenger the sole survivors of the crash; the worst-ever civilian helicopter crash until then. In spite of the disaster and friendly advices to retire, he kept on flying for another 20 years, not willing to give up his greatest passion in life.
AirMarshalS Varthaman(Retd)
PVSM,AVSM,VM,VSM
The officer joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 1973. He is an alumnus of Sainik School Amaravathinagar and the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla. In his remarkable flying career spread over 39 years, he flew 4000 hours in over 40 different types of aircraft. As the Chief Test Pilot of ASTE Bangalore, he has the distinction of having flown most of the Fighter, Transport and Helicopters currently in Service.
He commanded a MiG 21 Squadron in the North East. During the Kargil Conflict in 1999, he coordinated aircraft upgradation that proved instrumental in the success of the air campaign. In 2001 he was in command of an operational airbase on the western border when the country was close to a war with Pakistan after the attack on the Indian Parliament.
His diplomatic assignment includes a 3-year deputation to Paris responsible for defence cooperation with France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. Here he made an indelible mark on International Defence Cooperation with European Air Forces. On return to India as Air Vice Marshal, he continued to strengthen ties with Air Forces of the world as the head of Air Force Intelligence. Soon after, he was assigned to take over responsibilities of the Air Force Modernisation Programme and Long Term Plans at Air Headquarters New Delhi.
On promotion to Air Marshal he was appointed as the Senior Air Staff Officer responsible for air operations of the strategic Central Air Command. Thereafter he was promoted and appointed Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Air Command during a crucial period of the Nation’s “Look East Policy”. This Command spread over 12 States of the Indian Union is critical to National security.
The President of India awarded him the highest military peacetime award of Param Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service of an exceptional order. In addition, he has also been awarded the Athi Vishist Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal and Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service.
He is a Post Graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Married to Dr Shobha, a specialist in Anaesthesia, the couple has a son and a daughter.
The Air Marshal retired from the IAF in December 2012 and lives in Chennai.
