When it began on 24 February 2022, across the world, there were anxieties about an imminent world war or outright ignorance as nothing much was happening nearer home, for most.
One year down the line, there is no sign of the war ' s ending, with whatever little peace-making efforts that were attempted, withering away as expected without hope.
If anything, nations like India and China have defied the postCold War dictum of 'With me or against me ' as the war exposed global supply-chain inadequacies much more than any time after the two World Wars.
As an unlikely outcome, it has also provided an opportunity for India, for instance, to test the nation's 21st century version of nonalignment, which is pro-active by choice.
The world is also witness to the failure of unilateral sanctions of the US-led western kind, and the limitations of NATO in making military alliances of the kind work on the ground, precisely for the reason that Russia opposed Ukraine's admittance.
Militarily, Russia is not the victor, at least not yet, and Ukraine, definitely is not the loser, again, at least not yet. This is so even though Ukraine has been losing on most days of the war than gaining. It is also fighting on 'borrowed weapons ' , which tap someone else is controlling -- for their own reasons, going beyond their altruist affirmations of outright support.
The complexities of a 21st century war is as much breath-taking as it used to be in times when men were travelling on horse-back or when jet fighters were lightyears away.
5:15 PM Registration & High Tea
6:00 PM Welcome Address
Mr K Mahalingam
Senior Vice President, MMA & Partner/Director, TSM Group of Companies Opening Remarks
Mr N Sathiya Moorthy
Convenor, Policy Matters - Chennai
Presentation & Discussion on the theme: Distinguished Speakers
Amb T S Tirumurti, IFS (Retd)
Former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the UN, New York & Former Secretary, MEA
Mr Nandan Unnikrishnan
Distinguished Fellow Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi
Air Marshal S Varthaman (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM Former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Eastern Air Command, IAF
Vote of Thanks 7:25 PM
Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM Executive Director, Madras Management Association
Amb T S Tirumurti, IFS (Retd)
Former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the UN, New York & Former Secretary, MEA
Joining the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1985, Amb T.S.
Tirumurti was a career diplomat for 37 years, and retired as Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, 2020-22. During the period, he was President of the UN Security Council for August 2021 and Chairs of Taliban Sanctions Committee, of Libyan Sanctions Committee and also of Counter-terrorism Committee of the Security Council.
With vast and varied experience, Amb Tirumurti was the Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs earlier, handling the Economic Relations portfolio in 2018-20, which included, inter alia, development partnership, Gulf and the Arab World and Africa. He was also on the Board of Directors of Exim Bank during the same period. He has authored three books.
Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi
Nandan Unnikrishnan is a Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi He joined ORF in 2004 He looks after the Eurasia Programme of Studies An alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he began his career as a journalist with the Press Trust of India (PTI). From 1985 to 1987, he was deputed by PTI to the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). In 1995, after 15 years in PTI culminating with a three-year posting to Moscow as the Bureau Chief, he moved to Business India’s Television Channel - TVI. He joined TVI as the News Coordinator for International Affairs rising to head the channel by 1998. During his tenure with ORF, Nandan has participated in several National and International conferences, lectured in academic and specialised institutions in India and abroad
Expertise
International Relations - specialising in Russia, Central Asia and other former Soviet territories. Indian Foreign Policy.
Current Position(s)
At ORF's Centre for International Relations, he looks after the Eurasian Studies Programme.
Air Marshal S Varthaman (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM
Former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
Eastern Air Command, IAF
The officer joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 1973 He is an alumnus of Sainik School Amaravathinagar, Coimbatore Dist, 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 Northeast. 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 Co-operation 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 Postgraduate 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.
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