Four Stars of Destiny

General Naravane has written a simple and heart-warming account of his life and times and the experiences that shaped his character, right from childhood to his years in the service, rising through the hierarchy to become the twenty-eighth Chief of the Indian Army.

The book sheds light on the workings of the Army, its culture and ethos that make it the finest army in the world. Even those with no background of the Services would be immediately drawn into the narrative, especially the parts that deal with the planning and conduct of operations, which is the raison d’ ê tre of the Army. It also covers many aspects for those interested in matters military, ranging from the decision-making apparatus at various echelons of the government to what needs to be done to make not just the Army, but the Armed Forces as a whole, a more potent instrument of national power, ready to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Through his experiences, the author also shares many lessons on leadership and management that have universal applicability, be it in industry or academia. He also highlights the inner strength and resilience required to overcome adversity, and the importance of family and maintaining a work– life balance, something that has been ignored in today’ s 24x7 work culture. More than anything else, it is an inspiration for all that ‘ nice guys don’ t always finish last’ , but that through a dedicated and principled approach, everyone can reach the pinnacle of their respective organizations.General Naravane has written a simple and heart-warming account of his life and times and the experiences that shaped his character, right from childhood to his years in the service, rising through the hierarchy to become the twenty-eighth Chief of the Indian Army.

The book sheds light on the workings of the Army, its culture and ethos that make it the finest army in the world. Even those with no background of the Services would be immediately drawn into the narrative, especially the parts that deal with the planning and conduct of operations, which is the raison d’ ê tre of the Army. It also covers many aspects for those interested in matters military, ranging from the decision-making apparatus at various echelons of the government to what needs to be done to make not just the Army, but the Armed Forces as a whole, a more potent instrument of national power, ready to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Through his experiences, the author also shares many lessons on leadership and management that have universal applicability, be it in industry or academia. He also highlights the inner strength and resilience required to overcome adversity, and the importance of family and maintaining a work– life balance, something that has been ignored in today’ s 24x7 work culture. More than anything else, it is an inspiration for all that ‘ nice guys don’ t always finish last’ , but that through a dedicated and principled approach, everyone can reach the pinnacle of their respective organizations.

General Manoj Mukund Naravane (retd) served as the twenty-eighth Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 31 December 2019 to 30 April 2022. He did his initial schooling in the Air Force Central School, Delhi Cantt, and Jnana Prabodhinee Prashala, Pune. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune); the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; and the Army War College, Mhow, where he was also on the faculty. Gen Naravane holds a master’ s degree in defence studies, an MPhil degree in defence and management studies, and a PhD based on his experiences in Nagaland.

In a distinguished military career covering more than four decades, he served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training and Eastern Commands. He has vast experience in foreign affairs, having been part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, a Defence Attaché at Yangon, Myanmar, and the head of the Indian delegation to several countries.

Gen Naravane has many national and international awards to his credit, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Distinguished Public Service Award 2022, conferred by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). Since September 2023, he has been an adviser to the USISPF board. He has delivered a number of talks on national security and leadership at prestigious institutions, including the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, London; the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore; and the Institute of National Defence Studies and Research, Taiwan. Gen Naravane also writes a bi-weekly column for ThePrint India, on matters of national security.