Gen Naravane also said that the government ‘came strongly in my support’ after the incident
In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18 on Thursday, former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) shed light on his latest literary venture, “The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries”. The book, published by Rupa, arrives exactly 80 days after his previous memoir, “Four Stars of Destiny”, became the centre of a fierce political storm in the Lok Sabha. Moving away from the strategic controversies of his earlier work, the General described his new book as a pivot towards the “shared cultural heritage” and “lighter lore” of the Indian Armed Forces, focusing on traditions, folklore, and the human side of military life.
What motivated the shift to ‘The Curious and the Classified’?
General Naravane revealed that the motivation for this new work was sparked by a moment of casual intellectual curiosity. While his previous memoir explored his four-decade career and high-stakes events like the Galwan Valley standoff, he found himself inspired by Shashi Tharoor’s book, “A Wonderland of Words”. While browsing through Tharoor’s exploration of language, the idea germinated to document the lesser-known corners of the military—its quirks, enduring legends, and unique vocabulary. The General noted that even though he had toyed with the idea of moving into fiction, the Indian Army still had “too many stories marching around” in his head to ignore.
General Naravane on Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha tactics
Addressing the most significant controversy of his post-retirement life, General Naravane spoke candidly about the incident where Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi brandished a copy of his unpublished memoir in Parliament. He expressed deep disappointment over the political manoeuvring, stating that it was “totally unfair to drag me and the armed forces into politics” by using unpublished texts to score points. The General emphasised that the manuscript was undergoing a standard review process by the Ministry of Defence, and its appearance in the Lok Sabha was a breach of protocol that politicised a neutral institution.
He further clarified his relationship with the establishment following the uproar, noting that despite the dramatic claims made in the House, the government “came strongly in my support” after the incident. General Naravane reiterated that the delay in the memoir’s release was a procedural matter between the publisher and the government, and any attempt to frame it as a sign of him being “abandoned” was factually incorrect.
The Tejas crash and the Russian tribute
Reflecting on the tragic Tejas MK-1 crash during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, which claimed the life of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, the General highlighted a poignant moment of international camaraderie. He noted that the Russian contingent—specifically the Russian Knights Aerobatic Team—showed immense respect to the fallen Indian pilot. Following the disaster, the Russian pilots dedicated their performance to their “Indian brothers who never returned”, a gesture the General believes exemplifies the deep-rooted bond and mutual respect shared between professional aviators across borders.
