CLAWS Journal

This is the eleventh year of the CLAWS Journal as published by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). It also marks the change of editorship to me from Dr. Monica Chansoria, who had steered it for ten full years for which CLAWS as an institution will always be grateful, for her dedication and quest for excellence. This Winter edition of the CLAWS Journal is occurring at the precise junction of time and ideas when a series of transformations are taking place on how the world will look at the conceptual issues related to conflict, war, and world order. More so, it is a time when bridging the gap between the realm of ideas and the domain of public policy will pose the greatest challenge. It is a time when strategic analysis will be essential to securitise the components contributing to the vitality of a nation, on the one hand, and, on the other, to define the purpose of the intent to use power to ensure that multi-nuclear power states remain interdependent in the quest of peace and stability at the global levels. If one could compress the entire evolutionary process of our world to 24 hours, then a man appears only in the last few seconds of that evolutionary process. The 20th Century showed how close man had come to become his greatest enemy when an atomic bomb was used against man himself

Sen, Gautam

Note From the Editor: Winter 2018

Publisher: Sunidhi Publishers, 2017Edition: 2ndISBN: 978-93-85262-16-6 / pp 26

Nanavatty, R.K.

CLAWS Journal z Winter 2018 121
Book Reviews
Ours Not to Reason Why: With the IPKF in Sri Lanka
Brigadier RR Palsokar (Retd)
(Second Edition Published by 
Sunidhi Publishers, 2017 ) 
ISBN: 978-93-85262-16-6 pp 260 Rs 300
Following the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on July 29, 1987, 
India embarks on a peace-keeping mission in Sri Lanka to facilitate the 
implementation of the accord. On October 09, 1987, the Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a breach of peace, turns on its mentors, 
the Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF). This results in severe fighting 
of a conventional nature between the two sides. By the end of October, 
the IPKF rids the Jaffna peninsula, in the Northern Province, of the 
LTTE. Thereafter, it secures the Eastern Province. The Sri Lanka Army 
is a non-participant: sidelined, a silent spectator, secure and ‘sulking’ in 
its camps. The LTTE, bruised but unbowed, clandestinely regroups in 
a redoubtable bastion in the jungles in the southeastern portion of the 
Northern Province. 
It is here, in the Vanni, and more particularly the district of Mullaittivu 
that 7 Infantry Brigade of 4 Infantry Division of the IPKF finds itself in 
December 1987. Ours Not to Reason Why: With the IPKF in Sri Lanka 
is their story, warts and all, over the next two years, as told to us by 
their Commander, Brig RR Palsokar. He terms it the “most challenging” 
phase of his life. 
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This is a story of success and failure; of elation and despair; of courage 
and cowardice; of professionalism and the lack of it. Above all, it is the 
story of the remarkable resilience, endurance, commitment and sense of 
duty of the Indian soldier in battle. 
Ravi Palsokar empathises with his command: his fondness for his 
‘Garhwalis’ – he had three fine battalions serve under him – is apparent. 
Critical of the higher command, there is not a trace of malice or ill will 
in the book. He is self-effacing, concerned and analytical. He writes with 
remarkable clarity, honesty and sense of purpose. Despite the unfair hand 
fate deals him, he bears no grudges. 
The book has 12 chapters, all in logical sequence. To the reader 
unfamiliar with the politico-military aspects of India’s intervention in Sri 
Lanka, I would recommend reading “The Layman’s Guide to the Tamil-
Sinhala Conflict” at the Appendix and the excellent foreword by Brig 
Vivek Sapatnekar before moving any further. 
In the opening chapter, the author is severe on the disorganised 
induction of his formation; bemoans the poor standards of training 
of the infantry; and is unhappy with the lack of clarity in his tasking. 
As a first step, he deems it necessary to relocate his headquarters and 
position himself near one of his isolated units, virtually, in the tiger’s 
lair. In Chapter II, he analyses the LTTE. He acknowledges their superb 
commitment and iron discipline; exceptional fighting qualities; and skill 
in the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and suicide attacks. He 
explains how the local Tamil population views the LTTE with a mixture 
of “admiration, fear and helplessness” and refers to the surreal situation 
where the foe finds “succour in our country” (Tamil Nadu) even as they 
engage the Indian Army in combat on the island. Chapters III and IV 
describe the formation’s attempts to get to grips with the environment 
and their efforts to improve the standards of training on the job. Chapters 
V and VI describe the conduct of major operations to search and clear the 
jungles of suspected LTTE bases. The latter chapter also includes a brief 
BOOK REVIEWS
CLAWS Journal z Winter 2018 123
analysis of the performance of various “arms”. Chapter VII describes 
continued fighting in the jungle and refers to the operations of Special 
Forces often placed under the command of the author. Chapter VIII 
helps reset the backdrop in the continuously evolving politico-military 
situation in Sri Lanka. In Chapter IX, the author recounts the less than 
fortunate initiation of one of his new units – 6/8 GR—into battle in 
the unforgiving jungle and how the unit quickly recovers its equilibrium. 
Chapter X is devoted to logistical matters and the final ‘pull-out’ of the 
IPKF and the inglorious homecoming: a sad commentary on our political 
leaders and people. In virtually the last chapter, the author reflects on the 
operations in Sri Lanka. He spiritedly responds to the unfair criticism of 
the conduct of his formation. 
Finally, to the question, the author asks, and leaves unanswered: “Did 
the IPKF fail in its task?” I would unhesitatingly say, ‘No.’ The fact that a 
grateful Sri Lanka graciously erected, of its own free will, a war memorial 
to commemorate the Indian fighting man killed in action on Sri Lankan 
shores in Operation Pawan is proof enough. 
The book brings out several ‘lessons learnt’; however, not all are that 
new in perspective. The key takeaways are:
  Expeditionary intervention operations are intensely complex. They 
involve the three Services and various arms of the civil government. 
They invariably have to be launched quickly. They demand that 
special civil-military structures, organisations, procedures, knowledge 
and skills including language are properly in place. 
  One of the foremost responsibilities of a senior military commander 
is to ensure that one’s command is prepared mentally, physically and 
logistically for the task. Notwithstanding the constraints of time, 
the ‘approach to battle’ – reconnaissance, logistical preparation, 
preparatory training, planning, concentration and familiarisation – 
must be sound. For a commander to be stampeded into an operation 
for which he is not adequately prepared is to fail his command.
BOOK REVIEWS
124  CLAWS Journal z Winter 2018
  Commanders and staffs must remember that the cohesion of a formation 
and even more so a unit in battle is vital. Added numbers do not 
necessarily mean greater effectiveness. A unit with four integral sub-units 
is invariably more effective than a unit with six assorted sub-units.
  The infantry (and armour and mechanised infantry) needs time and 
opportunity to train repeatedly under its unit and sub-unit commanders 
to continuously improve their individual, group and sub-unit fighting 
skills and techniques. These objectives cannot be achieved through the 
medium of training competitions and formation exercises.
  Realisation must dawn on formation commanders and staffs that 
in war (indeed, in peace, too) they are on the same side as their 
units! Their task is to facilitate and find ways to assist their units in 
accomplishing assigned tasks NOT to simply find fault and criticise. 
Throughout the book, anecdotes, examples and quotes by participants 
enliven the narrative. The book is remarkably free of error. However, the 
binding is of poor quality – the book tends to fall apart easily. Also, a few 
maps and extra sketches, particularly of the major operations, would have 
added value. 
This is a book that should be discussed as a case study on senior 
command (and leadership) courses of instruction for budding formation 
commanders.
Ours Not to Reason Why is a poignant tale. Brig RR Palsokar is an 
Infantryman and Guardsman to boot. A second generation officer with 
an impeccable record of service, he enjoys an enviable professional 
reputation amongst his peers. His leaving the Service prematurely was a 
loss to the Army but understandable under the circumstances. 
RK Nanavatty (Retd)
Lieutenant General R K Nanavatty (Retd) is an officer of the 8th Gorkha Rifles 
who retired as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command
BOOK REVIEWS


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Note From the Editor: Winter 2018

Ours Not to Reason Why: with the IPKF in Sri Lanka: by Brigadier R.R. Palsokar (Retd.)

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