The IPKF in Sri Lanka

This book is an authoritative and gripping account of the most controversial campaign undertaken by the Indian Army, an operation universally acclaimed at its commencement and just as widely criticised a few months later. The foreword is by one of India’s most prominent citizens, Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Military Cross. The introductory chapters are devoted to the land and the people of Sri Lanka, the genesis of the ethnic strife there, the reasons for India’s involvement including signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on 29 July, 1987 and induction of the IPKF into Sri Lanka a day later. Many hitherto unknown facts about the LTTE, their training methods, motivation, bordering on fanaticism, professional capabilities including the dreaded expertise in the use of explosives, their autocratic and obsessively secretive culture and the manner in which perceived rivals and opposition are decimated, are recounted in detail. An insight is also provided into the LTTE leadership including the elusive ‘Green Pimpernal’ Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The book then explains the planning that preceded launch of operation Pawan, code name of the military intervention in Sri Lanka and then moves to the souring of relations between the IPKF and LTTE and how the latter’s obduracy made the fighting that started on 10 October, 1987, inevitable. The mistakes made are frankly admitted and some misconceptions that have been aired through disinformation spread by the LTTE or through lack of correct perception are explained and facts placed in correct perspective. The chapter on insurgency includes an account by junior leaders about the mission allotted and how it was executed. The last chapters explain how the various arms and services of the IPKF performed their jobs and touch on various relevant aspects of the Sri Lankan experience in the form of reflections. The latter will be of special interest as it covers subjects like the higher direction of war, intelligence, training, morale maintenance especially in hostile environment exacerbated by unjustified criticism and a hostile press, public relations, defence research and development and so on. A book of equal interest to the general reader and the professional.