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Colonel Dr. Divakaran Padma Kumar Pillay (Retd.) has seen action in several disturbed areas of the country. He earned a Shaurya Chakra for gallantry beyond the call of duty in Tamenglong, Manipur where he is remembered for the evacuation of wounded children despite having himself received life threatening injuries. On his retirement, the villagers made him an honorary member of their tribe for his humanitarian actions and in recognition of the development initiatives taken by him in the region including a national highway sanctioned by the Government of India.
Col. Pillay has held several assignments in his 29-year career in the Indian Army. Besides several field assignments, he was selected by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to serve at the Military School, Bangalore to inspire cadets to join the Armed Forces. In 2003, he was selected for Project Beta which delivered a handheld PDA for use by the Infantry in counter insurgency operations. This was a very unique military-funded IT enterprise. For his contribution to the project, he was awarded the COAS Commendation Card in 2005.
In January 2006, he was selected as Planning Officer (Defence) in the Planning and International Cooperation (PIC) Division of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Being the first service officer in the MoD secretariat, he handled issues ranging from defence policy and strategy, implementation of the Group of Ministers report on reform of national security system, defence cooperation with foreign countries, issues of multilateral forum as well as matters pertaining to institutions like the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). He has also represented India at various international forums including the UNOG for CCW conferences, UNGA, Shangri La Dialogue, ASEAN and UNEP, among others
After the tenure at MoD, he served on a yearlong fellowship at MP-IDSA in 2009, where he prepared a report on the benefits of joint exercises with the foreign countries. He was subsequently selected as Senior Defence Specialist in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), where he served from 2010 to 2017. He has been a member of several national level task forces including that on Defence Modernisation and Indigenisation headed by Shri Ravindra Gupta and the Task Force on Defence Diplomacy, which brought about significant changes in policy. He was also a member of the NSCS-nominated Task Force on Environmental Security.
Currently, Col. Pillay is pursuing research on violent extremism at MP-IDSA as well as a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) project on Action Plan to Counter Radicalisation of Indian Youth. He was nominated as a member of the Advisory Committee for Commemoration of the First War with Pakistan (October 1947-December 1948) by the National Archives of India. He subsequently produced a well-researched exhibition on the accession of Jammu and Kashmir. In December 2018, he was nominated as Brand Ambassador to the Disabled in the Army, having been wounded in action and showing remarkable grit and recovery, by the COAS in a ceremony held at the Northern Command along with living Param Vir Chakra awardees.
In December 2018, he was also deputed as a Military Advisor with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for After Action Review for the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He was the first Indian armed forces officer selected as an Armed Forces Delegate with the ICRC. He re-joined MP-IDSA in May 2019.
Col. Pillay holds a Ph.D. from the Panjab University and his thesis deals with the debate between human and national security. Besides university courses, he has attended several military training programmes in India and abroad on diverse subjects relating to conflict resolution, human rights, security sector reform, humanitarian civil-military coordination, strategic negotiations, rehabilitation and relief, disaster risk management and environmental law. Some of the courses attended are: New Issues in Security course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (2007), Switzerland; the UNOCHA course on Civil Military Cooperation at Bangkok (2014); and International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance, Barcelona, Spain (2014).
He has been invited to present papers at international conferences, notably at the Martens Reading at St. Petersburg, Russia in May 2019 and at the ICRC South Asia in July 2017. He regularly conducts international humanitarian law (IHL) training for the UN missions at courses conducted by the Centre for UN Peacekeeping in New Delhi. He also delivers lectures at universities and colleges including at the UGC-HRD courses. He is a regular strategic affairs commentator on Indian radio and television as well as a motivational speaker, including at TED. He was a recipient of the CNN–IBN Special Achievement Award in 2012.
- D.P.K. Pillay’s Review of Arjun Subramaniam’s Book ‘Full Spectrum: India’s Wars 1972-2020’ Published in The Economic Times’
- D.P.K. Pillay Speaks on Food Security in Podcast Series by Taylor & Francis Group
- D.P.K. Pillay’s Review of Uttam Sinha’s Book ‘Indus Basin Uninterrupted’ Published in The Economic Times
New COAS Appointment Puts Controversy to Rest
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA. Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘New COAS appointment puts controversy to rest’ has been published in The Blitz India on 15 June 2024.
The controversy surrounding General Pande’s extension had generated debate about the Model Code of Conduct during elections, with some Opposition parties alleging that the extension was a violation of the MCC. However, the appointment of Lt General Dwivedi has put the matter to rest, allowing the Army to focus on its priorities and challenges ahead, says Col Pillay.
Article 99: UN Charter Limitations and Enduring Insights from India’s Experience of R2P in 197
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s chapter ‘Article 99: UN Charter Limitations and Enduring Insights from India’s Experience of R2P in 197’ has been published in the Indian Army UN Journal 2024, Blue Helmet Odyssey - Resilience And Adaptability: The New Era Of UN Peacekeeping 2024.
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Agniveer and the hidden costs of rebuilding a downsized military
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Agniveer and the hidden costs of rebuilding a downsized military’ has been published in ‘The Economic Times’ on 10 June 2024.
The Agniveer scheme, while aiming to modernise the Indian Armed Forces raises a few critical concerns, says Col Pillay.
Harnessing Cutting-Edge Technology: Lessons from Project Beta
India's pursuit of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology is a multi-faceted endeavour, requiring strategic vision, robust collaboration, sustained investment and a commitment to innovation.
Harnessing the Potential for Defence Cooperation through Defence Attachés
India's evolving defence diplomacy reflects its growing strategic ambitions.
UN Charter Limitations and Enduring Insights from India’s Experience of R2P in 1971
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘UN Charter Limitations and enduring insights from India’s Experience of R2P in 1971’ has been published in ADGPI, Centre for United Nations Peace Keeping flagship annual journal Blue Helmet Odyssey 2024. The article reflects on the world’s first case of responsibility to protect and how the UN didn't really stand up for the refugees escaping persecution from Pakistan.
Remembering Naik Jadunath–II: Evacuation from Pak
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Remembering Naik Jadunath–II: Evacuation from Pak’ has been published in 04 -10 March Issue of Blitz India.
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Courage, sacrifice a way of life for Indian soldier
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Courage, sacrifice a way of life for Indian soldier’ has been published in the 26 February-03 March 2024 issue of ‘The Blitz’.
The British watched silently how hastily-drawn boundaries generated mayhem amongst communities that had found an uneasy equilibrium and harmony co-existing for centuries suddenly erupted into a communal frenzy, says Col Pillay.
Detained Navy officials back safely from Qatar
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Detained Navy officials back safely from Qatar’ has been published in BlitzIndia on 15 February 2024.
The news of their release came as a huge relief for their families, who were informed after they boarded their flights back home, says Col Pillay.
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4 Guards’ Stirring Saga of Courage and Sacrifice
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s Oped ‘4 Guards’ stirring saga of courage and sacrifice’ has been published in ‘The Tribune’ on 06 February 2024.
The 4 Guards (1 Rajput) is one of those whose rank and file have proved their mettle time and again, challenging odds and human limits. It also has had the honour of providing India’s finest Generals, including the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gen (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa, says Col Pillay.