Kalam & Kavach: India’s vanguard platform for strategic dialogue

India’s defence ecosystem is undergoing a profound transformation in an era of contested global orders and fast-evolving threats. At the forefront of this strategic awakening stands Kalam & Kavach — a unique convergence of intellectual rigour, military vision, and policy reform. Conceptualised by Pentagon Press LLP, Kalam &Kavach is anational movement to recalibrate India’s strategic thinking.

Held at the prestigious Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi and co-hosted with CENJOWS (Centre for Joint Warfare Studies), Kalam & Kavach 2.0 embraced a bold theme: “Securing India’s Rise Through Defence Reforms.” It echoed the clarion call of the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, who declared 2025 the Year of Defence Reforms. In a world where technology, deterrence, and diplomacy intersect like never before, it is easy to mistake equipment upgrades for preparedness. But the actual battle is one of ideas — doctrines, mindsets, systems, and the will to adapt. Kalam & Kavach fills this gap, creating a forum where India’s finest military minds, policymakers, academics, and industry pioneers confront the critical questions of our time. The forum is helmed by Rajan Arya, founder of Pentagon Press, and driven by Shivam Arya’s vision. It is deeply rooted in the belief that India’s strategic sovereignty will be built as much in thought as in theatre.

Kalam & Kavach 2.0 also served as a launchpad for thought leadership through books that matter:Ready, Relevant, Resurgent – Gen Anil Chauhan, CDS; Artificial Intelligence: Military Applications – Pawan Bhardwaj; Cyber Diplomacy – Edited by Preethi Amaresh, Pawan Anand, Vineet Kumar; and India’s Arsenal – Brig. (Dr.) Biju Jacob, VSM. Each title embodies the forum’s philosophy: strategic change begins with the written word.

Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar, DG CENJOWS, emphasized that the conversations at Kalam & Kavach must now evolve into formal policy recommendations. The goal is not just dialogue — it is doctrine, dissemination, and deployment.