Naravane’s Memoir Not Out Yet, But Here’s What Ex-Army Chief Said About Galwan Clash In Past

Last Updated:February 02, 2026, 15:05 IST

Amid row over Naravane's yet-to-be-published memoir, a look at what he had said about the Galwan clash and Line of Actual Control (LAC) disengagement in a number of interviews

Former Army chief M M Naravane had earlier said that not an inch of space was lost in Galwan (left). (PTI/IANS File)

The Lok Sabha witnessed a row on Monday after the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, sought to quote from what he said was the memoir of former Army chief M M Naravane, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah objecting on the grounds that the book, ‘Four Stars Of Destiny’ has not yet been published.

As Gandhi rose to speak on the Motion of Thanks to the president’s address and began quoting from the book, Singh asked him to clarify whether the book had been published or not. The Congress leader insisted that the document was authenticated and he could quote from it. He said he never wanted to speak on the particular issue, but decided to do so after BJP’s Tejasvi Surya questioned the patriotism of the Congress party. Gandhi then said he was quoting from a magazine article.

Singh, however, maintained that the book had not been published. The defence minister accused Gandhi of “misleading the House".

Following the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops, India and China engaged in a four-year standoff. A significant breakthrough in October 2024 led to 95% disengagement in Depsang and Demchok, with resumed patrolling in key areas.

Naravane’s memoir apparently states that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not forget the Galwan clash.

A look at what Naravane had said in a number of interviews about the Galwan clash and Line of Actual Control (LAC) disengagement:

‘India showed the world it is possible to stand up to China’

On the clash in Galwan, Naravane, during an interview with ANI, had said, “Not only of the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), it diminished the stature of China as a country in global eyes. After the clash, we showed it is possible to stand up to China, which tends to bully its smaller neighbours."

“From Canada to Lithuiana, Europe to Philippines, everyone got the feeling…If you are fighting for what is correct and take a principled stand, you can stand up to China. You don’t have to cower down. India as a country showed to the world it is possible to take on the neighbourhood bully," he said.

‘First jolt for China after 1979’

During an interview with Lallantop, he had said, “This was the first time China suffered losses after 1979. They have been bullying all small countries in the neighbourhood. This was the first time they got a jolt and realised that this strategy of theirs won’t work anymore."

‘Have not lost an inch in Galwan’

“We have not lost out on any territory, we are where we were…But as a result of this agreement, it has been reached on the principle of mutual and equal security. That should be how we look at the disengagement process that it serves the interests of both the countries to have a stable LAC with less chances of any confrontation taking place. That should be the viewpoint…Not an inch has been lost," he had said in another interview.

With PTI Inputs

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