Dipankar Banerjee
Encyclopedia
Dipankar Banerjee is a retired Major General
of the Indian Army
and an eminent defence, foreign policy, and strategic studies expert based in India
. He is presently the Founding Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
, India
’s leading independent defence policy, foreign policy and strategic studies think tank based in Indian capital New Delhi
.
for 36 years until his voluntary retirement in 1996. During his service he held many key command, staff and instructional appointments in India and attended the Staff College
in Camberley
, UK. His last active command in the army was as the Divisional Commander in Kashmir
during 1991–1992. He has taught tactics and strategy at the Indian Military Academy
, the College of Combat and the Defence Services Staff College in India. In recognition of his distinguished service to the Indian Army
, General Banerjee received the prestigious military honour Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
(Highly Distinguished Service Medal) from the President of India
.
, India
’s premier defence and security studies think tank, where he was also a senior fellow. He then founded in 1996 the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
, where he still serves as the director. From May 1999 to July 2002 he was the director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies in Colombo
, Sri Lanka
. He held visiting fellowships at the United States Institute of Peace
and The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington
, United States
. He has been a consultant to the United Nations
on the Conventional Arms Register and was an international adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross
during 2000–2004.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and an eminent defence, foreign policy, and strategic studies expert based in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He is presently the Founding Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies is an independent defence, foreign policy and security studies think tank in India. Founded in 1996, the Institute is internationally recognized...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
’s leading independent defence policy, foreign policy and strategic studies think tank based in Indian capital New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
Military career
General Banerjee served in the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
for 36 years until his voluntary retirement in 1996. During his service he held many key command, staff and instructional appointments in India and attended the Staff College
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
in Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
, UK. His last active command in the army was as the Divisional Commander in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
during 1991–1992. He has taught tactics and strategy at the Indian Military Academy
Indian Military Academy
The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932.-Demands for an Indian military training academy:...
, the College of Combat and the Defence Services Staff College in India. In recognition of his distinguished service to the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
, General Banerjee received the prestigious military honour Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India given to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces....
(Highly Distinguished Service Medal) from the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
.
Academic career
General Banerjee served as the deputy director of the Institute for Defence Studies and AnalysesInstitute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses , New Delhi is India's premier think tank for advanced research in international relations, especially strategic and security issues, and also trains civilian and military officers of the Government of India. Established in 1965, IDSA is funded by but...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
’s premier defence and security studies think tank, where he was also a senior fellow. He then founded in 1996 the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies is an independent defence, foreign policy and security studies think tank in India. Founded in 1996, the Institute is internationally recognized...
, where he still serves as the director. From May 1999 to July 2002 he was the director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. He held visiting fellowships at the United States Institute of Peace
United States Institute of Peace
The United States Institute of Peace was created by Congress as a non-partisan, federal institution that works to prevent or end violent conflict around the world...
and The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He has been a consultant to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
on the Conventional Arms Register and was an international adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
during 2000–2004.
Research Interests & Publications
His special areas of interest are South Asian foreign policies and security issues, confidence building measures, Asia-Pacific security with a special emphasis to Chinese security issues. He has published extensively on these subjects in books, periodicals and journals. He has edited the following books:- Comprehensive and Co-operative Security in South Asia (1998)
- Confidence Building Measures in South Asia (1999)
- CBMs in South Asia – Potential and Possibilities (2000)
- South Asia at Gunpoint: Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation (2000)