General Naravane’s “Four Stars of Destiny”: Why the Ex-Army Chief’s Memoir is Stuck and Sparked a Parliament Row

The unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, titled “Four Stars of Destiny”, has become the center of a major political storm in India. In February 2026, the book triggered a heated debate in the Lok Sabha, leading to disruptions in the ongoing Budget Session.

Despite being scheduled for release in early 2024, the book remains in limbo. It is currently under review by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) due to its sensitive revelations about the Agnipath recruitment scheme and the 2020 India-China military standoff. Here is everything you need to know about the controversy and what the book actually reveals.

What Happened in Parliament?

On February 2, 2026, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote excerpts from General Naravane’s memoir during a debate in the Lok Sabha. He referred to a magazine article that had published parts of the manuscript.

Gandhi tried to highlight specific details about the government’s handling of the China border crisis. However, senior government ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, strongly objected. They argued that quoting from an “unpublished and unauthenticated” book violates parliamentary rules. The Speaker, Om Birla, upheld this objection, leading to an adjournment of the House.

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Why is the Book Delayed?

General Naravane’s book was originally set to be published by Penguin Random House in January 2024. However, the publication process was halted after the government intervened.

• The Review Process: In India, serving and retired officials must get clearance before publishing material that deals with sensitive operational details or national security.
• Current Status: General Naravane has stated that he submitted the manuscript to the publishers, who then sent it to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for clearance. As of February 2026, the book has been “under review” for over a year.
• The Reason: Experts believe the delay is due to the “frank and candid” nature of the General’s writings, which reportedly contradict some official government narratives regarding major defense decisions.

Key Revelations: The Controversial Parts

Leaks and excerpts from the manuscript have revealed two main areas of contention: the Agnipath Scheme and the 2020 Ladakh standoff.

1. The Agnipath Scheme Surprise

The Agnipath scheme, launched in 2022 for short-term military recruitment, faced significant protests. General Naravane’s memoir reportedly suggests that the final scheme was very different from what the Army had proposed.

• Retention Rate: The Army initially recommended retaining 75% of the recruits after four years. However, the government reduced this to 25%.
• Surprise for Navy & Air Force: The book claims the scheme came as a “bolt from the blue” for the Navy and Air Force, who were not fully prepared for the sudden shift.
• Salary Issues: The General reportedly objected to the initial proposed salary of ₹20,000, calling it “unacceptable” for a trained soldier. After his pushback, it was raised to ₹30,000.

2. The China Standoff & “Hot Potato” Moment

The book provides a tense, minute-by-minute account of the India-China border crisis in eastern Ladakh, particularly the events of August 31, 2020.

• Rechin La Incident: Indian troops had captured strategic heights, and Chinese tanks were moving dangerously close to Indian positions.
• The “Hot Potato”: Naravane writes that he called Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for clear orders on whether to open fire if the Chinese tanks continued to advance.
• The Response: According to the memoir, the Minister told him to “do whatever you deem appropriate” (Jo uchit samjho woh karo). Naravane describes this as being handed a “hot potato,” meaning the full weight of a potential war decision was left on his shoulders without a direct political order.

Why This Matters for India

This controversy is significant because it touches on the sensitive relationship between India’s military leadership and its political rulers.

• Transparency: It raises questions about how much the public deserves to know about national security decisions.
• Accountability: The book suggests that military advice (like retaining 75% of Agniveers) was overridden by political decisions.
• Historical Record: If published, it would be one of the few first-hand accounts of the Galwan clash and the India-China standoff from a sitting Army Chief.

What Happens Next?

As of now, the book’s future is uncertain. The government has not banned the book but has not cleared it either.

• Will it be released? It depends on the MoD. They may ask the author to remove or edit specific chapters before allowing publication.
• Political Impact: The Opposition is likely to keep using the leaked excerpts to question the government’s defense policies, ensuring the topic remains in the news cycle.

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