The Territorial Army’s ‘Know Your Territorial Army’ (KYTA) Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium commenced today at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium (DDA), Kolkata, bringing together senior military officers, representatives from academia and industry, environmental experts, students, NCC cadets and members of the public.
The day-long programme featured an inaugural ceremony, immersive panel discussions, institutional engagements, a cyber-security outreach lecture, an exhibition showcasing Territorial Army units and partner organisations, and a cultural presentation highlighting the diversity of India’s North East.
Inaugural Ceremony:
The symposium was formally inaugurated in the presence of Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, Chief Guest, accompanied by Maj Gen Sujeet Shivaji Patil, AVSM, VSM, senior Army officers and other distinguished guests.
The inauguration commenced with a musical extravaganza, setting the tone for the two-day symposium. Following the ceremony, dignitaries and participants visited the exhibition stalls before proceeding to the first immersive session.
Immersive Session-I: Evolution of TA – Nation Building Beyond Battlefield:
The first immersive session examined the Territorial Army’s expanding role in nation-building beyond conventional military duties.
The panel comprised Shri C.P. Marak, IFS (Retd), Chairperson, Meghalaya Lokayukta; Col SS Pattanaik, Commanding Officer, 113 (TA) RAJPUT; Shri P. Rajamohan Pichai, Deputy Chief Security Commissioner, Northeast Frontier Railway; and Col Amrita, Commanding Officer, 801 Engineer Regiment (Refineries & Pipelines), Territorial Army. The session was moderated by Brig M.K. Patel, SC.
Discussions focused on the TA’s contribution across diverse areas, including governance, border infrastructure and the security of critical national assets. The session concluded with the felicitation of the panellists, followed by an address by Lt Gen Gambhir Singh.
Immersive Session-II: Towards Multidimensional Resilience – From Borders to Bytes:
The second immersive session explored the emerging dimensions of national resilience, with particular emphasis on technology, sustainability and innovation.
The panel featured Prof Basab Chakraborty, IIT Kharagpur; Dr Srikant Gollapudi, IIT Bhubaneswar; Prof Sutapa Pati, Dean, School of Sustainability, XIM University, Bhubaneswar; and Mr Vimal Govind MK, CEO, Genrobotics. The discussion was moderated by Lt Col Unnat Sharma.
The session highlighted the growing importance of technological innovation, sustainable practices and emerging capabilities in strengthening national resilience across domains ranging from physical borders to the cyber environment.
MoU Signing Ceremony:
The symposium also featured institutional collaboration between the Territorial Army and partner organisations. Memoranda of Understanding with seven partner institutions were signed, with the formal exchange scheduled for Day 2.
The ceremony was followed by an address by Maj Gen Sujeet Shivaji Patil, AVSM, VSM, Additional Director General, Territorial Army.
Cyber Warrior Lecture for Students and NCC Cadets:
A large contingent of school students and NCC cadets participated in a special ‘Cyber Warrior’ lecture aimed at creating awareness about the fundamentals of cyber security and the evolving nature of cyber warfare.
The outreach initiative provided young participants with an introduction to the changing cyber-security landscape and the importance of responsible engagement in the digital domain. The students and cadets subsequently undertook a guided visit to the KYTA exhibition, where they interacted with Territorial Army units, industry representatives and ethnic and regional exhibitors.
Exhibition Showcases TA Units, Industry and Regional Heritage:
The KYTA exhibition, open from 1030h to 1700h, featured stalls representing Territorial Army units, partner industries and ethnic and regional pavilions.
The exhibition attracted civilians, students, NCC cadets and symposium delegates throughout the day. Displays offered visitors an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the Territorial Army’s capabilities, activities and wider contribution to the nation.
The opening day of the KYTA Seminar and TA 2.0 Symposium thus brought together defence, academia, industry, youth and civil society in a common forum, underscoring the Territorial Army’s evolving role as a key component of the nation’s broader resilience and nation-building efforts.
