PART I
DEFENCE

SECTION - 1
EVOLUTION AS DEFENCE MINISTER

EDITORIAL NOTE

Shri Y. B. Chavan assumed office of the Defence Minister of India on 21 November 1962.

The circumstances in which he assumed office were both dramatic as well as gloomy. The Chinese had attacked Indian defence forces deployed along the Nam-Ka-Chu in the Kameng Sector of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). On 20 October 1962, a fine brigade of the Indian Army had been routed. In the beginning of November, Chinese launched fierce attacks both in Ladakh as well as the NEFA. Under pressure of events and political pressure exerted by his own partymen, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had to relieve Shri Krishna Menon first of the Defence portfolio and later of the Defence Production.

Shri Y. B. Chavan who was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra thus became the Defence Minister of India at a critical time. He was totally new to the Defence as well as working of the Central Government, but very soon with his vast administrative experience and ability to manage men and matters, he settled down to his new task. He remained there till he became the Home Minister of India in the beginning of November 1967

During his tenure, Shri Y. B. Chavan presented Demands for Grants for the Defence Minister for four years beginning 1963-64. These four speeches in a way represent the evolution of Shri Chavan from a relative novice to the Ministry to become a highly knowledgeable, forward-looking and inspiring Defence Minister of India. These speeches also established him as an able Parliamentarian.