Aim and Objectives
The Centre which is a nonprofit, apolitical, non-government organisation, aims at undertaking research and analysis of subjects relating to national and international security and development through seminars, discussions, publications at periodic intervals. It also facilitates close interaction with the faculty members and research students in allied disciplines in the Universities/Institutions as also Armed Forces, R&D organisations and Defence Public Sectors Undertakings. It further aims at generating and promoting interest among the students, general public and youth in particular, in these topics, with a view to making them aware of multifarious concerns of national and international security.
Objectives :- a. To study and undertake research and analysis on matters relating to national and international strategy and promote discussions and writing on the same for the benefit of its members and any other person/institution interested in these matters.
- b. To print and publish, cause to be printed and published, books, periodicals, articles and theses, and any other publication and to undertake production of or assist in the production of films, scripts etc. as may be considered necessary for the promotion of the objectives of the Society.
- c. To establish and manage alone or in co-operation with others, study centres, libraries or any such establishment and undertake research primarily for the benefit of research scholars and other beneficiaries interested in the objectives of the Society.
- d. To promote interest in national and international security.
- e. To create amongst the public, interest in national and international studies.
- f. To hold periodical conferences, seminars, meetings, lectures, exhibitions, discussions and film shows on matters of interest on national and international security.
- g. To create awareness amongst the public on security matters and to enlist co-operation from other institutions, organisations, establishments, departments and other bodies for the promotion of the objectives of the Society.
- h. To assist/provide studies/research inputs and carry out any special studies for the government, when required.
- j. To do all such things and create infrastructure as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.
The CASS intended to study not only the technical aspects but also the larger aspects of these sectors, which may appear to be non-strategic areas; as these were considered to be essential for sustaining a strategic doctrine. Judged from this stand-point, national security concerns encompass the entire gamut of policy options and doctrines of development, diplomacy and defence. The main aim of the Centre is to provide conceptual, intellectual, technical and strategic considerations which are necessary for formulation of national policies in the changing global, regional and national environment. Thus, India’s goal and interests need to be considered beyond the narrow confines of the South Asian Security. It is therefore essential that both strategic and non-strategic dimensions are researched and pursued vigorously to provide useful data, information and options to the policy-makers.
Current Activities
The Centre organises Seminars and group discussions almost every month. It also avails of the expertise of distinguished specialists visiting Pune at short notice, as opportunity speakers. It has plans to award Research Fellowships, commission monographs on micro issues, organise greater number of lectures and discussions in Universities, Colleges and for the general public, and expand its publication activities. Many of these plans / programmes have had to be deferred for want of adequate infra-structure (land, buildings, full fledged library, net-work set up with similar institutions etc.) and most importantly adequate funds. Major Seminars have been held by the Centre and its proceedings published and widely circulated. The Centre had organized SL Kirloskar Memorial Lectures and NK Firodia Memorial Lectures/Seminars as well as Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Lecture/Seminar since 2006. Air Marshal YV Malse Memorial Lecture/Seminar and Brigadier NB Grant Memorial Lecture were started annually since 2007. Professor SV Kogekar Memorial Lectur has also been held since 2008.Apart from a number of Life Members the Centre has 15 Institution Members, covering most of the defence related institutions in Pune and in the vicinity. The Centre also has three Honorary Life Members namely Shri R.D. Pradhan, IAS (Retd), former Home Secretary and Governor, Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Abhay Firodia, Chairman, Force Motors Ltd. and Shri Atul C. Kirloskar, Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd.
History
Pune has traditionally been a Centre of learning and is to India what Oxford and Cambridge are to United Kingdom. Besides the numerous education and research bodies located in the city, it has become an important industrial and commercial centre, which draws upon the intellectual wealth of the city. The city is also home to a very large population of retired senior civil and service officers.
Perceiving the need for good research and analysis of subjects relating to national security and for promoting interest among the public, a few retired senior service and civil officials, academicians and industrialists formed the National Security Forum in collaboration with the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies of the University of Pune in the eighties. The brain storming sessions conducted by the Forum attracted many renowned experts, academicians and eminent persons not only from within the country but also from abroad. It was then decided to institutionalise the activities.
The initial meetings were carried out at the residence of Late Air Marshal YV Malse and on some occasions at the residence of Late Shri SL Kirloskar. Some of the photographs of those times are shown below and have been provided to the Centre courtesy Col (Dr) Anil Athale, a member of CASS, who also used to be present during those meetings.
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Shri Abhay Firodia,
Shri Navalmal Firodia,
Shri Ram Sathe and
Air Marshal YV Malse -
Shri SL Kirloskar,
Admiral JG Nadkarni,
Shri Abhay Firodia and
Shri Navalmal Firodia -
Dr Arun S. Dalvi,
Prof VG Bhide,
Shri Sanjay Kirloskar,
Shri PVR Rao and
Shri SL Kirloskar
The National Security Forum transformed into the Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies (CASS) and was registered as a Society on 21st September, 1992 under the Society’s Registration Act, 1860 and as a Public Charitable Trust on 28 Oct.92 under the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act of 1950. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India have accorded recognition to the Centre as a Scientific and Industrial Research Institution. The Centre has been granted exemption U/S. 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in perpetuity and extension of exemption U/S.10(23C)(iv) for AY 2004-2005 and onwards vide Government of India Notification No.80/2007 dated 26.03.2007.
History of the Logo
In one of those informal meetings of the founder members at late Shri SL Kirloskar’s residence, one of his nieces painted an elegant Elephant head and presented it to the group. Noticing the commonality between multifaceted characteristics of an Elephant and the objectives of the Centre, it was immediately decided to adopt the Elephant head as the Centre’s logo. Till date the original painting continues to adorn the walls of the Centre.
The Elephant symbolizes strength and wisdom. The Elephant also has a sharp memory and is known for keen environmental and social awareness. Although herbivorous or a vegetarian, if prodded for long, the Elephant can be equally ferocious and punishing. Endowed with a massive size, the Elephant can overcome all obstacles in its path. The Indian ethos and the economy in particular is often symbolized as ‘elephantine’ for the slow but steady progress.
The ‘Strength and Wisdom’ as also the sure footed progress is the hallmark of an Elephant and that is what the Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies aims to strive, in its endevours.
Future Plans
The Centre has embarked on starting a Quarterly Journal with the inaugural issue in early 2014. The Journal would be focusing on all interlinked aspects of National Security and National Development.
CASS would also be bringing out specific topic based special issues and occasional papers throughout the year. Some of the topics proposed are in the areas of civil aviation, energy and environment, security imperatives post US troops pullout from Afghanistan and role of media in National Security, to name a few.
The Centre aims to promote synergy with many institutions, which are engaged in furthering some of these ideas.