Army chief enrolls for PhD in military science

Army chief General V K Singh will soon earn a doctorate degree in military science, with the Barkatullah University in Bhopal registering him for a PhD programme. The 60-year old Army chief is undertaking doctoral research on 'security implications of rise of fundamentalism in Afghanistan: Its regional and global impact with special focus on Wakhan.'

He had appeared for his registration viva before the university research degree committee on May 28 as a prelude to obtain the PhD and had cleared the interview.

However, following various formalities, including changes in the title and synopsis of the research topic as suggested by the committee, the University issued registration to him recently.

"General Singh has got the registration and has started his research work. Since the topic does not require much field work, he would be carrying out the thesis work at his headquarters in New Delhi. I would be always available to him on telephone for guidance. He would also visit Bhopal as and when required," said Kailash Tyagi, research guide and head of department, military sciences at Motilal Vigyan Mahavidyalaya, affiliated to BU.

The General had said he had selected Barkatullah University as it was one of the only varsities where a high degree of military science education was imparted. On the research topic following the viva, the chief of army staff had said that he decided on it as Afghanistan was strategic for India.

General Singh is now the most illustrious student of the University. Clad in a civil dress, Singh arrived like a commoner to appear in the registration viva, sans any security.

The Army chief is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington as well as the Rangers Course at Fort Benning, United States and the US Army War College, Carlisle.