Book Review: Valour and Values: Aligning Military Experiences to CSR

By Ranjit Bhushan

As a former Indian Army infantry officer, Brig Rajiv Wiliams, is imminently qualified to present a compelling case on the relationship between Army Social Responsibility (ASR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

A participant in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, who also played a pivotal role in the capture of Pakistani ‘Quaid post’, later renamed Bana Top at the Siachen glacier by his battalion 8 JAK LI (Siachen), Williams draws deeply upon 33 years of military experience in his book, ‘Valour and Values’.

William believes that “Army Social Responsibility is neither a rule nor an exception but a tool that, when activated, could do wonders to improve holistic community engagement with the military.” His just-released book talks about how military social duties have expanded beyond traditional ‘aid to civil authorities,’ creating pathways for collaboration between ASR and CSR.

The book brings out a new strategic thought on ‘Army Social Responsibility’ (ASR), which needs to be understood in its entirety and recognized differently. While military social duties carried out under “Aid to civil authorities” are official, military social activities carried out under the realm of conflict management lend toward the concept of “ASR”.

“It is from this standpoint that I find a strong symbiotic relationship between ASR and CSR. I have juxtaposed the two and suggested that ASR activities can be developed as CSR projects and some CSR initiatives developed as ASR projects,” notes Brig Williams.

An Indian Army, which takes in liberal doses of confidence building measures to bridge the gap between them and local populations, is something that Williams is very familiar with. Through real-world examples and his lived experiences in conflict zones and peacetime locations, Williams juxtaposes ASR principles with the evolving CSR landscape. It illustrates how military values, and operational approaches can enhance corporate social initiatives.

There are real life Projects like Op Samaritan in the Northeast and Op Sadbhavana in Jammu and Kashmir, which highlight the importance of a deeper connection between the military and civil society. Brig. Williams shares insights from the 1971 India-Pakistan war and his role in Operation Sadbhavana in Ladakh, one of the coldest inhabited regions in the world.

Reflecting on his leadership during the Kargil War, Brigadier Williams observes the consequences of civil-military discord, citing a lack of proper liaison as a major issue. He suggests that better communication and cooperation could have mitigated animosities, reinforcing the value of ASR through humanitarian projects focused on social development in areas like healthcare, education, and environmental conservation. He stresses that harmonious civil-military relationships are vital to ensuring an effective flow of information, a key component of conflict management strategies.

Notes Williams: “To bring clarity in the concept I have shared some personal military experiences of the Army having initiated ASR projects under Op Sadbhavana and the learnings, which accrued were applied when I doffed my uniform. I joined Jindal Stainless Limited with the charter of initiating CSR, new to Indian business houses and different to the familiar concept of ’Charity, Welfare and Philanthropy.’’

CSR has since grown with policy frameworks, reporting standards and other statutory requirements enacted by law. For ease of understanding, some fundamentals have been included in the book along with relevant guidelines and CSR FAQs, which would help in ‘Getting CSR Right.

These experiences inspired the veteran infantryman to transition to the development sector. After his early retirement from the army, Williams joined the Jindal Stainless Group as the Head of CSR, serving for 17 years. This period coincided with the rise of CSR as a critical business initiative in India.

The book also examines how CSR funding for army projects can drive infrastructure development and skill training while highlighting the role of CSR in sustainable business strategies. Brig Williams offers a comprehensive overview of India’s CSR journey, showcasing its integration into corporate strategies across various industries.

This book is a certain reference point for corporate strategists and policymakers for years to come. 

The author is a senior independent journalist.

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