D. Padma Kumar Pillay

Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, Col DPK Pillay prepared the report of the discussion ‘A Pragmatic Approach: Are We Prepared for the Bangladesh Elections?’ for the IIC Diary. The talk was delivered by Harsh V. Shringla (Former Foreign Secretary and Member of Parliament). The other discussants included Sreeradha Datta and Rishi Gupta. The event was chaired by Jawhar Sircar (Public intellectual and Former Secretary Culture and CEO, Prasar Bharti).

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay contributed a chapter to the Geneva Centre for Security Policy's (GCSP) landmark publication, 30 Recipes for Peace, released to commemorate the Centre's 30th Anniversary. Col Pillay uses the traditional Kerala dish, Avial, as a potent metaphor for multilateral diplomacy and resourcefulness in conflict resolution, asserting that harmony is achieved when diverse, common ingredients (nations/people) are thoughtfully mixed. His contribution reinforces the alignment between the GCSP's mission and India's exemplary role as a neutral mediator, drawing crucial lessons from India’s deployment of the Custodian Force to manage the end of the Korean War, thereby stressing that dialogue and bridge-building are foundational to global peace and security.

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘The Fast track to first world:  Korea’s lessons for India’s rise’ has been published in ‘The Sunday Guardian’ on 20 July 2025.

South Korea’s rapid development through authoritarian-led quality focus contrasts with India’s democratic, pluralistic but steady economic rise and modernization, says Col Pillay.

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Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘India's Korean War Blueprint: A Path to Global Peacemaking Leadership in Today's World’ has been published by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 17 July 2025. The moral compass that guides India's policy of non-alignment, sharpened through its hard-earned diplomatic real estate and invaluable capital, now unequivocally demands decisive action, not mere presence. The cost of inaction is not simply a betrayal of India's historical commitment to global peace and a diminishing of its rightful standing; it risks hurtling the world towards unending violence, escalating conflicts, and cascading man-made disasters, says Col Pillay. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Why India needs to do to recapture the narrative war’ has been published in Chakra on 07 July 2025.

India is not lacking in stories—we are lacking in storytellers. We do not lack heroes—we lack the will to honor them. Korea holds up a mirror. It shows us the power of remembrance, of narrative, and of sustained engagement. Let us stop being forgotten. Let us start becoming unforgettable, says Col Pillay.

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India's astute diplomacy in the Korean War provides a powerful blueprint for engaging with today's tumultuous global landscape.

• D. Padma Kumar Pillay |
• July 01, 2025 |
• IDSA Comments

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Col Nayar’s legacy and India’s role in the Korean War’ has been published in ‘The Tribune’ on 30 June 2025. For 75 years, the people of Korea have actively cherished Col Nayar’s memory and his memorial at Beomeo Park in Daeguhas, South Korea, has become a sacred site, says Col Pillay. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘From Seoul to Delhi: A shared legacy of freedom and sacrifice’ has been published in ‘The Korea Times’ on 29 June 2025. At the War Memorial of Korea, two symbolic clocks stand: one frozen at 4 a.m. on June 25, 1950 — the moment the war began — and the other ticking patiently, awaiting the day the two halves of the peninsula might be reunited. These clocks capture not just loss, but hope. A hope that one day, the Korean people, divided by history, may find unity again. And when that day comes, India will stand with them, just as it did 75 years ago, says Col Pillay. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article on How India should retaliate against Pakistan post Pahalgaon terror attack has been published in Dainik Jagran on 28 April 2025.

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s article ‘Bluff and Bloodshed: Unmasking General Munir's Kashmir gamble’ has been published in Money Control on 23 April 2025. The Pahalgam massacre bears a chilling resemblance to the Hamas attack on unarmed civilians. It’s a desperate attempt to lure India into a trap. Pakistan anticipates an Indian retaliatory strike. Such a response would be a strategic trap, playing directly into Munir’s hands. India must project strength without succumbing to full-scale war, says Col Pillay. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.