The morning sun broke over the Advanced Combat Training Centre in Noida as rows of trainees—men and women from villages, cities, and hill towns—stood shoulder to shoulder. Their fatigues were crisp, their movements precise, their expressions calm. When the command “Attention!” echoed across the parade ground, the atmosphere felt electric yet disciplined. It was the moment they had trained months for—the graduation of the Kalki Sena’s “Counter Terrorist Combat Course 2025.”
This was not an army convocation, nor a typical civil event. It was the culmination of a unique Indian experiment—an organised, lawful movement turning ordinary citizens into extraordinary protectors of Bharat’s civilisation, guided by Dharma and discipline.
The Oath of the Ordinary
As the national flag rose, Wing Commander (Dr.) Pushkal Vijay Dwivedi (Retd.), Chief of Kalki Sena, watched silently before addressing the crowd. His voice carried both command and compassion:
“Kalki Sena is committed for upliftment and empowerment of Hindus in all four dimensions—physical, mental, economic and social. We are preparing warriors for the protection of Hindu temples, population and the sovereignty of Bharat. This movement is rooted in our Vaidik concept of Shakti—where empowerment is a sacred duty, not a slogan.”
For the trainees, many of whom came from non-defence backgrounds—teachers, engineers, homemakers—this was not just a speech; it was a transformation. They had spent weeks in trenches, on obstacle courses, and in classrooms learning that patriotism begins with control over the mind before the mastery of weapons.
Dwivedi reminded them that Kalki Sena functions lawfully within the framework of Rashtriya Suraksha (National Security) and Rashtriya Punarnirman (National Reconstruction): “We stand beside the state, not outside it,” he said.
Inside the Training Ground
The Counter Terrorist Combat Course 2025 trained participants in urban warfare, close-quarter battle, self-defence, surveillance, weapon handling, survival psychology, and rescue operations. Each module built on the previous level; those who completed Levels One and Two now faced Level Three’s real-life simulations—stress drills, night manoeuvres, and hostage-rescue practice.
Anand Pratap Singh, PRO to the Chief, explained, “Every level of training increases in intensity so participants reach near-elite reflexes. But the aim isn’t aggression; it’s awareness—how to react lawfully, effectively, and calmly under pressure.”
Overseeing it all was Commando Instructor Varun Rawat, Director (Operations Training) Northern Command. “We train Kalki warriors from Level One to Level Four with standards parallel to special forces,” Rawat said. “Our target is a disciplined civilian population—law-abiding, skilled, and ready to support authorities in any emergency.”
The Mind Behind the Mission
The architect of this mission, Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi, embodies the fusion of soldier, scholar, and strategist. A Special Forces instructor by training, he has worked on space-borne defence projects with DRDO, while also leading academic reform through the Bhartiya Shiksha Anusandhan Parishad (BSAP) as its Director-General.
Dwivedi is internationally recognised as the “Father of Self-Defence Science”, a subject he introduced into the national curriculum through the Bhartiya Shiksha Board (BSB)—India’s board for indigenous knowledge systems. The discipline combines combat psychology, law, ethics, and physical training, ensuring that youth learn to defend not just their bodies but their values.
His educational background spans Lucknow University, IIM Ahmedabad, ISB Hyderabad, MICA Ahmedabad, IIT Mumbai, and the University of California. Currently pursuing doctoral research in Quantum Weapons, he aims to integrate traditional Indian warfare science with futuristic technology—a vision he calls the intellectual backbone of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Recognition and Responsibility
Kalki Sena’s model has drawn global notice. It has been recorded in the London Book of Records as the world’s largest civilian combatant volunteer organisation. The Sena’s network of disciplined citizens is expanding across multiple Indian states, where communities are learning that preparedness and peace go hand in hand.
Notably, months before the Pahalgam terror attack, Dwivedi and his team submitted a detailed community-defence proposal to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The plan envisioned a structured civilian command system to assist official forces during asymmetric or terror strikes—a proposal many now see as prophetic.
A Lawful Deterrence
At the ceremony, Adjutant General Gaurav Pandey delivered a firm reminder of what sets the Sena apart:
“Kalki Sena is not like other organisations. We don’t do dharna, candle march or gherao. We are focused on creating a powerful Hindu diaspora worldwide which itself is a power group and a deterrence—and at the same time provides full support to the Government of India to protect the motherland.”
His words drew applause from the assembled trainees and families. For them, it was clear that discipline—not demonstration—is the new language of patriotism.
Pandey also acknowledged Dr. Siddhartha Bhattacharya and Mr. Alok Kumar, both members of the Kalki Sena Board, for their presence and guidance.
Beyond the Parade Ground
As medals were placed on uniforms and the tricolour shimmered in the October light, families watched with tears of pride. Many mothers in the audience said they now wished to join future batches. The sense of purpose was infectious. One graduate from Bihar summed it up simply: “We came as citizens; we leave as sentinels.”
Kalki Sena’s 2025 graduation symbolises a deeper awakening in Bharat’s civil society—one that views strength not as aggression but as moral preparedness. Its model fuses the spiritual energy of Sanatan Dharma with the strategic discipline of the modern state.
With every trained citizen, the line between soldier and civilian blurs—not in authority, but in responsibility. And as Wing Commander Dwivedi reminded the audience in his closing words, “A strong nation is not built only by armies; it is built by awakened people who know when to stand, how to act, and why to serve.”
As the day ended, chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” rose softly across the parade ground—not as noise, but as a pledge. The Kalki Sena’s newest civilian commandos stood tall, embodying a truth as old as the civilisation they vowed to protect: that Dharma and Shakti must always walk together.
