The last one hundred years have perhaps been the most momentous in the entire history of mankind, just as much as it has been for India. Two World Wars, the Freedom Movement, the emergence of India as a great nation, three wars, a near war and last but not the least, the growth of a thoroughly professional, apolitical Indian Armed Force, committed not only to protecting its territorial integrity under any circumstances but also coming to the aid of civil authorities in times of crisis and natural disasters, a magnificent force that each and every citizen of this country is justifiably proud of.

All such events and developments have been witnessed from close quarters and chronicled by Fauji Akhbar, rechristened as Sainik Samachar in 1954. The journey which started as an Urdu Weekly on January 2, 1909 continues, despite occasional setbacks in the past. In its chequered history, Fauji Akhbar moved from Shimla to Lahore and then to Delhi. Its editorial policy has also undergone many changes over the years. The publication had to be temporarily halted immediately after Independence due to a large scale migration of the staff and printer to Pakistan. It bounced back with renewed vigour and enthusiasm in no time. It is this magazine that the troops and officers look forward to for the last information that has a bearing on them. Sainik Samachar, a fortnightly now, is published in thirteen languages including English.

In this anthology, Soldiering On..., we have brought out a panoramic view of the major events in the life of the nation and to some extent, of the world, as reported by Fauji Akhbar / Sainik Samachar since its inception. We have embellished the reportage with rare pictures dug out from our archives, some of them for the first time. We have also included a comprehensive articles on the history and evolution of the Directorate of Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence, a unique inter-service organisation which has set benchmarks for PR activities over the years. We have included articles, features and short stories by writers, some of whom achieved eminence only in later years. In short, this volume not only provides a rare glimpse into the history of India in the last one hundred years but is also a collector's item.