- Bharat Rakshak
Infobox Website
name = Bharat Rakshak
caption = Bharat Rakshak home page on28 January 2007 .
url = [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com www.bharat-rakshak.com]
commercial = Non-Profit
type = Military Information & Community Website
language = English
registration = Optional (required for forum)
owner = Seetal Ramesh Patel
author =
launch date =1 July 1997
current status = Active
revenue =
alexa = [http://alexa.com/data/details/main/bharat-rakshak.com 42451] (5 Feb2008 )Bharat Rakshak ("Defenders of India") is a website devoted to discussing India's military affairs. It was started and is run by amateur military enthusiasts.Bharat Rakshak was started in April 1997 by bringing together the individual websites of Indian Defence enthusiasts.cite news | first=Sangeeta | last=Cavale | coauthors= | title=Online Celebration of the Nation | date=2004-01-25 | publisher= | url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/444729.cms | work =Times of India | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-06 | language = ] The website was officially launched on 1st July 1997. While the concept of Open Source intelligence, as defined by the
United States intelligence community, is still evolving in India, Bharat Rakshak has been cited as a site that could be held in the same category as its western counterparts. [cite news | first=Prashant | last=Bakshi | coauthors= | title=Open Source Intelligence a 'Force Multiplier' | date=2001-06-24 | publisher= | url =http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010624/spectrum/main3.htm | work =The Tribune | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-06 | language = ] The site gained some notoriety in December 2007, when fingers were pointed at it for leaking the Official War Histories written by the Indian Ministry of Defence that remained classified for sometime. [cite news | first=Ajai | last=Shukla | coauthors= | title=History or Mystery | date=2007-12-03 | publisher=New Delhi Tele Vision | url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=20338 | work =NDTV | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-10 | language = ]Features of the Site
*An active
discussion forum , which has been referred to in the press as a think-tank of Indian military issues.*An online bookstore, which specialises in the sourcing of books related to the Indian Military.
* A multimedia section, with a considerable number of video clippings and audio recordings of Military marches played by the bands of Indian Army, the Navy and Air Force. It also includes a significant collection of books devoted to various topics like Military History, Security Issues and Nuclear Issues. Their articles on nuclear issues have received press coverage. [cite news | first=Kaveree | last=Bamzai | coauthors= | title= N-Sub Project -- George, Bhagwat Fight over who Leaked What | date=1999-04-14 | publisher= | url =http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990414/ige14023.html | work =Indian Express | pages = | accessdate = 2008-02-06 | language = ]
Related Sites
On 15 August 2000, Bharat Rakshak launched a sister website called Amar Jawan. This website is dedicated to the personnel of India's Armed Forces. It is one of the few websites which pays tribute to all the fallen soldiers of the nation with an online roll of honour, that lists the martyrs and their contributions. Amar Jawan means "Immortal Soldier" in Hindi.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
