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Leadership Talk: “Sub Zero Snippets from Siachen”

Date: November 21, 2025 Share on WhatsApp
Speaker: Major General Paul Deepak Naidu
Venue:Loyola Auditorium


St. Joseph’s Institute of Management hosted a powerful leadership talk titled “Sub Zero Snippets from Siachen” by Major General Paul Deepak Naidu on 21 November 2025 at the Loyola Auditorium. The session, attended by first-year management students, offered a rare and insightful exploration of leadership from the world’s highest and coldest battlefield—Siachen Glacier.

The programme began with a formal introduction, followed by an address from Dean Dr. Rajiv Noronha, who highlighted the value of military leadership lessons in shaping future managers.

Major General Naidu’s session captivated the audience from the outset as he described the harsh realities of life at Siachen—extreme temperatures, avalanches, high altitude, isolation, and the immense physical and psychological demands faced by soldiers.

Through vivid real-life anecdotes and mission experiences, he transformed battlefield moments into practical leadership lessons. He spoke about decision-making under pressure, teamwork, resilience, trust, clarity amidst chaos, discipline, and staying mission-focused even in the most challenging conditions. Each experience was presented as an “episode,” offering deep insights applicable to corporate, academic, and personal growth.

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students discussed leadership dilemmas, emotional challenges of military command, and personal reflections. Major General Naidu’s responses, marked by humility and humour, made the conversation impactful and relatable.

Director Rev. Dr. Roshan David Pereira SJ and Dean Dr. Rajiv Noronha expressed their appreciation, emphasizing the importance of such interactions in shaping well-rounded and resilient future leaders.

A vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Renita Susan Mathew, acknowledging the speaker and the organizing team for a memorable and meaningful learning experience.
The session left the audience truly inspired, offering a deeper appreciation of leadership grounded in courage, discipline, and integrity.