From Battlegrounds to Personal Growth
Reflections on Resilience, Adaptability, and the Pursuit of Purpose
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Being stationed in the Himalayas in 1965 as a young military officer deeply impacted my life. Literally at the top of the world, surrounded by the largest mountains on Earth covered by snow, it was an experience unlike any other. Biting cold and thin air were sharp reminders that you were fighting not just an enemy but nature itself.
Since the Sino-Indian War ended in November 1962, with India having lost considerable territory in the Himalayan ranges, relations between China and India had been tense. The threat of conflict in this area kept me and my troops on high alert. My role was to lead my soldiers to build artillery gun positions at the height of fourteen thousand feet — the highest battleground in the world at the time. This work would help fortify the Indian border from any potential attack in the region by China once again. It was during this period I learned to lead under difficult conditions, only to end my tenure there with a life-threatening accident caused by a dynamite blast.
My professional life spanned several careers. I was an officer in the military, and I built a business in America where I became a market leader. My most recent endeavor is serving the poor in a remote Indian village. Of all my prior experiences, I am often asked about my time in the military and how it shaped me.
What I learned as an army officer has stayed with me all my life. Below I detail some of the major lessons that shaped my present, and will continue to shape my future.
Being Sensitive to My Soldiers’ Concerns
Being away from their families for long periods, the troops were worried about troubles at home, whether it was illnesses, disputes, threats of violence against their families from local gangs, or other concerns. I would petition senior government officials or the head of police of their villages to promptly assist with such issues. If we were lucky, a positive response would arrive from an official promising to take action to rectify the situation.
I understood that by addressing the soldiers’ concerns, I set their minds at ease and, in turn, strengthened their commitment to the regiment. It helped me bond with them and become a trusted leader. Throughout my different careers, I have tried to establish a personal connection with those I worked with. In business or my social work at Shanti Bhavan, I have often gone beyond my typical responsibilities as a CEO or a founder to help my staff with issues that troubled them. This helped me develop strong team dynamics and a trusting relationship.
Leading by Example
My time in the military taught me the importance of leading by example. In the Himalayas and later in the Jammu-Pathankot sector bordering Pakistan, my leadership was put to the test in several instances. Once, I took control of a heavy truck that had slipped off the muddy road. The driver was too scared to steer it to safety as it precariously hung on the edge of a deep valley.
I, too, was worried, but moments like this gave my troops faith and admiration for me as a leader. I have continued to lead by example, taking on tasks that others didn’t feel comfortable doing or were unable to do.
Adapting to the Situation
Adapting to the living conditions in the Himalayas was challenging. We were constantly short of food and supplies, and the weather at high altitudes was volatile and unpredictable. I learned to adapt to the situation and do the best I could to meet the needs of our unit.
For instance, food deliveries from our base camp were often delayed due to bad weather. We rationed food to stretch the supplies we had. Additionally, I traveled to tribal villages to exchange rum that we had in sufficient supply for live animals like sheep, goats, and chickens. These small breaks from grueling work were fun adventures that kept our bellies full.
Similarly, I realized that cold, dark mornings were tough for my troops to handle, especially after a rough night in severe weather conditions. So I adjusted our standard schedule to allow my team to sleep an extra hour or until the sun came out. Everyone appreciated this adjustment and worked hard during the day to make up for lost time.
Instead of being dogmatic about rules, I realized it was more important to adapt our schedules to the harsh conditions we encountered. Thoughtful, pragmatic solutions helped us cope well with our situation.
The Importance of Time Spent Alone
As a military officer, I spent much of my service in remote places, often alone and mostly immersed in my thoughts. This period allowed me to reflect on my life, decide what I wanted to do with it, and determine what was important to me. The days spent alone in the high mountains helped me crystallize my long-term goals and values and decide what it meant to live a fulfilling life.
In addition, it enabled me to thoughtfully determine what I wanted for my future. Unlike today’s technological world where we are constantly pulled in different directions, finding time to think deeply about what mattered most helped me chart my course.
Death is Scary, Even for the Brave
In my early military career, I felt fearless and was drawn to risky challenges. I was prepared to encounter the enemy and carry out our mission. However, as time passed, I didn’t see any glory in dying. There was much I wanted to do and felt capable of accomplishing. After surviving injuries from an explosion that brought me face-to-face with death, I became more cautious about my actions. This also set in motion my decision to leave the military altogether.
While I worked hard throughout my career, trying to accomplish all that I could each day, I became more conscious of the fact that life is precious, and we never know when our last day will come. I’m grateful to have survived my accident and to have the opportunity today to live out my dreams.
Discipline Is Essential for Achieving Our Dreams
One of the most powerful skills I gained from the military was discipline. When I was young, I was not particularly routined. But after a bit of time in military schooling, all that changed. I saw the value of discipline in accomplishing my goals.
Since leaving the military, I’ve remained diligent and punctual, which has contributed to my professional success. I have maintained a healthy lifestyle — sleeping and eating at similar times daily and being careful not to gain too much weight. I work steadfastly to achieve the tasks in front of me.
With hard work and perseverance, I have accomplished whatever I set out to do — running my company (MCM), creating and running Shanti Bhavan as well as a journalism college, executing a national lead poisoning prevention initiative, and more. None of these endeavors offered a straight line to success. They required grit to overcome challenging and unforeseen hurdles. But with commitment and discipline, I was able to accomplish much.
How Small and Insignificant We Truly Are
My time in the tallest mountain ranges in the world left me with a sense of awe. It’s hard not to feel minuscule in the midst of the majestic peaks and vast stillness. This experience reminded me that I’m a small part of something far more significant. My own insignificance and compassion for others propelled me toward my long-term vision of serving those in need.
Final Thoughts
Following my time at Sela Pass, a high-altitude valley through which the Chinese military invaded India in the early 1960s, I went on medical leave for a few months due to the accident that almost took my life. Upon returning to my regiment, I was positively greeted with loud cheering by the soldiers I had left behind. The joke going around was that I had blown myself up deliberately to escape the biting cold! The caring welcome I received from the soldiers made me realize the importance of good leadership.
Even though military service wasn’t my true calling in the end, I fondly remember this period. What I learned helped me in many ways throughout my life. Without my military training and time in the Himalayas, I wouldn’t be the man I am today, and I certainly would not have accomplished what I have over the last fifty years.
