Jalandhar November 10 (Jaswinder Singh Azad)- The Faculty of Commerce, Business Management & Humanities at DAV University, Jalandhar, organized an enlightening expert session on “Leadership Lessons from Ancient India vs Modern Military Warfare”. The session sought to bridge India’s timeless knowledge systems with contemporary strategic and leadership practices, offering students a rare blend of philosophical depth and modern relevance.
The event featured two distinguished speakers Mr. Debasis Satapathy, Chief General Manager, NBCC, New Delhi, and Major General (Dr.) Ranjit Singh, SM, VSM (Retd), who delved into the interconnections between ancient wisdom and modern leadership philosophies across civil and military domains.
The session beautifully combined India’s civilizational wisdom with contemporary perspectives on leadership and warfare
Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of DAV University, in this welcome address commended the speakers for offering a multidimensional exploration of leadership and strategy. “The session beautifully combined India’s civilizational wisdom with contemporary perspectives on leadership and warfare. It reminded us that knowledge, ethics, and adaptability are as crucial today as they were in ancient times,” he remarked.
Prof (Dr) S K Arora, Registrar of DAV University, commended the Faculty of Commerce, Business Management & Humanities for hosting such an intellectually enriching event. “The session reminded us that leadership is not about authority but about character. It is inspiring to see our students learning from both the spiritual and strategic dimensions of leadership,” he said.
Mr. Debasis Satapathy, in his talk, explored the Mahabharata as a profound source of leadership insights, interpreting its characters and events as lessons in vision, perseverance, and strategy. He encouraged students to emulate Karna’s determination to never give up and Arjuna’s clarity and focus in the face of moral and strategic challenges. He emphasized that true leadership involves self-belief, empathy, and ethical decision making.
Every challenge in life is a test of character
“Every challenge in life is a test of character. From Karna, we learn persistence in adversity, and from Arjuna, we learn the power of purpose and mindfulness. The Mahabharata is not just an epic, it is a manual on leadership and life management,” he said.
Major General (Dr.) Ranjit Singh, SM, VSM (Retd), in his address, offered deep insights into India’s military heritage and evolving warfare doctrines. He connected ancient Indian strategies — from Chanakya’s statecraft to Shivaji’s guerrilla warfare — with modern defense operations. Emphasizing the significance of emerging forms of psychological and cyber warfare, he urged young citizens to become digitally aware and responsible participants in safeguarding the nation.
“In the 21st century, wars are fought as much in the digital space as on the battlefield. Every Indian must contribute to national resilience by being informed, alert, and ethical in the digital realm,” he asserted, highlighting that leadership today demands not only courage and intelligence but also technological and psychological preparedness.
The event concluded by a panel discussion brilliantly
The event concluded by a panel discussion brilliantly moderated by Dr Gitika Nagrath, Dean, Faculty of Commerce, Business Management & Humanities, and Ms Monica Suphiya, Coordinator, Department of English, where the participants of the event engaged in stimulating discussions with the speakers. The session concluded with the reaffirmation of DAV University’s vision of empowering students with 21st-century skills grounded in India’s cultural and intellectual traditions.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Gitika Nagrath, Dean, Faculty of Commerce, Business Management & Humanities, and Convenor of the event, expressed her gratitude to the speakers and participants for their enthusiastic involvement. “Both speakers beautifully intertwined India’s ancient philosophies with modern realities. The lessons of persistence, strategy, and awareness they shared are invaluable for our students as future leaders. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the university leadership and our faculty for their continued support,” she said.