Date: May 22, 2024 Venue: Sharda World School

Today, Sharda World School hosted an insightful training session on leadership, conducted by Col Gaurav Dimri, the HR Head of Sharda Group. The session aimed to instill leadership qualities in students and faculty members by drawing parallels with real-life examples from the Kargil War. Col Dimri, an experienced military leader, utilized the Kargil War as a primary case study to elucidate various aspects of effective leadership. The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil Conflict, took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. It began when Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants infiltrated positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC), exploiting the mountainous terrain. Key events included the infiltration by Pakistani forces, the discovery by Indian patrols, the launch of Operation Vijay by the Indian Army to reclaim the occupied territories, supportive air strikes by the Indian Air Force, and intense battles at locations such as Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Dras. The war concluded with Indian forces successfully reclaiming the territories by July 26, 1999, now commemorated as Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Col Dimri emphasised the meticulous planning and strategic execution crucial in the Kargil War. The Indian Army had to adapt to challenging mountainous terrain, plan surprise counterattacks, and ensure logistical support for troops at high altitudes. He highlighted the importance of intelligence gathering, terrain analysis, and coordinated multi-force operations. The session provided participants with a deeper understanding of essential leadership qualities such as courage, resilience, strategic thinking, and effective communication. They learned the importance of adaptability in challenging situations, the value of teamwork and coordination, and the necessity of preparedness, decisive action, and maintaining morale under pressure. These lessons, derived from the Kargil War, offer valuable insights applicable to everyday leadership scenarios beyond military contexts.