Future leaders must prepare to handle challenges: Dr Kalam

HYDERABAD: Former President of India A P J Abdul Kalam on Thursday stressed on the need for future leaders to effectively prepare themselves to handle challenges in the domain and dimensions of future confl icts. In his valedictory address of Higher Defence Management Course at College of Defence management here, Dr Kalam, who spoke on ‘Profi le of Dynamic Leadership, was interspersed with memoires of his interaction with young service offi cers serving in extremely diffi - cult conditions on the borders. While expressing full confi dence in the abilities of the armed forces leadership, he stressed on the need for future leaders to effectively prepare themselves to handle challenges in the domain and dimensions of future confl icts. Besides quoting examples of high quality of leadership displayed by a number of eminent personalities ranging from the fi eld of space, science, infrastructure projects like DMRC to military, Dr Kalam said that a leader must have a vision, and a passion to realise the same. He must be able to venture along unexplored paths and know how to manage success and failure, he said a leader should have the courage to take decisions and must display nobility in management. Transparency is an essential attribute of a good leader. A good leader becomes the master of the problem, defeats the problem and succeeds, he said a leader also must ‘work with integrity and succeed with integrity’. He suggested that offi cers should build a brand of integrity, which once established, becomes impregnable by any one with a malicious intent. He stressed on the need for creative leadership at all segments of governance. Earlier, in his welcome address, Maj Gen Sandeep Singh, AVSM, SM, VSMCommandant of College of Defence Management, highlighted the activities of the past academic year. Apart from a packed academic curriculum comprising eleven management disciplines, the offi cers were also put through the rigours of writing dissertations requiring extensive research and analysis, review of contemporary books, and writing of case studies on actual events experienced during their career. The offi cers were also taken on a Management Education Tour to gain an exposure to corporate best practices and innovations, he said for an international perspective, the offi cers were taken on an International Strategic Management Tour, which included countries like Australia, Vietnam, South Africa, Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia. A unique feature of the course has been the exposure to a wide to be spectrum of experts in different fi elds of specialisation through guest lectures, he added. The Commandant complimented the offi cers for their creditable performance in the course, with 111 obtaining distinction, and 31 passing in the fi rst division. The former President also had a brief interaction with children on the sidelines of the Convocation Ceremony. As many as 144 offi cers (Colonels and equivalent) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and friendly foreign countries were awarded Master of Management Studies degree from Osmania University at the function. The function was attended, among others, by Lt Gen NK Singh, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff(DOT) and Prof S Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor, Osmania University. The function marked the culmination of the Higher Defence Management Course 7, which commenced on 30 May 2011. The fi ve foreign offi cers passing out with the course were from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The Higher Defence Management Course aims to train selected offi cers in management concepts and techniques for effective and effi cient management within the Armed Forces at directional level. The Chief Guest distributed the degree parchments, trophies and book prizes to the participants. Colonel Abhay Dayal was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Integration Trophy for the best all round performance in the Course.Colonel Sandeep Singh was awarded MMS Trophy for standing fi rst in the order of merit. Colonel SK Sharma was awarded the Commandant’s trophy for the best Case Study, Colonel A Chandpuria and Group Captain JK Sahu were jointly awarded the Commandant’s trophy for best Dissertation, while the most promising Foreign Student Trophy was awarded to Col Ejazur Rahman Choudhury of Bangladesh.