Friday

13

September 2024

5 PM IST
Location

Room 019, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Central Campus

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Life Lessons from the Battlefield

The Nalanda
Captain Akhilesh Saxena, Speaker at Ahmedabad University

Captain Akhilesh Saxena

Kargil War Veteran
Speaker
Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd.), Registrar

Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd.)

Registrar
Ahmedabad University
Moderator

Courage, determination, and commitment!

These qualities reflected as Captain Akhilesh Saxena, a Kargil War veteran, shared his journey with the students at Ahmedabad University.

Captain Saxena was the first guest of the Monsoon Semester session of The Nalanda 2024-25, an event where students engage in meaningful discussions with guests from diverse backgrounds.

From surviving harsh weather conditions and sustaining fatal injuries to emerging victorious in several battles, his life is a lesson in leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Driven by passion, his motto, "Alive or dead, but never defeated," echoed throughout his heroic stories.

After his Army career, Captain Saxena transitioned into the corporate world, earning an MBA and becoming Vice President at Tata Brew. A motivational speaker frequently featured in TED talks and sessions, Captain Saxena's wisdom and spirit continue to inspire many.

Speaker

Captain Akhilesh Saxena

Captain Akhilesh Saxena, a Kargil War Veteran and a Motivational Speaker stands as an embodiment of inspiring leadership, displaying unwavering valour, teamwork, and bravery both on the battlefield and within the corporate sphere. During his duty to the nation, he contributed significantly to three pivotal attacks: the battles of Tololing peak, Hump, and Three Pimples. Captain Akhilesh Saxena, as an Artillery Forward Observation Officer, was pivotal in India's Kargil victory by coordinating 120 artillery guns at Tololing peak and fighting on despite severe injuries at Three Pimples. His permanent injury necessitated his exit from the Army, but this setback did not hinder his determination. He successfully secured a place at FMS, Delhi, where he earned a gold medal in the 2004 batch. Today, Captain Akhilesh Saxena is working as a vice president in a multinational company, seamlessly translating the profound lessons of the Kargil War into corporate leadership. Captain Akhilesh Saxena and his wife Shikha Saxena consistently contribute to nation building and leadership with the motto "Every citizen of the country is a soldier if they intend to be." His thought leadership resonates across universities, significant events and media houses, becoming a guiding light for others.

Moderator

Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd.)

Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd.) was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in June 1988. He obtained BSc (Physics) from St Xaviers College, Bombay, BTech (in Mechanical Engineering) from CME Pune and MTech from IIT Delhi. Col. Gokhale has 36 years of experience of which he spent 29 years with the Indian Army as a combat engineer covered the length and breadth of the country in all terrains and combat zones. He was commander of the one of the nuclear sites which were exploded on 13th May 1998 during the Pokhran Nuclear Tests. Besides this he served as a peacekeeper in United Nations Mission in Sudan in 2006/7. He has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and the Army Commanders commendation card twice. He served for seven years in Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai before joining Ahmedabad University as the Registrar.