GOC XI Corps of Indian Army rooted Unique Leadership Skills among LPU Students

Jalandhar, April 18, 2016: General Officer Commanding of XI Corps of Indian Army Lieutenant General Jagbir Singh Cheema VSM visited Lovely Professional University today and addressed students and faculty members. Occasion was a special guest lecture series on ‘Leadership-Skills’ gathered by eminent leaders in different areas. Lt Gen Cheema shared encouraging episodes, quotes and explanations from his 36+ army career and 4 years’ training at NDA and IMA. His illustrations left LPU students awe-inspired.

Addressing LPU students as leaders of tomorrow’s world, Lt Gen Cheema opened his lecture with illustration of UNESCO honoured ‘Saragarhi battle’. This battle is considered as an epitome of military leadership, where only 21 soldiers fought victoriously against 10,000 Pathans under the able-leadership of their commander.

Lt Gen Cheema said: “Leadership is a vast and complex subject, and there is no short-cut or formula to acquire it. There are many definitions of leadership which all lead to one common thing that it is a quality that influences other people to attain goals willingly.” Taking his own example, he shared: “Leaders are made rather than born. I was simple village lad till I was commissioned in the army. Slow and steady learning and experiences led me to reach present position. However, there is a great difference between corporate sector and military leadership. In corporate sector good –doers are motivated with monetary enhancements; whereas, military boosts to make sacrifices.” Differentiating between roles of a manager and a leader, he exemplified that management is a science and leadership is art. Here, he shared how once adding compassion to his decision, he let some hard disciplinary cases solved out remorsefully.

During interactive session, when one of LPU students Goransh Sharma of Mechanical Engineering IV semester asked if he intends compulsory military training for all young students to emerge as good leaders, the officer said in yes. Similarly, for definition of self-discipline he told students to adopt all good habits which are never instructed. For question on peace, he answered “if we want peace we will have to be prepared for war”. Differentiating between good and great leaders, he expects various good tasks based on principles from a great leader. He also shared his family and military life and explained his role as a leader in both the places without any prejudice. He also admitted that Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw has always been his ideal in Army.