Pune: Former Chief of the Army Staff General (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, PhD, interacted with management students at Ramachandran International Institute of Management (RIIM Pune) during the launch of his book The Cantonment Conspiracy.
The interaction brought perspectives from military leadership into a management education setting, with General Naravane speaking about leadership, discipline, resilience, ethical values and continuous learning.
Management education traditionally focuses on business concepts, case studies and classroom learning. However, leadership is also shaped by experience, responsibility and the ability to respond to challenging situations. In this context, the interaction with a former Army Chief offered students an opportunity to consider leadership from a perspective outside conventional business and management settings.
During the interaction, General Naravane spoke about the importance of remaining focused on one’s goals while responding to challenges with discipline and determination. The discussion also touched upon qualities such as resilience, ethical responsibility and the ability to make decisions in demanding circumstances.
For management students, these themes have relevance beyond the military context. Decision-making under pressure, teamwork, accountability and adapting to changing circumstances are also part of organisational and professional life.
General Naravane was formally welcomed and felicitated by Dr. Prof. Suraj Sharma, Chairman, RIIM Pune; Dr. Ajit Sane, Director; Chief Mentor Retd. IPS Shri Rajendra Singh; and Dean Dr. Manisha Saxena.
Launch of The Cantonment Conspiracy
The event also marked the launch of The Cantonment Conspiracy, a military thriller authored by General Naravane.
The book revolves around young Army officers and their experiences within a military environment, combining elements of mystery, responsibility and the realities of service life. The launch provided students with an opportunity to engage with the author and understand the experiences and ideas that informed his transition from military leadership to writing.
The interaction also offered a different dimension to the book launch, allowing students to discuss leadership and professional responsibility directly with its author rather than limiting the event to a formal literary launch.
Connecting different perspectives on leadership
Leadership in the Armed Forces and leadership in organisations operate in different contexts, but both involve responsibility, teamwork, decision-making and the ability to respond to uncertainty.
For management students, exposure to such experiences can complement academic learning by bringing perspectives from professional environments where decisions often carry significant consequences. Interactions with leaders from different fields can also help students examine concepts such as accountability, resilience and ethical decision-making beyond management case studies.
The RIIM Pune event therefore combined a literary engagement with a broader discussion on leadership and professional responsibility.
The programme was attended by students, faculty members and guests of the institute.
For the students, the event provided an opportunity to engage with a former military chief, explore the story behind a newly published book and reflect on leadership principles through experiences drawn from a different professional environment
