Lt Gen Harinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd.), a distinguished retired infantry officer of the Indian Army with over four decades of service, visited Bhilai Steel Plant, and his alma mater, BSP Senior Secondary School, Sector-X, and BSP English Medium Middle School, Sector-IX, on 17th March 2025. Shri. Singh began his visit by meeting Shri. Anirban Dasgupta, Director I/c (SAIL-BSP), at Ispat Bhawan, and interacted with him on memories of Bhilai and BSP. They both shared valuable insights on the nation and development.

Followed by this Lt Gen Harinder Singh visited BSP-SSS-X, where he interacted with the school staff and students. Smt. Shikha Dubey, GM (TSD-Education), Smt. Sumita Sarkar, Principal (BSP-SSS-X), and members of the BSP Alumni Association welcomed Lt Gen Singh, an alumnus of the 1980 batch of BSP-SSS-X.

Lt Gen Singh explored the classrooms and labs where he had studied over four decades ago. He also visited the ATAL Tinkering Lab, a dedicated science and robotics lab fostering innovation among students. Under the guidance of Lab In-charge Shri Tarun Sahu, students showcased a fully functional drone and other advanced scientific projects developed using in-house school resources.

Following this, an interactive session was held at the School Conference Hall, where Lt Gen Singh was felicitated by BSP-SSS-X and the BSP Alumni Association. He engaged with students and alumni, addressing their questions about career aspirations and national service. Sharing insights from his 40 years in the Indian Army, he recounted inspiring experiences from his military journey.

Addressing the students, Lt Gen Harinder Singh stated, "Returning to this school after 45 years feels as though no time has passed. The memories from my days at BSP-SSS-X remain vivid. Two years ago, I retired as the Commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, a prestigious institution that has trained over 60,000 military officers, including more than 2,000 who have laid down their lives in service. My role was to prepare 1,800 trainees to embrace the battlefield without hesitation. It is not just about becoming a good doctor, lawyer, or engineer—it is about emerging as a leader in whatever field one pursues."

Lt Gen Singh emphasized the principles of leadership and the importance of reading to develop a strong thought process. "Reading is perhaps the most essential habit. If one does not read at least 50 to 100 pages daily, they are missing out on life. Reading enhances writing skills, and if one cannot write, they will struggle to think and speak effectively. A language rich in ideas creates great leaders," he remarked. Highlighting the value of school education, he stated, "School instills a cosmopolitan mindset beyond race, gender, and religion. It fosters analytical thinking. Bhilai taught me to be analytical and emerge as a leader."

Smt. Sumita Sarkar, Principal (BSP-SSS-X), delivered the welcome address, urging students to take inspiration from Lt Gen Singh. "He once sat in these classrooms and played on these grounds like every other student, yet through dedication and service, he has achieved extraordinary feats. His journey proves that nothing is impossible with perseverance and resilience," she said.

Shri Jerry Koshy, a member of the BSP Alumni Association, shared fond memories of their school days with Lt Gen Singh and encouraged students to draw inspiration from his life. School students also recited patriotic poems and delivered speeches in his honor.

Lt Gen Singh later visited BSP English Medium Middle School, Sector-IX, where he interacted with staff, including former Principal Smt. Mithu Mazumdar, and planted saplings at both schools to commemorate his visit.

Lt Gen Harinder Singh has held key leadership roles, including Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) and Commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. He notably commanded the Ladakh Corps during the 2020 Galwan crisis, leading the first seven rounds of high-level military talks with China. His operational experience includes leading surgical strikes in Kashmir in 2016 and multiple tenures during peak militancy. He has served along India's frontiers with China and Pakistan, as well as in Bhutan. Internationally, he commanded a UN Multi-National Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Third Congo War and served as a UN Military Staff Officer in Angola handling logistics.

An alumnus of prestigious military institutions such as the Defence Services Staff College, Army War College, and National Defence College, he has been a research fellow at MP-IDSA (India), RSIS (Singapore), and APCSS (Hawaii, USA), contributing to defense and security studies.

Post-retirement, Lt Gen Singh remains active in academia and governance. He is associated with LBSNAA, UPSC interview panels, DIT University, and various academic institutions, delivering lectures on leadership and national security. His writings on warfare, conflict resolution, and military readiness appear in leading publications like Business Standard, Deccan Herald, Statesman, and Sunday Guardian. A highly decorated officer, he has received five gallantry and meritorious service awards.

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