Last APOGEE, Commodore Indrajit Dasgupta of the Indian Navy, was the Chief Guest of the Inauguration ceremony. The fest also featured a demonstration by a unit of the Border Security Force’s Tear Gas Unit. The armed forces of a country, often form the platform for the most cutting-edge research in a country, be it the field of Material Science, Food Technology or even Nuclear Physics. Forays into various fields of science and engineering lead to development of new technology which often find their way into our daily lives. The Indian Army is also the employer of a large number of engineers, as part of specialized regiments and brigades.

One such engineer of the Indian Army is Lt Gen Sudarshan Shrikant Hasabnis, PVSM, VSM, ADC. Appointed as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and Systems) in June 2018, the Lt Gen is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. After completing his engineering degree, he was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in 1981 in a Parachute Field Company.

The General Officer has had numerous noteworthy achievements in his career. He commanded an Engineer Regiment during Operation Parakram, India’s largest military mobilisation since in 1971 war, triggered by the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001. He also has a varied experience in different terrains and has held staff assignments in Mountain Brigade, Infantry Division, Corps Headquarters, Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence. He has also been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). He is also a keen sportsperson who enjoys swimming, cycling, and basketball. Look out for his talk as Speaker #3 of the Think Again conclave this APOGEE!