“India Was, Is, And Will Remain A Maritime Nation”: Naval Chief Inspires Future Leaders At IIM Rohtak
Rohtak (Haryana) [India], July 1: Indian Institute of Management Rohtak organised the Induction and Orientation ceremony for the 16th batch of its Post Graduate Programme on 28th June 2025. The event was graced by Chief Guest Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Hon’ble Justice Jain, Judge, High Court of Punjab [...]
Rohtak (Haryana) [India], July 1: Indian Institute of Management Rohtak organised the Induction and Orientation ceremony for the 16th batch of its Post Graduate Programme on 28th June 2025. The event was graced by Chief Guest Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Hon’ble Justice Jain, Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana, along with faculty members of the Institute. The incoming cohort includes 329 students from the PGP Batch 16 and 8 DPM-13 scholars.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, in his address to the students of IIM Rohtak, emphasised India’s deep-rooted maritime identity, tracing its origins to the ancient Harappan port city of Lothal, over 6,000 years ago. Declaring that “India was, is, and will always remain a maritime nation,” he underscored the strategic significance of the seas in India’s past, present, and future. With 95% of the nation’s trade by volume traversing maritime routes and 99% of global internet data flowing through undersea cables, he stressed that India’s journey toward becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 will be powered significantly by maritime strength. Highlighting the Indian Navy’s critical role in protecting these lifelines, he cited recent operations that saved over 400 lives and secured cargo worth more than USD 5.3 billion amidst crises in West Asia. He also noted the Navy’s role as a first responder during the 2025 Myanmar earthquake, reinforcing its position as a humanitarian force in the region. Transitioning to the second part of his address, Admiral Tripathi shared five key leadership lessons from his four-decade career: first, the importance of reading, writing, and reflecting as a means to develop clarity, judgment, and deeper understanding; second, the value of teamwork, stressing that collective success depends on mutual trust and collaboration; third, the essence of leadership, which he defined as empowering others, communicating effectively, taking risks, delegating wisely, and always thinking ahead; fourth, the necessity of sound decision-making, particularly under pressure—a skill critical in both naval command and business leadership; and fifth, the need for resilience, urging students to never give up, as adversity is inevitable but surmountable with self-belief and perseverance. In closing, Admiral Tripathi advised students to take their duties seriously while remaining humble and grounded, reminding them that humility, gratitude, and compassion are vital attributes of lasting leadership. Concluding with a powerful quote from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he urged students to “dream, dare, and deliver,” inspiring them to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to India’s future. His address was received with great enthusiasm and appreciation from both students and faculty.
