‘Army Is Love, Not a Job’: Retired Lt Gen Dhillon Shares Life Philosophy at Ahmedabad Book Fair

Ahmedabad: Retired Lieutenant General K.J.S. Dhillon, a veteran “Fauji,” author, and coach, captivated audiences at the NBT AIBF Day-3, 2025 event in Ahmedabad during a special session titled “Shaurya Samvad” (Dialogue of Valor). The discussion, moderated by educationist and entrepreneur Sunita Nandwani, centered on “Beyond the Battlefield: Lessons in Leadership and Life,” where Gen. Dhillon shared profound insights from his four decades of military service.

Gen. Dhillon, commissioned in 1983 into the Fourth Battalion Rajputana Rifles after joining the NDA, is renowned for his leadership during some of India’s most critical recent events. He has served eight tenures in Kashmir, Jammu, and Manipur. Most notably, he led the 15 Corps during the Pulwama blast, the Balakot strike, and the abrogation of Article 370. His peace initiatives also played a significant role in helping many Kashmiri youths return to the mainstream.

The Reality of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the Weapons Lobby

During the session, Gen. Dhillon provided an in-depth analysis of the four-day conflict he describes in his third book, Operation Sindoor. He stated that the widespread narrative about jets being shot down was false and did not originate from Pakistan.

Instead, he argued that the story—amplified by Western media—was driven by the world’s most powerful weapons lobby, which wanted to prevent India from being declared the overall winner. Such recognition, he said, would redirect billions of dollars in future weapons orders from developing countries toward India, France, and Russia, and away from vendors of Chinese, Turkish, Pakistani, and American weapons. He highlighted that shares of Chinese weapons manufacturers dropped by 8.6% two days after the cease-fire, suggesting they knew their weapons underperformed.

Gen. Dhillon outlined several indicators of India’s success:

• Use of precise intelligence to strike nine terror targets, including a basement where members of Masood Azhar’s family were killed after penetrating multiple layers of concrete.
• Successfully hitting 11 Pakistani airbases with missiles that their air defenses failed to intercept.
• Pakistan’s Director General Military Operations calling the Indian DGMO on May 10 at 3:35 p.m., “begging for a cease-fire.”

He emphasized: “Winning is having the person beg you for a cease-fire, and you, from a position of strength, say, ‘Okay, I agree to your cease-fire.’ That is victory.”

Leadership and Decision-Making

When discussing the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, Gen. Dhillon recalled a crucial breakfast meeting with the Home Minister before the historic decision. When asked who would take responsibility for the potential national and international consequences, he chose to assume full responsibility, confident in his leadership and his team. He stated:
“If you have to write history… someone has to make history.”

His leader, the then Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, backed him, noting that the execution of the mission ultimately rested with him.

He stressed that “Team matters, leaders don’t matter,” because the leader is an inseparable part of the team. He differentiated leaders from managers:

• Leaders inspire teams to perform at their best.
• Managers supervise projects and often rely on fear.

He also highlighted the exceptional strength of women in the military, noting that they often outperform men because they must justify their choice to join the Army to their families, society, and the predominantly male environment around them. He cited the example of a young Lieutenant who walked 1.5 km alone at 1 a.m. through a hostile, snowy Kashmiri jungle to seek help after her vehicle broke down—refusing to let her male driver go alone.

Setting Aims and Using Social Media Wisely

Gen. Dhillon urged the youth to “Dare to set aims” instead of merely dreaming. A dream, he explained, is subconscious, while an aim is a conscious, realistic commitment based on resources, capabilities, and limitations. Achieving small, realistic aims builds confidence, he said, whereas chasing vague dreams often leads to disappointment.

Known widely by his social media handle “Tiny Dhillon”, with millions of followers, he emphasized that social media is a powerful tool for positive engagement. He personally replies to every message that carries good intent and polite language. He also urged parents to monitor children’s online activity closely.

He concluded the session with his personal philosophy on military service: “Army is not a job. Army is love; and in love, there are no challenges, only stories.” DeshGujarat