Lt Gen (Dr) SK Gadeock, AVSM (Retd) was commissioned into the Indian Army on 11 June 1977. He is an alumnus of NDA, Khadakwasla and IMA, Dehradun. Qualified as MSc (Defence Studies), MPhil and Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management and done his Doctorate in Defence & Strategic Studies from University of Madras, Chennai with an Outstanding Grade. During his distinguished military career, he served two Presidents, viz Dr Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy & Dr Giani Zail Singh at Rashtrapati Bhawan, was Adjutant of the prestigious NDA. He graduated from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, commanded an Armored Brigade notably. He was Logistics Advisor to Botswana Defence Force, at Gaborone, Botswana in Africa, where he established their ‘Defence Logistics Command’. He served in coveted appointments of Operations and Administration in the Armored Divisions of the Indian Army. He was Director in Military Operations Directorate, Brigadier Quartermaster General in a Corps Headquarters in Northeastern Sector, commanded an infantry Division with distinction, was Lieutenant General General Staff (LGGS) in an Operational Command Headquarters. He was specifically selected by the Chief as Commandant, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in 2014, where he received many national awards. He was decorated with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India; two Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards, for his distinguished service & and two Army Commanders Commendation Cards for contribution in operational & logistics. Defence Services Staff College was conferred with coveted Golden Peacock Training Award 2016 at Dubai and 'Special Commendation' for Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2016 by Institute of Directors, New Delhi. The Hon’ble President of India presented the ‘Presidents Colors’ to DSSC on 09 September 2016, all under his stewardship as the Commandant, for holistic transformation of the Staff College. A scholar par excellence, leading protagonist of leadership, possesses exemplary communication, interpersonal, man-management and oratory skills. The General has pristine reputation for innovative thinking, transcendent reforms and transformation in the Indian Army. Was given ‘Scholar Warrior Badge & Certificate’ by the Army Commander of Indian Army Training Command and won both the ‘Indian Books of Records’ and ‘Limca Book of Records’ for conducting the biggest ‘Nilgiris Eco Trail Run’ towards Conservation of Ecosystem & Biodiversity in the Nilgiris. Awarded ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award 2016 for his contribution to the Armed Forces, Society and Nation building by Rotary District 3201, Rajiv Gandhi Gold Medal Award, associated with Academic Council of Madras University, on the Board of Governors of Good Shepherd International School. At London, he was bestowed with the ‘Distinguished Fellowship Award’ 2016, by Institute of Directors. He is serving at Amity University as DG Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies (AIDSS), DG Amity Centre for Defence & Strategic Analysis (ACDSA), Vice President Science Technology Innovation Foundation (ASTIF), Vice Chairman Amity Institute of Defence Technology (AIDT) and Commandant, Amity Institute of Education & Training (AIET). Innovatively created the Amity ‘Think Tank’ of Defence & Strategic Studies as a global research forum and initiated the PhD, MA and BA (H) Degree programmes in Defence & Strategic Studies. Member of Governing Council ‘Raisina House’, Distinguished Member of Society for Aerospace & Maritime Defence Studies (SAMDeS), Distinguished Fellow with Forum for Global Studies (FGS) and Senior Advisor Indus International Research Foundation (IIRF). He is an environmentalist, philanthropist, accomplished ‘transformational’ leader, defence analyst and global strategist. He has published numerous professional articles in various journals of institutions in his illustrious military career and after retirement. He is incisive with his strategic insight and understanding of internal and external security issues including the emerging international dynamics. He is an exceptional motivational speaker par excellence.
Brig. (Dr.) Anand Kumar Tewari (Retd) has more than 33 years of experience in educational administration, gained through university education and abounding and unique career in the Indian Army. He has flare for higher academic research, teaching and administration with an aim to nurture students and build institutions. During his career, he has held many coveted appointments, viz. Officiating Additional Director General Military Training (Army Education), Deputy Director General Military Training (Army Education) at the Army Headquarters, Chief Instructor and Principal AEC Training College & Centre, Pachmarhi, Director (Military Training), Brigadier Education & Col Education, Vice Principal Sainik Schools. Completed Ph.D. from Defence and Strategic Studies Department of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune as regular scholar (2013-15). The topic of the research was ‘Chinese Geopolitics in the 21st Century’. The approach to research was ‘Evolutionary’ and ‘Inside-out’. Therefore, a detailed temporal and exploratory study of evolution of China’s geo-body, metaphysical foundations of geopolitics and role of geo-economics was carried out to understand China’s geopolitical imperatives. Thereafter, a prognostic model was evolved to forethink (not forecast) China’s probable responses to its geopolitical imperatives and emerging geostrategic situations. He being a Chinese language expert, has better has advantage in the field of Chinese Studies.
Col (Dr) Rajan Bakshi is presently serving at Amity University as Director, Amity Centre for Defence and Strategic Analysis (ACDSA), Associate Professor, Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (AIDSS), and Deputy Commandant, Amity Institute of Education and Training (AIET). His expertise in the Defence and Strategic Studies domains includes Nuclear Warfare, Geo-Strategic and Geo-Economic issues and India’s Internal and External Security Threats. He is a veteran Officer from Indian Army with 36 years of Service. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and completed his Masters from Madras University, his MPhil, and PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies from Pune University. He also holds Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (HR) and Information Technology. He gained substantial teaching exposure as a Research Scholar, Research Guide, Instructor on Army Courses and Motivational Speaker. In addition to having multifaceted experience in HRD, Recruitment, Training, Leadership Development, Welfare and Media Management. Proficient in Operations and Logistics, Security and Intelligence, Financial Planning and Budget Control. During the Service, he was awarded twice with Commendation Cards for Distinguished Service from the Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army and Army Commander, Southern Command.
Col (Dr) Subodh Kumar Shahi (Retd) was commissioned in Mechanised Infantry (Recce &Sp), has more than 36 yrs of illustrious career in Indian Army. An alumni of Sainik School Amaravathinagar and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington. Has done PhD in International Relations from Pondicherry University (Central University) on topic “ Changing Sino-Bhutan Relations and Implications for India”. During his illustrious career, he has held many coveted appointments, viz. General staff-1 (Operations), Commandant of an elite unit, Director Military Training at Army HQ, Military Advisor (MA) to Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Colonel General Staff (SD) of a Division. As Director Military Training, the officer was responsible for infrastructure development of the training institutes in Indian Army. As Military Advisor to Deputy Chief of army Staff, provided valuable suggestions on Information Technology and represented as member of military delegates to Bhutan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Nepal.
He has been Senior Research Fellow at United Service Instituition of India (USI), New Delhi and worked on Geo- politics and International relations. He was nominated as member of study group on Net Assessment of China assigned by MEA during his tenure as Senior Research Fellow at USI. The officer has been Head of Training Team (HOTT) and Directing Staff (DS) for conduct of Pre-staff course for Army Officers appearing in Defence Services Staff College competitive exams. In 2017, he was nominated by Army HQ to set the question paper for all India ACC entrance exams and has been on the panel of Army HQ for evaluation of papers for Competitive & Promotion exam of officers. As Senior Instructor, PROMEX, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), the officer was responsible for conduct of correspondence course for promotion exam Part B & D. He has been Adjunct Faculty Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Supervisor/ Guide to PhD scholars. An avid reader, has written two books and number of articles on contemporary topics on issues related to International relations‘with focus on India’s relation with its neighbors. Solo Author of a Book on ‘China Strides in Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar- Options for India’ published in 2017 and Co-Editor of a book “Indian STRAEGEM 75” published in 2022.
Awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card (COAS), for distinguished service during command of his unit in 2009. Awarded GOC-in-C Commendation Card for distinguished service for rescue and relief operations in J&K in 2005. Awarded GOC-in-C Commendation Card for distinguished service for state of art IT development in Ops room in Nov 2005. Awarded, GOC Appreciation Card for outstanding management of logistics and administration during Op PARAKARAM in 2001. Awarded appreciation certificate by USI on Project “China Strides in Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar : Options for India” in 2016. Awarded Director CLAWS Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding contribution during project on “STRATEGEM 75” in 2022.
Dr. Anu Sharma is an Assistant Professor at the Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Amity University, NOIDA. She was associated with the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi since November 2019. Her core interest area includes area studies, foreign policy and defence politics. She has also published a book titled “Through the Looking Glass: Iran and its Foreign Relations” in 2020 through Knowledge World Publishers. The same has been co-published by Routledge (Taylor and Francis) in February 2022. She has also published and presented various papers on foreign and domestic politics of Iran and the broader West Asian region at both national and international platforms.
She has graduated from Delhi University’s Kalindi College in Journalism and Mass Communications. She has credible experience as a freelancing journalist with “The Statesman” newspaper, New Delhi as part of her Graduation programme. She also has a PG Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). She holds Masters in Politics with a specialization in International Relations from the School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her M.Phil. titled “Congress and the Presidency and Controversy over War Powers: Case Studies of Haiti and Afghanistan” is from the American Studies division of Centre for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies (CCUS&LAS), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has done her Ph.D. titled “China’s BRI Plan in West Asia: Case Studies of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE” from the Centre for International Politics (CIP), School of International Studies (SIS), Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar (Gujarat).
Dr Aparaajita Pandey is a part of the Amity Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies in the capacity of Assistant Professor – III. She began her career as a Research Intern at the Indian Council of World Affairs where she focused the Latin American region. She has a PhD titled, Dynamics of Energy Cooperation in South America Since 1990s from the Centre for Canadian, US, and Latin American Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. During her PhD, she was invited by the University of Anton de Kom, Paramaribo, Suriname to be a guest lecturer and conduct lectures on Foreign Policy Decision Making. Thereafter she also conducted her research in Trinidad and Tobago where she was facilitated by Petro Caribe. Her areas of interest are Energy, Energy Security, Geopolitics, and Foreign Policy. Dr Pandey is also a guest editor for the Journal of Peace and Security Studies and a visiting faculty at the Department of Latin American Studies, University of Kerala.
Dr. Deepali Khaire is an Assistant Professor -II at Amity Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University from 2019 to 2021, and her doctoral research Coercive Network in Kashmir: Revisiting Security Centric Approach from the School of National Security Studies at the Central University of Gujarat was awarded in 2017. She is passionate about International Relations and Security Studies. Her focus extends to understanding the role of Modern Institutions and Power Structures in shaping the discourse of Security Studies. She is also interested in traditional and non-traditional security issues in South Asia and China. Her work ‘Pakistan’s Incoherent Claim on Kashmir’ in an Edited book by Mathew Joshep titled Understanding Pakistan: Emerging Voices from India initially published by Manohar Publisher and later published by Routledge (2017). She has published research papers on various dimensions of the Jammu and Kashmir Conflict. She has presented her research papers at International and National Conferences in India and abroad.