In the chain of motivational lectures today it was Lt. Gen Alok Singh Kler PVSM, VSM, Army Commander South Western Command who addressed the students of IIT Kanpur through a video message on 20 Feb 2021 at 10:30 am.

Col Ashok Mor, the Officer In charge NCC at IIT Kanpur told that Lt Gen Alok Singh Kler was born on 02 March 1961 and is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla 60th Course and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun (70th Course) and an alumnus of National Defence College of Bangladesh.

The General has a Masters in Science from Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Master of Philosophy (Management) from Army War College, Mhow and Commissioned on 12 June 1982 into ARMOURED CORPS and commanded 68 Armoured Regiment from January 2003 to October 2005. He Commanded 43 Armoured Brigade from 2009 to 2011 and then commanded 31 Armoured Division (White Tiger Division) from 2014 to 2015 making him the only privileged General Officer to command the same Division as his father. He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and PVSM in year 2020 for his service to the nation. The General Officer was the Corps Commander at the Kharga Corps from 13 January 2018 to 26 January 2019. Lt Gen Alok Singh Kler assumed the Command of South Western Command from 01 September 2019.

While addressing the students of IIT Kanpur on Leadership General said that leadership is the art of making people do willingly what they are entrancingly un willingly to do. He described leadershipas a science and an art. Science is all the knowledge that you have or that you possess, be it technical or human interactions and Art is when you put all this knowledge when you put it together to plan for the future. He emphasized that this plan is yours and the Artist is you. He said the best way to predict the future is to create it. He dwelled upon the students to work on the scientist in them and bring out the best artist in them.

He brought out the way the people in army understand the leadership. He summed it up in three words Naam, Namak and Nishaan.
Naam– Name/Reputation of country /Institution you belong to.
Namak - Fidelity to the salt you've partaken
Nishaan- Ensign, Flag or standard. This can be the Indian flag / the Colors of the regiment / Institution.

He emphasized that the "Naam is the most important that you bare, your personal name and If you along with bringing the great honor to the Namak and Nishan, bring honor to your name, be proud of your achievements, Honor yourself, everything will fall into place."

In the end he recited one of his favorite quotes about leadership. He said "What is leadership. Before it is honor, Leadership is Trust, before a call to glory it is a call to service and before all this, Leadership is the willingness to serve to Lead and Lead Effectively- Jai Hind".

He wished luck to the first-year students for the coming times and the challenges that they would have to face in life and the path they follow.