Book -Lead From The Front by Sudeep Krishna and Purav Gandhi. Genre – Anthology of short stories 

“Prashant Gaud was a dark, slim man with a pencil-thin moustache and a seriousness lingering about him. It has been more than 15 years since he joined the regiment as a young sepoy. Today, he was a Naib Subedar, the senior most soldier in his company whom the men looked up to for mentorship and support.”

What does it take to be a leader? Are leaders born or trained? A question that persistently plagued me growing up. Perhaps, the qualities inherently present in an individual are honed and chiseled to an extent that in times of crisis one leads, and leads pragmatically! As a reader I got an opportunity to partake in remarkable stories of military heroes through the book Lead From The Front penned by Sudeep Krishna and Purav Gandhi. Believe me, it’s one thing to have your friends and family in army but completely different experience to read and let such stories of grit sink in!

Lead From The Front is an anthology of short stories that brings to light the episodes of courage and resilience. And these stories ought to reach the masses! 

You must have read a number of stories about leadership from early childhood in the fables, and varied adventure thrillers. But we forget real-life heroes don’t wear capes or travel by batmobile. On the contrary, they endure strenuous work conditions, patrol the untraversed routes and spend months in ghastly weather protecting the country from foreign attacks. 

Lead From The Front is a testament of true leadership. These are meticulously curated and crafted tales of true leaders who have evolved through the tests of time. The book contains 9 short stories that recount the episodes of bravery and how the officers face unfavorable situations or handle subordinates, and also what they learn from such phases in life. Written in lucid English punctuated with examples and military jargons, the  authors vividly illustrate the fundamental principles of leadership through these stories. The book presents the diverse Leadership styles along with the challenges faced by military personnel. Each chapter throws light on different aspects of leadership, not to forget the sense of challenge and strained ambience that’s a part of their lives, making it a thrilling read. 

“Leaders in the armed forces are not always fighting wars. They will spend 90% of their career in a combination of field and peace postings, honing their skills and learning how to lead those missions when they ‘might’ face the enemy.”

These stories weave moments of humour with reflection, deftly presenting the indomitable spirit of Indian soldiers. Out of these 9 short stories, I enjoyed reading ‘INS Resillience’ that concerns the story of a submarine commander Bhargav. The story explains how his sense of leadership helped him and his team to overcome unprecedented adversities and still work as a unit until the very end. Another of my favourite is ‘The Bal is in our Kot’. This chapter surrounds the competent young Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force, Shourya Bajaj. In this tale, the authors highlight how a leader’s adept expertise and knowledge can steer the mission towards success. 

All-in-all, Lead From The Front is an immersive read. It is best suited for everyone who aspires to polish their leadership qualities and wants to understand the nuances that make an individual a true leader. The valuable insights presented in this book transcend battlefield making it relevant for all of us, because we will agree – life can be treacherous. 

To buy the book, pls click - Lead From The Front by Sudeep Krishna and Purav Gandhi

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