Lt. Gen. Ashok Vasudeva, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) has had a glittering career but still looks forward to more challenging work.
He’s a stalwart of the Indian army, but with his Infosys Associate Vice President son Amit married and living in Britain, he spends several months here each year embedding in his local area near Maidenhead, infusing his two grandchildren with his brand of derring-do. During his current stay, he was invited by some companies to visit the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition, being held in London this week. Still fit and active, with an insatiable curiosity and zest for life, Ashok is one of India’s most talented generals.
He is a rare military Leading Light and demonstrates how defence service skills transfer easily to civilian work.
Together with his wife Neena, he is an apt guest at this year’s Asian Achievers Awards with its military theme.
From 2005- 2006 Ashok was Chief of Staff, HQ Central Command, Lucknow. This covered seven large states of India. Before that, he was a Senior Professor at the National Defence College, New Delhi.
Prior to that post, Ashok was Director General of Military Training at Army Headquarters. He headed the Joint Training Committee of the three Services for Integrated Training. During this time he conceived and planned two successful Indian Missions to Mt. Everest and Mt. Everest Massif.
In answer to the question of interesting and fun achievements in the army, Ashok said “I conceived and executed a Mission Olympics in the Army, including creating the Army Sports Institute, Pune, the only one of its kind in the country. I also conceived and co-ordinated the first ever National Geographical programme on ‘Mission Everest’ for the citizens of India.”
Ashok has been a Brigadier in charge of administration for two years at the highest battlefield in the world, Leh (that includes the Siachen glacier). He also was a Sub Area Commander. What was that about? “I was responsible for managing major logistic bases and providing effective administrative support to field formations of the Army in the East,” he replied.
Ashok was, in 1996, Brigadier Operations and Logistics of the Eastern Army. He explains; “I handled the operational logistics of the entire Eastern theatre, including air maintenance. Commanding an Artillery Brigade in the Strike Corps in 1996, he was selected because of exceptional performance for the prestigious National Defence College.
Asked about special moments in his career, Ashok said “only four officers are elected to be on the Advisory Board of the Director of Complaints for the Chief of Army Staff’s Office, and I was one of them.”
In the early ‘90s, Ashok attended a Higher Command Course at the Army War College and before that was an Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.
He says of a posting in the late ‘80s; “I was the Commanding Officer of 255 Field Regiment on the Line of Control. It was a challenging assignment in the face of the enemy .The regiment excelled in all spheres and was declared the Best Regiment in the Formation.”
Companies like to hire former army generals for senior management and executive positions so Ashok is always being head-hunted. Since leaving the army in 2006, he has been;
A consultant to various companies from 2008-11. He was Additional Director General, Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010. He was responsible for co-ordinating and managing 23 Sub-Committees. He has also been an honorary adviser to the Government of Goa on Disaster Management, and for two years was the Managing Director, Casa Boutique Hotels, Goa.
So what are the strengths that Ashok Vasudeva brings to his current work? Why do firms like hiring former military officers?
General Vasudeva says,
“We can work across functions and industries, and can create capital activation. We are experts in solving intractable problems. I have managed and headed strategic, operational and logistics requirements of the Army including the Human Resource Management of Personnel from different areas, skills and backgrounds.
We have significant intellectual capacity and the ability to be creative. We have expertise in conceptualising and organising resources at the multi- dimensional level. I have headed complex multifaceted organisations and led from the front. I have created and managed large budgets.
In our work, I have had to conceive and manage the logistics, mechanics of men and material. I have also managed human resources, including welfare and other aspects.”
He will surely stay working, but the UK is certain to keep seeing Lt. Gen. Vasudeva each year nonetheless.
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From 2005- 2006 Ashok was Chief of Staff, HQ Central Command, Lucknow.
