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Siachen: Glacier of Grit and Glory

On June 30, 2025, St. Joseph's Boys' High School had the esteemed honour of hosting one of its distinguished Old Boys, Major General Paul Deepak Naidu, from the illustrious batch of 1979. Major General Naidu, an exemplary officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, delivered a poignant discourse on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest and most gruelling battlefield.

With a prolific military career spanning 36 years, Major General Naidu has held myriad command and staff roles. During the session, he captivated the audience with compelling personal anecdotes from his tenure at the Siachen Glacier. Through authentic photographs and first-hand narratives, he masterfully depicted the physical and psychological exigencies borne by Indian soldiers deployed in sub-zero temperatures at altitudes surpassing 20,000 feet.

His account underscored the silent valour, unwavering resilience, and camaraderie that characterise life on the glacier, as well as the advancing trends in future domains of warfare. A particularly impactful moment was Major General Naidu recounting the initiatives employed by the Army to surmount the logistical challenges in the extreme Siachen environment: rather than relying solely on helicopters for the airdrop of heavy kerosene barrels-an expensive procedure fraught with risk- the engineers formulated a bold, innovative strategy to install piping systems enabling kerosene to be pumped directly to the outposts.

Major General Naidu's insights not only underscored the strategic importance of Siachen but also grew an overwhelming sense of reverence for our armed forces. His words resonated deeply with our emotions, reminding us that true patriotism was not just pride but the embodiment of selflessness, sacrifice, and unequivocal commitment to our nation.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Major General Naidu for his dedicated service to our country and his trove of experiences, as well as deliver our utmost respect to all those who have served and continue to serve at this zenith of military brilliance.