Lt Gen KJS Dhillon

Living a life of Service as a Soldier, Author and Coach

We can only be grateful for men like Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon who spend their lifetimes serving the nation and its people in myriad ways. A celebrated Indian Army veteran, he has inspired thousands through his bestselling book ‘Kitne Ghazi Aaye Kitne Ghazi Gaye’ and as a Motivational Speaker and Leadership Guide at various corporate events, universities, and TedX/Josh talks.

He ascribes his recent accomplishments to his defense background. “As a soldier, the basic tenets of the Indian Army are my guiding principles. These are ‘Naam, Namak, Nishan’ (Legacy, Allegiance, Flag) and ‘Wafadari, Imaandari, Zimmedari’ (Loyalty, Honesty, Responsibility). These are the cornerstones of a soldier’s character and behavior. It is also the title of my next book due in 2025.”

KJS Dhillon’s extraordinary journey began in Punjab, India. As a young student, he was staying with his maternal grandmother after the death of his mother when he was three. The Army is a much sought after career in Punjab and there are families with a history of service over 5-6 generations. Kanwal Jeet was thoroughly motivated by seeing his two uncles in uniform, serving in the Army and BSF respectively.

When the time came, he joined the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the 4th Battalion Rajputana Rifles in 1983. During his service spanning four decades, he held various appointments in combat zones and senior administration.

He served eight tenures in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism operational areas across Kashmir, Jammu, and Manipur. He gained the distinction of commanding the always active in operations 15 Corps (Chinar Corps) responsible for military operations along the LoC during the most challenging environments of Pulwama IED blast, Balakot air strike, and Abrogation of Article 370 & 35A.

Equally significantly, his peace initiatives in Kashmir valley like ‘Operation Maa’, ‘Taleem se Taraqqi’, ‘Humsaya hain Hum’, ‘Khairiyat Patrol’, and ‘Super 50’ ensured that more than 50 young Kashmiri boys who had joined terrorism returned home willingly. It also weaned away young Kashmiri boys from terrorism and drugs and brought them into the national mainstream.

For his many heroic endeavors, KJS Dhillon was honored with the following awards:

• Param Vishisht Seva Medal awarded by the Honourable President of India, 2022.
• Uttam Yudh Seva Medal awarded by the Honourable President of India, 2020.
• Yudh Seva Medal awarded by the Honourable President of India, 2012.
• Vishisht Seva Medal awarded by the Honourable President of India, 2011.
• 14 other medals/commendations for various operations and services in the Army.

In addition, he attended the National Defence College Course; Senior Officers Course at Centre for Superior Studies of National Defence (CESEDEN) Madrid (Spain); and Senior Executives Course on Transnational Security Cooperation at Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii (USA).

During his tenure, Dhillon also completed his MSc, MPhil, and PhD. He was the Director General-Defence Intelligence Agency under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), responsible for International Military Cooperation and Strategic Intelligence till he superannuated from service in 2022. Presently, he is the Chairperson, Board of Governors for Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi (HP), appointed by the Hon’ble President of India.

Recently, a student asked him: ‘Sir, how challenging is an Army job?’ to which he replied, “Army ek job nahi hai, mohabbat hai. Aur mohabbat mein challenges nahi hote, afsaane hote hain.” (The Army is not a job, it is an unending love affair where there are only legends, not challenges.)

Dhillon believes one can never truly exit the Army, for it is a way of life that pervades every aspect of one’s livelihood. “Not just soldiers, but even their wives and families are the epitome of courage and sacrifice. The life of an Army wife and what they have to endure never makes headlines, but it’s always the heartbeat of the main story. My life story too is peppered with instances of sacrifice and valor exhibited by my wife and companion of 37 years.”

Based in Punjab, KJS Dhillon now spends his time guiding the youth through his writing, speaking, and coaching engagements all across the country. As someone who’s seen the best and worst of humanity, we ask him to share his thoughts with our readers. “I want to reiterate to all the readers to treat challenges as opportunities, and to realize that there are no easy battles ever won. The guiding principles for achieving a life well lived are to make people feel important, admire their efforts more than their achievements, celebrate friends, nurture and honour relationships, and most important, be there when you are expected to. As a leader, to protect what is under your watch is not only your duty but an honour code.” (excerpts from his book ‘Kitne Ghazi Aaye Kitne Ghazi Gaye’)