Long Defense Management Course (LDMC) is a year-long course conducted in parallel to Higher Command by College of Defense Management (CDM) based in Sainikpuri Military Cantonment in Secunderabad, India. I was lucky to get selected over so many aspiring senior officers from all arms in the Army in 2004. I reported to CDM as a late entry with a handicap joining late by two weeks due to delays encountered to find relief from a field station in Vavuniya as a holding Infantry Brigade Commander and attending other formalities to obtain approval as per laid down procedures and process followed by the Army for overseas training courses. Interestingly, I was the only candidate attending LDMC – Serial No. 35 from a friendly foreign country but I found some of my course mates  from previous courses namely, Basic Officer Cadet Course held in Officers Training School India (Now Officers Training Academy – OTA), Senior Command – 76 in MHOW India. All in all, selected 76 elite officers from Indian Defense Forces in the rank of Colonel and equivalent joined us most of them aspiring very high to reach their chosen career paths to the highest possible positions. The course per se was highly management oriented with a military favor conducted by CDM affiliated to the Osmania University, Hyderabad now Telangana, India. The core-training program viz-a-viz Hdmc at War College, MHOW and Ldmc are conducted in parallel but Ldmc at the CDM aiming at enhancing managerial skills of the armed forces in various disciplines of management concepts and techniques and applications of the same at directional level. The College entered into a MOU with Osmania University, Hyderabad on 14 Aug 1994, enabling the two institutions to collaborate in the areas of management studies for mutual academic benefit. Based on the MOU, the University has recognized the erstwhile LDMC and current HDMC conducted by the College as a postgraduate degree course in management studies and awards the degree of ‘Master of Management Studies (MMS)’ to the successful graduates of the course.

Project charter was released by the CDM along with team members comprising of seven along with the Directing Staff (DS) invariably my sponsor,  A Wing Commander from the Indian Air Force Logistics Command and the rest from a mix of service arms, support and infantry, with a Military Doctor in Uniform was a blessing in disguise. Acclimatization was a must; therefore, Project Team was based in Chandigarh with access to research facilities located nearby. We were all well equipped to live and work in high-altitude areas, however, more items were issued by the host military unit as per guiding instructions. Project Team was accommodated in a well-maintained chalet with 4 double rooms. I was sharing accommodation with the Team Leader, two sataji’s in one as always looked forward for cultural and customary reasons, doctor and the infantryman in one and DS alone in One Room. We were served with warm food and plenty of hot beverages to challenge the cold conditions prevailed. Visits to Corp HQ, Div HQ, Logistics installations were all coordinated with integral transport provided on call for any emergency or for frequent visits to the Leh City for hanging out and shopping. Experience was out of the box, sensational and very challenging for a person born, bred in a coastal town of Sri Lanka.

Few weeks passed, project team was able to develop a possible concept model for a waste management system and continued capturing data and experiences shared from a mix of field commanders deployed in Siachen Glacier. Suddenly, the weather conditions changed for the worse, several team members fell sick suffering with respiratory ailments and high fever. On advice given by authorities we were all back loaded by Civilian Aircraft back to Chandigarh for Rest and Recuperation (R & R) and continuation of project documentation. R & R again for the project team was a well-earned rest with more time to capture follow up discussions with the scientific community around Chandigarh was a blessing in disguise between few opportunities to hang out for a meal in between with friends and relations of team members residing nearby was a lifetime but a blessed experience. Privileged and honoured to share Punjabi customs and traditions offered with velour and color being the sole foreigner out of the team before we were all taken by Russian built Ilyushin 76 transport aircraft to Leh in extremely cold high altitude conditions. The Il-76 is a freighter used for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items unable to be otherwise carried. Our journey again this time by IL 76 back to Leh was very interesting but lucky again to land on a very bright and shining morning against the head wind was certainly better rather than flying on a civilian aircraft. The second leg was the most interesting with several presentations followed up by brainstorming sessions with field commanders and privileged to have dinner hosted by the Corp Commander in situ apparently he was the GOC, Commanding a division with the Indian Peace Keeping Mission (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. In the very old days the local herdsman, hunters, souvenir seekers would collect elephant tail hair pieces that had been caught in the local thorn trees or picked up from mahouts. To relieve their boredom, they would weave them into the magic bracelet shapes their forefathers taught them. Thus, became the beginnings of the popular elephant hair bracelets we know today. I was carrying some elephant tail hair with me in my personal wallet as a souvenir that was presented by a detachment commander in charge of an isolated boat-head in Thennamaram Wadi lagoon in Weli Oya Sector in Sri Lanka. Proud to say, the Corps Commander was happy to accept the memorable souvenir from me and readily identified the elephant tail hair before I explained the significance carrying such sentimental items in your personal regalia.

We were also taken on sightseeing excursions to the field areas by road negotiating narrow hill climbs, rock ridden passes, steel girder bridges of course experiencing out of the world, breath stacking but beautiful untouched landscapes was the best to have ever seen in leh-ladakh Tibetan mountainous range. Dim-sum and dumplings was the most sort after delicacy to partake with typical Tibetan sauce recipes were served in plenty. dim sum refers to small bites. They could be had as snacks, with main meals, or as a main meal. The lamb soup dim sum with steamed dumplings that has  a little hole on top through which you pour in a soya wine vinegar is the 'soup'. You then pop the soup filled dumpling into your mouth and feel the juices burst and mix with the meat and the experience is most heady. The practice of pouring in wine through the hole compared my experience on the lamb soup dumpling with the puchkas in New Delhi and the pani puris of Mumbai. Dim sum is usually offered with chilli sauce and XO chilli sauce, which can add in a fair bit of chilli hit. You won't be stared at if you add them to your dim sum but I do tried tasting them without sauces too to feel the blitz and fire.

Magnetic Hill, Confluence of river Indus - Zanskar, Pathar Sahib, Matha Gompa - Sakya Buddhist Monastery, Red Maitreya Temple was well covered with each destination providing an insight into the Mongolian, Hindu, Buddhist, Tibetan, Chinese legacy which is still intact with many mesmerizing stories some are mythical encapsulated by visibility of facts, happenings some but miraculous in belief.

Born in a coastal town to live and work at 19,000 feet from Mean Sea Level is naturally a challenge but author braved the odds to finish the task entrusted along with a gallant team of student military officers from the Indian Military......ensuing story will follow to the end.