IIM Jammu hosts PARIPEKSH with AWWA Northern Command, blending leadership, service, and happiness

JAMMU: Indian Institute of Management Jammu, under the aegis of Anandam: The Center for Happiness, hosted an insightful session of PARIPEKSH: An Alternate Perspective in collaboration with the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Northern Command. The event, held at the Mandapam Auditorium, featured an inspiring address by Ms. Shinei Sharma, Regional President, AWWA, Northern Command (Painter, Muralist, Sculptor, and Entrepreneur), accompanied by her distinguished team. The session was graced by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.

The session was designed to nurture the holistic development of students by encouraging reflections on life beyond material pursuits. The initiative seeks to foster meaningful conversations between students and AWWA members, emphasizing happiness through sacrifice, resilience, and a Nation First attitude.

In her address, Ms. Shinei Sharma shared an inspiring overview of AWWA, the largest NGO in India, which has been dedicated to empowering women and supporting army widows and families for 59 years. She highlighted AWWA’s multifaceted initiatives, including skill training centres, Saksharta programs, Sadbhavna hostels, and Project Milap, which strengthens bonds with mothers of soldiers. She emphasized that an “army wife is never alone,” with AWWA organizing daily welfare and outreach programs to ensure belonging and empowerment.

Reflecting on her personal journey of resilience and creativity, she spoke of the challenges of army life, from setting up homes in testing conditions to finding strength in art and ancient literature. Reciting a Sanskrit shloka, she underscored the importance of inner peace and spiritual strength while drawing on the Army’s traditions of unity, inclusivity, and service. She urged students to embrace continuous learning, noting that reading and knowledge connect individuals to countless lives, enriching perspectives and bringing enduring happiness. She concluded by affirming that the collaboration between IIM Jammu and AWWA symbolizes a shared commitment to nation-building by nurturing future leaders through discipline, creativity, and service.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, recalled the exemplary service of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, one of the driving forces behind Operation Sindoor. He highlighted the courage and sacrifices of the armed forces while acknowledging the resilience of army families, describing their wives as the true “Shaktis” behind the soldiers. He emphasized that discipline, attitude, conduct, and approach, hallmarks of the armed forcescan greatly transform civilian and organizational life. Addressing the students as the “future of the nation,” he underscored the importance of adopting discipline and values in shaping leaders of character and purpose. He highlighted IIM Jammu’s diverse student community, representing a “Mini India,” and spoke about Anandam: The Center for Happiness, which focuses on holistic well-being. He also invited AWWA’s collaboration in mentoring and counseling students through Anandam, marking the beginning of a meaningful association.

Brigadier Neeraj Soni, Co-Chairperson, Anandam, IIM Jammu, remarked that PARIPEKSH resonates with the ethos of both the armed forces and academia, uniting discipline with intellectual curiosity. He observed that such engagements encourage students to view leadership not merely as authority but as responsibility anchored in values. The event also featured an engaging interactive Q&A session, where students sought insights from Ms. Sharma and her team on alternate perspectives of leadership, resilience, and service.

Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairperson, Anandam and Media & Publication Division, IIM Jammu, delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the contribution of AWWA and reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to initiatives that extend beyond classrooms to shape holistic leadership.

Also present on the occasion were Dr. Ashish Kumar, Chairperson, Student Affairs, and Cmdr. Kesavan Baskkaran, Chief Administrative Officer, IIM Jammu. The program concluded with a felicitation ceremony followed by a visit to Nalanda, IIM Jammu’s state-of-the-art library and smart classrooms. Guests and faculty also engaged in informal discussions, fostering camaraderie and mutual respect.

PARIPEKSH stands as a reminder that when education is harmonized with sacrifice and service, it becomes not just a pathway to success but a journey towards higher purpose and nation-building.