KOCHI. The year 2018-19 marks the Silver Jubilee of Indian Navy’s nodal centre for leadership studies, namely the Centre of Excellence in Ethics, Leadership and Behavioural Studies (CELABS). On March 14, 2019 a day-long seminar on ‘Work Life Balance’, followed by other events such as the release of leadership journals, the unveiling of a motivational mural etc. were conducted to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of this unique institution which was attended by many ex-Directors of CELABS besides other naval personnel along with families.

The keynote address for the seminar was delivered by Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Southern Naval Command. There were three sessions, chaired respectively by Vice Admiral B Dasgupta, AVSM, YSM, VSM, Chief of Personnel Services (CPS), Rear Admiral PG Pynumootil, NM, Flag Officer Goa Area (FOGA) and Rear Admiral MD Suresh, AVSM, NM, Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ACIDS).

Ten speakers, including officers and sailors of varying seniorities, as well as a Navy wife, presented papers, which brought out various perspectives on Work Life Balance and associated aspects. The seminar saw intense participation from the audience. As part of the seminar, the 20th edition of the leadership journal of the Indian Navy brought out by CELABS – “Mashaal”, was released by Vice Admiral A K Chawla.

In addition, the seminar also saw the release of a 500-page “tome” – a Collectors’ Edition, with the evocative title, “The Best of Mashaal” – containing select articles carried by the journal over the years, as nuggets of wisdom to allow the present to benefit from the past for the march into the future.

The commemorative activities on March 14, also included unveiling of a Motivational Mural in CELABS premises by the Commanding-in-Chief. A host of endeavours, such as beach cleaning drives were also undertaken over a whole year to commemorate the Silver Jubilee year, culminated in mid-March 2019.

The centre had been inaugurated in 1994 by Late K Karunakaran, the then Chief Minister of Kerala, with the founding idea that young officers must imbibe best leadership practices and sound Service values. The centre is presently headed by Commodore Hari Krishnan.