A Heartfelt Thank You – Urja Manthan Talk

 

A Heartfelt Thank You – Urja Manthan Talk

Respected Prof. Jadkar,

Thank you very much for your kind invitation to deliver an expert talk at “Urja Manthan: The Energy Dialogue Series.” The theme—“Energy as the New Frontline: Navigating National Defence Amidst the 2026 Global Energy Crisis”—was both timely and deeply relevant.

 

I must say, interacting with your faculty and students was an absolute pleasure. The audience was not only sharp and attentive but also wonderfully responsive. The energy in the room was truly infectious—so much so that the applause and laughter made the two hours pass far too quickly!

 

I was particularly delighted that the audience appreciated not just the substance of the talk, but also my occasional light-hearted remarks. It is always reassuring for a speaker when the jokes land as well as the arguments!

 

A special word of thanks to Omkar Astul for his seamless coordination and for the warm hospitality at the University guest house. I am also grateful to Dr. Adinath Funde for personally receiving me and later taking the time to drop me back—our conversations during the journey were both engaging and enriching.

 

My compliments to the technical team as well—their excellent support ensured that the presentation ran flawlessly.

 

I must also mention the MC, Atharva Kadam. His introduction was so generous that I was tempted to request him to repeat it verbatim in front of my wife! At present, my “great personality” status is still under careful review at home—but I am confident that a certified endorsement from your MC would significantly improve my domestic standing.

I  felt that his introductory talk on the subject nearly overshadowed the main speaker—namely, myself!

 

It was indeed an honour to have you present throughout the session despite your demanding schedule. The hall being full, the attentive body language of the students, and the fact that not a single person left midway spoke volumes about the level of engagement.

 

On two occasions, when I considered winding up due to time constraints, the audience encouraged me to continue—which, for any speaker, is perhaps the highest compliment. I only wish we had more time, as the interactive session was lively and could have gone on much longer.

 

I was also touched by the enthusiasm of the students—be it the group photograph, the numerous selfies, or the thoughtful questions. These moments are what make such engagements truly memorable.

 

My thanks also to the two students who kindly came all the way to Salunke Vihar to pick me up. The drive provided an excellent opportunity for a meaningful exchange of ideas.

 

I have gifted the department library copies of my books on Operation Sindoor and Coastal Security (in Marathi), as well as my work on Pakistan (in English). I hope they prove useful to the students and faculty.

 

It was truly a memorable experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my interaction with your vibrant academic community.

 

May I request you to kindly share the photographs and video recording of the event when convenient. I am also sharing my YouTube and blog links below for those who may wish to stay connected. https://brighemantmahajan.blogspot.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtd_pQ9ZasUTQCBv3zKZW0w

https://www.newsbharati.com//authors/BRIG_Hemant_Mahajan.html

Wishing you, your team, and all the participants continued success in your future endeavours.

 

Warm regards,
Brigadier Hemant Mahajan

Savitribai Phule Pune University

(formerly University of Pune)

Centre for Energy Studies

Centre for Energy Studies, School of Technology,

Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune – 411007.

Maharashtra, INDIA.

Telephone: +91 20 2569 5201, 2560 1415

Email: hodenergy@unipune.ac.in

* Teaching * Training * Research * Consultancy * Projects *

Regional Test and Technology Back-up Unit for Solar Thermal Technology (RTC) of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India,

Accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

Prof. Sandesh R. Jadkar

Head / Coordinator

hodenergy@unipune.ac.in

Ref: CES/HEAD/ .

Date: 30/03/2026

To,

Brig Hemant Mahajan YSM (Retd)

Salunke Vihar, Pune

Subject: Invitation to Deliver Expert Talk at Urja Manthan: The Energy Dialogue Series

Respected Sir,

Greetings from the Centre for Energy Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University.

It is our privilege to invite you as a distinguished speaker for the inaugural episode of “Urja Manthan:

The Energy Dialogue Series”, an initiative aimed at fostering meaningful discussions on the evolving

role of energy across critical domains.

We would be honoured to have you deliver an expert session on the topic:

“Energy as the New Frontline: Navigating National Defence Amidst the 2026 Global Energy

Crisis.”

Agenda: The Middle East Conflict and Global Energy Security. The Global Race for Critical

Minerals. India’s Strategic Response and the Way Forward

Your vast experience in national security, counter-insurgency operations, and strategic defence, along

with your deep insights into geopolitical and energy challenges, would provide invaluable perspectives

to our students and participants.

The session is scheduled as follows:

• Date and Time: 04th April 2026 (2 PM Onwards)

• Venue: VG Bhide Seminar Hall, Centre for Energy Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University

It would be greatly appreciated if you could kindly share your biodata along with a high-quality

photograph to facilitate the smooth conduct of the event and support its branding efforts.

We sincerely hope you will accept our invitation and grace the occasion with your presence.

Looking forward to your positive response.

Mr. Atharv Kadam

Student Coordinator - Organizing Committee,

Dr. Adinath M. Funde

Faulty Coordinator – Organizing Committee

Prof. Sandesh R. Jadkar

Head / Coordinator

Centre for Energy Studies (formerly School of Energy Studies), SPPU