New Delhi. 14 October 2023. During a time of loss, it may be difficult to find the right words to let others know of someone’s death. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Founder-Director, Col. NB Saxena (Retd.) after a long battle with illness, at 7.06 AM this morning. He will be greatly missed by the entire team, at Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU).
Born on 03 January 1955, in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India, he did his schooling from Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Sunderlal Inter College from where went on to do a BTech. in Civil Engineering from GB Pant University, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, in those days a part of Uttar Pradesh.
Upon graduating, he immediately joined the Indian Army. He was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers and was a Bombay Sapper. He served in 106 Engineer Regiment , Engineer Brigade in Meerut, College of Military Engineering Pune, Garrison Engineer at HQ Maintenance Command Indian – Air Force, Nagpur, 112 Engineer Regiment as Commanding Officer and E-n-C’s Branch Army HQ as Director Training after which he hung his iniform by taking a voluntary retirement. During this period he acquired a MTech.in Soil Mechanics & Foundations from IIT Kharagpur, did the Technical Staff Course from Institute of Armament Technology (IAT) Pune, in addition to the other short and long term courses of the Indian Army. He was a Kargil Veteran and commanded 112 Engineer Regiment during Operation Vijay in 1999 and led the unit to getting a citation from the Chief of Army Staff.
The satisfaction from having dorned the olive green uniform and curiosity for developing human resource made him enter the field of skills development . He updated himself with a MA in Human Rights from Pondicherry University, a PG Diploma in Management from IGNOU, a post graduate bachelor’s degree in mass communication from GJUniversity Hisaar and a PhD in Managent from Jamia Milia Islamia University. Post the Army he developed a career in construction skills development thereby working with Construction Industry Development council (CIDC), Indian Society for Training & Development (ISTD), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Simplex Infrastructures. A soldier from the core, despite a prolonged illness and full-time oxygen support he finished writing his book on nuances of skill development which hit the stands just a couple of months ago. He was a pioneer in the skills development revolution which hit India about a decade and a half ago. He staunchly believed in the saying, “Someone has to make the first move in every new game, or there will be no winners at all.”is survived by his brother, Connor, and four nephews.
He was Co-Founder & Director of his wife’s company ADU MEDIA LLP which runs this news portal Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) and was a constant source of strength and support to his wife in managing the site. His guidance was invaluable in all aspects and will be missed.
ADU will strive to travesrse the path of journalism at its ethical and professional best as was envisaged by it’s founder Colonel NB Saxena(Retd.). Adieu to the departed soul and prayers for him to rest in eternal peace.
