Umang Sisodia • • 3 min read • 6 views
Learn, Unlearn, Relearn: Gen. NS Raja Subramani’s Call to IIT Roorkee Graduates Sparks a National Dialogue
The Moment That Captured a Nation
On a crisp June morning, the sprawling campus of IIT Roorkee resonated with applause as General N.S. Raja Subramani, the Chief of Defence Staff, took the stage to address the graduating batch. His three‑word mantra—Learn, Unlearn, Relearn—quickly became a trending hashtag on Twitter and Google Trends, echoing across boardrooms, classrooms, and defence corridors alike.
Why the Message Resonated
- Learn – A reminder that formal education is just the starting point.
- Unlearn – An invitation to discard outdated mental models, especially in a fast‑moving tech ecosystem.
- Relearn – A call to continuously adapt, innovate, and stay relevant.
The speech struck a chord because it addressed three intersecting challenges:
- Rapid Technological Disruption – AI, quantum computing, and autonomous systems are redefining defence and industry.
- Skill‑Obsolescence – A 2023 World Economic Forum report warned that 50% of current skills could be redundant by 2030.
- National Security Imperative – India’s strategic doctrine now emphasizes knowledge‑centric warfare.
"The future belongs to those who can unlearn yesterday’s truths and relearn tomorrow’s possibilities," Gen. Subramani asserted, a line that quickly trended under #LearnUnlearnRelearn.
IIT Roorkee campus aerial view
Background: The Man Behind the Mantra
General N.S. Raja Subramani, a three‑star officer with a distinguished career in the Army’s Armoured Corps, was appointed CDS in 2022. Known for championing digital transformation within the armed forces, he spearheaded the ‘Defence Innovation Initiative’ that funds start‑ups working on AI‑driven logistics and cyber‑defence.
His presence at IIT Roorkee—a historic institute that birthed India’s first civil engineering college—was symbolic. The campus has produced over 30,000 engineers, many of whom now occupy senior roles in defence research labs, the ISRO, and private tech firms.
The Ripple Effect Across Sectors
- Academia – Universities are revisiting curricula, introducing meta‑learning modules that teach students how to unlearn and relearn.
- Industry – Companies like Tata Advanced Systems and Larsen & Toubro have announced upskilling programs aligned with the three‑step framework.
- Policy – The Ministry of Education cited the speech in its 2025 Skill‑Future Blueprint, emphasizing lifelong learning.
Key Takeaways for Graduates
- Adopt a Growth Mindset – Treat every project as a test‑bed for new skills.
- Leverage Cross‑Disciplinary Learning – Blend engineering with ethics, data science with humanities.
- Stay Connected to Defence Ecosystem – Opportunities abound in dual‑use technologies that serve both civilian and military needs.
Looking Ahead: From Convocation to National Strategy
The Learn, Unlearn, Relearn doctrine is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s ‘Strategic Knowledge Economy’ roadmap. Analysts predict that by 2030, the nation will see a 30% increase in cross‑sector collaborations between defence R&D and civilian tech start‑ups, driven by the very mindset Gen. Subramani championed.
In the words of IIT Roorkee’s Vice‑Chancellor, “Our graduates are the architects of tomorrow’s defence and innovation landscape. This mantra is not just a slogan; it is a strategic imperative.”
Future Impact
- Education – More institutions will embed unlearning labs where students deconstruct legacy concepts.
- Defence – Faster adoption of emerging tech, reducing the procurement cycle by an estimated 18 months.
- Society – A culture of continuous upskilling that can buffer against economic shocks and keep India competitive on the global stage.
Stay tuned for follow‑up stories on how IIT Roorkee’s alumni are already putting the mantra into practice across the country.
Original Reporting & Source: ABP Live Top News
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