From topping the NDA and earning the Sword of Honour to surviving a hang-gliding crash and losing a leg — and then circumnavigating the globe on Trishna of India — Major A.K. Singh’s story is a masterclass in grit. He takes us from RIMC schooldays and the National Defence Academy to early ocean passages (Bombay–Iran in an 18-ft Seabird), selecting a blue-water yacht in the UK, hand-steering through Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean and Red Sea storms, and navigating by sextant. We dig into his memoir Beyond Horizons (foreword by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma), what awards like the Kirti Chakra really mean, and his straight-talk for young Indians dreaming of the Army or blue-water sailing: preparation, seamanship, and humility.
Chapters:
00:00 —
01:21 — Early life: RIMC → NDA → IMA, discipline & bonds for life
05:22 — Seeking adventure: Youth Olympics, Bombay–Karachi–Bandar Abbas sail
13:45 — The accident, amputation, and rebuilding identity through sailing
19:08 — Why write Beyond Horizons; telling the story honestly
22:04 — Choosing the yacht, training in the UK, first big storms
26:05 — Crafting difficult chapters; inside the “army mind”
32:21 — Foreword by Wing Cdr Rakesh Sharma: how it came together
35:05 — Kirti Chakra & National Adventure Award: what recognition changes
37:11 — Advice to youth: nationalism, service, and an adventurer’s mindset
40:51 — Rapid fire: water at sea, humility, and gold vs. fresh water
44:05 — Closing & where to connect
Connect with Us
Mohua Chinappa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohua-chinappa/
The Literature Lounge: https://www.themohuashow.com/the-literature-lounge/
Reference Links:
Beyond Horizons, Trishna, Kirti Chakra
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The views expressed by our guests are their own. We do not endorse and are not responsible for any views expressed by our guests on our podcast and its associated platforms.