MMA Annual Convention 2025
The MMA Annual Convention 2025, on the theme, ‘Foundations for Building a Resilient India,’ was held on 12 February 2025 at Hotel Taj Coromandel, Chennai. A session on ‘Mental Resilience: Leadership in Times of Volatility’ was moderated by Dorte Landwehr, Director of Operations, McKinsey South India. The panel discussion featured distinguished experts: Dr. Amit Bhattacharjee, Mentor and Sports Psychologist; Commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, Shaurya Chakra awardee; and Gautami Tadimalla, Film Artist and Social Worker.
Dorte Landwehr
Director of Operations, South India, McKinsey & Company
The world’s increasing complexity and volatility demand constant adaptation from leaders and employees, impacting both professional and personal lives. Recent research highlights that only 31% of leaders in advanced industries feel prepared to face upcoming challenges. Around 60% of employees globally experience at least one mental health challenge in their lifetime, and one in four workers experiences burnout. This session aims to offer personal insights into resilience, stress management, and mental well-being from our expert guests, benefitting individuals, teams, organisations, and families alike.
Your conscious mind commands, and your subconscious mind believes and acts accordingly.
Dr Amit Bhattacharjee
Mentor (Olympic Gold Medalist), Sports Psychologist, PGIMER, Chandigarh
I will share the journey to winning a gold medal. From there, I will build the story of how stress management can foster a resilient India, good human beings, and successful entrepreneurs. It’s crucial to understand that stress is a major killer today, and we must address it, especially in sports.
Our journey began in 2000 when Abhinav Bindra scored 590 out of 600. The final required 591, so we missed it by one point, requiring us to work for the next four years, leading to the 2004 Athens Olympics. We tried to understand what we were missing, delving into technology. I’ve been to six Olympics and 48 countries to understand this, blending meditation with the latest scientific techniques. Each year, several of my students compete in the Olympics or become IAS officers, excelling in golf and cricket. Many people are thriving.
While I am a doctor at PGIMER, sports psychology is a great passion for me. We began studying the Chinese, who were leaders in the field, examining their meditation practices and biomechanics. I pursued two or three PhDs, which were not very popular then, and became an Ericsson-certified coach. Abhinav was a true fighter who never gave up, and we started working on every aspect of his performance. In 2004, we reached the final. Imagine 47 people competing in the preliminaries, with only eight advancing to the final. We entered the final in third position. However, we dropped to seventh, missing a medal.
This is where the story of stress management and anxiety begins. Abhinav put his gun down and asked, “Sir, I’ve worked four years for this day. Is my destiny decided in two hours? I had been doing yoga, shooting, swimming, and all sorts of exercises.”
Luck does exist, but nothing is easy in the Olympics. We missed by one point in 2000, reached the final in 2004, and then used therapy. With that therapy, we became world champions in Zagreb in 2006. Then, in the 2008 Olympics, we won our first gold medal, beating the defending Chinese champion.
The Dead Man Therapy
If you meditate, you can foster a resilient India. I believe you are all sportspeople, and I believe in the science we are working on. We can start enjoying life from ages 70 to 85. Look at the energy of Donald Trump. You too can make it. If someone has diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, or even cancer, they can try to reverse or at least, slow it down and enjoy life with a simple meditation pattern called Dead Man Therapy, which I still use for sportspeople. It combines ancient theory with modern scientific techniques, including biomechanics and breathing patterns.
Most of us don’t know the true meaning of meditation. Remember that the ‘Paramashakthikhan’ (supreme power) is a part of our brain that controls our conscious and subconscious minds. It is a divine energy, a treasure within you. What you tell your conscious mind, your subconscious mind passes to the paramashakthikhan, which works on it, and it’s 12 times stronger than the conscious mind. The conscious mind is only 6-8%. It is focussed on daily routines. People who reach the Olympics develop their subconscious mind, connecting it with their paramashakthikhan. That connection releases dopamine, the happy hormone. Once you are happy from the inside, in both body and soul, you can lead a resilient India. The 8-10% conscious mind is connected to the 88% subconscious mind.
Don’t say ‘I may,’ but say ‘I can’ and ‘I will.’ If you tell yourself at night that you need to wake up at 6:30 am to catch a train at 9:00 am, you will automatically wake up at 6:30 without an alarm. Your conscious mind commands, and your subconscious mind believes and acts accordingly. Therefore, you must control your conscious mind so that your subconscious mind can communicate with the paramashakthikhan, which will provide the energy to make you happy and successful from 70 to 85.
We’re often kinder to others than ourselves, expecting perfection.
Ms Gautami Tadimalla
Indian Actress and Social Worker
As an actress, it’s a privilege to be known by many of you, and I don’t take that for granted. From childhood exams to building careers and families, we’re constantly judged by others and ourselves. There’s no escaping it. I want to share my observations on navigating stress and challenges.
We’re often kinder to others than ourselves, expecting perfection. But the most liberating lesson I’ve learned is that you are perfect as you are – with your dreams, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. It’s a hard lesson, and I’m still learning it. Internalise this for stressful times. Each of you is already a winner and a success. You’ve overcome so much – expectations, finances, a crazy world – to be here. Recognise how amazing you are. You’ve made it this far brilliantly. The rest of your journey will be empowering. Embed this as fact: as you think, you will be. Understand who you are, how much you’ve fought, survived, and conquered to be here. The effort to achieve your goals from this point will be a fraction of what it took to get here.
If you want resilience, you have to find solutions.
Commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, Shaurya Chakra
Ex-Marine Commando (MARCOS)
I was in Chennai in 2005 after the tsunami. I was on a ship involved in rescue operations in Sri Lanka, surveying Galle and Colombo Harbour. Afterwards, our team conducted surveys in Chennai, Nagapattinam, Machilipatnam, and Visakhapatnam. After landing in Chennai, I called my mom. My Marine Commando course was about to start on January 7th, but I was involved in the rescue operation. My ship wouldn’t allow me to leave for the course because the rescue was an emergency. My mom told me, ‘Someone can snatch anything from your hand, but no one can snatch your hard work.’ You can create anything at any time; just believe in yourself.
Operation Taj
In June 2005, I went for the MARCOS course and completed it in January 2006. I became one of the deadliest commandos in India, having completed one of the toughest courses in the world. The ratio of successful graduates is very low. We started with 120, and only 13 passed. I participated in many operations, including the 26/11 attacks. That night, my team and I led rescue operations at the Taj Hotel, Mumbai. We were informed by our commanders and went to the Taj.
When we arrived, I saw a man roaming around, trying to make a call but failing to connect. He tried to cross from the new tower to the old heritage wing. I stopped him, saying, ‘Sir, you can’t cross; terrorists could be anywhere.’ He told me his wife and two sons were stuck on the sixth floor and weren’t answering the phone. He was the General Manager of the Taj, Mr. Karambir Kang. He tragically lost his wife and two sons, who were in the sixth floor on that night. I admire his courage to this day; he stood like a pillar to save the lives of the guests.
We learned that four terrorists were in the old heritage wing, intending to take guests hostage. We reached the second floor, near the Chamber Hall ballroom, where 185 people were stuck, including businessman Gautam Adani. There was a door, half glass and half wood. I saw some figures approaching from the other side. I knocked, showed my ID card, and said, ‘Sir, open the door. We’re here to save you.’ But they couldn’t open it as it was locked by Taj staff.
With Four Terrorists in a Room
My team commander told me there was another door and that there might be more people in that room. We went back into the alley, and I entered a room. All four terrorists were there. After taking about ten steps inside, I heard two AK-47 bursts. I crouched down and waited. Suddenly, I saw a flashlight coming from the terrorists’ direction. I opened fire, maybe four or five rounds.
I don’t know what happened after that; I lost consciousness as hot blood crossed my neck. It was a burning sensation that can’t describe. I opened my eyes and I was alone with the four terrorists. I thanked God I’d survived and started firing again. The fight continued. I decided that I would fight till my last breath for my nation. We continued firing, and I began firing single bullets while they fired bursts at me. After about 25-30 minutes, I realised I couldn’t kill them this way, so I had to choose a different option. I had a grenade, so I pulled the pin and threw it towards them, about 8-10 meters away. I knew I might not survive, but we had to make a decision for the nation. Dying while saving lives was the better option. I decided to die fighting terrorists rather than allow them to create a hostage situation. I counted to ten, but unfortunately, the grenade didn’t explode. If it had, the operation could have ended sooner, and we might have saved more lives, including Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. But God decided something else.
Bullet Hits My Lungs
My team thought I was already martyred, so they threw a tear gas grenade into the room. It landed near me and exploded. I was suffocated. I stood up and swept the area, firing from the hip. I was hit by four more bullets. One bullet crossed my right chest and damaged my lungs. I reached the door, and my team pulled me out and took me to the hospital. I survived.
My doctor told me I was a miracle for medical science because I was the only person on the planet to survive lung damage like that. They advised me not to run, swim, or do any strenuous exercise that would affect my lungs. Imagine going from that hospital bed to the red carpet of the Iron Man triathlon. The Iron Man involves a 3.86-kilometer open sea swim, a 180-kilometer cycle, and a 42.2-kilometer run, back-to-back. I did that in 17 hours, with one lung.
I couldn’t walk three or four steps when I was discharged from the hospital. I couldn’t climb stairs. For two years, I couldn’t lift any weight with my right hand. Now, I do 28-30 pull-ups daily. I started yoga in 2009. The doctors had given up, saying there was no medicine or help for me in medical science. I did yoga for three to four hours daily. In 2012, I decided to run because a thought came to my mind. Birth and death are not in our hands. We can control only the days we live. I said, ‘If I’m going to die tomorrow, let me die running. I won’t live with limitations. I can do this. I will do it.’ The story started there. I started with running 500 meters and ramped up to 150 kilometers, covering Delhi to Mumbai in 15 days.
A Marathon Journey
In 2015, I started my marathon journey. The Defence Forces didn’t allow me to participate because of my medical category. I used jugaad – a workaround – and participated in a half-marathon in 2015 and completed it in 1 hour and 53 minutes with one lung. In 2016, I participated in a full marathon with more jugaad. I ran 42.195 kilometers and completed it. Naval Headquarters learned about a disabled war veteran running with one lung. They realised that if I could run a marathon, others could too. The Western Naval Headquarters started a marathon in November 2016, and since then, marathons have started everywhere in the defence forces. One person can change anything; you just have to believe in yourself.
Another incident: the Khardung La Challenge. It’s a 72-kilometer run, 39 uphill and 33 downhill from Khardung La top, with very little oxygen, and I had just one lung. I told my wife everything about my accounts and finances because I did not know whether I would return from the challenge. In 2017, after retirement, I finished the challenge in 12 hours and 30 minutes. In April 2018, I went to South Africa for the Iron Man. After completing 110 kilometers of cycling, my cycle broke down when the derailleur failed. I got it repaired but could use only one gear.
The Iron Man Challenge
I rode the bike with a single gear for 70 kilometers, including four uphill sections. I completed the Iron Man challenge in 14 hours and 19 minutes. I became the first defence personnel in the nation to complete it; it was history. If you want resilience, you have to find solutions. Don’t be rigid; adapt and accept, and you can do anything in life. I became the first disabled Iron Man and the first defence personnel to complete it.
I’ve now completed four Iron Mans in four continents and am the only person from the defence forces to do so. This year, I’m going for the Comrades Run, which is 90 kilometres in South Africa. Life goes on. I wrote a book, 26/11: Braveheart. I also completed my law degree and I now practice in the Delhi High Court and district courts, still serving my nation. I will continue to do so till my last breath. Jai Hind!
Q&A
Gautami, You’re in the creative field – the performing arts – and I read that you were shooting several films in parallel at some point. That must have been immensely stressful, switching from one thing to another. How did you handle the stress?
Gautami Tadimalla: Acting is very demanding, not just mentally but physically. It draws on all your skills – people skills and environment management skills. Every day, you have to be functioning at 360 degrees all the time. But having said that, I would like to say that life today is pretty much the same for everybody.
My greatest strength is that I don’t know how to give up. I don’t know how to say “This is too much; I can’t do this.” Once I’ve accepted a job, that’s a commitment I’ve made, and I will give it my 100%. It is easier said than done, as it will drain you physically, mentally, and emotionally. I wear many hats in the film industry, both in front of the camera and behind the camera. I’ve been a single parent for the last 25 years, since my daughter was born. My personal battles with life are common to many of us: health, losing parents, ups and downs.
I have been running from one crisis to another. At one point, I took a deep breath and put a pause on everything around me. You must take a look at the playing field in front of you. Take a piece of paper and a pen. Write it down. Make flow charts. Draw little boxes. Do a mind map, whatever it takes. Write it down according to the intensity of your responsibility or your challenge. Make the boxes bigger or smaller.
Then look at the challenges you are facing – external and internal. What are you feeling insecure about? What are you feeling nervous about? Then think about all the things that you have accomplished. Take a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror and recognize all your strengths and all the qualities that helped you to overcome each one of those challenges. You will have a clear idea of all the weapons you have in your arsenal to fight anything that life throws at you.
Physical fitness is very important. You do not have to be an athlete. I hate running. Find something that works for you: stretch, do yoga, or Bollywood dancing. James Bond Aerobics has helped me a lot. Another major part that can make or break all of your efforts is what you eat. Don’t eat something that doesn’t agree with you. Go back to our roots. Our traditions have taught us how and what to eat, and that really works. I eat a lot less processed fast food and a lot more Sambar rice, idli, and chutney.
Do journaling every day. If you can find a good counsellor to talk to, just let it out. Talk to someone who is qualified to listen and give you the right answers or guide you on your way to wellness.
How does meditation help in improving our focus and reducing our stress?
Amit Bhattacharjee: The most important thing in achieving anything is your belief system. It’s what helped Abhinav Bindra and Usain Bolt win gold medals in the Olympics. Through meditation, you can strengthen your belief system by easily connecting with your subconscious mind. (Dr. Amit Bhattacharjee demonstrated the first stage of ‘Dead Man Therapy’ using three different types of breathing patterns and sending affirmative messages to the subconscious mind.) The mind is very powerful. Through this technique, you can feel mentally strong. If you improve your mind, you improve your soul, and you will feel happy. Once you are happy, dopamine is released in your body.
