That the VIII annual Seminar of the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) - IISSM'98, as we call it - will be held in Kathmandu on December 6-9, 1998, was formally announced at the VII such Seminar organised in Mauritius in November, 1997. The Board of Governors of the IISSM had, however, taken this decision in December 1996 at the VIth Seminar held in New Delhi, India. Well, organising these Seminars outside India is in pursuance of suggestion from international participants in the Seminars to convert the IISSM into an international body and to prove that by organising the Seminars occasionally outside the shores of India. It is indeed a herculean task to organise such Seminars in countries other than the country where the Institute is located. But, well, this was taken up and so we were in Kathmandu after the successful conclusion of the VII Seminar in Mauritius.
The Seminar in Kathmandu - IISSM'98 - was held at the magnificent Birendra International Convention Centre in Kathmandu, a few minutes' away from the airport. In accordance with prevailing practices in international conference of reckoning, national flags of all the countries represented in the Seminar as also IISSM flags were hoisted at all the 81 poles forming a semi-circle around the cemented front lawn of the BICC. The fluttering of these colourful flags in the mild wintry breeze of December was indeed a feast for the eyes. The thousand-plus capacity main auditorium was used for the inaugural and valedictory functions whereas the business sessions were held at the adjoining 250-hall, as it is known. The glass-top sky-room inbetween was the befitting venue for the tea/coffee breaks and evening get-togethers.
In his welcome address, Padmashree K.N. Prasad, Chairman, IISSM, explained the need for organised and systematic appraisal, evaluation and solution of emerging challenges to national, regional and global security. Hence was the theme of this year's Seminar : "Industrial Security : Need For Professionalism To Meet Its Challenges" he added. The Chairman then assured that if the Security professionals could appropriately meet the exacting demands of the future, the private industrial sector will have a promising future and become a purposeful and cooperative partner to the state law enforcement agencies in promoting peace, progress, stability and socio-economic growth. The IISSM was then privileged to hear from Mr. Govinda Raj Joshi, Minister for Home Affairs, His Majesty's Government of Nepal. In his inaugural address, Mr. Joshi emphasised that the emerging problems of safety and security should be identified so as to evolve new methods of dealing with them. The Seminar also had the benefit of receiving a message from Raj Darbar, Kathmandu, conveying good wishes of His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Nepal, who could not inaugurate it due to his other prococcupations and busy schedule. Dr. M.M. Joshi, the Hon'ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India, was to deliver the key-note address to the Seminar. He, too, however, could not make it to the Seminar due to pressing engagements. In his message, Dr. Joshi underscored that in the present day, there were a large number of factors threatening the security of not only the individuals but also of business establishment.
The business session started off with Brig. Genl. (Retd.) Richard Wilmot of the USA presenting a paper on Enhancing Professionalism Through Illumination Technology. The participants in the Seminar came from the USA, UK, Mauritius, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, Province of China, Nepal and India. While the IISSM welcomes the new members to the IISSM family from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, it is regretfully noted that some friends from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada and Indonesia missed the Seminar due to some last minute exigencies of the situation. Be that as it may, the enthusiasm displayed by the observers from Royal Nepal Army and the Turkish delegation was indeed infectious. The subjects covered by the members of the faculty, who came from different parts of the world, varied from Management of Stress and Strain to Executive Management of Contingencies in the 21st Century, from Leadership Qualities Required for Security Operation to Positive Thinking for Achieving Professionalism, from CCTV in the Next Millennium to Radiation and Environment Security, from Retail Crime to How to Keep Business Travellers Safe, from Information Security to Psycho-social Aspects of Work Environment, etc. There were also as many as three specialised presentations on different aspects of HRD, highly appreciated by one and all. The floor participation after every presentation was rather enthusiastic. The esteemed moderators had indeed a tough job in hand in view of the inevitable time constraint. The IISSM salutes the speakers, the moderators as well as the participants for making all the business sessions so lively and educative.
A special word of thanks and gratitude to Mr. Renu Mattoo, who besides being a faculty herself, thrilled the participants in her role as the Master of the Ceremony from inauguration to valediction. Her inimitable style of introducing the speakers added spice and humour to the stern professional security environment. Well, Mrs. Mattoo! the IISSM is grateful to you for the pains you had taken but at the same time the graceful manner in which you had discharged the onerous job of the MOC!
For the accompanying spouses, IISSM'98 will remain a story of endless sight-seeing and indulgence in shopping spree. As has become known over the years, the infectious enthusiasm of ever-ebullient Mrs. Rita Kishore Sinha, the wife of President & Director General, Mr. R.K. Sinha, virtually goads the spouses to move around on all the days of the Seminar and reports this year suggest that many of them have left Kathmandu rather empty handled but laden with pashmina shawls and jewelleries. Well, we are also thankful to them for making security deliberations and evening functions more colourful by their gracious presence. Needless to say, all this led to the 1-day post conference tour of Kathmandu and around on December 10 being practically a male infested programme. The delegates did, however, have a taste of freshly cooked Nepalese rice-dal-vegetable curry in the trip. Mention must also be made of the hospitality lounge every evening, where after the day-long deliberations the delegates found solace in spiritual matters and indulged in networking in the most leisurely and relaxed mood. The Nepalese dance programme at the poolside banquet dinner at Hotel De La'Annapurna was indeed delightful and the food delicious, if we go by some of the delegates' observation. Among those present on the occasion were the Hon'ble Home Minister of Nepal Mr. Govinda Raj Joshi as also senior functionaries from the Indian Embassy.
No account of IISSM'98 would be complete without a special reference to the dynamic Coordinator for the IISSM'98 Col. Hem Bahadur Karki, also one of the Vice-Chairmen of the IISSM. Well, in many ways, Col. Karki provided the finishing touch to all the preparations for IISSM'98 when he successfully interceded with His Majesty's Government of Nepal clarifying some doubts and securing the permission of HMG for the Seminar. The IISSM remains indebted to him on this account specially. So also was the invaluable help from M/s Columbia Travel & Tours represented by Mr. Satish Kripalani and Khem Thapaliya. Though technically appointed as the official travel agent for IISSM'98, these two individuals had virtually become a part of the IISSM Conference Secretariat and contributed immensely and always with a smile towards all ground level logistics required for such an international event. We salute them for what all they did for IISSM'98 in particular and for the IISSM in general.
All good things do come to an end and so did IISSM '98. Rt. Honourable Lt. Genl. (Retd.) Sridhar Samsher JBR was the Chief Guest at the Valedictory Session on March 9. Mr. Mahesh Dutt Sharma, Chairman, UP State Housing Board, was the Guest of Honour. Before proposing the formal vote of thanks to all concerned, the Chairman summed up most deftly the deliberations of the 4-day long Seminar and then the Chief Guest declared the Seminar closed. It was indeed a glittering function with all delegates, spouses, faculties, moderators as also the hand working officials of the Security and Intelligence Service (India) Limited, receiving awards and special recognition.
A picturesque country as Nepal is, some delegates had also made arrangements for private trips to different tourist spots, including the holiday resort at Pokhara which affords the most enchanting view of the Annapurna Range. Those bitten by the travel bug, also availed of the one-hour Mountain flight along-side the snowy peaks of the entire Himalayan Range from Dhaulagiri to Kanchenjengha, including the majestic Everest - an unforgettable sight indeed!
But all this was not the end. The Board of Governors of the IISSM had meanwhile met. The Board of accepted the gracious suggestion of Dato' Haji Rahmat Bin Ismail to hold the next IXth annual International Seminar in the beautiful island of Penang in Malaysia on July 12-14, 1999. So after fulfilling the commitment at Kathmandu, the IISSM is now set on the road or shall we say, the journey to Penang. All eyes are set on that. Till you receive further details on this, the IISSM website "iissm.com" will tell you about IISSM'99.
