Introducing Beyond the Buffer Zone, a new interview series from The Buffer Zone. While our regular episodes explore geopolitics, international relations, foreign policy, and the forces shaping the world, Beyond the Buffer Zone takes a different route—bringing you conversations with people whose lives and experiences offer a unique perspective on India, leadership, service, sport, society and the world around us. For the first episode of this new series, we sit down with Brigadier Harcharan Singh, an Indian Olympian, hockey player, Hockey World Cup winner and former Indian Army officer. Brigadier Harcharan Singh represented India at the 1972 Munich Olympics, was part of India's 1975 Hockey World Cup-winning team, and went on to serve in the Indian Army, eventually rising to the rank of Brigadier. In this conversation, we go beyond the medals and the uniform to explore what it really means to represent India. We talk about his journey into hockey, wearing the India jersey, the experience of competing at the Olympics, interacting with athletes from around the world, the role of sport in bringing nations together, and the transition from elite sport to military service. We also discuss leadership, discipline, resilience, patriotism, India's sporting journey and the lessons he would pass on to the next generation. This is Beyond the Buffer Zone #1. Welcome to a different side of The Buffer Zone.