Breaking the Glass Ceiling is the inspiring and long-awaited story of the first ethnic Gorkha officer to rise to the highest echelons of command in the Indian Army. Commissioned into the Grenadiers—a regiment where Gorkhas traditionally do not serve—Lt General Shakti Gurung’s journey defies norms and challenges assumptions. From leading a frontline corps along the Line of Actual Control to serving as India’s defence attaché in Myanmar, and retiring as the prestigious Military Secretary, his remarkable career covers counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations across J&K, the Northeast, and beyond. Packed with anecdotes, reflections, and sharp observations, this book is a window into the lesser-known realities of military life, strategic diplomacy, and regional complexities.

At its heart, breaking the Glass Ceiling is a personal and political meditation on identity, belonging, and leadership. It explores the Gorkha community’s deep yet often overlooked relationship with India—how they ‘came with the land’, their enduring loyalty, their unacknowledged sacrifices, and their unresolved quest for recognition. The memoir goes beyond the battlefield to examine systemic biases, regional tensions, and the quiet yet powerful resistance of breaking through institutional barriers with integrity and grit.

Lt General Shakti Gurung is a decorated officer and seasoned military leader who has held critical operational and strategic appointments in the Indian Army. A third-generation soldier, he brings a rare perspective shaped by decades of frontline service, administrative leadership, and international defence engagement. His tenure in the MS Branch and experience in India–Myanmar relations offer rich insight into both the inner workings of the armed forces and the geopolitical theatre of South Asia. Breaking the Glass Ceiling marks his debut as an author and a vital voice from a community too long spoken for but seldom heard from.