CHENNAI: Yashwini Dhaka, widow of Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh who died in a helicopter crash in the Nilgiris in which India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat was killed, will soon walk out of the Officers Training Academy in Chennai as an Army officer.
A graduate of Banasthali University, Jaipur, she went on to tutor the next generation of techies as a computer science professor in Meerut and got married to Singh, a pilot of the IAF’s Mi-17V5 multi-role helicopter, in 2017.
Conventionally, the OTA intake is for those aged between 21 and 27. The ‘Veer Nari’ had to get acclimatised to an all new life and lifestyle, all while keeping up with her much younger batchmates. Despite no prior experience of rigorous physical training and outdoor activity, she encountered the seemingly insurmountable challenge and managed to transform herself completely.
At an impressive event on Saturday, 36 women and 184 male cadets were commissioned into the Army following their completion of rigorous training at the OTA. Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari reviewed the passing out parade.
Three officer cadets and six women cadets from friendly foreign countries too successfully completed their training.
Tales of grit & glory
Among those who graduated was Umesh Dilli Rao Keelu. Born and raised in a Mumbai slum, his father worked as a painter and ensured that his two children got the best education possible within his modest means. In the year 2013, his father suffered an acute stroke, which left him paralysed and put a stop to the family’s meagre earnings. In the midst of this, Umesh pursued and earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in IT and Masters Degree in Computer Science. While balancing his academic work, Umesh also served in the NCC ‘AIR WING’ and earned a ‘C’ certificate.
Umesh has made a total of 12 attempts to clear the SSB and join this prestigious academy.
India faces multi-faceted threats: Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said India’s security dynamics involves multi-faceted threats and it cadets must demonstrate multi-domain capabilities and execute operations simultaneously in short time frames.
Urging the young officers to stay abreast with technological advancements, he said, “Warfare is undergoing a fundamental change with the emergence of new technology and you, as future operators of these potent systems, need to be conversant with them, and this can be achieved only through rigorous training and a professional approach."
