157 OTA cadets graduate as officers; Lieutenant Soni Bisht Fulfills Late Husband’s Dream, Joins Indian Army

CHENNAIL
Just a month after her marriage, Lieutenant Soni Bisht lost her husband, Sepoy Neeraj Singh Bhandari. Instead of succumbing to grief, she chose to honor his dream of serving in the Army. Hailing from Haldwani, Uttarakhand, Soni joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) through the Veer Nari entry, securing the only available seat—a testament to her resilience and determination.

Soni was among the 24 women commissioned into the Indian Army as officers following the Passing Out Parade at the Parameswaran Drill Square in Chennai on Saturday. In total, 157 cadets were commissioned, along with an additional 12 foreign cadets who successfully completed their training, strengthening international military collaboration.

The parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General Johnson P. Mathew, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, who honored outstanding cadets and commended their dedication. In his address, he urged the newly commissioned officers to uphold the Army’s values of selfless service, integrity, and excellence.

Among the newly commissioned officers, Lieutenant Surjeet Yadav’s journey stands out. Hailing from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, he faced financial hardships and health struggles from an early age. Determined to succeed, Yadav worked on improving his English and confidence for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. Despite battling a fever during the selection process, he emerged victorious and was later appointed as the Academy Cadet Adjutant at OTA.

Similarly, Aryan Deolkar, a young man from Mumbai, turned adversity into achievement. Coming from a middle-class family with a legacy of patriotism, he faced financial difficulties when his grandparents fell ill. To support his family, he worked as a delivery agent, earning just Rs 200 per day while continuing his studies. His journey took a decisive turn when he joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC), excelling in training and winning a national-level shooting competition. His perseverance paid off when he cleared the SSB interview on his first attempt, securing a place at OTA Chennai.

Raised in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh, Karan Trivedi’s dream of joining the armed forces was often met with skepticism. Lacking proper guidance, he only learned about the National Defence Academy (NDA) through a friend. After failing the written exam twice, he cleared it on his third attempt while balancing studies and household responsibilities.

A native of Jorhat, Assam, Ved Vijay’s path to OTA was unconventional. From working as a barista and food delivery agent in Delhi to traveling across India as a photographer, his diverse experiences shaped his resilience. After being forced to withdraw from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) due to personal reasons, he faced financial struggles but never gave up on his dream. His breakthrough came when he cleared the Combined Defence service (CDS) exam and Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, securing his place at OTA Chennai. Reflecting on his journey, he stated, “This is just the beginning of a new challenge. I carry the hopes and aspirations of many, and now, all I have to do is deliver.”