By Shankar Kr Turha
SHILLONG:
For 22-year-old Shillong boy, Lieutenant Kapil Bisht, joining the Indian armed forces as an officer was a childhood dream which took shape when he joined the NCC at St Anthony’s College while pursuing his B.Sc., and simultaneously prepared for the Officers Training Academy (OTA) entrance exam.
Kapil was among the 186 cadets who graduated as an officer in the Indian Army during the ceremonial passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on October 29, fulfilling his long-cherished dream to adorn the unform that would forever put him among the elite men who will lead the best forces in the country.
Kapil, whose father works at the Assam Rifles in Shillong, completed his schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, AFS, Laitkor Peak, and his plan to join the armed forces accelerated with the kind of exposure he got as an army brat at different places, and the environment he grew up in.
Narrating his journey to The Meghalayan, the proud Kapil never imagined that one day the gates of the OTA will welcome him, and credits his family, and well-wishers for achieving the feat that very few have managed to achieve from Shillong, “When I cleared the exam and wore the uniform, I remembered my parents who always supported me in my journey and are happy with my achievement. The time away from them at the academy, was hard,” Kapil told the Meghalayan.
Recounting his days at the academy, the jubilant young officers said that, it was once in a life time experience at OTA, he got to learn the different attributes from the best officers, and everyday dawned with something new—new challenges, commitments, and objectives.
Chronicling his strategy for clearing the OTA/IMA exam, Kapil laments the fact that youths in Shillong do not have proper guidance for choosing career in army, which offers so much with only entrance being the determining factor.
“Youths in Shillong fear to move out of their comfort zones, they have to realise that hard work and determination are the key to success. They have to take up bigger challenges—which I don’t see in them, and suggest that they draw upon strategy to tackle these exams,” says Kapil.
Detailing his preparation, Kapil said that it was in his final year that he started preparing for the exam, however, he failed the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam several times by marginal marks, but the determination never died. Finally, Kapil tried for the SSB directly through the NCC entry scheme, and cleared the exam in the very first attempt.
Recalling the entire pain that went into preparing for the SSB, the emotional Kapil went on to say, “For SSB I took online classes—and did a lot of self-studies. I had a daily routine which I followed rigorously, and the entire process was gratifying when my name appeared in the all-India merit list. The moment was a dream.”
The young officer also stressed on physical and extracurricular activity as important criteria for clearing the CDS exam, as they build the overall personality of an individual—-which are key factors that determine the chances of getting through the SSB.
His tips to the youths of Shillong planning to take up similar examinations is that they should remain focused, take advantage of the online materials available easily, develop hobbies, pursue alternate interests and the foremost remain fit.