“I grew up hearing the tales of my late uncle who was killed at war. People always spoke greatly of his valour and sacrifice, which in turn ignited my passion to serve the country. Furthermore, my upbringing made me a vociferous child, who always stood for the right. At as young as 14 years of age, I remember complaining to the police against a priest whose actions were unfair to devotees at a religious institution.
Going forward, I joined the NCC and represented Tamil Nadu at the Republic Day Parade at Delhi. Eventually, I gave my exams and was selected in the Indian Army, under the communications wing. To all those wondering, yes there’s a communications division! The army doesn’t always mean battlefields and rifles. There are various departments within and the focus is always on holistic development. Infact, I was able to complete my PG and management training from IIMs along with a bunch of other certifications only through work.
Moreover, when you are in the army, you witness the extent of human endurance. I’ve worked in all corners of the country, right from terrains with hip-deep snow where we had to physically lay communication lines, to milder surroundings, all without losing even an inch of my focus. And this is the aspect I keep re-emphasizing to everyone. With just one shot at life, it becomes important to live in the moment and keep fighting, no matter how tough the circumstances are!
But I wouldn’t have been able to do it all, for 32 years now, if it wasn’t for my wife. They say that behind every successful man, there’s a woman. She’s truly a testimony to that statement. She’s been the rock of the family, taking complete care of the household while raising two kids single-handedly. And although my contribution hasn’t been much I’m incredibly proud of the way our children have grown up to be.
Having said that, even today, post-retirement, my life is fully engaged mentoring and motivating the youth. I occasionally do try catching up on some good music and playing the guitar. To me, these little things set in a much-required sense of joy!”
#IndependenceDay2020 #Inspire #NCC #IndianArmy #Patriotism #Family #Support #JaiHind #Salute #BharatArmy #Motivation #Journey #Life #Happiness #Service #Madras #HumansofMadras