navingulia
New member
I was asked to write my story for the ima(indian military academy) journal. I thought i will post it here as well. The intention is not to gain appreciation but to convey a message:-
1.life is beautiful, every breath of it, every sip of it.
2.sooner or later, lesser or more, we all have to face odds.
3.all the odds can be beaten.
My Story
I joined IMA on 11th of July 1994. I had always wanted to don the olive green uniform. So, it was a glad moment for me at IMA when I could actually fulfill that ambition. Ever since I was a kid, I had been an outdoors and adventurous person, always eager to discover and experience life at its best. I knew that the profession I had chosen would provide me the challenges that would inspire me to work and perform. It was an honour and a privilige to be part of an organization, which in its high standards, was an example and a role model for the whole country.
The most important thing I discovered, understood and imbibed, during my training days was ‘To be proud of myself and to make myself worthy of that pride’. I learnt to be confident and take strength from that confidence. A confidence, which comes from meticulous preparation, focused approach and disciplined efforts. These lessons got me success in every field of work I chose.
I had cleared all academic tests, PT tests (1st class), camp chindits was over and the only thing between my career, and me was the Passing Out Parade. It was the 29th of April 1995, the final day of OT competition. Around 5.45 PM my company ‘Sangro’ took off from the starting line, within seconds I crossed the 8 feet ditch, the zig-zag balance and ran up the steps of high ramp. As I reached the top I got an accidental push from behind, due to which I fell head down at high speed. I tucked my head in to complete a somersault but landed on my upper back, injuring my spine. One of my course mates (Capt H Pasbola) knelt down beside me and said “Gulia come” and I said “you go, I am coming” I couldn’t feel anything below my neck, even my breathing was very slow and with great difficulty. But I never lost my consciousness. I knew I had to keep a cool head. The medical staff arrived and I was immediately rushed to ICU, MH Dehradun. The next few days were critical. The Doctors had said that I would have to survive the first few days if I had to live. Every minute was a fight for survival and I won every time. My course and the Academy stood right behind me all through out. My course mates, juniors and officers kept visiting me. Since the very beginning I never had a doubt. Come what may, I was going to win this battle. ‘Giving up’, is an option I never give to myself.
The next four months involved a lot of obstacles and I fought my way through. I was airlifted to Army Hospital, Delhi. There I was operated upon and transferred by air to MH, kirkee, which is a hospital specializing in Spinal Injury. Four months in the bed, totally immobile, I rediscovered my mental abilities. I carried out mathematical calculations in my mind (multiplying two digit, three digit and four digit numbers). I played chess on an imaginary chessboard. This increased my mental abilities tremendously. And yes, I cracked a lot of jokes, something I always liked. After four months I was able to sit up and made to sit in a wheelchair. I overheard the Doctor telling my parents “One day maybe, he will be able to move his wheelchair himself”. Today I have practiced flying a microlite aircraft and have over one lakh kilometers of driving (a car) under my belt. I have driven to the highest motorable road in the world ‘khardung la’ at a height of 18,350 feet, which is 50 feet higher than the base camp of Mt Everest.
Staying in MH Kirkee, I did a Certificate of Proficiency in Computers Course with Aptech for one year, securing 99% marks. When I was discharged from the hospital after nearly two years, I was well equipped to clear the entrance exam for MCM (Master’s Degree in Computer Management) from SICSR (Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Pune). I cleared the exam in the open category. I completed the ‘two year’ degree course in first class. At that time I wasn’t able to write with my hands so, during all my examinations, I had to work out all the codes and programs in my mind and dictate them as answers. I had to attend ten hours of classes a day and most of the time I had to make a mental note of everything that was taught. The training that I gave myself during my hospitalization came handy. I could always complete my exams half an hour before others and could give answers to classroom questions before any one could calculate using pen and paper.
On completion of my degree, I declined all corporate jobs because I didn’t think they held the challenge or the job satisfaction I was looking for. Instead I taught computers at the Queen Mary Technical Institute (for disabled soldiers) in Pune for one year. After that I taught computers at KV, NDA for one year. During this period I was actively involved with QMTI for vocational rehabilitation of disabled soldiers and some other groups working for the same purpose, in the society. For the last two years I have been running my own Coaching Academy at Gurgaon. In my spare time, I love to go on adventure expeditions or drive to the mountains or wildlife/bird sanctuaries. Whenever I get a chance, I give a talk to school students motivating them to succeed in life and to perform their duties towards their society and their country. I am working on pursuing skydiving in near future and plan to sail around the world one day.
When I took to driving no one except me believed I could drive but it took me only two days to get on to the road. Initially I was refused a driving license but later on the Transport Commissioner, Mumbai, approved my driving license after an extensive driving test. In Pune, on hundreds of evenings I would drive up the Sinhgarh mountain, park my car at the top, get into my wheelchair, sit at the edge of the mountain top and admire the sunset and the beauty of the valley sipping a hot cup of tea. I had WON my battle and so had every one who stood by me.
My message to all GCs “You have an infinitely large reservoir of energy and ability stored inside you, you just have to discover it.” And “if you believe you can, you will”.
1.life is beautiful, every breath of it, every sip of it.
2.sooner or later, lesser or more, we all have to face odds.
3.all the odds can be beaten.
My Story
I joined IMA on 11th of July 1994. I had always wanted to don the olive green uniform. So, it was a glad moment for me at IMA when I could actually fulfill that ambition. Ever since I was a kid, I had been an outdoors and adventurous person, always eager to discover and experience life at its best. I knew that the profession I had chosen would provide me the challenges that would inspire me to work and perform. It was an honour and a privilige to be part of an organization, which in its high standards, was an example and a role model for the whole country.
The most important thing I discovered, understood and imbibed, during my training days was ‘To be proud of myself and to make myself worthy of that pride’. I learnt to be confident and take strength from that confidence. A confidence, which comes from meticulous preparation, focused approach and disciplined efforts. These lessons got me success in every field of work I chose.
I had cleared all academic tests, PT tests (1st class), camp chindits was over and the only thing between my career, and me was the Passing Out Parade. It was the 29th of April 1995, the final day of OT competition. Around 5.45 PM my company ‘Sangro’ took off from the starting line, within seconds I crossed the 8 feet ditch, the zig-zag balance and ran up the steps of high ramp. As I reached the top I got an accidental push from behind, due to which I fell head down at high speed. I tucked my head in to complete a somersault but landed on my upper back, injuring my spine. One of my course mates (Capt H Pasbola) knelt down beside me and said “Gulia come” and I said “you go, I am coming” I couldn’t feel anything below my neck, even my breathing was very slow and with great difficulty. But I never lost my consciousness. I knew I had to keep a cool head. The medical staff arrived and I was immediately rushed to ICU, MH Dehradun. The next few days were critical. The Doctors had said that I would have to survive the first few days if I had to live. Every minute was a fight for survival and I won every time. My course and the Academy stood right behind me all through out. My course mates, juniors and officers kept visiting me. Since the very beginning I never had a doubt. Come what may, I was going to win this battle. ‘Giving up’, is an option I never give to myself.
The next four months involved a lot of obstacles and I fought my way through. I was airlifted to Army Hospital, Delhi. There I was operated upon and transferred by air to MH, kirkee, which is a hospital specializing in Spinal Injury. Four months in the bed, totally immobile, I rediscovered my mental abilities. I carried out mathematical calculations in my mind (multiplying two digit, three digit and four digit numbers). I played chess on an imaginary chessboard. This increased my mental abilities tremendously. And yes, I cracked a lot of jokes, something I always liked. After four months I was able to sit up and made to sit in a wheelchair. I overheard the Doctor telling my parents “One day maybe, he will be able to move his wheelchair himself”. Today I have practiced flying a microlite aircraft and have over one lakh kilometers of driving (a car) under my belt. I have driven to the highest motorable road in the world ‘khardung la’ at a height of 18,350 feet, which is 50 feet higher than the base camp of Mt Everest.
Staying in MH Kirkee, I did a Certificate of Proficiency in Computers Course with Aptech for one year, securing 99% marks. When I was discharged from the hospital after nearly two years, I was well equipped to clear the entrance exam for MCM (Master’s Degree in Computer Management) from SICSR (Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Pune). I cleared the exam in the open category. I completed the ‘two year’ degree course in first class. At that time I wasn’t able to write with my hands so, during all my examinations, I had to work out all the codes and programs in my mind and dictate them as answers. I had to attend ten hours of classes a day and most of the time I had to make a mental note of everything that was taught. The training that I gave myself during my hospitalization came handy. I could always complete my exams half an hour before others and could give answers to classroom questions before any one could calculate using pen and paper.
On completion of my degree, I declined all corporate jobs because I didn’t think they held the challenge or the job satisfaction I was looking for. Instead I taught computers at the Queen Mary Technical Institute (for disabled soldiers) in Pune for one year. After that I taught computers at KV, NDA for one year. During this period I was actively involved with QMTI for vocational rehabilitation of disabled soldiers and some other groups working for the same purpose, in the society. For the last two years I have been running my own Coaching Academy at Gurgaon. In my spare time, I love to go on adventure expeditions or drive to the mountains or wildlife/bird sanctuaries. Whenever I get a chance, I give a talk to school students motivating them to succeed in life and to perform their duties towards their society and their country. I am working on pursuing skydiving in near future and plan to sail around the world one day.
When I took to driving no one except me believed I could drive but it took me only two days to get on to the road. Initially I was refused a driving license but later on the Transport Commissioner, Mumbai, approved my driving license after an extensive driving test. In Pune, on hundreds of evenings I would drive up the Sinhgarh mountain, park my car at the top, get into my wheelchair, sit at the edge of the mountain top and admire the sunset and the beauty of the valley sipping a hot cup of tea. I had WON my battle and so had every one who stood by me.
My message to all GCs “You have an infinitely large reservoir of energy and ability stored inside you, you just have to discover it.” And “if you believe you can, you will”.
That is what true officers live by.