Students of Nishan-e-Sikhi Institute with Baba Sewa Singh (left) in Khadoor Sahib on Friday. Tribune photoOur Correspondent
Tarn Taran, June 16The three candidates who made it to the NDA after taking coaching from Nishan-e-Sikhi Preparatory Institute (NESPI), Khadoor Sahib, being run by Baba Sewa Singh, an environmentalist, were honoured at Khadoor Sahib on Friday.Baba Sewa Singh is the head of the Kar Sewa sect in Khadoor Sahib and also runs a national-level hockey academy, besides doing other social, educational and religious activities.The selected candidates — Adeshparkash Singh (Rank 116), Harsidakpal Singh (Rank 198) and Dharampreet Singh (Rank 252) — were felicitated with siropas and given Rs 1 lakh each by the sect. The preparatory institute is being run for the last over eight years.Major General RS Chhatwal (retd), Director, NESPI, in his address, appreciated the services of Baba Sewa Singh for providing coaching to rural and needy students of this backward area to compete in the national-level military exam.As many as seven lakh students had appeared in the exam conducted by the UPSC and only 6,000 could succeeded. Twenty-three students of the NESPI were among these successful candidates. Only 584 out of the 6,000 candidates could clear the interview of the SSB (Staff Selection Board).In the rank-wise position, Adeshparkash would be the commissioned officer in the Air Force, Harsidalpal Singh in the Army and Dharampreet Singh in the Navy.The selected candidates would join a four-year course for the commissioned officer to be started from July 1 at Kharakvasl (Pune).A large number of people of the area participated in the felicitation function today.Baba Sewa Singh extended his best wishes to the selected candidates.
3 boys from Khadoor Sahib institute live the NDA dream
Trio from first batch of NishaneSikhi Institute looks forward to career in defence services
From page 1 KHADOOR SAHIB (TARN TARAN) : Three boys from a humble background in the rural belt of Punjab have realised their dream of joining the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, near Pune. They belong to the first batch of 84 cadets trained at the Nishan-e-Sikhi Preparatory Institute, set up by environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh to revive Punjab’s pride of place in the armed forces.
GURPREET SINGH/HT(From left) Dharampreet Singh, Adesh Parkash Singh Pannu and Harsidakpaul Singh at Khadoor Sahib near Amritsar on Friday.When Adesh Parkash Singh Pannu, who secured the 116th rank among the successful cadets, took admission at the institute in May 2015 after completing his Class 10, his only aim was to live in the hostel.
“All I wanted was to experience hostel life. I had heard about the NDA but was not serious about clearing the entrance exam. During the two years here, I got the opportunity to listen to motivational talks by retired defence officers,” he says.
“The institute prepared us physically and mentally to crack the exam. I’ve chosen to join the Indian Air Force,” says the boy, who hardly looks 18.
The transformation surprised his parents too. His father, Amarbir Singh Pannu, who belongs to Chaudhri Wala village near Naushehra Pannuan, 15 km from Tarn Taran, credits his son’s instructors for his success.
“They motivated him to be serious. I knew this boy had talent because he was ranked 60th in the merit list of the Punjab government’s Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Institute in Mohali. Though they selected only 48 students, I had an inkling he could do well. But this is a pleasant surprise,” Pannu says.
He works as a systems administrator at Guru Ram Das Medical College, Amritsar.
Adesh’s mother is relieved that her son gained height over the past two years at the institute. “He looks younger than his age but I’m happy he has made it on merit,” she says.
A student of Saint Francis Convent School in Tarn Taran before he joined the Khadoor Sahib institute, Adesh says two years of playing basketball and hockey besides the tough obstacle course helped him build stamina and strength.
SON’S TRIBUTE TO FATHER
Adesh’s batchmate Harsidakpaul Singh, who is ranked 198th among 548 candidates selected to join the NDA, has a story of resolve to share.
He lost his father, Punjab Police inspector Satinderpal Singh, two months after he got admission in the institute in 2015. “It was my father’s dream to see me as an army officer,” he says.
“At my father’s cremation, I vowed to clear the NDA exam and fulfil his dream. I worked hard for this day. I slept for barely four hours. This academy helped me achieve my goal,” says Harsidakpaul.
He is opting for the army even though he cleared the Indian Maritime University exam to join the merchant navy.
His mother Harjit Kaur from Ludhiana says, “My son was eligible for a government job on compassionate grounds but he chose to fulfil my husband’s dream. I’m a proud mother today.”
HUMBLE ROOTS
Success tasted sweeter when Adesh and Harsidakpaul learnt that their batchmate, Dharampreet Singh from Kunt village in Hoshiarpur district, had also made it to the NDA with the 252nd rank.
Dharampreet has come a long way from Guru Harkrishan Public School at Pandori Khazoor village in Hoshiarpur district. Though his grandfather subedar Lashkar Singh was his role model, he didn’t know about the NDA when he joined the preparatory institute.
His father, Harjot Singh, is a farmer who doubles up as a trucker to supplement the family income.
“I faltered in academics in Class 11 but was able to crack the exam due to the guidance of my teachers. I faced no difficulty in clearing the services selection board (SSB) interview, considered the toughest task only because of the training I got here,” he says.
