An autorickshaw driver’s son from Kolhapur has been the talk of the town for massive success as he secured the fourth position in the overall merit list at the 136th course at National Defence Academy. Sarthak Dhawan, who also excelled in military training has passed out from National Defence Academy.
“My son has made us proud today. It’s a dream come true for us,” Shashikant, Sarthak’s father told the Times Of India.
Shashikant has been driving auto rickshaw for the past 30 years. The father who couldn’t control his raw emotions over his son’s success, gives full credit to his son, who was strong enough in tough times and did not lose his focus when his mother passed away in a tragic accident four years ago.
“It came as a big shock, but he did not shift his focus from studies and cracked the NDA entrance on his first attempt. Now, he is on his way to becoming an army officer,” Shashikant added.
Sarthak who is a Romeo squadron cadet, studied in St Xavier’s High School in Kolhapur and then did his HSC from the Services Preparatory School in Aurangabad.
He added that it was his childhood dream to become a proud army officer.
“So, I joined the Maharashtra Cadet Corps (MCC) in school and studied at the SPS to prepare for the NDA entrance exam,” Sarthak said while speaking to news agency TOI.
Sarthak literally got emotional while giving a speech and remembered his mother. “She would have loved to see me in this uniform,” he said.
Sarthak will be commissioned as a lieutenant in the belligerent Indian Army once he finishes one year advanced military training course at Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.