291 cadets, including four from Maldives and two from Afghanistan, graduate with JNU degrees on Monday.
Academy Cadet Captain (ACC) Deepak Awasthi stood first overall in the order of merit in the 121st course of the National Defence Academy (NDA), the convocation ceremony of which was held at the Habibullah hall of the academy on Monday morning.
ACC Awasthi, a BSc in computer science graduate, secured 8.1 points and was followed closely by squadron cadet captain (SCC) Deependra Singh Kheechee, a bachelor of arts (BA) student who secured 8.08 points and battalion cadet adjutant (BCA) Amit Kumar Kandwal, a bachelor of science (BSc) graduate who secured 7.5 points. All three cadets topped their respective subject streams.
A total of 291 cadets including four from the Maldives and two from Afghanistan were awarded graduation degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the function which was graced by Jaspal Singh, vice chancellor of the Punjabi University, Patiala as chief guest. Ninety one cadets were awarded the BA degree, 95 the BSc in computer science and 105 cadets, the BSc degrees.
The three toppers were very focused about their future careers in the armed forces. ACC Deepak said that he was very keen to become a fighter pilot. “I have wanted to fly planes ever since I was a small boy. I am confident of achieving my dreams,’’ he told media persons who interviewed him after the convocation ceremony. Deepak’s father, Rajesh Kumar Awasthi, a retired subedar in the Corps of Signals was all smiles as he looked at his son’s medals. “I never forced my son to join the armed forces. It is a decision he took while he was in the UP Sainik school in Lucknow,’’ Rajesh Kumar said.
SCC Deependra Singh Kheechee, who admitted that he had competed with Deepak for the top academic spot said that it was his grandfather Narpat Singh, a veteran of the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan who inspired him to join the armed forces. “My grandfather was my biggest inspiration. He was a Rajputana Rifles soldier and I would like to emulate him by becoming an infantry officer,’’ Deependra said.
According to Deependra, the NDA had made him a better person, instilled a positive attitude in him and given him a definite aim in life. Deependra’s father, Gaje Singh, a Rajasthan forest official, his mother Prem Kanwar and sister Kirti attended the convocation ceremony.
Likewise, battalion cadet adjutant (BCA) Amit Kumar Kandwal is keen to join the Indian Navy’s navigation cadre. Amit said that he was inspired by both his late grandfather, Suresh Kumar Kandwal, a Garhwal Rifles soldier and his father, Ansuya Prasad, a retired havaldar in the army. Amit, who opted out of an engineering college to join the NDA said, “The academy has taught me to never give up and keep working very hard. I am going to remember this lesson all my life.’’ It was touching to see Amit being watched by his octogenarian grandmother, Sateshwari Devi, his mother Anita Devi, father Ansuya Prasad, sister Deepti and grand uncle Surendra Prasad at the convocation ceremony.
Earlier, Jaspal Singh in his address advised the cadets to be creative, proactive and develop out-of-the-box thinking. “Always think big in whatever you undertake. Drive looking at the windshield in front and not the rear view mirror,’’ Singh told the young cadets.
The ceremony was attended by the NDA Commandant, Lt Gen Jatinder Singh, NDA Deputy Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Ajit Bhonsle, the academic and military training staff of the academy and parents of the cadets.
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