Dehradun: Lieutenant Vishal Kumar achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the prestigious Sword of Honour and the President's Gold Medal during the Indian Military Academy (IMA) passing out parade (POP) held on Saturday. The son of a retired sepoy from the Bihar Regiment, the young officer is set to join the 4 Garhwal Rifles.
The foundation of Kumar's journey was laid at home before being nurtured at the Indian Military School in Chail, Himachal Pradesh, and later honed at two of the country's premier military institutions: the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA).
Following the pipping ceremony at the IMA on Saturday, Kumar stated, "The youth should understand that defence is not solely about the battlefield. It offers much more—character, moral values, ethos, and a life dedicated to serving the nation with a solid purpose."
He added, "Joining a service comes later; first comes the purpose. I chose a purpose in life and then set a goal. Everyone should be self-motivated, have a purpose in life, and remain determined to achieve their goals because that is what drives a good leader in the right direction and, ultimately, the nation."
His father, retired Sepoy Binod Kumar, and mother quietly savoured his success. "It is his hard work and perseverance that are reflected in this achievement. He has become an officer and has also won the prestigious Sword of Honour. We could not have asked for more," Binod told TOI.
The young officer attributed his success to the people who shaped his journey. "I owe this to my instructors and my parents. They prioritised this goal above everything else, and that is how I have achieved this milestone today. I attended a military school during my childhood, where the environment and training methods were modelled on the NDA. That inspired me to join NDA and paved the way for my commissioning at IMA," he said.
About the Author
Shivani Azad is a TOI journalist who covers Environment, Wildlife, Medical and Social subjects.
