Pollachi auto driver’s son selected as sub-lieutenant in Indian Navy

Coimbatore: Bharatha Priyan G, son of an autorickshaw driver in Pollachi in Coimbatore district, has been selected as a sub-lieutenant in the Indian Navy.

Priyan pursued his school education at Palaniammal Higher Secondary School in Anaimalai block of Pollachi. It is a Tamil medium school.

“He could be the only person from the Tamil medium to have been qualified in the current batch of the Indian Navy,” said Priyan’s mentor Sub Lt (retd) Sugal Esan.

Son of Gnanaselvan and Manonmani, Priyan is the first graduate in the family. He did BE mechatronics engineering at RVS Technical Campus in Coimbatore.

Esan said the personality test of the Services Selection Board was the toughest part of the selection process. "Out of every 400 or 500 candidates, only one or two make it through. Bharatha Priyan is one of them.”

“The major criterion is that the candidate should have a strong grasp over both English and Hindi. Most north Indian aspirants manage it by mixing English with Hindi. But Priyan had to manage it with his little communication skills in English. In this context, breaking the odds was truly a herculean task. I appreciate his efforts,” he said.

Esan is the commander of Delta Squad, a voluntary disaster rescue squad. Priyan has been associated with Esan since 2023. Priyan was part of two major disaster rescue operations -- during the 2023 floods in Tuticorin and Chennai.

Priyan previously had made four failed attempts. He was selected in his fifth attempt. He has to report to the Indian Naval Academy in Kerala’s Ezhimala on June 30 for training under the short service commission technical (general service) – engineering branch.

Esan said Priyan had received a call letter for an interview in the Indian Army. "If he is selected to the Army, he may resign from the Navy."