Girl tops NDA arts stream on eve of 1st female batch pass-out

PUNE: In a first at National Defence Academy, a girl Army cadet has topped the arts stream. "Striking a balance between military training and academics was a tough challenge for me, but I managed to maintain that balance from the first term to the last. This dedication helped me excel academically," Shriti Daksh told TOI.

Shriti, who secured 95% and 98% in her Class X and XII board exams respectively, opted for the squadron (Hunter) of her father, Wing Commander (retd) Yogesh Kumar Daksh.

Yogesh, a helicopter pilot with a private airline, said with tears in his eyes, "When she told me she would join my squadron, I felt very proud. But at the same time, I reminded her of the rich history and tradition of our squadron, where physical training is rigorous. But she overcame all the challenges and earned more laurels than I did. I'm extremely proud of her."

Recalling her preparations before joining NDA, he said, "I took her to a garden in Noida and told her to run a few rounds. But her physical fitness was not up to par. Within a few weeks, she improved."

The chief guest at the convocation of the 148th course of NDA and vice-chancellor of Gorakhpur-based Deen Dayal Upadhyay University, Poonam Tandon, said on Thursday that the passing-out girl cadets were the torchbearers of change, courage and capability, and their example would inspire generations to come.

"Girls, your achievement today is not just your own. It is a breakthrough for thousands of young women across India who look up to you. You have proven that the pursuit of excellence and service knows no gender. Your presence here is historic, and your example will inspire future generations. I salute your grit, grace, and determination," Tandon told the cadets.

Academy Cadet Captain and Navy cadet Udayveer Singh Negi topped the BTech course. He is the fourth-generation Army officer in his family.

"My grandfather and father both commanded the infantry battalion 3/3 Gorkha Rifles. Initially, when I joined the academy, I was a bit sceptical about completing three years of training. Whenever I felt I couldn't do it, I remembered the rich legacy of my family, and that motivated me to move forward," he said. Udayveer added that commanding the parade of over 1,300 cadets on Friday would be one of the proudest moments of his life.

Udayveer's proud father, Colonel Aditya Negi, a Shaurya Chakra and Sena Medal awardee, said, "I don't think any parent could ask for a better day. My son will also command the parade on May 30. It will be a momentous day for both him and us."

Army cadet Prince Kumar Singh Kushwah topped the BSc (Computer Science) programme. The son of a retired Army subedar said, "I cleared JEE, NEET and NDA entrance exams, but my focus was always NDA. It was my first and last choice, and today I stand here with pride." His father, Naib Subedar (retd) Lalchand Kushwah, said, "Prince has been a bright and exceptional student since childhood."

Air cadet Lucky Kumar, the top student in the BSc stream and the son of a farmer, said, "It has always been my dream to fly aircraft, and I will join the Air Force."