Madurai boy whose labourer father earned Rs 100 a day now becomes Indian Army officer
Indian Military Academy’s Passing Out Parade was filled with the echoes of marching boots and the cheers of proud families. Among the newly commissioned officers stood Lt Kabilan V, a 23-year-old from a small village near Madurai, whose story touched every heart in attendance. Beside him, his father, Vetriselvam P, watched from a wheelchair, his hands bearing the scars of years as a daily wage labourer. Paralysed by a stroke three months ago, Vetriselvam could only silently witness his son's triumph, accompanied by a photograph of Kabilan’s late mother, Panmaiyammal, who passed away three years ago due to cancer and Covid-19.
A Journey of Grit and Resilience
As reported by TOI, Kabilan’s journey to this moment was anything but easy. “I failed so many times,” he shared, his voice steady with the weight of his struggles. “But I had to get into the defence forces, and I did it. This is not just my personal success; it belongs to everyone who aspires to join the Indian Army. If someone like me, the son of a daily wage labourer who earned Rs 100 a day, can make it, then anyone can.”
Growing up in Melur village, Tamil Nadu, Kabilan studied at a government school before completing a civil engineering degree from Anna University. His dream of joining the Army seemed distant, but he relentlessly pursued it, applying through every possible entry category, from NCC to graduate entries. Despite numerous rejections, he never gave up. “Courage inspires me,” he said, summing up the strength that carried him through.
Balancing
Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
