Sunday, 30 May 2021 | Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
Donning the olive green uniform, Lieutenant Nitika Kaul Dhoundiyal on Saturday stood tall in front of Lt-Gen YK Joshi, GoC-in-C Northern Command. He piped the stars on her shoulders after reviewing an impressive passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.
The top general also greeted her saying, “We are really proud of you.” Nitika’s journey was not an easy one.
After her husband Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal attained martyrdom during a fierce gunfight with a group of terrorists, which included the mastermind of a ghastly Pulwama attack in February 2019, she opted to join the Indian Army under the Short Service Commission.
Her husband was given the gallantry award, “Shaurya Chakra” for his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice.
During the last 11-months, she underwent rigorous multi- disciplinary training at the OTA in Chennai.
After the ceremony, Kaul said, “The journey has been marvellous and I believe my journey has just started, The last 11 months have made me learn so many things in life.”
She also thanked her mother and mother-in-law and several others for having put their faith in her and being a part of her journey.
Remembering her husband, Kaul said, “I feel that I’m traveling the same journey that he did. I believe he’s always going to be part of my life, even today he’s somewhere around looking at me and I can feel that he’s just holding me and saying you just did it. I Love you Vibhu.”
In her brief message for all the women out there, Lt Nitika Kaul said, “you need to keep faith in yourself. At times life seems very difficult and you may feel that you are going to lose it. Even if at that point you lose it you need to understand it’s not the end of the life. You need to try again, get up .Some day for sure you are going to win it. Just keep faith in yourself.
Union Minister Smriti Irani also congratulated Kaul. Irani tweeted, “Kaul you’re an embodiment of dedication, determination and devotion of India’s Nari Shakti. Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal would be smiling today with joy and pride seeing Stars on your shoulder. My best wishes to you in all your endeavours.”
She was among the 198 cadets that passed out of the academy, 167 were gentleman cadets, 31 were women cadets. Five gentlemen cadets and seven women cadets from the mountain Kingdom of Bhutan also had undergone the 11-month course at the academy, along with their Indian counterparts.
The passing out parade at the Parameswaran Drill Square was reviewed by Lieutenant General YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command. However, owing to the Covid-19 protocols in place parents watched the ceremony live on TV and YouTube from their homes.
