Year after Sepoy death, series of setbacks, wife makes it to officers’ academy

More misfortune followed for Bisht, with her mother suffering a heart attack and being put on life support soon after getting news of Bhandari’s death. It was also around this time that Bisht’s younger brother became paralysed. “I was in a state of numbness as all these events took place in my life. I did not know what to do. But I received encouragement from many quarters, and gradually, I began to take stock of my life and my options,” she said.

Her father, Subedar Kundan Singh, reached out to former officers of his regiment for guidance for his daughter. Bisht had studied in Army Public Schools and did her B.Com from a college in Jodhpur, where her father was posted at the time. “I was encouraged by many officers who knew my father, and this gave me strength to carry my life forward in a meaningful way,” she said.

Her husband’s commanding officer also encouraged her and motivated her to apply for OTA Chennai under the special quota for widows of Army personnel. “The Commandant of the Kumaon Regimental Centre also encouraged me to apply for officer’s commission when I visited the centre for documentation after my husband’s death,” she said.

Bisht was guided and coached by retired Army officers for the SSB interview. “I also approached Major General Yash Mor (retd) for guidance for the SSB interview,” she said.

Maj Gen Mor, from the same regiment — Brigade of the Guards — as Bisht’s father, said, “I and my team of officers, who are trained in conducting SSB interviews, group tasks and psychological assessment, put efforts to ensure that Soni (Bisht) made the grade.”

There is tough competition for securing the lone vacancy under the quota for widows of armed forces servicemen in each course in OTA Chennai. Those going through the quota don’t need to clear the written exam. “I had to get out of the most traumatic period of my life as well as prepare for SSB. But I was fortunate to have had proper guidance from several Army officers who coached me on how to present myself at the interview and conduct myself,” she said.

In the recently declared results, she topped the merit list for those in the quota, thus making the cut for selection to OTA Chennai.

There, she will soon begin training for an officer’s commission in the rank of Lieutenant.

This has come as good news for a family that has seen a tough year. “My in-laws have been supportive, and started crying when they learnt of my selection. After my mother’s heart attack following Neeraj’s death, and my brother’s paralysis, this has been the first good news,” Bisht said.

Maj Gen Mor said: “By the end of the year, she will be an officer. This shows that you can achieve anything if you are determined enough.”