DEHRADUN: It was like the end of hardships for 29-year-old Gole Kiran, who passed out as newly commissioned Indian army officer from IMA on Saturday.
VINAY S KUMAR/HT■ Newly commissioned officer Gole Kiran with his mother and sisters at IMA on Saturday.A resident of Pune, he lost his father at the age of four. His mother then worked as a labourer in a local brick kiln and farming fields to support the family. A brother of two younger sisters, Kiran too, used to work in a local gas agency while pursuing his school and college studies.
“I lost my father when I was a toddler and had barely learnt to speak. He used to work at a cloth shop in Mumbai while we used to live in Pune. After his death the world turned upside down for my mother who took up every possible challenge just to feed us three siblings,” he said.
“As she was illiterate she worked as a labourer in a local brick kiln and sometimes in farming fields. But she made sure to provide us education to be able to stand on our own feet,” he said adding “After completing education till class 10 I started working in a gas agency to support my family.”
He continued working till the completion of his graduation. “I used to work after the classes were over.”
After completing graduation, Kiran joined army as a Sepoy in 2009 where he served for about six years.
“When I got into the army, I felt glad that I was serving the country and was also able to support my family better. However, I didn’t stop there and wanted to progress after which I decided to prepare for the Army Cadet College (ACC) test,” he said.
ACC course is required for the non-officers in the armed forces to get into IMA.
“Though I was preparing I served as a sepoy at the same time. I used to serve my duty hours and then study during my free time. I spent many sleepless nights just to see this day and bring smile on my mother’s face,” he said.
He joined ACC in 2015 where after completing the three years course he joined IMA from where he passed out on Saturday.
Giving all the credit of his success to his mother, he said, “It was all because of her that I am here. She was the source of my motivation and whenever I used to feel depressed or worried about achieving my dreams, she would push and encourage me.”
Gole Lata, his mother was all smiles and tears while seeing her son in an army officer uniform. She said, “I am proud of what my son has achieved. I am now feeling that all the hardships I faced earlier has now reaped me fruits. Almighty sees everything.”