Bageshwar: Famous poet Shaki Amrohi says that no matter how difficult the destination is, I will pass it, if I lose courage I will die. The story of Deepak Kandpal of Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand is also similar. Despite a life full of poverty and struggles, Deepak did not give up and today he has become the star of NDA i.e. National Defense Academy. Deepak Kandpal’s hard work and courage have created history. With this success of Deepak, the hills of Uttarakhand have once again given a new hero to the country.
‘Never let dreams become smaller than circumstances’
Deepak Kandpal of Garud area of Bageshwar district created history by winning the President’s Gold Medal in the 149th passing out parade of NDA held in Pune. This medal is the highest honor of NDA and it is received by the cadet who performs best in every field during three years of rigorous training. This honor was given to Deepak by “Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi”. This moment became a moment of pride not only for Deepak but for the entire Uttarakhand. After receiving the honour, Deepak told StuffUnknown, ‘Every struggle was a stepping stone for me. The circumstances were difficult, but I never let my dreams be diminished by the circumstances. His statement is an inspiration for all those youth who dream big dreams amidst limited resources.
A big dream blossomed within the confines of a room
Deepak comes from a lower middle class family. His father Jeevan Chandra Kandpal runs a taxi and the family still lives in a rented room in Garuda town. Despite difficult circumstances, Deepak had a big dream and that dream was to join NDA and wear the uniform of the country. Deepak says, ‘When there were less facilities at home, I had made only one promise to myself that hard work would be my biggest strength.’
Deepak tops everywhere from school to Navodaya
Deepak studied till 8th from St. Adams Public School and then did 12th from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. When Deepak passed 12th, he became the topper of the district. Deepak’s teachers say that Deepak used to perform excellently in every competition and every activity.
Struggle and preparation in Delhi
To fulfill his desire to join NDA, Deepak took admission in Delhi University. Along with college, he continued preparing for NDA coaching. Selection took place in the year 2022 and his real test began from here.
Three years of NDA, strict discipline, continuous hard work
Training in NDA is very difficult. Physical drills, obstacle courses, academic examinations, constant testing of leadership abilities. But Deepak kept challenging his limits every day. He says, “Whenever a difficult task came, I used to remind myself that my village had high expectations from me.”
Festive atmosphere in Bageshwar and Garuda
As soon as the news of Deepak’s achievement reached Garuda, the entire area was filled with pride. There was an atmosphere of happiness and pride in the family’s small rented room. There was a flood of good wishes on social media. Deepak Kandpal showed, “To achieve dreams, one must have big intentions and not wealth.” His story is a light for all those youth who have the courage to fly high despite limited resources.
