Chennai: The Officers Training Academy (OTA) has been playing an important role in transforming the lives of several cadets by encouraging them to become better persons. Meet 24-year-old academy Cadet Adjutant Divya Tyagi, who has managed to achieve the second highest position in a batch of 272 cadets through her efforts and dedication.
Hailing from Mohammad Pur village, Modinagar in Uttar Pradesh, her father is a farmer and mother, a housewife. Despite the struggles life has thrown her way, she worked hard to come this far.
Life in OTA when she joined, she said, was not simple. “Within two days, we had a test of 2.4 km run - which took me 16 minutes to complete in the beginning and now, I can cover the distance in 10 minutes,” she added proudly.
She is ever grateful for the 11 month training at the academy, which is coming to an end on September 10. She said she also learnt discipline and responsibility – a factor she never took seriously until she stepped into OTA. “I got to explore my talents here,” she said.
Varun Singh Chauhan, 22, had other plans for his life; however, landing in the OTA is something he does not regret.
“Though my paternal grandfather was in the British army, maternal grandfather, a freedom fighter, and my father, an army officer, I hadn’t seen myself to follow suit. Having been an under-19 national level footballer and basketball player, a swimmer and a biker, I was hoping to see myself follow that path,” he said.
Coming from Hyderabad, the Dehradun youth did his degree in BSc Fire and Safety in Ahmedabad. “I was planning to do my masters in London. My father was not very keen to send me to the army as I am the only son. I am an NCC C certificate holder with Alpha grading. After having applied for this training in OTA and topping my merit list in my entry as well, my father then encouraged me,” he said.
The academy Under Officer knew all about the academy schedules, however he said, “Hearing about it and experiencing it first hand are two very different things.” “Though from an army background and being aware of the schedule, initially, it was a challenge, but I managed to cope up and do well,” said the youngster.
