Om Paithane used to drive an Ola cab in Pune till a retired colonel boarded his cab and changed his life forever. Paithane is expected to pass out as an Army cadet in few days’ time as an officer ready to command his battalion.
An Ola driver in Pune is fighting poverty, earning for his family. One day he gets a passenger…an army colonel. They talk. The young driver is so motivated that he appears for SSB & joins OTA. Gentlemen Cadet Om Paithane will pass out on 10 March as an officer in Indian Army. pic.twitter.com/7z4YssANNr
— Major Gaurav Arya (@majorgauravarya) March 4, 2018
Om Paithane, a resident of the Tondal village, which is located near the Pune-Bengaluru highway, is among the 257 cadets to graduate from the Officer’s Training Academy.
As per reports, Paithane’s father was a driver who lost both his legs in a road accident and was working as a watchman. To support his family, he started working while studying. While driving an Ola cab, a retired colonel hired his cab. They got talking and the retired colonel told him about the opportunities of appearing in Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination.
Following his graduation, Paithane appeared for CDS exam cracking it at one go. The retired officer was his constant source of inspiration, he says.
“I made the first call to the retired officer when I got through. He was guiding me throughout. I remember the careless version of me. Though I enjoyed it, this life is better. The training has taught me discipline and manners, which I am proud of,” he said.
Other than Paithane, two Army widows are also part of the batch passing out on 10th March.
“He endured all this… I wanted to be back in the olive green family,” said Neeta Deshwal.
The remarkable strength of these men and women is what keeps India safe. The grit and determination women who have lost their husbands donning the same olive green has got to give one the inspiration to last a lifetime.
