Silchar’s Vansh cleared the UPSC NDA exam with AIR 333, Vajpayee’s poem kept him going

In the fiercely competitive landscape of the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance examination, where thousands vie for a coveted spot among the nation’s elite defenders, securing a remarkable rank is a testament to unparalleled dedication, resilience, and exceptional talent. In the examination conducted by the UPSC, a staggering 12 lakh aspirants filled out the form and sat for the written exam for just 395 seats. To put this into perspective, out of every 30 thousand applicants, only one will get a seat in the coveted NDA and become a “Gentleman Cadet”.

Amidst the rigours of preparation, the challenges encountered, and the unwavering commitment demanded, Silchar’s Vansh Gowami emerged as the only one from Assam to clear this exam conducted in 2021. His journey stands as a story of academic prowess and a testament to the indomitable spirit that propels individuals towards their aspirations, despite the odds. Vansh raised by a single mother, was inspired by her indomitable spirit and the never-give-up attitude. Vansh’s father passed away when he was just 1.5 years old but his mother, Seema Gowami, never let him feel the absence of his father.

Vansh secured an All India Rank of 333 out of 395 in his first attempt through self-study. After matriculation in 2016 from Daffodils School, Malugram, he went to Kendra Vidyalay Masimpur for his senior secondary. This school being in the cantonment area was a major push behind Vansh’s focus towards getting into the army. Vansh says he heard about the NDA when he was in class 5 while watching some news channel and since then he has been chasing this dream of becoming a part of the Indian Army.

After clearing the three-phased examination, Vansh has become the second generation in his family to be inducted into the defence force, his grandfather being the first, who served in the Assam Rifles. When asked about his preparation for the NDA Exam, he said, “The first of the three-phase is the written examination for which I prepared myself. I took help from various YouTube videos available for strategy and time management. My approach was time-based, which helped me clear this exam. For the second and third phase, which is the SSB (Services Selection Board) Interview, I went to the Armed Forces Preparatory Academy, Nagpur to get myself familiar with the process. Finally, I had my SSB Interview on January 9 in Allahabad and after the five-day long process of psych tests, Group Testing Officer and Interview I was recommended by the board”.

Clearing this step, he went for a comprehensive and detailed medical evaluation. There Vansh had to face a few setbacks. During the medical examination, the evaluators marked a few Temporary Rejections. This meant the candidate needed to cure the defects within 45 days only then would he be declared medically fit. Scared and tensed Vansh didn’t lose hope there, rather he consulted with specialist doctors and gained the confidence to go for the medical examination again to get clearance from Military Base Hospital at Delhi Cantonment.

Any competitive exams with multiple steps get very tedious. When asked what kept him going and not giving up, Vansh said, “Whenever I felt demotivated, I would remind myself of a poem written by Atal Ji, which goes: हार नहीं मानूंगा, रार नई ठानूंगा | काल के कपाल पे लिखता मिटाता हूं| गीत नया गाता हूं| The written phase was the most difficult for me but since it was my goal since childhood, I pushed myself harder”. Vansh will join the premier academy this June, where he will be trained to be a part of the Indian military and an elite officer.