Meeting with the President spurs Sainik cadets
By Our Staff Reporter

A Sainik School, Imphal cadet and school authorities with President of India Pratibha Patil
IMPHAL, Jul 3: Cadets of Sainik School, Imphal who recently called on the first Lady President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil besides ha-ving rare glimpses of impor- tant defence establish-ments of the country re- turned home with renewed vigour to further their ambition.
According to a PIB (Defence Wing) statement, 20 cadets of Sainik School, Imphal under the joint initia-tive of the GOC 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Shakti Gurung and Principal of the prestigious institution Group Captain Surinder Singh toured various places of the country and had an exclusive meeting with the President.
Picking out Cadets Karaiba, Chingthangkhom-ba and Mordecai - all class 12 students of the school, the statement conveyed of the trio’s humble back-ground but returned home a changed lot with confid-ence writ large and extre- mely focused to surge ahead in achieving their goal, especially after mee-ting the first Lady President of the country.
It is informed that Ka-raiba is the third amongst eight children born to Solo-mon and Ms Kina with the father working as a teacher in maram Kavanam Primary School while Mordecai is also the fourth amongst eight children born to Mr John, Senapati Town Chair-man, and Ms Saniro of Senapati.
On the otherhand, Chi-ngthangkhomba’s father Ibomcha runs a small grocery shop at Sagolband (imphal) with the mother Ms Sorojini supplementing the family income through tai-loring. The Sainik School cadet, whose parents are originally from Kakching but stay at Sagolband, is the second son among three brothers.
apart from the fact that all three Cadets are from the same school, are manipuri and have a humble back-ground, these youngsters are also extremely focused and driven by their ambition and what added wings to their ambition is a chance meeting with the President, the PIB statement observed.
Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, who inspired the tour, made arrangements for the stay in Delhi as well as the meeting with the President Pratibha Patil with the Sainik School Principal Surinder Singh facilitating meeting with the Air Chief Marshal PV Naik and visit to the Ambala Air Force Station where the young cadets had a rare glimpse of the fighter squadron, missile squadron and Jaguar simulators amongst other installation of a fighter base in addition to the youngsters visiting some of the army units.
The Air Chief Marshal is himself said to be an alumnus of Sainik School, Satara (Maharashtra).
Meanwhile, the President during her interaction praised the Cadets with particular reference to the youth from the North East who are gradually but surely coming of age and making their presence felt in all walks of life.
For the proud parents of Mordecai and Karaiba who never ever even dreamt of meeting the President, their wards’ accomplishment provided them not only moments to cherish for life but an opportunity to walk with their heads held high.
It is also informed that Chingthangkhomba’s elder brother Rahul, who is now a BSc II year student of DM College, scaled the NDA written examination but could not qualify the SSB.
The PIB (DW) statement also conveyed of Cadet’s parents now brimming with confidence that through Chingthangkhomba their dream would materialise.
According to PIB (DW) seven cadets from Sainik School, Imphal are currently undergoing training at Khadakvasla since June this year with the institute able to churn out 22 qualified cadets for the prestigious NDA, out of a total of 32 who appear the examination this year.
Apparently jubilant over the achievement of the cadets, the Principal is nevertheless said to be in no mood to relent as Capt Surinder’s expectation is even more as had been testified by his pupils this.