PUNE: Sepoy Solomon of the Indian Army, whose home was destroyed by a mob in his native village of Songgel in the Churachandpur district of Manipur in May 2023, showed remarkable determination to achieve his dream of becoming an army officer.
Despite facing numerous challenges back home, he remained focused and successfully passed the Army Cadet College (ACC) exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, fulfilling his aspiration.
Currently assigned to his battalion, the 15 Assam Regiment, in Mumbai, Solomon’s mother, Grace Chinkhonei, and his two brothers are living on rent in Molnoi village in Chandel district.
Speaking to TOI from Manipur, Grace expressed her pride, saying, “We have lost everything in the conflict. We don’t have anything left. He was our only hope, and he accomplished something that nobody in the village could have imagined. It’s a proud moment for me and the entire village as he will be the first person from our village to become an army officer.”
“We don’t know what our house looks like because the tension is still present, and we are not allowed to visit due to safety and security reasons. Solomon took out a loan to build the house. We lost everything when the mob attacked, forcing us to leave the house and flee to the forest for safety. My son has given us great hope for a brighter future. He achieved everything despite facing numerous difficulties, and I am very proud of him,” she added.
Solomon joined the Army in 2020 as a recruit in the Assam Regiment Centre Shillong. After finishing the training, he was inducted into the 15 Assam Regiment Battalion.
According to Army regulations, Other Ranks (ORs) personnel can take the ACC exam to become officers. In Solomon’s case, he received substantial support from the Commanding Officer (CO) of his battalion, who provided coaching during his preparation, as shared by his mother and brothers.
His brother Daniel said, “Without unit support, Solomon would not have prepared well for the examination and SSB interview. He could not clear the first attempt. But in the second attempt, he got guidance from his seniors in the unit and that proved decisive for him.”
“He is the first soldier in the unit who cleared the ACC and got selected. It is an inspirational achievement as other personnel will also get motivated to opt for this entry,” said army sources.
“Amid the turmoil in his home state of Manipur, Sepoy Solomon of 15 ASSAM exemplifies resilience. After losing everything, he transformed adversity into strength by clearing the prestigious Army Cadet College (ACC) exam. Now on the path to becoming an officer, his journey is a testament to hope and determination. Inspirational!” stated Southern Command on its official X handle.
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