'Fulfilled great-grandad's studying in IMA dream'

For Shanon Sharma, who became the first from his village Naugaon on the outskirts of Dehradun,  to become an Army officer, it was a day full of emotions for this moment for several decades. 

"My great-grandfather, Deep Chand, a farmer, contributed to the construction of Indian Military Academy (IMA) in 1932 by ferrying construction materials on his bullock cart. He always had the wish that one of his family members studies in the prestigious institution. Today, as I stood in front of the Chetwode Hall, where the passing out parade is held, a dream had come true for me and my family after three generations," Shanon said. 

He added that he had completed his engineering degree as well and was offered a package of Rs.15 Lakh by an MNC, along with offers from the Indian Navy and Air Force but he choose to join IMA so that "the family's dream could come true."

Shailesh Sharma, Shanon's father, who works in an insurance firm, was all smiles as he gazed with pride again his son in officer's uniform. 

He added that since childhood, he had heard stories from his father and grandfather about IMA.

"During the 1930s, there were Prisoners of War internment camps in the area which mostly had German, Austrian and Italian prisoners. They were allowed occasional visits outside, accompanied by British army officers and my grandfather remembered seeing them. Probably, he was impressed by the overall demeanour of army personnel and therefore wanted his next generation to be a part of this institution whose foundation was laid in front of his eyes," he said.