JOIN USThe saying "there is always light at the end of the tunnel" seems to be coming true for Om Paithane.
Om used to drive an Ola taxi in Pune. Now, he is all set to become an officer of the Indian Army.
The son of a security guard-cum-watchman, Om will be passing out on March 10 from the Chennai-based Officers' Training Academy (OTA).
"I am very happy, elated, overwhelmed," Om told DH over phone from Chennai, on Monday. Om is all set to join the Infantry.
He said that his father Uttam Paithane was his "source of inspiration".
"He has been a pillar of strength. He used to work as a driver. However, he required a knee-replacement surgery. After that, he started working as a security guard and watchman in Pune," he said.
Om's mother, Sushila, is a homemaker, while his brother, Adinath, works in Pune. His sister is married.
"My friend Rahul Bhalerao owned a car and I started driving it for Ola," said Om
"It was during one of the trips that I came across an army colonel, who told me about the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam.
"In fact, the colonel referred me to Lt Col Ganesh Babu, Director, Armed Forces Officers' Selection Orientation Programme (AFOSOP), who guides the youth for joining armed forces," he added.
Om then appeared for the Service Selection Board (SSB) examination and cracked it at one shot after which he joined the OTA in Chennai
"The training has changed me completely. My outlook has changed," he said.