On Republic Day this year, the modest home of Jamuna and Mallaiah in Gumlapur village of Telangana’s Karimnagar district, turned into a hub of celebration. Relatives, neighbours, and well-wishers streamed in, exchanging congratulatory hugs even as pride shimmered in every conversation. Their elder son, Ramadugu Siddhartha, 18, had achieved what was once unthinkable for their backward washermen community — he made it to the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) last month.
For Siddhartha, this was more than an achievement; it was a dream forged in hardship and discipline. His family lives in a two-room pucca house, occupying less than 120 square yards of space, with a small open verandah where his parents still use a chulha, the traditional stove, to boil clothes.
Mallaiah, 46, owns a one-acre plot of agricultural land, where he grows paddy for the family’s own consumption. With a white ration card in hand, the couple earns a modest monthly income of about ₹8,000 from their work in the traditional washing profession. Despite their financial limitations, however, they always remained steadfast in supporting their son’s dream of becoming an air warrior.
Siddhartha, for his part, never let circumstances dictate his aspirations. On days when the bus service wasn’t available, he would walk 8 kilometres to reach the Telangana State Model School, where he studied.
That same grit saw him crack the fiercely competitive NDA exam in 2024, making him the third cadet from the Telangana Social Welfare Residential (TSWR) Sainik School in Rukmapur to earn a place in India’s premier defence training academy since this Sainik School’s inception in 2018.
Overwhelmed by the recognition their son has brought to their family and community, the parents credit the success to his own determination and rigorous training at the Sainik School where he pursued his Plus Two education. “My son has made us proud,” says a visibly elated Jamuna, 35.
“He always aimed high. The training at Rukmapur Sainik School gave him the direction and discipline to get here,” chips in Mallaiah.
Siddhartha’s journey is not just one of a personal triumph; it highlights the pivotal role of TSWR Sainik School in empowering rural youth with the skills and opportunities to pursue a career in the armed forces.
With structured training, discipline and a vision for national service, the school has become a launchpad for many like him.
A private college in Karimnagar had offered Siddhartha a free seat based on his academic merit, but his parents chose a different path. “He was inspired by our relative, who is serving in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Santosh Reddy, an ex-serviceman of our village, motivated him to join Sainik School after completing class 10,” recalls Mallaiah.
“We enrolled him at the Sainik School in Rukmapur, seeing his strong desire to join the Air Force,” he explains, pointing to a portrait of B.R. Ambedkar on the wall of their home. The image, he says, symbolises the family’s belief in the power of education to uplift marginalised communities, a vision championed by the chief architect of India’s Constitution.
Kanakamma, a resident of Gumlapur and close relative of the family, says many youth from their village have joined uniformed services. “My son Sekhar serves in the CISF in Jharkhand, and we have several others too — Madhu in the Border Security Force and Kankaiah in the police. Siddhartha’s success has made the entire village proud. He was felicitated by Chief Minister A.Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad recently,” she adds.
Siddhartha, who cracked the NDA exam in his second attempt, was inspired by the achievements of his seniors, P. Ashok Sai and A. Umakanth, both 2022 graduates from the same school now training as Air Force cadets in the NDA. Now his feat is serving as inspiration for other aspirants at his alma mater.
Nurturing future heroes
Located just 16 kilometres from the district headquarters town of Karimnagar, the TSWR Sainik School at Rukmapur is set up on 26 acres. It is the State’s first government-run Sainik School, modelled after the Central Sainik Schools. Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the school is committed to providing comprehensive training by blending academic rigour with a focus on physical endurance and discipline. Students can gain entry to this prestigious institution at 6th grade and Intermediate first-year levels, after clearing a State-level entrance exam and physical fitness test.
“We follow a holistic approach to develop the overall personality of the students. Our goal is to prepare them for the NDA and help them excel in their academic and career pursuits,” says TSWR Sainik School director Colonel K.C.Rao.
Seven cadets who had cleared the NDA written exam in September last year failed to clear the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which comprises two stages and is held over five days. They are now gearing up for the upcoming NDA exam scheduled for April.
The school’s track record of success continues to shine, with five students securing admission to prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) between 2021 and 2023. This year, 22 students earned a spot at the Azim Premji University in Bengaluru for various undergraduate programmes, says Col. Rao.
For students like Abhinav Reddy, a Plus Two cadet at Rukmapur Sainik School, Siddhartha’s achievements serve as a powerful source of motivation. “His journey pushes us to give our best and aim for the NDA exam in April with renewed commitment,” says Abhinav, who made it to the SSB interview last year but did not qualify.
“I will meticulously plan my preparation under the mentorship of our school director and other expert trainers to clear the next NDA exam,” vows Mahesh, another NDA aspirant gearing up for his second attempt.
Telangana, the youngest State in the country, has consistently been sending its youth into the armed forces. However, the small village of Kuchoor in Mahabubnagar district has become a symbol of dedication to national service, for its unique distinction: over 80 of its residents serving in the military. Located about 18 kilometres from the district headquarters, the village has a population of around 3,000.
Sanjeeva Reddy, a resident of Kuchoor, says that his fellow villagers started joining the Army over three decades ago. “In one family, all three brothers are serving the nation,” he shares proudly. The village has a strong tradition of sports and athletics, with many youngsters even competing in national-level tournaments.
“We feel proud of our youth who are eager to serve the nation by joining the armed forces. It all began with Yadaiah, who enlisted in the Army 35 years ago. Since then, young people from our village have participated in every Army recruitment rally, including one young woman who joined the forces,” he adds.
Growing interest amid challenges
Officials note a growing interest among the youth of Telangana to join the armed forces, but say that many require proper guidance to ace the exams, particularly for officer-level positions.
Col. P. Ramesh Kumar, director of the Department of Sainik Welfare, highlights the increasing enthusiasm in Telangana for defence careers. He proposes that the State government should empower Sports and Youth Services officials in each district to organise specialised camps for aspirants, with the support of district authorities and collectors ahead of recruitment rallies.
“Normally, youth interested in sports and games are inclined towards uniformed services. In view of this, the Sports and Youth Services officer concerned can conduct physical fitness sessions besides conducting awareness programmes on the pattern of the tests/ exams to join defence services. The nuances in cracking those exams must be explained at these camps,” he asserts.
Reminiscing about his efforts to encourage students to pursue a career in the armed forces, he says, “We conducted several seminars and interactive sessions at our office in Hyderabad, by roping in people who have cracked the NDA exam in the past.”
Col. Ramesh Kumar highlights the importance of providing financial support to aspirants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and commends the State government for offering annual scholarship of ₹2 lakh to those joining the NDA. “So far, 88 candidates have received the assistance since 2014. Eight more candidates are awaiting financial aid,” he points out.
Officials say special camps organised by various voluntary organisations and other groups to inspire youth to join the armed forces are receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.
A couple of years ago, Vodithela Satish Kumar, a former MLA from the Husnabad constituency in Karimnagar district, organised a camp aimed at motivating local youth to join the armed forces. Coordinated by a police officer, the camp attracted nearly 1,200 candidates who received coaching in physical fitness and attended expert-led sessions on exam preparation for armed forces recruitment.
Former president of the Air Force Association for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, retired Wing Commander T. J. Reddy underscores the need to foster patriotic values among children from an early age. “We must ensure that maximum number of school-going children, including girls, are trained by the National Cadet Corps. Schools should host awareness programmes to motivate students to consider a career in the armed forces,” he avers.
Pushing for Centre-sponsored Sainik school
Reddy also stresses the importance of establishing Sainik Schools in Telangana to motivate and train students for careers in the armed forces. Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is home to two well-established Sainik schools at Korukonda in Vizianagaram district and Kalikiri in Annamayya district, with intake capacities of 564 and 622 candidates, respectively.
In contrast, Telangana, which became a separate State in 2014, still lacks a Centre-sponsored Sainik school.
An official of the State government says, “We have been actively pursuing the matter with the Central government. Though it promised to set up a Sainik school during the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it has not made an official statement so far.”
He adds that the Telangana government has set up three Sainik Schools in the State. While two of them, one at Rukmapur in Karimnagar district and Bhuvanagiri in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, are under the administration of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society, the other one was set up at Ashok Nagar in Warangal district by the Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society.
Former honorary Flying Officer K. Jagannatham, who is the general secretary of the National Ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee, Telangana, says the armed forces are facing challenges in attracting young talent due to recent changes in recruitment policies. He notes that only 25% of Agniveers are retained in the Indian armed forces, leaving the majority with uncertain career prospects.
Jagannatham also emphasises the need for better security and respect for retired armed personnel, many of whom are forced to take up menial jobs after the end of their service.
He also reiterates the importance of establishing a Sainik School in Telangana to motivate and train students for careers in the armed forces, citing the success of the Korukonda Sainik School in Andhra Pradesh as a model.
According to available data, nearly 40,000 from Telangana have joined the armed forces, with 32,000 having retired. Each year, approximately 700 candidates from the State enlist in the armed forces.
Published – January 31, 2025 09:26 am IST