Moment of glory for Burhanpur teens

It's going to be a moment of glory for four teenagers who are eagerly waiting for the D-Day. Come January 26 and four boys of a small town Burhanpur will have a date with President Barack Obama, the chief guest at Republic Day function.

Updated on: Jan 7, 2015, 20:18:44 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Burhanpur/Indore

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

It's going to be a moment of glory for the four teenagers and their families who are eagerly waiting for the D-Day. Come January 26 and four boys of a small town Burhanpur will have a date with President Barack Obama, the chief guest at Republic Day function.

The four teenage NCC cadets of Burhanpur -- Akash Sonvone, Bhavna Thakre, Qaisaruddin, and Akshay -- all students of class 11 and 12 and from poor families, will lead Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh contingent at R-Day parade.

"We are excited. I was also a cadet but never made it to R-day parade at Rajpath. I always wanted that my son should represent the state in Republic Day parade. He will be saluting the top dignitaries of the world including US President, Indian President and Prime Minister. It's a dream come true," said Qamaruddin Falak, father of Qaisaruddin.

Burhanpur is known for leading Madhya Pradesh in Republic Day parade in Delhi and this is the fourth consecutive time in as many years that cadets from the district situated on the borders of Maharashtra have been selected to take command of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

A total 89 cadets have been selected for the parade from both the states and 29 are from Indore zone. "For last three years, the contingent commander of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was from Burhanpur and this is a matter for pride for us," said NCC officer SS Thakur.

"Burhanpur has produced some of the best cadets of Indore region," said Colonel SD Mishra, in-charge NCC of Indore division. Not only the family but the entire Burhanpur is on cloud nine. The city is planning for a road show of the cadets after they return from the parade. "The whole city is feeling proud because of my son," said Akash Sonvane’s mother while talking to HT.

"It is a matter of pride for us that four of these students will lead the parade in front of President Obama in Delhi. The whole city will celebrate for them after they return. The contingent commander in the parade for junior division is Akash Sonvane, Qaisaruddin will be the right marker, Bhavana and Sanjay will the left marker of the parade," said NCC officer SS Thakur.

"They will create a history by giving salutes to US President Obama on Republic Day. They will also meet our chief minister and governor of Madhya Pradesh," said Thakur. Thakur further said that the cadets will take part in prime minister's (PM) rally and even visit Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet President.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.