PUNE: Making Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and Maharashtra proud, 21 year old, Darpesh Dingar from Pune will lead the 160 National Service Scheme (NSS) contingent in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath, New Delhi on January 26.
Dingar who is among the 14 participants from Maharashtra and Goa will be the first volunteer from SPPU to lead the contingent at national capital, scribing his name in the history for the varsity.
For Dingar, it was a seven years of dream which came true, when on last day of parade rehearsal on January 23, he was told to lead the NSS contingent.
“We reached in Delhi on January 2, and from the next day itself I was asked to perform the commands. Although from the beginning I was asked to command the troop, until the final rehearsal it wasn’t confirmed that I would lead the troop. When director and co-director of NSS camp, Samuel Chelia and Sayeda Naik announced it, I was overwhelmed. I immediately called my parents and informed them and tears of happiness rolled down our eyes,” said Dingar, who hails from Tokadegaon in Malegaon of Nashik district.
Dingar who had no practice in parade before, took a humble pride to say, “I think I have a good grasping power which helped me reach here.” Since three months he has been trying to keep his voice in tone and body fit with regular exercises and measures to keep this throat clear and crisp.
Speaking about his journey to Sakal Times, he added, “a girl from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of my school had participated in the Republic Day parade. From then I wanted to enthusiastically participate in it and wished to be a commander.”
After five years, a student from Maharashtra will be leading the contingent on R-Day parade. Nevertheless, he is also the first troop commander who will also participate in the culture program to be performed before President of India on January 27. “So far, never a participant of parade has been allowed to perform in the cultural programme. Those who are not participating in parade get a chance to perform in it, and vice-versa,” said Dingar.
Back home, Dingar’s parents who are farmers have been hosting many guests who are visiting them to congratulate on their son’s success. He is the first from his community to reach to this level. “Not only this, my college principal has my number. I learned about it when a professor from neighbouring college called to congratulate me. I was never very popular in my college but I think, now everyone knows my name. University authorities to gave greetings,” said elated Dingar, who is in third year of engineering from Sinhagad College of Engineering, Narhe.
Feeling difficult to explain the challenges like financial crisis faced by his family, Dingar stated that today if I am eating a chocolate of even Re. 1, then it is out of loan. “My parents have taken loan for my education, we live in a house which is on loan, the vehicle used by my father is also of loan. Whenever, I leave for college after vacation, my mother would only ask when will you start earning,” said Dingar.
However, Dingar wants to enter into Armed Forces and has been preparing for Combined Defence Services (CDS).
