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After her father’s passing in 2017, Karishm Thakur’s mother, Drumati Devi, took on work selling cow milk and as a labourer under MNREGA to ensure all her children could continue their education
Karishma was also the first student from her college to participate in the NCC national camp. (News18 Hindi)
Seven years ago, when Karishma Thakur’s father passed away, her mother took on the responsibility of raising five children, starting a dairy business to support the family. While her mother worked tirelessly selling milk, Karishma dreamed of serving in the Indian Army to change her family’s future. Today, that dream has become reality as Karishma has been selected as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army, filling her mother with immense pride.
This inspiring story comes from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Karishma Thakur, an NCC cadet and student of Vallabh Government College, hails from Kothi Gaihri village in Rewalsar. After the passing of her father, Lalit Sharma, in 2017, her mother, Drumati Devi, took on the role of the breadwinner, selling cow milk and working as a labourer under MNREGA to ensure the education of all her children.
NCC Made It Possible
The youngest of four sisters, Karishma has aspired to join the army since childhood. She enrolled in a BA programme at Mandi College and joined the NCC, becoming the first student from her college to participate in the NCC national camp. Her childhood dream of joining the Indian Army has now been realised through her dedication to the NCC, and she is set to begin training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai this December.
According to reports, Karishma initially commuted daily from Rewalsar to Mandi, a distance of 20 km. However, for the last year, she has been staying in a hostel in Mandi. Karishma says that it was difficult to leave the house at 7 am and reach home at 7 pm, subsequently leaving limited time for studying. She was also preparing for police recruitment exams.
Tears of Joy In Her Mother’s Eyes
At first, when her mother learned about her daughter’s achievement, she did not believe it, but when she realised this was a reality, tears welled up in her eyes. Drumati Devi shared how difficult it was to educate and raise four daughters and a son after her husband’s death, and today she feels proud of her daughter’s success and resilience.