From Tragedy to Triumph: Army Sepoy Whose Home Was Destroyed in Manipur Violence, Set to Become Officer

Solomon, an Army sepoy whose home was destroyed by a mob in his native village of Songgel in Manipur's Churachandpur district at the height of the strife in the state in May 2023, is now set to become an officer.

Despite facing numerous challenges back home, the 24-year-old remained focused and passed the Army Cadet College (ACC) exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. He is currently assigned to his battalion, the 15 Assam Regiment, in Mumbai.

"We lost everything in the conflict. We don't have anything left. He was our only hope, and he accomplished something that nobody in the village could have imagined," Solomon's mother, Grace Chinkhonei told TOI from Manipur. "It's a proud moment for me and the entire village as he will be the first person from our village to become an army officer."

Grace and Solomon's two brothers live in a house on rent in Molnoi village in Chandel district. "We don't know what our house [in Churachandpur] looks like because tension persists. We are not allowed to visit due to safety and security reasons. Solomon took a loan to build the house. We lost everything when the mob attacked, forcing us to leave the house and flee to the forest for safety. My son has given us great hope for a brighter future," she added.

Solomon joined the Army in 2020 as a recruit in the Assam Regiment Centre, Shillong. After training, he was inducted into the 15 Assam Regiment Battalion.

According to Army regulations, Other Ranks (ORs) personnel can take the ACC exam to become officers. Solomon's family said the commanding officer of his battalion helped him prepare.

"Without unit support, Solomon would not have prepared well for the examination and SSB interview. He could not clear the first attempt. In the second attempt, he got guidance from his seniors in the unit and that proved decisive for him," Solomon's brother Daniel said.

According to an army source, Solomon is the first in the unit who cleared ACC and got selected. "It is an inspirational achievement as other personnel will also get motivated to opt for this entry," the source said.

The Army's Southern Command also lauded Solomon's feat on its official X handle: "Amid the turmoil in his home state of Manipur, Sepoy Solomon of 15 Assam exemplifies resilience. After losing everything, he transformed adversity into strength by clearing the prestigious ACC exam. Now on the path to becoming an officer, his journey is a testament to hope and determination. Inspirational."

ACC entry is a service entry, and only serving personnel, with at least two years of experience, are eligible. Once a soldier clears SSB interview, he has to complete three years of military training at the Army Cadet College in Dehradun.

After that, he has to undergo a year of training at the Indian Military Academy. He will then be commissioned into the Army. (TOI)