He lost his father at the age of 7, and his mother worked hard in a yarn factory to make him a soldier

Udaipur: Kuldeep Singh Rathore, the brave son of Kheroda town in Udaipur district, returned home on Monday after successfully completing six months of rigorous training as an Agniveer in the Indian Army. The young soldier, who returned with a proud commitment to serve the nation, was accorded a historic and grand welcome by the entire village.

Kuldeep completed his 24-week intensive military training at the Armed Corps Centre and School, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. His homecoming created an atmosphere of excitement, pride, and patriotism throughout the region. As soon as he reached the village boundary, local residents and youth welcomed him with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” A grand procession accompanied by patriotic songs and DJ music was taken out through the town, where villagers showered flowers upon him and honored him with traditional turbans.

During the celebrations, Kuldeep visited prominent local temples, including the Mataji Temple, Charbhuja Nath Temple, and Kallaji Rathore Temple, where he offered prayers and sought blessings for his service to the nation.

At the Charbhuja Nath Temple premises, members of the Rajput community, family members, and villagers honored him in a unique traditional ceremony by symbolically weighing him with bananas. Mewar Defence Academy, Navania, which has been actively motivating and preparing youth for defence services, also felicitated Kuldeep and described his achievement as a major source of inspiration for aspiring candidates across the region.

A Journey of Courage, Sacrifice, and Determination

Kuldeep Singh Rathore’s journey to success is both inspiring and deeply emotional. In 2011, when he was only seven years old, he lost his father, Late Bahadur Singh Rathore, unexpectedly. Despite facing immense hardships, his mother, Lad Kunwar, refused to give up. Working as a laborer in a thread factory in Udaipur, she toiled tirelessly to raise her son and support his dream of joining the Indian Army.

Kuldeep shared that after completing his education up to Class VIII in his village, he received guidance, encouragement, and support from physical education teacher Gopal Mehta Menaria. He completed Classes IX to XI at Jawahar Vidyapeeth while residing at Vardhman Hostel, Kanod. After passing Class XII, he enrolled in Dronacharya College, Bhinder, where he earned an NCC ‘A’ Certificate during his first year of Bachelor of Arts studies and decided to pursue a career in the Army.

He continued preparing for army recruitment from 2022 onward and underwent four months of intensive training at Mewar Defence Academy, Navania. Even after failing the Agniveer examination in his first attempt, he did not lose hope. Instead, he worked harder and persevered. Eventually, the years of sacrifice, dedication, and determination shared by both mother and son bore fruit when Kuldeep was selected for the Indian Army.

Emotional Moment: Soldier Salutes His Mother

One of the most touching moments of the celebration occurred after prayers at the Kallaji Rathore Temple. Kuldeep performed a march-past, saluted his mother, and then placed his Army cap on her head before embracing her. The emotional scene moved many in the gathered crowd to tears.

Indian Army Honors His Mother

In recognition of her sacrifices, the Indian Army sent a Gaurav Medal to Kuldeep’s mother, Lad Kunwar. The medal bears the inscription: “Meri Santan Desh Ko Samarpit” (“My Child is Dedicated to the Nation”), symbolizing the pride and contribution of military families.

Excellence During Training and First Posting

Kuldeep revealed that he achieved an Excellence Rank in all physical tests conducted during his training. He also received both basic and advanced training in operating the Army’s T-90 battle tank.

Following the completion of his training, Kuldeep has been assigned his first posting with the 20 Lancers Unit in Babina, Uttar Pradesh, where he is scheduled to report for duty on July 4, 2026.

The grand welcome ceremony witnessed the presence of a large number of community leaders, villagers, youth, and women, all united in celebrating the remarkable achievement of a young man whose perseverance and his mother’s sacrifices turned a dream of national service into reality.