Jammu, May 21
A Kashmiri migrant family, which lost everything but will power to survive and succeed during the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the kashmir valley, is on cloud nine these days.

Abindu Dhar, 17, whose family was one of several Kashmiri Pandits to migrate from the valley and forced to live in poor conditions, has done the entire community proud by topping the the NDA exam.

Abindu’s family once ran a chain of schools called M Dass Schools in Srinagar, but he chose defence services as career despite bitterness of the community against the Indian government for their pathetic condition.

The Durga Puri colony situated on the outskirts of the city has been in celebration mood since last evening when the final results of the NDA exam were declared. Abindu is the first Kashmiri Pandit to top the NDA exam. He is also the first from the state, especially from Jammu.

“His name means beyond all fullstops, and he has lived up to it,” said a proud father Joginder Dhar. An agricultural officer posted in Akhnoor, Dhar said his son had earlier topped the state in the national level entrance exam for admission to Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun.

“Only toppers in the examination from each state are eligible for admission,” he said. His son joined the school in class VIII and is awaiting the class XII result at present. “I want to join the Navy,” Abindu told The Tribune over the phone from his school in Dehradun. He attributed his success to inspiration he drew from seeing his parents struggle in bringing up him and his younger brother Tushar.

“I love oceans,” he said explaining his interest in the Navy. My college has done all the grooming. My teachers, the college Principal has worked hard on us.”