Panipat celebrates its daughter’s success

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, March 11

Lt Preeti Choudhary, an NCC cadet, has brought laurels to her native village Binjhol in the district by winning the Sword of Honour for being the best all-round cadet at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. The villagers greeted members of members of her family today and distributed sweets to celebrate the success of “village’s daughter”.

They said, “Preeti mhari beti hai. Usne mhare gaon ka naam roshan kar diya. Ib mhari chhori aur padhengi aura aage badhengi. (Preeti is our daughter and she has done our village proud. Now, our daughters will be inspired to study and make it big in life).”

Preeti’s uncle Mahender Singh said, “Preeti was born in Binjhol village and started her schooling here. As her father was an Army officer, she got studied at several places. She did her graduation from Government Girls College in Sector 11, Chandigarh.”

She always wanted to become an Army office like her father, he added.

Her father Capt Inder Singh (retd) and mother Sunita Devi always supported her. Her elder sister Priya is a software engineer and her brother Ankit is pursuing BSc. He also wants to become an Army officer.

Mahender’s wife Krishna Devi said Preeti was intelligent in studies and was eager to join the Army from her childhood. “She had brought glory to our family,” she said.

Binjhol resident Monica said: “Preeti has brought honour to every girl of the state and the nation. Though she did not study here, but it is a matter of pride for everyone. Girls of our village will take inspiration from her.”

Village sarpanch Sangeeta Devi said, “Preeti’s success will change mentality of villagers, who oppose higher education for girls. We will convene a meeting soon to honour her.”

She added, “This year, our village is at the number one position with sex ratio at birth (SRB) of more than 1,700 girls against 1,000 boys.”