Chotala villagers, Ex-MP Khanna honour NDA achiever Sehjaldeep Kaur

A wave of pride and joy swept through Chotala village in Hoshiarpur district as villagers, along with former Member of Parliament Avinash Rai Khanna, felicitated Sehjaldeep Kaur, daughter of a marginal farmer, for securing the 13th rank in the all-India merit list for girls in the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination.

Khanna lauded her accomplishment, calling it “not just Chotala’s pride but India’s inspiration.” He said, “Her story, rooted in determination and discipline, reflects the spirit of a new India.”

Returning home from the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, Sehjaldeep received a grand and emotional welcome. Villagers, elders and well-wishers adorned her with garlands and cheers, celebrating her as “the daughter of the entire region.”

Speaking to The Tribune, Sehjaldeep shared that her journey began at a small private school in Nainowal, later continuing at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gajju Bhunga, where she scored 97.8 per cent in Class 12, ranking among the top 1.5 per cent of KV students nationwide and topping Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

“In my school days, I wanted to become an IPS officer,” she said. “But during Class 12, I learnt about the NDA and was inspired by the Indian Navy. I decided to prepare for it through self-study, without any coaching.”

Honouring Sehjaldeep, Khanna praised her grit and spirit, saying, “There is no difference between sons and daughters today. Our daughters are excelling in education and serving the nation through the armed forces. The passion and discipline of youth like Sehjaldeep strengthen India’s defence and make our country more secure.” He also congratulated her parents for nurturing her ambitions despite limited means.

Though her first attempt in September 2024 did not succeed, Sehjaldeep’s perseverance paid off in April 2025, when she cleared both the NDA written exam and the AFPI entrance test. Briefly guided at AFPI before her SSB interview in Bhopal, she emerged as the top scorer with 570 marks.

Set to join the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, in December 2025, Sehjaldeep stands as a beacon of hard work and rural aspiration. “To succeed,” she said, “you need a clear goal and persistence. Every parent, especially in villages, should support their daughters’ education.”