Eight years after losing him, a son fulfills father's dream of an uniform

Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour Gurkeerat Singh Hora sword of honour 1 2 3 4 5 6 Indore: Driven by a dream to see his son in army fatigues, Inderjeet Singh Hora started preparing him for the National Defence Academy when he was just 14. However, he couldn't live to see the day Gurkeerat graduated from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, with flying colours and a gleaming Sword of Honour, typically bestowed on the best all-round graduating officer-cadet. Eight years to the day he lost his father, Gurkeerat, now 23, cleared one of the toughest military training programmes in the country with distinction at the passing-out parade in Chennai on September 5. Coming as it did on Teacher's Day, the moment carried an emotion and a sense of accomplishment deeper than the graduation ceremony itself. It marked the fulfilment of a promise made to his father, a teacher and an officer at the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at Indore's Daly college. For Lieutenant Hora, it was a hint from the heavens that his father, who had bought him books to prepare for the NDA entrance just a year before he passed, was watching from above as he fell into the loving arms of his mother, who was in Chennai, beaming with pride on her son's biggest day. Memories came rushing back as Gurkeerat recalled how his father sat through those long hours of preparation for the NDA, explaining the then-Class 9 student the tough selection processes that went into making a soldier. Inspired by his father's encouraging words to pursue a career in the armed forces, Gurkeerat would take time out of studies, sports and co-curricular activities to prepare for the NDA entrance. Though he couldn't crack the NDA entrance despite three attempts, the dream to don the fatigues and make his father proud never left him. In 2018, days before he was to appear for his Class 10 boards, Gurkeerat lost his father. Just 15 then, he stared at an uncertain future with a widowed mother, a toddler brother and a big emotional hole in his heart, adjusting to a life without his old man. 'My father continues to be my biggest inspiration. He was the one who gave me the dream of joining the armed forces, while pushing me to excel in both studies and sports. Losing him so suddenly during my early teens was something I struggled to come to terms with. Coming from a family that never had anyone in the forces, I had no one to guide me through the process of enlisting in the forces,' Gurkeerat told TOI, 'His death left me shattered, but I was determined to fulfil the dream he had given me. ' That same year, he was adjudged the Best Army Wing Cadet in the NCC at Daly College. He later appeared for the NDA entrance thrice, but couldn't clear it. Gurkeerat then pursued computer engineering at Medi-Caps University, graduating with an 8.9 CGPA. While eligible for campus placements, he continued to have a crack at the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam. While in college, he also gave tuitions at home while working part-time at a software company to support his family. In 2025, his eighth SSB attempt proved successful, as he was recommended under the NCC Special Entry. But before he could join OTA, doctors detected gall bladder stones during his medical examination. He had only four to five days to decide whether to undergo surgery. 'I decided within four days to get my gall bladder removed. I underwent laparoscopic surgery and then appeared for the medical examination again,' he said. He joined OTA in September 2025, completing 11 months of rigorous training. His mother Jasmeet Kaur Hora, a teacher at DC Jr. School, his younger brother, uncle Arvindjeet Hora, along with other family members, were present at his passing-out parade. 'It was a very emotional moment for me. After so many unsuccessful attempts, my family felt that I should consider moving on and taking up a job in the private sector. To finally stand there in uniform and have them watch me receive the honour (as the best all-round officer cadet) was very special. I was happy I could make them proud,' Gurkeerat said. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Indore | Silver Rate in Indore | Bank Holidays in Indore | Public Holidays in Indore | Petrol Price in Indore | Diesel Price in Indore | CNG Price in Indore | LPG Price in Indore Stay updated with the latest Indore news. Download the TOI App.