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Showing posts from July, 2009

A Story of true grit, determination and courage

Lt. Gen. Pankaj Shivram Joshi PVSM, AVSM VSM, passed away recently. Just another army officer who fared better than others, rose to the rank of a Lt. General, then led a quiet retired life and passed on? Not really. For his life is a story of true determination, grit and courage. And an inspiration for the young and old alike. A lesson about how to live life despite adversities, and make a success of whatever you do. Pankaj Shivram Joshi graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the 8 Gurkha Rifles in 1967. While posted in Sikkim and involved in a landmine clearing operation, he inadvertently stepped on one. While his one leg was blown off on the spot, the other had to be amputated a few days later at the Army Hospital. He was 24 years old then. At Pune's Artificial Limbs Center, he was fitted with a pair of artificial limbs. A fortnight later, Joshi refused to be wheeled to the limbs center which was a kilometer and a half away from where he was staying