COLONEL AJAY KOTHIYAL: The Saviour Of Uttarakhand

 

 

In India, we tend to idolise film stars and cricketers, as our heroes. We always ignore the real heroes who spill their blood for the nation. When the Uttarakhand flood disaster happened, as usual, our heroes in olive green came to our rescue. And as per various news reports Uttarakhand is back on its feet once again.

The flood happened in 2013 and the state was up and running by 2015 itself! That doesn't sound very Indian since our bureaucracy is notorious for not putting the needs of people first. Usually, areas affected by natural disasters become desolate and remain ruined forever. So what was so different in Uttarakhand? How could a state that got ravaged by the worst flood in its history be now back on its feet?

The reason behind this miracle is one man. Yes, that's right, one man and he is quietly changing the destiny of a state. His name, Colonel. Ajay Kothiyal(retd)KC, SC, VSM of the Indian Army.

If we go by the words of Kothiyal himself, we can see that once he used to be a very ordinary individual, just like you and me. Being the eldest son of the decorated Inspector General. Satyasharan Kothiyal(retd.) of the BSF, the pressure must have been tremendous on him to make a name for himself and to uphold his family's military traditions. His uncle served in the army as well. Besides he is a Garhwali and soldiering is in his blood.

Yet Kothiyal says he used to roam around his native on his motorbike like a wanderer with no particular aim or passion. Actually, he referred to himself as an 'aawara' in his late teens. And precisely because of that he says he understands the mindset of troubled youth since he was exactly that, once. He says he wrote a series of supplementary exams to pass his 10th, 12th and B.Sc. That he was not that interested in studies or leading a disciplined life!

But all of it changed when he watched a television series named PARAM VEER CHAKRA, aired on Doordarshan which completely changed his life. Inspired by the real-life stories of legendary Military officers of India shown in the serial, he decided to pursue the family profession, to join the Indian Army. He once again wrote his supplementary to pass his B.Sc and passed this time.

Kothiyal joined the Indian Military Academy and the rest is history. He got commissioned in 1992 as a Second Lieutenant in the 4 Garhwal. In the mean time he started volunteering for mountaineering missions taken up by the IA and became part of the elite mountaineering Indian Army team that summitted Mt. Everest successfully for the first time in 2001. This team had so many legendary mountaineers like Brig.Krishan Kumar, Col. S.C. Sharma(retd), Col. Saurabh Singh Shekhawat and so on.

Kothiyal went on to lead many adventurous expeditions and also won multiple gallantry awards for his exceptional bravery as well service in the Indian Army. During an anti-terror OP, he was critically injured but survived. But that never stopped him from serving in the army. He still carries a live bullet in his body! He is also a war hero of both Kargil War and OP Parakram. His career at Indian Army took him back to his roots: as the Principal of NIM in his native Uttarakhand.

While Kothiyal was serving as the Principal of NIM, Uttarakhand was shaken to the core due to a natural calamity. In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst in the region caused flash floods and landslides, making it one of the most destructive natural disaster India has ever faced. As per government data, around 5700 lives were lost and around 1000 lives were that of the locals.

It was during this tragedy that Kothiyal rose to the occassion and cemented his already legendary status. The Kedarnath Piligrimage was undergoing when the tragedy occured and as a result hordes of devotees were trapped in the route to the piligrimage site as well as at the temple. The local civil authorities conveyed their helplessness in providing any help. Despite not recieving any formal orders, Kothiyal organized his NIM students, instructors and local youths into multiple groups and created a rescue team. The team went on to save upto 6000 people approximately! NIM was also the first agency to act and continue rescue work immediately after Kedarnath floods.

Seeing his daring courage and leadership qualities, the government of Uttarakhand entrusted him with the responsibility of the restoration of Kedarnath temple and the holy site back to its glory. Kothiyal ensured this was done with perfection and the site was reopened within 6 months to the devotees.

In the meantime, Kothyal initiated an organization anmed YOUTH FOUNDATION UTTARAKHAND aimed to train and employ the poor, rural youth of the state into the Indian Armed Forces. Till date he has trained 3000 youths successfully and 140 of them was selected into National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, respectively!

And the important factor to remember : KOTHIYAL DOES ALL THIS FREE OF CHARGE. He spends own money to train the youths.

For his exceptional philanthropy, Kothiyal has been honoured wit multiple state and national awards. Recently, Defence Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman, COAS Gen. Bipin Rawat and PM Narendra Modi took to social media to praise Kothiyal for his social service.

Kothiyal, has attained godly status in Uttarakhand, thanks to his slefless service to the society. For the youths of Uttarakhand, he is a role model whose path they all want to follow. One does not know where life will next take Kothiyal to. But one things is sure, he will excel in whatever life throws at him.

Kothiyal's YOUTH FOUNDATION UTTARAKHAND, a non-profitable charity trust, now accepts donations since the scope of this trust has grown exponentially. If interested in contributing, open this link and follow the instructions: Youth Foundation