Inspired by grandfather to serve the country: Maj Chaitanya Kojapady

Team Udayavani, Jan 28, 2019, 10:50 AM IST

Salute to soldiers

Mangaluru: This boy got the spirit for a carrier in serving the nation from his grandfather who took part in the Second World War. Although he had studied law, the pull of nationalism compelled him to join the armed forces. The boy is Chaitanya Kojapay from Mangaluru. He is presently serving as a Major in the Indian army at Hyderabad. His family is the main reason for him to become a soldier.

Chaitanya studied till 5^th std at St Peter’s primary school at Kottara. He later pursued high school at Canara high school at Urwa. After completing Pre-University education from Canara PU College he gained his degree in law from SDM College. As he was finishing his law degree in 2009, he got selected into the Indian army. After getting trained at Chennai, he joined the army as lieutenant in 2010.

In his 9 years of service as an army man he has be deployed at Rajouri sector in Jammu-Kashmir for two years, at Jamnagar in Gujarat for 3 years and in Arunanchal Pradesh for 5 years gaining valuable experience.  Later he gave his service at Tunsang and Dimapur in Nagaland for a period of a year-and-a-half and since the last four months is stationed at Hyderabad. Presently he is a proud member of the National Security Guard (NSG).

Chaitanya is the last one among the three sons of Kottara Chowki resident and cultivator Vasanth Kojapady and retired accountant Gayathri V K couple. His wife Trisha Girish is a statutory accountant. His sibling Durgaram Prasad is a design engineer and Dhananjaya V K is working as a JE in BSNL.

Grandfather in Second World War!

The main inspiration behind Chaitanya’s urge to serve the nation is because of a family background. His father’s father Ramanna Bhandary was a Second World War veteran. Since childhood, Chaitanya grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather’s experience through his father and naturally grew a thirst to become a soldier. Besides, his uncles were serving in the police force, and that only made his aim resolute.

Success in serving the nation

“My parents and siblings encouragement is the reason for me to be in the army. Grandfather had participated in the Second World War. Father used to tell us about grandfather’s experiences. This became the inspiration for me to become a soldier. I have success in serving the country,” says Maj Chaitanya Kojapady

All three wished to join the army

IWhat is specially is that all three of Ramanna Bhandary’s children wished to work in the army and continuously attempted for it. Elder brother Durgaramwanted to join the Navy but wasn’t successful. Dhananjay also attempted the army exam after finishing his engineering education, but failed to get an opportunity.

Pride of our family

“Chaitanya’s serving in the army is a proud issue for the entire army. In the college level, he was very active in the NCC. He had received the opportunity to participate at the parade march during the Republic Day at New Delhi. In the family backdrop, we all encouraged him with all our effort. He has got the good luck which did not get. He has received good opportunities after jo9inin the army,” says Dhananjay Kojapady, Chaitanya’s brother

Article by Dhanya Balakaje translated into English by Aaron Dmello