SSB Experience series : A journey from Sweden to Bangalore to achieve dream of joining prestigious India Army in 11th Attempt - Part 2

In the first part of this series we saw the past failures and the zeal to perform. Here comes the final last attempt which brought glory to my life. Here is the thrill ride to success..

11^th Attempt:

On the reporting day, I saw 310 students but I told myself that I am trying to motivate myself that I am the one here to get recommend. After documentation, I had good sleep and next day I was geared up for screening. I never found OIR test challenging and this time too I did all 50/50 in both tests in half of the time allotted. In PPDT I made good story relevant to the picture shown to us and then in discussion I narrated my story confidently and had a good involvement in GD too.

Click here to read: SSB Experience series : A journey from Sweden to Bangalore to achieve dream of joining prestigious India Army in 11th Attempt - Part 1 

Also read: Seven success Mantra for SSB

Results came and only 26 candidates got screen in out of 310 and I was one of those 26 with a new chest number 25. I was happy yet I controlled my emotions because there is still a long way to go.

Psych test: It was really well and I was writing whatever first thought come in my mind. I did 60/60 WAT, SRT 45/60. The best part of this psych test was that I was not at all prepared for it and that was the only reason I was showing my real personality in my responses.

Interview:  I was called immediately after my psych test for personal interview and was asked to go to commandant office. I waited 30 minutes before I was called in. I went in room and wished IO and then we had a confident handshake. We had 15 minutes conversation near to his table related to my interest in modeling (I am still unaware why he was checking my interest in modeling and acting). Then he asked me to sit on chair and started his first set of rapid fire that I answered in proper sequence and covered all questions. 

He asked me about Sweden, my studies, how I reached there. He then asked me about my family, friends and their good and bad qualities, about my hobbies and interest, about basketball and volleyball. My reasons of failure in last 10 attempts. He then asked me that which god I believe in the most, and I said that it’s Lord Hanuman. He then said Lord Hanuman is here for next five minutes and you have to ask him 3 wish and he will immediately fulfill these wishes. I started thinking and he reminded me that I still have four minutes left. Then I said my first wish will be that Peace prevails everywhere in the world. The IO said Thataasthuvatsa. Now second wish, I said that my father got hit by bullet 2 years before due to which he is not able to walk properly so I want Lord Hanuman to make my father fit as he was 2 years before. He said Thataasthuvatsa. Then he asked about third wish saying that only 30 seconds left so I asked my third wish that Pollution nowadays is serious problem to world so let's remove it and save our planet. (He gave a big laugh on it). He then asked me many technical questions like CI and SI engines, 1TR, Gas laws, laws of thermodynamics, horse power, braking horse power, types of compressors, types of fits, bearings and applications and few others, I answered all technical questions that is my strongest part. He then grilled me on geography questions and gave me few countries and asked me to tell their capitals and their neighboring countries with their capitals which I hardly spoke and apologized for not knowing. 

Click here to read: Importance of PIQ form and the ways to fill it
Also read: Sample SRT and the tips to write best solution

He later asked me about Doklam and Rohingya Crisis which I answered in a legible way. Few question about Indian Army like regiments, fighting and supporting arms, EME, defence budget of India, names of 10 Param Vir Chakra winners, types of guns Indian army use, tanks and aircrafts and I answered all. Later he asked me about types of books I read, about my blank story in 12th slide, ask me how to arrange a Sudoku event in college if given a chance (I mentioned Sudoku in my PIQ). I told him that I know German and Swedish language so he asked me to give introduction in both language. My interview went around 2 hours that was lengthiest amongst the ones of my previous interviews. My IO seemed happy with me and asked to me to leave after knowing if I had any questions.

Tips: Honesty in responses, fill your PIQ with proper care because your whole interview circulates around this form. There are many sure questions that every IO ask so better if you prepare them. Learn more about armed forces, few international and national news, for technical entries brush up basic concepts of your engineering branch. Don't exaggerate your responses; give point to point answers to IO. Don't get into argument with IO as it projects rigid personality, control unnecessary body movements

GTO:

I was lucky that I got best and cooperative group I ever got in my all SSB till date. Our GTO tasks started with Group discussion on how to curb frequent train accidents in India? and second one on Why India got an image of polluted country by world? This time I was a good listener and gave my unemotional and logical opinions 3 to 4 times in both discussion topics.

Tips: While speaking never go beyond 30 sec mark, once you do that you make others insecure and they are naturally hardwired to be defensive to your opinion. Listens other calmly and never show disagreement openly. Positive and friendly body language.

- GPE: I understood model and read the manual carefully and later wrote a very concise and practical plan. Later in discussion I was confident in my ideas and other group mates supported my ideas to solve problems in given model. I helped my group by removing disagreement. Our GTO tried many times to pressurize us by mentioning time factor but our group was very sane and did not become a victim of his tactics."Toast of Beers for my group members”.

Tips: Listens to GTO carefully, while reading manual focus on time mentioned there, prioritize problems accordingly. Take given scale into consideration while calculating distance and time required reaching from one place to other.

PGT, HGT, FGT, GROUP RACE: This time I was very calm and composed in my approach and didn't feel the need to shout my suggestions instead I kept on analyzing the obstacles and as soon as I discovered the solution I implemented it politely by taking consensus from my group. When I was not getting ideas, I was very much active in helping other candidates who were proposing their solution. Here GTO's job is to put pressure on you and distract you and if you fall in is tactics then you are making GTO the Winner so keep doing your task with the same body language.

Tips: Cooperation is key of every group task, don't get loud on others.

Click here to read: How to perform well in SD
Also read: SSB GD series - Should India have a national language?

Individual Obstacles: I did 14 obstacles this time so I felt my entire past workout on ground and gym worth it.

Tips: Select your starting point from where you can cover maximum obstacles in a circular circumference. If you are spending more time on ground and less on obstacles then it shows you lack organizing ability.

Lecturette: I spoke on Climate change very confidently and covered whole 3 minutes.

Tips: Select your topic in 5 seconds from card and then divide the topic into sections like - Intro, causes, advantages, disadvantages, future and conclusion. Now frame your words and sentence and kill it in next 3 minutes.

Command task:

I got my task of good difficulty level and for once I was not getting any ideas from where I should start. I called my subordinates and proceed it. As I crossed my first obstacles, my GTO said the given structure turns red. So, I found new way out and went ahead, later he said I can't use rope. So, I solved that structure using plank and then he said you can't use plank. So, I solved it using bally given. He was timely criticizing me to check me how I react in pressure. But guess what, I didn't give a damn and was focusing on my job and solved it with same spirits.

 Tips: Lead from the front, instead of sending your subordinates go yourself to cross obstacles. Don't succumb to pressure generated by GTO, maintained positive body language.

Click here to read: All you need to know on how to decode SSB
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And now it comes the final Day,

Conference Day:

We all are dressed up nicely and went to a hall where an officer came and briefed us about the qualities they are looking for in a candidate. After that, we were called by one by one in conference room. My chest number was second from end (25). So, I had to wait long and then finally when 24 went in, I occupied the chair outside room, 24 came out in hardly 40 seconds and I was ready to go. But, they kept me waiting and I couldn’t figure out the reason behind it. The attendant(Jawan) who was letting us in one by one to conference asked me “aisa kya kar dia tune jo tere baare mai itna discuss kar rhe sahab log” (What did you so much? The panel are discussing so much about you?), then finally a bell sound and I walked straight to conference room and greeted President of board. Here’s the conversation:

President: Take a seat Mandeep.

Me              : Thank you Sir !

President: What are you doing nowadays?

Me              : Sir, I am doing Masters in Sustainable Energy from Sweden.

President: Why Sweden? Why this course? Which exams you gave for it.

Me             : Answered all

President: Tell me something scope of solar, wind, tidal energy in India.

Me             : Answered

President: What are the types of wind turbines and why every wind mill has 3 blades?

Me             : Answered

President: How can you use your technical knowledge in Army?

Me          : Sir, in India there are still many places where there is no electricity reach so using my technical knowledge I will bring electricity there.

President: Your father is a police officer so why don't you try for Police services.

Me           : Sir, I don’t have interest in Police and to be blatantly honest I don't like police profession, though my father is in Police. My father works for the improvement of the society and wellness for the people, in his 32 years of police service he got 45 transfers and all because of the political pressure. He got hit by bullets twice on his duty and also got Police medal for gallantry but still he can't work independently and whenever he works by going against odds he gets transferred. So, my father never motivated me to join Police and encourages me for Army instead and being his son if I fulfill my father's dream then would be the biggest achievement of life for me.

President: What if you aren’t getting selected?

Me            : If I make it then it is great but if not then I will consider this SSB as a chance to come back to my country.

President: What are your expectations from this SSB ?

Me            : Sir, I started my SSB journey from Bangalore and I want to end it here only.

President: Mandeep, suppose you are failed by one mark in this SSB and you have one chance to convince us to pass you. How will you do that ?

Me            : Sir, I give me grace of one mark and you will going to see best army officer you have ever seen in your entire life.

President    : (With a big smile on his face ), Mandeep, You are living in Sweden from last two and half month and you lived around 23 years in India, what the difference you found ?

Me              : Sir, I have experienced life in both country but I will say only one thing SAARE JAHAH SE ACCHA HINDUSTAN HAMARA.

President   : He got a smile on his face and asked me Any suggestions ?

Me              : No Sir

President:  Ok Mandeep, Best of luck for the results.

My conference went around 25 minutes and this is the longest I have ever witnessed in my life. And fortunately, it was my own. After 10 minutes, We all assembled in results hall and then an officer with a file came and suddenly a scary silence gripped whole room. He started with same outdated lines of SSB attempts by Sharukh Khan, Amitabh Bachan, APG Abdul Kalam, Cap. Vikram Batra and OLQs and then said result of this batch not good as only one student got recommended. I will call his chest number and that candidate will come ahead and speak his name, father's name and date of birth loudly. He opened his file and said“Chest Number 25”, I didn't stand and he again called it out and then I stood up.

Have you ever stayed in hostel and been home after 6 months and eat your favorite dish cooked by your mother and feel that it’s the best feeling in the world? Also, have you ever had a sibling tell you that you are the best sibling in the world and had your eyes glistened with tears? Then you would know how it would feel or at least comprehend to feel how it would be to achieve a dream after 10 disastrous attempts and getting in the last attempt of your life. I went on the stage and cried my name out with a shaky voice“Mandeep Rana son of Shree Premveer Singh Rana, 18th April 1994”. The Officer had to ask me the reason for me crying and asked if I were a little girl? Then, he tapped on my shoulder and congratulated me.

I called my father and as he picked up I was crying so he assumed that this happened again and told me “koi baat nahi ye fail-pass to chalta reheta hai bete” (Don’t worry Son! People pass and fail in it all the time). But, when I told him that I made it this time, he got emotional and congratulated me a quivering voice that I would remember for the rest of my life. I waited years to listen to this kind of happiness in my father’s voice. My other family members were completely unaware that I was in India in the first place. When I called them from my Indian phone number, I told them that I got selected for Army and after hearing it they assumed that I am pulling a prank on them. I had to send them my location and my photo to prove them this.

gamble but having this “+” sign on my chest is worthy of all the past and the pain it encompasses.

I added every detail in the process to emphasize how you will feel disappointed at times and how you have to be up-spirited during all the process until your final goal is reached. This also reminds me of a Greek saying, “Greater the difficulty, greater the glory surmounting it”and its stand valid in all the senses at every point of your life.

Click here to read: How to do self introspection from home itself'
Also read: Psychology tips and tricks

If you have any doubts regarding anything, I’d be pleased to help you not because answering every question is pleasurable, but to see every dream fulfilled is. Hopefully, I’d listen to your success story someday soon! Remember:

“A succession of eye-openers each involving the repudiation of some previously held belief”

JAI HIND

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About the Author: Mandeep is pursuing masters in sustainable energy from Sweden. This was his backup option he took when he could not clear his dream to join defense, but fate had kept  something else ready for him. He aspires to help aspirants in all possible way. He could be reached on Facebook - facebook.com/mandeep.rana.31149   Instagram - _mann_deep