Tamil Nadu: Martyred colonel's wife embraces olive green

Chennai: Swati Santhosh Mahadik, the 38-year-old wife of Colonel Santhosh Mahadik who was killed in a battle with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir two years ago, chose her husband’s path. She will be passing out from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Saturday. She chose to  transform from a teacher to a lady cadet.

A cadet goes parasailing at Officers Training Academy on Friday.

“Colonel Santhosh Mahadik is my first love, although he loved his uniform the most,” said Swati, mother of a 12-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son.  

Though she initially suffered with the vigorous training at the OTA, Swati pulled it off in no time. Ask her what her toughest exercise was and she says, “I was initially scared of water and hesitant to take the 10 metre jump in the water. But I overcame my fears after the officers warned of extending the course for another six months,” she said, with a brief chuckle.

A dog catches the effigy of a terrorist at Officers Training Academy.

On November 17, which marks the second death anniversary of Colonel Santhosh Mahadik, his wife will be serving the country as a proud heir, thus continuing his dream.