SSB testing process is the test of your personality. Through this, the armed forces looking for candidates whose personality suits the personality required for military leadership. It is in no way a reflection of your capabilities. There are many candidates who could not make it to the armed forces but made it big elsewhere. They prove that the capabilities in a person are defined by the limitations of his own self-belief. If you are determined enough, then nothing could stop you from succeeding in life.
In this post, we present to you the people who could not make it to the armed forces, but made it big elsewhere:
- Amitabh Bachchan:
This is the next favourite of the GTOs who take this name at least once on the final day of GTO after the FPGT. Amitabh Bachchan recalls that he was a defence aspirant who has appeared various times for the SSB. He tried a couple of times but could not make it. “Of course there are emotions, dissatisfaction and disappointments but you have to move ahead with life. Fortunately, I was destined for something else” – such was the attitude of the Shehanshah that made him the biggest Bollywood star of the generation.
Read the full speech that he delivered at the National Defence Academy here.
- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
This is the most favourite example all across the SSBs. Not because he made it big elsewhere, but because he rose to be the commander of something which he wanted to be a part of. Without Dr Kalam, the capabilities of India’s military firepower would have been crippled.
Dr. Kalam describes the experience in ‘Wings of Fire’ as –
“I halted for a week in Delhi, the city of the great Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin, and appeared for the interview at DTD&P(Air). I did well in the interview. The questions were of a routine nature, and did not challenge my knowledge of the subject. Then I proceeded to Dehra Dun for my interview at the Air Force Selection Board. At the Selection Board, the emphasis was more on “personality” than on intelligence. Perhaps they were looking for physical fitness and an articulate manner. I was excited but nervous, determined but anxious, confident but tense. I could only finish ninth in the batch of 25 examined to select eight officers for commissioning in the Air Force. I was deeply disappointed. It took me some time to comprehend that the opportunity to join the Air Force had just slipped through my fingers. I dragged myself out of the Selection Board and stood at the edge of a cliff. There was a lake far below. I knew that the days ahead would be difficult. There were questions to be answered and a plan of action to be prepared. I trekked down to Rishikesh.”
- Shahrukh Khan:
It is said that joining the army was a dream of King Khan. Though he was a defence aspirant, there was reluctance from his parents and they didn’t wanted him to pursue a career in the army. He even appeared for the SSB but was not recommended.
King Khan’s untold love for defence can still be seen in his performances in TV serial called “Fauji” and movies like “Army”, “Veer Zaara”, “Jab tak hai jaan”, etc., nailing the roles.
- Rahul Dravid:
Rahul Dravid was one of the finest and classiest players of the Indian team. Rahul Dravid was also a defence aspirant and appeared in the SSB for various attempts. Despite that he could not make through the SSB interview.
But, Dravid’s consistent hard work – paired with his flawless professional and personal conduct – ultimately offered great lessons for candidates today.
Conclusion
The point of this post is to convey the message that, if you cannot get selected in what you are really passionate about, either you are doing something wrong or are not made for it. You will need to accept this fact and do something with your life. If a person decides to commit suicide just because he was not selected in the army, then the assessors were right by not selecting him in the first place.
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