A New Start And A Leap Of Faith

"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but those that are best adapted to change," - Charles Darwin

Four years ago, when the second wave of COVID struck India and we were in a lockdown, again, I was preparing for the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) for the Indian Army. I came across an interview where an aspirant said, "If I fail to join the Army, I would go to King's College London and study war." It stayed with me. I couldn't join the Army, but I decided to pursue King's when I have five years of relevant experience.

- Cut to 2024 -

NDTV was a stepping stone before going to KCL. I knew if I stayed at Inshorts, I might not develop those skills a journalist has, and a transition was important. I stepped out of my comfort zone of 'Work From Home' and joined NDTV in 2022. I knew one thing - Your work defines you, and people will see you based on that and nothing else. 

After analysing conflicts, doing satellite imagery analysis, writing explainers, covering crime, politics, and elections at NDTV. I decided it's time to take a step forward in life and apply to King's. It was 2024, and I told my senior about my decision that I want to move to London and study War, which I had always wanted. His response was, "That's amazing, you should go for it."

In October 2024, I applied to KCL, but I was anxious. A guy who has lived in Delhi for 26 years will be moving out of the country. It was not easy, though, having family in London helped quite a lot. The path towards taking a bold step is the toughest. Humans are not comfortable with change, but change is the only constant.

The idea behind writing this blog is not to document my journey from starting as a journalist to joining King's, but it is to revive this blog, which was the first step I took towards defence writing in 2020. It is time to go back to the basics and start from scratch. I never thought I would be a news writer, but when you stick around, practice and prepare yourself every day, you become better, and that happened to me. 

Defence Correspondents' Course - Another Leap of Faith

It was certain that I was leaving India for London, but there was one more thing - part of my "5-year plan" - to do the Defence Correspondents' Course (DCC). In 2021, when I was in a similar headspace - Confused about career, failed to join the Army and decided to give up after a spinal injury - Two things happened, first was getting hinged to the idea of going to King's College London, and second was to do this course. It was important for me to do this; it was about proving myself. Sometimes, we create our own battles which we fight alone. 

May 2025 - India outfoxed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. After four sleepless nights and back-to-back stories, an opportunity, according to some, came towards me, but I disagree with that thought. I created it.

A senior reporter at NDTV suggested I should apply to this course. Why? Because she felt I was the right fit for it and deserved to be a part of it. She showed faith in me, and I had to make another big decision - Go for it or skip it. Why? My course at King's was starting on September 22, and DCC was ending on September 6, which meant less than two weeks with family and friends in Delhi.

But, after a lot of discussions, a bit of dilly-dallying, I took that 'Leap of Faith' and decided to go for it. I was confident that I would get selected; that belief in my abilities was still there (Hoping it stays even now). Staying away for three weeks in three different parts of India meant a lot of travelling, adventure and a bit of instability and homesickness. I experienced it all. It was more like a crash course on 'How to stay away from home' before I go far away.

Heartbreak, learning and adventure - Three things were happening at the same time. But the course was worth it. The Indian Armed Forces offer you a life. Thirty-one other journalists and I, from different parts of the country, experienced a part of it. I was still anxious about taking the risk of leaving a stable job and life in Delhi, but Fauj teaches you one thing - Train, Train and Train. Challenges will come; they are a part of life, but if you train well, then on the day of the battle, you are not ambushed and are well prepared. At an outpost near the Line of Control, they do the same drill every day - Mine clearing operation, Area Domination Patrol and Night Ambush for 24x7 for 365 days and the tenure of one unit in Jammu and Kashmir usually lasts for three years. 

An officer posted near the Line of Control told us, "No one has achieved anything in life by being sad. A sad soldier is a bad soldier. So be happy." He said this with a heartwarming smile as he talked about his wife and kids, while carrying at least 13-14 kg of battle load on ground zero. 

Learning to take those risks, putting more faith in my abilities. And the other day, a friend said over beers, "Being the jack of all trades and master of none is better than being the master of one." Something to think about, something to go forward with.