Sunil Chadha
Nurpur: First-time MLA from Nurpur and BJP leader Ranbir Singh Nikka on Thursday (June 12, 2025) inspired hundreds of students with powerful anecdotes from his personal journey, calling upon the youth to set ambitious goals and pursue them with unwavering determination.
Nikka was speaking as the chief guest at the TNR-Shining Star Awards, a flagship initiative of The Newz Radar to honour meritorious students across Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing a packed hall at the first-ever edition of the awards in Nurpur, Nikka lauded The Newz Radar for taking this noble initiative beyond the state capital and district headquarters to Nurpur to honour students from towns like Indora, Jawali, Fatehpur and Nurpur. “Such events that recognise and celebrate student excellence must be appreciated and supported. I congratulate Sunil Chadha, Abhinav Sharma and the entire TNR team for this wonderful platform,” he said.
Calling it an emotional moment to see students from across his home district being felicitated, Nikka said, “It always feels special when someone returns home successful — whether it’s after excelling in education or serving the country. Parents and teachers feel immense pride when their children pass with flying colours.”
Drawing from his own life experiences, Nikka recounted how he had defined his life’s goal at a young age and stayed committed to achieving it. “I come from a humble farming family. I’m 46 now, but even in my early years, whenever I chased something with genuine passion, God always helped me achieve it. By 2005, I had already made strides in life. I didn’t belong to a political family, nor did I have any experience. But when you have divine blessings and the people’s love, the path becomes clearer.”
He shared how he first entered public life by contesting the panchayat pradhan elections, which he initially lost in 2005. “But I was determined to try again. In 2010, I contested once more and won in a one-sided contest. That win reaffirmed my belief that once you fix your goal, everything else begins to fall into place with the help of God’s blessing, people’s support and your parents’ encouragement.”
Citing another example, Nikka said, “Once my friends and I were sitting on a bench when three identical black cars zoomed past us. Film actor Hema Malini was in one of them. I was awestruck and told myself I would own such a car one day. And I did. In 2007-08, I bought a Ford Endeavour. That car still stands in my lawn as a symbol of my journey —from a small village boy to a businessman, panchayat pradhan and now an MLA.”
He also pointed to a tractor from 1986 parked in his courtyard. “It’s more than a machine; it’s a memory of all the hard work and struggle. Every dream I etched in my heart was fulfilled because I believed in it.”
Urging students to be fearless in setting their ambitions, Nikka said, “I used to wonder as a child if I would ever meet an MLA or a minister or an officer. Today, I’ve met the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, three times. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet BJP national president JP Nadda. In a country of 140 crore people, it’s a blessing that a simple man like me could stand in such places. If it can happen for me, it can happen for anyone.”
Encouraging the youth to speak their hearts and believe in their dreams, he said, “In school, I was too shy to share what I truly felt. I want today’s students to break that barrier. Speak. Dream. Decide your target. And chase it.”
He concluded with a heartfelt message to the young achievers: “Whether you want to serve the country, lead in business or excel in academics— fix your goal and pursue it with all your might. The journey might be tough, but the destination is always worth it.”
Nearly 500 meritorious students from various parts of the region were felicitated at the function.
