Army honours Mandi retired soldier for exemplary social service, Mukesh even guarded MS Dhoni

Munish Sood
MANDI: The Army has honoured Mukesh Kumar, a former soldier of the 8th Grenadiers Regiment hailing from Balh in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, for his remarkable contribution to civil and social services after retirement.

The honour was bestowed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 12 Corps, recognising Mukesh Kumar dedication and service to society.

Mukesh Kumar completed his Class 10th from Government High School, Baggi; Class 12th from Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Mandi, and then pursued BA and MA in History from Himachal Pradesh University.

Unwavering spirit of a soldier

Mukesh Kumar’s journey reflects the indomitable spirit of a soldier, whose commitment to the nation and society continues even after retirement.

Known for his outstanding service in the Army, Mukesh Kumar served as a Black Cat Commando in the National Security Guard, Commando Trainer, Sky Marshal and Karate Instructor.

He was part of the Indian cricket team’s security squad during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and also served as the personal security officer to former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

He joined the Army on October 27, 1995, and served for 17 years in the 8th Grenadiers Regiment.
After retiring from the Army, he worked as a Sub-Inspector in the Delhi Police and is currently serving as a TGT (Arts) in the Education Department of Himachal Pradesh since 2015.

He dedicates his extra time to training students in self-defence and empowering them against social evils.

Social service through ‘Team Sabla’

Mukesh Kumar’s passion for serving society did not end with his military tenure. He founded ‘Team Sabla’, an initiative aimed at providing free karate training to school children and local youth, especially girls, for self-defence.

Through his efforts, he has trained over 2,000 students of various educational institutions, including ITI-Mandi; Government Senior Secondary School, Shikawari; Government High School, Burahata; Government Senior Secondary School, Kharsi, and Government High School, Baihna.

His initiative has not only helped children excel at the national level in karate but has also enabled many to secure jobs based on their skills. Additionally, he actively runs anti-drug campaigns, raising awareness among youth and helping addicts overcome addiction.