Dolly Kushwaha -The lady you ought to know

This is going to be one of the most interesting interviews that you might have read in recent times.

An ex amry officer.
An Asian Games High Jump reserve
An Asst Manager at RBI.
A mom who son says Wow to Maliaka Arora!

Meet Dolly Kushwaha,a Picketian who had loads of fun at school !!





Could you please tell us something about yourself, your childhood days and places where you have done your schooling?

My father was in the Army hence I did my schooling from various places starting from Siliguri, Dehuroad, Sagar, Sec’bad and finally finishing at mathura cantt.


For how many years were you in Picket and for which all grades.?

I joined KVP in class VII and left after XI(Commerce).


You have made a mark in the world of sports. When did this interest develop. Did the parents and teachers support a young girl who wanted to make it big in sports?

Hey, u must meet me to know that I must be the most laid back person on this earth. My entry into athletics was a co-incidence. My father was a services level swimmer and Academy blue in athletics. So I grew up in a family where everybody was a swimmer and all physically active. I was basically participating in swimming competitions from early childhood. When at Sec’bad during a state meet for all sports and games, my father asked me if I would like to participate in high jump( I am 5’9 now so I must have been 5’6-7 then.) I agreed and the rest is history. After that, every meet I participated in, I won the gold medal which culminated in my being selected as a reserve for the Asiads to be held in delhi. All this at the age of 14. At that peak time when I was being called a potential medal winner in international meets, I quit because I had had enough of staying away from home(so much for a girl who wanted to make it big ).


Can you name a few teachers who helped you in sports and academics?

With due respects, school came to know of my achievements only through newspapers. But yes in academics all the teachers who taught me through 7 to 11 were extremely devoted and sincere. I think Pavan in his interview has named them all so I’ll skip that part(see what a shammer I am).


Who was the favorite among them? And why was that teacher the favorite

My favorite teachers were Baljeet Kaur Ma’m, besides all her goodness, for not heeding to my father’s request for failing me in pre-boards since I jus’ wouldn’t study, Late Mrs Lina Lahiri for tolerating me in her classes and Mrs Maya who would let me borrow as many as seven books a week from lib.(she had no choice, I would literally be on my knees begging her)


Which were the subjects you liked the most?

You must be kidding! at that time I didn’t like any subject. I would have been an illiterate, given my way .


Which sports did you like the most.

Change it to Do u like.? I like all the sports incl horse polo. What I don’t like is CRICKET.( come on cricket fans, burn my effigy).


Any incident that happened to you during school that you’d like to share with us?

There are many. I hold the unique distinction of getting ‘E’ in SUPW in X boards.(Basanta ma’m , I plead forgiveness for my then behaviour). Any lost and found article announced in assembly was mostly mine. I have been punished by almost all the teachers in KVP and it was never for studies.


What did you do after your XIIth? From where did you graduate?

I did my XII from KV Mathura Cantt and graduated from St John’s College Agra. For sometimes after that I was Faculty at Sachdeva New PT college . Later when Govt announced induction of lady officers in the army I knew I had found my calling and joined Army in 1994. Army has been benevolent enough to award me with Chief Of Army Staff’s Commendation card for devotion towards duty.




Tell us something more about ur family. ?

My husband is a Lt Col in the Army and presently posted at Bikaner and I have a six years old son who already says Wow to Maliaka Arora.


What is your current profession? How did you get into it?

I am Presently in the Reserve Bank Of India as Asst Manager posted at Kolkata. I left Army in 10th year of my service since there is still no clear policy on their permanent absorption in the Army. I saw the advertisement for this post in RBI in Employment News. Since there was age relaxtation for the Ex-service pers and I was meeting the QR I applied for it and was lucky to get through.


Would you be willing to guide any enthusiastic Picketians who wish to pursue a similar profession (Army/Banking/Sports) as yours?

Yes, definitely. I am always there at my e-mail address.


What do you think was the biggest learning/lesson you learnt studying in Picket?

It taught me to love school. I loved every second I spent in that school. For me it is like –“Think KVP- Think laughter, fun and friends”. Besides that, it made me the person I am today, coz max stay I ever had in any school it is at Picket.


Did you have crushes on any one back then? Or were you the center of attraction.?

The times then were different. Crushes meant that ur friends would start teasing u with some guy for some strange reason and next time u crossed that guy u would actually be blushing. So that way, yes I was teased . and for the other part, heavens no! I don’t think guys would even be looking at me coz I was so tomboyish, tanned and absolutely careless ‘bout my looks( my colleague is adding that I still am careless about my looks) . U know guys like pretty girls.


Had you been in Secunderabad, would you have sent your children to KV Picket? Why or why not?
Yes ,because KV’s are a great learning experience.


You have so many things to your credit….What inspires you in life..
The need to keep my self gainfully involved keeps me seeking out new venues.


Will you be there for the Picket reunion?

No! though I would have loved to.(there another major reunion here, my husband is reaching here on 25 hahaha!)


Is there anything more that you would like to add?

This interview should be read in the spirit of this blog (we don’t take ourselves seriously). And once again you guys have done a great job bk getting so many picketians together. All the best and take care.


(Dolly had a central board meeting on the 15th of this month.With loads of work to do,she hardly had any time for us.We pestered her and she kept her "ladies promise" and gave the interview.We thank you Dolly. You rock !!
- Picket Blog Team)