Mohonish Mallick Monnappa, son of a BSP employee Surajit Mallick, DGM (TSD) and Dechamma Mallick, has joined NDA 149th batch as a Fighter Pilot cadet on December 26 in what appears to be a rather unusual career in an era when collective fascination revolves around choosing either engineering or medical as a career option.

Mohonish has spent his formative years in Bhilai, completing his schooling in the steel township. An enviable study environment, support from family and friends and the overall growth atmosphere due to the presence of SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant in the region helped Mohonish to progress towards unchartered territory. The freedom offered to choose his profession and the able support of his parents helped him to take this decision to join the Airforce.

As per press release issued on November 17, 2022, on the basis of written exam conducted by UPSC and subsequent interview held by Service Selection Boards (SSBs), 519 candidates were shortlisted for Army, Air force and Navy wing for admission in the year, although around 90 seats are usually earmarked every year in NDA. Mohonish, who has a mixed parentage, is a half-Coorgi and a half-Bengali as his mother belongs to Karnataka’s Coorg District. It was during his selection process at Air Force Selection Board – 3 (Gandhinagar), Air Force Selection Board – 2 (Mysore) and Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment that he came across young NDA cadets impeccably dressed up in army attire, an observation which triggered his fascination to be one of these men-in-uniform. Besides being an adventure junkie, Mohonish is trained in Indian Classical Music under the tutelage of Guru Manik Chakraborty and was a regular member of DPS Music Choir as a vocalist and guitarist. In a dramatic gesture to honor his love for motorcycling, two dare-devil bikers Darshan Chinnappa and Likith Biddappa, both his maternal-uncles rode from Coorg to Pune on their bike covering a distance of around 1200 Km riding to witness his joining event.