# Retired Subedar Sparks Defence Dreams in Jhunjhunu as 78 Jasrapur Youths Enter Armed Forces in 7 Years

> Following his retirement from the Indian Army, Subedar Mahendra Singh Shekhawat started offering free physical coaching to Jasrapur village youths. His dedicated efforts over seven years have propelled 78 local youngsters into the armed forces and the Agniveer scheme.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-11-03 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/jhunjhunu-ke-jasrapur-men-ritayarda-subedar-bane-yuvaon-ki-dhala-7-sala-men-78-ko-dilai-sena-ki-vardi-55607 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Jhunjhunu, Jasrapur, Mahendra Singh Shekhawat, Indian Army, Agniveer, Army Recruitment

A remarkable chapter of selfless dedication and youth empowerment is unfolding in Jasrapur village of Jhunjhunu district. After completing his active military service and retiring in 2019, Subedar Mahendra Singh Shekhawat chose not to settle into a quiet retired life. Instead, he channeled his extensive military background and discipline toward shaping the aspirations of local youth determined to don the olive green uniform. Over the course of the past seven years, his zero-cost physical training mission has transformed the rural landscape, guiding 78 young men from Jasrapur into the ranks of the Indian Army and the Agniveer recruitment framework.

## A Post-Retirement Mission of Complimentary Coaching
Upon returning to his village in 2019, Shekhawat noticed that while local youngsters possessed immense enthusiasm, they often faltered in military recruitment rallies due to inadequate physical conditioning and lack of systematic guidance. To address this gap, he launched free daily training sessions on the village ground. What started as an informal group exercise quickly evolved into an organised movement. The crowning achievement of this collective effort came this year, when 13 young aspirants from Jasrapur were simultaneously selected through the Agniveer scheme.

## Leading by Example on the Training Ground
The veteran instructor does not restrict himself to passive supervision. Every morning and evening, Shekhawat arrives at the field to run drills side-by-side with the trainees. He meticulously covers the essential technical nuances of military physical trials, endurance standards, and strict daily routine. Importantly, he provides this high-level conditioning entirely free of cost to every participant.

## Daily Road Runs Spanning Up to 12 Kilometres
Recognising that long-distance endurance forms the core requirement of armed forces fitness evaluations, Shekhawat puts trainees through rigorous road runs of 10 to 12 kilometres every day. The training routes frequently wind from Jasrapur toward Chanana, Nanuwali Bawari, or Devta village. Rather than following on a vehicle, Shekhawat matches strides with the trainees throughout these gruelling sessions. In his view, real discipline and endurance can take root only when the mentor personally exerts maximum effort alongside the learners.

## Community and Expatriate Donors Upgrade Field Infrastructure
In the initial phase, the training effort encountered significant practical obstacles due to the uneven, rugged condition of the local sports ground. Aspiring runners regularly struggled with surface hazards and minor injuries. When the issue came before the village development committee, expatriate benefactors from the community based in Mumbai stepped forward with financial backing. They funded the complete levelling of the ground and oversaw the installation of protective wire fencing. The enhanced facility quickly attracted an even larger pool of disciplined trainees.

## Credit Conceded to Youth Dedication and Family Values
Following the recent induction of 13 village youngsters into the Agniveer programme, the local community organised a celebration to honour the recruits and their mentor. When villagers publicly praised Shekhawat for his transformative contribution, he firmly declined personal acclaim. Instead, he attributed the collective milestone entirely to the unyielding sweat of the aspirants and the moral values instilled in them by their parents.

## Serving the Nation Beyond Active Duty
For Shekhawat, seeing a young aspirant secure an armed forces berth represents the ultimate badge of honour. What began seven years ago as a humble routine now stands as a source of deep pride for 78 households in Jasrapur. His journey demonstrates that devotion to the country does not terminate with formal retirement. By investing his expertise and energy into grooming the next generation of defenders, the veteran soldier has proven that nation-building continues wherever discipline and selflessness take root.

## What this means for you
This community initiative offers rural defence aspirants structured and professional physical training right at home without spending money on commercial academies.

- **Across India:** It provides a workable blueprint for military veterans across rural pockets to mentor youngsters preparing for uniformed services. Families from modest economic backgrounds can bypass costly physical coaching centres entirely.
- **In Jhunjhunu:** Aspiring recruits from Jasrapur and nearby hamlets gain structured endurance running routines spanning 10 to 12 kilometres daily. With 78 households now connected to defence livelihoods, regional enthusiasm for national service has surged.
- **For Agniveer aspirants:** Candidates receive daily guidance to master military fitness standards and endurance benchmarks required in selection rallies. The recent selection of 13 candidates in a single cohort provides clear proof of effectiveness.
- **Local sports infrastructure:** Community collaboration and donor funding converted a hazardous, uneven ground into a safe and fenced training ground. Future generations in the village now have a dependable space for running and athletic practice.

## Why this happened
This sustained achievement resulted from a veteran soldier's selfless mentorship, the trainees' daily perseverance, and coordinated community backing.

- **Addressing the training void:** After retiring in 2019, Mahendra Singh identified that local youths had strong patriotic intent but lacked technical fitness preparation for recruitment rallies. He intervened immediately by establishing regular, free physical drills.
- **Hands-on mentoring ethos:** Rather than coaching passively from the sidelines, the retired Subedar runs the entire 10 to 12 kilometres with the candidates. Witnessing their mentor exert equal effort instilled supreme discipline and endurance among the trainees.
- **Community-funded upgrades:** The initial ruggedness of the ground posed injury risks and hindered rigorous sprinting. The village development committee teamed up with Mumbai-based diaspora donors to level and fence the field, eliminating physical training bottlenecks.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which village does Subedar Mahendra Singh Shekhawat belong to?
He belongs to Jasrapur village in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan.

### 2. When did Mahendra Singh Shekhawat retire from the Indian Army?
He retired from active military service in the year 2019.

### 3. How many Jasrapur youths joined the armed forces over the past 7 years?
Under his mentorship, a total of 78 local youths have been selected for the Indian Army and the Agniveer scheme over the last seven years.

### 4. How many candidates from the village were selected for Agniveer this year?
A batch of 13 young men from Jasrapur achieved selection in the Agniveer scheme simultaneously this year.

### 5. What distance do the trainees run during their daily practice?
Trainees run a distance of 10 to 12 kilometres every day, with the instructor running right beside them.

### 6. Which routes are used for endurance road running drills?
The running routes extend from Jasrapur toward Chanana, Nanuwali Bawari, or Devta village.

### 7. Who helped improve the condition of the local sports field?
Following an appeal by the village development committee, expatriate diaspora donors based in Mumbai funded the ground levelling and wire fencing.

### 8. Is any fee charged for this physical training program?
No, Mahendra Singh Shekhawat imparts physical training to village youths completely free of charge.

## Inspiration & Lessons
Subedar Mahendra Singh Shekhawat's journey shows how individual initiative and community spirit can build lasting social change after retirement.

- **Lead from the front:** Authentic leadership emerges when mentors run the hard yards alongside their students instead of merely issuing orders.
- **Start despite imperfect conditions:** Rather than waiting for modern amenities, the initiative began on a rugged field, eventually inspiring the broader community to invest in upgrades.
- **Maintain humility in success:** Despite transforming 78 lives over seven years, Shekhawat attributed all achievements to the candidates' stamina and parental values.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._