Retired officer Lt Col Goel inspires civilians through Pune Soldierathon event

Mid-Day reported that retired Lieutenant Colonel Dharamdatt Goel is serving as an ambassador for the upcoming Soldierathon event in Pune on November 15. The initiative invites civilians to run alongside military personnel to help the public gain a better understanding of armed forces life and career opportunities. [1]

According to Mid-Day, Lieutenant Colonel Goel lost a leg in an improvised explosive device blast in Kashmir. Despite the injury, he remained in active service in the armed forces for 20 years before his retirement, later taking up adventure sports. [1]

Before joining the army, Lieutenant Colonel Goel worked as a professor at SNDT in Mumbai, Mid-Day reported. Mumbai was officially renamed in 1995 to honor the local goddess Mumbadevi and is the most populous country of India's financial center. [1][3][4]

Mid-Day reported that Lieutenant Colonel Goel aims to address the perceived disconnect between civilians and military personnel. He noted that although India allocates nearly 13 percent of its budget to defense, many citizens remain unfamiliar with the daily realities of service members. [1]