For someone who had dreamed of wearing the Army uniform since childhood, taking it off was never supposed to be part of the plan. Yet, after nearly 12 years in the Indian Army, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, who also served as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu, chose premature retirement- a decision that, by his own admission, was one he had never imagined he would have to make.Days after his retirement made headlines, Sambyal has now spoken more openly about what led him to take the difficult call. During an Instagram Live, Sambyal said the question of why he left the forces was the one he had been asked the most.Sambyal explained that his decision was not something he had anticipated while growing up. “As a child, I always dreamt of wearing the uniform. I never thought that ever in my life I would give up the uniform, put it down, leave the Army and do something else,” he said. But life, he said, sometimes takes an unexpected turn. “In everyone’s life, there come situations and instances that change your life forever,” Sambyal said.He went on to clarify that his decision was influenced by both personal and family reasons. “It was because of some personal reasons and some family reasons that I chose to leave the organisation,” he said.The comments offer a more personal glimpse into a decision that had left many of his followers wondering what prompted him to walk away from a military career that had already taken him to some of the country’s most prestigious assignments.
The former President’s ADC says leaving the Army was a decision he never imagined making.
From childhood dream to one of the Army’s recognisable faces
Sambyal’s Army journey began long before he became a familiar face on social media. Sambyal cleared the NDA examination in 2013 and joined the 133rd NDA course in 2014. He later trained at the Indian Military Academy and went on to serve in the Army.In 2021, then-Captain Sambyal led the Jat Regiment contingent at the Republic Day Parade. The contingent won the Best Marching Contingent Trophy, marking one of the notable milestones of his early military career. He subsequently served with 4 Para Special Forces and earned the Balidaan Badge.His career took another significant turn when he was selected as an Aide-de-Camp to President Droupadi Murmu. The prestigious assignment brought him into the public eye as he accompanied the President during official engagements, ceremonies and visits.It was during this period that his photographs and videos began circulating widely online. His composed demeanour and formal military presence, particularly in photographs alongside the President, turned him into an unlikely social-media sensation and earned him the unofficial label of the internet’s “national crush”.
‘The hardest decision of my life’
The retirement announcement came as a surprise to many who had followed his journey. In an interaction with ThePrint, Sambyal described it as “the hardest decision of my life” and said he had spent around four months thinking about it before finally making the decision public. He also spoke about family commitments and the emotional difficulty of leaving a career he had built over more than a decade.His Instagram Live now adds another layer to that explanation. Rather than pointing to a single incident, Sambyal described life circumstances and family considerations that eventually made him reconsider his path.And while leaving the Army may have been difficult, he does not appear to be looking back at his years in uniform with regret. “I think I’m happy with whatever I’ve achieved so far. I’m content with this,” he said during the live session.
Major Rishabh Sambyal says life circumstances and family reasons led him to leave the Army.
‘The next phase of my life will be more successful’
For Sambyal, retirement does not appear to mean stepping away from purpose. Speaking about what lies ahead, he expressed optimism about the next chapter of his life and thanked his followers for their support. “With all your support and blessings, I believe the next phase of my life will be more successful or equally good as what I have achieved so far,” he said.He had also previously told ThePrint that he was already working on a model aimed partly at inspiring young minds and contributing to the country’s growth. “I will work for the growth of the country and we will grow with that,” he said.That perhaps explains the tone of Sambyal’s latest comments. The decision may have brought an end to his military career, but he does not appear to see it as an end to his larger purpose.For a man who once could not imagine himself without the uniform, the transition is understandably significant. But as Sambyal himself put it, life sometimes presents situations that change everything. And now, after 12 years in the Army, the former President’s ADC appears ready to find out what the next chapter looks like.