#GoodNews: In a First, Identical Twins Graduate From IMA Together

The identical twins, who spent a major part of 22 years of their lives together, will be posted in separate units.

Image used for representational purpose.

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

(Photo: The Quint)

Identical twins Abhinav Pathak and Parinav Pathak created history on Saturday, 8 June, as they became the first pair of identical twins to graduate from the distinguished Indian Military Academy (IMA) together, reported Hindustan Times.

The identical twins, who spent a major part of the last 22 years of their lives together, will be posted in separate army units after graduating along with 457 other cadets.

A senior official at the IMA said while the academy has seen real brothers, twins and even identical twins before, this is the first time when identical twins have graduated from the same batch, reported Times of India.

Confusion at the IMA

At the graduation ceremony at the IMA, the two shared anecdotes of how their similar features often led to confusion at the academy.

Narrating one such comical instance to Hindustan times, Abhinav, who is the older of the two, said the drill instructor would call him instead of Parinav and vice-versa. Sometimes, training instructions meant for his brother would be passed on to him, he added.

Parinav, too, shared his mess stories – how he would often sneak into his brother’s less-crowded mess which had fewer cadets having food, without being identified.

The only time anyone could identify the twins was when the two wore PT uniform or through their respective company batches on the collar, Abhinav said, talking to the daily.

Praising the twins, their father Ashok Pathak, said the twins used to compete against each other in studies as well. "If one scored 100 marks, the other tried to match that feat and most of the times ended up getting at least 99," Pathak told Times of India.

Abhinav will join the Army Air Defence Corps, while Parinav will join the Army Aviation Corps.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and Times of India.)