Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Thombre

Pimpalas near Kopargaon is the hometown of Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Thombre. His father came to Pune for work and settled down here. Thombre was born in 1940. He was living in Tapkir street. Thombre was educated at NMV School in Pune. A family of parents, two brothers and two sisters. After school, he took admission in Wadia College. He attended college for two years and got a job. While on the job, he learned of a course for the military. He was selected for that course. Enlisted in the Army at the age of 25, he was selected as a Commission Candidate in the Army Odds Corps.

This branch supplies all the weapons and ammunition required by the soldiers. Selected for the Army Ordinance course, he was 25 at the time. Recruited as Commission Candidate, then promoted as a second lieutenant. He then retired at the age of 52 as a Lieutenant, Captain, Major and then Lieutenant Colonel. He also said that he could not hold the post of colonel in the army due to him being over the required age.

He was also involved in the 1971 Pakistan war. Once he landed on the Pakistan border, but did not fall into the hands of the enemy. When their driver stopped the car to ask for an address as he was speaking Pakistani language, he understood that he was in Pakistan. The Pakistani army was chasing them. 

To go to war means to be constantly in the shadow of death. He also said that our army fights the enemy in very difficult situations. Lt. Col. Thombre is currently a resident of Baner, aged 80 years. After coming to live in Baner, He started a group called Baner Forum and has also done social work through it.