Uday was born on Friday 23 Apr 1982 at 0202 hours at the Military Hospital in Jaipur, India.
He was an extremely friendly and a very active child despite the fact that for approximately the first six years he was perpetually down with bouts of childhood asthma- and the parents remember, that it used to break their hearts at the constant medication and injections for one so young.
He was above all a very loving and a caring child.
He could easily spend hours alone engrossed with his toys-especially toy cars and toy soldiers, and was quite content with what he had.
Uday was truly a very obedient young child and would accept an explanation and though unlike some children he was very shy and quiet- his parents recall no instances of tantrums of any kind being displayed when wanting something.
The first six years were difficult health wise- and made worse especially when the family was living in New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world.
It was in New Delhi, that there were two events that occurred which must have impacted him in some way- one was, when he was sitting on the front seat (cars in India did not have seat belts then) a car coming from the left at speed hit the car on Uday’s side- everybody was shaken, and both his father and mother had to be treated for minor injuries at the Military Hospital- however, young Uday apparently was fortunately unhurt. The second incident was very very painful- as he had a bronchial attack- he was taking steam inhalation from a pot containing boiling water- which tipped over and the hot water spilled on his right thigh. His parents immediately rushed him to the Military Hospital and he was treated for his injuries which were substantial and left a scar for life. His father recalls that after the initial shock- young Uday did not cry and bore the pain of his injury and treatment with fortitude.
However, things started to happen for Uday when in 1988 the family moved north to Jammu- and luckily his father’s army unit was located in a secluded army camp- where the children had ample outdoors to “spread their wings” and the area was secure and also since all the families were together- the children of similar age group would have the benefit of each other’s company and had all the opportunities to do as they pleased.
It was the outdoors and the physical activity- that helped Uday and he was cured of his childhood asthma and began to not only enjoy outdoor activity and its competitiveness but started to gain strength and stamina.
Soon enough his father was posted to another station in Central India- again like all secluded army camps, it greatly helped in his growth, free from illness with ample space and friends to play with and explore. This was when he learnt cycling and with his first cycle expanded his activities further and further away from home.
He was nine years old when his little sister Bani was born on 16 May 1991. Uday truly loved his baby sister and would play at every opportunity with her.
For almost four years from 1991 to mid-1994 as he grew older and stronger, Uday showed streaks of daring and a spirit of adventure and was not scared of doing extraordinary things. His father recalls two instances when Uday with another friend went cycling fifteen to twenty kilometers away in the nearby firing ranges, while his parents looked everywhere for them and were so worried till Uday returned and “he wondered why his parents were worried”, and he was only twelve years old then.
In 1994 his father was thinking of taking retirement to help with the family business in their hometown of Chandigarh- so Uday moved to Chandigarh to live with his grandparents till the rest of the family joined some months later.
He also joined his sixth school, St Stephen’s in Class Seven in 1994, from where he eventually graduated in June 2000.
Also at this time there was a major event that took place for young Uday, when he had his hair cut- since being born into the Sikh religion- traditionally hair is not cut and is allowed to grow, ultimately tying a turban. This decision was probably prompted by the fact that his father himself as a seven year old had persuaded his parents to allow him to cut his hair, to which they had agreed.