Once a Cadet is Always a Cadet…
The last Sunday of November is observed as NCC Day. I am thrilled to share my story as a cadet. It began when I was in school.
While watching the direct telecast of the Republic Day celebration, I randomly asked my father, “When would Pakistan attack India?”
“Good, then why don’t you join NCC in your school and train yourself first before going to the border.” He replied, unlike a typical father.
This struck my first chord with NCC. The only objective was to be the front-runner on the battlefield. This used to be the idea of patriotism for most of the teenagers.
Becoming an NCC cadet was not a cake-walk then. We had to qualify to be the cadets.
After I was chosen, a pair of crumpled cotton khaki uniform was issued to me. It is an indescribable joy to see the uniform, a cap with a pompom and nameplate bearing my name.
My mother washed, starched and ironed the uniform and helped me to wear it. After the starch, the cotton uniform used to be so stiff that a stool was required to get into the trousers, literally!
When my father saw me in the uniform, he felt very happy and told me jokingly, “Arey, ab to dushmanon ki khair nahi, sab dar ke bhaag rahe honge!”
Amidst the laughter, he gave me the lesson of my life saying, “Now that you have worn the uniform, remember that you represent the biggest youth organization in our country. So you should conduct yourself responsibly.”
Initially, people used to mock at me seeing me in the uniform going to parade grounds in my cycle. Soon they stopped when they noticed a considerable change in my posture, body language and behaviour pattern.
I became helpful to others selflessly, I learnt to adjust to peer groups, I stopped fussing about food and I became self- dependent. I transformed into a smarter, sensible and responsible person and my attitude towards life had changed for better.
Later, other parents also started encouraging their children to join NCC.
What started as a joke, took the centre stage of my life. After attending dozens of various camps; the first thing that I learnt was to behave myself!
Once we start conducting ourselves well with people and the situations it’s easy to accept and be accepted by others and make a welcoming change in the environment around us.
We meet people belonging to various casts, community and religion as we go in the advanced level camps. There is a vast cultural difference which includes language, food, festival, religious faith etc. However, we stand on the same platform with a common objective which is- to learn to become a responsible and sensible individual.
In such camps, we see India in the larger canvas and a strong sense is developed that this country belongs to us and vice-versa.
We are fortunate that our great nation is unique in the world for its tradition of ethnic diversity. However, while taking pride in the glorious history of the nation, we need to work in the interest of the general wellbeing of the society that we live in. This alone would be a good beginning to build a stronger nation.
We don’t need to do big things; what we need is to simply behave responsibly towards people, situations, surroundings and environment. We don’t have to be war soldiers to express our patriotism; we can have a sense of serving the nation by being and behaving well.
A good education, good upbringing and NCC play very important role in bringing out the natural qualities and inherent talent that we have.
I feel fortunate that I am an NCC cadet. For me, it is a journey from a casual, naïve and unaware existence to a significant living. I can overcome challenges and difficulties in life with confidence and grit.
We are trained to be solution oriented so this makes us take problems head on. The NCC training seeps into our personality in a very subtle way and they become a part of my character.
There is an interesting incident I would like to share here. I was in the junior wing and it was our first NCC day celebration. When I was bicycling back home it began to rain. Since my uniform was heavily starched, it started sticking to my body. And a swarm of flies kept hovering around me till I reached home.
I started crying and decided to leave NCC but my father pacified me saying, “Arey, makkhiyon se dar ke NCC chhod dogi to dushamno se kya ladogi.”
I bounced back and now also when life doesn’t behave well I know how to handle it!
All the selected cadets were hosted by the Governor of the state and by the President of India. We had a privilege to interact with the highest authorities of the nation which include the Commanders-in-chief of Army.
I have made some wonderful friends from my NCC association. One senior cadet is now my husband and he still has remained my best friend. Suresh Raghwan is an extension of my family and our friendship is getting stronger with the new generation taking it forward.
Anita Joshi has been my buddy since our first camp together. She is an NCC officer in 2 MP Bengal Battalion. Its because of her that I was able to relive one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Col Brar and Capt Praveen gave me so much of honour. Addressing the young cadets, interacting with them and participating in the cultural events was so much fun and sense of fulfilment.
Majority of girls came from the rural backgrounds. When I asked why did they choose NCC, most of them wanted to serve the nation while others candidly mentioned that they relish a full meal every day!
NCC is the largest volunteering organization in the world run by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education. It is dedicated to training the youth absolutely free.
It is disappointing to see the diminishing charm of NCC amongst the urban students.
I think it is the collective responsibility of the authorities, educational institutions and parents to make the students aware of the advantages of being a cadet. The least it can do is to let the young people have a glimpse of the life of soldiers. Those who are born 50 years after the independence are becoming little less sensitive about the freedom movements.
50% of the population of India is below 25 years of age. Even if a small percentage of the youth becomes NCC cadets, India would redefine its future.
I am committed to doing my share of contribution to give back to the institution which has made me what I am today.
It is a matter of pride, privilege and joy to belong to the nation whose Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the state Chief Minister Dr Raman are NCC cadets!
I quote with pride that I am a product of NCC.
NCC Cadets cannot be called ex-cadets because ‘once a cadet is always a cadet’!
Jai Hind!
Jaya Sarkar
Best Cadet 1983
8, MP Girls' Battalion
MP Directorate
India Ranking-6
Master of the Ceremony of the Cultural Program in the presence of Deputy
Defence Minister Shri KP Singhdeo.
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