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N C C: YOU KNOW THE DRILL


It was the year 1973 in Delhi.  I always wanted to have a Military outfit. So joined NCC in College. My friends laughed. They said you get a new uniform free that is why you are joining. I just laughed.  Got a new pair of big  heavy shoes unable to even lift with one hand. A  new pair of pant and shirt with NCC cap.  I was quite lean and the dresses were hanging loose,  But I liked and was dreaming how I would look in  this outfit .  We used to have regular Drills before college started.  After each Drill the Drill In- charge gives a break.  He says" Das minute ka break hain bhai.   Beedi /cigarette peeyo".  I had not started smoking then. But many around me had started.

When we do parade,  the In-charge says " Left Right Left Right, 3rd row 4th Lounda Ullu Tha Patta  Seedhe Chalo.  So much Gaali he used to utter,  We were  scared.

Though I was interested to  join NCC  these regular Drills used to be so boring. They make you tired. I used to like the gharam chai after the Drill.  Then the dreaded NCC camp was announced.  I had never gone  out of  Delhi  leaving my family even for a day.  The camp was in Khanpur, near Qutab Minar in the deep jungle, fully manned by tough 6 footer military guys,  There were 20 colleges participating,  I was the only South Indian in my college, though I looked like a lean Punjabi . Day one. We were asked to fix our own Tents .  Asked to dig a four feet trench all around the tent.  I was wondering for what.  The answer I got the next day,  We were ten guys in each Tent,  Most of them unknown  from other sections.  Drills, parade during day, sumptuous food during Lunch But  kheeda in Roties.  When I asked the guy next to me he said these are part of the camp life. Evening camp.  Entertainment time. Liquor galore,  Songs dance etc.  Suddenly a fight broke out between two colleges and there was chaos.  One tall Punjabi guy from other college, fully drunk, came up to my Tent and said " sabko Maarunga  and pointing his finger to me " Sivai isko " I was happy though terrified.  This ritual continued for 4 days.  The camp was for ten days, That night one sardar who was sleeping close to me held a big snake in his hand and said "saamp saamp"  We all were so terrified .  If he had not caught the snake. we would have been finished. Now I understood why the Trench was made.  I could not  sleep that night,

In the middle of the night they wake you up to make Roll Calls.  Disgusting,

Next day same routine life. I started getting bored and so were some of my friends.  We planned to run away before night fall and  we did. Ran from the camp as fast as we could and reached home and the family was surprised how I came back so soon.  The first thing I did was to have a nice Dosa with Saambar which I missed all these days.

The NCC dream ended then and there.  My Hall Ticket was withheld till I returned by big NCC shoes.

Comments

  1. Me Thinks..November 20, 2020 at 8:30 AM

    Hahaha! You ran away? I love the ending. Such an entertaining story. Keep writing, Raju!

    Sadhana

    ReplyDelete
  2. HariNovember 20, 2020 at 10:56 AM

    I did not even know about this story! It's the dosa. I understand. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. BluesbusterNovember 23, 2020 at 6:28 AM

    Athimber! What a great anecdote. Loved it! - Malini

    ReplyDelete

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