Fault Finding for Feedback
“NUKTA CHEENI”?aka?NUKTACHINI (????????????)
Here is a story from my IAT Pune Days?– during my tenure as Faculty in the erstwhile prestigious Tri-Service Training Institution in Pune.
IAT Pune was a truly centre of excellence – and I cherish my multiple tenures on the faculty of that premier institution.
Sadly – IAT Pune does not exist in its original avatar anymore.
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This story happened 36 years ago?– in the 1980’s…
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Unforgettable Memories of my IAT Pune Days
EXERCISE “NUKTA CHEENI”?aka?NUKTACHINI (????????????)
A Spoof?By?VIKRAM KARVE
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Long back?–?at IAT Pune?–?each Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of a Training Course was required to conduct an “end of course feedback session”.
This was called Exercise?“Nukta-Cheeni” (????????????)?
In Hindi?–?the expression?“Nukta Cheeni”?means?“to find fault”
So – I guess?–?the trainees were supposed to find some faults with the course they had just attended.
In the Navy – we were not familiar with such?“mumbo jumbo”?gobbledygook?–?so I guess this expression must have originated from the Army?–?where Hindi is the predominant language.
Also?–?in the Navy?–?no one gave a tinker’s damn about things like feedback?–?especially for training courses.
In the Navy – you finished the course?–?enjoyed some chilled beer with the faculty at a Pre-Lunch Drinks (PLD) “Elbow-Bending” Session to celebrate the end of the course –?and that was that.
IAT was a inter-service institution?–?comprising Army, Navy and Air Force Officers?– and Defence Scientists too.
IAT was located in a huge picturesque and verdant campus at Girinagar in the foothills of Sinhagad near the Khadakvasla Lake .
But – those days – 36 years ago?–?in the 1980’s?– IAT?was run in Army Style – yes?– in true?PONGO?Style – and – the Army Director and Dean took this?“Exercise Nukta-Cheeni”?quite seriously
Yes?–?in true?“Pongo”?Style?–?they called it an “exercise”.
Well – as far as “Pongos” were concerned – everything was an “exercise” – even pleasurable things.
For all you know – probably – for “Pongos” – even “making love” was an “exercise”.
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Those days –?as a young Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of a premier postgraduate course?–?I was full of sincerity, service-mindedness and zest – so I decided to conduct?“Exercise Nukta-Cheeni”?meticulously – going “by the book”?–?as prescribed in the Standing Orders.
It was the last working day of the course?–?and the student officers were eager to pack their luggage and proceed on transfer to their respective ships/units.
So?–?they wanted to get over this?“Nukta-Cheeni”?exercise as quickly as possible.
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This prestigious two years long advanced technology course was also awarded the Master of Engineering Degree (ME) by the University of Pune.
Students had just submitted their dissertations?–?and as per practice?–?the dissertation viva-voce examination would be held a few months later?–?for which the student officers would be summoned on Ty Duty from their ships/units.
Now?–?I happened to be the only “recognized” University Examiner and Dissertation Guide for that particular course.
So?–?ipso facto?– as their “Guide”?–?I would be examining their dissertations as an internal examiner?–?and thus?–?I would play vital role in their final grading?–?since the dissertation carried a huge weightage.
That is why most student officers were quite circumspect in their “nukta-cheeni”?–?and they avoided “finding fault” with the course or with the faculty?–?since they did not want to annoy me and get on my wrong side.
Everyone ticked the right answers?–?wrote glowing reports about the conduct of the course?–?and praised the faculty?–?especially me?–?both as an instructor and as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Course?–?since they wanted to be in my?“good books”?– especially when the time came for their dissertation viva-voce examination.
Also?– most importantly?–?as their?“Course OIC”?–?I would be writing their course performance assessment reports too?– which would matter for their Naval Careers and future appointments.
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I started reading the feedback forms submitted by the student officers.
Reading the flattering feedback they had given me?– it?was a big “ego massage” for me.
I was feeling good.
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Suddenly?–?I read a feedback form:
“The?“Course OIC”?has got an?“Abrasive Personality”…”
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Now?–?this was real?“nukta-cheeni”.
I was the?“Course OIC”.
Despite this – the insolent bugger had written that I had an?“Abrasive Personality”…
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My ego was punctured?–?so?–?I angrily asked the concerned student officer:
“What the hell do you mean by your statement that I have got an?“Abrasive Personality”…?”
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Seeing my anger?–?the contrite student officer backtracked to make amends:
“Sir?–?I meant it in a?“positive sense”…”
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“What do you mean by?“Positive Sense”…? Are you trying to bullshit me…? How can?“Abrasive Personality”?be a positive attribute…?” I thundered.
“Sir?–?I meant that you are honest, straightforward and outspoken…” the student officer said, trembling with fear, “I am sorry, Sir – I will fill up another feedback form…”.
“No. I am going to forward this?“nukta-cheeni”?form to the Director and Dean as it is – exactly as you wrote it?–?the aim of this feedback exercise is to find fault?–?and that is what you have done – if you feel that I have an?“Abrasive Personality”?–?so be it – let everyone know that I have an abrasive personality…” I said.
And – I forwarded the form up the channel to the Dean – with my remark “Noted”.
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At night?–?before going to sleep?–?I thought about it?–?and I realized that the?“nukta-cheeni”?done by the student officer was bang-on accurate.
Indeed?– I?did have an “Abrasive Personality”
And?–?maybe?–?I do so even now.
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The student officer qualified for his Masters in Engineering (ME) in first class with distinction with top marks in dissertation.
Yes?– I was his dissertation examiner and I gave him the top marks he deserved in his dissertation.
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Let me tell you one thing.
People with “Abrasive Personality” never harm anybody.
In fact –?like?“sandpaper”?–?“abrasive”?persons?give a shine to whoever comes in contact with them.
I have experienced this in my long career in the Navy
It is always better to have an “abrasive” boss?–?rather than a “smooth” operator.
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Dear Reader:
Do you agree…??
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VIKRAM KARVE
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Link to my source blog post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:?https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/04/humor-in-uniform-feedback-report.html
? vikram karve., all rights reserved.?
This is an updated, abridged and revised Re-Post of my Story posted by me online earlier in June 2, 2014.
Links to my original posts in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal:
https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/06/humor-in-uniform-exercise-nukta-cheeni.html?and??https://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/04/humor-in-uniform-feedback-report.htmland??https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/06/humor-in-uniform-abrasive-personality.html?and?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/are-you-smooth-operator-or-do-you-have.html?and?https://karve.wordpress.com/2018/07/02/humor-in-uniform-exercise-nukta-cheeni/??and?https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/05/girinagar-memories-exercise-nukta.html?and?https://karve.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/humor-in-uniform-how-to-find-fault-exercise-nukta-cheeni-aka-nuktachini/?and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/09/25/humor-in-uniform-exercise-nukta-cheeni-story-from-my-iat-pune-days/ etc
? vikram karve., all rights reserved.?