Super Stars of Amdavad!

Neeraj Giri

Super Stars of Amdavad - Neeraj Giri!

“My legs have gone asleep”. This was what I told Aditya Sir and Revathi Ma’am as my fellow cadets and I were undergoing academic training in the middle of the night, after a tiring day of drilling and cultural practice.

While my friends set out their obvious giggles, Aditya Sir and Revathi ma’am comforted and corrected me, “You say your legs are numb”. I was a little embarrassed at the moment but for someone who used to get soaked in sweat even at a task like withdrawing money from the ATM, it counts as a big progress.

My story of joining NCC started in 2012 when I was hell bent on not joining NCC. As a 21-year-old, I was doing everything to save my freedom of bunking college and voyaging the city with my bus-pass. I didn’t know much about NCC then. However, I was made to make NCC as one of my subjects anyhow because, you know, parents!

The first year of NCC passed. That time, it was a two-year affair. As I entered the final year, I decided to become a little serious about it, just for the sake of it as I didn’t want to feel guilty later on for not even trying.

The first thing I experienced in NCC was the punctuality. Everything was right on time, and I was not liking it! But the fact that you used to get refreshments on a set time made me punctual, to an extent.

The CATC camps became home, and the fellow cadets became the family. The instructors were strict with us on the parade ground and turned into our best friends with amazing Army stories otherwise. It was sort of embedded in our consciousness that work and fun have their specific right times which should not be altered with, in order to keep the balance healthy.

As the Republic Day 2013 approached, CATC Camps advanced towards advanced CATC camps and the selection for Republic Day Parade Contingent, Best-Cadets (BC) and cadets for Youth Exchange Program (YEP) commenced. By that time, I started enjoying the drill, marching with rifles and the sense of roughness that the training had given us. While my friends were opting for Best-Cadet and YEP selection, all I was interested in was the drills and the ragdaas.?

It remained like that until one day when my friend, Divyang Makwana, who was from Air wing, said that the selected cadets for Best-Cadet and YEP Program will get The Indian Army uniforms! And I was standing in front of Maj Revathy ma’am, requesting to fill the forms the next moment. It is not necessary to mention that I faced punishment for applying post the last submission date but still.

The training from that day got wearying as our routine got studded with shooting range, cultural practices, and academic sessions, all along with doing the regular drill and exercises. To give an idea, on some days, we used to hit the bed in our combat uniforms to save up some time for sleep in the next morning! Once the routine got set, it was all fun and nothing else.

The first time I met Col Aditya Singhal sir was in an interview during one of the RDC camps. The cadets applying for BC and YEP were summoned in the cadet mess where a surprise interview waited for us. I was dead nervous. Afterall it was the first interview of my life. However, Aditya sir made it so comfortable for us that everything went like a breeze. Not only during that one interview, Col Aditya Singhal is an enigmatic man whom I couldn’t help but look up to as a role model. His way of explaining complex topics made it easy to understand. The group discussions that I hesitated to participate in became an event that I waited for. Not only just me but all of us who were trained by him. I can’t remember a time when I hesitated in asking him anything I wanted to.?

The boy who once looked forward to skipping morning exercises and drill training eventually took up responsibility of managing camp’s documents, became a regular at morning runs, took sincere part in the NIA Program, performed decently at shooting range, and turned up to become the contingent commander, all of which was clearly not possible without mentors like Col Aditya Singhal Sir and Maj Revathy ma’am.

When I looked back at my previous self as the RD Camp slithered towards its good end, it was hard to believe that I have become a disciplined boy with a more confident personality. There we were, standing at a life juncture where we could take on our challenges with more sense and responsibility.

With our training reaching its end, we were all set to perform in the Big Event, Republic Day Parade 2013. We reached the Delhi camp where the next bag of memories was to be filled. The Flag Areas, fall-in ground, hostels, Mess, all seemed new and familiar at the same time!

The 30-day camp too played a big role in building our characters and right attitude as we got to interact with the country’s most influential leaders personally including the Chief's of defence staff (Army, Navy, Airforce), Honorable Prime Minister and Honorable President.

The interview with Aditya Sir helped a lot as it made me familiar with the usual drill for when I sat in an interview with the Deputy Director General of NCC and got selected to represent India to Russia under the Youth Exchange Programme.

This experience also gave us the opportunity to get invited along with our family by the then Governor of Gujarat. It was another moment of pride when we were awarded the Governor Medal.

Had it not been NCC, Col Aditya Singhal Sir and Maj Revathy Ma’am, I wouldn’t have turned into this confident person who understands his responsibilities towards the society and is willing to make the change. I can’t be grateful enough to Aditya Sir for what he has given me. My achievements will always be a gift that I have got from you, sir! Thank you for everything!