The defence pathshala

 

 

Looking at Romen Yumnam, it is difficult to believe that he has bagged the 2008 President’s Gold Medal, awarded to the best all-round cadet at the National Defence Academy (NDA), quite literally the nursery of India’s defence services. At 4 inches over 5 feet, Romen makes a diminutive picture as he heads the Passing out Parade, or PoP in defence parlance, a day which a cadet treasures with religious zeal for the rest of his life.

It is an achievement to remember, because at the NDA, more than 1,800 future military leaders of the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy learn the art and science of warfare on ground, the air and at sea. After a rigorous selection procedure, they are handpicked from a whopping two lakh youngsters who aspire to fight for the country.

Not unnaturally, Romen Yumnan is one of the few cadets who had the privilege to sit along with the Chief Guest of the day, Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, Commander in Chief of Southern Command. The confidence and pride on the face of Yumnam is evident. His future plans? Infantry is Romen’s first choice and he is certainly very keen to join the Gurkha Rifles. Who knows, may be once Romen joins the khukri wielding battalion, he might inspire many other Romens to take up a profession in the service of the nation.

On June 28, a TSI team is granted special access to witness NDA’s most coveted day: the PoP. Young cadets, their shining uniforms with their knife-edged creases, create a perfect harmony with their neatly synchronised walk: chest out, stomach in and eyes shining. After this final day, the cadets – full of life and optimism – leave the relatively protected confines of the academy to step out into the big bad world. From the icy ranges of Kashmir and the North East to the deadly heat of the Rajasthan desert or the endless Indian Ocean, all are various theatres likely to occupy their attentions in their lives ahead.

Located in panoramic Khadagvasla, amidst a smattering of hillocks and tiny clear lakes over an area of 8,300 acres, is a huge ground, aptly christened the Drill Square. It is mandatory for every cadet to spend a large part of his training here, located right in the heart of the NDA. The PoP is a day of calm recollection as well as rejoicing for the cadets. Tunes of martial music – boom la boom – rent the air as the first column of cadets march smartly. Leading the impressive parade is Romen Yumnam, the cadet who has made not just the academy but Manipur proud for being only the third cadet from North East India to command the parade. That is why it is no oxymoron to say that it is the army that unites the country.

Romen represents the tectonic shift in the profile of boys joining the forces. Romen’s father, Y Yaima, is a rice grower in Langmeidong district, Manipur. The rice grower merely smiled when TSI asked him about his son. Apparently, there is the language barrier. Romen moves proudly along with his father and mother Prabodhini, showing them the various features of this unique institute where he has spent most of his formative years. What attracted him to the forces? Romen narrates a childhood experience. “As a child, I saw a lot of the Gurkha battalion, which was stationed around our tiny village. My earliest memories are of the Gurkha soldiers in uniform helping the villagers with their daily chores. This left an indelible mark on me.” The NDA is a shining example of how focused training can transform a person not just for military leadership but also for the society in general. A boy joins the academy between 16 ½ years and 19 years and stays there for three years, spread over six terms and at the end of each term, a new person emerges out of the boy. He attains every milestone under the watchful eyes of his trainers who themselves are high achievers in the forces. Squadron Leader Siddharth has been posted here to look after training and motivation of cadets. He tells us that every activity has been planned to make a cadet realise that body and mind both have unlimited powers. “During the first three terms, our endeavor is to eliminate a cadet’s mental blocks. In the last three terms, we prepare him to imbibe leadership qualities. By the time he leaves NDA, he finds himself capable of doing everything most efficiently. Lt Col Rathore, who trains the equestrian team is happy that his wards have won Gold in the recently-concluded national championship. Rathore explains the logic behind compulsory equestrian training. “It gives a cadet a sense of control. He learns to plan before anything happens."

All three arms of the defence forces, the Army, Air Force and Navy, have their specialised facilities with devoted instructors. While the Army cadet, typically, learns about tanks, rifles and laying ambushes, Naval cadets are busy familiarising themselves with ships and submarines. An Air Force cadet spends his time sharpening qualities of airmanship and undertakes sorties after training under the ever-watchful eyes of their instructors. NDA has its own twin seater, fixed wing aircraft named Super Dimona.

At night, we were invited for dinner. We knew the cadets would get back to their respective dwellings, Squadrons as they call it, and rejoice the day which has arrived after three intensive and rigorous years. There is little doubt that the country has managed to produce yet another officer... and a gentleman.