RECOLLECTIONS  OF AN NCC CADET 

[Col R Ravi Nair (Retd) 

 

        Sanatana Dharma College is my alma mater and the only college to which I pledge my allegiance. The golden phase of my youth was well spent on this campus. In retrospect, I vividly recall this period through my intimate involvement with the NCC primarily, and then through my engagement with the College Students' Union.

        Unlike my contemporaries, I did not have a pre-university exposure, as I joined the BA English Literature program (the premier batch of 1965) after completing the Senior Cambridge Examination from Sainik School. While in college, I had the opportunity to be elected as the Secretary of the English Language and Literary Association, a Cabinet Member of the Students' Union, and finally, the Speaker (Chairman) of the College Students' Union under the banner of the Independent Students’ Union (ISU). From a modest member of the party, I progressed to Party President by the time I left the college. I am convinced that it was the National Cadet Corps (NCC) that imbued me with the confidence and managerial acumen to acquire and hold important offices within the student community, without any external political influence or sponsors.

Speaker SD College Students Union 1968-69

        The tuition culture was non-existent in those days and was looked down upon. The college campus reverberated with the hectic activities of athletes and sports lovers, with Mr. Naidu, the Physical Director, omnipresent on the grounds from the last gong of the day until twilight faded. All-around development was the key, and no student prematurely worried about a career. The medicine/engineering mania was not felt, and parents seemed to encourage their wards to spend more time on campus. “Why are you late?” “I was on the hockey field,” was taken as an impressive alibi by parents. I wonder how many students now play hockey, football, basketball, or even enter the playing fields or track, other than perhaps occasionally flexing muscles in a game of cricket?

        Enrolling in the NCC was a natural response for any active and well-meaning student. The nation was still in the fervor of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, and any able-bodied youth desired to be of service to the cause of national defense. Enrollment in the NCC was selective; aspirants had to undergo stringent physical and medical screening, and many were deemed unfit. We had six Senior Division Companies, and the senior ANO (then known as Part-Time Officers, PTO) was Major Rajashekaran Nair. He was solidly built, sporting fearsome ‘walrus’ mustaches, with a dominating personality and a ‘Drill Sergeant’s commanding voice’. Cadets and students were so scared of him that even the most ‘misadventurous’ avoided him when he passed by. He had a dedicated team of PTOs like Captain P.K. Padmanabhan Potty, Lt. R. Ramachandran Nair, Lt. N. Gopalakrishnan Nair, Lt. R.V. Ramachandran, Lt. M.P. Subramanian, and Lt. C.J. Rao. They were a team and fully in control of nearly one thousand cadets, their dealings highly business-like. The Battalion Commander was Major Herman (17 Kerala Battalion – then located at Alleppey), and the Group Commander at Thevally Palace, Kollam was Lt. Col. C.V. Donoghue.

        The Senior Division NCC was then known as NCC Rifles, and the uniform was mazri shirts and khaki trousers. The college had an imposing firing range where shooting was a regular feature on parade days. The cadets fired .22 and .303 bolt-action rifles, and even light machine guns. Weapons and ammunition of all sorts were kept in a large kote consisting of four classrooms within the college. To the best of my knowledge, I do not remember seeing any police guard for its security. The ANOs and the Under Officers were fully responsible and accountable. The security was impeccable, and the kote was granted its due sanctity. The NCC administrative office, stores, kotes, and classrooms occupied the entire complex adjacent to the boys' hostel, which is now the Commerce Department. The area was out of bounds for non-NCC students and non-functionaries.

        As a Senior Division NCC Cadet, I had the unique privilege of taking part in two Annual Training Camps, an Army Attachment Camp with the 1st Battalion of the Brigade of the Guards, an Advanced Leadership Camp, a Republic Day Parade Preparatory Camp at Munnar, and the All India RD Parade in Delhi. Normal parades were held on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. The ‘falling in’ on the parades, I distinctly remember, was a solemn and impressive occasion. With nearly 100% attendance of cadets who were properly turned out, the ANOs falling in at the head of each company, the PI staff (Regular Army personnel, mainly from the North India-Dogra and Punjab Regiments) in full strength, and the parade being handed over in succession to the “Supremo” – Major Rajashekaran Nair – his imposing words of command and the humanity responding to it! All were a herald of what I was to witness later in life while commanding troops of a well-oiled Infantry Regiment. No giggles, no suppressed coughs, no whispers, no untoward movements. Every parade was an affirmation and reaffirmation of the authority vested in a student as an appointment holder – as a leader.

        Defaulters, if any, were summarily dealt with, either by ‘physical handling’ or by awarding stringent punishments on the spot – to be forgotten immediately. One normally found dozens of such ‘unfortunates’ revolving around the parade ground with rifles held high! Long sideburns and long hair were becoming a fashion in those days. But an NCC cadet stood out by his demeanor, scrupulously insisted upon and set as an example by his ANOs. Senior Under Officers took most of the theoretical classes, including ‘Military Tactics’. One had to spend hours preparing for the classes one had to take. The only reference book available was a small NCC Handbook. The rest was left to imagination and how good one was at spinning a yarn! But it was a stage to bring out one’s latent instructor prowess.

        The esprit de corps amongst the cadets of the college was commendable. They were united when it came to competitions. Our competitors were Carmel Polytechnic College (under Major Kuzhuveli, another dedicated ANO) and TD Medical College. As I recall, the winners were always SD College. S.N., St. Michael’s, and NSS Colleges were still in their conceptual stages.

        The cadets took pride in their turnout and even compromised their precious looks for a tough, soldierly bearing, risking giggles and disapproving comments from the girls. Most of the cadets, especially the Under Officers, had their uniforms custom-stitched. Honing an impeccable military bearing was the dream of every cadet. The order of the day was that one should see his reflection on the toes of his boots. We discreetly took advice and tips from the PI staff on ‘spit-n-polish’ and maintenance of leather, brass, and uniforms. The night prior to a parade was always spent on spit and polish and starching of uniforms. Remember, ‘terry cottons’ had not yet entered the market. Upgrading the issued hackles to nearly one foot long by joining two or three patent hackles used to be a delicate and deft task. One really felt elated, fully decked out like a ‘tonga horse’ and cycling to an NCC parade. One always felt that the ‘world’ around was gaping in admiration! One felt on top of the world if one happened to ‘home in’ on a ‘Ladies Only’ bus! Those were the days! Will they ever come back?

As Company Sergeant Major -1968

          There was an unwritten camaraderie in the NCC. A senior cadet always took a junior cadet under his wing. Any misadventure with a cadet was taking a big chance with a 1000-strong organization. Even the ANOs took a stand on this. The ANO was the ‘Guru,’ and even the Head of the Department or the Principal had a secondary status. The former always accepted his obligations as such. There had been instances of ANOs financing the college fees of cadets who could not afford it. That was the bond! I distinctly remember an incident when the police wanted to make a forced entry into the college campus. The man at the forefront resisting the attempt was Major Rajashekaran Nair. There were some altercations, and finally, the police withdrew. The grapevine is that the ANO ordered the ‘kotes’ to be opened and the cadets to be armed to defend the sanctity of the campus. It may be a myth, but well-accredited! Nowadays, I see a police posse permanently posted within the college. I still recall an incident when an Under Officer cadet was facing dismissal for alleged misbehavior with a girl. The ANO stood by him, and even to the great dislike of the management, the Under Officer was reinstated. But the summary disposal meted out to the Under Officer by the ANO ‘in camera’ is still a mystery. He is now a very senior bureaucrat in the government service.

        As a cadet, I had only glimpses of the Battalion Commander and Group Commander. As far as the cadets were concerned, their ultimate authority was the PTO. When I was detailed by Major Rajashekaran Nair to attend the Republic Day Parade in Delhi, I expressed my fears of missing the ensuing examinations. He assured me not to worry. Now I recall that I missed all the college examinations, i.e., the Onam and Christmas exams, during my entire three years in college. But still, the Principal and the English Faculty always considered me a disciplined and ‘bright student’!

 

Kerala and Lakshadweep NCC Directorate RD Parade Contingent-1968

In those days, student politics and the NCC movement were inseparable. NCC cadets held nearly all the Students' Union offices. This arrangement ensured disciplined leadership and governance, and students accepted it. In my first year, the Speaker was Senior Under Officer Sadasivan Pillai. In my second year, the Speaker was Senior Under Officer C.M. Babu. I followed suit in my third year with the same qualifications. The sad thing is that nowadays, discipline and politics do not mesh well. I doubt whether any student of importance, affluent or effluent, is connected with the NCC movement.

SD College Students Union Cabinet with Principal Mr Vaidyanathan Sir
 and Professors Varma Sir and LC Nair Sir -1968

        There were no incentives for cadets as you find nowadays. A student enrolled purely out of love for the uniform and an orderly life. All the Under Officers and cadets I know and recall have done very well in life, and they all reminisce with reverence about their association with the NCC at SD College.

        I, for one, always remember with gratitude all the PTOs (ANOs), PI Staff (permanent instructional staff – deputed from the three services), and the functionaries who gave me direction in life and brought to the fore latent leadership qualities, including the confidence to face the world – to make me who I am today.

        I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to Principals Prof. Akhileswara Iyer and Prof. Vaidyanathan and the patriarch Sri Parthasarathy Iyengar (reverently known as Pappa Swamy), the manager of SD College, for their unflinching and proud support and blessings to me as a student and a functionary of the student community.

        Last but not least, I am grateful to Prof. Iyengar Sir and the members of the English Department staff, who were proud of one of their student’s achievements in extracurricular fields and encouraged me all the way toward higher goals in life.

   -Col (Retd) Ravi R Nair –

   Ex-Group Commander NCC

         Kollam Group, Kerala & Laksha Dweep NCC Dte  &

                                            Mysore Composite Group, Karnataka & Goa  Dte