THE LOST BICYCLE

Humans have had a panache for Riding. They have been interested in riding various forms of living and non-living things (imaginations are welcome!!). So, it was not wrong that the humans who had to establish the National Defence Academy chose a Bicycle as the important constituent of a Cadet's life. Vehicles for human transport that have two wheels and require balancing by the rider date back to the early 19th century. The first means of transport making use of two wheels arranged consecutively, and thus the archetype of the bicycle, was the German draisine dating back to 1817. The term bicycle was coined in France in the 1860s.  The present National Defence Academy was commissioned at Khadakwasla on 07 Dec 1954. Spread over a sprawling 7015 acres, the planners of NDA had to choose a mode of transport for the young Cadets. The most obvious choice was a Bicycle as the Horses would surely have been difficult to maintain by the Cadet whose life was always rocking.

In the absence of DPP/DPMs and of course L-1 Tendering process, NDA got lucky and some robust bicycles were purchased for some of the most virile boys who had to be turned into Men. These bicycles were unique as they only had one accessory fitted onto them. This accessory was the reliable "Stand". The sturdy "Carrier" was omitted from the Cadet's bicycle for reasons best known to the planners of the NDA. The Cadet had to put his Satchel around his neck and his right shoulder had to take the weight of his satchel. This shoulder had to be strong to give a firm Salute to both Juniors and Seniors all along the Uniformed Career.

 As the first of the pioneer Cadets moved to Khadakwasla, the campus bustled with their activities. They were constantly on their bicycles scourging the length and breadth of the massive land mass that NDA possessed. Each Squadron had a Cycle Parking Bay and also a Cycle Repair Shop with a qualified mechanic to keep these machines ticking for a Cadet. I was very fortunate to possess a Bicycle called F-46. This bicycle had been a proud possession of many a stalwarts including the Fox's Pride SCC Arun Khetarpal/Fox/38 (Later 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal,PVC-The Hero of Basantar)!! The bicycles of this genre were raw iron bikes and extremely sturdy.
         
These bicycles were well maintained as the Academy progressed. However, one day a vicious Chain Reaction started. The junior Cadets had moved into the Sqns and one of the job entrusted to them was to park the Bicycles in the Sqn Parade Ground early in the Morning. It was one such day when a bicycle was found to be flat!! The senior Cadet arrived and took the easier wrong. He took the junior Cadet's cycle for his ritual. The junior was entrusted with the responsibility of getting the cycle repaired. Stuck in his own myriad world, the junior Cadet could not get hold of the cycle mechanic. Sometime in the evening, he found that the cycle had nothing wrong but a defective valve. The evening had set in and the Bn Area was thinly populated. With the sound of air moving out of a tyre, the first Valve was managed. No one saw and no one investigated!! The era of managing saw a new edition into its colossal collection. The choice of "easier wrong" catapulted this act into a full time activity. Generation after generation of Cadets kept on hearing air sounds as valve after valves kept on getting adjusted and the NDA atmosphere was loaded with the escaped air.
         
Soon, the junior Cadets had a new item as their pocket content-The Innocuous Cycle Tube Valve!! The sale of valves in NDA Market kept on increasing as the supply could never meet the demand. The sole reason for this mismatch was the smarter Cadets who kept on releasing a large amount of air from the cycle tubes to meet their targets. Courses after courses moved out of Academy and the Valve Management became an important art for many Cadets. If only the Academy had switched onto Tubeless Tyres, the famous NDA Bicycles would have never grown notorious.
         
The pent up feelings lead from one thing to another. If a bicycle could not be repaired, then it had no other way but to be lifted on the shoulder!! It did make the Cadet sturdy as his legs grew accustomed to more weights but maybe it did dent his confidence of riding the bicycle. The Foreign Cadets from Nepal and Bhutan and some stalwarts from romantic North East could not handle their bicycles as they could never get into the company of those "Master Green" Cyclists who were by now under their cycles. The anger of a Cadet can escape like a volcano in many ways. Many a desks in the Classes and cycles bore the brunt of pent up feelings. One guy thought of teaching some one a lesson. He rode the bike into an obscure corner of NDA and dumped the NDA Bicycle into a bush or Charlie Well. Innovation has been the bed rock of humans and especially a Cadet. Someone became more evolved than the others and rode a bicycle to NDA Lake and just let the poor bicycle drown in the fathoms of the water. Many cycles met with gory ends.
        
Now the bigger question arose!! A lost bicycle had to be compensated by the owner. The poor Cadet had to loose his pocket money and of course come with a bigger cheque in the next term to fulfill the damage. Sure, there was an occasion when the entire Academy's bicycles functioned. It was the day when venerable Commodore (Later Admiral) Ronnie Pereirra rode the entire NDA to Pune to watch the famous Movie PATTON. It is therefore evident that the entire NDA can have all its bicycles working if there is a clear vision and devotion. Any loss is pinching and for a Cadet the bicycle is one of the most important part of the NDA Kit. It is his speed, his time saver and his savior which can help him to conserve his precious energy. My heart goes out to those who lost their precious jewel (read bicycle) at NDA and had to bear the brunt of this loss. An obituary to these lost bicycles would be in order by the affected individuals.
     
My F-46 withstood with me for 06 terms in the main NDA (Brigs are a blessed lot at the NDA and enjoy 02 princely 6th terms!! My royal salute to the Generals and Field Marshals- Sirs). It took me from the corners to corners of NDA in no time. Smooth as it could get at ripe age, this bicycle was as macho as it could get. I rode this bike all the way from Fox Sqn to the NDA Gate when my then Girlfriend (and now Wife!!) came to meet me for the first time at NDA. Riding tall on F-46 , I led the Auto rickshaw carrying my future in-laws from NDA Gate to the magnificent Foxtrot Squadron. The Khetarpal's Fortress sealed the affair and F-46 was the first NDA kit that my future wife saw. My heart goes out to the lost NDA Bicycles. It is a sincere request that a 02 minute silence be observed after reading this email to mourn the loss of the NDA Bicycles.
     
I love my cycle and these days too I am riding one. I clean this bicycle every week, get its air topped up and park it in the Balcony so that its Valves do not get adjusted. Very soon, I will be riding this Bicycle to the Office as the Winter peaks up and the threat of sweat and the White Uniform withers away. The Lost Bicycle of PK Roy Chowdhury Sir/Fox/37 has stoked many an emotions and wish we can find that lost cycle. Last known coordinate- THE KHADAKWASLA LAKE. Let the hunt begin - please Foxies. Trust you too have some NDA Bicycle stories and can we hear them- Homeswar Luwangcha/Fox/80- Hope you are listening Tamo (Big Brother).....