1. Early August 1988, the early morning
alarms in the mechanical, hand wound watches went off from 4 AM onwards. Every
Cadet in the 1st Term of the National Defence Academy (NDA) had a
varied routine of getting up to get saddle ready for the day’s routine. The Ist
Term Cadets were kept isolated from the main Academy for first 06 months to
bake the youngsters and prime them up for an entry into the grand Military Academy
from 2nd Term onwards. The hard core veterans from the various
Sainik Schools and Military schools were accustomed to the grind from the 6TH
standard onwards and would be last ones to wake up just minutes before the
Cadet’s muster was announced. The ones from the public schools and non-military
environment were the pre-Sun risers and trying to get accustomed to the
whistles and Bugler’s call. As the Cadets number swells each day in the 1st
Term with newer mates joining in, the alarm routine sees many variations. By
the end of July, the NDA Wing had settled down and the mind gets accustomed to
the ringing bells. Those were the days when snoozes did not function
efficiently if the alarm shut button of the mechanical watch had become victim
of a brutal attempt to shut its high pitched bell. Being a hard core Public
School types, I had also settled down into my new routine and the 4th
Alarm Bell at around 0430 Hours was my rising signal.
2. I had joined the National Defence
Academy on a few nudges from my Father. He wanted me to fulfil his dream of
becoming an Indian Army Officer. The nudges were gentle and also hard, at times
as I was keener to pursue a Medical degree. My first cousin’s marriage took
place when I was in my 9th Standard in 1983. The exams had got over
and I had scored a good percentage. Those were the days when we used to possess
02 types of shoes- one pair of black Bata Shoes for the school and family
events and one pair of White Bata Fleet Shoes. A new design and more spongy Sports
Shoes with a Velcro strap locking mechanism had just been introduced into the
Indian market. It was a rage and every youngster wanted to wear one such shoe.
I was also not left away from such an urge and banked upon my exam performance
and brother’s wedding to tilt the decision of my Father in my favour to buy one
such pair of shoe.
3. At a favorable moment, when the new
bride had arrived at the home and the entire family had sat around her to
conduct a “Ring Finding” game, I
brought all my guts to my mouth and requested the new shoes from my father!!
The hard nudge that I received in front of the entire family firmly pushed me
away from my dream to be a Doctor and I vowed that I would join the National
Defence Academy (NDA) to get my dream shoes. My Father gave me a princely sum
of Rs 2000/- in April 1988 to undergo the NDA interview at Bangalore. I saved
each penny till I cleared the final selection and bought a Rs 1400/- worth of
new shoes when I left Bangalore for New Delhi after my selection for the
Academy.
Opposite 12 SSB
Bangalore- April 1988- After Selection to NDA
(extreme right and
the shoes say it all!!)
4. The story did not end here. It was just
the beginning of a new twist into my life. The new shoes got locked in my NDA
Trunk immediately on the arrival to NDA Wing and we were back to wearing the
Bata White Fleet shoes. The 4th Alarm bell went off at 0430 hours
and I got up to do my rituals before the morning muster for physical training
(PT). It was the 4th week at the NDA Wing and each alternate day we
were running 5-6 kms to build up our strength and stamina. These runs through
cross-country routes left our not so accustomed limbs and especially legs
aching and the thin soul of the Fleet Shoes did not add any succor either.
Centered between Mates NJ Singh & Deepak Bhasker
5. As we reached the fields for the PT, we
found that a Boxing arena had been rigged there and from that day the Novices
Boxing Bouts were beginning. The hard core veterans smelt fun whilst the Public
School variants did not have much clue apart from a few remembrances of
Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky-1” antics. The trainers at NDA are seasoned
professionals and their plans are perfect. As the luck would have it, I was
selected for the first day bouts and pitched against a stocky Sainik School,
Bhubaneswar veteran from the other Squadron called November Squadron. A mere
look at my opponent and I realized that it was an unmatched battle. Here I was
a commoner, who had never fought a school or a lane fight, had done all my home
works and assignments on time, had never been punished and had taken pride in
my discipline. I had to sustain 03 rounds of 2.5 minutes each against my
versatile opponent who by then did not understand/appreciate the meaning of
being a Course mate or a Brother-in-Arms as we all become from 2nd
Term onwards till death does us apart.
6. The only sign of good luck were my 03
classmates Satyapal Sindhu, Navdeep Dahiya and Anil Tahlan. Though these
gentlemen were also in November Squadron, they opted to be my seconds. As the
gloves went into my hands and a rooky head gear was put on my head, these 03
mates kept on egging me to just withstand the onslaught. They were also
extremely worried and knew that my face would soon be converted into a pulp. My
legs were trembling as I had never taken a punch from anyone in my 17 years of
existence on the Mother Earth. The frenzy of the boxing bouts was raking the
air and soon the 5th bout of the day was announced. I faintly
remember as Navdeep escorted me inside the ring and pumped in my ears,” Do not
fall down, get up”.
7. The bell was shaken by the mallet and the
stocky opponent sized me up nicely and properly. He was as dark as I was fair
and looked menacingly into my eyes. A little training before the bout was given
by a PT instructor and I ached my mind to remember those pearls of wisdom as
November Squadron raised the war cry. The boxer moved towards me and I raised
my guard. His first punch landed on my chin and I hit the rope. My 03
classmates also raised the battle cry and told me to move on. Mike Squadron had
fallen silent as they feared for the worst too. The punch had shaken my bare
roots, but now I knew that how a punch felt. The heat had sunk in and I moved
within the ring. Soon, my opponent came in again and this time. I decided to
put in my best. One of my punch landed on his lips and I made the fist bloody
cut. The “Rocky” inside me rose too. The opponent was very angry and annoyed.
The battle had seemed a cake walk for him, but, I had managed to land a few
punches and also made the cut on his face. He let go his fury on me and I also
did my best to counter his brute force.
8. The second round began and he punched me
harder and harder. The frenzy in the arena was mind boggling. Each save by me
was cheered loudly as a commoner fended off a titan. At the end of the second
round, my arms were refusing to pick themselves up. Navdeep and Satyapal were
very worried and knew that in the 3rd round, I would be injured
badly. My arms felt like 50 kgs each. They did their best to revive me and soon
the bell rang. My opponent was now working against time to flatten me for a
knockout. I was barely able to hit him as my mobility was not responding.
Halfway through the round, his punch flattened me. My squadron Mike raised the
tempo and I got up on the count of 5 to face some more barrages. My lip was cut
open and I again went down on my back. But now, the bout was not in boxing
arena but in the arena of the respective minds. My opponent had also tired down
and his punches did not make give any pain to me. I again got up on the count
of 6, fended off a few agonising seconds and the end of 7.5 minutes came all
too soon. I lost the bout, but, my bar of undertaking the pain was raised from
a dead Zero to a perfect Hundred. The pains and stitches remained for a few
days but the fighting spirit had been inculcated, the Novices Boxing had
achieved its purpose. I had arrived to follow the famed NDA Motto- THE MAKER OF MEN.
9. My venerable opponent did not complete
the Course as he left the Academy half way through the Course and I did not get
a chance to be his Brother-in-Arms. I fondly remember his punches and the
baking that he gave me to achieve the NDA Motto. The Fleet Shoes made the fight
easier. They helped to keep the feet firmly on the ground as sweat fell like
rain on the floor. They do not offer a good sponge but they ensure that the
feet are firmly in touch with the ground. The good fight and the saving of a
knockout earned me a few hours “Liberty” from the NDA Wing to visit Pune City.
I proudly wore my Velcro Shoes and enjoyed the day out with my friends.
10. Yesterday, I saw the epic on “Mary Kom”. I
saw Mary Kom mending and wearing the same Bata White Fleet Shoes as she learnt
the nuances of Boxing in the trouble torn Manipur. The movie moved the tears
and the pain of that first punch on my chin came back haunting. The gentle
nudges of my Father to buy a shoe only if I can afford to wear it stood stark
in front of me as I saw Mary Kom climbing the hard grinding mountain called
Success with the dint of her hard work and raw, brute courage and conviction. I
treasure my Shoes. They have taught me the efficacy of labor, sweat,
determination, conviction and courage. They have to be earned to keep the legs
going. There are many out there in India’s vast lands who would one day wear
the shoes that they desire. The essence of the battle is in fighting hard and
strong. The opponent may be strong, powerful and agile, but, a Fighter’s spirit
can win the final battle. Cheers to all the sports persons of India who have
overcome each and every odd to bring laurels to the Nation. The National Flag
goes up with the National Anthem playing in the background as they turn gritty
battles into medals for the Nation. The fighter’s spirit is unmatched- The Fighter Never Quits, the Quitter Never
Wins. Raise the bar, move on and meet the battle head on to get the glory.
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