NCC : A JOURNEY TO REMEMBER

it all started with race ,

with excitement on each and everyone’s face for getting selected to be called as a cadet. from drill practice to pool of duty leaves ,

then come the push ups and crunches ,

ready to learn new things like kadam tal and haunches .

we learned how to wake up early and figure of 8 was our style ,

 our hair neither long nor curly,

laces tied bags packed and our faces shined .

 walking or driving ,

everyone tried to reach on time at drill square.

no one wanted to be late,

no one wanted to pay “extra rounds” fine.

our healthier lot lost quite a few inches of their waist-line.

 seeing our seniors we shouted “jai hind” in the dark morning .

from knowing no one , to memorizing everyone’s name with cadet no. ,

we grew up.

 from getting ragada everytime and doing all together,

 no matter girl or boy to dancing till we got drenched at every function .

 after the parades those samosas and tikkis tasted like 5-star cuisines.

for 10 days on those ncc camp ,

one t-shirt was all that needed.

 how that one plate feed-ed everyone’s hunger.

bathing together in those chilly mornings with cold water.

from participating in the parade at rajpath and who could not make till that with heavy heart and strongest of all go back .

 mopping every corner of the camp area like we never did at our home.

 and the inspection staff come and found mistakes like sherlock holmes.

giving night duties with buddies and sleeping all day in next day classes.

 oh! how could i forget the joy of wining inter collegiate competition .

then, after a year , new faces comes and the cycle went on .

 after becoming seniors , holding the right to give ragada to the juniors,

 our chests were laden with our hardwork and experience.

NEW PAGES WERE READY TO BE WRITTEN AND OURS READY TO BE TURNED , WHERE ELSE WOULD WE HEAR “JITNA RAGADA UTNA TAGDA “

NOBODY COULD EVER MAKE IT LIKE THE NCC CADETS COULD IN THREE YEARS.

-by Poonam