Me and Menaka were so much excited about going to Nagpur
(NADT) that we booked our tickets almost a month before. We were also lucky to
get leave for the same. My fools’ day (April 1st) prank that the
course team has reconsidered & cancelled the leave granted was believed by
almost everybody. Even the friends in NADT believed that we are not coming and
were telling me that we would meet sometime soon. I do not know whether to feel
happy that I successfully doctored the letter so nicely that nobody had an iota
of doubt or feel bad that I made Menaka & Anji disturbed for quite a bit of
time. However, the moment we landed in NADT, everything was forgotten.
I kept talking to everyone that I came across. I got to see
the Lal Bungalow under construction (shramdan project of our batch which
I consider more of dhandan than shramdan). I was excited to come
to know that Ganapathy House is again competing for title in the volley ball finals
with Bapat House. The marathon match which I played for Ganapathy last year
against Bapat immediately flashed in my mind. The five set match is such a
memorable one that me and Rahul consider it as the match of our lives. I was
present and cheered for Ganapathy even this time and I am very happy that it
retained the title. I was so happy to see Akhileshji, Mantu and Rahul playing
so well that I also joined them after the official match for some practice
matches.
The Mess and MDO (Mess Duty Officer) room are such places
which I cherish very much. I recollected the time that I used to spend as
Controller of Stores and all the purchases that I used to do for the mess. The
steel glasses that I and Rahul purchased going on motorbike to avoid usage of
plastic ones welcomed me. Calling the suppliers asking for better rates, visiting
the vegetable, egg, chicken and fish markets for wholesale rates, looking at
issue of material so that wastage of food is minimized, going in the night
after everybody had dinner to look at the food left are still fresh in my mind.
How can I forget to write about the activities of Social
Welfare Club (SWC)? Me and Rahul taking Preetam on bike to Mayo hospital for
his eye operation immediately came to my mind. Vikram, Srinivasu, Rahul,
Madhusmita and many others did such a fine job that the visits to the orphanage
are remembered for long. I am so happy that they took the club along well and
now made even the juniors active participants so that the tradition continues. I
was very eager to donate blood in the blood donation camp organized by the club
when I was there this time. However, the doctor there poured water on my
enthusiasm when he did not allow it as I took Hepatitis vaccine just 10 days
before. Initially, I was adamant to give blood. When Dr. Praveen sir told that
the recipient may have problem in the first 30 days of vaccination, I relented
though with little disappointment.
Post dinner walk in the campus are another enjoyable experience
that I could enjoy again. I remembered the last days when I used to walk along
with Neeju, Kanu, Kajal, Rahul. However, Yaduraj’s sweet songs are the highlight
of those days. I used to catch him every day after the Yoga class or after
dinner and make him sing for me. He did it again this time dedicating them to
the bright moon in the sky. I will list down four such ‘chand’ songs that Yadu
used to sing (among many) that you will also relish.
- Thandi hawan yeh chandni suhani by Kishore Kumar
from film Jhumroo
- Khoya khoya chand by Mohd. Rafi from film Kala
Bazar
- Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki by Mohd. Rafi from film Dulari
- Chaudvin ka chand ho ya aaftaab ho by Mohd Rafi
One more song on ‘chand’ that flashes in my mind is ‘Tum
aaya to aaya mujhe yaad..Gali mein aaj chand nikala..’ from Mahesh Bhatt's ‘Jakhm’.
When Yaduraj says that he misses a good listener after I left NADT, I felt it as
a great compliment for me. But, all the credit goes to him for patiently
singing the songs first and later explaining me the context along with the
meaning of the difficult Urdu words. I wish I continue to listen to such great
numbers all throughout my life.
I also walked along the floors and rooms in the new hostel
complex ‘Vikramshila’. As my batchmates are joking, its name reflects the
strong bonding between our sweet Vikram and his lovely pet Shila. The new
building is impressive in terms of facilities, but disappointing in terms of
steps taken to minimize ecological footprint. The issue of urban solid waste
management came to my mind where they could have made arrangements for
decomposition of the solid human waste generated within the premises in
underground tanks. Similarly, the floors and rooms can be designed in such a
way to minimize electricity consumption. The trade-off between initial additional
cost and long term savings needs to be studied in detail to come to workable
solutions.
The affection of MOTA (Married Officer Trainees) when I went
to their quarters is really sweet. Me and Rahul kept eating or drinking at
least something in all their houses. I also met Jayasankar sir at his home. He looked
tired physically, but not in his spirits. He talked to me till the last minute I
spent with him. He talked about all the things that he planned for training,
what he could accomplish, the support that he could not get from his colleagues
and seniors etc. At the end, he gave me a wonderful book titled ‘The Book of
Mirdad’ by Mikhail Naimy. He told me that all he tells and what even Gita
contains is captured in this book. I am eagerly looking forward to read this book.
As sir told, I was destined to get this book and hence I met sir at that
moment.
I could not play badminton matches in the limited time. But,
I walked around the courts in the night and also enjoyed the ‘memoIRS’ that my
batchmates prepared on the wall there in sports complex. I also missed sitting
along with everybody in auditorium which Menaka could do. The day long ‘inspiration’
and ‘brown bag’ presentations in auditorium are very less likely to be
forgotten soon.
The three days that we spent there flew away in three
minutes. Probably, we may not be able to meet all the friends at the same time.
In fact, the entire batch itself may not meet together in near future. However,
I already told most of the friends that I will come for the Course Review
Meeting that may be held next year. Hopefully, it comes true and I will again
enjoy the freshness and serenity of NADT.
