Revisiting & Reliving NADT, Nagpur (6th-8th April, 2012)

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 1^st) 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.

1. Thandi hawan yeh chandni suhani by Kishore Kumar from film Jhumroo
2. Khoya khoya chand by Mohd. Rafi from film Kala Bazar
3. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki by Mohd. Rafi from film Dulari
4. 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.