Hangover of the camp

I came to college the very next day after reaching Kerala, everyone was curious to see me. I was happy to see my friends and shared my experience with all and then I saw my NCC mates and all of the friends said that I loosed my weight in the camp. I was shocked to hear it, I thought Oh my God how could this happen, anyways I enjoyed the new change. But it didn’t last long, my health was getting worse. I had frequent coughing and fever and also body pain. I felt tired very soon. parade was about to begin, but during the practices my health was getting worse. One morning during the parade I was about to fell unconscious, Greeshma was the girls senior and she told me to take rest. I said ok and went to take rest. That evening I went to consult the doctor as I had small eruptions all over my body specially legs hands and ears. Doctor at once said : “take rest for two weeks. You have got chicken pox.” Wow that’s was good one, I didn’t want to attend the parade and I have got to a solid excuse. I didn’t go for the ID parade. Full rest in home, that didn’t make me feel bored in home. I used to chat with friends in phone and got all news and gossips that occurred in the college. After two weeks my mom got the disease, she too took the same medicine. Then I went to college after two weeks. Teachers were moving with their portions and it took me almost a month to cope up with the studies, but I didn’t fail, all my efforts were giving me good results. I was gaining my health slowly but was slim.

the return journey from SNIC

We returned from the camp by road for two days and two days in train, by road via Kulu, Manali. The sceneries were so beautiful and great; I was engaged in photography even in van. We and some of the girl cadets were in a van. We had to stay in two army camps in two successive days, and in one camp we had to sleep in sleeping bags due to low temperature at evening and night. The camp soon ended and we didn’t know how the days were gone, some of the camp friends had contact even after the camp. In the end of July we reached Kerala. I and Vineesh got down from train in Palakkad and went to Kannur by bus. By evening 5pm I reached my home and it was so awesome for me. we had a great camp and got many good friends, Thanks to NCC

SNIC Leh 2009

Next day we were ready for the flight, we were going to Leh by flight and our flight was at 6am. So we were ready in advance by 3am. We got wind resistant sweaters; we were informed that Leh had very cold wind always. We went to airport  and waited for the formalities to be completed. There were some foreigners in the airport and when they saw us in NCC uniform they were very surprised and was smiling. I took many pictures of the airport and myself. Then I went to the airbus and then entered the flight. It was so cool.

        The plane was a small one, only it could accommodate 200 cadets and luckily I got the side seat, it was so good that I took good photos of the sky and earth. That was my first flight and I can say that it is not that much interesting because we can’t move there much, we had to sit in the seat itself and watch the sky. First I took so many pictures of the clouds and sun, but soon it became boring. The clouds were beautiful but soon I got bored. Then the sun rose fully and it became difficult to look outside, so I closed the window.

       By that time I got my breakfast, it was so delicious and good. Not so spicy or juicy but I liked it very much. Compared to the barrack food at it was simply awesome. We had to spend one hour in the plane and when we were about to reach Leh we could see the beautiful mountains covered with little snow. It was beautiful and great. Then we reached Leh airport. The officers were there to welcome us and we were welcomed very warmly.

       We soon reached the camp and we got into girls barrack, there were many to welcome us. We were told to stay quite and to take rest so that we could acclimatize with the environment so soon. Then for one day we took complete rest. After that day we started to visit Leh tourist sites and places of interests.

       First we went to Thickshey monastery, it was a great place. Buddhism was mainly here. The natives were praying and worshipping and we were just watching them, it was the first time I am getting around with an entirely different culture. I was surprised and amused at the same time. The Hinduism in Kerala was entirely different when compared here. Leh was mainly of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. I met many cadets of Leh. Some were very friendly but some were not so easy to be mingled. The way and sceneries in Leh was entirely different, wherever you look you can see brown mountains, some were covered with little snow on top. But they were having summer season when we were there but still it was cold at evenings and night. Only few girls took bath in morning. It was so cold for south Indians.

                 Hemis monatery was another place of interest but when we reached there it was closed due to construction purposes, we just lingered outside and climbed the small . It was much beautiful from outside than Thickshey monastery and they worshipped different God there. We just roamed here and there and found many good things to see. The saints were praying and were quiet. Actually I like that atmosphere. It is a good place for some soul searching but as I was busy with my friends and photography I just shoot those into my camera so fast so that we could see it again and again. There were some foreigners too; I just took some pictures with them.

         Then we visited Hall of fame, previous day we had a small presentation about the history of Leh. That made us to understand more of Leh natives and its culture. There was a light and music presentation of leh history, it was also good but it was shown at evening and photography became a Herculean task. But I managed to take more photographs even though it was not so clear. Anju was always with me, no cadets walked alone they had company always and that is one of the best thing I love about NCC, we are never alone anywhere.  

        We had seminars and programs in Rinchen auditorium. It was so spacious and vivid for 200 cadets. DDG gave us an inaugural and welcoming speech on the very first day of the camp. We always talk and made noise in auditorium and officers had to control us every time. Here we had speech by different authorities about our career and career in army. There was also a slide presentation on Siachen army and their victory over army. Most of the cadets used to sleep during seminar presentation and officers used to wake us up.

       We used to get tea time after the seminar presentation. I swear from my experience that the tea was so perfect, the snacks always tasted better. We used to have large variety of snacks. Wow it was really marvelous. We used to have tea party with CO, army officials and government peoples. It was a great experience, many ministers of J&K visited our camps and we were so thrilled. Even though I don’t remember their names they were good looking and their speech was good.

       Once the DG of NCC came for tea party, He spend only one hour in Leh but it was so good. Only few cadets were selected to have tea with him and I was one of them. Lucky! He soon went in hi black ambassador car after spending few minute with us.
       We also visited army training centers and were informed about the different army training centers in Leh. We had also a demonstration on all training techniques. Then we had weapon display in another center. We were given information on army weapons and many such instruments used for the war. It was good and informative for us. I was really proud to be in SNIC for the first because I got the opportunity to visit such a good camp.

       We had several competitions in the camp. I won first prize in drawing competition and the topic was “Juley, yeh dil mange more!” I also participated in group discussion but the prize was cancelled due to some technical reasons. We had NIAP competition; this was mainly for exhibiting the cultural values and the heritage of the state. I got to know about the other states culture and heritage so beautifully for the first time. I like the seven sister states so much, specially their music.  was always banging in their drums and was giving us energy in every way. Everybody loved Kerala because she is truly Gods own country. We got second prize in it. Then we had guard of honor competition, I was doing it for the first time. I never had weapon drill and it was quite difficult for me to do it, but I managed to do it somehow, but we didn’t get prize for that.

      Now telling about the food at camp, it was good, fully north Indian style food. We were given snacks and fruits in between too. I had good friendship with many cadets. I had good company with Karnataka, J&amp;K, Andhra Pradesh, <st1:place w:st="on">Maharashtra</st1:place>, and Tamil Nadu and so on. Still I have contact with some of those friends. Wow it was simply a superb camp, I am really lucky to be in it.

Special National integration camp Leh 2009

We went to Palakkad to join with other cadets of Kerala for the camp. There were 4 boys and 4 girls and one ANO (Assistant NCC Officer) for the camp, but one girl missed the train and our strength became 7. One the officers from battalion accompanied us till Palakkad, he bought me lunch from station. Vineesh had already eaten as his appetite was uncontrollable. Then at evening 5pm the train came. I was so thrilled about the journey. As told I met the cadets and was cool. Swathi, Anju were the girls and Vishnu, Alwyn, Sooraj were the other boys. Our ANO was Neetha Sashidharan, a very sweet person who is so polite and gentle. She had a daughter who was one year old but still she came for the camp. We had to spend two days and two nights to reach . We had spent little money for the food.

It was my first visit; it was really superb, the traffic in is way too better than Kerala though it was a metropolitan city. I loved at once but not more than Kerala because the temperature was killing me. Finally we reached the camp. It was very huge than I expected. I heard from Vineesh that it was the site for RDC and I was so thrilled to hear it, even though I didn’t participated in any RDC drills I was lucky to enter the barracks of the camp. The barracks were simply superb, separate barrack for all states and same way the food point too. We entered the barracks and the Karnataka team members were there to welcome us. The ANO and officers in the camp were not so soft and I didn’t like them at first site, but gradually I understood that they were helpful. Then we refreshed and had some tea. Tea was really different it was made of less milk, less tea powder, less sugar not so tasty, but the ANO of the camp told us to accept what ever is given to you and never complain about the taste. I didn’t really liked the camp food, it was always dry. As a keralite I was given food with spices and juicy but here it was opposite, I wondered how they are enjoying that food, but I didn’t complain. We had to spent two days in that camp. I was really tired and was so thrilled to go to Leh. We had to go to Leh by Aero plane and were thrilled about it. By that time I became familiar with many friends especially with the Karnataka team. We were sent to Leh by two batches, we were in second batch so we had to wait for one more day in the camp and the temperature was really intolerable.

Preparations for the camp

I and Vineesh got the chance to visit the camp in Leh. There was a interview prior to it. During vacation Greeshma called me and said to come to battalion, she said there was a interview for the camp. I was not at all interested but she pushed me for that. Then I said I’ll come soon and I came to the NCC office. Many girls and boys were there for the interview and I was not sure I would get the chance but after the interview with the Commanding officer I was sure that I would get the chance and luckily I got it. Then I had to convince my father about the camp. He was convinced by the NCC officer of our college Lt Sathish. I have to give many thanks to him. After that we had medical check up since we were going such high altitudes for the first time. We both passed the medical test and went to battalion. We collected uniforms and necessary items for the camp. Vineesh encouraged me to go for Republic day camp, but when I thought about the class I am going to miss I said to myself I don’t need that camp. But Greeshma did go for the camp. We went for the camp in July. I barely entered the class during July.&nbsp;

NCC Sent Off 2009

We had to give sent off to our seniors, they were so sad to leave the NCC. We had a NCC parade that Saturday followed by NCC official sent off meeting. Then the cadets who excelled in that year were given awards. Sudhi, Vineesh, Nidhin and Thushara got awards for attending special camps like RDC and TSC respectively. Principal chaired that occasion and all the cadets gave us a good speech on their experience in NCC as a cadet. I gave vote of thanks. Greeshma said welcome speech. Sussky, Prajin, Surya attended a NIC camp and their experience was so good. They narrated everything in a great way.


All the junior cadets didn’t have much experience and were complaining that they need more experience to become seniors. But seniors encouraged us. They were always there for us for all advice and tips. At that day we had Biriyani for lunch and it was simply superb, we knew that it was our last lunch with seniors but no one did cry even though they had a sad face.


     As a last party in NCC we went to Muzhappilangad beach that evening and enjoyed a lot from there. All the boys were in the sea swimming and dancing, but making fun with each other. All girls were in the shore laughing at the seniors, it was a superb day. I went to that beach for the first time and I can say that it is the most beautiful and clean beach I saw in my life. The blue sea and white sky, the sun was about to set. There were little crowd in the beach. Background was green and covered with bushes and pines. It was a superb beach. We had ice cream from that beach and it was arranged by NCC seniors only. We laughed, played and enjoyed a lot. I was with senior Jamana all the time. She was so live and vivid. That day simply rocked.

B Certificate exam

We had B certificate exam in NCC; this took place in S N College itself. The exam was for two days, Theory exam followed by drill exam. It was so nice. In theory exams our seniors helped a lot; they told us to carry guides for exam and said it is common to copy in NCC exam. But I didn’t have the courage to take the book. That day I forgot to take my camp certificate, I called my sister in home and she brought the certificate. We had drill exam on Sunday. We had Map setting, drill test, assembling of rifle parts and so on. We were so afraid for the exam but it went on well. All the RDC cadets got ‘A’ grade and rest got what they deserved, I got B grade in ‘B’ certificate exam.