A morning filled with 'Nostalgia"…

I received an unexpected call from Vikram yesterday. I was expecting a movie plan or an expected surprise from Kinshu when Vikram called. When Vikram asked me as what was my plan for tomorrow from 0630 hrs to 0830 hrs, I was still sure that this was something to do with Kinshu. As the conversation concluded I had an invitation to accompany him to NDA to witness his brother’s POP – Passing-Out-Parade and I had agreed without a second thought. Although I was thinking that I would have to get up in the morning unlike other days.

I slept quite late; by 0200 hrs the next morning to wake up at 0500 hrs and I was conniving how should I deny for the plan made. But still I slept to wake up early.Nimisha came at around 0600 hrs and we set for the road to NDA on my newly acquired Maruti 800. With skeptical thought about running this twelve year old car on a highway, I headed toward NDA by one of the best made road on Pune.

This twelve kilometer travel was a bit different. It was a travel to my past, a nineteen year old past when I travelled the similar road for my brother’s POP. I was an 8 year old kid then and today I had very faint memory of what I had experienced then.

Nonetheless, as I was driving through the exclusive road to NDA, the canopy trees reminded me of the bus ride I had on the same road 19 years ago.

With a feeling on amaze, curiosity and a little nervousness, I reached the gates of NDA. Amaze as this was a different India, Curiosity as to what is NDA like after 19 years and Nervousness as to whether I will be able to contain my feelings.

We met Vikram and friends and the very well-mannered and well-toned security guards at the gate – unlike the security guards that we see in the civilian world. Very politely they checked our car and pass and asked us to proceed inside.

This was a different world altogether, clean, calm, picturesque and disciplined.

Clean: As your drive inside the gates of NDA, you have this feeling that why the whole India isn’t so clean. You end up wondering how much effort is required to keep it so clean.

Calm: You only see very few people on the complete landscape of NDA. It’s because less people stay in a large area. But, you again end up wondering why all the places in India aren’t so calm.

Picturesque: Lots of trees and beautifully carved landscapes make it so look so scenic and serene.

Disciplined: Well, discipline is synonymous to NDA. It’s because of discipline that it looked clean, calm and picturesque to an outsider like me.

We were perfectly guided to a place, once again well-planned and well-organized, to park the car. We had to take a walk to the parade ground. The walk was long but not tiring as there was so much to see; especially lot of monkeys. J

As we were approaching the ground, at various intervals, atleast 4 uniform-clad gentlemen directed us very politely to our seat. We found the group there and the parade has just begun.

The parade captain was the topper of the 116^th course and I couldn’t help remembering my brother at the same position 19 years back, commanding the parade. My memories were tainted and I couldn’t recall much but the feeling was nostalgic and emotional too.

Nevertheless, being a sister of a fighter pilot itself has given me the spirit of a fighter. In such situations, I always remember the words of my brother posthumously told by my sister-in-law to me; according to him, “I was the bravest in my family”. I was humbled but recalling these words, I always regain all my strength and courage.  

The parade went on for two hours; started on time and ended dot on time. It was flawless and whole event was the best arrangement I have witnessed in years.

The most rewarding moment of the two hours was when three Jaguars flew over us with deafening blare. It was a thrilling experience and to top it all, we had this experience twice. The timing of both the Jaguar fleet appearance was matched with starting of parade-retreat and end of parade-retreat. 

It's an amazing world of Services where so much importance is give to punctuality, discipline, character, chivalry, integrity, honour and respect for everyone. 

Its because life and death is a matter of seconds for them. Its because a fellow human-being is equally important to them as they are to themselves. Its because they have been re-taught all those values in NDA which we all are taught in our primary schools or building years. The difference is just that they religiously follow what they have been taught in day to day life and we civilians take all these qualities for granted. Its simply because they try their best to live up to NDA motto - Service before Self.

With the second thunder retreating, we rose from our seats. As requested, we gave our respect to the officers in uniform and marched out of the parade ground vicinity only after them.

On our walk back to the parking area, we did click a few snaps to preserve this beautiful, nostalgic, short-lived but fulfilling experience.

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words –so here are some clicks of how wonderful the parade was.