Half Soldiers: The Spirit of NCC, Captured in Ink

There isn’t a lot that can recreate the feeling of being in NCC after becoming an ex-cadet, but Half Soldiers did just that, and more. Through the book, I found myself transported back on the ground, blinded by the sun, tired after drill, but standing together as one, with my squad. I couldn’t help but smile at the anecdotes spread across the text, from cutting a plastic bottle in half to share tea with your buddy to tightening each other’s DMS, from a senior uniting her squad through the NCC clap to comrades that become family, Half Soldiers encapsulates everything that NCC stands for.

It showcases how NCC is not just a youth organization, but a movement to sharpen young adults into responsible citizens of this country, through simple but loud values, how it’s never ‘I, me, myself’, but ‘we’. How before everything, it’s important to be a good human. How unity, perseverance, and discipline should be the guiding principles of our lives. Half Soldiers portrays what it means to be a leader, to first look within and then into others.

The book deep dives into a A Cadet’s Quest by first introducing the purpose and origin of National Cadet Corps, making it a must read for those just embarking on their NCC journey. Let the book hold your hand and guide you forward. The book presents a vast ocean of wisdom from cadets who have been there, done that. It has left no topic unspoken, be it how to prepare for camp, how to wear the uniform, fire the rifle, public speaking, or the A/B/C certificate exams, the list goes on and on.

An exceptionally beautiful, yet simple read, Half Soldiers has a way of speaking to your heart. Through its brief but well-explained chapters, #PepTalks, and interludes of stories and notes of advice from Indian Armed Forces and NCC veterans. But more than anything, it’s relatable, no matter what thoughts you might be having as a newbie or even as a second/third year cadet, the book talks about it all, giving you a friend who understands you, and puts you at ease. Because, “Although the origin of an NCC cadet is in the soil, some fly high in the sky, and some cruise through the rough ocean. So, no matter if we march on the ground, race against the clouds, or dive into the unknown deep waters. We will always stomp our boots together…fly in formation…sail as a fleet” (Half Soldiers).

This makes Half Soldiers not just a book about NCC, but about life. And for this, “NCC clap shuru kar.”