The Unwritten Chapters Of A Makra Cadet

"The National Cadet Corps"
The organization that has given me everything I wished for and more

Even though words are not enough to sum up my emotions
I tried to cover it all in a Hindi poem

Vardi mai crease se zyada silvatein thi
Savdhan mai sthirta se zyada toh harkate thi

1 minute late hone par daddu karte huye
Aur attendance kam hone par seniors se darte huye

Aise aye the ham unit dil mai jazba aur rago mai josh bharte huye

Ma’am AIVSC kaise jate hai yeh prashna hamne roz pucha tha
MPCG ko pratham sthan dilavana hai iske alava hame aur kuch na sooja tha

How’s the josh pe dahad ke chillana bhi hamne sikha
Aur classes mai  Sone ka dhundha hai ek se ek tareeka

Aur Makre mai toh jaise expert ho gaye hai ham
Par makra mara bhi toh unity ke sath mara hai

Jao voh ped chu kar aao , mai bich mai se cut mar lete the
Refreshment Mai thandi frooti toh chupke se taad lete the

Jab gire hai toh sath gire hai
Jab uthe toh hath pakad kar uthe hai

Roye bhi ham sath mai hase bhi ham sath mai
Mushkilon se nikle bhi hai aur fase bhi hai sath mai

Jai Hind ma’am bolne se lekar jai Hind ma’am sunne tak ka safar bahut jald hi kat gaya
Buddy pair ko suna kar mera dukh bina upay hi bat gaya

Yeh ragda yeh makra yaad toh bahut ayega
Aur mujhe vishvas hai ham kitna bhi aage bad jaye dil hamara ghum kar 1 MP AIR SQN hi ayega

 

As a first year cadet, I wasn’t the most enthusiastic or ideal cadet rather I was the perfect embodiment of a “makra cadet “.  It was only when I first saw the badge of AIVSC on my senior’s uniform I took the training and discipline more seriously. After learning about the process and how tough the competition is the competitive side in me  just wanted to earn that badge at any cost .

The actual training for AIVSC started in my second year of NCC , reporting everyday and giving test on specialized subject of air wing followed by drill and  firing practice , was not just time consuming but also made me question if I can actually make it in the final contingent or all this “Tapasya “ will just go in vain . Every time I questioned myself or tried to back out I had 3 amazing support systems as my co cadets to remind me of my capabilities . After 4 odd months of sheer commitment , late night studies and a lot of self doubts  I finally made it in the MP&CG AIVSC contingent and went on to experience 12 days full of enthusiasm, competitiveness and zeal in Bangalore . Our contingent secured 3rd overall position in the All India Vayu Sainik camp 2023 .

 

 

As I thought my quota of national camps was over , God really had other (and better ) plans  . The group commander of Indore Brigadier SK Chetty sir along with the deputy group commander Colonel Viraj Kamath sir recommended my name as the Indore group’s best cadet (SW Air ). I was very adamant about going to RDC since I had already sacrificed one semester for the AIVSC. But after  a lot of convincing by my mother , who is an Ex-SUO of 1 MP girls battalion , I gave in and went on to compete for the best cadet competition. The best cadet competition and the training made me fall in love with NCC even more . The road to RDC was filled with ups and downs but the destination was SO WORTH IT . Republic Day camp was another world altogether , the competitiveness, the enthusiasm and the excitement filled Delhi’s cold air . Waking up before the sun and making our way through the thick fog , watching dignitaries cross and greet us like it’s any other day for them ; all of this just felt surreal .

 

After RDC was over and I came  home , eagerly waiting for YEP lists , one random day the first list came out and I realised “this is how heartbreak feels like” . As lists came my motivation and excitement reduced , wondering if there will be a list with my name or not , or worse will I be in the reserve list of the delegation . As I lost all hopes one fine day the call finally came with “ Manvi bol rahi hai ? Aapka YEP mai hogaya hai “ and my instant question was which country and the person on the other end said “ Nepal “ and I cried , and these unfortunately were not happy tears , the only reason behind it was that I have  already been to Nepal and just imagined a different country . But YEP Nepal was more than anything I could dream of - everyday there I was thanking God to have given me the chance of being the Indian ambassador to Nepal , the warmth of people , the beauty of nature , Nepal’s charm remains unmatched. Being the only one from air wing with all my 15 co-cadets from army wing also made the experience all the more exceptional for me. One of the core memories for me was the one hour mountain flight . Being able to see Mount Everest so up close and from a military aircraft was nothing any of us even dreamt of.

I am so grateful to the National cadet corps for giving me opportunities to do things I could only ever dream about . As the first female Senior under officer of 1 MP Air Sqn , every time someone asks anything related to my experiences or the badges I wear with pride,  I only have thankfulness in my heart and a burning desire to make a minor change in a “makra cadet’s “ life , because that’s how this  makra cadet started .

I came as cadet Manvi Draboo but I'll leave this organization with tears in my eyes, memories in my heart and
"Indian delegate to Nepal " engraved in my soul and mind.
Extremely grateful to everyone who was part of this journey; especially family, instructors, seniors and friends .

Jai Hind