Third Year

The third year did not have many eventful incidents. I kept away from other distracting things. But to have some engagement, I joined the NCC.

Whatever we plan and do, things can always go in different direction, as we are bound by our surroundings.

That is what happened when a small incident happened in the College. One group of students went on strike and it turned out violent. So the Principal closed the College 'indefinitely'. The word 'indefinitely' was misunderstood by many. The parents and students thought the College will reopen after a few days or at least after one or two weeks.

But there was no communication from the College administration on the reopening. The educated parents got disturbed (as they only had future plans for their children) and contacted the Principal ( I believe it was Prof. Maria Louis). There were some discussions going between the Parents and the Principal, and it appeared that the College put the parents squarely responsible for their behaviour of their wards in the College Later, after more than a month, the college sent communication to the parents with a format to be signed (by parent) and brought in person to the College in a fortnight. The content was an agreement cum authorisation empowering the College to suspend / terminate their ward in case the student behaves in any unruly manner in the college.

The college reopened after this, and there not strikes affecting studies (though it surfaced in later years). Luckily there was no political or Governmental pressures on these.

In this year we had our NCC Camp at the army training center (MEG), Bangalore. Before reaching there many had a joyful feeling , of going to Bangalore, and free from studies for a fortnight. It was a pucca training ceter and we were treated a army personnel, not as NCC candidates.

We had to be ready for the training at 6 AM. With a big group of members ( students from many colleges were put in a big hanger, and amenities were limited. We used to take bath in groups only.

The training included all as per military training. Everywhere we have to walk only. And we have to return to return back for lunch. Alternate days it was 'running day', we have to jog for anything. If anybody is found to walk, they have to face the punishment. Lunch was horrible, daily rasam rice (rice had the insects - வண்டு - floating when added to rasam). Vegetables were there for namesake only. Really it was a very bad experience. Our army will be demoralised if it was the food they have to take regularly.

The roll call is another torture. We cannot be peaceful, as at anytime the roll call siren will go and we have to line up in the ground for attendance. Any missing person will be severely punished the next day. Few of my friends who went out  and could not be available for roll call were asked to crawl on elbows carrying the rifle on a rubble road. They all had to be bandaged in the elbow due to the injuries received.

So when, in one evening the siren came, I came to the ground with towel only, straight from the toilet, else I may also be made to crawl.

The climax was on the day of departure. we were to start after breakfast and we were at the food distribution counter. We had a shock to see each plate contained two iddlies, one green chilli, a small piece of coconut and small quantity of porikadalai. They said they did not have time to prepare chutney and we can take the ingredients themselves. It , at least at the end, infuriated our leader . He said don't take anything , we will have something on the way. We simply left all items there itself and left for the railway station.

After few years, when some of our colleagues have met the captain in the MEG, he has told that the Major who was behind all the looting was court-martialled , terminated and jailed.

I had two more chance to enter this training centre , on my official capacity, to have a discussion with a Lt. Colonel, and the treatment was entirely different.