Visits

VOL - I
AUG 2014
NEWSLETTER
NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY
Editorial....
The monsoons having set in, the Academy campus is now
lushgreen and a nature lover's delight. Despite heavy rains, the
training activities continued un-hindered. There were a host of
activities conducted in the month to include academic, sports and
cultural events.
The 'Inter Squadron Public Speaking competition' was held
on 06 Aug 14. 'P' Sqn won the championship and 'K' Sqn were the
runners up. 35725/P/130 Cdt A N Singh was adjudged the 'Best
Speaker' of the competition. Congratulations to one and all!!
No. 1 Bn secured First position in the 'Inter Bn Sailing
Competition' conducted on 06,13 and 20 Aug 14. A total of 15
teams of 'Enterprise class' participated in the competition.
No. 2 Bn bagged the First position in the 'Bhawani Shankar
English Debate' held on 27 Aug 14. The topic for the debate was'
Promulgation of a Uniform Civil Code will be a Set back To
India's Diversity'. 35104/E/128 Cdt S Jha won the Comdt's Book
Prize.
Our Cdts performed well in the 'Junior National Squash
Championship 2014' held at OTA, Chennai. 36210/C/131 Cdt S
Sharma played the Semi Finals.
Ambassador C Ranganathan (Retd) delivered a lecture to Cdts
on 'Sino - Indian Relations'. He explained the complexities of the
subject in a simple and lucid manner.
A total of 76,000 saplings have been planted in the ongoing
'Green NDA Campaign'.
Visits
Air Marshal DS Khajuria AVSM SC, AOM, Air HQ.
Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle AVSM VSM, DCIDS(DOT), HQ IDS.
Ambassador C Ranganathan (Retd).
A group of 36 participants (35 foreigners and 01 Indian), of 119th
International Training Programme on 'Auditing in IT Environment'.
Shri Jitendra Kumar Tripathi, Dy Registrar (Defence).
Shri Dharampal, AO (SPS).
Gp Capt AKM Manirul Bahar, AFWC, psc (Bangladesh Air Force).
Col SM Kamrul Hassan Bulbul, psc (Bangladesh Army).
Col Myint Cho (Myanmar Army).
Col SK Eshwaran (Sri Lankan Army).
Col Sonam Gyeltshen, DNY (Bhutan Army).
Col Bahaul Uaq (Afghanistan Army).
Comdt addressing the Academy on taking over
Academy Dinner Night
The first lady Mrs Asha Bhadauria with Cadets
at MH K'wasla
ATT
Trg Branch
Wpn Trg.
Trg Activities.
P
WT class on 'No 36 Hand Grenade, 9 mm Pistol and 40 mm
UBGL, was conducted for 127 course on 01 and 06 Aug 2014.
P
WT class on 'No 36 Hand Grenade, 9 mm Pistol and 40 mm
UBGL, was conducted for 127 course on 01 and 06 Aug 2014.
Air Marshal DS Khajuria AVSM SC
visited Army Trg Team on
09 Aug 14.
Recce for Ex Trishul New loc by
officers of ATT was conducted
on 05 & 6 Aug 14.
Air Marshal DS Khajuria
Foreign Offrs in 119th Int'l trg pgme
Wpn Trg Classes in Progress
P
WT class on '84 mm RL & Fault Finding Prac, was conducted
for 127 course on 09 & 20 Aug 2014.
Recce for Ex Trishul New loc
NTT
P
WT class on 'Theory of Small Arms Fire' was conducted
for 127 course on 19 Aug 2014.
EVENTS
P
Firing of INSAS Rif 'Application Fire' was conducted for
127 Course on 06 Aug 2014.
P
Campaign study on 'History of Indian Naval Power &
Evolutions of Submarines since World War' was conducted
by the VIth term naval cadets on 14 Aug 14.
P
CAT-I for term V& VI Naval cadets were conducted
from 08 - 14 Aug 14.
P
Firing of INSAS LMG
'Grouping & Zeroing' was
conducted for 127 Course on
01 and 09 Aug 2014.
Schedule of CAT I for Term VI
Ø
Chartwork -08 Aug 14
Ø
Astronomics-11 Aug 14
Ø
Relvel-13 Aug 14
Firing.
Firing
P
Ni Firing of INSAS Rif was conducted for 127 Course on
02, 04, 07, 12,14 and 19 Aug 2014.
P
Firing of INSAS Rif 'Preliminary Marksmanship' was
conducted for 128 Course on 02, 07, 12, 16 & 19 Aug 2014.
P
Firing of INSAS Rif 'Preliminary Fire' was conducted for
129 Course on 24, 28 Jul, 04 and 14 Aug 2014.
Tac Trg.
P
Tac Trg TD on 'Patrolling
and Ambush' was conducted
for 127 course on 02 Aug 2014.
P
Tac Trg lec & demo on
'Verbal Order' was conducted
for 127 course on 05 Aug 2014.
P
Tac Trg 'Ex SANCHAR' was
conducted on 08 Aug 14.
Sailing
Trg Instructions promulgated:P
Mid Term visit of VIth Term naval cadets to ND (Mumbai)
P
Cross trg visit of Vth Term Army & AF cadets to ND(Mumbai)
P
Industrial Trg visit of Vth Term naval cadets to Garware Wall
Ropes (P) Ltd & CWPRS, Khadakwasla.
P
Trg visit of IIIrd term naval cadets to Visakhapatnam
P
Sailing Expedition to Mandovi Gaon
NDA Open Enterprise Sailing Championship 03/08, 04/08,
05/08, 06/08 & 07/08 were conducted at P' Bay.
Tac Trg.
Map Reading
Map Reading
Schedule of CAT I for Term V
Ø
Ship's Org & Comm-09 Aug 14
Ø
Gen Navigation-14 Aug 14
P
MR class on 'Inter Visibility,
Intro to GPS and Handling' for
128 course on 09 Aug 2014.
P
MR Ex 'Orientation Outdoor
Test' was conducted for 127
course on 13 Aug 14.
P
MR recc for 'Ex Silver ring'
was conducted for DSs and ATT
staff on 19 Aug 14.
The Inter Battalion Enterprise Sailing Competition was
conducted on 06 Aug, 13 Aug and 20 Aug 14 at P' Bay.
A total of 15 teams of Enterprise class participated (for cadets
only). The overall final results of Inter Bn Enterprise Sailing
Competition conducted at Watermanship Training Centre,
Peacock Bay are as follows: -
Sailing
Comdt's visit toTac Trg Area and Weapon trg Area
on 06 Aug14.
Bn
No 1
No 3
No 4
No 2
No 5
Points
61
66
76
120
134
Position
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
ETT
AFTT
Trg Events:
Flying Training:
Cadet Training: - A total of 50 Sorties/37:30 hrs have been
completed till date. Shortfall is due to prolonged adverse weather.
CAT-I for V & VI term Cdts was conducted from 07 to
12 Aug 2014.
Training events:P
Grading Test. Grading Test
(1st Attempt) was conducted from
19 Aug 14 to 30 Aug 14 for 130th,
129th & 128th Course.
P
Academy Polo & Riding Team
Polo & Riding
Trials. Trials for Academy Polo & Riding
Team were conducted on 28 Aug 14 more than forty cdts from
the academy participated with great enthusiasm & passion.
P
Hack Ride 10 Aug 2014. 04 Offrs, 36 Cadets & 03 children
participated.
JTT
Training events:Air Mshl DS Khajuria AVSM SC at AFTT Hangar
Air Marshal DS Khajuria AVSM SC, AOM Visited AFTT on
08 Aug 14 and interacted with AFTT instructors and technicians.
P
MR Day Navigation. MR Day
Navigation was conducted on
14 & 16 Aug 14 for II nd term cdts
132 Course by Joint Trg Team.
295 Cadets attended.
Air Marshal A S Bhonsle, AVSM VSM DCIDS (DOT), HQ IDS
visited AFTT on 13 Aug 14 and interacted with the instructors.
MR Day Navigation
P
MR Night Navigation. MR Night Navigation was conducted
on 9, 14, 23 Aug 14 for IV th term cdts (129 Course) by Joint Trg
Team. 309 Cadets attended.
P
Adjt Section
P Simulated Emergency during AEB
Inspection. Aircrew Examining Board (AEB) and Dte of
Aerospace Safety (DAS) team inspected the team from
04 Aug 14 to 06 Aug 14.
PTT
P
Inter Bn Squash Championship AT-14:
Finals of Inter Bn Squash Championship AT-14 were held on
02 Aug 14 at the Indoor Sports Complex. The matches were
held amongst the players as per their seedings.
The overall result is as follows:Bn
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
Points
27
25
10
17
11
Position
First
Second
Fifth
Third
Fourth
Inter Sqn Football Competition AT-14:
Inter Sqn Football Competition, Autumn Term 2014 of IInd to Vth
String conducted from 04 Aug to 23 Aug 14. Left over Ist String
matches will be conducted after Mid Term Break.
Participation of Academy Squash Team in Junior Nationals:The fwg players of Academy Squash team have proceeded to
Chennai for participating in Junior National championship from
23 Aug 14 to 27 Aug 14.
M-1 PT AND SWM TEST:
M-1 PT and SWM tests for all courses were conducted from
19 Aug to 28 Aug 14. H-1 tests commenced from 25 Aug 14.
Clubs
Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2014. The cadets of Artificial
Intelligence and Robotics Club (39 cadets) witnessed the
'Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2014' on 24 Aug 14.
Drill Update
P
D-1 Ceremonial Parade for cdts of 127 to 129 Courses was
conducted on 31 Jul 2014 & 19 Aug 2014.
P
Appt drill of 127 Course was carried out on 16 Aug 2014
(evening parade).
P
DST for 131 Course was conducted on 20 Aug 2014. 14 Cadets
out of 130 cadets who appeared, passed the test.
P
HOR Ceremony of 132 Course was conducted on 20 Aug 2014.
Adm Branch
Comdt's Address. The Comdt addressed all Offrs (Ser and Civ)
and all cadets at 1330 Hrs on 28 Aug 14 at Habibullah Hall.
'Greening NDA Campaign'. A total of 76,000 saplings have
been planted under “Greening NDA Campaign' till date.
Edn Branch
Bhawani Shankar Memorial English Debate. The Bhawani
Shankar Memorial English Debate was held at 1900 Hrs on
27 Aug 14 at Habibullah Hall. The topic for the debate was
“The Promulgation of a Uniform Civil Code will be a Set
Back to India's Diversity”.
JNU Scrutiny Team visited NDA wef 21- 23 Aug 14 and scrutinized
the results of I – V term. The team appreciated the academic trg
and meticulous upkeep of examinations / result records.
CAT – 1 test is in progress and is being closely monitored by
respective HsOD.
PD's Corner
Baba Harbhajan Singh
Hony Capt "Baba" Harbhajan Singh (August 3,1941–September 11,
1967) (Punjabi : ? ? ? ? ? ? ??
? ) was an Indian army soldier who died
near the Nathula Pass in eastern Sikkim, India. He is revered by soldiers
of the Indian army as the "Hero of Nathula" and the army men have also
built a shrine in his honour. He has been accorded the status of saint by
believers who refer to him as the Baba (saintly father). Many of the faithful
people, chiefly Indian army personnel posted in and around the Nathula
Pass and the Sino-Indian border between the state of Sikkim and
Chinese occupied Tibet have come to believe his spirit protects every
soldier in the inhospitable high altitude terrain of the Eastern Himalayas.
As with most saints, the Baba is said to also grant favours presumably to
those who revere and worship him.
Baba Harbhajan Singh born into a Sikh family on August 3, 1941 in
the village of Batthe Bhaini in Punjab (India). He completed his
preliminary schooling in a village school, and then did his matriculation
from DAV High School in Patti in March 1955. In June 1956 he enrolled
himself as a soldier in Amritsar and joined the 23 Punjab. It was with this
regiment that he met his end on September 11, 1967 in Sikkim.
Harbhajan Singh's early demise at the young age of just 26 years is
the subject of legends and religious veneration which has become
popular folklore among Indian Army regulars (jawans), people back at his
village and apparently also soldiers of the Red Army across the border
guarding the Indo-Chinese border between Sikkim and Tibet. However,
the official version of his death is victim of battle at 14500 feet of the
Nathula Pass, Sikkim where there were fierce skirmishes between the
Indian and Chinese Red Army during the 1965 Sino-Indian war.
According to legend, Harbhajan Singh drowned in a glacier while
trying to lead a column of mules carrying supplies to a remote outpost. As
the first casualty of the 23rd Punjab in that war, a manhunt was launched
to find him. His remains were found after three days and he was
cremated with full military honours. The legend further claims that it was
Harbhajan Singh who himself helped the search party to find his body.
Still later, through a dream, he instructed one of his colleagues to build
and maintain a shrine in his memory.
The Samadhi at Chhokya Cho
Some Indian soldiers believe that in the event of a war between
India and China, Baba would warn the Indian soldiers at least the three
days in advance of any impending attack. During flag meetings between
the two nations at Nathula, the Chinese set a chair aside to honour of
Harbhajan Singh who has since been known to be saint. Every year on
September 11, a jeep departs with his personal belongings to the nearest
railway station, New Jalpaiguri, from where it is then sent by train to the
village Kuka, in Kapurthala district in Punjab. While empty berths on any
train of the Indian Railways are invariably allocated to any passenger
without a confirmed reservation (Reservation against cancellation, RAC,
or wait listed) or first come first served basis by the coach attendants, a
special reservation for the Baba is actually made for him and left empty
for the entire journey to his home town every year with other soldiers
travelling along so as to reach him till his home. A small sum of money is
also contributed by soldiers posted in Nathula and sent to his mother
each month.
Many other stories about him have spread among believers and
also through social network posts. While all of these stories often contain
elements of supernatural sightings and events, there is very little
evidence besides anecdotal tales which cannot be reliably verified or
traced to their source. He has been attributed the character traits of a
disciplined warrior who was a "stickler for following rules" and is said to
have fallen out with comrades in arms because of this reason. Given the
deeply held beliefs and the warrior traditions of the culture of his ethnicity
(Sikhs), it is highly probable such uncompromising disciplinarian
character idealized by the believers may have been projected on to him
as further evidence of his saintliness even though there is no confirmed
or authentic evidence about it.
There also events like discovery of visits to the camps, use of
bedclothes and boots that can be found in various social network posts
about him. It has also been claimed that the regiment still keeps an
empty bed and other items of daily use. Some source suggest that he
continues to draw a major's salary every month till date.
The Shrine of Baba Harbhajan Singh