The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rigorous training made us tougher, say cadets

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rigorous training made us tougher, say cadets

Staff Reporter

CAMP FIRE CELEBRATIONS: NCC students enjoy themselves during a lighter period at the Chennai training camp. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: Twelve days of rigorous training from seniors had made the juniors "tougher" and prepared them for life ahead, according to the participants.

"The discipline we learn here teach us so much," says G. Priyadarshini, a student who will be travelling to the United Kingdom shortly as youth ambassador. She is a Naval National Corps Cadet.

"We have so much exposure and get a rounded personality," says Ms. Puja, a student of Stella Maris College, who spent time at sea on Indian warships. "Life at sea is not fun. Initially we found the surroundings beautiful but how long will you admire the sea? The life of a sailor is tough," notes Ms. Puja.

These young women and other seniors, both men and women like them, trained the junior cadres of NCC to sail, rig and row, pull boats, fire rifles, sail and swim in the ocean.

The juniors participated in a series of contests conducted by the seniors to test their skills.

The students were given Naval warfare training in Bay of Bengal and will undergo a year's training in building miniature warships. Four warships that won prizes in last year's national contests were on display.

"Students must make working models of the ships," says P. Shanta Kumar, a trainer attached to the Navy. His wards have won awards at the annual national competitions being held at three places — Delhi, Vishakapatnam and Goa. For 11 years now, his students have been winning at least two awards. This year, F.Florida and P.Anita of third year B. Com., from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women's College, won the gold at Goa and silver at the Delhi event. Two hundred NCC cadets from 10 city colleges participated in the 12-day training camp held at Pachaiyappa's College. Misa Ganesan, finance trustee of the college, participated in the valedictory. He distributed prizes to the winners of the various contests. The training ended with a campfire and a variety cultural show. `Bada khana' (feast) marked the end of the camp.

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