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The REAL reality SHOW
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The Corps of Signals celebrated its 94th anniversary at Delhi Cantonment this past week. Amid a show of raw bravery was a skill display by The Guinness World Record holding team of Dare Devils.
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Where devils dare_Captain B.S. Chandrawat, team leader' of Corps of Signals' Dare Devil group, biking through fire. Photos: R.V. Moorthy.
THE OCCASION is the 94th Anniversary of Corps of Signals. An important day for this nervous system of defence surveillance. Novel hi-tech communication methodologies put on big show. Attracting eager eyes. Lieutenant General Davinder Kumar, the Head of the Corps, is posing for pictures here, replying to queries there. Basking in the brilliance of his human chain of command.
But the wait of this significant day is the Corps' two-hour-long `Jimmy Show'. Named after the Corps' sign Jimmy alias Mercury, the Greek God of Communication. The crowd having settled themselves in the huge stadium at Delhi Cantonment at this afternoon hour, the Chief Guest Lt Gen Kumar on his designated seat, takes the pitch. There is a group of jawans displaying their skills of Kallaripayattu, the ancient martial art from Kerala.
Amidst a rain of claps.
Only to be followed by dare devil Taekwondo moves of yet another group. The most applauded of their exhibition of skills becomes the one where the team leader lies over two little stools to take on a huge slab of ice thereafter hammered to pieces by one other. He then gets up to flash a free kick through a ring of fire.
As interlude from this show of raw bravery comes the Corps' band, demonstrating their power of discipline in drill, and flair in tune. Setting the mood for the most-awaited performance of the day. The sparkler of the Corps. The Dare Devil Display.
Dare Devils
Heading a team of 17 bikers in silver-coloured fatigue atop matching silver motorbikes, comes to a huge ovation, Captain B.S. Chandrawat, the team leader. Taking a round of the ground, they soon get criss-crossing it. A formation of one, two and then three bikes crossing each other, missing them by a few centimetres. Leaving you admiring the perfect timing.
Then begins their real show - of people, finally going up to eight, in different postures on a one and then two motorcycles, a man standing upside down over a moving bike, a biker atop the vehicle posing as Jimmy and more. The final assault is by Captain Chandrawat himself biking through a razing ring of fire. Then over the team members lying still on the ground. Pulling together a huge thunder of applaud from the audience. Giving you reason enough to understand why this team led by this Madhya Pradesh native entered the Guinness World Records in March 2003 for creating the fastest human pyramid with 25 men in just three bikes. "We completed a distance of 1 km at 1 minute and 27 seconds. It was done at Jamshedpur airport in the presence of senior officials. The video-recording was sent to Limca Book of Records and Guinness Book," says Capt. Chandrawat. Trained at their Jabalpur unit, he says, the ideal weight of his "chaps" should be between 45-65 kg. "Though at times, you do need a heavy person like me," he adds. Naming records, a proud Chandrawat says, "We have so far five Guinness records. The first was in 1991 with 40 men on seven motorbikes; then 81 men on nine bikes in 1993; 140 men in 11 bikes in 1996 and then 201 on 10 bikes in 2001." The last feat was by his team.
After induction, a jawan needs two years to become a "real Dare Devil." And also, training can happen only during the rainy season. "Though it becomes slippery at that time, it also makes you conscious of slipping even if you are on a dry pitch. So, it is an advantage. Also, during other times, we do not have enough time to practice," he explains.
For this 94th anniversary show this past week, Capt. Chandrawat and his team practiced only for three days.
But, what a show!
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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