National Defence Academy...

My brief stinct with the National Defence Academy , Khadkwasla , Pune remains and wil remain ever as one of the most thrilling experience in ma whole life.....

The story begins around Nov 2001, if ma memory is correct.. My classmates were discsuuing about a competitive exam about which i hadnt heared before that.. and it was called the NDA exam...the fact abt the exam that attracted me the most was that the cost of the application form was just Rs.70/-... Entrance exam of my state costed ten times..yes.. 700/-... so I too decided to buy a form, after all just 70 bucks na?.. After 2 months everyone started getting the acknowledgment cards, but i din get one....was sad.. not bekos of the lost chance,but of the lost 70rupees.... Cud have seen two movies instead....

I din feel anythng when all those frends started getting their Hall Tickets.. How can I expect one wthout getting an acknowledgment card? Suddenly, just before 3 days of the exam, i got mine.... Exam centre was Maharaja's College ,EKm... Just to enjoy the one day trip with frenz, I decided to give a try. Din have a single clue wat the exam was all about.....:)

Exam was easier than I expected.... Engish, Basic sciences and GK.... I was surprised to see people standing outside the exam centre to canvas students for NDA Interview training.. I neva knew there were a group called NDA aspirants and NDA coaching centres......

Results and SSB Card came when i was bzzy enjoying my post-entrance days....With nothing else to do the whole day, i was tangled to the various mega serials of TV.Fearing that I mite turn up a modern-Madhumohan, Pops asked me to go for the SSB.. oh... for those who dont know what that is .. SSB is Service Selection Board.. even I din know till that day. I took it as a tour for which the TA,Stay and food is availiable.....Off to No:2 AFSB,Mysore with two of my close friends Siju and Shon....

We had to attend a test called PABT(Pilot Aptitude battery Test). it was said that for all those who wish to try the Air Force Wing of NDA should pass the test. It had 3 sections, first one was a pictorial multiple choice test, but the next tow sections were real interesting. We were made to play two Video games!! I managed to pass it somewhat easily...Also came one aptitude test and a GD session...Siju was screened out in the second day elimination. I too was not very comfortable with the so called "rigid" rules of that campus. SO when he was about to leave , I met our Officer-in-Charge, to ask permission to leave. He was a Sqaudron Leader of IAF. He tried to persuade me back to the Camp, but I sticked to my decision. Finnaly he pulled out his trump card.." No TA for voluntary back-offs".. Oops.. I cudnt do that. So, back to the Candidate Mess...:(....[ 2 be continued].......

NTSE Camp,Maria Park,April 2000.....

Long before Orkut and mySpace came, this was my first oppurtunity for an inter-district "social networking"..... and it took 6 long years for the TIME Mag to felicitate me as The Person of the Year for the Social Netwoking initiatives i took....

Around 180 students from various educational backgrounds(CBSE , ICSE,ICICI,ISI..I donno wat all abbrevs they have.. and yeah ! the superior class to which I belonged, STATE SYLLABUS!!...),after a prelims test, were summoned to a posh resort in Cochin for three weeks of intense training for the national level test of NTSE....

I was the only one from ma school, but had many friends from my district whom I had met through various programs...So , as soon as father left, I started refreshing all acqaintences...but I was alloted to a room where all inmates were fresh faces for me....But it was just a matter of time b4 a gang formed....... still remember each one of 'em.....

Elvis, Anilesh,Sreenath,Sharath,Me,Sreeresh,Gautham,Sujith and all others.....Hey Guys... this one is for U people......Cheerz!

We had to attend various sessions from 9.30 to 5 pm daily.. All subjects were covered in a very brief manner.. hey I am sorry, 'cause i don relly remember much about those classes and all... Was a regular dozzer in all sessions except Mental Ability .. not becase I am damn good in it.. the tutor was a very short-tempered guy from Chennai, and I din want to be yelled in public...:)

Afetr 5pm, its leasure time. We used to play Basket Ball there, i think the very first time in ma life... Late evenings were for cultural events. Thats where our gang took charge. Managed some kinda DEMO every day.....

Really enjoyed those 3 weeks..(22 days to be specific).. Still have many of them in close company....