CADET ON WITHDRAWAL WARNING LIST I have written 2 stories on Relegation Warning List. This story is WITHDRAWAL WARNING LIST. NDA WING STORY I was Squadron Commander in NDA Wing, November Sqn, Lt Cdr rank. Near end of term, a tall Jat Cadet impressive was on WITHDRAWAL WARNING LIST. I hate these lists because I myself cheated the system when I was a NDA Cadet and NEVER got relegated or withdrawn from the Academy. I studied this Jat Cadets dossier and found that he had failed repeatedly in ENGLISH language rest all he had passed. Discipline he was little wicked also. His Divisional Officer had foolishly written some bad remarks in his Dossier also but not bad enough to be WITHDRAWN from Academy. He was Relegated once already for failing in English and Discipline and lack of OLQ. This time everything OK except ENGLISH. My Remarks I had to fill and say : Recommended for Withdrawal from Academy” But I did not. Something fishy…….why only English? DEEP RESEARCH I DID I called his Divisional Officer and asked him to explain why he allowed his Cadet to get into this situation. Divisional Officer was confused and did not accept any responsibility. I did not blame Divisional Officer as most of us knew NOTHING about Everything. I called my dependable Head Clerk Kulkarni who knew EVERYTHING even about NOTHING. Me: Kulkarni Saheb, tomorrow, there is meeting. This Jat Cadet will be WITHDRAWN from the NDA and sent home for failing in ENGLISH. I am NOT convinced. He has performed reasonably well. Kulkarni: Yes Sir let him go he has NO MORALS. He is HALKAT Cadet. Me: What Halkat he did? Tell me. I need explanation. Kulkarni got up from his chair, came to me and whispered in my ears…. I WAS JOLTED…..Bloody Cadet was HALKAT !!!! WHY HALKAT What really happened was Jat Cadet met English Professor daughter. He patoed her and took her to City for Movies “Padosan” Mehmood comedy movie. She laffing he laffing ….nice. Then his hand started drifting automatically. She got angry and walked out home complained to English Professor, and got him RELEGATED…. Me: Mr Kulkarni, Cadet was Relegated for that hand drift right? Kulkarni: Yes Sir. Me: But you cannot punish Cadet for same crime twice. Right? Kulkarni: No Sir, but Cadet is HALKAT. Me: Mr Kulkarni, I think English Professor again failed Cadet in English for revenge. Did his hand drift ever again? Kulkarni: No Sir. His hand ok. Thank you Mr. Kulkarni. You may go. I lit a cigarette and sought an interview with the Boss of NDA Wing. MEETING WITH COMMANDER NDA WING I rationalised the entire situation, even blamed the Professors daughter for going to Movie with Hot Jat Cadet without telling her Professor father and argued in favour of Jat Cadet. What she expect? Going for movie like that, that with hot Jat Cadet? Wise boss Commander NDA Wing told me what to write as my Comments on Jat Cadet dossier. At the meeting next day I tore that English Professor and demanded a review of the Cadets English paper. \ I demanded his English paper, where he was failed, be reviewed by another faculty. Cadet passed English and was NOT WITHDRAWN from Academy. LATER AT NDA I was transferred to the real NDA Kilo Squadron. Jat Cadet was also in there but another Squadron. Once a scoundrel always a scoundrel. Jat Cadet got into trouble and came to me. “Sir, problem. Discipline. I promise I will improve. Last chance, speak to my Sqn Commander. Else Academy will withdraw me”. MY WAY I went to meet his Squadron Commander, a very upright tough Infantry Officer. We discussed this Jat Cadet case. Including my own experience in NDA Wing. The Squadron Commander had enough justification to send this Cadet home. My last resort was this: “Let me put it this way Major. You are a Commanding Officer of Battalion during War. This Jat Cadet is your Officer. Will he FIGHT good and lead his men in Combat to Death? That is the bottom line.” I did not wait for an answer and walked out. Later that evening the Major called me on telephone at home. He said “ The Cadet will be a good Officer in War…….I will ensure that.” Lesson : Trust your GUT INSTINCTS.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:59:55 +0000