Srijut Sarat Chandra Sinha was the Chief Minister of Assam
from 1972 to 1978. His son was studying as a cadet in the National Defence
Academy and graduated in the year 1973 I think, looking at the black and white
photos of our family with the CM. NDA
was an institute of prestige and glamour, and in those days, where career
options were much fewer, a career in the defence services was much sought
after. The 300 odd seats in the country’s premier defence institute were
difficult to get into. The entrance exams comprised a clever mix of academic
knowledge, intelligence and strategy; and of course physical fitness. The aptitude
of anyone who would lead the defence services of a nation needed to be inborn.
One either has it or doesn’t have it, so the selection process needs to be designed
that way. The Academy ensures that the right person is correctly groomed.
The passing out parades of NDA are held every 6 months. At
each POP, the main salute is taken by an invited Head of State, Indian or non-Indian.
Various kings and queens of European countries, presidents, prime ministers of
several countries have graced the function as state guests. The CM of Assam
Sarat Sinha had however come as a parent to a cadet who would be passing out
that semester. A very humble person, the Dhoti Kurta, his regular attire, doubly
dignified his persona. It was moment of
great pride for my parents to host, as the only Assamese expats in NDA, a
serving CM of their state.
I had asked my mum if the CM had any meals at our house. They
apparently had only tea and some snacks, but spent a considerable amount of
time interacting with my parents. The NDA POP is a grand ceremonial event. The fastidiousness and
tenaciousness which is associated to my character by folks-who-know-me-well, is
probably a subconscious learning from the perfectness with which all NDA functions and
especially all the POP ceremonies are held. The perfectly synced parade steps
by the impeccably uniformed cadets, the music band of spotlessly uniformed army
personnel- in red linen shirts and black trousers, each of perfectly
coordinated length, width and colour; crisply ironed, starched turbans-moving
along with the parade in perfectly coordinated steps.
The spotlessly clean parade ground, all officers and their
families seated well before time and in a perfectly disciplined pattern. Snacks that were served after the parade in the stadium grounds overlooking the Officers’
mess in symmetrically pulled up khaki tarpaulin tents- each rope with every thread intact and symmetrical in length- all knotted identically, the spotless white porcelain plates, cups and
saucers, the sparkling clean stainless steel cutlery, the perfectly spaced food bowls, which were
replenished discreetly so there was never shortage of food, like a five star restaurant inside tarpaulin tents.
All this was maintained for a count of at the least minimum of
a thousand persons, eating simultaneously. The families of the cadets who were
passing out were invited to witness the event and everything from their accommodation
to food was taken care of by the Academy.
The Chief Minister had come to witness his son’s passing out
parade and since he was a serving CM, he was hosted as per the VVIP protocols.
Which was why, in the brief period of the two days he was in NDA, my parents
did not get the opportunity to serve him a meal.
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