Solo Enigma

National Defense Academy (NDA)

Everything around him was serene and peace, regardless of uncertainties in guaranteed upshot. He decided to head back to village. For next one day, he quickly scanned town and slithered back to countryside in the bus. Everything was appearing to be on his side and forgot his oncoming calls in the life. He was just carried away with zooming of ecstatic incredible scenery of nature.

After a stretched through crest and furrows for two days and a night knocks to his helmet deserted just next to a thick jungle. On reaching home towards dusk in second day, he was tensed with the overview of National Defense Academy, examination waiting ahead and the one finished without any idea. He wasn’t certain that the first physical examination has to go through series of officials and wait for the outcome.

It was just pre-occupying his mindset with wreck results with first round test. Every sorts of question was ragging his frontal lobe and began goggling about his dream place. He didn’t missed a spot and came to get little knowledge about the training center, year, location and real criteria pertaining to the scheme of the academy web page.

The defense academy is located in latitude and longitude 18.5204⁰ N, 73.8567⁰ E based in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra in India. There is prospects of cadets’ choice in three various field which includes, The Army, Navy and Air force trained together for three years. After the completion of third year, fourth and final year would get commenced with respective field academy for pre-commission training.

He was overwhelmed for getting versed with the overview of the institution with internet facilities. However, it also gave him a new challenge to face before and after getting into the NDA. Upon skimming and skipping through the page for several times, he drew a conclusion to held his head high with much courtesy and dedications. The Logo, Motto and the layout of the Academy at first page itself covers a lot with prestigious recognition, worldwide in doing away with the page.

As it is one of the renowned academy, the admission policy is tough and sophisticated one. To get enrolled as one of a cadet at Academy, minimum with higher secondary transcripts applicant must appear written entrance examination. Though he had already gone through some minor physical test and written test few days ago, yet it is never to feel secure to have faith in hunting his dream.

The protagonist came to learn that the entrance exam is conducted twice a year by Union Public Service Commission in a month of March and August. One of the mandatory condition to join the academy stick with the confirmed bachelors only. Apart from this, one must pass in black and white subsequent by Services Selection Board (SSB), Medical Examination and finally is be to merit ranked upon the total outcome.

It was a sleepless demanding night rambling through the page, getting shielded with theory at that moment and traces of picture. Forget about the real practical training, his mind whiplashes with terror and admiration simultaneously with literature command from words of the page. It is never going to be a downhill job in realizing his dream. The time was nearly into the wee hours. He didn’t miss out a tint from the page.

Next comes the compulsory subjects taught in NDA besides training in the field. The academics are also given an utmost importance, notwithstanding the hard labors in the sports ground. Academics consist of compulsory courses and foundation courses. Foundation course is a mandatory which covers a military studies and general studies.  The cadets must take foundation course compulsory for first four semester. The subjects in military studies are Military History, Military Geography, Weapon systems and Armaments, whereas general studies cover subject such as Geopolitics, Human Rights, Laws of Armed Conflicts and Environmental Sciences.

Compulsory course takes a cadets through English, Foreign languages (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian), Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, History, Political Science, Economics and Geography. Both Foundation and Compulsory Course should be taken by cadet until fourth semester. During fifth and sixth semester, cadets have full rights to take optional course. The cadets enjoys a freedom to select other Service academies for the optional course.

The subjects covered at the academy was more and all in one. He pictured Science, Commerce and Arts subject all together. He decided to double his graveyard shift compared to his hard work during school days. At any cost, he wants to join the academy and serve the country. On the one hand, he take it as a casual training and at times he fears making himself into future walks. Doubtless, he wants his dream to come true, despite many more steps ahead. 

As it is a blue-collar job, the candidates must have good physical and mental disabilities. They does not expect any failure and disturbances with military duties in the future. For that, everyone who pass the written examination have to go through sequence of physical test. It includes audio, sight, physique, weight blood test. Even if one of this have defect, a person is to be disqualified as a cadet to join National Defense Academy (NDA).

Apart from the above things, there is also a principles in line with written test, score sheets and minimal marks needed to be obtain to join the Army. Lobzang was never defined with his first written test. The scheme consists of two papers. First one is one of his worse scores from middle school only. It does not make sense to appear mathematics paper worth 300 points as it is toughest subject or him. It was a troublesome for him to even score, grade D during school days.

Even though, his first round in Mathematics was awful, he decided to cover up all the given topics for second round. The subject matter are Algebra, Matrices and Determinants, trigonometry, Analytical Geometry of two and three dimensions, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vector Algebra, Statics and goes on… For him, he resolved the subject and topics as from Mars. He pictured his outcome sheet in next three months skimming through a long list topics.

Second paper have English as an international language worth 200 points and general knowledge (GK) amounting 400 points. He took second paper as a little positive compared to the first. The English covers various features like grammar and usage, vocabulary, speaking, listening, writing and understandings to check a proficiency in English. As he always make a time to cling onto books, his outlook was optimistic with the subject and topics.

Differing from those two subjects, interest in General Knowledge (GK) stands in between those two. General Knowledge is given a high precedence and priority in every field and interviews as it widely covers every subjects. The general knowledge demands background knowledge related to Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Worldwide Events. To get ready questions in next few months, he decided to droop with newspapers, BBC news channel and other social media in and out of the country.

The outdoor skill training session at the academy begins with Drill, PT and Morning work outs. Equally, games are also given significant importance as a part of the training. There is no time for lovey-dove as the academy strives in Personality building, Mental and Physical rigorousness, Leaderships and sense of dedications. After all, the premises aims to produce disciplined, mentally sounded, Physically Rigid, Emotionally brave, adherence to self-improvement officers after completion of tenure as cadets.    

The time was exactly twenty five to quarter past. Lobzang was still awake frowning with all those highlights regarding his dream place. Why should candidates go through those series of test? Why mathematics is given importance? Why relationship is restricted? Am I applicable to join the task force? Thousands of question was getting into his nerves. He was again searching for the links to extract more information about the place.

Likewise, ongoing through its achievement, Alumni and prestigious record worldwide, Lobzang was positive with those examinations and principles of the academy. It is not an easy to get an admission only and neither he was willing to withdraw after going through it. He never want to get disqualified as he was always looking forward to join an Army. After going through the page from first to last and last to first, he gets back to a minimal sleep hour.

Even with uncertainties to pass first examination, he was determined to work hard for next ninety days, recollecting every trainings and studies. Being from an agriculture background, dawn to dusk gets ends with labor helping his mom to prepare and get set with field works. He took that as an outdoor pre-training to gear up his stamina and strengths. During night, he didn’t took a nap studying the subject, working till the small hours.

Next examination is in the fall and barely have three months now. With the hard labor during day and sleepless nights, time seems swift. His progress with the field work starts laughing with the tender sprouts transforming into plants and was just without an image for the written coming in a month. He was fully equipped and ready for the second test. Pursuing summer welcomes the wishful fall, nearing towards physical test and score sheet for the first one.

In the mid of his preparation and usual labor, he was stunned upon hearing about the score sheet for the first round. No time to waste, with heavy heart and tensed mind, he visited the website. From thousand applicants, hundreds of them were shortlisted for a vacancy of ten candidates. Lobzang was just scrolling through those hundred shortlisted candidates. Yes, his name was reflected there with fifty nine individual ahead and minimum below.

Though he have only transitory chances to win, he was satisfied with the outcome and was ready to challenge in next round. His points in mathematics is in bottom-line with an average scores in English and General Knowledge. He don’t have any remorse as it was just an alien test without any idea and contextual on it. He gets back to his work after sometime with minimal satisfaction and victory. The only hope is next test to prove his dedications and interest in profession.         

The concise declared results added fuel to the fire in burning the mid-light candle for Lobzang.  He want to be one of the ten candidates joining the Academy out of thousand applicants. Everything was on right track owing to subjects. He worked 56 hours a week as a night shift regardless of his labor during broad daylight. It was a daunting task to sleep for an hour, substituting other twenty three hours in physical labor and studies.

Three month is nearing to its final week and Lobzang decided to head back to Thimphu for next round physical test which is scheduled in the month of August, 2017. Before a week, he gave a brain break, preparing to move back Thimphu at least two to three days ahead of the time. Though in different bus, the journey and time wasn’t different from earlier one with a night hold and two days motor ride. Lobzang got dozed off on the second day and was startled upon sudden screech of bus below Dochula. He sheepishly rubbed his eye and was elated as one of the longest and peaceful sleep in last nearly more than two months. He yawned stretching is body and went to attend natures call.