ado. I did not know if this was better than the M&D (Medicine
& Duty) or at least some other medical category. After all “returning without a
worthwhile medical category to the squadron premises was dangerous for
your personal well being”, was the statutory warning read out in all
seriousness by the Cadet Sergeant Major(CSM). Obviously I was not
foolish to ask the doctor, what it meant, you don’t get on the wrong
side of messiahs in NDA. Some angels among them doled out the Att C (sick in quarter) quite liberally and were revered by the whole
generation of cadets. A quick glance through the dictionary revealed
that I had hit the jackpot, I was to be confined in the premises for a
period of hold your breath…14 days! I owed this largess to a second
termer who was diagnosed with Chicken Pox and his cabin happened to be
opposite mine. He was immediately rewarded with the status of a “pal”, I was not alone, the flank cabin mates too joined in and
we were all accomodated in the Squadron Ante Room. All meals delivered
right there, TV at our disposal, also the TT table, “gar firdause zamin
hami ast hami ast..”( If there is heaven on earth, here it is, so said
Emperor Jahangir mesmerised by the breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir
valley). For the NDA cadet, this hiatus was better than any “firdaus”
anywhere(!)
Although my first experience of a contagious disease was when Conjunctivitis came calling in 1980. We were in RIMC those days and cadets were being despatched home if they contracted the “red eye”. Many of my classmates scooted home merely by applying some balm on the eyelids. The doctor didn’t want to come near and would just take a glance from a safe distance and send them away. I too tried but failed miserably, don’t know if the balm was of poor quality or my eyes immune to it.
Getting back to NDA quarantine, there are some photographs going viral (not Covid viral! just viral, I wonder if this “going viral” will be the worst form of abuse in days to come……) of NDA cadets in quarantine, while most of the residential institutions have shut shop and despatched their students home, military institutions always take the bull by the horns. Effectively managing the quarantine, the training carries on, movies being screened in the squadron parade grounds, cadets maintaining adequate social distance, only folding the seats has given way to other means of yogic asanas while watching the movies. Maharaja asan,which essentially is executed with the forehead replacing the hands on the floor and the legs remaining stretched to the extreme.
The other photograph depicted the cadets standing by the window with the candles lit in solidarity with the rest of the nation in our collective fight against Covid. Covid 19 after all is a teen, adolescent,neither an adult nor a kid, quite confused, not taken seriously by the Americans nor by the Chinese. He is out to prove a point …… how I wish the Chinks had waited for two more months before letting it lose, then it would have been christened Covid 20 and would probably would have been more reasonable. After all we have had the other versions of Corona, who were more manageable; naturally so….not in their teens. This virus has simply gone rogue, deriving perverse pleasure by quarantining the whole world and with no signs of it abating in the foreseeable future….
Now that the kid(Covid) will officially turn 20 in a few months, here is hoping that he would be tamed soon and the world would get on with life….bidding good riddance to Quarantine ….
Original Comments:
Pankaj (2020-04-19):
Well timed and excellent one as usual …
Sheraz Varma (2020-04-19):
I had no Idea that you were a Covid POW . Yes, the description of a variety of new Yogasana in the movie hall to impose social distancing is quite palpable… I can visualise.
Yo (2020-04-19):
Lucid account in these quarantined times!:)
Raja Bhattacharjee (2020-04-19):
Clear as day, I now recollect the 'conjunctivitis' fracas in School! Thanks for reliving memories, Sir !
Col Romesh Kaul (2020-04-19):
A sensible yet hilarious post. Well written, one can feel the desperation of the young cadet willing the doctor to give him SIQ. Quarantine was obviously overwhelming.
Srin R (2020-04-19):
Good one Suyash. A good correlation and recollection. Cheers.
Surbhi (2020-04-19):
As always …your experiences & memories presented so effortlessly.
Unknown (2020-04-19):
Crisply elucidated!!!
Kedar Thaakar (2020-04-19):
Dear Suyash, beautifully narrated, once again. Brought back memories of Medical Officers of my times in my Academy and, messiahs they undoubtedly were. But I really liked your thoughts on COVID-19 being a teen…..as also the use of term ' viral' in future… Let's hope, the losses are not as much as is being forecasted. But irrespective, I look forward to your next piece…
Sandeep Malik (2020-04-19):
I once remember getting an Attend C from Mrs Siddiqui in my second term. CSM downwards, all were in awe of me for all of six minutes. Super write up, Suyash.
Bisht (2020-04-19):
Thanx once again taking us down the memory lane Suyash.A life of a cadet is always a cherished memories which you have elucidated nicely.
Shiv (2020-04-19):
Great wit …. great style of writing . Always a treat to read your senses of nonsense !!
Munendra Gupta (2020-04-19):
Sir, You have refreshed some fleeting memories of School & Academy. Conjuctivitis visited again, however the Dorms were now the new Isolation Wards,and by then Dr Guillotine had also found the cure
Munendra Gupta (2020-04-19):
Sir, You have refreshed some fleeting memories of School & Academy. Conjuctivitis visited again, however the Dorms were now the new Isolation Wards,and by then Dr Guillotine had also found the cure ��
Pradeep Misra (2020-04-19):
I have had the privilege of Ex OD (Excused out doors) for 21days when bitten by dog during a MR Exercise…in First term!!! Missed all the cross country practises…but ran on the final day…
Col Jitendra Singh (2020-04-19):
Dear Suyash very well co-related it with academy days SIQ or admission in MH, just before x country or passing out.well written. Enjoyed reading it. Great,Keep it up.
Samir Dhaga (2020-04-19):
You lucky bugger. I didn't know that quarantine was a thing in NDA !!
V Pramod Kumar (2020-04-20):
Excellent write up. Interesting reading. Quarantine word comes from the Italian quarantina, a period of forty days, derived from quaranta, the Italian for “forty.” The Italian quaranta, comes from the Latin quadrāgintā, also meaning “forty.”
Sujay (2020-04-20):
Excellent, Always love to read about your experience during Academy Days also During RIMC.
Raj Jagga (2020-04-20):
Wit at its best..
Jaggi (2020-04-21):
Good going sir. Brought back memories. More power to your pen.
Vivek (2020-04-21):
Amazing narration sir. So well related to all forms of quarantine that we have witnessed. Wonderful piece on a subject which is the only gaining currency in the current time. Must thank you for adding colours to the otherwise sombre topic. Thouroughly enjoyed reading. Keep pushing your pen sir.
Glad Gladiator (2020-04-21):
If you think of it, for all of us in uniform, we are used to having stayed alone totally disconnected with civilization, at some or other stage of our life!
So this so called lockdown or quarantine is not driving us mad!
Unlike others who are feeling the pinch!!
Vicky (2020-04-21):
Awesome Sir
Being witness at Udhampur and having been in the somewhat same quarantine in NDA makes all as personal experience too.
Best wishes and regards Vikram
Anonymous (2020-04-22):
Took me back 60 yrs, after camp Green Horn reported sick, returned with M&D, though with genuine wrist pain. Saw the term through with a wristband. During the winter break went to MH, Allahabad & to my surprise ended up with a pop for the next 8 weeks. Didn't have the courage to complain against the MO. Went through half the 3rd term with a plaster. Thanks to my Divo who new what exactly had happened. No regrets, thats how we faced it. Cheers.(XXI,B)
Unknown (2020-04-22):
Real cool…a treat to shammers
Vish (2020-04-22):
Nice writing Suyash
VM (2020-04-23):
Nostalgia and 'contemporariness' adeptly woven sir…
Vish (2020-04-23):
I don't know much about contemporariness but the former..certainly. Great going. I don't have much idea about blogs. Your piece was forwarded on a course group and then stumbled on your name. Regards Sekhar
Deepak (2020-04-23):
Suyash, it was a treat to read this anecdote. You really have a flair for keeping the interest alive and one always want more from you. Keep them coming.
Gopal Verma (2020-05-02):
As always very interesting read. Sheer thought of catching Corona virus is dreadful and I can imagine the agony you must have gone through while waiting for the results. Anyway all is well that ends well.
Pradeep (2020-05-15):
As always a gripping tale from a master storyteller…