PASAN PERIPHERY PUS
“Pasan
periphery pus”…….the most commonly heard phrase, if you may call it a phrase in
the academy, some of you may be wondering what the hell is this? Is it a
limerick or a nursery rhyme, with something to follow, well..it is just that
and what follows is a take off by the juniors in the academy on a 10 odd kms
casual run. This activity is normally carried out immediately after lunch to
help our digestive tracts. Frankly in NDA, our digestive systems are totally at
rest what with all these activities which follow almost all the meals, food
automatically either travels into the intestines or simply finds the other easy
way out by throwing up. The throwing up is a rare phenomenon though except when
the running gives way to more interesting physical activities like rolling
followed by something which the sadists had devised specially for such
philanthropic deeds; ‘academy whiskey’, where you went around in circles fully
stooped with a finger on the ground. It did deliver a kick but whether it was akin
to whiskey which most of us did savour in later years or its more physical
version in the derriere is anybody’s guess.
periphery pus”…….the most commonly heard phrase, if you may call it a phrase in
the academy, some of you may be wondering what the hell is this? Is it a
limerick or a nursery rhyme, with something to follow, well..it is just that
and what follows is a take off by the juniors in the academy on a 10 odd kms
casual run. This activity is normally carried out immediately after lunch to
help our digestive tracts. Frankly in NDA, our digestive systems are totally at
rest what with all these activities which follow almost all the meals, food
automatically either travels into the intestines or simply finds the other easy
way out by throwing up. The throwing up is a rare phenomenon though except when
the running gives way to more interesting physical activities like rolling
followed by something which the sadists had devised specially for such
philanthropic deeds; ‘academy whiskey’, where you went around in circles fully
stooped with a finger on the ground. It did deliver a kick but whether it was akin
to whiskey which most of us did savour in later years or its more physical
version in the derriere is anybody’s guess.
Well Pasan actually is the Pashan Gate at the
entrance to NDA, periphery was a circuit
normally utilised for punishment runs, the Restrictions, ETs and EDs; the last word ‘pus’ does not have any
connection with the medical term which results after a wound is infected and
this gooey liquid forms the ‘creamy layer’. It stands for ‘push’. I am sure
most of you would probably have guessed by now that the speaker of this phrase
was a Bihari, no offence meant. We had two CSMs, cadet sergeant major who
belonged to that part of the country. CSMs derive pleasure out of sending the
squadron on these healthy pursuits on a regular basis. Apart from the PP,
Pashan Periphery for short there were many others which could be an add on
package or enjoyed independently depending on the mood of the CSM. The mood of
His Majesty the CSM was dependent on a myriad of factors for which no differential
equation could be devised for an accurate prediction. Of course the worst
nightmares would come true when he was at the receiving end at the Squadron
office for any omission or his phase tests results or simply because his cycle
had a flat tyre. Well just about anything under the Sun, and then the degree of
difficulty of these runs would multiply either by increasing the distance or by
increasing the weight to be carried or by …you guessed it.. BOTH(!). So PP will
have a 2475 or 3131 added to it or simply Karpa, Khandwa whatever. 2475 and
3131 were geographical features denoted by their height in feet above mean sea
level, which had witnessed the cadets in all kinds of interesting positions
scaling and descending them over the last 60 odd years. Karpa, not a distant
cousin of the Tibetan monk ‘Karamapa’ it was also a feature which did not have
a height which took the fancy of the cadets so it got stuck with the crappy
name. Khandwa has nothing in common with the Railway junction in MP, where NDA
special trains halted and scandalised the locals with the community bathing of
cadets on the station using the hose pipes. Nothing unusual you would say ,
well the cadets stuck to the NDA norms of bathing in the nude even at these
stations, so naturally, imagine, a train full of 17-18 year old youngsters
indulging in fun and frolic on a railway station in full public view. Alas,
these days, such pursuits have had to be shunned, as it would go “viral” and a
lot of people will catch a terrible flu. Anyway NDA specials are something
unique and have to be experienced…so let us get back to the Khandwa, which is
the other gate in NDA. The Khandwa sprints were normally post movie shows from
Ashoka pillar and were executed in squads of four or six in perfect harmony,
i.e. in step. Needless to say these pre dinner appetisers did wonders to our
palate.
entrance to NDA, periphery was a circuit
normally utilised for punishment runs, the Restrictions, ETs and EDs; the last word ‘pus’ does not have any
connection with the medical term which results after a wound is infected and
this gooey liquid forms the ‘creamy layer’. It stands for ‘push’. I am sure
most of you would probably have guessed by now that the speaker of this phrase
was a Bihari, no offence meant. We had two CSMs, cadet sergeant major who
belonged to that part of the country. CSMs derive pleasure out of sending the
squadron on these healthy pursuits on a regular basis. Apart from the PP,
Pashan Periphery for short there were many others which could be an add on
package or enjoyed independently depending on the mood of the CSM. The mood of
His Majesty the CSM was dependent on a myriad of factors for which no differential
equation could be devised for an accurate prediction. Of course the worst
nightmares would come true when he was at the receiving end at the Squadron
office for any omission or his phase tests results or simply because his cycle
had a flat tyre. Well just about anything under the Sun, and then the degree of
difficulty of these runs would multiply either by increasing the distance or by
increasing the weight to be carried or by …you guessed it.. BOTH(!). So PP will
have a 2475 or 3131 added to it or simply Karpa, Khandwa whatever. 2475 and
3131 were geographical features denoted by their height in feet above mean sea
level, which had witnessed the cadets in all kinds of interesting positions
scaling and descending them over the last 60 odd years. Karpa, not a distant
cousin of the Tibetan monk ‘Karamapa’ it was also a feature which did not have
a height which took the fancy of the cadets so it got stuck with the crappy
name. Khandwa has nothing in common with the Railway junction in MP, where NDA
special trains halted and scandalised the locals with the community bathing of
cadets on the station using the hose pipes. Nothing unusual you would say ,
well the cadets stuck to the NDA norms of bathing in the nude even at these
stations, so naturally, imagine, a train full of 17-18 year old youngsters
indulging in fun and frolic on a railway station in full public view. Alas,
these days, such pursuits have had to be shunned, as it would go “viral” and a
lot of people will catch a terrible flu. Anyway NDA specials are something
unique and have to be experienced…so let us get back to the Khandwa, which is
the other gate in NDA. The Khandwa sprints were normally post movie shows from
Ashoka pillar and were executed in squads of four or six in perfect harmony,
i.e. in step. Needless to say these pre dinner appetisers did wonders to our
palate.
We
came across a number of landmarks en route while accomplishing these deeds,
these landmarks were seemingly innocuous but had interesting nomenclature, so
conical geographical features would normally be referred to by that part of
female anatomy of the current Bollywood heroines, from Babita to Bipasha.
Similarly the Equestrian Lines had an inverted horse shoe, which too found resemblance with some other
interesting anatomical part duly christened with those of the vamps of the day,
Helen being the most prominent, and enriched our knowledge of anatomy in
general. Without getting into the other aspects of academy general knowledge,
suffice to say that colourful description of most of the landmarks in human
anatomical terms would have done a budding doctor proud. Whether it was the
Ashoka Pillar and its colour to the wind sock in the Air Force Training Team at
Glider Dome, the cadets had discovered some unique relationship with human
anatomy.
came across a number of landmarks en route while accomplishing these deeds,
these landmarks were seemingly innocuous but had interesting nomenclature, so
conical geographical features would normally be referred to by that part of
female anatomy of the current Bollywood heroines, from Babita to Bipasha.
Similarly the Equestrian Lines had an inverted horse shoe, which too found resemblance with some other
interesting anatomical part duly christened with those of the vamps of the day,
Helen being the most prominent, and enriched our knowledge of anatomy in
general. Without getting into the other aspects of academy general knowledge,
suffice to say that colourful description of most of the landmarks in human
anatomical terms would have done a budding doctor proud. Whether it was the
Ashoka Pillar and its colour to the wind sock in the Air Force Training Team at
Glider Dome, the cadets had discovered some unique relationship with human
anatomy.
Any
way getting back from the periphery to the original theme, the periphery
itself, most of us did get to circumvent this stretch more often as it also
doubled up as the route for punishment
run. The attire varied with the severity of the crime committed, with minor
ones in relatively simple dungarees with ammunition boots and the deadlier ones
in Field Service Marching Order, FSMO in short, with packs, water bottle and
the 36 contents of the pack which included a change of dress, toilet kit
complete and even a snake bite kit, all set to go to the battlefield. This
periphery also made strange bedfellows, some were regulars and they generally
became friends commonly referred to as ‘pals’ in the academy. The seniority
principle was generally put aside for these friendships and were global in
nature ie they transcended the squadron boundaries. They shared cigarettes
(contraband) and even stood in for each other to bail them out at those odd
hour reports. I had my tryst with the periphery too, its genesis is pretty
interesting; in second term most of us were entrusted with the task of packing
the breakfast for fourth termers as they had to get dressed for the service
classes, in the FSMO; the academy
maintained the sanctity of the cadets mess by ensuring no FSMO variety moved
anywhere near thus the cadets had to first change into uniform Khaki Drill
(KDs) and then post breakfast get into the FSMO. Si here I was, packing
breakfast, some toasts and a cutlet or two, tucking them in my handkerchief,
blissfully unaware that the Adjt, Maj Daniels was watching me indulge in this
activity. The moment I had finished and looked up, I saw him looking pretty
amused, enquiring as to what was I up to. To which I very bravely responded
that I was doing it for myself as I had to rush and will eat the same later. He
was obviously aware of this practise of packing and was annoyed that I was not
telling the truth. He immediately awarded me seven days restrictions. The
silver lining to this was that the fourth termers in my squadron impressed by
my not squealing went on to grant me the status of an ‘honorary pal’.
way getting back from the periphery to the original theme, the periphery
itself, most of us did get to circumvent this stretch more often as it also
doubled up as the route for punishment
run. The attire varied with the severity of the crime committed, with minor
ones in relatively simple dungarees with ammunition boots and the deadlier ones
in Field Service Marching Order, FSMO in short, with packs, water bottle and
the 36 contents of the pack which included a change of dress, toilet kit
complete and even a snake bite kit, all set to go to the battlefield. This
periphery also made strange bedfellows, some were regulars and they generally
became friends commonly referred to as ‘pals’ in the academy. The seniority
principle was generally put aside for these friendships and were global in
nature ie they transcended the squadron boundaries. They shared cigarettes
(contraband) and even stood in for each other to bail them out at those odd
hour reports. I had my tryst with the periphery too, its genesis is pretty
interesting; in second term most of us were entrusted with the task of packing
the breakfast for fourth termers as they had to get dressed for the service
classes, in the FSMO; the academy
maintained the sanctity of the cadets mess by ensuring no FSMO variety moved
anywhere near thus the cadets had to first change into uniform Khaki Drill
(KDs) and then post breakfast get into the FSMO. Si here I was, packing
breakfast, some toasts and a cutlet or two, tucking them in my handkerchief,
blissfully unaware that the Adjt, Maj Daniels was watching me indulge in this
activity. The moment I had finished and looked up, I saw him looking pretty
amused, enquiring as to what was I up to. To which I very bravely responded
that I was doing it for myself as I had to rush and will eat the same later. He
was obviously aware of this practise of packing and was annoyed that I was not
telling the truth. He immediately awarded me seven days restrictions. The
silver lining to this was that the fourth termers in my squadron impressed by
my not squealing went on to grant me the status of an ‘honorary pal’.
Getting
back to the cross country runs, well, I got to participate in the inaugural
Pune marathon, but I think I had had my share of running by the time we slow
marched out on the tunes of ‘Auld lang syne’ and generally prefer the other
modes of exercise. Though I still get nostalgic at the mention of periphery,
Pashan Gate of course is the gateway to all those memories………
back to the cross country runs, well, I got to participate in the inaugural
Pune marathon, but I think I had had my share of running by the time we slow
marched out on the tunes of ‘Auld lang syne’ and generally prefer the other
modes of exercise. Though I still get nostalgic at the mention of periphery,
Pashan Gate of course is the gateway to all those memories………
Original Comments:
KPM Das (2017-12-07):
Hilarious, NDA simply does not change so easily; this could even be straight out of a cadet's diary even today (or is it a blog? :)). Thanks for bringing back memories in full color and smell(s) after 40 years
nononsense (2017-12-07):
Thanks Sir, the more we change the more we remain the same… goes the adage. We are going for a reunion in two weeks. No wonder I went back in time….
Unknown (2017-12-07):
PP remained with you Sir, one way or another…
nononsense (2017-12-07):
Ha ha no wonder the bonds were so strong
Unknown (2017-12-07):
You have a flair of bringing out nostalgic memories ….. great one and do keep posting more….each action can be visualised. …
Jatinder Singh Dhillon (2017-12-08):
Great piece to remind me of the NDA days. Keep up the good work.
Prabhakar (2017-12-10):
Very well written. Brought back old memories. In sixth term they started the restrictions with big pack with blanket inside. Those were bloody tough. I think I did 14 of them for reasons all forgotten.
Sureshyadav (2017-12-11):
Very well written. This was one place where most of us spent many afternoons of our NDA days completing quota of Restrictions and crosscountry practices. Great read
Avinash Upadhye (2017-12-15):
It’s true !! The life inside has not changed a bit though with so much of encroachment and construction the Pashan side is no more the same. Well written Suyash !!