BOXING DAY!

 

As cadets in Naval Academy Kochi in 1980 among our various activities there was ‘Boxing’ too.    ‘Novices Boxing’   was held somewhere in the middle  of the term by which time we all were well grooved in the training system.  All cadets were to participate and practice and preparation commenced in full flow for a week under the guidance of our PT instructors and Divisional officers. Most of the cadets were enthusiastic about it but there were few who were reluctant but soon realized that there was no escape from it.

  I had participated in Boxing championship in St Joseph’s College Allahabad during my school days out of my enthusiasm to win a Cup but failed . In my weight I won the first match  but in the  second  I was pitted against a seasoned Boxer Lalit Adhikari who was too good for me and I lost badly.  But I continued to watch matches and observe good players practising  even staying late after school . I would see with interest Mr Raphael our teacher  wearing  gloves with his tie and shirt on and coach his House boys. Some friends managed a few pairs of boxing gloves and in the evening we would have friendly bouts at our friend’s place.  Joseph Jacob, Henry were there who boxed well and in one such bout with Henry when I threw a right hand punch   earnestly he remarked that I had a strong punch. I never took it seriously. But students prepared at home with older brothers learning the minute aspects which I would observe. On the final day the last match was between the seniormost boxers Nigel Barett and Samar Singh . Nigel who passed away recently was my Gold House Captain and we all cheered for him , but Samar Singh was agile and much faster and it was a closely fought match which Samar Singh won . The entire school was watching  , it was held in evening and  the Boxing ring was well lit and we were cheering from steps. I  kept my interest alive by closely following the careers of Mohamad Ali ( Casious Clay ) , Joe Frazier , Foreman and Tyson. Reading about them in newspapers and seeing their documentaries. The Sylvester Stone starrer ‘Rocky’ series came later and I did enjoy John Voight’s ‘The Champ’ in which he played a Boxer.

Therefore my experience was mostly observing the Boxers and very limited participation. I resolved to put my best foot forward and during the practise I realised that I was doing fine . There were cadets from Sainik Schools who had done boxing earlier .   We were from two divisions –‘Ranjit’ and ‘Rajput’ and the respective Divisional officers took keen interest in the training .

Along with us there was a bunch of Ex NDA cadets who had gone for flying in Air Force but were grounded during training and had then joined Navy. We would hear interesting stories from them of NDA boxing  Blue and Blazer   awardees . A batch of Acting Sub Lieutenants  Technical was also undergoing six months of mandatory training before joining ships . These were University entry scheme officers already commissioned and being paid but under trainee. They too joined the fray with us and my opponent was one such Technical officer. 

Each one of us had to participate in just one match of three rounds . Our opponent was chosen by weight and size by the Instructors and as we were about 80 in number  so some 40 matches were held in a span of three days. From the very first bout being cheered by  fellow cadets each boxer in the ring boxed with courage and commitment . It seemed as if Gladiators were fighting to stay alive . As if it was our final test before passing out, a sort of military baptism after which we would be blessed with OLQ ( officer like qualities) and leadership skills .   No body wanted to fail and step back in the ring, though few took time .

  As I recollect my match was on the very first day and I jumped into the ring with much confidence and intent and quickly landed a few strong right and left punches to my opponent who was as strong and stout as me . He was taken aback and stood frozen for a while , as I was about to recommence  the Referee stopped the fight and declared me the winner. I was surprised and happy that it was all over.  My Divisional officer Lt Dipankar Chakravorty was impressed by me and in the evening I was summoned by him . When I reached his cabin I found about five to six cadets standing in attention in front of his cabin . Upon seeing me he announced ‘ You are now Boxer Dhuliya!’ . I was asked to wear the gloves . These cadets standing were either a little weak or hesitant to box and I was  ordered to box them to dispel their fears! I did not like the job but obeyed , somehow I felt like a lowly bouncer. 

  The boxing rounds continued and the atmosphere was full of bruises and blood as  each boxer passed the muster. Few fights I remember still, one such was of Shekhawat who was so swift and precise that his opponent despite much determination and fortitude could not do much and had a swollen face which remained for a long time.  Some cadets would just close their eyes at the start of the fight and throw blind punches in the air relying on luck, but did not back out.   

The last day was memorable as the Commanding Officer and other guests were there to witness and to give away the prizes.  The fight which we all recall was between Chandhoke and Sherawat , two fairly tall and strongly built cadets! The two fought with athletic speed and proficiency of professionals and their rhythm and stamina never waned till the last. They were determined to oust the other and landed punch after punch on each other which raised the level of the match . Sometimes our CO was so affected by the violence in the ring that he would turn his face away.  No one was ready to give even an inch away such was their grit. It was difficult to say who the winner was but the judges decided in favour of Sherawat who got a prize but Chandhoke  also got a Prize of ‘Best Loser’ .

A few of us received prizes and I too got one , a mini steel glass with

‘ Best Boxer’ engraved on it.   It fulfilled my desire to win a sporting cup and is still kept safe in my mother’s steel cupboard.

The boxing experience made us more confident and most of us did shed our hesitation and physical fear and in that regard it was successful.  However; I consider moral courage superior. Always!   

 

 

 

        

WHAT BINDS THE NAVY?

 

What is it that binds the Navy as an integrated service and a formidable Arm of the Armed forces ? What is the glue which has held her so well since its inception and rise as the guardian of our Seas , our Ambassador to the world and our insurer of economic independence through the sea routes? 

Each person who joins the Navy takes oath on the ‘Constitution of India’ and affirms that he  shall protect the Nation even at the peril to his  Life! The Preamble states four fundamentals -Justice, Liberty , Equality and Fraternity.

It is the ‘Fraternity’ which holds the Navy and plays the primary role in maintaining  its Unity and Integrity!  Fraternity flows like a pure river of compassion and brotherhood in the veins of its personnel . As in the case of the State so in the case of Navy fraternity is both the responsibility of the Navy  and the individual . And in Navy all Officers and Men  realize that it would be ‘fraternity’ which would redeem them in the hour of reckoning and even in day to day routine life. Phrases such as  ‘Pull together’ and ‘ the strength of the cable is the strength of its weakest link’ are perennially ringing . We are taught and learn early that it is not the large seemingly formidable ‘Anchor’ which holds the ship but it is the cable of many fathoms holding the anchor and lying at  bottom of the water , which  holds it.  

   Fraternity is a progression and is built and cemented over a period . The first place is the Training establishment where  we arrive from all over  India and the first visible symbol is the uniform we wear . White uniform by all personnel and other uniforms  as prescribed for the occasion . We train together, run together ,march together, eat together , remember our homes together get collective punishment even for fault of an individual  so that we remember that we sail together and sink together. The first bond is of life long ‘course mates’ as we move to various ships .   This concept of ‘uniformity’ invokes ‘uniform perception’ and differences are reduced.

Fraternity is instilled over a period when we do collective activities such as evolutions at sea , sports and games . Officers and sailors are in one team playing against the team of the other ship . We cheer for our teams , we are dejected in its defeat and rejoice together in victory. We dine together on many occasions and partake the same food . We have family get togethers and picnics . And periodically  after a long sailing , on ship’s anniversary , sometime on transfer and retirement of key personnel we drink together and these occasions are when one opens out . Some discontent which may be simmering is  revealed and a  feedback is received – ‘Hum Nevala ‘( same food)  – ‘ Hum pyala’ ( same drink ) is an age old tradition of the Armed forces .

  The ship life opens a ‘New World’ . We make ‘ship mates’  on account of the fact that we have served together on board . We move from ship to ship and make new mates . Serving on board is a matter of pride and honour and the experience and loyalty remains for ever . In our conversation of Navy we always  talk about our afloat appointments as we know that Navy is Ships! All shore organizations and even Naval Headquarters serve Ships and their  purpose and policies are for  Ships. 

Our Aim on board is to do good for the ship , to endeavour to contribute in seeing the ship achieves its tasks and missions . We may be of different departments but perform collectively, various slogans of the ship help us in our zeal and enthusiasm such as ‘Vijay Vijay Ranvijay’ for warship Ranvijay a destroyer and ‘ Veer Veer Ranvir’ for Ranvir and such others.  Working together for long periods at sea , imbibing the Navy culture and vocabulary strengthens our bond and the spirit of comradery . 

Traditionally and with purpose the Armed forces were kept insulated from civil society and Navy too lives in its Naval areas which is restricted and so it helps in contributing toward fraternity.

The spirit of fraternity is such that that the children of Navy personnel prefer to remain in Navy . I have witnessed cases where Navy children  have joined companies such as  TATA and Infosys with respectable pay and perks but left it within a year as they found the atmosphere not congenial and they missed the  wholesome work and play culture of Navy  as they had witnessed . We were from distant places when we entered Navy but our children were  ‘Navy children’ and Navy was their  ‘Home’ .The wives are connected through their  Navy wives association and the children connect through Navy schools . Therefore   as we raise our family our relationship with our Navy is further strengthened by  family members.  In many cases officers and Men would like to leave Navy after pensionable service but are stopped by the family members as they do not want to leave their friends and society.

  The Navy personnel over a period  realize that their new family was  ‘Navy’ having spent considerable time with ship mates and colleagues . In large number of cases people spend  more time with Navy than with their  parents and original home . This indeed happens in large number of cases . I joined the Navy when I was 21 years and stayed for 36 years. 

Once a corporate executive who was visiting our Command Headquarters for a meeting  asked me as to what was  the source of motivation of our men and officers? what keeps them together ? Without much musing I stated that money was not our motivator as we were not in the business of creating monetary profits and fat balance sheets  . Our motivator and binder was  the fact that we provide a sense of security to the Nation and take pride in it . It was  reported in the newspapers recently that according to a survey conducted by Ipsos Global Trust 71% Urban Indians consider Armed Forces to be the most Trustworthy profession.

Many streams flow within the service. Regional leanings, Sainik school spirit, NDA( National Defense Academy )  links, RIMC( Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun)  group , Branch loyalty etc. But all these streams mingle into that broad river of togetherness and all encompassing the Navy in whose cause all differences are set aside.   Navy  may be having  certain shortcomings , grievances regarding appointment , promotion, local issues  etc as all services have but it makes up for it   by continually fostering ‘Fraternity’ !

Deep inside every Naval personnel has  this feeling , ‘an idea’ which he cherishes and nurtures that he was here for a ‘Higher Cause’ a ‘Lofty Aim’ , ‘ A Mission’ to protect his country in the hour of crisis and need! It is maintained by what is famously called ‘Esprit de corps’.