CATC 08

For those having no idea what CATC is - CATC is short for 'Combined Annual Training Camp'. It is a military style 10 day training camp which all NCC cadets in IITKgp have to go through. Those 10 days were probably the most tough (& memorable!!) 10 days of my life. In those 10 days I made a lot of new friends, learnt a lot of 'ek do ek' & above all I can now handle very adverse situations that I may encounter in my life.

The Venue Belda High School some 40 odd km from Kgp

When was it held 26th Nov 08 to 05th Dec 08

Day 1-Day 4

Resynchronising the body clock

Washing utensils - This was valid for all the 10 days

Marching - This was the part I hated most. Parading in the hot sun, stamping the feet all over the ground & on - cow dung. In a nutshell it wasn't fun.

Tech Classes/Rifle classes :D - There were classes on map reading, SLR, Grenade and the .22 mm rifles. For some strange reason, these classes were held in the hot sun.

GD/Stories from Kashmir & Congo - Most of the time reserved for GD was turned into sessions hearing the brave exploits of our instructors in Kashmir, Sri Lanka & Congo.

Documentary/Film - A Documentary on the Indian Air Force & the film Dostana was shown to us spread over a 4 day period. The speakers were horrible. The ones used during an election campaign were used.

Day 5-Day 8

Drama - Some of our beloved friends were caught outside the camp. There was some high end Drama which I think cannot be described in a few words ;)

Inspection time

Exchange of caps, shoes and utensils

Yoga session

Endurance run/walk - Mast tha!! [It was awesome!!]. That is all I can say!!

Day 9 - Day 10

Cultural Activities - IITians mein tho bahut talent hota hai [IITians are very talented]. 2 skits on NCC - in one Gandhiji is in a very peculiar situation - the modern Gandhi.

Campfire - The ones who left on 4th itself missed this thing. This was the best part in the camp. Dancing to the beats of popular Hindi numbers around the Campfire was a lot of fun.

Departure - We went back in batches but not before we were counted innumerable times to make sure no one went missing.

What I shall take back from the camp?

Toilets - For those who have not attended the NCC camp this might sound a bit alien, but let give you a brief description of the toilets that we had to use during the camp. A deep trench had been dug covered with a tin sheet that is used in roofs. Holes were cut out in the sheet and separated by curtains, 16 in all. Pretty neat - eh?? One should have had a look at its condition by the end of the 5th day!!!

Bathing Points - sab kuch khula khula hai [Everything is open]. My roomie(roommate) didn't have a bath in the ten days. I had it thrice :D

Community Living - kamse kam 2 people sharing a bed [Atleast 2 people sharing a bed].

Guard Duty - Peace - koi parade nahi for two days [No parade for two days].

Value of obeying the rules!!

A shoe is better than no shoe

And lastly, Parade!! line thod!

Parting words

People from NSO & NSS, you missed it!

Three cheers for NCC!!