Ragging At NDA and Its Psychological Impact: MVI Debate - Part 2
- MVI Desk
- Sep 19
- 13 min read
Editor's Note
The article titled 'Ragging at NDA and Its Psychological Impact', authored by Brig BL Poonia, VSM (Retd) has been viewed by over 4000 readers so far. We also received a large number of supportive responses to the article that we published as a Debate . This led to receipt of more responses from veterans that further reinforce the theme of Brig Poonia's article. Hence, MVI is now publishing part 2 of this debate with some select responses of personal experiences that strongly advocate the total removal of ragging in NDA both officially and unofficially !
The links of Brig Poonia article and MVI debate part -1 are given below for reference .
Editor, MVI
GP CAPT TP SRIVASTAVA
We, the uniformed, have made a slogan "ragging band karo" akin to politicians slogan "garibi hatao". Let's not go overboard. The core issue of review of physical training has been completely side-tracked by preachers of anti ragging. I wonder how many of them actually practised while at academies.
CDR RAVINDRA PATHAK, ex 33 NDA ,ex Sqn Cdr NDA
One is not too concerned with physical training as it is supervised training under a hopefully well trained instructor. The concern is more about 'unstructured training', which is 'ragging ' .
BRIG NEIL JOHN
Who has authorised, unauthorised people to take up mentoring without being adequately mentored themselves, as a profession, or now what we are trying to justify as squadron spirit.
BRIG BL POONIA
Cdr Ravindra Pathak has hit the nail on the head, and Gp Capt Srivastava's comments, equating condemnation of ragging to a political slogan and using words like "the uninformed" and "preachers of anti-ragging" are neither correct, nor in good taste.
Physical training has many facets, eg formulation of a training schedule, its correct implementation, the medical aspects, certain wrong practices (like ragging and unauthorized punishments) that had crept in, and periodic course corrections. The military training is supposed to be tough, both mentally and physically, and certain percentage of casualties are unavoidable, not only during the training in academies, but also while in service. And this phenomenon is prevalent the world over. Our real concern and focus should be, whether that percentage is alarming and can be brought down. If so, we must do it, by all means possible. But while trying to address one aspect of training, we should not get so obsessed, that addressing other aspects of the same, start appearing akin to political slogans. Each aspect is equally important and has its own relevance.
In fact, my article on ragging at NDA was strictly in response to the article written by Gp Capt Bewoor, who had recommended ragging to be a part of training in all military academies. That was another extreme, but surprisingly, no one commented on that. My question is simple, and yet remains unanswered : "If ragging contributes something positive in any manner, why not make it a part of the official training?" Notwithstanding the above, my article and the comments that followed on the same, did in no way prevent anyone to continue discussing other aspects of training which they felt were far too more important.
Moreover, I had not condemned the organized mass punishments at Academy level like cycle lifting and going around President's Drive, or front-rolling from Gen Habibullah Hall to Cadets Mess after the movies, where inhuman treatment like manhandling, was not meted out. I have commented only on what used to happen in respective Squadrons, where the treatment depended more on the whims and fancies of individual cadets, which occasionally included manhandling, and the degree varied from Squadron to Squadron and individual to individual. Generally the Squadrons which are located farthest from the main road, eg Charlie, Golf and Kilo tended to have it more as compared to Alfa, Echo and India, whose parade grounds were bang along the road. Then it depended more upon the type of a few odd sadistic cadets who happened to be there in a particular Squadron during a particular period. That is why each ex-NDA cadet tends to have a different experience and different views.
But why did the things have to reach a level when a Commandant NDA was compelled to issue a warning order in each Academy Routine Order during our 6th Term to read, "Ragging is a punishable offence and anyone indulging in this malpractice will be relegated or withdrawn?" And yet the seriousness of the issue did not sink in, resulting in the death of a cadet, precisely a year after we passed out of NDA. Was it not a serious issue to be dwelt upon? In fact, can there be anything more serious than this? Moreover, the question is : "Could it have been avoided?" But after his death, I am sure, ragging must have been stopped at least for sometime, and the cadets trained during the post-death phase would naturally say : "What ragging? There was no ragging during our period." And a few, in an effort to project their manliness, still tend to boast saying, "Ragging made a man out me". Does it require ragging to turn a teenager into a man?"
Admiral Arun Prakash, ex-Navy Chief, an ex-Commandant NDA, as well as an ex-NDA Cadet, has written articles condemning ragging and a few other wrong practices under the cover of a high-sounding doctrine called - 'beg, borrow or steal'. And so has Lt Gen HS Panag, ex Army Commander, who was an ACA during his 6th Term in NDA. Should we ignore, what such senior and experienced veterans have to say? Moreover, have I said something different?
It would be apt to quote Voltaire here, who said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." And when he used the word 'defend' he also meant that he will not denigrate your views.
BRIG BK PONWAR
The ability to withstand stress and strain is a quality of leadership. Do such activities help ?
BRIG BL POONIA
The ability to withstand stress and strain is undoubtedly one of the qualities of leadership, but NDA is not the only Academy entrusted with this task, nor is every trainee necessarily an NDA entry. Then how do other military academies achieve the same? But they do achieve, because the required degree of training in all its aspects is already inherent in the structured training schedule of every military Academy. To look forward to ragging to achieve the same is the biggest misnomer. Aren't IMA, OTA, Air Force, and Naval Academies geared up to develop the ability to withstand the required degree of stress and strain? If so how has NDA been left out?
Just to give an example, Maj Shaitan Singh, PVC, was not an ex-NDA, nor did he undergo ragging. Then how did he set such an unparalleled example of withstanding stress and strain during the 1962 Indo-China War in the Battle of Rezang La? To understand it better, given below is a brief description of this historic battle.
Western Command had made Chushul its vital ground, foreseeing that if the Chinese intented to take Leh, then Spangur gap between the mountains, in which Chushul lies, made the obvious route. Chushul itself is at 14,000 ft, and the positions to be defended were 16,000 ft high. The Indian troops had no Extreme Cold Clothing (ECC) to fight in high altitude areas. Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon, commanded by Maj Shaitan Singh was defending Rezag La. The Chinese attacked them at first light on 18 Nov 1962, but they stood their ground heroically in spite of being outnumbered in sub-zero temperatures. Three wounded reached the Battalion Headquarters, five taken prisoners, but the rest of the Company was still in position when an Indian patrol climbed Reazang La three months later - frozen as they died, weapons in hand. Can there be a better example of withstanding stress and strain than this?
It is a completely wrong notion that ragging which includes manhandling, develops the ability to withstand stress and strain. It rather ruins one's personality by shaking up his/her self-confidence and eroding one's self-esteem. Moreover, this quality of leadership would any day place even a civilian holding some important appointment in any job, in a better position than his peers. But would we ever use such a technique of manhandling our teenage children or grandchildren, or allow some Institute to do so, to develop this quality of withstanding stress and strain?
This quality comes through one's self-respect, pride in his profession, motivation, dedication to duty, and a genuine spirit to place 'Service Before Self'. It has more to do with mental stamina and motivation, which is a result of the overall development of personality and professional competence. A leader's greatest assets are to act normally in abnormal conditions, to continue to think rationally when his men have ceased to think, and to be decisive in action when they are paralyzed by fear. But these qualities are a result of a well structured training, and an all-round development of personality. If ragging and manhandling could achieve this, then shouldn't the young officers also be subjected to ragging, and be manhandled by their seniors in their Units? Afterall, isn't training an ongoing process throughout the service?
GP CAPT RAJESH CHIDAMBARAM (44th NDA Course)
Extremely well covered. I had been a vehement opposer to the term "smartness” which has only built people of poor integrity, and had always made it clear to my staff to not indulge in that abhorrent practice.
COL UDAY SINGH
Supreme Court has already banned ragging. It is not only inhuman, it kills the positive approach towards life. A youngster bubbling with josh ends up getting manhandled in the name of training, and starts getting demoralized.
COMMENTS OF MVI WEBSITE GUESTS READERS
Guest 1
Very well brought out by Brig Poonia. It's failure of system and inefficiency and irresponsibility on the part of Division Officers/Squadron Commanders. This practice needs to be stopped immediately .
Guest 2
Almost all academies have similar culture where constructive strengthening exercises are less focused than inconstructive ones. Even Naval academy is on top of it now a days. No one cares whether junior cadets have a say or have not taken bath for weeks, or not had their meals. It is a ridiculous culture and need to be stopped forthwith.
Guest 3
It is nothing but a sadistic pleasure of senior cadets. A cadet just six months senior in the Academy can't become a guide to correct to his juniors. After a nice movie when the entire Academy is made to front roll from the theatre to the dining hall, in tie and blazer, what correction is being taught by the ACA who also is cadet. Only stupid people support such foolish ideas.
Guest 4
In the academies, the inner self of cadets is killed. They lose their self respect, dignity, human values and ability to raise concern against wrong doings. The cadets are forced to tell lies and not to open their mouth even against whatever inhuman treatment being done. If they open their mouth, they are punished. Even NGOs fight for stray dogs/cats against cruelty but not against cadets. They have to bear every inhumane treatment worse than PoW like use of hockey sticks, slapping, beating with belts on the back, because no one is there to watch and monitor.
Guest 5
More than the ragging, what I found abhorrent is the concept of Manage, which is 'beg borrow or steal'. Here, borrow and steal are the same. This has now percolated to the IMA as well as the Naval Academy. Are we now into producing crooks and dishonest people?
The second concept is 'No Sorry' and 'No Thank you'. Borrowed from a movie of the 80s. I fail to understand why it is wrong to apologise if one has erred, or to thank someone for the good he has done. Are teaching the cadets that good manners are not essential.
Guest 6
For those who say there is no ragging are ostriches. Ragging certainly ragging affects negatively in building one's character. There is no practical yardstick to measure the ill-effects of ragging, hence it just has to be banished from the academy altogether; forget about supervised ragging, it is impractical.
COL LALIT BHATIA, 38th to 40th NDA Course
"If ragging has anything positive to contribute, let it be made a part of the official training schedule, and be conducted under the supervision of Division Officers." It is a potent sentence in the last paragraph of the article by Brig Poonia.
Ragging severely damages the self-respect of an individual.
NIXON FERNANDO
I think Brigadier Neil John's question is right !
If you unofficially need instruction under un-trained hands, away from everyone's eyes, to effectively give completeness to military training, then is the official training, which in turn is written down on paper, for all to see, inadequate?
War-like is war like !
How can one ever dream of creating a situation like that among peers in an academy?
Physical toughness
Some middle-aged lady in Europe ran one marathon everyday for one year. Is that physically tough enough ? Can any NDA alumnus achieve that?
Mental toughness
What psychology does the second term cadet know that he is out to make first term cadets mentally tough?
No one has studied what mentally tough really means. When someone tortures you, you grind your teeth and bear it. Does that make one 'mentally tough', or does it make one 'mortally scared' that one may get thrown out of the academy?
If ragging has made military officers mentally tough, then would it mean that all military officers are mentally tougher than çivilian officers of the IAS ?
Is that true?
As a person who represented our college football, hockey, cricket, and athletics teams and also scored highest in Physics in the batch, would I, a civilian, not be mentally tougher than quite a few of the military officers?
Lord Rama, was he not mentally tough? After all, he was never ragged !
We should bring this issue on the table and thrash it out of the truth.
COL PK ROYAL MEHRISHI
Ragging : Toughens?
● No two individuals will share the same perspective for ragging. The psychological reasons are :
︎ Some by nature are timid.
︎ Some aggressive .
︎ A few with self awareness of their own being at a young age .
A handful with immense self pride are retaliatory, seething with rage and revenge, waiting to strike back at an opportune moment (real fighting material).
● Let's face it, the routine in Academies is oppressive, tough, no place for little boys because battle grounds are uncertain places of uncontrolled violence .
● The training Academies cannot be turned into glorified, sophisticated prisons, offering good food, shelter and clothing but playing on the minds of a diverse lot to induce mental scars for a lifetime .
Way forward :
● Hanging on a wire (7th Heaven is only a momentary pain), doesn't toughen you up. It's more of a prank. One must have done it individually or with the entire course a dozens of times. Yet if you ask a course-mate later in your career who bore the same punishment with you to go out of his way (if he is in a position to do so) most of the times he will calculate to save his own skin. Tattlers galore!! (Where is the bonding in normal circumstances ? What will happen under combat stress??)
● Develop mental resilience first by methods which I can advocate to make strong individuals mentally. Then comes the physical official training to build muscular strength. Then focus on spiritual and emotional aspects
● Without this process we are doomed to be reinforcing failure (bad strategy) to turn out mentally strong, determined young officers, but only churning out opportunists (naukri baaz).
● Boldness, retaliation, planning, and never giving up on honour is the hall-mark of a true warrior leader !!
COL NN BHATIA
Ragging is not only in the NDA but also in the IMA, OTA and the Naval and Air Academies too. I had written earlier that I, as a first termer, was victim of ragging by a 2nd termer saddist, and fractured my left hand wrist in the very first few weeks in the IMA. That 2nd Term blighter alongwith his other course-mates, pleaded and forced me in the wrong sense of espirit de corps, Company's comradeship, spirit and integrity, not to state in the MH that I sustained fracture due to ragging, but to say that it was due to an accidental fall. I could not pass my drill and PT tests, and suffered, while that sadist passed out. Ragging only creates raggers. If physical and mental fitness is needed in a cadet, proper training and guidance would do the needful. All our top athletes, sportsmen, marathon runners, footballers, boxers, wrestlers , and so on, become physically fit and mentally strong not by ragging or bullying but through perseverence - both physical and mental training. I had a tenure each both in the Kumaon Regimental Centre, and the Asssm Rifles Training Centre. I ensured there was no ragging of the recruits ever done, and I feel proud we produced excellent soldiers excelling in professional taining, firing, sports, and other extra curricular activities.
MAJ GEN VIJAY PANDE
The practice of beating junior cadets with hockey sticks, keeping them awake all night, depriving them of food, and simply beating them up can in no way be justified. During my time in NDA as a cadet and as a Division Officer, I saw numerous cases of cadets being brutally beaten up, all in the name of ragging.
A cadet had to be boarded out because of a spinal injury sustained while front rolling down a staircase, another one boarded out because of a ruptured eardrum due to vicious slapping, and another one had his knee permanently damaged. A six termer died during the end of term Social Night. I can go on and on about these despicable acts. There should be zero tolerance for such acts, whether by senior cadets or by their instructors.
COL VIJAY BHATE
Well said, Gen Pande Sir. 'Zero Tolerance' is the term that needs to be applied to ensure eradication of the evil of ragging of juniors both at NDA and IMA .
MAJ GEN RAJ MEHTA
Maj Gen Vijay Pande is right. Zero tolerance for ragging is the only way out.
Select Excerpts of Responses :
"Ragging severely damages the self-respect of an individual"
- Col LK Bhatia
"The concern is more about unstructured training, which is ragging,"
- Cdr Ravindra Pathak
"If you unofficially need instruction under un-trained hands, away from everyone's eyes, to effectively give completeness to military training, then is the official training, which in turn is written down on paper, for all to see, inadequate?"- Nixon Fernando
" The training Academies cannot be turned into glorified, sophisticated prisons , offering good food, shelter & clothing but playing on the minds of a diverse lot to induce Mental scars for a lifetime " -Col PK Royal Mehrishi
"Gen Pande is right.
Zero tolerance for ragging is the only way out " - Maj Gen Raj Mehta
"The practice of beating junior cadets with hockey sticks, keeping them awake all night, depriving them of food, and simply beating them up can in no way be justified I can go on and on about these despicable acts. There should be zero tolerance for such acts, whether by senior cadets or by their instructors " -Maj Gen Vijay Pande
"More than the ragging, what I found abhorrent is the concept of Manage, which is beg borrow or steal. Here, borrow and steal are the same " --Guest
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