"Ragging At NDA Be Rooted Out! "Say Former NDA Alumni & Veterans: MVI Debate

Editor's Note

An article by Brig BL Poonia titled 'Ragging at NDA and it's psychological impact '   published by MVI on 12 Sep 25 has drawn spontaneous responses from veterans of three services in the past 3 days and with over 2200 readers views so far. Several respondents who themselves have been NDA cadets of different courses have validated the contents and recommendations of this article.

A few select responses are being published below that fully ratify the article by Brig Poonia.  MVI hopes and prays that the NDA authorities and their hierarchy take serious note and cognizance of the article by Brig Poonia and the heartfelt sentiments and endorsements expressed by several ex-NDA veterans in this debate.

Editor, MVI

https://www.missionvictoryindia.in/post/ragging-at-nda-and-its-psychological-impact

-Brig BL Poonia

Responses From Ex NDA Veterans & Instructors

NIXON FERNANDO, EX LECTURER & COUNSELOR, NDA

At the heart of anything good coming under the term "ragging", is deep human trust and un-conditional commitment to the idea that 'there is no other'. The welfare of ragee being the welfare of the ragger himself. Only at that level of mutual commitment do mutual pranking add spice in life. Needless to say, that will definitely be the character of an officer, a gentleman, and leader! And for expression of that genuineness, there is no mandatory need of 'ragging'. It is best avoided.

Further, there is a ' fig- leaf’ of the defenders of this system use.

They say:  "We break their egos with which they come, and remold them as soldiers." At the outset, I don't think anybody is trained to impart this to juniors! But I would like to see whether there is any truth or good in this.

GP CAPT JOHNSON CHACKO ,EX 44 NDA &  BN CDR NDA

The accepted definition of ragging is "Any act of physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at another student (fresher or otherwise) on the ground of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background" I don't think this happens in NDA or other military academies.

What happens is excessive punishment by seniors for minor aberrations, collective punishments when an offender does not own up, etc. while instilling military culture. A cdt is generally aware that he is heading for this before he joins NDA. If not he needs to be counselled.

If there are better ways of instilling military culture or enhancing bonding they must be resorted to.

If the current practices are excessive, then they need to be curbed. Powers of punishments by senior cdts can be withdrawn.

The mind does get agitated with excessive or collective punishments.

It is up to the trainers to change the current methods and ensure that cdts have the same military culture and bonding which is essential for a military officer. Leadership, Jointness, and integration flow from this.

CDR RAVINDRA PATHAK, EX 33 NDA & SQN CDR NDA

Kindly see the definition of ragging again. It states physical abuse targeted at another student. The basis may not be on grounds of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background "but it definitely does occur both Mental and physical on the grounds of one being a junior.

GP CAPT TP SRIVASTAVA, EX 38 NDA

We have gone to town over ragging.

Issue was injuries sustained during training viz: stress fracture, etc. Cross country is perhaps the best exercise for health.

All top institutions viz: IIT, IIM, medical colleges have some form of so-called ragging.

Let us address the issue of physical training syllabus. Does every cadet have to be proficient in doing Dive Roll as an example. To state that only we on this page know what ails NDA training is in itself utterly flawed. We don't need post event specialists to iron out the problem.

Col Vinay Dalvi, in 5(five) volumes of Victory India Campaign books, has compiled a comprehensive record.

It needs to be looked at holistically rather than coming out with isolated views.

NIXON FERNANDO:

Knowing that a junior has had a long day, he needs the rest and recuperation to be able to avoid a downward spiral, and still keeping him awake in night sessions, doing even something like putee parade. That amounts to physical abuse and, then, repeating it over and over day after day, without awareness of the physical state which the junior is in.

That inspires cadets to become kick-start leaders at best, using their smartness to dodge training, to survive.

What of self-start leaders who have space to nurture their special talents and hobbies, who have the initiative to read, build skills, and take on optional challenges?

Brigadiers and Generals among the cadets are blessed, I guess.

CDR RAVINDRA PATHAK

Front Roll is fine in PT right, but the problem is unsupervised front rolling as corporal punishment and specifically down the staircase. Seek length of the corridor by the number of front rolls. I recollect the massive front rolling to mess via the back road via MH to the mess past the K squadron,after a movie. This was ordered by ACA and everyone who mattered ignoring this corporal punishment to the entire academy minus the 6th termers.

DR NAREN NAIK, IIT KANPUR

Ragging is officially outlawed on our academic campuses.

In my time, too, I chose not to be ragged; met my seniors first on the games grounds/courts and made good friends.

GP CAPT JOHNSON CHACKO

Firstly, we need to scale down officially sanctioned physical activities. Compare the syllabi of 70s with what is happening now. Revert to rhe 70s syllabus.

Physical activities in the Sqns can be well regulated or stopped. I have done it as a Bn Cdr. As a Bn Cdr, while I was driving back at 1430h, I found 3 cdts were cooling down after a post lunch cross-country practice. 14 days restrictions were dished out from the Gypsy. "Fond of running, run for 14 days". The principal was very upset and, in my presence, complained to the Dy Comdt that I am too harsh. He was politely told not to intrude into my space. X Country after lunch and dinner stopped. Juliet became champions in one term with no physical activities in the Sqn.

If there is a will, there is a way!

BRIG BK PONWAR, EX 36 NDA

Cdts should not have to go through the 7th Heavens, On their knees at the Parade Ground or Physical assaults or Abuses.

Preparing for OT competition will require a cohesive and tough team. So will X country.

He should not be belittled. Physical Trg is a gradual process.

Front rolls are good for the spinal cord if done properly on a suitable surface.

It’s a good article, I fully agree with the views of the author. Strict vigil needs to be maintained to ensure that no ragging in the name of unofficial training or any other name takes place. No unnecessary fall-ins too. The dignity of the individual needs to be maintained and needs to be taught. That would produce much better officers.

COL SHIVAJI RANJAN GHOSH, EX 45 NDA

Nobody seems to have mentioned physical manhandling, which we had faced. I was hit on the face until it was swollen and told to tell anyone who asked that it was due to boxing practice. Our CSM had hit us with a hockey stick and, on one occasion with a riding pith hat. I don't know what it was that made us accept all this without complaint, but we did, probably because we were too scared to complain.  In retrospect, these represented the dark underbelly of Academy life.

Brig Poonia will vouch for this, we were in the same Sqn at the same time (he was senior to us, but not one of the sadists).

GP CAPT TP SRIVASTAVA

Efforts should be made to imbibe officers and gentlemen like qualities rather than policing.

COL DV SATISH ,38 NDA, ex PTO, NDA IMA & OTA:

Manhandling in any form is a military offense and should be dealt with under military law. But the problem in Sqns at NDA is that the rule of law does not apply, let alone military law! Both human rights and military law do not apply! It's a state of lawlessness in varying degrees in different Sqns that has prevailed for 76 years and about which there is ample evidence and proof coming out in the form of confessions and statements from former cadets and instructors. This has been possible due to silent and unofficial approval for these activities. The past staff and hierarchy of NDA is to collectively blame for this sad state of affairs! It is high time that it is not only corrected forthwith but eradicated from its very roots!

CDR RAVINDRA PATHAK

How can you handle it as offense under military law when you deny them various privileges given to a recruit just because they, the cadets, don’t come under military law?

COL VIJAY BHATE

What Col Satish says is right and, if done, will enable ragging to be stopped . For this to be facilitated there have to be CCTVs  installed at all places in the Sqn premises for real / legal  evidence against the defaulters who can then be thrown out from NDA  without mercy or  consideration irrespective of  his/her term or appointment.

If this is implemented ruthlessly for 2 years, all types of unwanted unofficial activities will cease to exist in NDA.

“Ragging is not tradition. It is torment. It breaks spirit instead of building it. The NDA stands for discipline, dignity, and brotherhood — not for inflicting physical or mental torture. True strength lies in lifting each other up, not tearing one another down.”

MAJ GEN ANUKUL CHANDRA, EX 38 NDA

It is not just NDA; it is your own Sqn. In NDA, each Sqn had (might still have) a unique character. For example, in my Sqn (Alpha), we have no memories of ill treatment or manhandling. Yes, we had mass punishments and dangree PT shoes in junior terms, which we do not regret. If they did not add, atleast they did not substract anything. When we meet, we still talk of mass punishments without any rancour. Remember what Sqn Ldr Pannu did to us on a Sunday morning?  Even the Academy front rolls by Pundhir seems fun today !

Anything beyond physical exercise is not warranted, definitely!

BRIG NEIL JOHN

The problem is that no one sees a problem until it’s pointed out. Every incident that happened in the guise of ragging can be justified as a need.

If there is a need for extra PT even after a designated and approved programme which delves in intelligence harnessing, physical strengthening and physiological bonding, that means your programme is wrong.

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?

Has it really toughened you? Let’s take an hypothetical analogy. I have been told that sugar is bad for my health. I avoid it, but I still take supplements cause otherwise my food would be bland and my craving would lead me to do something even worse for my health. Then someone educates me on substitutes and I realise they are worse. But just because I have taken these substitutes for some months the little gains that I made are attributed to the substitutes and not to the anti-inflammatory and low sugar diet that I am taking.

So you see the fact is - THERE IS A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME TO GET YOU TO A STATE OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROFESSION YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

This involves rigour, back breaking exercises, mental gymnastics and test of resilience. It’s an all-encompassing process tuned systematically to involve, evolve and generate a soldier with leadership.

How does ragging help?

Camaraderie? For those there are group exercises, training and outdoors, including your cross country and sports. Mental Toughness and team spirit - for that you have Singhad and outdoor training exercises including excursions and visits.

Physical Growth - you have PT and sports Social Congeniality - you have less Mess parades, competitions, the NDA ball.

So I fail to understand the very justification of bullying and ragging in the form of Squadron spirit. I agree that sometimes a weak cadet has to pass a technical test like a horse. The platoon commander assigns a senior termer to make him practice. That’s still okay, cause it’s in the interest of the cadet.

I firmly feel, that when you train, train hard. But when it’s time to rest, ensure the rest both physical and mental. Most of the time what we have experienced as extra fitness by senior cadets is always their frustration or sadism. There are very few cases where there is an actual intent to improve a standard of fitness or anything else proclaimed.

Unfortunately, many of us get drawn towards one side/face of an issue, for whatever reason, and form our whole argument based on that perception.

Ragging is like water. If we drink too much or too little it may cause discomfort or organ failure in the short/long term. In the extremes it would cause our immediate death. The solution lies in having proper control, monitoring and adequate checks and balances.

Unfortunately lack of proper thought, understanding and answers to various aspects of ragging have led to frequent demonisation of the issue.

Do we really expect Geneva conventions to help prevent inhuman treatment of all POWs We can’t be that naive. Ragging, when

handled properly, does build resilience to meanness/cruelty of human nature which is part and parcel of any war. This meanness/cruelty can come from foes and friends alike. Ragging prepares you for it.

COL (Dr) IVS GAHLOT, EX CO MH, KHADAKWASLA (NDA)

Brig Poonia has brought out the fact of NDA officer cadet’s life while undergoing three years degree course as it’s mandatory to become a commissioned officer in military. It is true that ragging is being done in most of the professional colleges with an aim of introduction with junior students so that junior students can open up with seniors and a good environment is created for education.

As regards NDA is concerned training conducted by senior cadets has two aspects:

One is demi official which is training of weak cadets by competent seniors, which is a good practice and has ok of NDA administration.

The other is most unofficial, ugly, inhuman, unsocial and unlawful activity by senior cadets on junior cadets in the name of training. The ragging is a very small word for such inhuman training in the name of toughening.

In fact, my first encounter as CO MH Khadakwasla was with a case who was victim of reverse ragging by junior cadets on a 6th term cadet as a revenge in the name of social evening a day prior to his passing out in Dec 2012. why should juniors bash up seniors and injure them to the brink of permanent disability/death?

LT GEN VINOD CHOPRA, EX MIL SECY TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA

"Well narrated. Hope it reaches the apex level of decision makers"

COL A WADHAWAN ,44 NDA

Excellent write-up !

I agree with you.