MVI Debate
Editor's Note
Three recent back to back articles on NDA by Brig BL Poonia ,Nixon Fernando and Gp Capt Johnson Chacko (that were triggered by an article by Col Alok Asthana ) were published by MVI and resulted in several varied responses from military veterans to these articles ,especially from the NDA alumini who have expressed their views, perceptions and suggestions for their alma mater to keep pace with the changing times to meet the challenges of evolving 21st century warfare so evident across the world . A few select responses published below should spread the right awareness about NDA and further trigger many more military minds to pen down their thoughts on the military training at NDA and other academies that train our elite officer corps.
The links to the 3 MVI articles and the article by Col Alok Asthana are given below for the reference of readers :
Editor, MVI
Responses From Veterans
Col Shivaji Ranjan Ghosh,Ex NDA
An excellent article by Brig Poonia. I think he has said everything that needs to be said. The NDA was, and continues to be a premier training institute producing excellent officers.
Col Alok Asthana,Ex NDA
This article by Brig Poonia ,starts with ‘the Commandant NDA, a Lt Gen or equivalent General Officer, too is equally concerned. So let us not presume that none of them know their job, the way we do’, and ends with ‘Let us not forget that the General Officers responsible to ensure the high standards of military training in academies like NDA, know their job, better than we do. Hence we have no justification in doubting their caliber and competence.’

With that, I lose the power to question.
Still, I must point out that an indecent number of generals of army have been held accountable to wrong doings, including a sitting Comdt of NDA, for petty corruption.
If all MUST be well, I wonder why a Chiefs of Staff Committee should review the work of these infallible generals?
That’s what is wrong with us, ex NDAs included. We are just not ready to question the status quo.
Gp Capt Johnson Chacko,Ex Cadet & Bn Cdr NDA
People don't seem to have a clue how the cadets are trained to be future leaders, even though they have been trained in this cradle of leadership as cadets.
It is not abnormal for an ex NDA to know the fundamentals of why cadets are made to do what they do at NDA.
Col Pk Royal Mehrishi ,Ex NDA
1. Whoever doubted that NDA was/ is, not a premier Institution. Premier or elite is what elite does.
2. A premier institution, if it does not reinvent itself, can (because of many factors) 'entropy.' One of the major causes is lack of ability to look within, and absorb well-meaning criticism / suggestions.
3. Mayo College Ajmer, at one time, was the most premier school in India. Today, Doon, Indus, Sanawar Lawrence- Lovedale are giving Mayo a drubbing in all competitions, including academics.

4. Since there are no other Institutions to benchmark against NDA ( in India ) we have to look at West Point & Sandhurst for benchmarking ( comparison ). Whereas their conditions, culture, upbringing, etc. are way different from Indian Cadets.
5. Reform or Perish is the mantra . I reiterate, one of the teachings by NDA seniors is 'beg, borrow or steal' & the second is, 'Don't be a KK' ( Keen Kumar - enthu cutlet ) don't volunteer or take undue initiative or show keenness. This kills the basic ' joi - de - vivre ' of a young boy in his teens. Shamming (shirking duties / tasks ) is eulogised , whereas at that age, each should be growing to find himself. I learnt this word in NDA itself ( though I have a distinction in the English language in my HSc exams )
6.A Study team headed by ex CNS Arun Prakash with tri services members like Gen Ashok Ambre , Reps of Academic faculty and some competent Tech advisors & Psychologists ( ex NDA /DIPR Qualified) may be the way forward !
Whatever may be their recommendations, the success will lie in the implementation ! Many studies / reviews on NDA haven't yielded the desired results due to lack of will / implementation / continuity in letter and spirit !
6. All of the above-mentioned suggestions have the good of NDA at heart While in service, we are not able to think out of the box due to many constraints . Try this combination it may work wonders !

Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh,Ex NDA
An excellent article by Brig Poonia .It is well researched and put across.
Even though I was a Div Offr at NDA and Training Officer ,NDA Wing, a GSO 1 at MT 16, I do not think I could have put across the points so well.
Col Uday Chauhan
All of us have retired now. NDA fails to teach maturity.
Our Coursemates who have retired as Lt Gen till date do not show maturity and hence not welcomed by society. They are on different grids.
No knowledge without college.The overrall development of the mind and body takes its own time. IAS officers become mature at the age of 25-30 years and the way they handle the administration, I have seen personally.
Beg, borrow, and steel is the worst thing taught at NDA .

Col Bimal Bhatia ,Ex NDA
Brig Poonia's article is truly excellent and covers all relevant points.
However, he says, "There is no system, anywhere in the world which can test qualities like honesty, integrity, loyalty, maturity, uprightness and truthfulness" at the SSB.
Some such negative traits can easily show up in psy tests. With a systematic interview - interlinking various events, the IO can pin the inaccuracies.
The GTO, through the whole spectrum of tests, gets to know a candidate from a different perspective.
Thus, all the positive and negative inclinations are corroborated during the conference.
There can be aberrations. A candidate at the AFSB, Clement Town was found to be having "suicidal tendencies". He was failed but subsequently passed by another board. He joined the Naval Academy as a cadet but ran away within a month. He rose in IRS to a Principal Chief Commissioner.
That said, the real character traits of a candidate are formed in his bringing up in the family.
At unit and higher levels given the right environment, coupled with the keeness of an officer to fortify his qualities, matter a lot.
Gp Capt AG Bewoor ,Ex NDA
Gp Capt Chacko says what I say, using different words. He has been a student & DS at DSSC, CDM, NDA, and done very well in the IAF. Steady fellow who does not go off at tangent. he has eaten both success & failure.
I am trying to get out of the critics what exactly is the flaw in the trg syllabus. In the trg pattern. In the allotment of hours for each activity. In the daily routine. In their leisure time. In the time given to sports and hobbies. Is there time for the cadet to just ruminate, read a story book, stare into the sky? Must a cadet always have a laid down timetable for all days that make up 21 weeks of each term? Do we teach this to the senior cadets? To the cadet Appts? To the Div Offrs?

The reason to give bachelor degrees I have written. That the IAF & Navy want only B Techs is amazing. Military pilots dont need technical degrees to do their job. That B Tech / BE / BSc is only an abbreviation for post retirement employment. Corporate India wants an engineer with a B Tech who knows what happens in the Design Deptt, on the shop floor, in the Quality Lab and so on. The Colonel / Gp Capt who retires after say 20 yrs has nothing of this on his CV. He gets a job because of his fauji service of 20 yrs, not his B Tech.
Chacko knows a lot and does not get put off or hurt by rubbish thrown by others. Sad I did not serve with him somewhere, he would have been good fun to serve with.
'Response' From A Senior & Experienced Veteran
It’s clear that the author ,Gp Capt Johnson Chacko, has a deep understanding and strong opinions about leadership training at NDA. His experience as Officer Commanding No . 3 Battalion must have given him unique insights into how this prestigious institution moulds cadets into future leaders.
He has highlighted several important points:
1. The Practical Aspect of Training: The real essence of leadership is instilled through practical, everyday experiences rather than just theoretical knowledge or mottos. The true calling comes from within, and physical, mental, and moral training must be actively pursued by each cadet.
2. Role of Prayer and Mottos: These are inspirational, but their true impact is felt when cadets internalise them and apply the principles in their daily lives.
3. Importance of Lead by Example: His interaction with the Cadet Sergeant Major underscores the importance of earning respect through excellence. Doing everything better than those you lead sets a high standard for both leaders and followers.
4. Critical Thinking and Professionalism: Encouraging cadets to think critically and understand their capabilities and limitations is crucial for effective leadership.
5. Transformative Experiences: Leadership is also learned through transformative experiences, as seen in the example of the games captain leading the squadron to victory in the hockey championship.
6. His critique of the current articles published by MVI suggests a gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation. Perhaps more emphasis on practical training and situational experiences, as he has described, could bridge this gap. His insights offer a profound understanding of the complexity of leadership training, particularly within the context of the NDA.
7. Situational Awareness: Essential for leaders to understand their environment and make informed decisions.
8. Strategic Thinking: Leaders must ideate and plan their course of action considering various strategies and tactics.
9. Utilizing Skills: Effective use of team members' skill sets is crucial for executing strategies successfully.
10. Academic and Physical Training: NDA's curriculum enhances situational awareness, physical endurance, and critical thinking.
11. Practical Leadership: Leadership is practically learned through sports, competitions, and real-life scenarios at NDA.
12. Critical Thinking: Encouraged to think outside the box and solve complex problems creatively.
13. Intimate Knowledge of Team: Leaders need to know their team members well to leverage their strengths effectively.
14. Balanced Curriculum: Academics, physical training, and leadership exercises together shape well-rounded leaders.
15. Role of Officers: Officers play a continuous role in grooming cadets, observing, correcting, and mentoring them.
16. Assessment and Competitions: Competitions should focus on real leadership training rather than purely academic or physical aspects.
17. His example of the hockey championship illustrates how real-life situations at NDA foster leadership skills. The emphasis on practical experience, critical thinking, and situational awareness aligns well with the broader objectives of military training.
18. The suggestion for incorporating CCTV cameras for monitoring and ensuring discipline while allowing for physical punishments in a controlled manner highlights the importance of a balanced approach to training.
19. His critique of the current education system at NDA and the need for a more relevant academic program, like a modular MBA, reflects a forward-thinking approach to better prepare cadets for their careers.
Col Alok Asthana, Ex NDA
The author ( Gp Capt Johnson ) starts with the advice of NDA Dy Comdt that what was expected him of him was to follow what other peers were doing. That looks quite illogical. Hardly needs any explanation. Coming from a Dy Comdt, it's ridiculous. Dy Comdt is the in-charge. NDA must get only competent officers as in charge of their training.

Then he says,- 'A leader must possess exceptional situational awareness,'
Right. However, he is wrong to claim that - NDA’s curriculum addresses these competencies comprehensively. Academics contribute to a high level of situational awareness. Learning History, Maths, and Hindi simply doesn't contribute to improving situational awareness necessary for a combat leader.
Then he says - This professional capability along with ability for “out of the box” thinking generated by critical thinking, will be of great value. This can be trained in NDA and subsequent years. '
Right . That is a good admission of the importance of these topics and an acknowledgment that these are not presently being taught, but should be.
I ask - When would that day come? NDA is several decades old, and most of India is already in awe of how it operates. It will never get any better.
Then comes - 'It is true that leadership as a subject is not taught.' Great admission from an officer who has commanded a bn in NDA. He knows.
The question arises - Why is it not taught or trained in? The answer obviously is - ' Because we believe that it is not a teachable or trainable skill or competency.
That's laughable, and that's where the problem lies.

Leadership in armed forces is important for saving precious lives. In civil corporations, good leadership only helps in saving money. But they still devote serious effort to train their staff in purely leadership skills. I can provide details, if anyone is interested.
Next is his suggestion -' 'There needs to be good quality CCTV cameras fitted in all Corridors, Flanks, Bn areas and Parade Grounds of the Sqn areas to record what is happening. Each Divisional officer needs to view the areas of his division and the Squadron Commander the Bn Areas and Parade Ground the next day, with an intention to bring the culprits to book.'
Very very very questionable. Looks more appropriate for a high security prison.
Gp Capt Johnson Chacko
(Replying to Col Alok Asthana's response)
The first paragraph of what I have written provides the reference to context on what followed. It was a response to those articles and my response in limited to what was published in those articles on this web site. However, it has been published as a separate article.
What the Deputy Commandant told me is quite common in the Armed Forces except command appointments where a proper HOTO (Handing Over Taking Over) takes place. It does not reflect his incompetence.
Academics is the foundation for situational awareness. He should be able to interpret not only what the situation is but how the situation developed or why, if he has to convert the situation in the favour of those whom he leads. The subjects you have mentioned is essential for that, though all of those need not be employed for combat as combat is done after he is aware of the situation, strategized, selected him aim etc.
NDA addresses these competencies comprehensively though outcome may be varied depending on what is imbibed. I have tried to break it down into steps so that it is easier to understand.
Critical thinking needs to be developed as a part of our education and it should start when he is a child. I have benefitted immensely. Analytical and application-oriented thought process is essential, like they test for in IIT and IIM entrance. When it will start depends on the powers that be.
Leadership as a subject is not taught in a classroom in any of the Armed Forces establishments not only NDA. However, it is taught as a subject in CDM as it may be a part of the MMS degree. It is learned through practical experience and most of our young officers are good leaders. Leadership is essential in any field, not only corporate India. I have been at the top rung of corporate India too. They do not have a laboratory to train leaders like we have in the NDA. Some of them convert theory into practice, especially those who have been to Ivy league business schools where analysis and application is the key to entry.
When the eyes cannot be everywhere all the time, CCTV helps record events for forensic analysis. High end IT companies have it to record unusual incidents that may take place, but they do not become prisons. This suggestion was based on an input that informal physical activity should stop. Despite being very strict on informal punishments meted out by senior cadets, I found it still happening at 4 am. Drastic correction took place in the form of 14 days’ restriction awarded on the spot.
I stand by what I have written and I hope that necessary corrections will take place.

Gp Capt TP Srivastava
First and foremost, the requirement that none have deemed fit to address . Every comdt must be there for a full tenure and should be an ex NDA himself. Services are using post of NDA Comdt as a parking slot. No wonder then ...
Col NN Bhatia
While I agree that every Comdt must have a full tenure at NDA , I DO NOT agree that he MUST be an ex NDA, too ! That is MOST ridiculous ! My Adjutant when I was commanding 2 Kumaon ( Berar) was Capt Bobby Mathews, an ex NDA who later retired as Comdt of OTA, Chennai. I just met him 3 days back in Chennai.Maj Gen Habibullah, Comdt of the JSW was NOT ex NDA himself. NDA was not born around then, and there are endless more such examples. What goes for NDA, applies to all our military institutions and officers training academies, whether NDA, OTA or IMA or even all class A establishments. My own Battalion officer an ex JSW of great repute was awarded C grading in JC course & could NOT be instructor in the JC Wing but as he progressed in life, he was instructor in the DSSC, HC & later retired as the Commandant of Infantry School, Mhow.
Air Cmde Nitin Sathe : : Ex Director Trg NDA & President SSB
I have been the director training at NDA as well as the president of a SSB.
I have the following points to make:-
1. Today’s cadet is quite of a different stock. We have noticed this even at the induction level. His training needs need to be tailored to suit his own requirements as well as the changed requirements/needs of a good leader and officer of the armed forces who now needs to be more cerebral and tech savvy than before.
2. study groups-ASSG and the ASG (Academic and Services Study group)were formed long ago, and the recommendations have not yet been implemented in spirit.
3. Any changes in curriculum-even minor were to be communicated to IDS in my time and were monitored at the highest level. I am not aware how much the Commandant can change, actually, one Commandant did some drastic changes; but these lasted only for his tenure.
4. The unstructured training, aka squadron PT, etc, needs to be looked into.
5. All activities, including academics at the NDA, are seen from the perspective of Squadron competition and nothing else. Therefore, a lot of talent gets wasted and remains un-nurtured. This needs a serious looking into.
6. I have also had the privilege to visit training establishments in the US and I saw that the cadets lived and ‘grew’ in a more relaxed atmosphere; at the same time excelling in whatever they wanted to do. In fact, there is a big thrust on academic performance and excellence at all the three academies that I went to. The cadets had a lot of freedom to choose their paths-at the same time achieving the minimum desired standards.
7. I am open to a face to face discussion on/offline.
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