MOTIVATIONAL MOTTOES

     I was ten years old when I joined Sainik School during Jan 1967. It was a boarding school with military like environment and discipline; all very different from the carefree living with the siblings, in the cosy comfort of parental care at home. Here, one had to fend for everything. Early to rise, a cup of tea, followed by physical training, then bath and change into uniform akin to the army, thereafter march to the mess in squads for breakfast, from there march-on to the academics block for classes and march back to the mess for lunch. There was a short rest period post lunch followed by games parade.  In the evenings we again took bath, wore mess dress and observed combined study period. The day concluded with marching for dinner to the mess and back to the hostel, polishing shoes and washing small garments before going to the beds at lights out till reveille early next day morning. There were intermittent doses of instructions and moral lectures everyday to make the already rigorous routine, heavier. Soon, my calf muscles started remaining sore with uneasy tightness. Food was getting on nerves and the slangs exchanged amongst the students were making me go nuts. I was home sick and wanted to leave till one day I came across the Motto of now my alma mater ‘Na Denyam, Na Palanyam’, meaning ‘Neither Give Up, Nor Run Away’. I gave up the idea of going back home that day, once for all.

    Still in teens, at the tender age of seventeen, we moved on to the National Defence Academy, truly a great Institution; ‘The Maker of Men’. ‘Oh God help us to keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight .....................’ was the divine daily prayer of cadets that transformed us from the teens to manhood. The prayer reminded of the Hindi song, “Humko man ki shakti dena, man vijay karein, dusron ki jai se pehle, khud ko jai karen .............” The lyrics are good to be prayer of all religions, for all occasions. New friends here were like a bouquet of flowers from every state of the country. They belonged to different classes, creeds and religious denominations with sprinkling of cadets from friendly foreign countries. The life was many more times tough, adventurous and full of new challenges every day. Training schedule was tight and the ‘Ustads’ (instructors) were unforgiving. We vibed well with each other, as close knit teams of course mates, squadron types, place types, school types, class types or whatever types; we bonded instantaneously. ‘Service before Self’ is the Motto of this great institution. We understood it as army, navy or air force first and self later. Our individual persona got completely overshadowed and melted into the honour and pride of our teams. If one of us excelled the entire team banged the spoons on the dining table in unison cheering loudly ‘Up Up Bravo.......’ When one of us faltered, the nuts, bolts and screws of the entire group were tightened.

    Indian Military Academy was a serious business. We got up graded to be addressed as ‘Gentlemen’ from being only ‘Men’. The Academy colours were Steel Grey and Blood Red; firm as steel, tough to seek and sacrifice blood and lead the men into fire. It started sinking in that it is not only about ‘Josh’ meaning ‘passion’, but ‘Josh with Hosh’ meaning ‘passion with intellect’.  ‘Veerta aur Vivek’ meaning ‘Valour and Wisdom’ was the appropriate Motto of the Academy and our guiding torch for future. Field Marshal Philips Chetwode, the first Commandant, set the course of a life long journey, full of sacrifices and responsibilities with his golden words, “The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes first, always and every time; the honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command comes next; your own ease, comfort and safety comes last, always and every time.”

    Armed with such power packed ideals and pure as twenty four carat gold, we joined the Indian Army whose Motto is ‘Sewa Permo Dharma’ meaning ‘Service is Supreme Attribute’. This motto exhilarates soldiers to make the supreme sacrifice, when required and be ever willing to go beyond the call of the duty while fighting with the enemy across the borders or insurgents within the country and providing aid to the civil administration during natural calamities and man-made disasters to save the lives and property.

    Some of us got commissioned as officers into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. ‘Deg Teg Fateh’ meaning ‘Victory in War and Prosperity in Peace’ is the all encompassing Motto of the Regiment. ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ meaning “He who utters, ‘Eternal Power is the ultimate truth, is blessed’” is the war cry of the Regiment. It makes you fearless even, under fire and fury of battle. ‘Aut inveniam, viam aut faciam’ meaning ‘Either Find a Way or Make One’ is the functional ethos of the Regiment, where saying ‘No’ is against the regimental customs. The only expected response is ‘Ho Ju’ meaning ‘it will be done’. Lastly, the motto of Commandos, ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going’, has the ultimate driving power to conquer the highest peaks and farthest objectives after the utmost arduous journeys, through the darkest nights. It creates the power to aim and achieve infinity.

    We imbibed qualities like love, affection, truthfulness, simplicity and kindness during our childhood from our families. The turning point was our education and growth at these training and learning institutions and attaining proficiency in professional skills essential to be armed forces officers. Thereafter, our conduct is a reflection of early grooming and cumulative impact of the motivation through these mottoes, quotes and prayers. A firm belief in the eternal power, endless ability to withstand adversities, infinite energy both, mental and physical, to go that extra mile, resolve to succeed, fearless of men or beast, desire to serve the motherland and fellow countrymen with wisdom, devotion and fairness  are some of the common attributes of the armed forces officers. It is not that we have never feared or failed or faltered but such incidents have been far fewer and negligible. Daily, self appraisal and introspection to keep ourselves fit, strong and straight helps us come out stronger from every rough.