Nurubgukal....contd...

     I was in search of a better placement.The training as an NCC cadet had kindled my intention to join Indian army. An opportunity came when the army decided to recruit officers in an emergency quota when the war broke out in one of our borders.Some how I managed to pass through the written examination and a preliminary test.  I had difficulty in dealing English fluently. Even now I am not satisfied with my grammar. When I went through a guide to face the SSB[service selection board] ordeal my hope started withering. One of my friends in Railway who had earlier an experience in SSB tried to pass on what ever he knew about it. His tips helped me develop a strategy . The duration of the test was seven days in the army selection board in Bangalore city.

          There was an army warrant to travel by train in second class. And from that moment onwards the candidates were treated as officers. I could feel a sense of temporary elevation in my status.There after every movement was in military precision. The order stipulated the steps to be taken with meticulous details. It had even mentioned about the dress code for each occasion. With much difficulty I managed to comply with them.The men at the railway out post took us to the camp and in batches the candidates were accommodated in different rooms. There were two or three Malayalees in my batch and the rest were North Indians. A JCO was in charge to guide and he remained with us till we left the camp....contd...