Army Diaries

SSB Army selection

It was year 2002. I had just joined my engg college. I never wanted to do engg. just for the reason that there are enggrs everywhere. Most of my cousins are enggrs. I was desperate to do something different at that time.

Kargil was fresh in my mind and I had, have and will have lots of patriotism in me. Adrenalin was running high. I decided Army is my destination. I wanted to become an Armyman and do something fruitful for my country.

The SSB (Service selection board) army interview for Men (10+2) advertisement caught my attention. I wasted no time in applying for it. After some days I got a call from them to attend the selection camp in Bangalore.

My mood was upbeat on getting the interview letter. It was a feeling that I had already become an Army officer. I arrived in Bangalore(for the first time) and was intimidated by the scores of aspirants. Finally, we reached the SSB campus in Brigade Road, Blore. We were welcomed by Col.Singh and were briefed about the selection process.
There were some 180 candidates in all from nook and corner of the country. For the first time I got a taste of Unity in diversity. It was proud feeling.....

Next day morning was the written test followed by a GD. It ended by 10:30 AM and then started the anxious wait for the results. The candidates who passed in this test would be asked to stay back for the physical tests(and various other tests) for next 3 days, others would be heading back home. Everyone was feeling nervous. We had made quite a few friends by this time. Again it was aggregation of people on linguistic basis. There were tamil group, hindi groups, bihari gangs, marathi guys and so on.

Here I met Jegan, Jones, Ashok Kumar and 1 Telugu guy(forgot his name though). We gelled nicely and had long chats discussing about life, girls, food etc.. Then a officer came and asked the folks to re-group based on our ID. Butterflies were flying in the stomach. The officer started to read out ID and names of the pupils who were selected. I was just praying to get selected. I saw the shock and enjoyment on faces of others. My ID was 73. The officer called out 69, then 72, and then went on to call 78.

My dreams were shattered. It was as if I couldn't breath for a moment or two. Life seemed to have ended and I couldn't hear anything after that. A guy beside me shook me up and said he is calling ur number. I was shocked and surprised and then realised that he had missed calling out my number. Hurray, I was selected for the physical rounds. It was a great sigh of relief more than pride.

All of us, Jegan, Jones and Ashok got selected for the physical test. The poor Telugu guy had to make his way back home that day :-( We felt very sorry for him and missed him.

The next 2 days were gruelsome days in my life. I remember a drill called "Tiger leap" where we had to climb up a platform and jump some 3 meters in air to catch hold a big rope. I jumped but couldn't grip on to the rope(thanks to my extra pounds). The force of gravity was unkind to my weight. I came down screeching with the rope and was left with skin peeled-of from both my hands. I was girthing in pain and was given a dressing by the medical team.

3 more days passed. Everyday, Our drills/tests/GD et al would end by 11:30 am and we were allowed to go out and return back by 8:00 pm. Myself, Jegan and Jones went out everyday roaming the streets of MG road, Brigade road etc. It seemed to be girls, girls and girls everywhere. Jegan was at his flirting best in those days.. :-) We saw 2 movies in those 3 days and did lotz of shopping. Jegan used to say ,"Maapla, MG road la oru TEA kadai podanumda!!!" (Dude, We should open up a TEA stall in MG road) obviously to have a peep at the babes 24/7.. :-)

It was D day, the fifth day of our stay in the garden city. The results were going to be announced. The guys getting selected would be commissioned permanently in the Army. The unlucky would as usual go back home... Col.Singh came dressed in full Army Uniform. After the usual pep talk, he received a paper from his sub-ordinate. It was a feeling which i could never again experience. From Army uniform, Movie Border, Bofors, AK 47, Paki enemies, Param Veer Chakra...everything brushed my mind. The officer started reading the names.. We were 28 in all. He read 3 names and said,"Thats All". And my name was in the majority :-(

It was the most killing moment in life. There seemed to be no future. All hopes were shattered. I was not going in the Army. A so close, yet so far kinda feeling. Me Jegan, Ashok and Jones all heading back home. Only relief was no one got selected from our group. The officer left. It was a moment of grief amongst the 25 unlucky folks. It was pin drop silence in the hall. Everyone was unable to come over the grief. Suddenly Jegan shouted with great enthusiasm jumping up and down....

"Heyyyy!!!!!!! All of us are selected for going HOME, CONGRATS"

Hall burst out in laughter hearing that....Everyone got relaxed and shared a light moment after that..

Thanks to Jegan...

:-)