The Hoot

 CONTENTS

1. We Have Arrived
2. An Ode To Online Sessions
3. Transition From Ullu To Owl
4. The Wise One
5. Supreme Commander’s Visit
6. RM’s Higher Operational Directive to Lucky 77
7. Living Life On The Edge
8. The Excess-Size
9. A Lot Of Rest At DSSC….
10. The Decorables & The Doomed Plan : Kul Tzu
11. The Morning Pilgrimage
12. Castle In The Air
13. My Story
14. ISMO
15. From The Other Side of The Earth
16. The Journey Of An International (Australian) Student
17. The Electrical ‘eclectic’
18. The Peloton Of Nilgiris
19. DSSC Badminton Open 2021
20. Hoot, Line And Sinker
21. Inaugural Hack Ride – 11 Sep 21
22. The Hsp2cf Effect Of Horse Riding
23. 75 Km For 75th Independence Day
24. An Eye for Detail
25. Blush
26. O Ooty The Beauty
27. In The Small Town Of Wellington, Amidst The Nilgiris
28. Crossword
 The Hoot

AT THE COLLEGE

Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon’ble President of

India graced the College with his presence
on 04 Aug 2021 and addressed the SOs and
faculty.

Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri visited

the College from 28 to 29 Aug 2021
and addressed the SOs and faculty.

Lt Gen Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM GOC-in-C

ARTRAC visited the College from 12 to13 Aug
2021.

Lt Gen Manoj Pande, AVSM, VSM GOC-in-C

Eastern Command visited the College from 27 to
29 Aug 2021 and delivered a talk on ‘Nothern
Front Strategy’

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R Adm Sudhir Pillai, NM (Retd) visited the

College on 23 Jul 2021 to deliver a lecture on
Critical Analytical and Innovative Thinking.

Air Mshl Amit Dev AVSM, VSM visited the College

from 01 to 02 Sep 2021 and spoke on ‘China Strategy
on Northern Front’

V Adm Vinay Badhwar, AVSM, NM visited

the College from 04 to 07 Jul 2021 and
addressed the Naval Student Officers.

V Adm Deepak Kapoor visited the College from 15

to 17 Jul 2021 and delivered a lecture on ‘Logistics
Organisation in Indian Navy’.

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R Adm Antony George, NM, VSM visited the

College from 24 to 27 Jul 2021 and spoke about
‘Coastal Security Setup in IN’

V Adm AB Singh, AVSM, VSM visited the College

from 06 to 07 Sep 2021.

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WE HAVE ARRIVED

Dreaming of enjoying the salubrious climes,

From all the corners, we have arrived.
Let it be the lockdown in the covid times,
We still made it here and survived.
 
Meeting old friends again after years,
Took one back to the days when we last said bye!
Familiar faces and memories dear,
An occasional case of ‘I think I know this guy’.
 
Race-walking from Sekhon to Chanakya
Activities gathered pace, so did the fun.
From Gorkha hill to Ekalavya,
All strategic locations engaged, one by one.
 
Strategies of land, sea and air
Many intended to retain the wisdom imparted.
Along came the submissions with no time to spare,
My DS smiled, - we are just getting started!
 
Proceed to the Nilgiris with an open mind,
Some senior had broadly advised.
So lets spare some time to also unwind,
Lt Cdr Swaraj Dash

Nevertheless, no looking back now, we have arrived! ‘A’ Div

Sketch By
Sketch By
Maj MI Khan
Maj MI
‘D’ Div
Khan

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An Ode To Online Sessions

During the online session we did the biggest thing in our lives
that is to attend classes in presence of our wives.

They vented their frustration after completion of the class

by giving us vegetables to chop with an intention to harass. 

The DS always told us to come to class prepared, 

But when they asked us questions, network generally disappeared. 

If it still was possible to conduct the class despite poor network, 

All credit lies with Directing Staff and SOs team work.

The DS made sure at the beginning of every class,

They cracked a joke, and we had a jolly laugh.

Then came the class on Op Art

No doubt, closest to my heart. 

On Fourth of June, there was a flash point, 

As SOs had all but reached their culmination point. 

Thank God! The College took a logistics pause,

I was no less than a gift from Santa clause.

On the march to Wellington, 

There were two Decisive Points

Coimbatore & Bangalore,

Where we had our meals in the food joints.

When we reached the college, it looked like heaven,

With fanfare and drum rolls, arrived Seventy Seven.

Maj Saumya Ghatak

‘C’ Div
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Transition From ‘Ullu’ To ‘Owl’

Mother asked the small boy ‘Did you complete the homework?’ The Boy said ‘could not
understand one thing so I could not complete the work. ‘Ullu hai Kya’, mother replied
instantaneously. 

Why aren’t you doing anything and sitting around ‘like an Oollu’ asked the father. 

‘Bhai Is Bar Fail Ho Jaunga, Kuchh Nahin Aata’, said Ravi ‘Ullu mat bana’ replied his best friend. 

Your daughter is not sleeping; she has just gone on you. I mean ‘she just wants to be   an Ullu
like you’, awake for the whole night. 

‘He is a sharp guy with focused eyes like an eagle’ discussed the back benchers pointing the
course topper.

Well… ‘Ullu’ is no new word in Hindi language and often used as a slang. It is related to
people who are referred as ‘idiots’ or ‘who make fool of others’ or ‘who are nocturnal’.  An
‘Ullu’ is considered dumb and empty - headed due to its tendency to sit and stare blankly
into the space. In contrast, eagle has always been referred as an intelligent bird. That
someone with whom everybody wants to be associated. If that be the case, owls are eagles of
the night. They are the strategists who believe in planning for their prey rather than simply
using brute force. Now so called ‘Ullu’ has transformed into an ‘Owl’. Their mysterious
appearance, ability to stare or concentrate for longer duration, swift & silent flight for
hunting prey in low light make them the wisest of all. The Owl teaches us a lot of things.
Their spirit reminds us to look deep within ourselves and to be true to our own instincts and
feelings. Their bulging shiny eyes teach us the lesson of clarity and focussed vision. Their
eyes, which are capable to process and adjust from telescopic to microscopic gaze in a matter
of seconds teaches us to be more observant, calm and focused. 

As the perception changes so does the thought process. One starts to observe, weigh things
and introspect which leads to widening of an individual’s horizon. The attributes of this
unique bird, calls for certain adaptations in our day-to-day life. The art of learning, thinking
and being decisive just like the wise bird. This institute with its vast scope is certainly an eye
opener which requires deep introspection and ability to ‘learn to re-learn’. Strategic thinking,
focussed vision, maintaining calm and composure inspite of all odds is what we aspire from
an ‘Ullu’ which has turned into a wise ‘Owl’.

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Mumma’s Ullu Papa’s Ullu School Days Ullu Topper Ullu

DD’s Owl Owl after Two Weeks Intense Session

Maj MI Khan
‘D’ Div

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The Wise One

While sleeping last night, in my dreams I heard a loud howl, 

It was then that I realized that I was being visited by a wise owl.

He started by asking the same old maxim divine,,,

‘Son, are you enjoying the salubrious climes?’

I looked at him & replied back calmly,

‘Sir, if only I had with me the ever-evaporating time!’

‘Time Management’ is the mantra he thundered & everything here happens with a logic,

I shivered as if my IKT flashed before my eyes, whose results were very chaotic.

Composing myself, I asked him…

‘why don’t you teach me how to manage everything in the little time given?’

He smiled gently & responded, “son, I am but a moderator as everything here is student driven.”

But then how will I enjoy the sailing, the biking & the hikes?

Those are not for you ‘pongo’, such events are only meant for the ‘Blues’ & the ‘Whites’.

Oh, but I thought here I will be able to develop & enjoy certain pursuits, 

Of course you can, but first please forward an article for the HOOT.

In that case, I might as well drink my way to heaven, I said with a loud grunt.

“Drink as much as you can” the wise one said, with only four beers a month.

Slowly, I was getting anxious, nervous, tense and sad,

The wise one snapped & said, “please save the antics for SCADS.”

The dream was going on and on & it was becoming too much to take,

wise owl sensed it & told me to take a five minutes break.

Then as he was about to leave & my dream was about to end,

He dropped a pearl of wisdom for me to comprehend,,,

“Son, now that you are here, there’s no point crying fowl, 

after all, it was only you who wanted to become an Owl.”

Lt Col Saurabh Sharma
‘A’ Div

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SUPREME COMMANDER’S VISIT

It was one of those early days after getting out of institutional quarantine. A carpenter I
called to fix few decors in the house professed exasperatingly, “Saab, jo karana hai abhi kara lo,
July ko College mein bahut busy hai.” I conjectured many theories in my mind but was
awestruck when he pompously revealed “President Saab a rahe hai August mein”. At the outset
I totally disregarded his input with a wry smile, however; I soon verified that the Supreme
Commander of the Armed Forces is indeed visiting DSSC after six long years. That very
moment I decided that one of my topics for research during the course would be “How OSINT
can be leveraged in support of Military Operations”.

The D-day of 04th August 2021 was approaching fast and the College went through a
series of transformations. Out of all infrastructures, it was the historic Sekhon auditorium which
underwent a major revamp in appearance and upholstery thus enhancing its grandeur
manifolds. Even amidst the incessant rains and biting cold, the indomitable spirit of staff and
workers ensured that the premises were in “ship-shape” during the visit. The President was
scheduled to address the Lucky 77th course and in addition one SO from each Service and an
International SO were selected to deliver a short talk on contemporary topics concerning the
Armed Forces. It was certainly a matter of singular honour and privilege for me to speak on the
topic “Sagar – Military diplomacy roadmap 2030” in the presence of the Supreme Commander.
Also, Maj Abhinav Bharadwaj spoke on “The role of Armed Forces in nation building”, Wg Cdr
Vinamrata Sharma opined on “Indigenisation in Armed Forces – Atmanirbhar Bharat”and Cdr
SMA Woise from Bangladesh Navy expressed his views on “Great power rivalries in Indian
Ocean Region.”

In his address to the College, the President appreciated the commitment and contribution
of the Armed Forces for being the frontline warriors during the grim Covid-19 pandemic. He
also stated that in the current geo-strategic and geo-political compulsions, we need to think of
new ways to secure our national interests and guard national security. He exhorted the Student
Officers to develop into scholar warriors in the near future which is predominantly
transforming into a knowledge century. He also fascinatingly analysed the motto of the College
“Yuddham Pragya” stating that Pragya in Sanskrit conveys a deep-rooted meaning of
possessing balanced knowledge of the past, present and future and thus applying them in the
battlefield. During interaction over tea, he also obliged to present the speakers a lifetime
opportunity of being clicked with the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

It took countless hours of practice and mentoring by the Senior faculty and DS body to
bring us to the desired level for the talk and in the end it produced indelible memories.
Personally, it was often hilarious to gauge the expression of onlookers on the street who
watched me muttering when I rehearsed my speech and the befuddled look of my spouse and
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daughter hearing me shriek “SAGAR” from the washroom. Overall, as part of the lucky 77th, I
consider myself luckier to have witnessed this historic visit from close quarters.

Cdr Sourav Banerjee

‘C’ Div
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RM’s Higher Operational Directive to Lucky 77

After cracking our brains to get a hint of our enemies in Shatrugyan followed by flexing
our muscles to move the giant Airawat of logistics, we girded up our loins fearing the unknown
in the upcoming Excercise Pratishodh, the coup-de-main operation of Honourable RM’s visit,
which propped up on our weekend.  A Preliminary operation was carried out by the visit of
Eastern Army Commander one day prior, ensuring desired rehearsals for the event the next day.
With Shatrugyan still fresh in our minds, we started discussing how  the Red Land intelligence
summaries would have been flooded with inputs of series of high-profile visits at DSSC - the
President followed by the conclave of RM, COAS and Eastern Army Commander, all in a span
of less than one month.

We compared the present situation of the intelligence branch at GHQ of the Red land to the
flustered environment in our syndicate rooms during Shatrugyan, when every input in whites
was analysed by each one of us like James Bond, leading to conclusions of something fishy
being cooked up by Red Land against Blue Land. Some of us even started linking up the visits
with information warfare - our newly acquired arsenal at DSSC. 

With all these thoughts and wargaming in our minds and a hijacked weekend, we
prepared ourselves for the visit. What kept us motivated was the reputation of a Minister as a
great orator and  also an opportunity to get some clarity on matters of national interest right
from the top brass in the hierarchy. These VIP visits also reminded me of an important line
which got etched in my mind since the series of opening addresses, That, ‘everything at DSSC
has a logic behind it’. Probably, the cushion between the time to be seated and the event to start
is by design, to provide the SO’s a chance to reflect and ,a much needed, breather from their
better halves! 1111

Well, the hon’ble minister was welcomed with the traditional grandeur of DSSC and
that day we learnt that he was only the fourth defense minister to have visited the College! He
hardly took a few lines to make us realise his eloquence – the way he bestowed praises on us
and the armed forces, made our self-appraisals pale as we brimmed with a sense of
achievement. During the course of his address, he highlighted the initiatives taken by the
government so far for modernization and empowerment of Armed Forces especially in view of
the lingering two-front threat. While doing so, he firmly established and acknowledged the
heroic role played by our martyrs during the Galwan clash last year. He also alluded that
indigenization is the schwerpunkt of our efforts for capability building. Standing firmly for more
than 90 minutes to deliver his talk reflected his strong will and nerves of steel. While he was
firm in his delivery, he tapped all opportunities to harness humor. On being asked regarding
shrinking defense budget, he humorously acknowledged the observation and promised to take
up the issue with the PM and Finance Minister.  Despite answering most of the questions in his
talk, he humbly acknowledged all SO’s in person who had asked questions. Before he ended, he
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covered up for slightly longer duration of his talk by humorously cutting a slack on the
undivided attention of Armed Forces attributed to their discipline. By the end of his talk, we felt
empowered by the knowledge of the future course for the  Armed Forces and felt special for
being appreciated by such an hon’ble dignitary, making our weekend special. 

Maj Ardhendu Kumar

‘B’ Div
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Living Life On The Edge 

Thought Life in Nilgiris will be a bed of roses, 

Enjoyment to the brim without any pauses 

Just study for some time, enriched with PCK given,

Will have a blast and was emotionally driven 

The shock of my life, when strategy took over, 

Operational Art became nightmare, COG sky scrapper

Literature survey and literature review, just could not differentiate,

Student Owl Initially
IPB and MDMP just could not relate  

Schedule went for a six, was running day and night,

An Owl then came to my dream and taught me how to fight

Quick on uptake, reinvented the time management cycle,

Next day was comfortable and happiness was on revival 

Owl again came to my dream and said Chanakya is calling, 

I said not only  Chanakya but  Ration, MES , SCAD, Ooty and  Conoor too, are 
howling, 

On the path to become an Owl, a war shall be waged, 

After all, it is about living life on the edge, living life on the edge. Maj Rahul Saini
‘B’ Div

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The Excess-size

As I was enjoying the salubrious climes, WGC & Ooty were taking all my time, 
Everything seemed so relaxed, Tut-I went by just fine.
Suddenly came along a rude shock, that second tutorial was about to start,
Wherein we will be made to learn IPB, MDMP & Op Art.
I have seen enough I thought, so felt confident about the tut,,,
I am sure that the Tut would have smiled in a corner & said, ”that’s cute!”
Coz it was only “he” who knew what was about to be unraveled,
Something sinister, that ended both my siestas & my travels.
First came Shatrugyaan, aim was to learn about the Red Land,
But before I could do anything, IPB on Surveyakshak tied both my hands.
Making the ICP thereafter, turned out to be such a treat,
As i mastered the art of drawing straight lines on a graph sheet.
Two weeks passed in a jiffy & the exercise came to an end,
But how come the GHQ employed its reserve in Ph-1, is something I failed to understand. 
Next up was Airawat, time to don the logistician’s hat,
This one would be a cake walk, I was pretty sure of that.
But true to its name, Airawat came & stomped all over my submissions,
As I realized very soon that there were very few contributions but many omissions! 
Next, I started making the move plan & it went on well beyond the soup break, 
All my trains did leave in time but later, they could never be traced.
As soon as the Airawat moved out, all the “Bettas” came running, 
Along came the MDMP, with its 48 steps stunning!
All the appointments got down to the business, working together shoulder to shoulder,
The end product was a thick yet magnificent MDMP folder. 
Finally, I made an attack plan, which no one could criticize,
Coz it was as smooth as the beer served during the outdoor exercise!
Now that BPET also done & Ankush knocking on the door,
The FAT thereafter seems to be the only cure.
In all these days, if you didn’t get any time for fun,
Remember gentlemen, the night is still young!!  Lt Col Saurabh Sharma
‘A’ Div
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A lot of ‘rest’ at DSSC…..

Ladies and Gentlemen! The heading was just to draw your attention. While in these
two months the ecosystem of the student officers has undergone a complete change.. The
environment has been successful in implementing all the aspects of manoeuvre warfare in
the ecosystem of student officers. As part of shaping operations, BOSS and Surveykshak
were introduced who had been successful in upsetting our equilibrium.  Some SOs are
‘psychologically dislocated’ due to poor time management while some are ‘positionally
dislocated’ and their intentions to party hard daily have been completely rendered
ineffective. Some smart ones who are managing the time well but playing on the defensive
front have been taken care of by controlling the tempo causing the temporal dislocation.

Simultaneity & non-linearity has been achieved successfully with the dissertation
DS carrying out lethal operations in-depth with precision-guided munitions of the
research problem and its objectives restricting the SOs manoeuvre in any domain and
keeping our command & control structure under constant pressure. With so many things
happening the situational understanding has been blurred and some SOs are stuck in the
Observe-Orient loop and not able to process further to ‘Decide and Act’. The Deceptions
operation must be on, as it is well anticipated that the battlefield is being set for the
decisive operation of the RE-II.

Maj Rahul Saini

‘B’ Div

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THE DECORABLES & THE DOOMED PLAN : KUL TZU

Two months remained for us to pack and move to the salubrious climes of
Wellington, my brain was already working overtime, hand-in-glove with the more
dominant partner in crime....... my lazy body. For those wondering where this might lead, I
must clarify now that……..

Since we (me and my better cunning half) had already started packing and
planning for moving to the prestigious DSSC course, I conspired (Of course Not in Mutual
Agreement) that we would not decorate our house even one single bit......during the
course.

The famous PCK (Pre Course Knowledge) was the Bible and alluded that without
my buddy being there and with the quarantine in place, it would become difficult for us to
decorate the home (my non existing carpentry, painting and skills at other house-hold
chores were Not So Force Multipliers and would swear by the same). I was quick to pick
up the clue and decided to work on the plans of not decorating the house.....plus
remember, I have a lazy body to boast.

Concept of Operations

So, I designed my Concept of Operations like this –

Phase 1. Pack all decorables (even those with faintest characteristics of being classified as
such) in one / two trunks together.

Phase 2. Get it loaded at last........(so it gets unloaded first)

Phase 3. It gets auto-buried under everything else.

Phase 4. I innocently proclaim to my wife.......Apologies but since it's buried so deep and
we move again in another 10 months, so we would live simple.

Pro Active Operations

We all know, plan is the first casualty during operations, but I as a resolute
commander was determined to not let it happen this time round. So executing pro active
operations, on loading of the truck, I pre-emptively called up the un-loading party leader

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and directed him to bury the two trunks as deep as possible and gloated wickedly from
inside, for I could put to shame....... the Amrish Puri’s and Prem Chopra’s combined.
The Battle Unfolds

We reached Wellington, unpacked all the stuff (it was kept unloaded as per my
directions) and I convinced my seemingly innocent wife that unknowingly, all decorables
had been kept deep down in the hinterland, beyond our reach by the unloading party. My
wife, after deep drawn out thought, pitied me and agreed to let them be the strategic
reserves which aren’t to be employed in this tenure.

I celebrated and raised silent toast with my inner self on the execution of the
immaculate plan......The next big book on seamless planning and execution of operations
with latest postulates on Operational Art was ready to be now published with author
as ......KUL(deep) TZU (rhyming with Sun Tzu may be considered as mere coincidence).

PS: My name is Kul(deep), my wife calls me Kul……

The Final Phase

One morning, while innocently surfing Amazon, my wife asked for my credit card
and took my phone (for the OTP), and I, like a good and trustful husband, complied.

Little did I realize then that tragedy was in offing and enemy was lurking
near.....next when I checked up my phone, a small message relayed to me that a little over
rupees 25000 has been siphoned off from my card, for the purchase of NEW SET OF
DECORABLES....!!!!

PS: I couldn’t even complain so I quietly enrolled for paying back the debt through
EMI’s.....I wonder though, if she knew all along and is just playing innocent…. No way to
find out though!!!!! Meanwhile I am contemplating on the mechanics of how to get the
decorables fixed.

Maj Kuldeep Gautam

‘B’ Div
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The Morning Pilgrimage

Every ‘Fitness Aspirant’ dreams of a

perfect body and a sharp intellect. And
every parent, dreams of (at least) an
undisturbed hour of solitude. I aspire to
earn both, fitness and solitude. Considering
my motherly duties to my frisky seven-year
old and her education, which to my
chagrin, have fallen totally on me, the
prospects looked bleak!  I still made up my
stance - no-negotiations! Everybody ought
to gift themselves these two joys. And now,
I find myself at the perfect spot for such
pursuits- in the lap of Nilgiris.

Well, I write not to talk of the hills but of a place is an indispensable part of modern
life. The object of attention here is the Gym.  Located in Gorkha Hills of, anyone would be
lucky to this ‘temple’ amidst the mighty birches. A haven for a modern monk to meditate on
the body, the mind (which comes easily for dreamers!) and spirit. A new ritual.

As a person who believes in living a life fully

and with no sorry, (‘Chai aur Samosa
please!’), I considered it apt to begin the day
with the new ritual. Perhaps, the superego
would excuse all other transgressions of the
day. And so began the ritual of starting the
day with the Gym. 

This is where I would like to bring the

metaphor of the ‘pilgrimage’. When I find
company at the Gym, I wonder, are we not
brothers and sisters on a similar journey?
United in our commitment to health! (At this
moment, I choose to forget the agony of
seeing an occupied treadmill!). Discovering
another modern monk in the early hours of morning climbing up the flight of stairs to the
Gym feels much like comradery. A fellow pilgrim.  With no words exchanged we each enjoy
the silence. The body, reluctantly but surely, begins to resonate with the rhythm of the
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pulleys, the weights and the wheels of the Gym’s machines.  It is music.  To the pilgrims they
are temple bells. Serving the both the purposes; fitness and solitude.

And when you walk out of this temple you are calmer, a better human perhaps, and
with all the love and energy you have to offer life!

Mrs Shaili Bipin

W/O Cdr BK Thekekara
’B’ Div

Mrs Saumya
W/O Maj Ardhendu
‘B’ Div

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‘Castle’ In The Air

It was a hot and sultry Saturday afternoon in Mumbai and dancing to the tunes of
movers and packers was further piling on to the misery of the climate. Barely four days were
left before we would commence our sojourn by road to the salubrious climes. It had been a
month and a half since the prestigious list revealing our next destination appeared and we
were still busy absorbing congratulatory messages whilst collecting the “PCK” especially
from ladies. However, the most significant list for the spouses which would set our plans to
motion, the one of accommodation, was still awaited with bated breath. So far. the husband
also known as (aka) Captain of a ship, ‘reeling’ under the burden (read privileges) of
Command had not mustered enough time (read courage) to enquire about it. The list
remained shrouded with mystery. Would it be Wellington Hall (duplex but close to DS
accommodation), Gorkha Hill (amazing view but slightly older), MAP (brand new
construction but farthest) or Circle Quarters (the lesser said the better). I flustered through
the WhatsApp tips on my phone daily and the thrill was gradually reaching its tipping point.
Suddenly, I heard a shriek ‘Aa gaya’ and jostled to have a look at our fate only to hear a sigh
again ‘Chala gaya’. The much vaunted ‘accommodation list’ had momentarily been uploaded
on the WhatsApp but was immediately taken down. The suspense finally ended by the
evening when it was shared again and brought back the déjà vu moment of 10th standard
Maths exam when most questions seemed out of syllabus. We had been allotted something
about which no one ever shared information about, not a word ever. It was ‘The Castle’.

I fervently flipped through the pages of the ‘notes’ given by a magnanimous senior,
alas, couldn’t locate anything apart from the phrase ‘close to Wellington Hall’. What ensued
is a plethora of queries, to the known and the unknown, and the replies resulted in murky
waters. Some commented, ‘Great, that’s where the ISOs stay and well maintained’ and some
‘Oh, they are the smaller ones, 2 BHK and study’. The anticipation was now riding on a
sinusoidal curve bloating with every favourable input and dampening with another spoiler.
After all, Wellington is one of those few Stations which promises lavish stays without having
to battle the hours, minutes and seconds conferred by sea or married seniorities, at least in
the Navy. Husband attributed the allotment to being the sponsor officer of an International
Student Officer and our four year old was already weaving dreams of being a “Princess”
with her Barbie Army. As we finally began our journey, somewhere in the niche of my heart,
there was certainly, a Castle in the air.

We routed via Belgaum and Mysore whilst our luggage reached Wellington and got
unloaded.  I didn’t miss the opportunity to seek a video even from the driver of the luggage
truck. Unfortunately, but understandably, he had concentrated more on the cartons than the
house. Again, my efforts to unravel the mystery had failed miserably. When we finally

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reached DSSC reception, we were handed over the keys to ‘Castle 7’. My pulse was racing
enroute the 500 metres drive and within no time we reached our dwelling. The proximity to
the College campus, canteen and market area definitely impressed the entire family, of
course, for our own selfish reasons. As we finally unlocked the main door, I was struck by the
most common adjectives associated with a ‘Castle’; old and historic. Our luggage was piled
up in the living room and we turned into maze runners, meandering through the carefully
measured inches of clearance. The spectacle of the 2 BHK albeit with bigger rooms and de
‘modular’ kitchen and bathrooms sank my heart. Nevertheless, we sprang into action
immediately towards setting up our ‘Castle’. The million dollars look on our Princess’s face
to see her ‘King’ holding a sword and armour (read broom and dust pan) and her ‘Queen’
with a sceptre (read mop) was indelible. For the next 2 weeks in quarantine, we gradually got
our ‘house in order’ but the sight of the actual Castles allotted to the course seniors’ right
across ours rubbed it in every day. 

‘Whatever happens, happens for good’ – has been my trusted hymn in difficult times and
saw me through this time as well. It’s been a month since I have fortified our Castle and now
the evening tea in the open balcony tastes sweeter and better. The salubrious climes have
worked their charm on the family, like they do on all visitors. I can honestly ‘hoot’ that our
home has now built Castles in the air, which I wish stays forever.

Mrs Latika Banerjee

W/O Cdr Sourav Banerjee
‘C’ Div

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Maj Neeraj Kumar Gaur

‘A’ Div

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MY STORY 
                                             

There was a little girl, in the small town of Gwalior,

She had a tiny dream of becoming a doctor.

The usual grind ensued, hard work and all the exams,
Books and notes and classes and no time for shams.

The results came out, she succeeded in her quest for knowledge,
Lo & behold! She got into the Armed Forces Medical College.

A beautiful journey began, deeper in the books she could delve,

And soon it was time for her to pass out in Twenty-twelve.

Exhilarated to graduate, in front of proud parents,she could just imagine the scene,
Country came first, she decided to don the Olive Green!

So, on the fateful day of March 16th, 2012, with the intention to make earth quake,
They marched on the parade ground to the beats of EK DO EK.

From bustling Jalandhar, tea gardens of Assam, hills of Umroi, Shillong

She got lost in the mountains of Pachmarhi as well as Kalimpong.

Her journey in the Army thus began, unending schedule of OPD, ICU,Conferences and Medical
Camp,
It continued right up till 2015, when her life was waiting to revamp.

The dreams never end, the heart always wants more,

And that's how in 2015, she fell for a charming, brooding, handsome officer from Intelligence
Corps.

And on December 21st 2017, she finally met the blessing of her life,
Yes! A mother she became, got the promotion from being a wife.

But this long-distance from my spouse, Oh! it was a constant bother,

l hardly 6 months in 5 years of marriage, it was getting farther and farther.

She thought about her priorities with utter careful precision,

And in August 2019, took an extremely hard but much needed decision.

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She bid adieu to her uniform, a mission she had to abort,

Serving the army in a different way now, giving her officer her unwavering support.

Together they went to Bhutan, had a lovely and long-overdue family time,
And dedicated preparation by her husband, brought a result so sublime.

They were to go to Wellington, he was to study in DSSC,

And she wondered a little, now what will become of me?

What's that you say? PGDM? She jumped at the chance,

A diploma in management will definitely be useful, her heart did a little dance.

Lectures, classroom, notes, girlfriends, a college-life began again,

An experience, lots of knowledge, fun times, there was so much to gain!

First day was amazing, first teacher so inspiring,

Though sitting and writing in class- yup! She needed some rewiring.

And just like that, again a tiny dream with a twist,

Could this girl be a doctor as well as a PR Specialist?!?!
.
.
.
.     Dr Paridhi Nigdikar Joshi,
I know you got it but I must still clarify, you see… w/o Lt Col Sagar P Joshi
‘B’ Div
Alas! That little girl in this story is ME!

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ MANAGEMENT OFFICE (ISMO)

The Defence Services Staff College, Wellington

has, since its inception, imparted world class military
training to a large number of mid level Indian and
Foreign military officers. The alumni base of this
institution is indeed large, varied and often comprises
apex level military and political leadership of various
friendly foreign countries. In a bid to reach out to our
illustrious alumni and renew the bonds forged in the
salubrious climes, the International Students’
Management Office (ISMO) has been set up at the
DSSC in May 21.

The Commandant is the Patron of the ISMO.

All sponsor DS and a few other permanent staff
officers comprise the executive committee headed by a Brig/ Equivalent ranked officer.
The ISMO has a two fold charter. The first is to reach out to international alumni for
bringing about effective interaction at formal as well as informal level. The second is to
provide a single point of interaction for all ISOs undergoing Staff Course at DSSC to
monitor and follow up training and admin related issues.

In keeping with the charter, the ISMO has reached out to a large number of our
international alumni and the response has been encouraging. A number of our
international alumni have expressed their interest in the ‘goings on’ at their alma mater
and are also looking forward to college publications such as “The Hoot” and “Trishul”. For
the ISOs of the 77th Staff Course and their families, a day out at Pykara was organised on
04 Sep 21. The event was well subscribed and saw enthusiastic participation by many ISOs
and their families in various watermanship activities.

The ISMO team is constantly looking for avenues to enhance the ‘India’ experience
of all our ISOs as also reinvigorate our bonds with all our illustrious international alumni.
Any suggestions in this regard are welcome.

- Team ISMO

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The Honourable President of India and the First Lady Interacting With ISOs of 77 Staff Course

Commandant and ISMO Interaction

With ISOs of 77 Staff Course

Mrs Manmeet Kahlon With Winners of

the Mixed Kayaking Event – Major &
Mrs Ingold (UK)

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FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EARTH

I found out I was coming to the 77th Staff College in Wellington in September 2020. 
I had no idea what I was in for regarding staff college, and I had never been to India.  In
fact, I had never even been to a country close to it.  My posting in 2020 was in Monterey,
California, and from looking at a globe, it appeared that India was on the exact opposite
side of the earth from California.  
I got married in March 2021, but I was going to have to come to Wellington alone
for the time being.  I really did not know what to expect when I first arrived in India in
May.  I spent a month in New Delhi because of COVID-19 restrictions, and the first 3
weeks of class were online.  I’ll admit that I did not like Delhi that much.  It was very hot
and the city was very congested.  Me and the other American officer, Major Colin Flood,
saw some of the sights in New Delhi, but mostly from outside the gates as the majority of
the city was in lockdown due to COVID.  
Wellington certainly changed my outlook of India in a positive way.  The weather
was much cooler here, and it was similar to the weather I am used to where I’m from in
Massachusetts.  The landscape was beautiful, I definitely liked the mountains and the
vegetation.  But the thing I liked the most about Wellington were the people.  Everyone
was very hospitable, very nice, and they always offered you food and a drink.  I found
south Indian food to be very delicious.  Even though my cook knows how to make
American food, there’s a saying:  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.  I actually prefer
the local cuisine, and since I’m here, I want to ensure I get the full Indian experience.  
There are certainly differences between Indian and American military institutions,
but I came here with an open mind and I want to learn how the military of another
country operates.  The bell for the start of class is an Air-Raid alarm, instructions for
assignments are called “whites”.  We are commanded to sit at attention and covers are to
be worn on campus, but only while in a vehicle.  This has taken some adjusting, but
honestly these nuances occur when changing units within the American military too.  
Staff college has certainly been challenging.  I cannot remember the last time I had
to handwrite an assignment, but it certainly builds character and forces you to focus on
your penmanship.  I had never done operational planning or wargaming and although it
is labour-intensive, I have certainly learned a lot.  
The most important lesson I have learned since arriving here is how perspectives
can change.  My sponsor, Cdr Anjani Kumar, told me he had spent a considerable amount
of time in the U.S. for training.  He explained that after training with US forces, after
experiencing American culture, all the stereotypes he had about America faded.  He saw
that he had a lot in common with his American counterparts.  I must say that before
coming here I did have my stereotypes about India.  But now they have all faded and I’ve
found so many similarities between our countries and our militaries.  
To end on a humorous note, recently we all went to Pykara Lake to conduct Sailing
and Kayak racing.  Me and the Indonesian naval officer, Cdr Romi Sitorus, wanted to do
kayaking.  But when we went to register, they did not assign us a female partner as was
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required to be eligible to compete.  Neither myself, nor Cdr Romi, had our wives with us,
so the staff put us in the same kayak.  We ended up winning the race, but since we were
not a male-female team, we were disqualified.  DSSC has a motto:   “to War with
Wisdom”.  Well they also have another motto when it comes to competition:  “Winners
never cheat, and cheaters never win”. 

Lt Cdr Joseph Carroll

‘A’ Div

FROM THE
OTHER
SIDE OF
THE EARTH

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THE JOURNEY OF AN INTERNATIONAL (AUSTRALIAN) STUDENT

FROM A FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRY TO GET DSSC IN
SALUBRIOUS NILGIRIS AND HIS FIRST DAY

OMG I have been selected to attend the prestigious Indian DSSC in the salubrious
climes of lovely Wellington, TN, India. What do I need to do, what do I have to prepare, do I
know any Hindi, how much time have I got and how do I get there in this currently locked
down world.

Ok first thing is attend the online classes. Ok how do I make my technology work.
Bloody Microsoft Teams the whole world is using you, except those who are using Zoom,
and I can’t get my camera to work. Ok now I’ve got it working. Ok, don’t make a fool of
yourself just settle in and watch what’s going on and wait for your time to speak. What’s this
‘Jai Hind’ (pronounced ‘Jind’) everyone is starting and finishing every sentence with. Ok
when it’s your turn to throw in a ‘JAY HIND’, it comes out good or so you hope! Anyway,
never mind there are more online lectures yet. Keep your mind on the lectures and take
notes, damn the power has gone out.

Travel day finally arrives and its 30 hours flying, over two days, absolutely not tired or
cranky (((Brisbane-Dubai-Dehli (please give us Rs 800 for the pleasure of sticking this swab
up your nose although your holding a negative PCR test result taken 36 hours ago)-Chennai-
Coimbatore-Wellington))) plus a 2 hour car ride through crazy traffic, the world’s most
colourful trucks, just to get to salubrious climes of the beautiful Nilgiris and the prestigious
DSSC. Oh, and by the way you are banished to your house for the next 7 days, after we stick
this swab up your nose again!!!

Anyways after getting out of quarantine, your first day is an OE. What’s an OE? It’s an
outdoor exercise….to the hills. Cool, it’s your first day and you’ve got a school excursion. Ok,
get your stuff ready, what do you need, what have you got in the two suitcases you were
allowed to bring on the plane after paying Rs 45000 in excess baggage. Oh, just get dressed
and be at the CHTs on time. What’s a CHT and where are they? The CHTs will be at the
memorial. What memorial and what is a CHT? Ooooohhhhh that memorial. Get your lunch
and get in the CHT? What is a CHT? Get in one of the civilian hired vehicles, ooohhhh-kay.
Enjoy the ride to the hills, look out the windows, the hills look pretty amazing and are
actually quite big for hills. Arrive at the location and walk up the hill in front of you. Now
slightly out of breath. It’s your first day, don’t let the others know this walk up a hill has got
you out of breath, are you soft? Quick, look at the map like you know what you’re doing.
Which hill are we one? There are so many hills. You’re on this hill and it’s 2298m high. The

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highest mountain in your country is only 2228m high and every single hill here is higher than
2228m and these are the little hills, apparently. Now you’ve got an excuse to be out of breath.

Time for lunch, what’s in the bag? What issss in the bag? What is this stuff and how do
I eat it? Slowly turn around, not too quickly, you don’t want to draw attention to the fact you
have no idea what you’re eating or how to eat it, look around carefully and take your lead
from one of the other students…..Do you need some help Maj Michael? Busted. No, No, No
well, actually yes. This stuff is not too bad. Alright, the excursion is over, time to get back into
the CHT’s, and go back to the salubrious DSSC in the prestigious climes of the Nilgiris. When
back your Sponsor Officer asks, Maj Michael ‘How was your first day?’ You reply, It was
freakin’ awesome, really I am in awe.

Maj Michael Lane,

Australian Army,
Logistics.

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The Electrical ‘Eclectic’

Amidst pouring advices and suggestions post announcement of DSSC exam results,
the mention of WGC Golf course and salubrious climes got engraved in our thoughts and
hence, with immense grit, we arrived at Wellington with overhauled second-hand clubs to
chip and putt on the greens of WGC Golf course. While playing hide and seek with the
Nilgiris during our quarantine phase, I always wanted to have a peek of the eye-soothing
course. Well, the desire could not be held for long with registration for the first eclectic round
glittering on college WAN page soon. Registration for the round not only gave a ticket to the
greens of the course but also added another WhatsApp group to my phone’s wall and the
trend of incessant messages continued tinkling my mobile. After final coordination on
WhatsApp, my fourball was ready to go.

While getting ready in the morning, I started revising lessons of my coach in mind to
be prepared for the ordeal. Though my wife was dreaming in deep slumber when I was
leaving, I imagined her offering me dahi-chini for better luck. With anxious hearts and
cautious steps, we entered the gates of WGC and realised that we were amongst the first few
to arrive. While my heart was throbbing like the rails of a superfast train, breath could not
match the rhythm stalled by a double-masked nose. Student officer-in-charge of Golf came to
our rescue with instructions to remove masks on the course. After completing the formalities
of registration, we stood in a corner waiting for others to arrive. Standing by the ornate
pillars of Golf Hut, the first thing which I did was caddie-poaching! We shared glances and
with mutual flashing of thumbs he was hired. Others started trickling in, and I was trying to
gauge their proficiency by their appearances and swag. Those with gloves, marker studded
caps, golf shoes and other trendy accessories appeared as pundits of the game accelerating
my heartbeat. While I was wondering about my prospects for selection, the student officer-in-
charge called for a fall-in into two separate categories – those who had swung the clubs
earlier and those who will swing for the first time. Well, his simple division of categories
saved me from numerous mental algorithms to decide my category. Considering worthy of
the swing club, my fourball quietly slipped to that side. So far, we had appreciated that we
will be playing together on the course in the same fourball. But, when explained about the
modalities of the eclectic round, we got a sudden shock! All of us had to undergo a screening
prior to the round and those selected could only get to play on the course. Briefing of the
modalities started an adrenaline rush through my body and the lurking fear of sending the
balls for visit to the woods got stronger. 

A few moments later, we were lined up for screening. I deliberately made an endeavour to
be screened in the end and was successful in the attempt. The judges were very comforting
but the anxiety of an examination was not getting over anytime soon. Soon, the proceedings
began and the first club swung. Everyone looked at the horizon to spot the ball but realised a

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few moments later that we were only staring at the lush green and salubrious climes of the
course since the ball had rolled over just a few feet away. While I was waiting for my turn, I
tried numerous tricks to keep myself busy and look professional by pretending to warm up
by swinging two irons together (had seen a few professional players doing so earlier), trying
to decide the lucky ball and club which would see me through the process etc. Situation of
DS spotting our balls was similar to finding snitch (ball) in the game of Quidditch. While
those with proficient skills dispatched the balls into the intended areas, most sent them into
the woods to enjoy the salubrious climes! Finally, it was my turn and leaving no stone
unturned to impress, I aligned myself to the intended area in the fairway. Lessons from the
past reminded me to choose a raised spot to place my ball. Taking my stance, I practiced a
couple of preparatory swings.  It was the time for the final blow now. Flashbacks of all my
lessons in Golf were reeling past my eyes and golden phrases like ‘eye on the ball’ and ‘do
not apply extreme power’ were echoing in my ears. With half backswing
and bent knees, I gave the club a full forward swing. Sound and feel of the
contact assured me of a perfect hit. Reaction of the DS from rear established
my feel and in my follow through I could see the ball flying on the right
trajectory. Oozing with elation and confidence, I took my second shot and
here came Murphy's law. The ball took refuge in the woods never to be
found again. The DS frowned a little, but giving me the benefit of
doubt finally ended my electric eclectic ordeal and christened me Maj Ardhendu Kumar
‘screened to play’.     ‘B’ Div

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  THE PELOTON OF NILGIRIS

24 July 2021, Wellington: The

alarm buzzed at 04:30 am! I woke
up from a terrible dream – ‘the
inaugural hike’ has been flagged
off, and I didn’t reach in time! I
checked my final list of pending
tasks, to coordinate before the
mountain biking hike – calling the
gypsy driver, is the easel and
board in place? Have the
refreshments been placed at the
check points? Mind buzzing with
endless thoughts, I geared up my MTB, loaded it in my car and dashed for Memorial
circle. To my relief, things were laid out as per earlier directions at the start point – Drona
Officers mess. The anxiety in the face of
all organisers was evidently visible and
DS IC had to calm our nerves.  With all
arrangements in place, the “pedal
pushers” slowly started trickling in. By
06:40 am, DS IC had started briefing
the 100 plus cyclists. Inquisitiveness
amongst the first timers with
perplexed looks was visible from the
evident expressions – how difficult is
the route? How much time will it take?
Would I be able to complete it?

Clear blue skies patched with pieces of clouds – like a painting at the Indian
Museum, painted a perfect weather to
pedal in the Nilgiris. MTBs lined up at
the start point was an eye catching
visual – revving up for the showdown!
The event was finally flagged off in two
groups and the enthusiasm was
abound in the cyclists. The route of the
hike was along Memorial circle-White
bridge-Bettai bridge- Katta Bettu –
Bettati bridge – Yedapalli – Bandisholai
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– Kodamalai – Bandisholai – Sim’s Park – WGC - Drona Officers mess totalling

approximately 30 kms. Initial climb till White bridge along Wellington-Bettati had already
taken its toll on the cyclists. The trail had
stretched over 3 kms! Lead cyclists had
already crossed Bettati while the tail
enders were still gasping for breath in
their frequent breaks at the “White
Bridge”. 

On a hilarious note, few had got up

late and rushed up to Drona mess to
find no one. They were redirected by
officials towards the hike route, instead
they relied on their instinctive map
reading skills and reached Circle Quarters! Their disastrous start was narrated to me at
Bettai bridge – “Our hike is
complete here!”. Hence, I redirected
them to Kodamalai temple check
point, skipping the climb and back
to Katta Bettu. Afterall, the much
deserved “hot samosas” were
waiting there. Bettati bridge turned
out to be “Howrah Bridge“  -
busiest portion of the hike with
cyclists zipping back from Katta
Bettu towards Yedapalli. Cyclists
kept posing for great captures at
this place and I didn’t miss the
opportunity either.

The gradual climb till Yedapalli and

Bandisholai offered great views of the
tea estates. The view got even better
along the narrow winding route till
Kodamalai. It certainly did soothe the
pain of the calves and fatigue! At
Kodamalai, hot samosas and
refreshments were the high point of
the hike, followed by breath-taking
views from Kodamalai Temple (also

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known as Ratnakar Temple). It turned out to be a crowded photo point with SOs and
ladies thronging to get a slot for a photo with the serene background iced with clouds. 

While the photo session continued unabated at Kodamalai temple complex, lead
cyclists had already finished the circuit and reached Drona Mess. I formed part of the
arrière du peloton, as I was tasked to form the “rear guard”. It gave me ample time to click
around and capture the pristine surroundings.  We finally arrived at Drona mess where
beer and biryani awaited us!

At last, the parting goodbyes by the pedal pushers had a common mention –
“When is the next hike planned?”

Maj Argha Kumar Singh

‘B’ Div  

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DSSC BADMINTON OPEN 2021

DSSC is an ideal location to gain knowledge while simultaneously pursuing sports

and indulging in other interests and hobbies. The first sports tournament of the current
session - ‘DSSC Squash Open’ (Jul 21) went off in a jiffy. By the time the Student Officers
(SOs) were settling down, the tournament was covertly concluded! However, by the
beginning of Aug 2021, the proceedings of 77th Staff Course had gathered the required
momentum. The SOs were now well settled in the salubrious climes and had found means to
retain peace and calm amidst all the unending madness around them. Academic & Military
studies as well as Sports & Cultural activities were going as per schedule.

The ‘Badminton Open’ commenced in the midst of second tutorial on 13 Apr 21.
Sincere and enthusiastic SOs who took the initiative of forming the organising committee
were totally unaware of the task ahead. Organisers were overwhelmed by the swarm of
participants. Around 190 entries were received for men's singles event alone. Similarly, 90
teams registered for the Men' Doubles event.

Entire tournament was conducted from 13 to 31 Apr 21 wherein, commendable

participation was seen in all the categories. Unfortunately, by design or by default, the
duration of Badminton Open coincided with Wing specific exercises for all the three wings.
Often the SOs were reaching Eklavya (for their matches) directly from their afternoon classes
at the college. This also acted as a brief respite from the unending lectures, classes & exercise..

Enthusiastic participation of children was a sheer delight. Most of the children played
in open category and were a credible threat to the older lot ! The Girl's singles final played
between Gaurica & Manushree was beyond doubt the most stretched match in terms of
repeated deuces and match points. Finally, after fierce competition, the original 21 point
match ended at a score of 32-30 !

Huge participation and fierce competition drew lots of spectators even during the
busy weekdays. Permanent staff emerged victorious in most of the matches. Men's doubles
event was won by the team of two Naval SOs. Overall, the Badminton Open was a well
conducted event that brought to fore the relevance of sports and importance of competition
amongst defense personnel. In the college professing jointmanship, it was a treat to watch
Majors (IA) competing with Wing Commanders (IAF) while being umpired by the
Commanders (IN) !

Wg Cdr Abhinav Rao

‘A’ Div
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HOOT, LINE AND SINKER

‘Fish steak for lunch!’ was the war cry on 14th August which saw about 300 of us head
out to the scenic Glenmorgan lake in Ooty for the Angling Inaugural. The expert anglers
(including yours truly) were of course in the early bus because we knew the early bird and
worm story. It takes about an hour and a half to reach the lake from college and the time was
used fruitfully to explain to my wife the finer details of angling and how ‘patience’ was the
key for putting food on our plates that day. Once we arrived at the shores of the
breathtakingly beautiful and misty lake, the ‘hunter’ of the ‘hunter-gatherer’ in me was ready
for the hunt (the gathering mostly happens in Nilgiris supermarket). Quietly wondering
where I would put all my catch since no buckets were issued with the rod and baits, I headed
out with my wife and three-year-old daughter in tow looking for a
good spot. A tent was pitched, the bait was hooked and a line was
cast. The game was on! 

But away from the shore was a bigger tent, and that tent had hot
samosas and tea. A minor distraction. But considering the early
start to the day and the long drive, it made sense to address the
distraction immediately and get it out of the way. So, after 15
minutes of dedicated angling, the line was retrieved, handed over
to a fellow angler and off we went for samosas. The addressing of
samosas took longer than expected and then an unexpected turn of
events led to extensive photography sessions of the wife, her
friends, daughter, her friends, goats, daughter chasing goats, goats chasing daughter,
backgrounds with lake, without lake, a bit of lake and so on. Time was running out. A last-
ditch attempt at salvation saw me cast lines profusely and my daughter looking on curiously
as I hauled in bits of weed and a piece of driftwood. Soon it was time to pack up and return
the rod. Thank God there was no bucket! As we headed back to the bus, the ‘hunter’ within
me was replaced by the ‘gyani’ who was giving ‘gyan’ on how the weather and feeding cycle
of fish were obviously the reasons why there was going to be no fish steak for lunch. Turned
out that the key to putting food on our plates that day wasn’t ‘patience’, it was food coupons
from the mess.

No matter. Until next time. Because once you teach a man  how to
fish…….

Cdr Vivek Kuriakose

‘A’ Div
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INAUGURAL HACK RIDE – 11 SEP 21

‘ No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle’ - Winston Churchill. 

Ever since the day I came to know that I have been selected for undergoing the
prestigious staff  course, I was looking forward to the hack rides organised by DSSC at Ooty
Hunt Club.  Before describing the hack ride, I would like to briefly highlight the history of
Ooty Hunt Club history. 

The Ooty Hunt Club is the only surviving hunt club on the East of Suez. The Ooty
Hunt was established in 1835 by members of the 74th Highland Regiment and initially
hunted Sambur deer, wild boar and the odd tiger. Post-1947, DSSC became the patron of the
Hunt Club.  The tradition has survived against all odds due to the support provided by the
DSSC. The hunt is conducted by the Master of Foxhounds (MFH). Once the Master mounts,
the horse riders clad in blue blazers follow the suit (only the patron and leading riders wear
red blazers). Before commencement of the ride, the riders solemnly toast on horseback the
175-year-old Ooty Hunt Club and the upcoming 10-month long hunt season.

FINALLY, the inaugural hack ride was conducted on 11 Sep 21, as the ride had to be
postponed from the earlier scheduled 14 Aug 21. Notwithstanding, all the avid riders were
really excited to be a part of the ride. The hunters mustered in the crisp morning at the DSSC
Stables. Though there is no actual prey or bloodshed, the traditions of the hunts have been
kept alive. Post allocation of the horses, the riders mounted and unfurling of the Ooty Hunt
Club (OHC) flag was undertaken.

Mustering of ‘Fields’ Unfurling of OHC Flag

The ride commenced at 0630 h divided into three fields and all left with a gap interval
of 05 minutes between them.  The fields progressed towards the first leg of the route towards
the rear gate of the Cordite factory, Arvankadu via Berhatti. It was followed by entry into the
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serene jungles of the Nilgiris which led to the first stop at Ralliah Dam. All three fields were
at the Dam by around 0830Hrs.  It was followed by a quick tea, photo-ops and rest to the
horses and the riders. 

A minor mishap had occurred - in which one of the riders was hurt from a tree branch
whilst transiting the jungles was attended promptly by the medical team at the Dam site. 
After the much required break, fields marched towards their horses and mounted on their
respective horses. A turn-around of riders was also undertaken to facilitate exposure to
maximum riders in the fields.

Subsequently, the fields cantered on the way back to Cordite factory, Arvankadu.
Thereafter, the fields trotted the way towards DSSC Stables (by 1045 Hrs) via Pemberley tea
estate and MRC.  The ‘Culmination Point, akin to the Operational Planning Process, of the
fields was in the lush, green ground of the DSSC Stables were the fields led by their
respective Masters were cantered / galloped. Thereafter, the fields with their families
assembled at the Officers Mess for the formal Part. The first-timers (25 in no including 06
children, 13 SOs and 06 DS’s) in the fields were given the coveted lapel pin by the DSSC
Commandant. In addition, the lapel pins were presented to the Hony Secy, Committee
Member and Jt MFH’s. It was followed by address of the DSSC Commandant to the entire

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gathering at ‘Antariksh’.  The hack ride was well organised and executed with minimal
injuries, I am looking forward for more of the hack rides and outrides, especially the one at
the OHC.

In the end I would like to pen down that - the sport is definitely not for the
fainthearted as you not only end up losing early morning sleep, but if you fall you might end
up paying six beers as penalty and one or two broken bones! 

Cdr Digvijay Pathania

‘B’ Div

Sketch By
Mrs Sugandh Pandey
W/O Maj Anand Pandey
‘A’ Div

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THE HSP2CF EFFECT OF HORSE RIDING

The feeling has always been intoxicating. It does not matter where or when I am on
horse-back, the feeling has always remained the same, I feel exhilarated and free. My biggest
strength on horse-back has been my confidence and ability to drive him with equal
understanding. I went back to basics after ‘Exercise Shatrugyan’ to drive some lessons home in
these salubrious climes of Nilgiris. It was time to connect the dots of horse riding with the
course and life, apart from a hobby or a leisure activity. “Chin up, hill down, straight back” are
familiar terms with any ex-NDA or any training academy which not only lays foundation for
horse riding but also for life challenges. ‘Ustad achha wala horse dena (NCO instructor, please
provide me good horse)’, by that any individual irrespective of any training academy or location
in the globe means give me a horse which does not throw me away while riding. It is natural
instinct where all our ego states i.e. parent, adult and child must be coinciding according to
‘Thomas Anthony Harris’ of ‘I’M OK- YOU’RE OK’. 

There’s a saying “if you’re not a humble person, your horse will make you one;” truer words
have never been said more clearly than this. This brings me to first letter of chemical formula
i.e. ‘H’. One need to be humble in all his dealing while riding or tackling life situations. “Sahi
madad to ghode ko” (give right instructions to horse), the very statement of JCO instructor
before anybody commence ride. It can be easily connected with throwing of a rider by horse
while trot, canter or gallop.  It only helps prove to every rider, every individual that when
something goes wrong, 99% of the time it’s the there’s fault.  At first, I would think, “I fell off
because my horse twisted the wrong way” rather than “I fell off because my leg was WAY
out of position.” Nobody made me fall off but myself. 

You need not to be physically but mentally strong. And that brings me to second letter
‘S’. Horses are interesting animals who have minds of their own. It requires you to be strong
enough to communicate with a 1,000-pound animal and million-pound life situations. “Sahab
reign theek se pakdo, dheel do, tight karo (hold the reign of the horse properly, loosen it and tighten it)”
another familiar terms with us as ex-NDA. So, life wants you to control it, loosen and tighten
it whenever situation confronts you. For that you just required to be mentally strong.

Riding also instilled two famous P’s: patience and practice, so called P2 effect. Nothing
comes easy, nothing is routine, everything is different, there is always something new and we
can’t give up. Exercising patience to understand the process and practice to master the
process and move on to next process. Well…that’s what is going in the course. Whenever I
get comfortable with one horse, the JCO IC gets me another horse and ask to practice more. 
He would say, “Good Sahab! now do it again,” and then repeat that saying at least 10 more
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times. So well said, I would never be able to improve my skills, both in and out of the saddle,
without practicing them until they’re almost become my second nature.

What is interesting is that it gives us lot of confidence to not only ride an animal but
also to understand this thinking creature. And that brings me to ‘C’ factor. However, point
here is not confidence but fear which keeps the confidence intact. This is what makes it more
significant as compared to rest where one masters it to drive the confidence and here the fear
drives the confidence and that what life or war is all about. The fear gives confidence to be
safe, to device new means, to understand better, improves creativity and gives new goal each
day of riding.

It is always indescribable feeling of freedom when we ride the horses. That brings me
to ‘F’ factor. Is it freedom or our association with old roots with nature and animals? Or is it
deep connection with nature’s ecosystem which give freedom from worldly materialistic
desires and aspirations for time being. It is this freedom of thought which is most invaluable
experience of horse riding. It makes you feel connected to your roots of greater ecosystem of
nature. The magic of their hoof, haunch muscles, velvety nose, strong back, hay breath and
rubbery lips will get you instant connect and will take you to explore mother nature. 

Olympia, Titan, Thunder, Pegasus are among few horses which have
been added into riding list at Wellington Stables which provide perfect
balance between learning, nature and climate. If salubrious climes provide
correct climatic condition for learning, then this equestrian club close to
circle quarters bring us close to reality, to keep up pace with our fears and
Maj MI Khan
challenges and do canter on our problems to achieve galloping success.
‘D’ Div

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75 KM FOR 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

Defence Services Staff College has traditionally nurtured the culture of outdoor
activities, such as long distance running, amongst the students & Directing Staff.  The
sublime weather and unique terrain
add to the thrill of motivated
runners of DSSC, also colloquially
referred to as the ‘Running Owls’.

While many SOs, DS body &

their families have been running
short & medium distances, four
offrs, under the tutelage of Wg Cdr
Sandeep Kinha, a veteran Ultra
Marathoner, came together to test
their endurance & resilience.  Col
Mridul Kamal, Col CS Belliappa
and Col Navin Rajan, SM made up
this maverick group.These offrs
decided to complete a 75 Km run on
15 Aug 21, to commemorate the 75th Independence Day.  Their journey to the ‘Independence
Day Run’ began with careful preparations and strategy, which kick-started on 13 June 2021
and involved runs marking the distances of 15, 22, 27, 37, 45, 23 & 15 Kms, with many tempo
and recovery runs interspersed in between.  Consequently, all through the preparation,
spanning through the months of June, July and August, the quadruple ran an approximate
distance of 600 kms, in a span of 60
days! The intermittent rains in-
between, hardly deterred them
from having their share of ‘fun while
run’.

They commenced running on 14

August at 1850 hours from
Dodabetta- the highest peak in South
India, and ran throughout the night,
amidst monsoon showers, laden
with cold rain shivers but loaded
with self-confidence, grit and
determination, to complete the
designated 75 km at around 0550
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 The Hoot

hours on 15 August 2021 at Wellington Gymkhana Club, as a tribute to the motherland. This
run has commenced the ‘Platinum Jubilee Year of Independence Celebrations’.

These ‘Running Owls’ were joined by two family members, 14 year old Master Ayush
Kinha, son of Wg Cdr Sandeep Kinha - a child prodigy, who ran 30 Km with the runners and
Mrs Vinodini Rajan, wife of Col Navin Rajan, SM, who ran a half marathon distance of 21
Km, as their tribute to the Tricolour.

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 The Hoot

AN EYE FOR DETAIL

Pictures by Dr Zara Wani, W/O Cdr Ruchir Khajuria

Happiness Blooms From Within

Page 48
 The Hoot

Let Your Dreams Blossom

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 The Hoot

BLUSH
Least I realise what they mean,
when they say 'happiness comes from within',
And today let’s not find the words rhyming,
The aim is to leave you smiling,

So, there’s this tree which I see from my balcony,

Constant companion to my anxiety and agony,
Days and nights it stands tall,
Always smiling; dancing to the tunes of wind,
Rains or storms no worries at all,
 
We never spoke the language of words,
'THE TREE' is the best partner claimed the birds,
And just when I thought life is not fun,
I saw the monkeys jumping and run,
 
Though we cry for loved ones in pain,
'THE TREE's solitude goes unnoticed and in vain,
The practice of selflessness it teaches me every day,
The leaves; thousands in number, together they stay,
 
So much to emulate and so much to learn,
From my confidant for a year to come, life lessons I’ll learn,
The hustling leaves shall teach me joy,
The stillness of bark will bring the calm,
The shelter it gives will remind me of being kind,
The smallest gush of wind on leaves will get hope,
Being enormous, still grounded will shed ego,
 
Steady & strong yet humble,
Offering food to monkey's tummy rumble,
This art of giving shall stay with me,
No matter how my whereabouts tumble,
 
And throughout the day so many people i meet, 
'THE TREE' is the first one in morning whom i greet,
With minimal knowledge of the makeup brush,    Mrs Divya
The silent talks between me and 'THE TREE', W/o Maj Amit Kumar
is my real glow, real "BLUSH"  ‘D’ Div
                                                                                       

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 The Hoot

O OOTY THE BEAUTY

O Ooty the beauty

Let me make you mine
I don’t know what it is
Hills kind of watching me around
Its Sun or Moon
Clouds won’t let me find
When I open my window
The breeze is just fine
The chill here makes me cuddle
Someone of mine
It looks like one year of here
Won’t be just fine
This salubriousness is ‘The Thing’
Looks like the gold mine
I am going to have, here
Some amazing time
I want to surrender
Surrender all of mine
O Ooty the beauty
Let me make you mine
But then I reached the college
For the first time
They told me son, one thing you won’t get here
Is the time
I came out of the college
And looked all around
It was all cloudy
And so was my mind
So just hold on O Ooty the beauty
Just this time
Let me manage that one thing
Called here as time
Will meet you for sure Sqn Ldr MK Chaudhary
Sure for next time ‘D’ Div

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 The Hoot

IN THE SMALL TOWN OF WELLINGTON, AMIDST THE NILGIRIS

You’ll be woken up by a stir of chirpiness in the still of the day break.

Your downtrodden spirit urges to step out as if it’s the nature calling you with open arms
into its cradle.

As one steps out, your tired soul is washed with eucalyptus aroma and acres of tea
plantation. One soon begins to empathise with the humble shrubs and begins to see the little
gifts of nature. Your magnanimous bubble ego comes crashing down to an infinitesimal
existence of individual being.

You notice, Ah! There goes a little pipit from one bush to another! You’d also hear the chorus
of the Laughing-thrush under the love sick cries of the cicadas.

You’d stare in amusement at the small burrows and arched pathways

through the dense bushes leading into the forest, wondering if it were
the bison, the bear or a leopard that made its way through the thick.

Before to realize, there is a spring in your gate, gratitude in your heart

and under the intoxication of “one music” you wade along, carefree
like a kindred spirit.

The Nilgiris will definitely deem your spirit as a ‘Bairagi of pure

Mrs Sugandh Pandey
consciousness’.
W/O Maj Anand Pandey
‘A’ Div

Mesmerising Coonoor By Night

Photo By
Maj Argha Singh
‘B’ Div

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 The Hoot

Mrs Neha Maheshwari

W/O Cdr Girish Pillai
‘B’ Div
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 The Hoot
LIBRARY - NEW ARRIVALS

1. 320.1243/SAN 40012 6. 330.954/RAJ 40001

SANDHU RAMANDEEP SINGH RAJAN RAGHURAM

NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES: THIRD PILLAR: HOW MARKETS

YOUNG SCHOLAR’S PERSPECTIVE &THE STATE, LEAVE THE
COMMUNITY BEHIND
PENTAGON PRESS, NEW DELHI, 2020
HARPER COLLINS, INDIA, 2020

2. 320.158/THA 39963 7. 355.331/WIL 40021

SHASHI THAROOR WILLINK JOCKO

BATTLE OF BELONGING: NATIONALISM, LEADERSHIP STRATEGY & TACTICS

PATRIOTISM & WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FIELD MANUAL
INDIAN
MACMILLAN, LONDON, 2020
ALEPH BOOK COMPANY, NEW DELHI,
2020

3. 323.2/DAH 39971 8. 359.37/SAN 39999

DAHRI NOOR SANYAL SANJEEV

MARKETING TERRORISM: CONTINENTAL INCREDIBLE HISTORY OF THE

FEAR FROM MIDDLE EAST TO ASIAN INDIAN OCEAN

VIJ BOOKS PVT LTS, NEW DELHI, 2020 PUFFIN BOOKS, INDIA, 2020

4. 327.54/PAN 39997 9. 954.042/AGA 40015

PANDE APARNA AGARWAL ROHIT

MAKING INDIA GREAT: PROMISE OF A TO THE EDGE & BACK 1962 INDIA
RELUCTANT GLOBAL POWER CHINA WAR

HARPER COLLINS, INDIA, 2020 PENTAGON PRESS, NEW DELHI, 2020

5. 327.5405491/DUL 40022 10. 954.7/DUR 39964

DULAT AS DURRANI ASAD

SPY CHRONICLES RAW ISI &THE HONOUR AMONG SPICES

ILLUSION OF PEACE
HARPER COLLINS, INDIA, 2020
HARPER COLLINS, INDIA, 2020

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 The Hoot
Grace and Grit - Ooty Waterfalls

Photo By
Maj Argha Singh
‘B’ Div

Serene Pykara Lake

Photo By
Maj Argha Singh
‘B’ Div

Readers are requested to send their feedback to Col Biswajit Dash, L.No. 48 or college
mail ads48@dssc.mil

Printed at: Production Department

Page 55
Compiled By: Lt Col Saurabh Sharma, Wg Cdr Sneha W/O Wg Cdr Raveesh Kumar