For the students of our institute, the period of 1990-1993 was the golden era for taking part in NCC training. It was during this time that students enjoyed a variety of interesting military training under the leadership of Colonel Satish Dewan, the NCC officer.
Yogesh K. Upadhyaya tries to found out more detail about the person behind the sea-change in NCC training. The following is the excerpt of the phone interview with Satishji:
Q.1: Good evening Sir, please tell us history of NCC at our institute.
The NCC training was started with the establishment of engineering college at Banaras Hindu University. In 1923, a British army officer started NCC unit at the engineering college. His aim was to recruit engineers for the Indian army. It was among the first NCC unit to be established on the campus of an engineering college.
Q.2: What prompted you to change the way NCC is being taught at the campus?
I was posted in J & K at Baramulla for anti-terrorist operations, when I received the order to join as NCC training officer at IT-BHU in 1990. I accepted the challenge. Upon arrival, I found that students were simply not interested in NCC activities, and during my first year of posting, no one joined the training. This prompted the govt. to think about winding up the training at our institute. Desperately, I sought the advice of Prof. T R Anantharaman, then Director of IT. He advised me to start new activities to generate interest among students.
Accordingly, I chalked out a plan for action. I took students to the firing range of Cantonment Area of Varanasi, where they had opportunity to engage in live firing practice for two months. They loved the fun so much that they requested only training for firing, without any routine physical parade. I also started para-sailing at the university air-strip, behind our college. The students practiced the new art by tying themselves at the back of a moving jeep, and then releasing the rope connections, once they achieve sufficient speed needed for sailing. I also took them on bicycle tour to Khajuraho from Varanasi.
All this training had a very good effect on students. They now learnt that NCC can also be a fun. This unique experiment also received some exposure in news media. By 1993, a record number of about 200 students (mostly from first year) participated in NCC training.
Q.3: Please tell us about your career after you left our college.
After I left IT-BHU in 1993, I studied for one-year diploma in business administration in New Delhi. Then I was transferred to Meerut army base as DAG (Deputy Adjunct General), and finally I retired from the army in 1997. After retirement, I started my own institute in Meerut for personality development, career guidance and English speaking.
In 2001, Maha Rishi Mahesh Yogiji wanted me to do the same work for their group of 50 schools in Western UP and Uttaranchal. I was posted as Director of schools at NOIDA Ashram, where I worked for 2 ½ years.
For the past few years, I devote my time between my New Delhi residence and with my son in Chicago.
Q.4: Thank you sir. We hope this interview will of great interest for our students and alumni, particularly from 1990-93 era.
Thank you very much. Any interested ex-student can contact me at scdewan@gmail.com.