The Hindu : Call of the skies beckons them

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 21, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Call of the skies beckons them

By Aniket Alam

Cadets Romil Sharma, Rachna Joshi, Vidhi Sharma and Ajit Krishnan who would be receiving the President's Commission as Flying Officers on Saturday.

HYDERABAD June 20. In these days, when dollar dreams seem to motivate most young people, why have these youngsters decided to dedicate their lives to what have been termed "flying coffins''?

``It's very unfair to use such terms,'' retorts a somewhat hurt Ajit Krishnan, one of the 132 cadets who would be receiving his "wings'' tomorrow morning along with his batch mates of young men and women cadets of the Indian Air Force Academy at Dindigul, near here. "The Air Force's accident rate has actually come down over the years,'' he says with an authority which sits well on this Academy Cadet Captain, similar in his role as a school head boy.

``No, there has been no pressure from home,'' says Vidhi Sharma, the only one among 26 women in the present batch who is getting her "wings'' as a transport pilot. No nervous mothers, asserts her friend Rachna Joshi, only proud parents. Rachna recalls that it was her mother whom she rang up after she managed to run the mandatory 9.5 km cross-country during her training.

Why did they choose the Air Force as a career? Obviously it was the thrill and fascination of those magnificent flying machines as well as the glamour and charisma of the uniform. But there is more to their choice.

``We become managers of institutions and leaders of men at 21 years of age. No other profession gives us this,'' says Romil Sharma, while Rachna adds in agreement, "Rather than self-interest, we are working for a larger, general interest,'' says this MBA from Lucknow University.

At an age when their peers are busy partying through college life, how does it feel to live with military crew cuts and the strict discipline of a soldier?

The NDA-trained Ajit and Romil are almost disdainful of the question. Rachna and Vidhi smile as they recall that the initial days were tough. ``But we hardly have any cadets who leave,'' chips in D.D. Mishra, one of their trainers. He explains that the first six months' training is very arduous with the aim of getting the cadets used to physical hardships and strict discipline. They are allowed to use soap for bathing once in three days and made to work, study and play 5 am to 10 pm. At all times the cadets are expected to be in uniform.

With such tough routines, a bad press regarding plane crashes and the allure of MNC jobs, how does the Air Force manage to get the talent it requires? Air Vice Marshal V.K. Verma, Commandant of the Academy, says "There is always a core of young people, inspired by family traditions, patriotism or fascination with the armed forces, who opt for the defence services in any circumstance.'' So there is never a real shortage of talent, he avers.

But he adds, a bit playfully, "When jobs in the private sector are easy to come by, there are fewer applicants to the Air Force, but now with a squeeze in the job market, we even find IIT and REC graduates lining up!''

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