Yet another April comes and yet
another batch will be leaving the hallowed portals of the Rashtriya Military
School, Belgaum. Batch of 2012, you joined the institution in 2005 and memories
of your admission & initiation are still vivid in my mind. I and my other
batch mates being in class 8th then, were given the responsibility
of making you aware of the highly regarded rules and traditions of our ALMAMATER.
And just like any other batch you were a quick learner. Even better than us,
going by how intuitively you all had picked up the famed HIGH-LANDERS’ DANCE.
You were obedient respectful and dignified.
As time slid by, you grew up,
sparkling, showing your inherent and acquired talents and skills all the while.
Some came to be class toppers, some champion boxers while some others great
soccer players. Each one of you came out with flying colours, exceptional in
their own way. During our 5 year long stay together, we celebrated many a wins
(including a cock house trophy), enjoyed many a parties and faced many a
defeats, huddled together. By the time our share of seven years was over you
all had already proved yourself but even before I never had doubts.
Now, you have arrived at that
stage when your life will take tectonic shifts (no exaggeration). Luxuries of a
comfortable, settled Proxy-Army officer life with all the people to help you
round the clock will be gone. I wouldn’t be telling you how to go about living
your life hereafter, that’s for you to decide. But I certainly will tell you
this- that from now on, the memories of these seven years will be the most
precious part of your life. Knowing fully well that it’s impossible, you would
still want to relive this part of your life. Cherish those memories as much as
you can, hold them dear because they are the only part your ALMAMATER that you
will carry with you wherever you go. But as you cherish them wanting to live
them again, make sure they don’t become your weakness. Yes, cruel as it may
sound, we all have to ultimately move on, even from things we hold dear. And
memories, especially the precious ones have the tendency to hold us back, to
overwhelm us with nostalgia. You will need to guard against this, sad but true.
Also, from now on, very often,
you will come across people, situations and events that will seem grossly
unfair to you vis-à-vis things as they were at school; whenever such situations
crop up, be stoic, remind yourself that you are no longer in school but in an
extremely cut-throat world & persevere until that weak moment passes by.
Never ever let go of the precious values that were so carefully cultivated in
you. Yes, it will be hard but you will need to learn to balance your treasured
values and your progress in such a way that they never come in conflict.
Well, I feel I have rambled on
for quite long now & at the risk of losing readers’ interest I will leave
you with the five mottos we all have cherished during our stay at RASHTRIYA
MILITARY SCHOOL, BELGAUM-
·
Pratap: House Hero – Maharana Pratap; Motto- Treating Alike Pain and Pleasure.
·
Shivaji: House Hero – Shivaji Maharaj; Motto- There is Nothing More Welcome to a Kshatriya
Than a Righteous War.
·
Ashoka: House Hero – Ashoka, The Great; Motto- Engage Yourself in Obligatory Work.
·
Ranjit: House Hero – Maharaja Ranjit Singh; Motto- Seek to Perform Your Duty.
And the best of them all, our
School Motto- CHARACTER IS THE HIGHEST VIRTUE.
