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Some time ago, there was a nationwide debate on whether a decommissioned tank, a war trophy, or an old aircraft shell has the ability to inspire young minds. Can a decommissioned aircraft or military tank win a “battle” of minds? The answer is an emphatic “YES”. Let us read on to know how it did, at Sainik School Imphal.

I was posted at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, as Senior Directing Staff when my posting orders came, moving me as Principal of Sainik School Imphal. The news descended like a bombshell. My daughter was due to be admitted to Class Eleven, with almost no educational facilities available for an outsider in an insurgency-infested state. But as a soldier, a sense of duty beckoned me to take the challenge head-on. I moved to Imphal in April 2008.

After joining, I found the security environment to be gravely hostile. Movement was highly restricted. With numerous underground groups operating in the state, normal life usually remained paralyzed due to frequent bandh calls, road blockades, IED blasts, and kidnapping. The worst aspect was that schools could not openly celebrate National Days — these were designated as Black Days by insurgents.

I got a rude shock when some cadets used the word “mainland” for any visit to a region beyond the North East. I realised that my top priority would be to remove these unfounded apprehensions before we could focus on preparing them for the National Defence Academy.

In June 2009, a group of selected cadets visited Rashtrapati Bhavan and had one-to-one interaction with the then President, Mrs Pratibha Patil. They were also graciously invited by the Chief of Air Staff, ACM PV Naik, for informal interaction. Thereafter, they were taken to Air Force Station Ambala. On return, these cadets were asked to organise interactive sessions with other cadets. This set the ball rolling.

As a corollary, I wrote to Air HQs for allotment of one old aircraft shell for the school. Within three months, I got a reply that an old MiG-21 shell had been allotted from Air Force Station Tezpur, Assam, and would be delivered at Air Force cost. When I broke the news at morning assembly, the whole school burst into ecstatic jubilation.

When the convoy of three trucks reached the outer periphery of Imphal city, a large number of local youth started accompanying them — some on bikes, some on foot — in the form of a procession. The school cadets lined up on both sides of the road from the entry gate, accompanied by the school ceremonial band playing “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara” to welcome the aircraft.

During the next couple of days, the aircraft was assembled by IAF technicians, painted in iconic camouflage colours by Mr Kunjmani, artist of the school, and mounted on a beautifully designed platform. The Squadron logo was inscribed. Alongside the cockpit, we wrote in bold letters: “ONE DAY I SHALL GET INTO THE COCKPIT.” It was dedicated to the school by Major General Shakti Gurung on 28 August 2009.

A few weeks later, during my night rounds, I noticed a cadet of Class VII at around 2230 hrs standing alone and still, facing the aircraft — well past lights-off time. When he saw me, he got scared. He was holding something in his hand. “Don’t be afraid, my son. Just show it to me,” I told him softly. He handed over a crumpled piece of paper and started sobbing, pleading not to be punished. I took him to my residence, offered him biscuits to make him comfortable, and told him he could go back to his dormitory. He again pleaded: “Sir, please do not inform my parents.” I assured him I would not.

After his departure, I casually straightened that piece of paper. He had copied the words from the aircraft: “ONE DAY I SHALL GET INTO THE COCKPIT.” The impression gathered by the young cadet moved me. A pilot was in the making, I mused.

The next day, during morning assembly, I made that boy come up to the podium and read the words aloud. Then I asked the assembly: “Would you all like to get into the cockpit as a pilot?” “Yes, Sir! … we shall … we shall!” — the hall reverberated for a long time as 560 cadets yelled in unison like a war cry. The honesty and sincerity in their voices were unmistakable. Deep down in my heart, I knew that the mission was accomplished.

In the year 2011, Sainik School Imphal bagged the coveted Defence Minister’s Trophy for sending the maximum number of cadets to the National Defence Academy among 24 Sainik Schools of the country, for the first time in the history of the school. The young minds of Sainik School Imphal and the collective efforts of the school staff had turned the tide in their favour. The decommissioned, vintage MiG-21 had also played its role magnificently.