What Is NCC?
The National Cadets Corps (NCC) is the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces that recruits students between the ages of 13–24 on a voluntary basis. It aims to inculcate discipline, comradeship, the spirit of adventure, leadership skills and above all, patriotism.
The “cadets” or students go through a rigorous training process for 2 to 3 years that includes basic military training in small arms and drills, attending annual training camps and engaging in social service and community development.
Why NCC?
Today, NCC is one of the largest student bodies in the country, with 15 lakh enrolled cadets from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. This is not incidental. Central and State governments provide budgetary support to meet the expenditure on NCC activities and meet the government-sanctioned NCC cadet strength.
As a result, 12,401 schools and 5,243 colleges have NCC cadets and the figures are bound to increase annually.
The rise of NCC insofar as its penetration in every State is in the context of an increasingly intolerant India whose citizens have been reminded to carry out their fundamental duties (“to defend the country and render national services when called upon” to do so is a fundamental duty) in the face of oppression.
NCC aims to instil patriotic fervour among students, a love for one’s country that is manifested in potentially serving in the Indian armed forces and fighting for one’s country.
In doing so, it comes very close to glorifying the military at large.
This article intends to explore the historical, social and political context in which governments are encouraging youth to join NCC.
The Origin Of NCC
The origin of NCC can be traced back to the “University Corps”, which was created under the Indian Defence Act 1917, with the objective to make up for the shortage in the Army. By the 1920 Act, the “Indianisation” of armed forces took place when university training officers and cadets were given the khaki uniform similar to the Indian Army’s to boost their morale.
A committee headed by Pandit H N Kunzru recommended a cadet organisation be established in schools and colleges at a national level in 1948, which was accepted.
In 1952, the NCC curriculum was extended to include community development/social service activities as a part of the NCC syllabus at the behest of Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Following the Sino-Indian war, NCC training was made compulsory in 1963. However, on the resistance of students against compulsory NCC training, it was made voluntary in 1968.
NCC Cadets had been the second line of defence in the 1965 and 1971 wars, after which their syllabus was revised to give importance to areas like social service and youth management.
Historically, NCC has been akin to youth military programs in Israel and South Korea that provide compulsory military training (along with personal development, leadership skills, health and hygiene training, etc.) to train youth to join the armed forces.
Of course, NCC has been, for the most part, a voluntary exercise, whereas Israel and South Korea mandate military service for young people. NCC, youth wings of IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and ROK (Republic of Korea) Armed Forces hold patriotism, human dignity and defending one’s nation as their core values.
Glorification As An Incentive
A vast majority of NCC cadets who join the armed forces come from relatively disadvantaged sections of society. They regard the training and exposure provided as a pathway to better economic opportunities. Cadets are given special preference to join the armed forces and certain universities if they get the prestigious Grade A, B or C certificates.
These act as incentives for students from lower socio-economic status to share the prestige of the armed forces. That is to say, the glorification of the military itself becomes an incentive.
It’s common knowledge that in times of war, it is the disadvantaged, underprivileged sections of society who are at the forefront of civilian casualties. Hence, the focus must be on deterring war and promoting personality development, leadership skills, physical training and community development over weapons training.
#THREAD: 14 civilians were shot dead by the Indian Army in #Nagaland.
The Home Minister expressed regret and said it was a result of “mistaken identity.”
The question that remains is why does #AFSPA give this much power to the army to carry out violent acts without consequences
— Youth Ki Awaaz (@YouthKiAwaaz) December 7, 2021
Skills that can provide economic opportunities to the vulnerable sections of society should be prioritised over vague notions of becoming a patriot not by choice but out of necessity.
The Politicisation Of The Military
The Indian military as an institution has been criticised for seeking political favours in the past. Many senior officers are increasingly identifying themselves with the “Hindu nationalism” of the BJP-led administration, which in turn unashamedly seeks to exploit military achievements for politics.
BJP’s robust handling of issues concerning “national security” was best portrayed in the September 2016 “surgical strikes” against militant launch pads across the line of control in Kashmir and the IAFs reported bombing of an Islamic terrorist training centre at Balakot in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in February 2019.
These “victories” ensured that BJP won a massive victory in the Uttar Pradesh state elections in early 2016 and the resounding victory in the 2019 general elections.
The ruling party has maintained a narrative where the Indian military cannot be questioned and held accountable for acts of omission and commission. Serving in the Indian armed forces is inherently patriotic and heroic and, hence, unquestionable.
This is relevant in the context of NCC since it is the youth wing of the prestigious Indian armed forces. It is the breeding ground for young talent. The syllabus for NCC’s Common Subjects includes learning about “National Integration and awareness” that covers sub-topics such as factors affecting national integration, unity in diversity and threats to national security.
The chapter on “Unity in Diversity” talks about emotional unity shared by Indians and gives an interesting reason as to how this unity is achieved – “Hinduism which is practised by the majority of the population has the capacity to absorb all good cultures. It has either absorbed the immigrant cultures or has largely influenced them”.
The reference to all “other” cultures or religions in a diverse country like India undermines the very motto of NCC that is, “Unity and Discipline”.
Another chapter addresses “jihadi terrorism” and Naxalite militancy by playing on popular narratives without providing facts or statistics to show the extent of the attacks claimed.
Conclusion
The NCC is a prestigious program that aims to develop well-rounded citizens by teaching them discipline, teamwork, the spirit of adventure, comradeship and leadership. It is a holistic program that equips students with life skills.
However, just like other youth military programs around the world, one cannot deny that it is rooted in the idea of self-defence, protecting the country during war and conflict and making everyone a patriot.
Cadets must not be fed notions of patriotism and nationalism without questioning the ideals they stand for. This must be questioned in light of the current socio-political context.