National Defence College

RAKSHIKA ACTIVITIES

Here we are ---The 59ers---one month into this year that promises to be exciting and exhilarating!

After all the packing, unpacking and setting up of houses, the Ice-Breaking Party was just what was needed to set the ball rolling. The graciousness of the hosts, the ambience, the food and the music was just spot on to make the night one to remember.

DILLI DARSHAN

The Dilli Darshan outing was a day well spent especially for those who had only read/heard about what all our Capital City has to offer. It is difficult to cover all the delights in one day, but the visit to the Qutub Minar, the Bahai Lotus Temple and the Humayun’s Tomb served as the right appetizer for the wonderful lunch at the fascinating Dilli Haat—a shopper’s paradise with handicrafts from all over the country on display!

The Republic Day Parade was seen by some of us Live for the first time and ‘heard’ everyday by the residents of Raksha Bhawan! With the ‘Students’ away on their first tour, the Rakshikas attended the awe-inspiring Beating Retreat Ceremony and then looked forward to the Welcome Meet with great expectations!

WELCOME MEET

The Welcome Meet was what the invite had promised where ‘Kuch unhone kahi, kuch hamari suni’. The Rakshika Secretary welcomed us, introduced us to the Who’s Who of the Ladies of the Faculty and the Staff and gave us a peek into all the exciting activities we could look forward to! This was followed by a self-introduction by all the Student Officers’ wives present. The Group photo and the Cake Cutting formally announced the start of our journey together.
It was indeed a wonderful interaction between the Ladies of the Faculty and Staff and the student officers’ wives. It was just the right occasion for us to flaunt not only our achievements and talents but also our smiles, sarees and selfie skills!!

ARMY SOCIAL

The Army Wing of the course started the second month by hosting a gala evening at the magnificent Manekshaw Centre. After a round or two of drinks, all of us were treated to a jaw-dropping display of martial arts, dexterity and focus by the Assam Regiment boys! It surely put everyone in the right mood to move to the dance floor with the live band belting out peppy numbers. The showstopper event being the beautiful and melodious songs sung by our top brass! Very gracious of them! The fabulous food served in the impressive dining hall was the ‘cherry on the cake’ for a fantastic evening!

Visit to the SURAJKUND MELA

If you are looking to spend a day amidst a riot of colours, aromas, fabrics, sounds, dances, handicrafts and of course people, Surajkund is the place to go……and that’s just what some of us Rakshikas did!
All of us got together at the RB Reception and at about 10:45 we were off. After an hour plus of munching on snacks while discussing what to shop for, we reached the venue all charged up! The ‘Before’ pictures taken, we started our foray into the mela.

The highlights of the experience were the kachoris and the chai, the rugs and the bedspreads, the picture with Ravana himself and knickknacks galore!

We all shopped till we dropped….and we have proof of that!

VISIT TO PRERNA

The Prerna cell welcomed 27 of us volunteer Rakshikas on 13th February 2019 at 3 PM.
1. The Prerna Secretary,
Mrs Rakhi Teotia welcomed us and gave a small brief on what Prerna is all about.
2. The Chairperson, Mrs Harindar Singh, addressed us and presented us all a badge and some helpful reading material.
3. Mrs Mamta Rawat shared her experiences and answered our queries regarding the whole process.
4. Col (Dr) Neelam Sharma gave the R&R perspective of Prerna....Their expectations from us and the boundaries we need to adhere to.
5. Mrs Rashmi Sharma, first lady of R&R team, addressed us and gave us some do's and don'ts to streamline our interaction with the patients and the staff.
It was a very informative session.
We all look forward to doing our bit towards giving support to the Onco warriors and their families.

VISIT TO THE MUGHAL GARDENS

It was an overcast day with the sun playing hide and seek, when we went for a dekko at the Mughal Gardens. However, the chill in the air did not dampen the enthusiasm of us Rakshikas in enjoying the beauty of these magnificent gardens.
Stocks, tulips, oriental lilies, ranunculus, roses, pansies, larkspurs....the list just goes on, the humungous dahlias being the favourites for taking pictures with. It was a feast for our eyes!
The landscaped lawns, the bonsai section and the dancing musical fountain formed the perfect backdrops for the umpteen photographs taken and shared! I am sure all of us got our perfect profile pics!

VISIT TO KHURJA

Children's exams, visiting guests, 5-hour bus travel, last-minute unavailability of the contact and guide at Khurja----all this did not deter us from going ahead with our trip to Khurja!

The two and half hour bus journey went off so fast ...With packed breakfast, cakes and parathas providing the fuel for the about-to-begin shopping session!
The first stop-- Narang Ceramics/Humna Handicrafts, with all its beautiful pottery, was where the major dents to the pockets were made!

A quick look around at other shops nearby and we were off for lunch to the Royale Resort.

Second stop-- RK Potteries, where we were given the tour of the factory. The precision, the patience and perfection of the workers increased our appreciation of the art form. This certainly encouraged most of us to shop!

Third stop--- Clay Craft, the planter specialist, and of course, we shopped some more!
The bus overflowing with cartons of cups, mugs, plates, planters, bowls and everything else, we started back with happy hearts, satisfied smiles and empty wallets!!
"Whoever said money can't buy happiness, simply didn't know where to go shopping" -- Gertrude Stein

Well....Go to Khurja!!

Activities