NDA: An Ideal Instructor

1st POP at NDA, Khadakwasla... 10th course POP reviewed by Pt. Nehru : 5 Jun 1955

ABOUT RSM AYLING of NDA by a former cadet
Many of us had associations with RSM Ayling. I have cut and pasted what a 10th course cadet had to say about him... Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh (Retd)

An Ideal Instructor
This June, 10th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) would complete fifty years. This course had 232 cadets-one of the largest at that time. We first went to the Joint Services Wing, Clement Town, Dehra Dun in 1953. After completing eighteen months, we were shifted to NDA, Khadakvasla. The Academy was being developed at that time and roads were under construction. Only one wing of the Mess was ready. Most of the time we were carrying cycles on our heads.
Our course became one of the most illustrious courses. It poduced Chief of Army Staff, Gen S Roy Chowdhry, Vice Chief of Air Staff, one Army Commander-Lt Gen Jameel Mahood, Lt Gen Sher Amir Singh, Vice Admiral Kasz Raju,Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Surinder Nath, Lt Gen RN Batra, Lt Gen Surinder Kumar and fifty more Brigadiers, Admirals and Air Marshals.
In the process of becoming officers from Boys, some of the great staff of officers, civil professors and JCOs are always remembered for they “shape up” the future. One such great instructor was Regimental Sergeant Major Ayling. He was the first one to receive us at Dehra Dun. Monsoons had swept the Aravali Range of mountains and the train, with its steam engine puffing, was negotioating the slope from Hardwar to Dehra Dun. There was anxiety, uncertainty and fear writ on the faces of all. The only silver lining was the pitter-patter of rain and the lush green Dun Valley. Trees were laden with lichees, mangoes, grape fruit and there was abundance of flowers. The train screeched to a halt and number of whistles wer blown, followed by a stern bark of an order: “All future cadets, bring out your luggage and fall-in in front of your compartments”. No coolies were permitted and it was back-breaking to carry huge trunks and beddings in, now outdated, “holdalls”. We all somehow dragged the luggage on to the waiting trucks. The sight was quite close to the modern-day trucks which carry poultry for slaughter.
Half an hour later the trucks reached the Academy. Again a set of whistles and a voice thundered, “Get off, double time, fall in, get a move on!” Totally shaken up, we jumped off the trucks and stood in a line. Dressed in a spotless uniform, a man, 6 feet 3 inches in height, was the one who was shouting the orders. He shouted again, “Stop fidgetting like girls, stop moving and stop talking”. Soon there was a pin-drop silence and the voice thundered once again, “From now onwards you have no fathers, no mothers. I am your father, I am your mother, pick up your boxes and beddings and move to your Squadrons”.
Totally subdued and terrified we moved on. Later we discovered that the voice belonged to Regimental Sergeant Major Ayling of Grenadiers Guards of the British Army. The RSM was on deputation to teach the cadets the rudiments of discipline and drill. This very soldier honed, trained, disciplined and prepared us to become the worthy officers of Army, Navy and Air Force. Many of us won the highest bravery awards while some rose to the highest ranks in the three services.
When the words of command changed to Hindi, in the fifties, we thought that the world would come to an end. Sergeant Major Ayling just took one month to master the Hindi words of command and never faltered-not even once while training us. Though he owned a small Ford Prefact car, he always walked or cycled to the drill square since our Adjutant, Capt ML Whig owned only a cycle. For that matter, those days most officers owned only a bicycle.
His sense of humour was a legend. During a passing-out parade rehearsal, Corporal Kasz Raju (later Vice Admiral) and myself were the Right and Left Markers. For some reason the parade was halted but we the Markers did not hear the order and carried on slow marching towards the Quarter Deck. Sergeant Major shouted, “When you two reach the Quarter Deck, drop us a postcard” and of course all the cadets in the parade had a good laugh at us.
As we celebrate the Golden Jubilee at the National Defence Academy this June, this great soldier of Grenadier Guards will be remembered by the cadets of fifties who always hold him in veneration.
-Brig (Retd) Sudhir Arora
An Ideal Instructor


17 Course NDA Golden Jubilee Celebrations
The 17 Course NDA (1957-1959) celebrated their golden jubilee (50 years) from 7 to 9 December 2009, at NDA Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
See the cadet’s photos here.
It was attended by 88 former cadets of the 17 Course. Most of them had brought their wives. Also present were 4 grandchildren, 2 children, 2 daughters in law, and 4 ladies. Those who could not attend were sadly missed. See the participant’s photos here.