Introduction

National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organisation comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth – ‘The Leaders of Tomorrow’ – into disciplined and patriotic citizens. The genesis of the NCC can be traced back to the First World War when the Britishers created the University Corps as the second line of defense and to have a large pool of trained youth available for employment into the Armed Forces.

History

The NCC in India was formed with the National Cadet Corps Act XXXI, of 1948. It was raised on 15 July 1948 The National Cadet Corps can be considered as a successor of the University Officers Training Corps (UOTC) which was established by the British in 1942. During World War II, the UOTC never came up to the expectations set by the British. This led to the idea that some better schemes should be formed, which could train more young men in a better way, even during peace times. A committee headed by Pandit H.N. Kunzru recommended a cadet organization to be established in schools and colleges at a national level. The National Cadet Corps Act was accepted by the Governor General and on 15 July 1948 the National Cadet Corps came into existence.

During the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, NCC cadets were the second line of defence. They organised camps to assist the ordinance factories, supplying arms and ammunition to the front, and also were used as patrol parties to capture the enemy paratroopers. The NCC cadets also worked hand in hand with the Civil Defence authorities and actively took part in rescue work and traffic control. After the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars the NCC syllabus was revised. Rather than just being the second line of defence, NCC syllabus laid a greater stress on developing qualities of leadership and Officer-like qualities. The military training which the NCC cadets received was reduced and greater importance was given to other areas like social service and youth-management.

Aim

To Develop Character, Comradeship, Discipline, Leadership, Secular Outlook, Spirit of Adventure, and Ideals of Selfless Service amongst the Youth of the Country.

To Create a Human Resource of Organized, Trained and Motivated Youth, To Provide Leadership in all Walks of life and be Always Available for the Service of the Nation.

To Provide a Suitable Environment to Motivate the Youth to Take Up a Career in the Armed Forces.

MOTTO OF NCC

The need for having motto or the Corps was discussed in the 11th Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting held on 11 Aug 1978. The mottos suggested were “Duty and Discipline”; “Duty, Unity and Discipline”; “Duty and Unity”; “Unity and Discipline”. The final decision for selection of “Unity and Discipline” as motto for the NCC was taken in the 12th CAC meeting held on 12 Oct 1980.

CORE VALUES

The NCC is a responsive, learning and continuously evolving organization. Its activity is guided by certain Core Values that we endeavour to instill among all ranks of the NCC. These include the following:

• A sense of patriotic commitment to encourage cadets to contribute to national development.
• Respect for diversities in religion, language, culture, ethnicity, life style and habitat to instill a sense of National unity and social cohesion.
• Abiding commitment to learn and adhere to the norms and values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
• Understanding the value of a just and impartial exercise of authority.
• Ability to participate in community development and other social programme.
• A healthy life style free of substance abuse and other unhealthy practices.
• Sensitivity to the needs of poor and socially disadvantaged fellow citizens.
• Inculcating habits of restraint and self-awareness.
• Understanding the values of honesty, truthfulness, self-sacrifice, perseverance and hard work.
• Respect for knowledge, wisdom and the power of ideas.

PLEDGE

WE THE CADETS OF THE NATIONAL CADET CORPS,
DO SOLOEMNLY PLEDGE THAT WE SHALL ALWAYS UPHOLD THE UNITY OF INDIA.
WE RESOLVE TO BE DISCIPLINED AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN OF OUR NATION.
WE SHALL UNDERTAKE POSITIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE SPIRIT OF SELFLESSNESS
AND CONCERN FOR OUR FELLOW BEINGS.

हम राष्ट्रीय कैडेट कोर के कैडेट
हम शपथ लेते हैं कि भारत की एकता को हमेशा बनाए रखेंगे।
हम संकल्प लेते हैं कि हम अपने राष्ट्र के अनुशासित तथा जिम्मेदार नागरिक बनेंगे।
हम वचन देते हैं कि निस्वार्थ भाव से सामुदायिक सेवा करेंगे तथा साथियों के प्रति लगाव बनाए रखेंगे।

NCC Flag

The NCC flag for various units of the NCC was first introduced in 1951. The flag was of same pattern, colour and size as was used by various regiments of the Army. The only difference was that it had the NCC badge and unit designation placed in the centre. Later on it was felt that the flag should be in keeping with the inter-service character of the Corps. In 1954 the existing tricolour flag was introduced. The three colours in the flag depict the three services of the Corps, red for the Army, deep blue for the Navy and light blue for the Air Force. The letters NCC and the NCC crest in gold in the middle of the flag encircled by a wreath of lotus, give the flag a colourful look and a distinct identity.

NCC SONG

The desirability of composing a NCC song was considered in the Circle Commanders (now called DDGs) Conference held in January 1956 and all circles were asked to send their proposals. The official song of the NCC – “Kadam Mila Ke Chal” was adopted in 1962, and registered in 1969 with the approval of the Ministry of Defence. In 1974, it was felt that the NCC song had failed to catch the imagination of the youth, and there was a need for a change. A sustained process began; entries were invited from Directorates for suitable lyrics; 107 entries were received; of which eight were selected by a Board of Officers. However, all the eight were considered sub standard by Dr Nagendra of Delhi University, who was the judge. On the suggestion of Dr Nagendra, the task was entrusted to Shri Chiranjit, the Chief Producer, Drama Division, AIR, Delhi.

The song written by Shri Chiranjit was approved, in 1976. The Maharashtra Directorate was asked to get the song composed and recorded with the help of Shri Raj Kapoor, and the Films Division, Bombay. However, nothing much came out of this exercise as Shri Raj Kapoor was then busy in making his film “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” and the studios of the Films Division were under renovation. Later, Shri Mahinder Singh Bedi, a well known poet of Delhi, was requested to write another song. This effort also proved infructuous. AEC Centre Pachmarhi was also approached, but somehow the matter could not be finalized.

Almost during the same period and independent of efforts at Directorate General NCC, the Film Division undertook production of a documentary on NCC ‘A Cadet’ s Diary’. The Director of the documentary was looking for a suitable song for the film. He happened to hear the song – ‘Ham Sab Hindi Hain’ which appears to have been first sung at a Youth Festival at Chandigarh, sometime during 1968-69, and introduced it in the documentary film.

The song was a hit and successive Director Generals (DGs) found it good and played it repeatedly in Republic Day camps. In 1980, the word ‘Hindi’ was substituted with ‘Bhartiya’.

Come ASIAD (1982), and the NCC got the opportunity to display its potential in the opening ceremony. The Special Organising Committee approved trial recording of the song for recital during the Asian Games Festival. The song was finally recorded in its present form, sometime during Oct 1982, at the Western Outdoor Studio, Delhi with the help of AIR artists, and musicians under overall supervision of Pandit Vijai Raghavan Rao.

Post ASIAD era in the NCC saw among other events, a well composed musical hit and an inspiring NCC song being played and sung alongwith recorded music; a 16 mm colour film had also been made with title ‘Hum Sab Bhartiya Hain’ of 7½ minutes duration. This film had been telecast twice on national hook up. Other films, ‘Unity and Discipline’; ‘A Cadet’ s Diary, had also used this song prominently. The writer of this song seems to have been lost in oblivion. “No body knows” – said Shri SK Sharma, Joint Director, Armed Forces Film and Photo Division, who was actively involved with the production of documentaries on the NCC. “This song was not written for the NCC, as such, writes Shri Mathur, ex-publicity officer, DGNCC, in his notings on the file. But nobody has claimed it so far. Another noting speaks of Sri Virender Sharma as the lyrics writer, and Sri Vijai Raghavan Rao as the music composer.

This NCC song is liked by millions of cadets, both past and present, and is sung on all important occasions of the NCC.

NCC SONG LYRICS

“Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain, Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain

Apni Manzil Ek Hai,

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ek Hai,

Ho, Ho, Ho, Ek Hai.

Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain.

Kashmir Ki Dharti Rani Hai,

Sartaj Himalaya Hai,

Saadiyon Se Humne Isko Apne Khoon Se Pala Hai

Desh Ki Raksha Ki Khatir Hum Shamshir Utha Lenge,

Hum Shamshir Utha Lenge.

Bikhre Bikhre Taare Hain Hum Lekin Jhilmil Ek Hai,

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ek Hai

Hum Sab Bharatiya Hai.

Mandir Gurudwaare Bhi Hain Yahan

Aur Masjid Bhi Hai Yahan

Girija Ka Hai Ghariyaal Kahin

Mullah ki Kahin Hai Ajaan

Ek Hee Apna Ram Hain, Ek hi Allah Taala Hai,

Ek Hee Allah Taala Hain, Raang Birange Deepak Hain Hum,

lekin Jagmag Ek Hai, Ha Ha Ha Ek Hai, Ho Ho Ho Ek Hai.

Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain, Hum Sab Bharatiya Hain.”

“हम सब भारतीय हैं, हम सब भारतीय हैं.
अपनी मंज़िल एक है, हा हा हा एक है, हो हो हो एक है.
हम सब भारतीय हैं.
कश्मीर की धरती रानी है, सरताज हिमालय है,
सदियों से हमने इस को अपने खून से पाला है.
देश की रक्षा की खातिर हम शमशीर उठा लेंगे,
हम शमशीर उठा लेंगे.
बिखरे-बिखरे तारे हैं हम, लेकिन झिलमिल एक है,
हा हा हा एक है, हो हो हो एक है,
हम सब भारतीय है.
मंदिर, गुरूद्वारे भी हैं यहाँ, और मस्जिद भी है यहाँ,
गिरिजा का है घड़ियाल कहीं मुल्ला की कहीं है अजां
एक ही अपना राम हैं, एक ही अल्लाह ताला है,
एक ही अल्लाह ताला हैं.
रंग बिरंगे दीपक हैं हम, लेकिन जगमग एक है,
हा हा हा एक है, हो हो हो एक है.
हम सब भारतीय हैं, हम सब भारतीय हैं”