NEW DELHI, JANUARY 22: Twenty Four cadets from six different countries were among a 150-strong National Cadet Corps (NCC) contingent who met General Ved Prakash Malik, Chief of the Army Staff, today.Cadets from Singapore, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka presented a memento to General Malik at the Army House this afternoon. All the cadets of the Army, Navy and Air wing of the NCC participating in the Republic Day Parade had been invited by General Malik. He promised the cadets that they would be permitted to visit neighbouring units and get a glimpse of Army life.The cadets spoke to Express Newsline about the Republic Day Parade camp, their activities and interaction, with not only fellow cadets from other states, but also with the 24 cadets from different countries. ``We were impressed with the cadets from abroad as they told us very exciting things about their life there. They are considered national reserves and actively assist the administration there. We are also keen on taking active part instead of just a drill and parade. And fortunately, we have been permitted to visit Army units and learn to live like Army officers,'' said cadet Virender Singh.Earlier in the afternoon, a group of 45 children from far-flung areas of the North-East met General Malik and his wife Dr Ranjana Malik. The children, some as young as eight years, are from Tawang, Senge, Bomdila and Roopa areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Kokrajhar, Along and Balong areas of Assam.``I saw a train for the first time in my life,'' little Sushanta Ramchiang told Express Newsline. The 10-year-old from Nalbari district of Assam had never been in a train. Lieutenant Colonel P.P. Singh, the liaison officer who has brought the 45 children here, said that some of the children were very scared when they saw the train.``It seems impossible to believe, but it is actually true. We have brought these children to see what India is all about. None of them have been out of their states and some have never been out of their districts. So we wanted them to see India,'' he added.General Malik spoke to the children individually. ``You know I have served in Tawang. I was in the area for two-years,'' he told the group from Tawang. The children were taken to Agra and Jaipur as part of trip code named `Operation Milan'. ``The basic aim is to help these children be able to identify with the places and monuments like the Taj Mahal and Hawa Mahal when they read about them in books,'' said Colonel V.K. Chopra.He said that the main aim of the Army was to ensure that the new generation feels a part of the country and it was for this that the Army had taken this initiative. ``The first group came from Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. The second was from Poonch. There are two more, coming both from J&K and from the North-East.Seven-year-old Sonam had never seen a movie theatre. ``I saw Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in Raj Mandir cinema hall in Jaipur. It was a very beautiful experience. And then we went for a picnic. I loved Delhi and Jaipur,'' she said.The Army spokesman said that the children were from different tribes; Mismi, Adi, Bodo and Maumpa. Sonam said she looked forward to going back and talking to her parents and friends about the trip. ``They will be very jealous,'' she said, clapping her hands in glee.
