Bonding on Dufferin – reasons

Reasons for Bonding on Dufferin –

Ref:  Close Links among Dufferin ex-cadets & Batchmates-
So many factors go together to make this Bonding so effective .
Some prominent ones are:

1) At such a Young age 17- and away from home, parents /family - the companionship provided the balance & support and really counted .Note A few had not even started shaving ...(no stubble even!!)

2) Identification & passion with a common goal-viz. a career at sea, travel etc.not wages as it is today.

3) Dufferin training was based on "Team spirit" ..but usually referred to as Ship Mates or Batchmates and in that era was a solid Value.

4) Most of us were not Richie Rich (ave/middle class status) unlike what is seen most often seen today-

We learnt  to SHARE EVERYTHING - inc facilities;  something kids today don't even understand.

A batata-wada & Coke at our Swimming pool was often shared
Some times even this was not affordable and so a channa /peanuts pkt. really  went around many. 

Being "broke"  has plus points too as we learnt thrift too-.

Affluence seldom teaches any economy or thrift and in fact tends to undulge .

5) The camaraderie was a part of the Naval style too- and after all Dufferin was  originally on an ex Navy troop ship converted to a common training ship with many common principles.

6) A love of the Sea- and taking the conditions "as is" -is what drew in most "boys" eagerly to Dufferin as Cadets-

not the salary . 

7) We had a sort of an  opinion poll  within our batch on the reasons why we joined ---

and it was quite an eye opener.Some responses are from verbal exchange  

a) Travel by ship and see the world on shoreleave---was No 1

b) To leave home early, for various reasons, often a necessity and  to earn, be independant-- help family  .

c) Outdoor work preferred.

d) NDA - IMA were alternative....Not Post Graduation  as it is now

e) To be independant early-----in an era where  jobs were not always easily available.

f)  Combining all others above too -  the work culture and  sealife  was still perceived as a Value esp post war era.

g) Professional esteem to be a Dufferin Cadet

Then we also got these responses.....!!

g) Believe it or not the Sailors Uniform " Whites- & Epaulettes" or Full Blues--seen in movies to impress ---girls- .

h) A vague idea of Adventure !! (many said this )

i)  Thinking that studies would end ??? -assuming only outdoor work "all hands on deck "-aye aye Sir etc..

j) School influence as some school seniors had  joined Dufferin & NDA or GDP Pilots  were heroes on leave!!

NOTE: In my school we had about 11 out of our class of 30 joining the Services- 7 as Airforce Pilots, 2 Army as the Chinese aggression of 1961 took in Direct entry esp Pilots and we were all NCC Air-Wing cadets (quite proud ones too- ). 

k) Some of us inc me were ex Service men's sons.

Times change..    

Today all  this ....(kind of work)  may not be seenasa choice as many new avenues with pay and perks exist.So, definitely today not a career choice.

Sunmmarising

But we have the privilege to look back with a measure of quiet satisfaction.

Be glad to hear of others views-
We lived our cadet days in another era, long  gone past - a topic by itself.
Home comes the Sailor. 

 Rgds
TR 

                                                        5oth Reunion Pics at Khandala