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Soldiers in the MakingThe year 1991 witnessed the release ofthe Hindi movie Prahaardirected by arenowned film artist, Mr Nana Patekar.The movie dealt with the unexplored

area of a soldier's psyche. It depictedhow a soldier's strong desire to root outthe evil forces matches his ambition toconquer the enemy on the battlefield. Infact, today, the need to fight off theinternal enemy is greater than ever. The

last frame of the film showed a multitude of smiling,guileless children, bereft of any vile or anti-socialfeelings, running together in purity to suggest anoptimistic picture of tomorrow's citizens. Inspired bythe film, a non-political clarity trust Prahaarhas beentrying to create a value based soldiering in theyounger generation. Prahaarwas founded on January

9, 1994. It comprises ex-servicemen and civiliansworking together to awakenthe society.The main objective ofPrahaaristo create a society with anessential military disposition.The trust believes that the basicqualities of a soldier-likediscipline, courage, vigilanceand patriotism should form the foundation of a society. Prahaarprovides training in obstacle crossing so as to

make children strong and tough enough to face physicaland emotional hurdles in life. It gives training in twentyonekinds of obstacle crossing viz. Tarzan jump, tyre obstacle,double ditch, balance, Tarzan swing, parallel rope alongwith instructions on various other manoeuvres. It also

conducts basic training course inhorse-riding.To shape the impressionableminds of schoolchildren in thesoldierlymould, Prahaarorganisesresidential and trekking camps

during winter and summervacations. During these camps, children are trained in civildefence. They are also encouraged to participate invarious competitions and informative programmes.Children are also taken on visits to different Armed Forcesestablishments all over the country to acquaint them withthe life-style of Armed Forces personnel and theirequipment. For the boys and girls having already passedNDA and CDS written examination, Prahaarconducts afortnight-long training session to prepare them for

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interview.Every month, Prahaarconducts two courses to train peoplein disaster management during sudden calamities, eithernatural or man-made. During these courses skills in,rescue from a height, parallel rope, flying box, flying chair

knot, transportation of casualtyand first-aid are taught.To satisfy the longing for martialarts amongstyoungsters, Prahaargivestraining in these self-defencearts. It adds a new dimension toits many-faceted objective byestablishing Prahaar Sainik Vidyalaya in association with aprominent educational institution. It is a non-residential,integrated military school starting from class five. Theobjective is to make each and every child bold, dynamic

and mentally robust with a strong personality.

- Lt Col (Retd) SW Deshpande