FC in UK

[A year since the Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. A year since I realized ironing is more important than washing. 

Here's to all my lovely batchmates, seniors, colleagues and everyone at the Academy- and the ones who will be. 

- VG

Dec 2020] 

There's a bunch of us that Mussoorie binds

Among clouds of mist and mighty minds

The Queen of Hills as the folks would say

I was sent to 'the Academy' for the FC in UK. 

Never had I been to the town they praised

Where coy new crowds to cogs-in-wheel were raised

It's been a while but seems like yesterday

When I commenced my FC in UK. 

My foundations needed to be founded fresh

Discipline needed to be drilled deep in flesh

Lethargy and nonchalance to be thrown away

Well, they tried their best at the FC in UK.

'Officer Trainees' across the services hailed

The dress code and the seating plan nailed

Quite a boarding school you see -if I may

Such was the glorious FC in UK. 

With sampoornanand the anthem I sang

At Charleville loads of coffee I drank

All that caffeine would soon go astray

When I'd trek like crazy during FC in UK.

They said you're all finally living the dream

And so we slept in class as a team.

To kindle 'Esprit de corps' that was our way

Eyes closed or 'met' often at the FC in UK.

Early mornings at the remote polo ground

Fellow OTs losing each hour a pound.

Even atheists invoked rain gods to pray

But it was 'dugna Lagaan' at FC in UK. 

I marched for PT like the walking dead

I shaved my chin to blister red

I changed my clothes five times a day

But didn't bathe that much at the FC in UK.

The essence of my being was my OT code,

The fear of memos and the deadline load.

Also questioning the existence of ECA,

We proxied them all at the FC in UK.

We are here to change the world we thought

But in paperwork all those plans got caught.

Attaching docs and signing sheets we'd fray

As the sun went down at the FC in UK.

Did I say paperwork? Well, yes there was lots

But exams somehow were online plots.

Pub Ad and Management to my dismay

Were too strange to get at the FC in UK.

At Ganga dhaba we downed chai

And gulped at Glen and Tavern, sigh. 

But Landour is where my heart shall stay 

Our Sunday getaways from the FC in UK.

We'd realize 'down south' there was a 'chiller' FC

When on Himalayan trek and village visit we'd be.

With the Statue at Aarambh overlooking a bay 

The end was near for the FC in UK. 

But of times of bonhomie it was just the start 

Though distance and duty would do them apart.

Unless they marry each other some day,

And well, they do that often after the FC in UK.

As for me, anagrams abbreviations I still adore

OTs, KTPs, LBS and much more

If, my friend, you are there next year I'd say-

There's a reason why it's called FC in UK.