Leadership Training Camp
Day 1 (27th August 2011)
Leadership Training Camp (LTC), at Shri Gagangiri Maharaj Ashram, Manori. The camp was arranged by the N.S.S. unit of Thakur College of Science & Commerce. The reporting time was 10:30am and we reached at the campsite at around 9.30am. Participants from over 47 colleges all over Mumbai started arriving one after the other.
The registration started once enough students reached the campsite. By the time students were registering, the other students were served breakfast with hot tea. Once the registrations were done, we all were divided into 6 different groups by Mr. Chandrabhan & Mr. Santosh. Later, at 11.30am we were given instruction and rules of the camp by Mr. Chandrabhan. At 12.00 noon, we had a lecture on 'Role of Leader' by Ms. Manasi Sharma. And at about 1.00pm, we all had Lunch, and before lunch, we offered prayers to God.
At 3.00pm, the Inauguration of LTC was done by Ms. Manasi Sharma & Mr. Sushil Shinde, the N.S.S. District Co-ordinator. Following this was a session on the History, Philosophy, Aims and Objectives of N.S.S, which was conducted by Mr. Sushil Shinde. Then around 5.00pm we had a group activity in which Sushil Sir distributed copies of 6 different stories written by the famous author Mrs. Sudha Murthy. Each story had a beautiful meaning behind it. In this activity, 2 members from each group had to come forward and narrate the story to everyone and explain the moral of the story too. We got to learn a lot from these stories and they were truly beautiful. We got to learn the facts of life and tips to improve our way of thinking.
After the group activity, we had our evening tea and then Sushil Sir took us all to a temple which was on the top of the mountain. It was a peaceful, spiritual and divine place. We had a small prayer for our safe stay at the camp for rest of the days. Since the place was so devotional we couldn't leave that place without singing few Bhajans. After that we came back to the campsite.
Around 8.30pm dinner was served to us. After dinner, we had a recall session where the entire day’s activities were discussed. The positive and negative events of the day were also discussed and everyone participated in the session equally. Later, at around 10.00pm the lights were turned off.
Day 2 (28th August 2011)
Day 2 began with heavy rains. There was a wake up whistle at 6.00am which signaled us to freshen up and get ready for the morning exercises to be taken by Mr. Jitendra Singh. There was another whistle at 6.30am which signaled us to assemble in our own particular groups. At 7.15am, after our exercises, we sang our daily morning prayers. And later, at 8.00am, we had our breakfast.
Later, at 8.30am, we went for Shramanubhav (Field Work). The girls were sent for washing the diyas at the temple and boys were sent to uproot the unwanted plants in neighbouring plantations. In spite of the heavy rains, all the boys showed their team spirit and finished the work successfully. The girls washed more than 10,000 diyas that day and the task would have been impossible without their team-work. Then at 11.30am, all of us were given time for bathing.
At 1.00pm, lunch was served to us. Later, 2.30pm onwards, Mr. Sushil Shinde conducted a session on ' The Administrative Structure of N.S.S.’. In this session, we got to know how the N.S.S. unit in a college should be formed and maintained. We also got to know the minimum requirements the volunteers should complete according to rules and regulations of Mumbai University.
At 3.00pm, we had our next session on 'Blood Donation & Thalessemia' which was conducted by Mr. Vinay Shetty. He told us about the procedure to conduct a Blood Donation Camp in our college and the correct time of the year to conduct such camp. Also, he told us about Thalessemia which is not a disease but a small genetic disorder which can create a huge and undesirable mishap if ignored.
After a small tea break, at around 5.00pm, we had another session on 'Goal Setting' by Dr. Satish Kolte. In this lecture we learned the art of setting our goals depending upon the kind of goals. Like goals should be realistic, self chosen, moderately difficult, specific, measurable, positive, flexible and associated with a deadline. It was a very inspirational lecture.
At 7.00pm, we sang our prayers and after spending some quality time with other volunteers, we had dinner at 8.30. As per the schedule, we had our recall session for the day. And at 10.00pm, the lights were turned off.
Day 3 (29th August 2011)
On the 3rd day, as the previous day, there was a wake up whistle at 6.00am which signaled us to freshen up and get ready for the morning exercises to be taken by Mr. Jitendra Singh. There was another whistle at 6.30am which signaled us to assemble in our own particular groups. At 7.30am, after our exercises, we sang our daily morning prayers. And later, at 8.00am, we had our breakfast.
At around 8.30am, we left for Shramanubhav (Field Work). This time, not only the girls but also the boys were sent to clean the diyas. Some of the participants were asked to stay in camp to help the organizers in their work. As we were about to start off with our Shramanubhav activity, another District Co-ordinator Mrs. Pratibha Chiplunkar arrived to visit our camp, so we had to come back from the temple to the campsite.
She addressed us on the basic camps which can be organized by us in our colleges like malaria awareness programme, etc., how to and what to do while organizing such camps, how to begin with it and what should be the approach of a N.S.S. leader in organizing such camps. Accompanying her was Mr. Mukesh Singh who made us play a small game in which teamwork was needed and it was at the end of the game, when we realized the importance of team-work and a message, that we should always be ready for any kind of situation that comes in front of us, we should be ready to face any kind of challenges.
Later, after having bath, at 1.00pm we had our lunch and then around 3.30pm, we had a session on 'Parental Communication' by Mr. Santosh Pathare. He started his session with a song and he then told us story of a Chinese movie-‘The Postman and The Mountain’ in which a small boy communicates with his father by going to work with his father and later how he realizes the dignity that his father has about his work.
Later in the same lecture we were asked to share something regarding our parents and their feeling. This session soon turned to be a very emotional session and at the end of the session, we realized the importance of parents in our life. Almost everyone had tears in their eyes. At around 6.00pm, we had a session on ‘Team Work and Adventure Activity’ by Mr. Rajeev Chawak. In this session we learnt that no adventure activity is successful without proper team-work. At around 7.00pm, we sang our prayers and at 8.30pm we had dinner which was followed by the recall session. And at around 10.00pm lights were turned off.
Day 4 (30th August, 2011)
On the 4th day, again, as the previous day, there was a wake up whistle at 6.00am which signaled us to freshen up and get ready for the morning exercises to be taken by Mr. Jitendra Singh. There was another whistle at 6.30am which signaled us to assemble in our own particular groups. At 7.30am, after our exercises, we sang our daily morning prayers. And later, at 8.00am, we had our breakfast.
Later, at 8.30am, all of us assembled in our respective groups and Mr. Sushil Shinde gave us instructions regarding the day’s Shramanubhav (Field Work). Two of the groups had to wait back at the campsite to help the Organizing Committee in the kitchen work. The rest of the groups had to go to the temple to clean the diyas. The activity was a great success that day as everyone had fun while working. Over 20,000 diyas were cleaned that day. The groups back at the campsite had to clean the washrooms too. They took great efforts to keep the campsite spic and span. At 11.30am, all the groups went to have bath.
At 1.00pm, lunch was served. After lunch, Mr. Sushil Shinde conducted an activity wherein he asked us to get anything that we have to which we can tie something. And then he said that using those things, each group had to make the longest line. But we had just got handkerchiefs with us so we could make small lines. Later, after the activity, he said that had he mentioned that ‘Length matters’, we would have got dupattas with us which would have helped us make longer lines. So from this activity, we learned that whatever the situation might be, we must always broaden our thinking and vision.
After this activity, at around 3.00pm, we had a session on ‘Consumerism and Account Management’ which was conducted by Mr. Ramesh Deokar. In this session we learnt about the various rights which the citizens can use. We also learnt how to deal with the malpractices in the society.
Later that day, at around 4.30pm, Mr. Sushil Shinde took us to another temple where all the groups meditated for a long time. The place was really calm and peaceful. Everyone felt really fresh after meditating there.
At 6.00pm, we all returned to the campsite and had hot tea with biscuits. At 7.00pm, we sang our prayers. Later in the evening, the remaining groups performed their street plays. At 8.30pm, dinner was served to us. At around 10.00pm, as usual, we had our recall session. After the recall session, Sushil Sir gave us a surprise by organizing a Camp Fire and a Talent Show, where some students showed their talents. After that, everyone danced to the songs that were being played. As this was our last night at the camp, the lights were turned off at 2.30am.
Day 5 (31st August, 2011)
As everyone slept late the previous night, everyone had a tough time waking up early in the morning. But as every other day, on the 5th day, there was a wake up whistle at 6.00am which signaled us to freshen up and get ready for the morning exercises to be taken by Mr.Jitendra Singh. There was another whistle at 6.30am which signaled us to assemble in our own particular groups. At 7.30am, after our exercises, we sang our daily morning prayers. And later, at 8.00am, we had our breakfast.
On this day, everyone had their baths at 8.30am itself as there was no Shramanubhav that day. Everyone had packed their bags as it was the last day at the camp. After everyone got ready, at around 10.00am, Mr. Sushil Shinde conducted a session on How to maintain the records of the N.S.S. unit in our college, how to conduct various activities in our college such as Malaria Awareness Project, AIDS Awareness Project, Cleanliness Project, Blood Donation Drives, etc. After a while, Ms. Manasi Sharma had to leave the campsite. All the students had planned to gift Ganesh Idols to Mr. Sushil Shinde, Ms. Manasi Sharma and all the members of the Organizing Committee. So, the gift distribution ceremony took place then.
After this session, we had lunch at 1.00pm. Later, at around 2.30pm, the certificate distribution ceremony started. Mr. Sushil Shinde gave certificates to each and every student. This ceremony concluded by some students and Sir giving the ‘votes of Thanks. And at around 4.30pm, all of us left the campsite and began with our journey to home.
The camp was a great experience and it taught us a lot of things. We ourselves noticed a change in our behavior and attitude towards life. We are definitely motivated to do something good for ourselves and for our Nation.