Srinagar , Jan 08 (KNS): Founded in the year 1911 AD, forest training school is one of the oldest schools in the country. The school imparts professional training to Foresters of the state. From class rooms to the fields, from dining to the living. Located in the outskirts of bandipora town, the premises rest in the foothills of compartment 108 of khaimukh Range.

 

With the opening of gates, and their entry into the premises, starts fantasy collapse and tough times for foresters. The going gets tough but the tough gets going. Their wings are clipped and brought into the aura of discipline. The John Q public is moulded into professional resource persons to execute their duties later in their blocks. They enter like black carbon but come out with glistening carbon shining on their shoulders.

 

A whistle blown thrice, in a day break, breaks their sound sleep to give fresh start to endurance and stamina. In a trice, every Forester put on a white tee, a navy blue lower and tie the laces of a white footwear. Every morning it’s a race against the time to get up and run. They are made to run 6 kms around the campus. A trainer would shout aloud “Run coz the ways come free” and the ways would open vistas for them. The morning breeze and an exhaled vitamin O would mingle in the open air. To keep their morale up, a trainer would crack fine jokes in between, which unknowingly gives them a laughter therapy.. The sweat that would ooze out of their blocked pores, during morning P T, would help them trim some of the body fat and release them of the burden they carry with them. They go back to their hostels after an hour of physical exertion.

 

No sooner than morning workout comes to an edge, dinning hall is seen in full swing. Breakfast is served inside the hall. While the scoops and sips goes inside the mouth, humorous chat come out of their mouths. Twenty minutes of refresh and rejoice is followed up by the khaki dressing. They are all “dressed upto nines” and starts left, right, left drill session in the playfield. The calf muscles and thighs are taken at the zenith of pain, so that a perfect rhythm is maintained among all. The best thing about this disciplined hip hop is that it stretches the visage muscles and tones down fluffy cheeks. One command, one follow up, a homogeneous rhythm and a perfect assemble is what this one hour brings out.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 

His hammer strikes on his commands and his self command too could not control him in moulding the iron.

 

Very soon after the drill session is over, they are made to take a stroll down their Memory Lanes. As they are sent back to school. They are sent to the class rooms. Teaching and training goes hand in hand. An officer of Ranger designation teaches them. Eight theoretical subjects are covered, related all about forestry. The Forester impersonates a student and goes into the flash backs of his youth. Lectures are delivered for 2 sessions pre lunch and post lunch. Four classes of fourty minutes each are delivered pre lunch and three classes post lunch are delivered to the trainees. Somedays trainees are taken out side for local tours. Preferably at the dots in abundance of rich herbs, to make them familiar about herbal wealth of forests. This wealth of unconcious experiences draws the hard and fast line between them and Non trained foresters. Notes are drafted and notebooks maintained by the foresters to take a return sweep during examinations.

 

To keep them at the bay from boredom, a games session starts after 4 O'Clock. Dressed in track suits foresters make their way towards the playground which is two minutes walk from the hostel. Games and sports are played with zeal and zest, mostly a cricket match, sometimes between themselves and some times with staff and the instructors. Some foresters prefer to spend this time at gym, rest are seen running and hitting on the pitch. Sports activities carry on till the twilight falls and the sun is about to go behind the curtains.

 

With the spread of darkness all around, a camp fire under a giant Chinar tree is unleashed. Singing, fun and excitement blaze up with the bright flames of fire wood mound. A garland of meat chunks, sprinkled by spices and oil is bring to roast on the red hot lumps. The shivering cold of December, is assaulted by the warmth of camp fire. While the foresters are humming vocables near the fire, Mess Duty officer would come out and ring the bell, calling them all for dinner. Once a week, candles are lit on the table and a balcony. Electric lamps are turned off and a memorable candle light dinner is enjoyed by the foresters. After dinner, a brisk walk is final walk of the day. Foresters get into their barracks, make bed and lay iinside their quilts for a sound sleep to take them over. (KNS)