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PASSED AWAY ?
No jokes, this happened actually. An Airfoce Officer was posted as instructor at one of the Airmen training
institutes. The unit was gearing up for AOC-in-C’s inspection and every officer appeared to be racing against
time to complete the various assigned tasks. They were expected to be everywhere but on inquiry officers were
found nowhere ! Such was the scene.
He finished one of his classes and kicked off his bike to the officers mess to supervise some preparations in
connection with the VIP’s visit. His Squadron Commander needed him badly for something and finding him
nowhere in the Squadron building, a frantic search was launched. “Did you see Sqn. Leader R.K. Verma” was
the clamour going on but nobody actually answered till a shy and seemingly introvert trainee dared open his
mouth “Yes Sir”. My Warrant Officer was delighted. “Where is he” ? He flung with the next query.
The trainee Airman struggled hard to speak. Finding the trainee lost for appropriate English words; the
Warrant Officer encouraged him to speak—“Care not for your expression, just say without any hesitation”. The
trainee with lots of gestures and nods managed to say “Sir he has passed away !” My Warrant Officer was shell-
shocked. “Are you sure ?”
“Yes Sir, the officer took our class then passed away towards that side in his motorcycle” was the truthful
report from the Airman.
DON’T CARE FOR THE BEAUTY OF EXPRESSION BUT WHY COMPROMISE ON ACCURACY ?

Selection Board Tit Bit !
Engineering Knowledge Test for the technical entry of the IAF used to be conducted at the Selection Boards
during those days. EKT was in progress at NO 2 AFSB, Mysore. After giving detailed instructions the officer
gave the starter and began patrolling in the testing hall.
He found one candidate restless. The candidate frequently bent sideways to catch a glimpse of his
neighbour’s answer sheet. It was not acceptable and so the officer on duty warned him.
But the man appeared a die-hard. He continued with his acts and so serving him the final warning the officer
told him to ‘watch out’ !
Oh, watch out Sir ? Here it is. And the candidate took out his wrist watch and put it on the table.

Lesson 19
Add Power-Productivity-Depth And
Span to Your Imagination

Strength of your stories depends on the strength of your imagination. You imagine (and explore
perhaps) what led to the situation ?, what is going on ?, and what would be the outcome of the
situation ?. You imagine the mission for the hero, resources needed to achieve the task, plan and
maneuver till the achievement of the aim. How far your imagination has travelled from the obvious ? is
the most important consideration for your assessment. A candidate whose span and depth of
imagination is limited to the obvious cannot make a mark. Favourable impression can be casted or
created by convincing the assessor of your span and depth of imagination.
Psychologists and educationists have devised various methods/exercises for development of
imagination. Various simple co and extra curricular activities conducted at the junior and secondary
level help improving sense of application and exploratory behaviour. These fall in both verbal and non-
verbal categories. Unfortunately, most of the schools in villages, suburbs and small to medium towns of
India hardly pay any attention to this. Expansion of paragraphs, story-writings, essay writings. quiz
contents, wit and humour contests, fancy dress competitions, solving crossword puzzles, project works
and work experience activities, mimicry and various games for fun and entertainment involve
imagination and application of mind. If you had been involving yourself in these activities the results
would be in your favour anyway. It is not possible to list out every such activity and give you a practice
through this book. Just to give you a feel that it is possible to train your mind to be more active and
imaginative, some verbal exercises are given to you.
EXERCISE KALPANA
Instructions—Expand the following paragraphs to make them a complete narration. Add a
maximum of 600 words. Finish your narration taking not more than 8 minutes for each paragraph.