- You were born in a Military Hospital
- You went to school either on Bhaiya's cycle or in a Shaktiman (the ultimate powerful modified school bus)
- Mess was not what you created in your room, it was where you went every Friday for the free "english" movie (oohh…you can’t miss this..bhai bhandus..n..n.n..first booz)
- You can still take one quick look at the epaulets and figure out the rank (ya ya My dad is commanding bhai relax…chest puffed and chin up)
Finally when Papa retired it took Mom about 12 years to get rid of the "KABAAR " that had been accumulated/ hoarded over the years to include about 30 to 40 wooden boxes all painted black, 14 Brass Mementos which looked like Knights on horses, Old Cannons or some sort of imaginary work of modern art which looked more like flashes of Lightening ( the concept of which only Papa could explain after two drinks!!) , Eight or Nine empty Brass Shells which bhaiya used to brasso every time we had someone visiting our house, Four sets of Naga Spears, Five types of Dahs, Two Khukris, One Mizo Bow and about 20 Arrows, Fishing Rods ( the hooks had been hidden by Mom long ago lest some brat managed to get them inserted into his hand or eye!!) eight "Machchar Danis" and 32 rods/ bamboo sticks, Two World War II helmets, One Parachute, about Two High Alti Parkas, Three "chustis" , Papa's 18 pairs of shoes, One shiny green coloured Great Coat, Ten fungus eaten leather belts , Moth eaten sarkari Balaclavas, one High Alti Sleeping Bag, Two Mattress Kapok, Key chains made out of M14 Anti Personnel Mine Safety Clips, One Pack 08 and about four FS Packs, Web belts, One pistol Holster, One cowboy hat, One "Barah Bore Bandook", one .302 Springfield Rifle whose ammo is no more available and has become a nuisance to get rid of !!, Four Daggers, about Five walking sticks , Two sarkari canes, One Swagger Stick, One "chabuk" !!!!!, One Leather Crossbelt, about five Whistles, Thirty KGs of Hazen Cloth in various stages of decomposition !!!! , about 80 KGs of Drift wood, almost 400 White coloured Stones that were picked up from some godforsaken riverbed in Sikkim to be used one day for Landscaping of the Garden after retirement, 60 to 70 Flower Pots, 100 Meters of water pipes ( in bits and pieces), One unused fish aquarium , 50 Meters of Cable WD, Old Blanco Cakes, One Folding Camp Cot, One folding Camp Chair which has the nasty habit of injuring the hands of any inexperienced person trying to open it. Two Namdas, about Four to Six rusted dog leashes still attached to rotting dog collars and not to forget the JHOOLA that was made long ago after taking a lot of obligations of the "Work Shop Uncle".
We are still proud of what we got and are aware of the sacrifices our parents made, toiling honestly and with fullest integrity. It steeled us to give our best and feel grateful for every additional comfort we receive. We know that ours is a culture apart which millions of Indians would want to experience and are highly envious about.
- Half your toddler years were spent being looked after by Bhaiyas ( no second thoughts..can’t forget their names)
- You went to school either on Bhaiya's cycle or in a Shaktiman (the ultimate powerful modified school bus)- You know what a shaktiman is. (No! it isn’t the TV serial about half man and half machine starring AB look-alike)
- Olive painted Jeeps and Jongas don’t excite you (reason..arrae yaar..actually they were your regular mode of transport)
- The only alternative to the Central School was the Army School Army School
- You always called Kendriya Vidyalaya Central School (god even today that sounds better compared to else)
- Your entire family could survive in one room temporary quarters during transit/ transfer (ahem with 25 trunks, wooden crates, the dog, the bedroll and two bhaiyas flitting around)
- The smell of Brasso & shoe polish was regular staple (hhmmm…early morning while dad getting ready..aan yaad aa gya)
- Mess was not what you created in your room, it was where you went every Friday for the free "english" movie (oohh…you can’t miss this..bhai bhandus..n..n.n..first booz)- The "English Movie" was very often a western and you couldn't follow a word! Sometimes you just went for the samosas and the local drink that they insisted was Cola (and your eyes searching crowd for the one..your one…cough cough..)
- At the end of the month your dad had to pay for many pink slips (pink slips yaar…ask dad..showing how many samosas and local drinks that they insisted was Cola you had consumed, fact is they never missed any!!!)
- You attended many May Queen Balls before you knew what Miss India was (ohh your can’t forget the faces..well I tho still remember all)
- Your mother regularly got dressed, perfumed and disappeared for the Ladies Club.
- You knew towns like Mhow, Wellington
- You weren’t a millionaire but hey you had Swimming, Horse Riding, Squash, Tennis and Golf (cantonment area rules)
- You thought the main reason to have a Golf Course was to have a Holi Bash. (not those 18 Hole pot)
- You can still take one quick look at the epaulets and figure out the rank (ya ya My dad is commanding bhai relax…chest puffed and chin up)- You discussed Wednesday’s Chitrahaar in the Shaktiman while going school (with padosi fauji chic..wohi wohi)
- You can still recall the special & particular smell of the CSD canteen (a special prize for the correct concoction - mine is - it was a mix of Hamam Soap, Ponds Dreamflower Talc and Surf I think also in some corners it had overtures of Brooke Bond red Label as well)
- Your vacations were a package deal consisting of D-forms, Dad ki jonga and Army Mess ka karma (luxuries and comfort guaranteed with 5 star treatment)
- All vehicles mysteriously appeared or disappeared from a vacuum called "EMPTY"
- When "CO UNCLE”!! Was happy he took the unit out on picnic and when he was GLAD he organised a "PAGAL GYMKHANA” and then everyone got GLAD!!
- No one commented on the dressing sense of any body, "Olive Green trousers and Brown Shirt Angola
- Every house had a settee (which looked more like a narrow coffin!!) Made out of condemned ammo cartons, sarkari blankets and an old embroidered table cloth.
Finally when Papa retired it took Mom about 12 years to get rid of the "KABAAR " that had been accumulated/ hoarded over the years to include about 30 to 40 wooden boxes all painted black, 14 Brass Mementos which looked like Knights on horses, Old Cannons or some sort of imaginary work of modern art which looked more like flashes of Lightening ( the concept of which only Papa could explain after two drinks!!) , Eight or Nine empty Brass Shells which bhaiya used to brasso every time we had someone visiting our house, Four sets of Naga Spears, Five types of Dahs, Two Khukris, One Mizo Bow and about 20 Arrows, Fishing Rods ( the hooks had been hidden by Mom long ago lest some brat managed to get them inserted into his hand or eye!!) eight "Machchar Danis" and 32 rods/ bamboo sticks, Two World War II helmets, One Parachute, about Two High Alti Parkas, Three "chustis" , Papa's 18 pairs of shoes, One shiny green coloured Great Coat, Ten fungus eaten leather belts , Moth eaten sarkari Balaclavas, one High Alti Sleeping Bag, Two Mattress Kapok, Key chains made out of M14 Anti Personnel Mine Safety Clips, One Pack 08 and about four FS Packs, Web belts, One pistol Holster, One cowboy hat, One "Barah Bore Bandook", one .302 Springfield Rifle whose ammo is no more available and has become a nuisance to get rid of !!, Four Daggers, about Five walking sticks , Two sarkari canes, One Swagger Stick, One "chabuk" !!!!!, One Leather Crossbelt, about five Whistles, Thirty KGs of Hazen Cloth in various stages of decomposition !!!! , about 80 KGs of Drift wood, almost 400 White coloured Stones that were picked up from some godforsaken riverbed in Sikkim to be used one day for Landscaping of the Garden after retirement, 60 to 70 Flower Pots, 100 Meters of water pipes ( in bits and pieces), One unused fish aquarium , 50 Meters of Cable WD, Old Blanco Cakes, One Folding Camp Cot, One folding Camp Chair which has the nasty habit of injuring the hands of any inexperienced person trying to open it. Two Namdas, about Four to Six rusted dog leashes still attached to rotting dog collars and not to forget the JHOOLA that was made long ago after taking a lot of obligations of the "Work Shop Uncle". 
We are still proud of what we got and are aware of the sacrifices our parents made, toiling honestly and with fullest integrity. It steeled us to give our best and feel grateful for every additional comfort we receive. We know that ours is a culture apart which millions of Indians would want to experience and are highly envious about.We like to be a free spirit, some don't like that, but that's the way we are. We are not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist; we are willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.
" well done Army kids, you are the best and the products of the best upbringing, you make your parents proud and indeed the Army proud of you "
- Surya Kant Jena -
soorajkiran1@gmail.com
