Daddy being in the Army, we grew up in salubrious Cantonments all over India. The greenery, cleanliness and order in Cantts is where we grew up! Nowadays you do find multistorey flats but the older govt quarters were the usual block of 4 houses or KLP in popular jargon.
There would either be a small local market just outside the gates or a small shopping complex within the Cantt, where one could buy stationery, vegetables and grocery items-basically for daily use. We grew up in the times when there were no Malls or multiplexes. We had Departmental Stores which was like a one stop shop and Auditoriums that hosted official military events by the day and movies at night! Some places also had open air theatres within the Cantt.
We generally grew up in a very cocooned, protected environment and went out of the Cantt only if required to!
Military Cantonments and stations are totally self sufficient. Nowadays there are a lot of private schools but those days we only had Army Schools or KVs; sometimes not even either of those!
So, you stayed within the Cantt, played in the closest park or friend's place, went shopping at the local market or shopping complex and to the Club (Officers Institute), if you were lucky to have one, every Saturday to play Tambola and enjoy the weekly outing! Most of us went to Army School, so we travelled to school and back together in Shaktimans! It was mostly a neighbouring Aunty who taught us at school. So, if you got caught getting naughty at school, God help you!
Daddy's Unit was our extended family. We were always celebrating good times and festivals together and also supporting each other during bad times. As kids we were blissfully ignorant of the bad times because every get together was a chance to play with the friends!
Yeah, I really miss those carefree days!
Being a Fauji brat generally means that I have been to almost all the states in India! One day my daughters were calculating how many Indian states and UTs each one of us has been to! We moved every 2-3 years-lock,stock and barrel! These frequent moves meant seeing a new place everytime! That way, our knowledge about India was way better than others around us!
Also, a new place meant new neighbours, new friends, new school - we quickly adapted to the changed environment! As adults we realised how it helped us to be more confident in new surroundings among strangers and made us more adaptable and flexible. Discipline and punctuality is ingrained in us which makes us valued employees!
The only negative about being a Fauji brat is that we never get enough time with our superdads and our supermoms look after everything while Daddies are away on duty! Everytime Daddy came home after months, it was a time to celebrate being together!!
But other than that, I love the fact that I am an Army Officer's daughter and proud of my dad!
Purani yaadein taaza ho gai ♥️