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You know I'm not a very religious person but I will defend the right of Santa to exist and children be told stories about him because of one very singular reason, the same reason that made my childhood awesome. <\/p>
It gives children hope. <\/p>
Now I know that it might be a bit too cruel for children to hope in a world that has nothing left for them unless they're rich, upper middle class and privileged in society, but the adults are suffering enough in this world for us to put children through the very same misery. <\/p>
Of course, it goes without saying that a child would slowly discover the truth about the world over a period of multiple years but it doesn't hurt to tell them that there is a bearded and rotund man out there somewhere who makes gifts in his workshop and brings chocolates to children who have been good that year. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513676588261","data":"5a38e1d10b0a6"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513676590551","data":"
A child cares not what religion is, they only face the direction their parents want them to face and pray to whatever god their parents choose to believe. None of us ever thought about this twice but here's a curve ball for you, would you really have chosen the same religion as your parents, given the choice? Or would you have chosen no religion and chose to live outside the purview of organised religion that operate more like global corporations than spiritual guides they were meant to be? <\/p>
Obviously I'm slightly biased towards logic and reason but I don't mind if you think religion is an important part of your life. What I want to highlight here is that for a child, its not what the correct religion is, if there is ever such a thing, but what can our world's rich culture give them. <\/p>
And like that, we have Santa Claus, a mythical figure that made us believe life was better and will be better if you were good. While the ability to have a decent life was and remains the avenue of the privileged and the slightly underprivileged, it still allows our children to live their lives without dealing with the harsh realities of life until they are ready to face them on their own. <\/p>
This is why Santa Claus is important. <\/p>"}]
I don't understand why people, specifically teachers and authority figures, emphasis on making personal sacrifices at the drop of a hat. Making sacrifices isn't as easy as it sounds and yet these folks will keep pestering you until you tell them to leave you alone or follow through simply due to the sheer mental pressure of the torture they're putting you through. <\/p>
See, if you are the kind of person that chose to do something out of frustration of being told to do so over and over again, then fine, that worked for you, but you still do not understand the true value of sacrifice and why it must be cherished and valued. <\/p>
You see for the rest of us who have nothing but ourselves to improve our own lives, sacrifice is a mountain to climb that seems impossible but sometimes becomes the only way out of a rut that becomes your life. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513674481941","data":"5a38d994a0d45"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513674483716","data":"
It never is that easy to make sacrifices. Many times sacrifices come at great personal loss, of having gone through hell and realising what is important and what is not. Our elders, having gone through this dance routine in their life already, are under an illusion that making similar sacrifices in our lives, us youngsters who are just inheriting this broken planet, will be just as easy as them making sacrifices. It doesn't take into account that we have regrets and possible regret not doing something, no you must be immediately be ready to make sacrifices. <\/p>
The thing is, you cannot force a personal sacrifice. You cannot hold a metaphorical gun to someone's head and threaten them directly or indirectly to give up something willingly, for a sacrifice to be effective, it has to come from within. <\/p>
Like the decision to improve oneself. If someone is unhealthy and too lazy to fix themselves, chances are they will never stop being unhealthy until they get a shock, until they realise that they are slowly killing themselves with their lifestyle. Sacrifices must come from within, or they won't work, and making them is not as easy as it sounds. <\/p>"}]
Dearest Mother,<\/p>
As I write this, I feel the chilly air nip at my heels because I still refuse to call Hyderabad's winters cold, out of pride no doubt misguided, but it isn't as cold as back home, mama. I might just as well swallow my pride and admit to my friends that I am actually feeling cold, but then again, I just might grin and bear it and hide in my blankets later. <\/p>
But despite the fact, mama, the cold reminds me of something very warm. It reminds me of hot chocolates next to French windows overlooking the valley back home, where I can curl up in my blankets and read book after book while you bring me all the hot chocolate and cake I need to put on weight over the holidays. It reminds me of the snowfall and the chill in the air unlike any I've felt this part of the country, one that stings your cheeks and cools your throat. <\/p>
But most of all, mama, it reminds me of you. Of your warm embrace, of the cakes you bake, of the feast you make and of the stories you tell as I'm curled up like a cat in your lap. I miss the admonishment you give my brothers and how you sneak extra pieces of cake and a cup of hot chocolate away for me because I love it so much. <\/p>
So I'm writing to tell you this that I'm coming home for Christmas, mama. I'll come back and you'll be there and so will be my brothers and my father and we'll come together and hug each other and tell each other stories and drink chocolate around a fire. And no matter where we get in life, I promise you this, mama. <\/p>
I'll always come home for Christmas. <\/p>
Love,<\/p>
Shireen<\/p>"}]
Secret Santa is perhaps the best thing we've taken from the West and implemented here. There's something quite endearing in investigating what your giftee's hobbies and interests are and buying a gift based on that but then again, not everyone has time for that so here's a list of some fantastic ideas under Rs. 1000<\/p>
1. Buy Books!<\/b><\/p>
Loads of them. If you're the enterprising kind, you can even go to stores where they sell books by the kilos and pick out the best books you can find and pack them up for your giftee. If they love books, it won't matter if it is old or new, old books have a charm of their own and more importantly, it is more books to read. Who doesn't love that? <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513594708911","data":"5a37a4025e054"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513594710690","data":"
2. Buy Comic Books! <\/b> <\/p>
This one can be a bit tricky because comic books are expensive in India. There are a few special editions, like The Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke and a host of others. My personal recommendation, however, would be buying either the Marvel Comics or DC Comics Encyclopaedia, which covers everything there is to know about both the universes, at least until 2009 or so. Which is excellent because DC coverage stops just before New52 and everyone knows New52 is just terrible. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513594828419","data":"5a37a41ae8bb3"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513594834311","data":"
3. Buy Earphones for those who never stop listening to music: <\/b><\/p>
The person you have to gift to never stops listening to music? They definitely deserve the best learning experience and who better that you to give them that, you Champion Santa you. There are plenty of options when it comes to earphones under Rs. 1000, just check amazon! <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513595078311","data":"5a37a447efe9d"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513595079977","data":"
4. Arabica Coffee Beans: <\/b> <\/p>
There's nothing more a coffee nut loves than nuts that make coffee. <\/p>
Okay stop rolling your eyes now, it sounded funnier in my head. <\/p>
Seriously though, there are plenty of coffee powders and beans choices on Amazon you can choose from, but if you really want to feel like a nomadic Arabian lord, pick up this Arabica Coffee Beans for your coffee addled friend who will brew it for you. One black coffee with these beans and you'll never sleep again. <\/p>
Buy them by clicking here! <\/a><\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513595476499","data":"5a37a30020ceb"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513595478530","data":"5. Music CDs <\/b> <\/p>I know you're probably thinking who on earth buys music CDs in this day and age, but trust me, there's a sizeable community of metal heads around the country who absolutely adore collecting CDs of their favourite album even if they don't have any means of playing the discs and use streaming services to listen to their music instead. It isn't about using the CDs, it is about being a fan and making sure your money goes to the bands you love. <\/p>So gift that Meshuggah or Cannibal Corpse album to your metal head friend! <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513595696333","data":"5a37a4652e389"}]
5. Music CDs <\/b> <\/p>
I know you're probably thinking who on earth buys music CDs in this day and age, but trust me, there's a sizeable community of metal heads around the country who absolutely adore collecting CDs of their favourite album even if they don't have any means of playing the discs and use streaming services to listen to their music instead. It isn't about using the CDs, it is about being a fan and making sure your money goes to the bands you love. <\/p>
So gift that Meshuggah or Cannibal Corpse album to your metal head friend! <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513595696333","data":"5a37a4652e389"}]
It's December 20 and I'm already lazy. <\/p>
It's not actually December 20 at the time of writing this but this will be published on December 20th, I think, so I'm writing it in advance so the good folk at stuMagz have an easier time putting this on their social media page. See, I can be quite considerate. <\/p>
Jokes aside, you've seen the title of this piece. I really wonder if laziness that comes with the end of the year is associated with the fact that the end of the year is finally here and we can slow down for a bit before getting back into the hustle and bustle of life?<\/p>
Of course, the rest of the world - at least parts where Christmas is the central religious holiday - the end of the years is associated with taking a massive break from work and just chilling with your family and friends. People often buy gifts for each other, there is a general cheer around the place, it is a nice feeling. I've heard people refer to it as the Christmas Spirit.<\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513593421878","data":"5a379be56433b"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513593423751","data":"
As much as I like raining on the religious parade, the Christmas Spirit is a real thing, except it has nothing to do with something magical or omnipotent causing the cheer, but the simple fact that people associate the end of the year with the end of something massive. We review the changes we went through in that year, what kind of experiences we've had and what kind of experiences will we be looking forward to the coming year. <\/p>
Think of one year as one full day. The end of the year is the evening part of this day where you relax and meet friends and family before relaxing and going to sleep and waking up, ready to face a brand new day. That is what it is. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513593551974","data":"5a379bfdbbd5d"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513593553744","data":"
So these last few days of 2017, let us remember that no matter what happens, there will always be someone who loves you, there will always be the end of the year and the Christmas Spirit will return for 2018 as well, and last for the foreseeable future, at the very least. <\/p>
So relax, kick back and enjoy the holiday spirit. <\/p>"}]
It wasn't always like this. <\/p>
This used to be a balanced world, there was happiness, there was sadness. There were good people and then there were evil people. Cooperation was valued, working together was a virtue, people were happy with what they had. <\/p>
Then came the period of buying anything and everything one could get their hands on, as long as the money permitted. Friendships were divided depending on the amount of money in one's wallet, replaced instead by friendships in name only, the kind that were a one-up competitions with the unwitting participants splurging money to see who could spend the most. It wasn't long until the government decided to favour the guys profiting from this over the people that voted them into power, and of course, you can't have the same people strip you from power so you take their voice away, you install yourself as the defacto ruler and praise your lucky stars that the rest of the country is only filled with armchair activists who would rather sit in their comfortable AC rooms, hide their identities online and cry about losing rights. <\/p>
No, some of us took to the streets. A lot of us were arrested, a lot of us were dragged from our homes in front of our families and throwing in holding cells waiting to be transferred to that cursed island where we were supposed to carry out the other's sentence: execution. <\/p>
So when it was my time to be called for a plane ride onto the island, I made peace with the fact that I might never see my family again. It simply was inconceivable, but then again, hope is a funny thing. As much as I wanted to give up, as we stood in line and took our place in the jump queue, that tiny fire of hope is what gave me the strength to stand up. <\/p>
I looked around at the faces in the line. Some of them had turned their face almost mask-like, impossible to read. Their face carried no emotion, their eyes were sunk and had no fire in them. It was almost as if they had already died. There were others who were openly terrified, there were wannabe overconfident tough guys picking on the weak and the nervous, marking them as prey. I wonder, with a cruel smile, how long would they last when they realise their frame makes it easier to shoot them from a distance. <\/p>
Beep<\/i><\/p>
The light that marked opening of the walkway at the back of the plane went green with a loud beep. There was a collective sucking in of whatever air was available in a plane with 100 people lined up one after another before the cold air outside the plane hit our faces. It was colder than I'd thought. <\/p>
\"Alright, ladies, gentlemen and cannon food,\" said a voice crackling from the speakers in the drop zone, \"You know the drill. You are currently only equipped with a small tactical pouch. The goal is to kill every one on the plane with you once you hit the ground. Take a good hard look at your neighbour and acknowledge the fact that you will end their life or they will end yours.\" <\/p>
A gulp here, a murmur there. The unfortunate 100 of us on the plane shifted uncomfortably as the man spoke. I looked ahead in the next line, there was a boy no older than 18 shivering and looking terrified. Poor boy, I thought. I had no profound thoughts to share. <\/p>
\"You will find weapons, equipment and even clothes on the ground, if you're here for the first time, and since a lot of you decided you didn't like us, we have a lot of first timers!\" the voice cackled. I made a mental note of remembering that voice so I could choke it out when I survived. <\/p>
When I survived? I was already beginning to think of killing everyone else and be the sole survivor. Self preservation was already kicking in. What was this place going to do to me?<\/p>
\"So there you go! Best of luck to all our competitors and may the best man win!\"<\/p>
The intercom fell silent as the ramp fully opened, \"Oh and one more thing,\" the voice crackled again, \"we will be reducing the size of the area you can survive in depending on how many people are alive. So don't think you can just sit in a house while the rest of the people do your dirty work for you!\" <\/p>
So that explained it, I thought. By forcing us unwilling 'competitors' ever so closer with a forcefield that would kill you if you stay outside it, these sick degenerates were creating a condition where survivors would have no option but to run into each other and shoot. <\/p>
Then I felt a nudge on the back. The next thing I remember, I'm hurtling towards ground at 200kilometers per second. <\/p>"}]
There are times when one questions themselves on why they do what they do, for plenty of reasons. It isn't unheard of growing disillusioned by what you do for a living or even for fun which often leads to you questioning the nature of your life. This particular period can be quite taxing on the mind as you find yourself questioning your notions of what makes you who you are. <\/p>
I'm going through this period right now and it is absolutely devastating for my self-worth and how I see myself.<\/p>
I wasn't planning on posting this on stuMagz, after all, it doesn't bode well to mix personal lives with professional ones, but I do think there are lessons to be learned here that you, dear readers, can pick up points from. I know everyone likes to tell you life is going to be great and you'll face some issues but you'll get through them but the truth is that a vast majority of us will go through hell, no matter what. Greatness is a fickle beast, not all of us are meant for it no matter how much your teachers or your parents tell you that you are meant to be great. <\/p>
When I started writing as a young boy, making terrible mistakes of which some I even make today, I wanted to escape into a world that I had created in my own head. I was never the creative type - try as I might, I just couldn't come up with a story, a well-rounded one the likes of which we read or watch in books or movies. Instead, I used to write about what I'd observed, about my favourite video games and cartoons, putting myself in that fantasy and giving myself super powers so I could do anything and everything. <\/p>
Of course, the child is grown. What used to be the fantastical ramblings of a child scribbled on the backs of notebooks during class turned into something more focused, more professional as the years went by, propelled by a need to be heard that arrived as teenage took its hold, thinking my opinion also matters in the sea of many opinions around the world. So I started writing about everything and anything, believing that people genuinely wanted to know what I thought about things. I was wrong, of course, but my course was set. The incoherent rambler would turn into a social media motor mouth and later a storyteller seeking people whose stories needed to be told. <\/p>
It did seem like things were going my way, so what is the point of this particular piece of incoherent rambling? You see, try as I might, I still felt like an outsider to this world, despite being told multiple times that what I wrote was good. <\/p>
I still feel like an imposter. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513588620801","data":"5a379023e78c6"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513588622733","data":"
Despite what I do for a living right now, I've never really studied English Literature, although I've wanted to do so. Instead, I wasted valuable time trying to get an Engineering degree that I still don't have and never had any interest in getting it in the first place. I can safely say that my time in Engineering was the worst period of my life, I didn't understand any of the classes and even when I wanted to get out, I kept telling myself it is too late and that I needed to see it through. <\/p>
Look where I am today, still haunted by the fact that I never actually managed to finish a degree despite working for over one year in the features writing, something I absolutely love. It just goes on to show that it is never too late and if you want to quit something that has become toxic to your mental health, you should do it without hesitation. Not a day goes by that I didn't regret dropping out earlier and studying Literature.<\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513589086864","data":"5a37903fde1eb"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513589088685","data":"
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I made a terrible mistake by choosing to continue studying something as toxic as engineering when I clearly was not meant for it. It prevented me from doing what I was meant to do and right now, at this point of life, I am not even sure if I have to time to do it. I just wish I had made better life choices and had the spine to stand up for myself when the time was right. <\/p>
I do think that I'm maybe overthinking this a bit, that I'm being too doom-and-gloom about where my life is headed from here but I think at the end of the day it is about playing with the cards life has dealt you and bluffing your way to winning the poker chips on the table. Fake it till you make it might actually work from time to time, but it only works if you're actively trying to make it. <\/p>
I do not know how I can fix my situation and until then, even if I keep writing the best features possible, I can't help but feel like an imposter. It's just one of those things, which will take me some time to get rid of. So here's what I want to tell you. <\/p>
It is perfectly okay to quit. <\/p>
Don't let the foolish mass media marketed opinion of 'never ever quit' fool you, in fact, you should quit often and quit freely. But only when the object of your torment is what you're quitting, not something that is positive to you. Physical pain isn't always a torment, mental strain isn't always toxic, it depends on context, and context always matters. <\/p>
Don't make the same mistake I did, if you see something that you think is wrong in your life, be fearless, plant yourself like a tree and say no. Assert your position and be dominant about what you need in life. <\/p>
You deserve better than to be the sum of your regrets. <\/p>
So do I. <\/p>"}]
There aren't many movies I like but the few that I do actually make the effort of seeing more than once are those which happen to be truly special. While you may disagree with my opinions that Denis Villeneuve is the Speilberg of the current generation, I for one will never agree that there will be a replacement for visionary filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock or the one in question for A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick. <\/p>
I should warn that this movie is not for people that are easily repulsed by violence in movies and especially for those who find violence against women disturbing. There's plenty of both in this movie - after all, A Clockwork Orange part of a bunch of movies that relaxed the control of how much violence could be shown on screen. The book is the same way, although the book is even more graphic and violent and has a way too optimistic ending. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513581906415","data":"5a3771b6ed06e"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513581908303","data":"
A Clockwork Orange is one of Kubrick's finest works, especially with how scenes were shot and developed and how the visual medium is used to tell a story so graphic and disturbing. Indeed, this is one of the most disturbing movies ever made outside the realm of snuff films and movies like Cannibal Holocaust, which I do not recommend watching, trust me on this one. <\/p>
If you're a film student, I obviously do not have to tell you about Kubrick's work or to even watch this movie, chances are you already have done so and taken inspiration from his shot framing and how he tells a story visually, but for the rest of us casual movie buffs, discovering Kubrick's genius comes with a wonderful surprise of just how artistically the man thought about movies. <\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1513582563879","data":"5a3771db2fd46"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1513582565676","data":"
So today, 46 years later, I still recommend watching A Clockwork Orange for what it has achieved in cinema and the kind of a legendary movie it became. <\/p>
It is said that everyone who watches Kurbick is a changed man afterwards. Once you go Kubrick, you never go back to normal movies again, especially the ones Bollywood keeps churning out. <\/p>"}]
When I was a kid, I saw my dad writing some beautiful lines of poems in his personal book. Later when I started understanding his writings, he gave some books to read which then made me think that how can people write such big books when I can't even fill the pages of my class notes even after teacher dictating the notes.<\/p>
Yes, I used to think like that, when I was a kid. After few years , I saw my brother(my inspiration) reading books and writing his thoughts.<\/p>
<\/p>
After seeing my dad and my brother writing, A dream was flowing in my mind like water flowing in a river to write a book or a single article at least once.<\/p>
Now at this age, I have learnt to write. I write my experiences. Whatever I write,that comes out of my experiences. I have read a quote somewhere saying\"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.\u201d Yes, this is so true. <\/p>
I don't see the people around me, I observe them, I learn from them.<\/p>
I write, when something makes me happy.<\/p>
I write, when something hurts me.<\/p>
I write, when I understand something new.<\/p>
I write, to come out of an emotion or to share my emotion. I write about a person and send it to them to make them feel happy.<\/p>
Writing gave me a clarity on my life. Writing is a magic and a medicine too.<\/p>
Most of all writing completes me.<\/p>"}]
In my previous post, I wrote about the infectious energy that filled the room on the first day of Ideation Camp. The second day was not very different. <\/p>
People, especially the shy ones, came out of their shells, glad to collaborate on ideas and work together as a team on the second day, discussing how to solve issues they were presented with for about half the day among themselves, getting ready to tackle their given challenges. This process not only helped in brainstorming a solution for the problem, it also served as a litmus test to see who could do what. <\/p>
By the time the judges came in, all the 12 teams were ready with their presentations.<\/span><\/p>Twelve teams were in a state of mind to present well and win.<\/p>The only thing I could think of was how good I was going to make my presentation when the time came. So good, I told myself, that we may just yet the first place. Being a spokesperson for the team also comes with the additional responsibility of effectively communicating what our collective thought process was. It's not as easy as it sounds. <\/p>After all the presentations were done, <\/span>Suman sir and <\/span>Nitin <\/span>Kulkarni sir congratulated us for our thoughtful solutions. <\/span><\/p>Although only 2 of the 12 teams that participated won the prize, let me take a moment to congratulate each and every one of us who came out and participated in the Ideation Camp, especially those among us who were there to learn something new and how ideation works. Victory and defeat are part of life but the valuable experience you pick up from it is what matters. For me, it helped me improve my presentation skills and I'm quite certain the others will tell you something similar. <\/p>I heartily congratulate all the participants for coming forward and taking a step of participating in this workshop.<\/span><\/p>I mainly want to thank Suman sir, Sathish sir and Nitin Kulkarni sir for taking this initiative and encouraging us.<\/p>The main thing I have learnt from this camp is, <\/p> Learning something in everything is called winning.<\/p>"}]
Twelve teams were in a state of mind to present well and win.<\/p>
The only thing I could think of was how good I was going to make my presentation when the time came. So good, I told myself, that we may just yet the first place. Being a spokesperson for the team also comes with the additional responsibility of effectively communicating what our collective thought process was. It's not as easy as it sounds. <\/p>
After all the presentations were done, <\/span>Suman sir and <\/span>Nitin <\/span>Kulkarni sir congratulated us for our thoughtful solutions. <\/span><\/p>Although only 2 of the 12 teams that participated won the prize, let me take a moment to congratulate each and every one of us who came out and participated in the Ideation Camp, especially those among us who were there to learn something new and how ideation works. Victory and defeat are part of life but the valuable experience you pick up from it is what matters. For me, it helped me improve my presentation skills and I'm quite certain the others will tell you something similar. <\/p>I heartily congratulate all the participants for coming forward and taking a step of participating in this workshop.<\/span><\/p>I mainly want to thank Suman sir, Sathish sir and Nitin Kulkarni sir for taking this initiative and encouraging us.<\/p>The main thing I have learnt from this camp is, <\/p> Learning something in everything is called winning.<\/p>"}]
Although only 2 of the 12 teams that participated won the prize, let me take a moment to congratulate each and every one of us who came out and participated in the Ideation Camp, especially those among us who were there to learn something new and how ideation works. Victory and defeat are part of life but the valuable experience you pick up from it is what matters. For me, it helped me improve my presentation skills and I'm quite certain the others will tell you something similar. <\/p>
I heartily congratulate all the participants for coming forward and taking a step of participating in this workshop.<\/span><\/p>I mainly want to thank Suman sir, Sathish sir and Nitin Kulkarni sir for taking this initiative and encouraging us.<\/p>The main thing I have learnt from this camp is, <\/p> Learning something in everything is called winning.<\/p>"}]
I mainly want to thank Suman sir, Sathish sir and Nitin Kulkarni sir for taking this initiative and encouraging us.<\/p>
The main thing I have learnt from this camp is, <\/p>
Learning something in everything is called winning.<\/p>"}]
For most, the life of a BRAT (Born Raised and Transferred) AKA the unassuming Army\/Navy\/Air Force kid in your class, led to more than just a few curiosities about their way of life. Was there any room for pleasure amidst all that rigid structure? Perhaps they were real brats, enjoying all those perks an army ranking afforded them? Did their parent(s) sleep with guns under their pillows? As we tend to with any community that seems to live behind closed doors, existing within realms and structures that appear so different from our own, it was these kinds of prevalent misconceptions about the BRAT life that prompted our inquiry into the real experiences of this community. In an era where the defence community is often a media target (many times, the scapegoat for political agendas and the object of contempt; on rarer occasions, abusers of their own power) it\u2019s easy to forget the individuals that make up the whole. Men and women who must stay away from their own children for months on end, in an effort to protect the country.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While I compiled this article through the lens of army kids\u2019 observations, things became a lot clearer. The defence environment really does tend to be independent of our own in many ways, yet the nomadic nature of the fauji life gives BRATs a profound social understanding of people and cultures as opposed to regular civilian perspectives. Underneath the pleasure of army privileges is often a constant battle with the fear of not being able to see their loved one who is out sacrificing their safety for the nation, not to mention the challenge of being separated from their army parents for months at a time. The BRAT community is more diverse than most, but their hearts are in sync with their commonly-shared experiences of love and loss in the cantonments \u2013 their minds distinctly resilient, having been raised in an environment of selfless duty.<\/p>\n
I cannot thank the forces enough for teaching me the art of humbleness, adaptability, and treating everyone with equality.<\/p>\n
My favourite part of being an Air Force kid is telling my civilian friends about the places in the country my father has been to, places that one only ever does read about in Geography textbooks. Growing up as an Army BRAT is, I believe, an opportunity only a few lucky ones get. I changed seven schools and eight cities as a Fauji BRAT. During this period I grew up in small and big towns alike, attending convent, government, defence and private schools and forming close friendships with people across economic stratum and religions. This experience has taught me more about this country, its different people and cultures than any form of theoretical learning ever can.<\/p>\n
A sense of decorum and discipline is instilled in you early. Though fauji parents are not super strict \u2013 but they tend to live life with discipline and punctuality. Cantonment life, in general, with amenities like football grounds, swimming pools, gyms, the mess bar and that occasional bungalow house are perks I thoroughly enjoyed. Though, what I loved the most were fauji parties - trust me no one knows how to throw a classy yet crazy party like officers and soldiers do! In my personal experience, there isn\u2019t anything I have particularly disliked about the fauji lifestyle.<\/p>\n
A sense of equality. It\u2019s a golden rule of the fauj and it\u2019s instilled in my consciousness. I feel the separation of religion from a profession, in the forces is one of the reasons that could have contributed to my tilt towards atheism. While growing up with many strong women around me, female officers and equally brave wives and widows of officers has made me a feminist.<\/p>\n
Stepping out of the defence environment was quite strange for me, even though I had many civilian friends growing up. When I came to Hyderabad for my intermediate and undergraduate studies, I found the lack of a political opinion, or worse, a highly uninformed opinion about national politics and the armed forces highly disconcerting. People seemed to be more interested in how much of subsidy I could get while buying alcohol from the Defence canteen than what my father actually did as an Air Force officer! Eventually, I made my peace with it. Though the funniest thing I had to adapt to was being \u2018fashionably late\u2019, a norm I don\u2019t quite understand or like to follow. While in the defence environment punctuality was a given, in the civilian world I often find myself alone at parties when I turn up on time, at times even the host is busy taking a nap!<\/p>\n
Home is the cantonment, the fighter jets flying over our houses and our parents in uniform. Home is the parties and the parades, the salutes and the air shows. Home is where the Air Force sends us, plain and simple. Everything else is just a home away from real home.<\/p>\n
Jai Hind!<\/p>\n"}]
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