Just yesterday was army day and we thought let's continue with the army mood. But this one is on a lighter note and we are sure, you would relate to this even if you are not from the army background yourself. Yes, Fauji Brat… the Fauji Kid proudly goes by that appellation because the term signifies a certain attitude, a set of shared experiences, of certain core beliefs and an entire way of life. As a fauji wife (with Fauji brats of her own) this is what I have observed about the child of the Indian military; a unique, distinctive, very loveable breed.
“13 schools, 10 years”
A likely, even common boast, this one speaks about the great adaptability that characterises the Fauji brat. Making new friends, settling into a brand new part of the country in a school system vastly different from the previous one… all peachy!
“Sure I read, write and speak Bengali/Punjabi/Marathi”
Because you know dad was posted in Jorhat when in Class V or Bhatinda when in class VI… you get the drift. It is the postings, school choices (or rather compulsions) that dictate what language skills the Fauji Brat gets to put on their resume years later.
“…Because I am an Indian”
The Fauji brat is an Indian first and last; truly a citizen of the country. Regional identities, religious denominations, caste divisions are not just unimportant but are completely irrelevant.
“Yes, I speak to my mother in Hindi as well”
That is the Mallu kid explaining why she speaks फर्राटेदार Hindi (and knows the meaning of that word as well) with her dad as much as her mother tongue.
“Yes! He/She is a good friend”
The Fauji brat is the most socially adept and gregarious of creatures with friends all over the country. They meet and form bonds and never say goodbye. When they meet years later because postings, schools or colleges happened to coincide it is very much a case of Hail Fellow, Well Met!
“Of course I’ve heard of Dipatoli and Morar”
Heck, the Fauji brat probably lived there and other utterly obscure, off the radar places that most Indians never hear of. Ever.
“I love a party!”
There are private mess parties, welcome parties, unit farewells, Bada Khanas, raising days, anniversaries, kids’ birthday parties… I could go on, but suffice it to say, that Fauji brat has a very full social calendar indeed.
“Fancy meeting you here!”
Decide to go on an exotic holiday to Lakshadweep/Kaziranga/Andamans and finding familiar Fauji faces there… because you know, LTC!
“Of course I can ride/swim/dance/climb trees”
With the verdant campuses, access to sporting facilities and clubs and the great social life most Fauji kids have, they pick up skills that many other Indian kids don’t have.
“We had a Maruti 800 too!”
It isn’t just that the fauji with his modest salary typically would have a small, non-flashy car. The fact is that material possessions and showing off expensive stuff is never very much a part of the Fauji kids’ ethos. These kids know that there are many other things in life that matter much more than impressive party takeaway gifts.
“We buy that at the CSD”
There are many things that the Fauji brat wouldn’t dream of buying from “outside” because there is no point paying more than you have to! Frugality was a way of life growing up as a Fauji kid.
“Jai Hind!”
Fauji kids learn to say this early in life and really mean it. Practically as soon as they could talk, my girls would say it at the barricade each time as we entered campus. Sweltering summer, driving rain or biting cold; that one always elicited a smiling response from the DSC guards and AFP guys.
