Ray

Franco,

I am a thrid generation Army officer of India.

I joined the National Defence Academy (after all the various test and exams explained by Lemon) in 1963 and stayed for three years. Then another year at the Indian Military Academy. And thereafter, I was commissioned as an Officer.

My first six months were HELL in the National Defence Academy. Well actually, it was hell all through those three years there, but the first six months were MASSACRE.

I wanted to quit. My father just sent me a book, 'The King's Story'. He just wrote if the King (then Price of Wales) could stick it out at Sandhurst with all the hell around him inspite of his being the heir to the Throne, then shouldn't I? He added, if I still didn't want to hang on, he would pay up and I could quit.

I stuck around.

I was assigned the Infantry. I have seen three Wars and a whole lot of 'unoffical' ones too. I have climbed mountains, where even mountain goats would not go. I have been frozen because of the cold and the wind chill factor. I have fought in the highest battlefield of the world. I have seen Counter Terrorism operations extensively.

Did I like it? Not really. At times, I could have cried like the time when my men died and I could do damn all. Did I hate all this waste of lives? Yes I did.

But, if I were to live life again, I would still opt the same life, warts and all.

It is a very satisfying existence.

It is upto you.

It is not a dreamboat ride but it has the thrill of a roller coaster.

__________________


"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

HAKUNA MATATA