Ahoy ---- Life at the Naval Academy

An article written by my wife on her stay in the Academy

“Jai Hind”. On entering the --------- Academy, the Quarter master greets me with this. “What do I reply” I ask my husband. “Silly, all you have to say in reply is “Jai Hind”. In course of time, the greeting comes easy. Saves you the bother of Good Morning, Good evening, Good Night.

Welcome to the life of a naval wife at -------. All is peaceful here in the lovely sylvan surroundings. We have our view of the beautiful river ------ and the peacocks dancing in the sun. Suddenly term begins, and you see this species of shaven headed youth running, rolling, jumping and leaping out of the greenery. You meet them ‘At homes” and the mess nights, and then find out that the running machines can actually talk. Here’s one typical conversation “ How do you like your training here?” Oh Ma’am, it’s great. I love all the cross country runs, drill at unearthly hour, camps in pouring rain and rolling over every inch of the campus”. How do you like being naval officer’s wife? Oh, I just love the numerous transfers where I have to pack my bags at the drop of a hat, the long hours and the days my husband is out at sea, the endless cocktails when my feet ache….’ “ I can see Ma’am that Navy offers us both a wonderful life”.

Then comes the time when the cadets show their prowess in various events. There is a lot to keep you busy with football, volleyball, sailing and other competitions where you can be part of the cheering team. They are anyway making unintelligible noises soyou can mutter whatever you want. Just jump and yell.

The Dramatics competition is a major event in the life of the Academy. All teams have the kurta pyjama clad Hindi MC and a suited and booted English MC. Why cannot it be otherwise! The English play is straight out of Hollywood including the accents and the Hindi play will stir your nationalistic fervour. The dances are marvelous and so energetic that you get tired just watching. The group song is again very patriotic and will make any Indian worth his salt immediately want to give up his life for the nation.

The ----- Ball is the highlight of a cadet’s life. They try through fair means and foul to get lissome young girls to be their partners for the dance. Unfortunately, the ones that turn up are so few you can count them on your fingers. You can guess now why we dance till we drop. There are you an officer’s wife surrounded by eight to ten cadets trying to teach you those body shaking and ankle twisting steps. “Come on Ma’am” comes the refrain “we have to win a prize”

The highlight of the term is of course the POP. When I heard this term at first I did not know what it meant. Someone said ‘Stupid, the POP or the Passing Out Parade, is what the whole academy works for. Our life revolves around the POP. When you actually experience it, you know why. Suddenly, for a few days lif is in a flurry. Of course, for us the major decisions are what to wear for the various functions. “ I can be see dead in the sari I wore at the last function’. “Dye it another clour then”.

Husbands suddenly look very dashing in their ceremonial uniforms and if you have relatives at home (like I always do) they want to take photos from every angle.

Before you know, it is valedictory function, which suddenly transforms the cadets and actually makes you see them as very talented young men. Finally, comes the moment you dreamt of, the Passing Out Parade. You hold your breath through the drills but there is not a step out of sync. Suddenly, as if by magic, the scrawny young boys turn into officers. As they march out – Why do tears suddenly come to my eyes? Must be all that dust on the parade ground.

“Jai Hind”