THE UNSUNG SUPER LADIES

The challenges faced and overcame by army wives.

- Swikriti Swarnkar

The glint of batches, the camouflaged pattern on uniform armored with ammunition, and the inbuilt discipline system are the persona of the Army men. This sophistication of the 'fauji' regime made their families adapt to routine. The wives of the Army-men are talented, versatile, adaptable, creative, innovative, progressive, articulate, brave, and courageous. Confident in her strength, she skillfully manages her responsibilities and thrives in an environment without her man, who is on the frontiers.

Well, I wanted to recall the story of one, who is the wife of an army officer, who shared her experience of marrying him. She said, "Marrying an army officer is challenging. Despite having heard the challenges of marrying an army officer, experiencing life firsthand is entirely a different ball game. We do travel a lot owing to the postings every two-and-a-half years. I got a chance to visit a remote village in Arunachal Pradesh right after the wedding. Staying in a temporary accommodation settled amidst the lush green hills was an adventurous experience after having spent my entire life in Mumbai."

She added, "Packing and unpacking is tough. I feel like a snail, carrying my house around. I don't own furniture; my house consists of clothes, appliances, and kitchenware. With each posting, I have gotten better at packing. Friends at any station become family; parting with them is heartbreaking. This life distances you from your real family but gifts you a proxy family." The army wives are unsung heroes, quietly standing by their partners, providing unwavering support, and shouldering the responsibility of caring for their families in their absence.

Loving him without any conditions, knowing that to him his 'first love' will always be the country...

The role of army wives is most overlooked as they serve as essential frontline mental health support. The kind of life she lives is hard. Though life seemed tough, there was ample adventure.