Certainly, the sacrifices and dangers our soldiers face on a typical day at the field is praiseworthy. But, we often fail to recognize what their family is going through.
To be a good wife, you have to be good at several things such as cooking, taking care of the family, handling finances appropriately and be your husband's best friend, while maintaining your own identity. But, to be a soldier’s wife you need to have one more thing,in addition to all – COURAGE! One such strong woman I’m lucky to know and have in my family is my aunt Dr. Nilima Nishandar, wife of Brig. Vijaya D. Nishandar to whom this blog is addressed. Her journey from a town called Warud in Amravati district to the Indian Army is truly inspiring.
So, are these wives different? Yes, these army wives are a different breed altogether. All her life my aunt has lived with the fact that her husband is a soldier first and a spouse next. “Packing and unpacking household things during various postings became a part and parcel of my life. We ‘live out of the box’ and this has taught us to live and face any kind of situation”, she says. Even after being highly qualified, she let go good job opportunities for her main priorities - husband and family. But in the end you need to keep yourself busy and for this she started passing on her knowledge by taking up a teaching job in the Army schools. At times she has even doubled up as both father and mother to take care of her children during her husband’s field tenure. Also, sometimes her patience was put to a test against the inevitable long wait for her husband’s safe return.
For her, being a part of the army has been a beautiful experience. “Although it was tedious at times but when my efforts were appraised, it all feels worth it”, she says. The money doesn't matter and nor does the social events and parties; what matters is the fact that you are blessed to live a life of being not only a wife but also an army wife with lots of courage!
Keeping this in mind The Atharva Foundation has taken up a noble initiative – ‘One for All, All for One’ under the able leadership of Shri Sunil Rane to salute the Indian Army. The event will be a special celebration of war-time tales which will include commemorating 10 untold soldiers stories of bravery in front of a grand audience. The event will be held at NSCI Dome, Worli on 31st January 2018.
Prof. Sonam Gawade Atharva Institute of Management Studies
