Black is Beautiful

It's 13th Jun again today, 35 years done and dusted. The OG that we got wedded to 35 years ago, has acquired a skin like affinity to our bodies and soul. Sans uniform, we feel naked somehow. We are aware that soon it shall be time for us to grow out of this acquired skin, a couple of days, months or for some fortunate ones a few years more, but finally we shall have to bid adieu, howsoever painful it may be. Having turned 35 in this metamorphosed life, yes we were actually metamorphosed from what we were back then, lanky awkward youth hailing from disparate regions, speaking all possible languages enshrined in the constitution and some dialects well …we might as well let the sleeping dogs lie.. 

Actually for some of us who decided to adorn the uniform even earlier, the RIMC Sainik School, Military School types it's been more than four decades, 44 to be precise.  The glamour of uniform is universal and cuts across geographical barriers. Obviously we stand out in a crowd, the brass on the shoulders adds to the persona and the medal ribands add distinct colour, the gait and upright stance does the rest. It's a package gifted to us by our venerable Drill Ustaads, all the digging in the drill squares ensured that we can't be seen slouching anywhere under any circumstances. 

Why this sudden affinity for uniform today, well I was in a Civil hospital this morning prior to going to the office and was obviously attired in the dress of the day,  not only was I greeted by most of the people but the respect which was visible in their eyes filled me with a justifiable pride in the rich and glorious traditions of our Armed Forces. Despite all the efforts by vested interests, this pillar of the country stands firm in its commitment to the national cause. That is the reason why we can stand tall in any society, paraphrasing with due apologies to Cliff Richard 

"When I was just a little baby, I didn't have many toys

But my mama used to say, "Son,You got more than other boys

Now you may not be good looking, And you may not be too rich

But you'll never, ever be alone 'Cause you've got uniform"

Today it is Black, which of course is Beautiful, more glamorous and attractive than the rather serious Olive Greens, be it the Combats or the disruptive pattern of uniform which we adopted from the good old Olive Green dungarees essentially to improve operational combat efficiency in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terror operations or its various other avatars, the love affair just keeps growing. In the Armed Forces we have taken our fetish for the uniforms to a different level altogether, so we have the summer and winter uniforms and we have ceremonial uniforms for both in addition, and then we have the Mess dresses, which though attractive may make even peacocks envious of the colours that we bestow on ourselves. We inherited these from the British Army and have stuck to them in the name of traditions… with Wellington Spurs to boot literally! When Mess dresses are written about can Dinner Nights be far behind! Dinner Nights are yet again another one of those traditions which have probably outlived their utility. I know some of us old fogies would get emotional and may even shed copious amount of tears even at the mention of deteriorating Dinner Night standards. But in the digital century, these archaic traditions ought to given a deserving ceremonial burial.

Even at the cost of being cliched, Army is not just a career or another profession it’s a way of life, it’s actually Life energy for most of us, our raison d’etre!! Cheers!!