The
pay may not be the best in the Navy, but the lifestyle makes up for it. The
townships are clean and environment friendly. They are self contained with all
the required services like schools, hospitals, shopping arcades, place of
worship, health clubs and sports stadia, Computer, tailoring and other
skill-oriented classes, movie house and cafeterias. Houses are furnished and
the canteen stores have all household items at affordable prices. It is a
perfect setting for children to grow up in and I attribute my sons’ life
perspectives to this exposure. I am glad I married a naval officer!
Social
life in the Navy is as busy as you want it to be. There are many who prefer to
keep to themselves but we chose to be part of the mainstream. Srivatsa looked
super in his party uniform of black trousers, white shirt with epaulets and
black cummerbund. Slim and straight, he could carry it off so well. Most of the
parties we went to were onboard ships and the bachelors would generally crowd
around married ladies, hoping to get a dinner invite. Home food was like manna
from heaven for them.They would insist on my having a drink and I would not
have anything stronger than water. I had asked Srivatsa how to handle those
guys and he had told me no one could make me do what I did not like, not even
his senior officers. After a while, word spread about my being a teetotaler and
I was allowed to drink water in peace. To date, that is the only drink I have
expect for my daily glass of milk!
Our
social life was rewarding. You can have it the way you want. There are groups which
are into rummy sessions; some into bar
bonhomie, some get together to gripe and crib and some keep to themselves. We
attended lecture series by reputed speakers, went to parties thrown by visiting
ships, danced at the Navy Ball every year, cheered our sportsmen, participated
in functions-it was a full life.
I
remember the year Gandhi was
released. On 26 Jan, Navy booked the REGAL cinema hall for its personnel and
their wives. What a tribute to the Father of the Nation, with officers and
sailors in formal uniform and wives in their silks and pearls, giving him a
standing ovation. It was awesome!
Srivatsa
missed his promotion. It was very demoralizing. We debated about his quitting,
as many who miss the boat do. We weighed the pros and cons and he decided to
continue in the Navy and worked with the same commitment and sincerity till he
superannuated seven years later.
There were other compensations, like an extended tenure in Mumbai for six years
and an independent assignment at ISRO, Bangalore ,
prior to retirement. If you are sincere to the system, it makes up in its own
way. Everybody cannot make it to the top. What matters is how you do your bit
wherever you are. Srivatsa took his professional defeat with great dignity
which won him the respect of his colleagues.
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