We shifted to Kashmir when it was going through one of the roughest phase – The death of Burhaan Wani – resulting in burning of Kashmir to another level.
We shifted there just couple of weeks after Burhaan Wani’s death and was locked inside the home. My Husband went on duty and I was inside the cantt with no internet, no connection to him or family whatsoever. We would desperately wait for internet connectivity .
I managed everything alone cooking, cleaning ( had a male househelp but if there is curfew he wouldn’t be allowed to come inside ) I had 3 dogs back then and took care of all of them alone.
We didn’t have access to any online shopping (no food delivery, no amazon, no Myntra).
A Vegetable van would come once in a week and We would stand in queue get vegetable and necessary stock for a week, Made great friends in the community (because all We longed was support and everyone displayed impeccable Community Spirit), would call parents whenever We would get network and life went on. My dog’s learnt to pee and poo inside the washroom because the situations were such & also when it use to snow we couldn’t step out often. There were threats issued at times and the whole area was under lockdown, At times there will be complete lights off and people would keep their kids inside, would have minimal lights, would pray that we just survive another day, pray for their husbands who were away for duty. When there was relaxtaion and We went out – We would hear slogans like – Army go back, Indians go back, dogs go back. It was the toughest time of My life but I Survived.
I survived My days of pregnancy there where we used to go in a military van with full bulletproof jacket and gear to get advance checkup to the main cantt ( that was some 15kms away from the cantt I lived in ). I flew in My 8th month of Pregnancy all alone with a Medical Certificate as there was curfew and nobody knew how the situation will be if there is total lockdown.
Our main topic of discussion was – HOW TO SURVIVE IF THERE IS AIR RAID? how to survive if there is bombing ? How to survive if there are terrorist attacks inside ? How to survive if there is infiltration ?
But I SURVIVED!!!
Why am I sharing all of this ? Because I am deeply pained seeing all the cribbing going on during the lock down: less of grocery available, maids not coming home, kids can’t go out, blah blah…
Just Imagine if it was not a lockdown due to a virus but an actual WAR.
Would you still like to send your kids downstairs ?
Would you still go for a walk ?
Would you still crib if you had limited grocery ?
Then why crib now ?
Did I do anything heroic ? NO.
I just did whatever was necessary for a very basic human instinct – *SURVIVAL.*
I had made a choice of getting married to a *Fauji* and I embraced it .
We have the same choice now, Embrace the situation. Embrace the situation for yourself, for your kids, for your future generation.
*You can be your own Hero. You are a Soldier now, Please abide by your Duties.*
You can fight this situation and would have story you can tell to your grandchildren.
Can We please rise above all our political inclination once ??? Can we please rise above individualism ?
This isn’t about politics anymore, your child won’t even remember which political party was ruling then, but *He/She would definitely remember how their Parents Reacted in the time of panic.*
Now is the time to show solidarity, afterall social distancing doesn’t cost anything. Afterall, staying at home doesn’t need a budget allocation.
Teach your kids RESILIENCE
Teach your kids ART OF SURVIVAL
Teach your kids LIFE SKILLS
Teach your kids PATIENCE
Teach your kid To COUNT THEIR BLESSINGS
Please do not teach cribbing, blame games and rebellious attitude.
This Too Shall Pass!
Please let’s spread positivity and see greater good of our Nation.
( Author of the article, Nancy Singh is wife of Indian Military officer )
