1. November 28, 2011 -

    May God Bless you for such an honest brief. It conveys much more than what you had desired to convey. Thank you.

  2. November 28, 2011 -

    Thanks very much Col. Kurup

  3. December 3, 2011 -

    A very inspirational piece..esp to be reiterated by the ones donning the uniform today!

  4. December 5, 2011 -

    A true picture of a fauji and the trouble the children undertake to complete their education with frequent transfers of faujis as per the operational requiremets is unimaginable during those difficult times when communication facilities were limited. But yes the values you imbibed or emulated will certainly hold you at high esteem at this time when the present day enviorn has no values in their actof commission and omissions.Any way good luck my dear.Keep on doing the good work and of course remember fuaujis and do whatever little good you can do towardss them.ThanksVelayudhan

  5. December 5, 2011 -

    Thank You Unknown and Velayudhan!!

  6. December 5, 2011 -

    A very inspiring and motivating brief .Strongly recommended to be read by all donning uniform as well as dependents of all Soldiers.Your parents have given you good values for excelling in life

  7. December 5, 2011 -

    Thanks to articles like yours, we feel the acknowledgement of our duty & sacrifices made. If only the Government could acknowledge the same and utilise the services of ex Servicemen in policing, administration, education and other areas of governance, similar values of discipline, punctuality, honour, teamwork, professionalism, ethics and camaraderie could be incucated in government service & society.

  8. December 5, 2011 -

    I am overawed by your simplicity. And, yet so true rings each word that I am compelled to compliment you Sir – had you joined u'd have been senior to me ! and you not joining does'nt relegate the seniority ! Profound regards

  9. December 5, 2011 -

    Nitin,I would like to circulate this to all those fauji kids who are yet to realise what life in the defence forces has made them, if its OK with you. As for me, I feel that a fauji off spring, thrown on the street, will always land on his/ her feet, in any situation. I am happy to have come across your article.Regards,Group Capt. (Retd.) Shashi Nair

  10. December 5, 2011 -

    After a long,long time it was great to read such a true account of faujis life, which can be only understood by the people who have lived such a life. Please keep doing the great job so that the country and the government realise the importance of our defence forces. God forbid if the prsent state of affairs regarding the promotions, pay and parity continues, the day is not far when the country have to outsource for the defence of the country.

  11. December 6, 2011 -

    well said Nitin …but we must help in restoring the honour back to services…slowly but steadily taken away by the babus… hope Maj Dhanapalan judgement will be the beginning…tc

  12. December 7, 2011 -

    Inspirational article written with a rare sense of honesty.

  13. December 7, 2011 -

    It was a pleasure read about you. It would be great to know of the Bombay Sapper influence in your experiences. Regards Email1970@yahoo.co.in

  14. December 7, 2011 -

    It was a pleasure to read about you. It would be great to know of the Bombay Sapper influence in your experiences. Regards Email1970@yahoo.co.in

  15. December 7, 2011 -

    it was really pleasure to read this article & being a ward of defense personnel i do understand the importance of fauji background in each step of my life…

  16. December 8, 2011 -

    a true and great article on defense forces after many years……no wonder…..only someone who has experienced it can write…..congratulations……tapan

  17. December 8, 2011 -

    Want to thank all of you–Tapan, Tina Mukherjee, Davinder, Rajeev Verma, Mike.

  18. December 8, 2011 -

    Great write up.I want to congratulate and thank you for covering life of a fauji and its family through this write up. Since you are part of the big fauji family please do write on the changing environments and why todays youth is not so keen in coming to forces… Maj Narendra Tripathi

  19. December 8, 2011 -

    Mr.Gokhale as someone who is married to an Army officer I relate to your each and every word although one can not overlook the fact that Army as an organisation and people who form it have undergone tremendous changes since the time of your father and sadly some of those changes are not good.Nevertheless I still feel extremly honoured to be a part of it and wouldnt change this life for anything..

  20. December 8, 2011 -

    Nitin Gokhale….u will always remain a true fauji…so what if you have'nt donned the uniform….keep up the good workwith best wishes from an ex faujiKaran sampathHyderabadMob 8297968687

  21. December 11, 2011 -

    Nitin,Your article brought back nostalgic memories, memories from the day my Dad took me to Khadakwasla to watch West Indies play the Services, 1958-59, when I was in Class VIII in St Vincent's, a day that made me decide to join the NDA till my last day in uniform, covering the many postings, courses, difficult times as well as all the fun and frolic. And what I liked most about your article was how succinctly you brought out the charater building values of life in the fauj!Thank you and hats off to you.Ashim ChoudhuryP.S. I am proud my grandson is named Nitin

  22. December 11, 2011 -

    Nitin,May God bless you and familyWg Cdr J Thomas (Retd)

  23. December 11, 2011 -

    Tina Mukherjee, Tapan, Narendra, Priyanka, Sampath, Asim Choudhury and J. Thomas.I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. Never expected such positive reactions from all of you who have written in and all those who have read this blog post.

  24. December 12, 2011 -

    Dear Nitin,One is so proud of maitaining the values generated by your parents.Service before self in not only the army's motto but the same is mentioned in chapter 11 and 12 of the Bhagwad Geeta.Lord Krishna says ….if you want me then think of me and do service to me…..ie others as I'm in everyone.I retired as a Maj Gen and you had cocktails in my house.Rest whenever we meet.Unfortunately, my father who was a second world war vetern and was in the same unit as Gen SK Sinha passed away a few months back.I woould love to meet you and inter-act on many issues.RegardsANIL LAL/DR/Maj Gen(retd)

  25. December 12, 2011 -

    hi Nitin, i must have by now been a forgotten memory in your never ending list of servicemen u meet in the course of your profession. well I was commanding the 25 sector of the Assam Rifles in lekhapani in 2003/05 when we met and interacted. i was in touch with you for sometime thereafter.but like all things in the service we have moved on and drifted. I retd in 2008 fm pune and am settled down in Belgaum. my son is now a commissioned officer in the bn I served ie 12 MARATHAS and is currently posted in IMA after a tenure in manipur where he won a Sena Medal for gallentry. it would be nice to reest contact. do get in touch. Regards. Brig M R Pattar. cell no 9449221641

  26. December 13, 2011 -

    From one army kid to another. It's an explicable bond that transcends caste, community, profession and much else. Having been born, brought up and married into the army, I know no other life. My profession as a journalist gives me a window to other worlds and brings home to me each day, the blessing that I have to be born in this one. It's a life like no other.Where old world values still survive, where people still teach their children the virtues of honesty and hardwork, where the rough life is not something to whine but to celebrate. I, like many others identify with many things said in your blog post. The army brat can survive and flourish almost anywhere. May the tribe live long and hard !Chander Suta DograBureau Chief -NorthOutlook newsmagazine

  27. December 15, 2011 -

    Thanks Chander Suta. May there be many more like us!!

  28. December 15, 2011 -

    Gen Lal,Yes of course I remember having met you in Leh. Thank You for your remarks

  29. December 26, 2011 -

    Thanks for such a wonderful write-up Nitin. Having served in the IAF as an airman for 21 years and having got posted to 7 units throughout the length and breadth of our nation, I nostalgically recollect those journeys now. There are so many funny, mischievous and sometimes painful anecdotes that I can relate to your sentence ” reservations were never confirmed”. Thanks again, and may God bless you and your family. Here's wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year, too.Achuthan (Sgt – Retd)

  30. December 28, 2011 -

    Thanks for an excellent write up for this has not only made me proud of my service in Indian Air Force but also I could show you as an example to my son, Prashanth, who is a software engineer and does not respect my service. I wish all the servicemen should have a child like you so that we feel proud of our service in the past. We are disrespected by the society after leaving the service and are considered fit for only security jobs even though we can do better than anybody else. May God bless you and your family members.

  31. December 28, 2011 -

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  32. December 28, 2011 -

    Hari! Om! Wonderful anecdote Nitin Ji. I must say you have kept up to your fauji spirits in your present profession & life. I happen to getyour link from an ex-serviceman relative.The narration is something of an out of the world experience for me & my siblings too. I am totally moved and am horipilating.I see signs of nostalgia, of my good olden days that we experienced in the Air Force Camps, all across, India.I suggest & hope everyone should read your Salutation to the Warrior Clan.To conclude my comment, Hats' Off to your narrative capabilities & journalistic professionalism. JAI! HIND! Vedam ChandrasekharIndependent Engineering Professional

  33. December 28, 2011 -

    DEAR NITIN,YOUR BLOG WAS PASSED ONTO ME BY AN ARMY BRIGADIER FRIEND OF MINE. THE VALUES THAT YOU EXEMPLIFY ARE THE HIGHEST VALUES ANY ONE WOULD WANT TO ESPOUSE AND INCULCATE. IT REQUIRES SELF REMEMBRANCE AND DEEP CONVICTION TO TREAD A LONE PATH. BRAVO AND HATS OFF TO YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WITH BEST WISHES. ANAND GUNE

  34. December 28, 2011 -

    Dear Anand Gune, Vedam Chandrashekhar, Sgt. Achutan, Thanks for your compliments. I write from the heart and that has perhaps touched a chord in all of you somewhere.God Bless.

  35. April 17, 2012 -

    Wow! This piece makes me nostalgic! Dad was an officer and we travelled to see him only in the summers. I have had it better than most officer's kids I know, but that doesn't mean the army has not had an influence in my life. Today, as a media professional, I think my father's constant reiterations on life and living have rubbed off on me, in some small degree.And yes, despite all the issues surrounding the army, I am extremely proud of this country's soldiers. Fantastic piece! And salute to you! 🙂

  36. April 17, 2012 -

    salute to you sir for pouring your heart out on this piece ,it can only be done by the journalist of your caliber hats off to you sir and proud to be born in to this family..

  37. April 17, 2012 -

    Dear Nitin, I happen to see this piece today only on net and you should believe me it hit me instantly. Being part of the Indian Armed Forces gives you a real kick to be candid and honest. There is no two way about it. You have put the words the way I am seeing it like on celluloid. I left IAF in 1998 as a Sergeant after I got a chance. Without any doubt I can vouch that Air Force has been like a second mother to me. I joined as a matriculate and when left I had an MBA (marketing) A grade degree from the University of Pune. I vividly remember when my children were younger, they used to feel very happy whenever we had to shift our house hold. It was very frequent. Those days (80s-90s) Air Force Station Lohegaon had tremendous housing scarcity. The biggest gift Air Force has given is that my children can cohabit and coexist with anyone without any air or rancor. The biggest value Forces teach is being rooted and grounded. May god bless you for a candid admission and it should be able to impart some education to our young countrymen.

  38. April 17, 2012 -

    Nostalgic for any army brat. We have huge hopes on you, as much as on ourselves!

  39. April 18, 2012 -

    Shruthi,Coming from another fauji kid, priceless!Thanks

  40. April 18, 2012 -

    Thanks a lot Rishesh

  41. April 18, 2012 -

    Thanks for your kind words, Amar Prasad

  42. April 18, 2012 -

    Well, I hope I will be able to live upto those hopes. The attempt will always be there.

  43. August 17, 2012 -

    Nitin.. I still remember the short, yet memorable meeting I had with you in Jun/Jul 99… OP VIJAY. I was the Detachment Commander of the Helicopter Detachment at Kargil. Though you may not place me … since you would have met and interacted with so many like me then and since then to now…. but for me it was a very very memorable interaction. The depth of your research and study even then was what left a mark on me. If I remember correctly, you worked for theOutlook group then… I still have your visiting card that you gave me…. :). I was then Major Prashant Oak… now at Mumbai as Col(Retd) Prashant Oak, taken up commercial aviation as my second profession, flying for Deccan Charters. Would love to meet you again and hear out your experiences during your years as a Defence Journalist….YOU ARE BEST DEFENCE JOURNALIST of our country. Regards, Good Luck and God Spede.

  44. August 17, 2012 -

    You are an inspiration to ordinary people like us.It's great that you have given here such a true and open picture of how Fauj is such an integral part of your life.

  45. August 19, 2012 -

    Maj Gen Manmohan, Singh mms1919@gmail.comgreat to read excellent piece , my dear Nitinyou will recall that i had invited you to Army school , Shankar Vihar delhi and we also shared a stage at Devlali.I was MD of army welfare education society from jan 2004 to dec 2010. now settled at Mohali.will be a pleasure to meet you whenever u come this side.

  46. August 21, 2012 -

    Dear Prashant,Sorry for the late reply. Was away in Assam.You are very kind. Your words embarrass me no end! One has learnt to try and do the job at hand to the best of one's ability. The results would come.I really haven't done anything extraordinary, just remained true to my calling.I will be frank. I remember our meeting in Kargil only vaguely. But now that I see your picture, I do recall it a bit.Good to know you have made a successful transition to a second career. Whenever I come to Mumbai will get in touch. My email is nitinagokhale@gmail.com.Please do get in touch whenever possible.Warm RegardsNitin

  47. August 21, 2012 -

    Thanks very much

  48. August 21, 2012 -

    Yes Gen Manmohan,I do remember our meetings.Thank you very much for your kind words.

  49. September 2, 2012 -

    Hi Nitin, Cam to your blogspot through a forward by Ajith Chauhan manav42224@gmail.com, who forward interesting fauji articles. As an exNDa who left the fauj early, I got to see the best of fauj before the internet and cell phones started affecting the Ethos. As I struggle to convince my son to join the NCC, many of my EX Fauji friends and colleagues who are themselves fauji children and who have seen the services from their birth don't want their children to join the fauj. In some cases they are going to extreme lengths to even discourage those children who are keen. Earlier I used to blame them. However a recent visit to a few army and navy messes and officer's accommodation helped me to see the real picture. These degradation in these institutions tell both the story and also provide the reason about where its all headed.

  50. September 5, 2012 -

    I wanted but unfortunately could not join Army.But the circular world made my son to become a Fouji and thus fulfilling my hidden desire in some form. You are right when you said that the SANSKAR of Fouj are great and mould the children to be in similar culture of discipline & meticulousness. I am of the opinion that if the NATION has to become worthy of proud,at least one person from each family should be in FOUJ. This venture will make every citizen like you and our country as we desire.

  51. September 11, 2012 -

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  52. December 11, 2012 -

    Nitin,Please send in your email ID. I want your feedback on starting an all India magazine for ex-servicemen. I am already publishing two newspapers in Mumbai. I am an ex-army officer. Please reply at prasoon1960@gmail.com

  53. January 3, 2013 -

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  54. January 15, 2013 -

    Nitin,I can so much relate to what you say, being a fauji child. For whatever I have in life today, I thank my fauji upbringing more than anything else. Its a way to live!Thanks for putting it in words so well. I can now very well explain to people what I exactly mean by adaptability being my strength..:)-Prerana

  55. January 30, 2013 -

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  56. October 2, 2013 -

    Well Nitin your article proves that you r a winner for life with the values,principles and scruples (sanskaras as we know them) that have been programmed into your DNA. You do not need to be in uniform to be a soldier, every body is one in the battle of life unfortunately only very few live upto it. We r proud of you.

  57. January 31, 2014 -

    well as they say once a fauji always a fauji!!!! being a fauji kid n a fauji, can completely relate to each n every word of wat you have said….

  58. March 13, 2014 -

    Nitin, Thanks for putting into words all that most of us believe in……that it all starts at home…..an Army Brat and now raising two of my own this gypsy life is now in my blood.I thank you for all that you do, to make it all seem Real.Most people I know cannot connect to the job that my husband and his brothers -in -arms do. For them…Army life is nothing more than one big party. Not many understand the tough times the children and the wives face….. they are the Silent Ranks.But your words do give us Hope…..that whatever may happen there are people who believe stillin this beautiful organization

  59. February 19, 2020 -

    It's so very interesting to read. Almost a decade after your episode with AF, I faced a similar situation, albeit , I succeeded in joining the IMA instead of my dream to be in the AFA. Very much explains your love for the NE and those many journalist accounts you shared I'm various talks.

  60. February 19, 2020 -

    It's so very interesting to read. Almost a decade after your episode with AF, I faced a similar situation, albeit , I succeeded in joining the IMA instead of my dream to be in the AFA. Very much explains your love for the NE and those many journalist accounts you shared I'm various talks.