Page 40 - M&M - Eng
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this desire and prove my worth. To enjoy power, respect in the
society and have some important identity.
I saw that the best way to accomplish this desire (even at the
cost of losing highly paid jobs in the West), is to be a lady officer
in the armed forces, wearing uniform and getting salutes from
the subordinates under my command.
When asked in the Air Force selection interview by the
president of the selection board as to why I wanted to be a
commissioned officer in the Indian Air Forces, I gave the same
reason — to enjoy respect that an officer in armed forces gets
in the civil society. The president (interviewer) replied with
a popular saying — the grass on the other side always looks
greener — and my reply to his statement was I am sure that it
is indeed very green.
I was selected and joined the Air Force academy. Within
ten days of the training in the academy I started to think of
quitting the training. But the thought and dreams of enjoying
the respect, financial independence, and fame in the society
made me stay and continue the training.
Soon after the completion of the training phase, I got married
to a fellow officer and started my new life as a wife and a
commissioned officer in Indian Air Force simultaneously.
Things started looking impossible. I wanted to excel in both
and didn’t want to compromise one duty for another.
The tug of war started between professional front and the home
front looking after family matters. I ended up requesting my
superior officers to understand that it is difficult to stay away
from my family, whenever there was a requirement for me to
stay in remote postings for many days at a time. At home also,
I began requesting my husband to cooperate, support, and