‘We Don’t Plan Much, Life Changes Every Month’: Wives Of Indian Army, Navy, Air Force Officers Speak

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Army wives learn to live each day as it comes, adapting to frequent relocations and the unpredictability of their husbands’ postings, said Niharika Naidu.  

“We don’t plan too much, life changes every month. We take things as they come and that helps us face challenges,” she added.

Niharika, wife of former Indian Army Vice Chief Lt General ML Naidu, was speaking at a panel discussion on, Partners in Service: The Defence Officers’ Wives, organised by Club Literati at Swami Vivekanand Library in the city on Sunday.  She is the daughter of an army officer who laid down his life in 1962 war with China.

She highlighted how at the Wives’ Welfare Association, she and other army wives empower other women to be independent in areas like driving, banking, and education, ensuring that they manage tasks confidently when their husbands are away.

“It’s not superior or inferior to civilian life, it is just different. The army makes us confident and courageous. We don’t wait for anyone to do things for us; we just do them,” she remarked.

Dr Namita Chaturvedi, a dental surgeon shared her experience of balancing her career with frequent moves required by her husband’s Air Force postings.  Her past work in government hospitals, dental colleges, and as a consultant dental surgeon with Air Force, made her adapt her professional life to the needs of her family and the service.

Jyoti Dixit spoke about how being a Navy officer’s wife provided her a platform for creative, cultural, and social pursuits, and instilled a sense of dignity and calm. She expressed her desire to motivate young people to join Armed Forces and contribute to nation-building and patriotism.  Ruchi Tandon who belongs to a family of army officers moderated the session.