“It Was Very Difficult,” Major Gaurav Arya About Transitioning Into Normal Life After Retirement

In the latest episode of Sandese Aate Hai, our Editor-in-chief Kamiya Jani met Major (Retd) Gaurav Arya at his office. They talked about why he decided to join the armed forces, how a young man from a civilian background ended up in the Kumaon Regiment, and what life in uniform truly taught him. Kamiya couldn’t help but ask how difficult it is for a soldier to switch from the “fauj life to a normal one”. This is what Major Arya had to say.

Major Gaurav Arya About Transitioning Into Normal Life Post Retirement

“Actually, it was very difficult. Personally, I know many soldiers face many issues while adjusting after retirement. These days people have access to social media, so you know what’s going on. In our times, faujis lived inside the cantonment and civilians lived outside it. There were no shopping malls, fast food, or anything for us to see while we were deployed,” Major Gaurav Arya shares.

“These days, there are many remote locations around the border area where you will find 4G networks. The boys are able to connect with their families and loved ones with that. We had nothing like this in our time. So, yes, it took some time to adjust, especially the mannerisms of fauj. It even got me into trouble once or twice because that was what the Army taught me, but civilians thought it was weird,” he humorously recollects.

Also Read: Major Gaurav Arya Calls This Place In Srinagar ‘The Soul Of The Indian Army’

More About Struggles After Army

After his early retirement, Major Gaurav Arya even worked with some corporate companies. He shared that his Army-induced manners were often thought weird in the corporate world. He would often pull out chairs, open doors for the colleagues, and wish them politely–things we otherwise think are polite but not something you see in the corporate world.

“My boss said to call me by my first name, and I didn’t know how to do it! The girls, all younger than me, asked me to call them by their first names and I could only call them ‘ma’am!’ It was a de-facto response. It became very difficult, I struggled a lot,” he added.

Also Read: “We Have Bunkers In Border Villages & Readymade Ones In Cities,” Major General GD Bakshi Shares

Catch the entire video on the Curly Tales’ YouTube channel and know everything that went down during this thought-provoking Sandese Aate Hain episode.

Cover Image Courtesy: Internal