IDHAR UDHAR KI BAAT 73 - FAUJI ARGOT

 

“Look, half left in the middle distance, on the ridge, you can see two slightly raised features, the left one is a little higher than the one on the right, call them tits.”

Life of a fauji (soldier) is a mix of grit, adventure, and a lot of heart. Rugged boots, disciplined routines, and endless treks through tough terrain—these are their everyday companions. But in the middle of all that hardship, there’s a lighter side too. When faujis are surrounded by the vast wilderness, their imaginations run wild. And trust me, when you add a pinch of longing and a dollop of their humour, you get some truly unforgettable moments.

Take a walk (or rather a breathless climb) through any army post, and you’ll see something unique. Those towering peaks and ridges? They aren’t just rocks or landmarks. They have names. Special names. “Sarla,” “Hema,” “Tanuja,” “Sharmila” or even “Benazir”—these could be someone’s childhood crush, a lost love, or even just a favourite Bollywood actress. For soldiers who haven’t seen home in months, these names are a little reminder of the feminine charm, warmth and grace they miss so much.

As you ascend higher into the mountains, you might stumble upon features nicknamed “shoulder”. And do you know some fauji is also imagining a bra strap on that.  Yes, you read that right. The curvaceous natural formations inspire an avalanche of metaphors that lean unapologetically into the realm of the human form. It doesn’t stop there. A lush meadow, smooth and undulating like a gentle curve, is christened “Sleeping Beauty,” a name as romantic as it is telling of the soldiers’ vivid imaginations.

The Nastachun pass to Tangdhar is preferred to be called as Sadhana Pass. Then there’s Sungester Lake in Arunachal Pradesh. While most people call it that, faujis prefer “Madhuri Lake.” Why? It reminds them of the latke-jhatke Madhuri did in the film Koyla on its banks. Even a serene lake doesn’t escape the fauji’s imagination!

But this way of seeing things doesn’t start overnight. It begins back in their training days at the National Defence Academy (NDA). Cadets nickname almost everything, from hillocks to equipment, with playful references—“Helen’s… something” being a popular one. Ask any NDA grad, and they’ll tell you how these traditions prepare them for a lifetime of camaraderie, banter, and making the best of tough times.

Border road’s roadside posters on the treacherous roads in the mountains depicting ‘Be Gentle on my Curves’ sets a fauji imagining some different curves. And here’s a classic: if you hear a soldier mention a “bump,” just know he’s referring to that feminine curve.

Unfortunately, not all military imaginations are as endearing. A post  named “Kafir Mori” (roughly translating to “Infidel’s Hole”) leave you cringing. It makes you wonder what kind of “mori” (hole) they were referring to, doesn’t it?

At its core, all this naming isn’t just about humour or cheekiness. It’s about survival. It’s about keeping spirits high when nights are freezing, the terrain is unforgiving, and the loneliness seeps in. It’s about turning barren, hostile landscapes into stories that remind them of life, laughter, and love.

So, next time you hear a soldier talk about “Sleeping Beauty” or “bra straps,” don’t laugh at them. Smile with them. It’s their way of bringing a little beauty into their rugged world. And maybe it’s a reminder for all of us too—if a fauji can find hope, humour and warmth in the middle of nowhere, we can definitely find some in our everyday chaos.

पहाड़ों से बातें, फौजी की सोच,
दूर हैं घर, पर दिल में है कोई मोड़।
चोटी को “सरला,” तो कहीं “शर्मिला” पुकारें,
हर नाम में वो मूरत के ख्वाब उतारें।

 

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