Follow the Drums

Women and Children of the Peninsular war  Follow the Drums

The phrase ‘Following the Drum’ has a mesmeric quality and is a tribute to the remarkable women who triumphed among the blood, battles and drama. They often endured long marches and harsh sieges. Some were even taken captive or forced to become run-aways in enemy territory and fought back to keep themselves and their families alive.

Today, army children are generally driven, transported on trains or vehicles or flown to their new or current home, most regard 'home' as being wherever it is that their parents are living rather. Yet it was very different centuries ago. When troops in transit trudged along, families  limped behind their soldier fathers on foot,  straggling at the end of a column of military men on the campaign trail or as part of the baggage train,  exposure to the elements, hunger and the countless dangers of life on the road, and sometimes in hostile territory,

Rails roads  &  BA numbers

Such were the stories of the wives, children and mistresses of British soldiers who followed their 

menfolk to some of the most treacherous places in the world and sometimes on to the battlefield itself.

As of today we can use it  metaphorically for  women, married to men in olive greens…or as we call them the men in ‘OG’, moving from one station of posting to another, akin to ‘Following the Drums’.

Boots and  Heels Tango together,

 Traveling has been a one big added benefit, at least for some of us who are bitten by the travel bug.  We get to live all over India and if fortune beckons then perhaps we get a global tenure or two. The opportunity to see places imparts many treasured nuggets about other cultures and ways of life. However one thing that all of us  ‘army wives dreaded most was the cataclysmic orders delivered without a warning of an unexpected ‘Posting’ to an unheard of boondocks .  But then we were the Army Wives, and we knew the hazards of service when we decided to say, yes to our soldiers and are supposed to deal with the moves and the separation like a pro. 

Bungalows and cantonments

As I look back I could say with confidence, on all my journeys both as a army brat & wife across India,it has been one of the most rewarding perks, and the tour of duty as Americans put it has been one long a cruise through time over many decades. It had been an opportunity for us to get off the beaten track and travel at our own pace and experience many mysteries and fascinations which abound in India.

You can say that I am an incurably addicted traveler …..So I find myself the happiest   forever if travel plans are on the make. I would love to share my ‘Story- maps’ with you as we go along. Story –maps of places are stories with images and words as every place has a story. It could be geological, historical, personal, or inspirational. Just being a casual LV & Dior tourist does not excite me in the least, what excites me is to recreate the place in time… a kind of a bird's-eye view of a moment in time…Not just seeing History but to understand about that place "read the landscape" and see the impact that geography had on the lives of people, not only today but in the years gone by. What an experience it can be to stand at the actual spot - seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling the energy and aura. This is where you can really start to have fun and gain the power to feel the soul of the place and your journey becomes a spiritual odyssey.

Now  these are 'The Older Roamers'  ,who once Followed the Drums

We are living longer ,we are older with  means and time  and we delight in every moment gained. Now, I love being an Older Roamer, traveling places, meeting people and get to know them. What an experience!  Sharing and cross connecting with the world with ideas, arts, music culture,food  and heritage all at an easy enjoyable pace .

gives me the opportunity of meeting new people; locals especially love talking to you and that really helps me to understand their way of life their language and local cuisine. Being a foodie these flavours add to the background colour of the place.

One of the most beautiful things our mind creates is memories…and like most of us we cherish them….So it’s best to take the camera wherever you go. I take mine and I try and take as many pictures as I can, so that I can reminisce over the experience.

But there is a downside to it, this habit of mine drives my friends and family mad because whenever I return from a holiday jaunt, they have to see my and photo albums and hear my accounts ….. Repeatedly.