Humour in uniform

Sajita Nair's debut novel ‘For She's A Jolly Good Fellow’ is an amusing take on the life of a woman officer in the Indian army

Sajita Nair

While many women have made chiklits and mush their own space in the literary universe, Sajita Nair's debut novel, For She's a Jolly Good Fellow , marches into an area where no woman, at least in India, has been before – the male-dominated Indian army.

The book, which releases onJuly 3in Kochi is a hilarious take on a woman's life in the army. Something that came easy to Sajita as she was one of the first woman officers to be commissioned in the Indian army. Like Sajita, the two protagonists – Deepa and Anju – are two young women who join the army and gingerly find their way around the highly regimented environs of the army. Now settled in Vizhag with her husband, Sajan Abraham, a naval officer, and two sons, Sajita's book is perhaps a first of its kind in India.

On the eve of the release of the book at Kochi, Sajita, in an e-mail, interview, talks about the book and its interesting background. Excerpts…

How much of it is autobiographical? How many years were you there in the army and where were you posted?

The book is partly autobiographical. I have drawn from many of my own experiences, but there are also those that are purely imagined and some that I have borrowed from my father's life in the Air Force, my husband's in the navy and from my friends who served in the army. I was a Short Service Commissioned officer and served for five years. Panagah in West Bengal was my first posting after the training period at the Officer's Training Academy. I was also posted in Ahmedabad.

You have tackled a territory that is a first for Indian women in literary terrains. Did you always want to be a writer?

Most new writers are told to write about what they know best and this was something I knew best. So when I wrote about life in the army, I could take readers to an army cantonment with me and give them an authentic feel of life there. Yes, there are hardly any women who have written about this subject before.

I think that makes the book more appealing since it is something entirely new. I always wrote as a hobby and dreamed of writing a novel. But before I began work on a novel, I wrote short stories, articles and travelogues… It took about a year to write this novel.

Anju and Deepa debate whether over who or what is important – man or uniform? What would have been your choice?

My choice was ‘man,' since I quit the army and joined my naval officer husband at his work place. Had I not quit, we would almost never live together as our postings would have been at different places.

Some of your memorable experiences in the army?

Staying in field conditions, which although difficult, was an adventure in itself.

I also worked hard to prove that I was a good army officer despite being a woman. I remember undertaking strenuous physical exercises and honing my leadership skills, in a bid to earn the acceptance and respect of the men I commanded.

Your parents…

I hail from Kozhikode. My father, K.A.R. Nair, served as an Air Force officer, which is why I was always fond of the fauji life. I dreamed of wearing a uniform like him, especially the peak cap. It was about the same time that doors were thrown open for women to join the armed forces – and I applied.

Your first book has received rave reviews. What is the reaction of your former colleagues and the army in general. What does your husband think of the book?

My colleagues told me that I have done justice to the book since I have addressed all important issues about women in the army. Many readers have also commented that the humour and the story work for the book. My husband has seen this book take form slowly over a long period of time. He gave me valuable feedback all along and now loves its final form. He thinks that it is a wonderful debut. But then, he's my husband!

Any favourite authors, styles...

I like simple prose that does not distract me from the narrative, yet conveys a lot. Ernest Hemingway is my favourite for this reason. I also admire the current crop of Indian writers who write with a newfound confidence.

Would you welcome long-term commissions for women in the army?

Of course! Women work doubly hard and still are unable to gain acceptance. It is time that rusty mindsets change and women become an integral part of this work force. Permanent commission for women is an important step towards gender equality in the army.

Any plans, offers for a film in the offing.

There has been interest in the book due to its entirely new story line, but nothing concrete has worked out yet.