Resilience, Camaraderie, and the Spirit of Warriors

I am sure there are many veterans, captains, soldiers, commanders, and others who have served in the military in my timeline who understand the spirit and ethos I am about to share. Thank you for your service.

My grandfather’s lineage originates from the warrior clan of the Hoysala dynasty from Karnataka, a dynasty whose emblem and insignia, a man battling a tiger, symbolized humanity’s constant battle against odds and evil. It represented the embodiment of strength, courage, and self-sovereignty.

He served in the courts of the Vijayanagara Empire in the capital of Mysore (where I was born). Vijayanagara was a symbol of resistance in the south against the onslaught of the Mughals from the north.

Always inspired by him, I trained for the National Defense Academy (NDA), and also inspired by my elder cousin who was then a wing commander in the Indian Air Force. I have spent years training, which started in my 8th grade when I joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC Army Wing).

I trained in more than 12 army camps as part of the 7th Karnataka Battalion to build camaraderie and courage under duress. This used to be fun. I have stories about spending months in the jungles of Bandipur (Karnataka) on survival training and the hills of Sanasar and Batote (Jammu and Kashmir).

I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I did not pursue the NDA and decided to drop out to follow my new love, “Computers,” after I saw the first ZX Spectrum III at my wealthy friend’s home. I was in love, head over heels. I could feel it in my bones. This was in the 1990s. The universe seemed to have different plans for me.

My grandfather was meticulous in passing down some foundational principles to us kids:

• Respect your elders and teachers.
• Fiercely protect your loved ones and friends.
• Fiercely protect those in need.
• Set boundaries and ensure people respect that.
• Never back down against any odds.
• Your head cut is more honorable than your head bent.

While my grandfather’s teachings might seem archaic or dramatic to the current generation, we need to remember that the ethos represented a martial code of the warrior culture during those times. They hold the essence of resilience when stripped of their theatricality.

Resilience seems to be the core ingredient of success.

Looking at where we are as a society and a nation, I believe it is time we bring “resilience” into our daily practice and in our work ethics. It is about time we practice fierce camaraderie in our friend circles and ensure we never let others down. A sense of loyalty and unity as part of society and a nation. (Of course, along with other values such as love, empathy, and kindness).

I would love to hear your stories.