There are no known exceptions, Indian armed forces and its allied services, branches and organisations included, to the old and well known dictum — laughter is the best medicine. Be it high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, heart disease, or any other stress-related condition, laughter and a healthy sense of humour is the treatment. I say that on due recommendations of the Medical Corps.
Believe you me if I tell you that compiling and putting together a book on ‘authentic’ and ‘uniformed’ jokes, anecdotes and comic situations is like fi ghting a battle at Siachen. Like the preparation for a battle atop Siachen, this book too is a result of years of meticulous effort — at times frustrating, and at other times most satisfying. I hope the end result would bring a smile to every reader’s face. Undoubtedly, members of the armed forces have a great sense of humour, as aweinspiring as its fighting prowess — remarkably incisive and direct (like the famed Bofors), succinct and biting. Rarely is it satirical, dry or sardonic. The ‘humour’ in the armed forces is good-natured fun, makes fun and may seem disrespectful, but it never is. It may seem abusive, but it is never offensive. We are all men of honour.
Though plentiful, but for reasons unknown (and perhaps ‘classified’) the men in uniform fight shy of penning down the lighter side of life.
I can only assume that they prefer to shoot with their weapons, rather than with their writing instruments. Nevertheless, I must thank my fellow men in uniform, their children, ladies and all others who have contributed to this book or kept me going in this venture with their encouragement. I was often told that I was in the process of creating history. (May I therefore assume that I am a pioneer of sorts).
I would also like to share the apprehension some of my friends had. Would my fellow soldiers, my brothers-in-arms, take it amiss if goodnatured fun was poked at their regiments? I hope and pray not. Lest some do not like it, to all of them I say that I do not intend to offend or be insolent; do not therefore gun me down for my attempts to lighten the stressed life we lead. My sincere request is, if it tickles you, smile rather than criticise (laughter is good for your health too).
Though all sincere efforts have been made to keep anecdotes and jokes as authentic and original as possible, yet the possibility of some repetition cannot be ruled out. Some of the anecdotes have been picked up from journals, magazines, or other sources along with contributor’s name. Since there was no way to contact them, I thank them now and also request to send more for next volume.
