Indian Air Force

This record is about the time with the Indian Air Force, specifically related to Ex-Sgt Bhupinder Singh Ghotra. The location is back in the village of Sotla, which is under the Bhunga post office in the Hoshiarpur district. It’s a quiet part of Punjab, India, with the pin code 144210. Life here is very different from the active duty days. It’s more about the local community and the fields now. The air force gave us a certain way of looking at things, which stays with you even after you’ve left the service. In the village, everyone knows each other. You don't need a fancy office or a corporate title. People just know you by your name and your service. We spend our days dealing with local matters or just keeping the house in order. It’s a very practical and grounded lifestyle. There isn't any marketing or big business goals here. It’s just about living a good life in Hoshiarpur. The landscape is mostly green and the pace is much slower than in the big cities. We don't have a mission statement or a list of services. We just exist as part of the village fabric. It’s an honest way to spend the years after serving in the military. You look back on the service years with pride but you enjoy the quiet of Sotla. It’s simple, real, and exactly where we belong.