Defence Services Staff College

Working at the Defence Services Staff College up here in Wellington is quite something because of the location in the Nilgiris. It’s often foggy and cool, which is a big change if you’re coming from the plains. The address is L No 20, and the whole area is very much a military atmosphere. This isn't your average college; it’s where officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force come for their staff courses. The buildings are old and have a lot of history to them, stone walls and well-kept paths. We spend our days handling a lot of logistics and administrative work to keep the courses running. There’s a lot of structure here, as you’d expect from a defence establishment. It’s quiet and very orderly. We see officers from all over India and even some from other countries coming here to stay for several months. The canteen and the mess are the main social spots. We don't do any self-promotion because the work speaks for itself and the purpose is very specific. It’s a lot of coordinating between different departments and making sure the guest lecturers and students have everything they need. Life here moves at a different pace than in the big cities. We’re surrounded by tea gardens and hills, which makes for a beautiful but very professional environment. It’s just a place of serious study and tradition tucked away in the Tamil Nadu mountains for those serving the country.