Life at National Service camp By Rama Bhikhabhai

File photo of National Service recruits
at camp - not related to the article 

My parents had migrated from British India to Tanganyika Territory in 1947. I was born in Dar-es-salaam. Then it was a cultural norm among the Indian society to educate their girls till primary education for 8 years only. As I was very much interested in studying further, I was allowed to go to Indian girls’ secondary school for additional four years to achieve Cambridge School certificate.

Tanganyika became independent from British rule on 9 December 1961. By 1964, main land Tanganyika united with the People's Republic of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania. As in 1962, less than 2% of 11-16 year old children were in secondary education and about 85% of population was illiterate. To overcome the problem, free primary education was offered to all children. Talented students were selected for high schools and at universities free of charge.

 In 1964, an act of compulsory National Service was introduced for all, boys or girls, who had graduated free of charge from high schools and University. According to the act, one should do two years national training service which included both military as well as nation building activities. Out of these two years, six months should be spent on the military camps and during the rest of 18 months one should practise the normal profession with reduction of the salary by 40%.

The aim of staying in a camp for six months was to provide standard military training as well as training on human rights, civics, and the history of the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and also aimed to impart students with a sense of unity and patriotism.

Many of my class mates went to India or UK for further education with the aim of settling overseas due to the political instability. My father could not afford to send me abroad. I was one of the two Indian girls who were selected from our school to go for high school education (A-level) in 1965. It was a dilemma whether I should accept the offer of going to A-level or not, because if I accept, I had to go for six months of national service after I finished my studies. My parents were not keen on this idea as this was a new concept for them. 
They were fearful for my safety and what the society would say for sending a young girl away to unknown challenges. Obviously my parents were protective, worried and anxious, as I had never lived away from them. But I managed to convince them after weighing the pros and cons. They were very proud of my academic achievement so far and wanted me to fulfill my dream. We decided to tackle the problem when it came.

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