It started with a movie screening!

Sulagna Panigrahi, daughter of our coursemate Colonel Panigrahi, recently debuted in the leading role in the Hindi movie ‘Ek Adbhut Dakshina’. Colonel Ajay Sharma—another of our course-mates and my next-room friend at the India Military Academy—was there to cheer her on. Beside him were his wife, Ashima, and their daughter, Anushka Sharma (now a leading actress and global celebrity).

Watching them, a clear thought struck me: acting, talent, and effortless confidence seem to run directly through the veins of the children of our course-mates, and indeed, all defence personnel.

A Pattern Worth Noticing

Sulagna is not an isolated example. Over the years, an incredible number of young women from defence backgrounds have excelled on national and international platforms.

Consider these names:

• Navneet Kaur Dhillon (Miss India 2013) grew up in an Army family.
• Sobhita Dhulipala (pageant runner-up and acclaimed actress) comes from a Navy background.
• Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Gul Panag, Celina Jaitly, and Neha Dhupia all trace their roots directly back to the armed forces.

These achievements go far beyond physical appearance. Success in these highly competitive arenas demands intense confidence, sharp articulation, quick adaptability, and immense presence of mind.

So, what exactly gives these defence kids their competitive edge?

Growing Up the Military Way

Life in the armed forces is unlike any other. It begins long before the children are even born, with a rigorous selection process for their parents that tests personality, resilience, and leadership potential. Military training further sharpens these qualities.

Children raised in these environments grow up observing discipline, structure, and high standards as a natural way of life. Expectations are rarely imposed harshly; instead, they are consistently, quietly present.

The Gift of Constant Change

If there is one defining feature of military life, it is movement.

A typical defence child might be born in Srinagar, attend school in Coimbatore, spend a few years in Assam, and then move to Punjab or Rajasthan. With every new posting comes a brand-new school, a new set of friends, and an entirely unfamiliar local culture.

While challenging, this constant uprooting builds remarkable adaptability.

A Personal Reflection

I vividly remember when my son, Nikhil, started Grade 1 in Canada. His teacher gently warned him that adjusting to a completely new culture might take some time.

Nikhil’s response was beautifully simple. He looked at her and explained that he had already studied in four different Indian states, across multiple languages and cultures, before even reaching Grade 1. Adapting wasn’t a chore for him—it was second nature.

That is the quiet strength of military children. They learn very early in life that change is not something to fear, but an adventure to manage.

Confidence, Communication, and Curiosity

Military homes are structured, but they are rarely rigid. Children are actively encouraged to balance their academics with sports, cultural activities, and diverse social interactions.

From a young age, they attend official social gatherings where they learn how to confidently engage with people of all ages and hierarchies. Furthermore, daily dinner table conversations often range widely—from current affairs to philosophy—because military parents are frequently avid readers and thoughtful observers of the world.

This unique environment naturally cross-trains children in strong communication skills and deep intellectual curiosity.

Resilience Under the Surface

Behind all the outward confidence lies another, less visible quality: deep emotional resilience.

Defence families live with a baseline of uncertainty. Deployments to remote, high-risk, or sensitive areas mean long periods of family separation and quiet anxiety. Because of this, children learn early to be independent, self-reliant, and emotionally steady.

It is also an environment where mothers shoulder immense responsibility, holding the entire household together with grace and strength. Their role in shaping grounded, capable children cannot be overstated.

Exposure Beyond the Classroom

Military cantonments provide built-in access to sports, adventure activities, and cultural platforms that many civilian children might not experience until much later in life.

Whether it is swimming, tennis, trekking, or the performing arts, children are pushed to participate widely. They also absorb social etiquette organically. They learn how to host, how to interact, and how to carry themselves simply by observing the tight-knit community around them. These are critical life skills that develop gradually over years, not through short-term weekend workshops.

A Culture of Lived Inclusivity

Another quiet strength of military life is its inherent, everyday inclusivity.

Families celebrate festivals across all religions and regions. Children grow up visiting temples, churches, mosques, and gurudwaras with equal ease. Respect for diversity is never taught as an abstract theory—it is lived daily.

This lifelong exposure fosters an easy openness in navigating different cultures, an asset that is becoming increasingly valuable in our globalised world.

Why the Girls Shine So Brightly

Many of these exact environmental factors seem to particularly empower young women from defence backgrounds.

They grow up in a subculture where female participation is highly encouraged, confidence is intentionally nurtured, and social exposure is standard. While no system is entirely perfect, the culture within military communities promotes dignity, respect, and high visibility for women in everyday interactions.

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that so many of these young women step onto global stages and excel.

A Thought to Take Forward

Not everyone is raised in a military cantonment, but the core elements of this upbringing can absolutely be replicated by any parent, anywhere.

We can actively:

• Encourage children to participate heavily in sports and arts.
• Expose them to diverse cultures and big ideas.
• Build strong reading habits at home.
• Intentionally involve them in multi-generational social interactions.

Many of these identical opportunities already exist—right here in Canada—through community programs, public libraries, and local recreational facilities.

Ultimately, what matters most is not the geographical setting, but our parenting intent. If we consciously design environments that promote adaptability, confidence, and curiosity, we can raise a global generation that is not only highly successful, but beautifully balanced and grounded.