Deolali transit camp facts for kids

The Deolali transit camp was a special military base in Maharashtra, India. It was built by the British Army in 1861. This camp was used during the time when Britain ruled India, a period known as the British Raj.

The main job of the camp was to house soldiers. Some soldiers were new to India and needed to get used to the climate. Others were waiting for ships to take them back home to Britain. The camp also had a military prison. It even held prisoners of war during World War I and World War II.

People often said that life at the camp could be tough, especially if soldiers stayed there for a long time. This led to the word "doolally" becoming a slang term. It was used to describe someone who was acting strangely or seemed to be losing their mind. After India became independent in 1947, the camp was given to the Indian Army.

What Was the Deolali Camp For?

The Deolali camp was located near the town of Deolali in Maharashtra. This area is about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Mumbai. The camp was close to a distinctive hill and the Bahula Fort.

A Place for Soldiers to Stay

The British set up the camp in 1861. It was officially called the Deolali Cantonment. Soon, it became a key transit camp. This meant it was a temporary home for soldiers. Many soldiers stayed there while waiting for a ship to take them back to Britain.

It was also used to train new soldiers arriving in British India. They would spend several weeks at the camp. They did things like long marches and drills to get used to the hot weather. Deolali was seen as one of India's "hill stations," which are places in the mountains that are cooler.

Connecting to the Port

The camp had a railway line that connected it to the port in Mumbai. This railway was very important for moving troops. During World War I, the camp also served as a hospital. It treated prisoners of war from other camps in India. These included Turkish soldiers captured in the Mesopotamian campaign and German soldiers.

The camp had a military prison for British soldiers. During World War II, it also held Indian nationalists. These were people who had joined the Japanese-founded Indian National Army. In the Second World War, the camp even had fun things for the troops. These included cinemas, swimming pools, amusement parks, and restaurants.

After India's Independence

After India gained independence in 1947, the camp was handed over to the Indian Army. It became an important center for artillery training. It also served as a depot for many artillery and service units. The camp housed an army records office and an aerial observation squadron.

Before independence, the camp was known as the "Homeward Bound Trooping Depot." It helped send many British troops and their families back home. This happened as British forces left India.

The Deolali camp was also the setting for a 1970s British comedy TV show. It was called It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

The Story Behind "Doolally"

Soldiers called the camp "Doolally." This name later became a slang word linked to mental health issues. The full original phrase was "Doolally tap." The word "tap" came from "tapa," which means "fever" in the Hindustani language. In Sanskrit, it means "heat" or "torment." So, "Doolally tap" might have meant "camp fever." This term was used from the late 1800s. The shorter "Doolally" became common by World War I.

Why Soldiers Felt "Doolally"

It was believed that soldiers at the camp sometimes struggled with their mental health. This was often due to the long wait for a troop ship home. The heat of the long Indian summers also played a part. Ships only sailed between November and March. This meant some men had to wait at the camp for many months.

Soldiers were disarmed and given only light duties. This meant there was not much for them to do. By the end of summer, the camp was often very full. New arrivals sometimes had to sleep on the floor because there were not enough beds. They also suffered from sand flea bites. Men were allowed to visit the nearby city of Nasik.

Malaria was common in the Deolali area. This disease can affect the brain. It remained a big problem for the British Army even during World War II. This was true even with new anti-malarial medicines. Despite its reputation, the Deolali area actually had a milder climate than nearby Mumbai or Pune. However, it was known to be incredibly dusty before the monsoon season.

The camp had a sanatorium, which was a military hospital. But it never had a special hospital just for mental health issues. Soldiers with mental health problems were usually kept in the military prison. Or they were sent to other hospitals in different parts of the country.