STRAIGHT TALK BY BILL GATES
Many years ago, a good friend told me, “Learn to live with the people as they are. Do no expect them to be what they ought to be” I think it was a good advice. And so, I have been ACCEPTING people just as I accept inclement weather, with good grace. And now, some one has sent me 11 dictums …
THE BEAUTY OF REFLECTIONS
Originally posted on 22 Nov 2010 : I have received some beautiful pictures of ‘reflections’ from Gen Gaur, and I have taken the liberty of adding one to the collage . At the end, you will find a picture of a mythological young man. In the Greek mythology, there was a stunningly good looking young lad called Narcissus. He spurned …
DOUBLE STANDARDS OF SENIOR OFFICERS
Raja Bhattacharjee’s anecdote has reminded me of a similar experience which I had when I was a Major in a Base Workshop, and was appointed a Group Officer, many years ago. The Commandant gave me a rather stiff target, and when I failed to achieve it, he called for my explanation. I told him about the shortage of trained manpower, …
A TRYST WITH OUR ROOTS
Originally posted on 16 Dec 2010 : The Indian Military Academy in Dehradun is the alma mater for most of our Army officers. That is where they don the uniform and learn the rudiments of soldiering. However, for me and my younger brother, Brig Surinder Singh, it is a lot more. We went there as little children. I was eight …
IS THE TAJ MAHAL A SYMBOL OF ETERNAL LOVE?
Originally posted on 2 Oct 2010 : A CRITIQUE OF THE TAJ MAHAL AND SHAH JEHAN I first visited Agra with my cousins Amarjit and Bir in 1956. An older cousin, (the late) Capt SS Chawla was posted there and he took us around all the monuments. The two which I remember the most are the Fort and, of …
TERA BAYAAN GHALIB
Originally posted on 23 Mar 2012 : The redoubtable writer Khushwant Singh is arguably one of the best known authors of our time. He has published 84 books. Like many Indians, I own several of his tomes. But, I must confess that I have rarely felt like browsing through any of his works after having read it once. In sharp …
MARZ BADHHTA HI GAYA JYON JYON DAWA KI…
Originally posted on 23 March 2012 : This is a tale of woes. I have chosen to share it with you for two reasons : one, because it taught me a lesson and second, for catharsis. I hope to feel lighter after I get it off my chest. I want to forget the episode. About two months ago, I caught …
IF THE COPS ARE “CLEAN” THE CITY BECOMES “PRISTINE”
Originally posted on 24 Aug 2011 : The first command is like the first love : you can never forget it. In my case, it was an EME Battalion located in Sikkim. The current CO, Col Puneet Kapoor was kind enough to invite us and spent a few days there last month. Whilst nearly everything about Gangtok is exhilarating, what …
BAHUT HAI MUSHQIL GIR KE SAMBHALNA...
Originally posted on 9 July 2010 : After a long time I saw a soldier on the cover of a popular Indian weekly. It caught my eye. And this time the cover story was not about killing militants or capture of arms and ammunition. It was something far more difficult. This is an account of building bridges with people in …
JAI JAWAN ; JAI KISAAN !
Originally posted on 16 Oct 2011 : Agriculture or farming is the most appropriate sequel to soldiering. Our cantonments are more akin to small towns and villages than the concrete jungles that our metropolitan towns have become. When thrown in the midst of the slimy people who live in cities, we are like fish out of water. Last week, I …
