AUM
OSTRACIZE SEX PEST
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Sexual crimes are on the rise in our society. Perhaps criminals are emboldened because they have not been punished for their past misdeeds. In some cases the criminals buy social respect and political power to perpetrate sexual oppression. The lion hearted , if any, turn Nelson's eye to social oppression of this nature. The lamb hearted are not expected to resist the criminals who unfortunately possess both fat money bags and command political power. How will the social system protect teenage girls, young boys and pretty women from the onslaught of sex maniacs and compulsive rapists? Well, the answer lies in inculcating and developing moral courage among the rank and file of the society and devising plans for effective punishment and elimination of sex pests. Let us first identify the problem areas and look for solutions.
PERMISSIVE SOCIETY
Some sociologists are of the opinion that the present day society has become permissive and does not castigate those individuals who infringe social and sexual norms. Both the electronic and print media collect, collate and disseminate information on sex to such an extent that teenagers are motivated to have a trial run of what they have seen on the small screen or read in print. In some cases the youth is sexually aroused and with both boys and girls living and studying in close proximity, sexual experimentation and sexual escapades become a norm rather than an aberration. When space for stolen love is not available they take shelter in public parks and look for secluded and dark corners to carry on with sexual acts. it is here that they become vulnerable to attacks of and exploitation by sex pests in the society. Exploitation by criminals becomes an ongoing process and the victims do not have moral courage to call a halt lest they stand exposed in their social circles. What a vicious circle it becomes? Indeed it is a sad situation but it is there.
Where do we go from here? Let us identify criminal elements first, have them brought to book and subsequently wean away our young boys and girls from sexual pleasures that give more pain than pleasure. Easier said than done? No, pt is not a tall order. Let us go to the Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi. It is an ideal setting for what has been described in the previous paragraph. Surprisingly, the villain in a recent case of sexual exploitation of young love birds were none other than the Rashtrapati ke Angrakshak of an elite mounted unit called the President"s Body Guard. How long had they been committing this crime of intimidation, extortion and forced sex amounting to Rape is anybody's guess. The soldiers brought a sense of shame to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Indian Army. Anyway, hopefully a full stop was put to sexual offences. Nevertheless, one has to be on guard lest history repeats itself.
A two-pronged attack should be launched on the phenomenon of permissiveness in the society. Cleansing of minds, elimination of pornographic literature available to teenagers in print and on small screen and regulated outdoor life. The vulnerable sections of the society should be cautioned agains surprise attacks of human predators who roam about roads and lanes looking for easy prey. It is our DHARMA to protect our children by incresing awareness of such situations where harm comes in a big way. Keep the teenagers out of harm's way, that should be our suraksha mantra. Also we should all remember that "Prevention is better than cure". There is no point in lamenting after the honour of the individual and the family is robbed at gun point. In some cases rapists took the plea that the girls lured them into performing sexual acts and that it was consensual sex and Not Rape.
RAPE AND CONSENSUAL SEX
The Indian Penal Code is specific on what constitutes rape. Section 375 IPC defines it and the punishment is awarded under section 376. Presently we shall also draw a distinction between consensual sex and rape. When two consenting adults,one man and one woman, have sexual intercourse of their free will without fear or inducement, the act does not attract penal provisions. However,if there is a false promise of marriage just to have sex, it would be termed as rape. If the rapist paints a false scenario to the prosecutrix and has sex, it would be termed rape. In one case a doctor while examining a pretty bride for stomachache , bared her body and had sex as a part of treatment, the court termed this medical operation as rape. It is als laid down that mere penetration of penis into vagina is sufficient to constitute the offence of rape. Young and inexperienced teenagers must take care so that they are not exploited by sex pests who are ever ready to take undue advantage of their innocence.
The question of consensual sex does not arise when the girl is a minor. A girl under 18 years of age may consent to have sex with a man but the sexual act will be termed as Rape. Consent to have sex with a minor is not valid in the eye of law. Let our children know the correct position of law so that they protect themselves and their honour from the onslaught of sexual perverts and pests.
OSTRACIZE SEX PESTS
PEER PRESSURE AND SOCIAL PRESSURE ON A SEX PEST WORKS WONDERS. Man is a social being and cannot live alone. Every human being gets his or her sustenance from the social set up , be it food or water or company of fellow human beings. Many old men and women who are physically unable to move around, invite school children to their homes so that they hear human voice in their own home. In turn the lady of the house cooks goodies or buys from the market for the children so that they find visit to senior citizens worthwhile. Moral of the story is that hearing human voice is also like oxygen and sustains an individual.
Thus, if a sex pest is shunned by the society as a whole, he wont be able to survive. There has to be complete cohesion in the society so that social boycott of the sex pest is effective. Sociologists may also advise heads of communities to boycott the sex pests successfully. The results will be really amazing. This ostrcization should be a voluntary step by the society and the compulsion of law may not be brought in.
All said and done, sex pests have to be either eliminated or made ineffective. The teenagers will feel the difference and in the absence of their tormentors, rnjoy the cool breeze of the morning and hear the birds sing when the cows come home in the evening. Indeed the teenagers will be in Heaven while living in this world.
ADDRESS : UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA - 201303 INDIA Mobile : 0091-981117359
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
OSTRACIZE SEX PEST
AUM
OSTRACIZE SEX PEST
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Sexual crimes are on the rise in our society. Perhaps criminals are emboldened because they have not been punished for their past misdeeds. In some cases the criminals buy social respect and political power to perpetrate sexual oppression. The lion hearted , if any, turn Nelson's eye to social oppression of this nature. The lamb hearted are not expected to resist the criminals who unfortunately possess both fat money bags and command political power. How will the social system protect teenage girls, young boys and pretty women from the onslaught of sex maniacs and compulsive rapists? Well, the answer lies in inculcating and developing moral courage among the rank and file of the society and devising plans for effective punishment and elimination of sex pests. Let us first identify the problem areas and look for solutions.
PERMISSIVE SOCIETY
Some sociologists are of the opinion that the present day society has become permissive and does not castigate those individuals who infringe social and sexual norms. Both the electronic and print media collect, collate and disseminate information on sex to such an extent that teenagers are motivated to have a trial run of what they have seen on the small screen or read in print. In some cases the youth is sexually aroused and with both boys and girls living and studying in close proximity, sexual experimentation and sexual escapades become a norm rather than an aberration. When space for stolen love is not available they take shelter in public parks and look for secluded and dark corners to carry on with sexual acts. it is here that they become vulnerable to attacks of and exploitation by sex pests in the society. Exploitation by criminals becomes an ongoing process and the victims do not have moral courage to call a halt lest they stand exposed in their social circles. What a vicious circle it becomes? Indeed it is a sad situation but it is there.
Where do we go from here? Let us identify criminal elements first, have them brought to book and subsequently wean away our young boys and girls from sexual pleasures that give more pain than pleasure. Easier said than done? No, pt is not a tall order. Let us go to the Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi. It is an ideal setting for what has been described in the previous paragraph. Surprisingly, the villain in a recent case of sexual exploitation of young love birds were none other than the Rashtrapati ke Angrakshak of an elite mounted unit called the President"s Body Guard. How long had they been committing this crime of intimidation, extortion and forced sex amounting to Rape is anybody's guess. The soldiers brought a sense of shame to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Indian Army. Anyway, hopefully a full stop was put to sexual offences. Nevertheless, one has to be on guard lest history repeats itself.
A two-pronged attack should be launched on the phenomenon of permissiveness in the society. Cleansing of minds, elimination of pornographic literature available to teenagers in print and on small screen and regulated outdoor life. The vulnerable sections of the society should be cautioned agains surprise attacks of human predators who roam about roads and lanes looking for easy prey. It is our DHARMA to protect our children by incresing awareness of such situations where harm comes in a big way. Keep the teenagers out of harm's way, that should be our suraksha mantra. Also we should all remember that "Prevention is better than cure". There is no point in lamenting after the honour of the individual and the family is robbed at gun point. In some cases rapists took the plea that the girls lured them into performing sexual acts and that it was consensual sex and Not Rape.
RAPE AND CONSENSUAL SEX
The Indian Penal Code is specific on what constitutes rape. Section 375 IPC defines it and the punishment is awarded under section 376. Presently we shall also draw a distinction between consensual sex and rape. When two consenting adults,one man and one woman, have sexual intercourse of their free will without fear or inducement, the act does not attract penal provisions. However,if there is a false promise of marriage just to have sex, it would be termed as rape. If the rapist paints a false scenario to the prosecutrix and has sex, it would be termed rape. In one case a doctor while examining a pretty bride for stomachache , bared her body and had sex as a part of treatment, the court termed this medical operation as rape. It is als laid down that mere penetration of penis into vagina is sufficient to constitute the offence of rape. Young and inexperienced teenagers must take care so that they are not exploited by sex pests who are ever ready to take undue advantage of their innocence.
The question of consensual sex does not arise when the girl is a minor. A girl under 18 years of age may consent to have sex with a man but the sexual act will be termed as Rape. Consent to have sex with a minor is not valid in the eye of law. Let our children know the correct position of law so that they protect themselves and their honour from the onslaught of sexual perverts and pests.
OSTRACIZE SEX PESTS
PEER PRESSURE AND SOCIAL PRESSURE ON A SEX PEST WORKS WONDERS. Man is a social being and cannot live alone. Every human being gets his or her sustenance from the social set up , be it food or water or company of fellow human beings. Many old men and women who are physically unable to move around, invite school children to their homes so that they hear human voice in their own home. In turn the lady of the house cooks goodies or buys from the market for the children so that they find visit to senior citizens worthwhile. Moral of the story is that hearing human voice is also like oxygen and sustains an individual.
Thus, if a sex pest is shunned by the society as a whole, he wont be able to survive. There has to be complete cohesion in the society so that social boycott of the sex pest is effective. Sociologists may also advise heads of communities to boycott the sex pests successfully. The results will be really amazing. This ostrcization should be a voluntary step by the society and the compulsion of law may not be brought in.
All said and done, sex pests have to be either eliminated or made ineffective. The teenagers will feel the difference and in the absence of their tormentors, rnjoy the cool breeze of the morning and hear the birds sing when the cows come home in the evening. Indeed the teenagers will be in Heaven while living in this world.
ADDRESS : UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA - 201303 INDIA Mobile : 0091-981117359
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
IS SULKING A SOLUTION
AUM
IS SULKING A SOLUTION
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
We all sulk. I guess it is a part of human nature. Nevertheless sulking cannot be called a symptom of good health. It may be called a malady that needs remedy lest it goes from bad to worse. What is a sulk? Well, when an individual is sullen and does not wish to communicate with other human beings, it may be termed as a sulk. Inability to do an assignment or incapability to grasp a situation or identify a problem, what to say of finding a solution, may make an individual sulk. If this kind of sulking goes on for a fairly long period, the individual concerned starts enjoying his or her sulk. In these circumstances, the friends and family may have to try harder to bring the individual back to normalcy. Thus a sulk becomes a malady that defies remedy.
AYODHYA , that is the capital of kingdom of Avadh. The metropolis is agog with the news of Rajyabhishek or annointing Shri Ram as the ruler in place of his father,Raja Dasrath. joy knows no bounds among captains and commoners. however, for Kaikeyi, the prettiest and most loved queen of king Dasrath, it was a different cup of tea. She was sulking. It was a royal sulk and was writ large all over the place. Under advice of her maid and confidant,Manthara, she had moved into the Kopa Bhawan or the place designated to show sulk or anger. This brings us to the point that sulk may be sported at the normal place of work or living or at a designated place. The sulk of Kaikeyi succeeded in banishing Shri Ram for fourteen years and designating her son,Bharat, as the heir apparent. The moral of the story is that a sulk should not be permitted to reap the harvest of the planned sowing of seeds of discord. Of course, in AYODHYA, the circumstances added weight to the sulk and it achieved the aim.
A moment ago we talked of the designated place of sulk. It was so in ancient times and it is so in modern times. Quite a few corporate houses in Japan have designated spots in the office or factory premises where executives and workers may go and eliminate their sulk or anger by throwing crockery or glassware against the wall and break it into pieces. Once the pent up emotions have been given vent to, sulkers return to designated place of duty and put in hard work to keep the company afloat and eventually earn profits.
SULKERS IN HIGH POSITIONS
Sulking becomes an acute problem when the sulker is occupying a position of importance. Finding a solution to sulking is a Herculean job therein. Here is a true story from the British Army stationed in India in the pre-independence days. One fine morning the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion was having his breakfast in the officers mess and was also reading the morning newspaper. A subaltern freshly commissioned after training at Sandhurst, the Kashi of the British officers, entered the dining hall. As was the training and the practice, the subaltern wished the commanding officer"Good Morning Sir"". The senior officer had his eyes fixed on some home news of interest and the teeth had bitten deep into a piece of ham and thus chose to ignore the youngster. The young officer persisted with "Good Morning Sir"as per the rule book. The senior officer, grumpy and sullen, retorted "Good Morning, Good Morning, what is so bloody good with this morning"and resumed his intellectual exercise. Until then the youing officer had not come across a sulky senior officer and felt so bad that he was almost in tears. The moral of the true story is that the cadets under training should be taught behavioural science and apprised of the existence of sulk in the army too.
Sometimes some highbrows think that to sulk is their prerogative. On going on a sulk, the rest of the outfit would go out of their way to desulk the boss man and yield many a point that they would not have yielded in the normal run of things. Thus at times unsavoury situation develops when the boss man on a sulk demands and receives sexual favours from a female subordinate. He may call it consensual sex but frankly speaking the sexual act amounts to rape. Let us leave it at that after quoting John Gray "Men are from Mars and women are fromVenus." Nonetheless, both sulk - may be for different reasons,though. A sulk is like an entry into a well when the sulker is shut out from the rest of the world. A sulker suffers from unredressed grievances. A grievance may be a real one or just a figment of imagination. A sulker may feel that he or she is being ignored or the world is out to oppress. By going into a sulk, a sulker feels the existence of a protective wall around him. Further, the loved ones will come forward to implore him to give up that sulk and be a normal cheerful person. Thus he will be a centre of attraction,never mind the wrong reasons, and all eyes will be focussed on him. The entire exercise gives a kind of thrill not experienced in the normal run of things.
HUMOUR CREMATES SULK
HUMOUR IS THE BEST KNOWN ANTI-DOTE TO THE POISON OF SULK. In a healthy society one invariably finds an individual or two who not only possess wit and humour but also practise them. Humour and sulk cannot coexist. It is equally true of children and adults. A sulking child should never be given what he demands otherwise to get an object of his choice child will go into a sulk. Humour also begets happiness. Oscar Wilde, the famous English writer and a professed homo-sexual who was imprisoned for this impropriety,wrote " The best way to make children good is to make them happy."Happiness roots out sulk and does not let it resurface. In any case, experts on sulk opine that a sulker restored to normalcy must not tread the beaten track again as no one would care a dime for him or her. There the history does not repeat itself.
Address : UPVAN 609, Sector 29 , NOIDA – 201303 INDIA
Mobile 0091-9811173590 Phone 0091-120-2454622
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com upvanom@yahoo.com
IS SULKING A SOLUTION
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
We all sulk. I guess it is a part of human nature. Nevertheless sulking cannot be called a symptom of good health. It may be called a malady that needs remedy lest it goes from bad to worse. What is a sulk? Well, when an individual is sullen and does not wish to communicate with other human beings, it may be termed as a sulk. Inability to do an assignment or incapability to grasp a situation or identify a problem, what to say of finding a solution, may make an individual sulk. If this kind of sulking goes on for a fairly long period, the individual concerned starts enjoying his or her sulk. In these circumstances, the friends and family may have to try harder to bring the individual back to normalcy. Thus a sulk becomes a malady that defies remedy.
AYODHYA , that is the capital of kingdom of Avadh. The metropolis is agog with the news of Rajyabhishek or annointing Shri Ram as the ruler in place of his father,Raja Dasrath. joy knows no bounds among captains and commoners. however, for Kaikeyi, the prettiest and most loved queen of king Dasrath, it was a different cup of tea. She was sulking. It was a royal sulk and was writ large all over the place. Under advice of her maid and confidant,Manthara, she had moved into the Kopa Bhawan or the place designated to show sulk or anger. This brings us to the point that sulk may be sported at the normal place of work or living or at a designated place. The sulk of Kaikeyi succeeded in banishing Shri Ram for fourteen years and designating her son,Bharat, as the heir apparent. The moral of the story is that a sulk should not be permitted to reap the harvest of the planned sowing of seeds of discord. Of course, in AYODHYA, the circumstances added weight to the sulk and it achieved the aim.
A moment ago we talked of the designated place of sulk. It was so in ancient times and it is so in modern times. Quite a few corporate houses in Japan have designated spots in the office or factory premises where executives and workers may go and eliminate their sulk or anger by throwing crockery or glassware against the wall and break it into pieces. Once the pent up emotions have been given vent to, sulkers return to designated place of duty and put in hard work to keep the company afloat and eventually earn profits.
SULKERS IN HIGH POSITIONS
Sulking becomes an acute problem when the sulker is occupying a position of importance. Finding a solution to sulking is a Herculean job therein. Here is a true story from the British Army stationed in India in the pre-independence days. One fine morning the Commanding Officer of an infantry battalion was having his breakfast in the officers mess and was also reading the morning newspaper. A subaltern freshly commissioned after training at Sandhurst, the Kashi of the British officers, entered the dining hall. As was the training and the practice, the subaltern wished the commanding officer"Good Morning Sir"". The senior officer had his eyes fixed on some home news of interest and the teeth had bitten deep into a piece of ham and thus chose to ignore the youngster. The young officer persisted with "Good Morning Sir"as per the rule book. The senior officer, grumpy and sullen, retorted "Good Morning, Good Morning, what is so bloody good with this morning"and resumed his intellectual exercise. Until then the youing officer had not come across a sulky senior officer and felt so bad that he was almost in tears. The moral of the true story is that the cadets under training should be taught behavioural science and apprised of the existence of sulk in the army too.
Sometimes some highbrows think that to sulk is their prerogative. On going on a sulk, the rest of the outfit would go out of their way to desulk the boss man and yield many a point that they would not have yielded in the normal run of things. Thus at times unsavoury situation develops when the boss man on a sulk demands and receives sexual favours from a female subordinate. He may call it consensual sex but frankly speaking the sexual act amounts to rape. Let us leave it at that after quoting John Gray "Men are from Mars and women are fromVenus." Nonetheless, both sulk - may be for different reasons,though. A sulk is like an entry into a well when the sulker is shut out from the rest of the world. A sulker suffers from unredressed grievances. A grievance may be a real one or just a figment of imagination. A sulker may feel that he or she is being ignored or the world is out to oppress. By going into a sulk, a sulker feels the existence of a protective wall around him. Further, the loved ones will come forward to implore him to give up that sulk and be a normal cheerful person. Thus he will be a centre of attraction,never mind the wrong reasons, and all eyes will be focussed on him. The entire exercise gives a kind of thrill not experienced in the normal run of things.
HUMOUR CREMATES SULK
HUMOUR IS THE BEST KNOWN ANTI-DOTE TO THE POISON OF SULK. In a healthy society one invariably finds an individual or two who not only possess wit and humour but also practise them. Humour and sulk cannot coexist. It is equally true of children and adults. A sulking child should never be given what he demands otherwise to get an object of his choice child will go into a sulk. Humour also begets happiness. Oscar Wilde, the famous English writer and a professed homo-sexual who was imprisoned for this impropriety,wrote " The best way to make children good is to make them happy."Happiness roots out sulk and does not let it resurface. In any case, experts on sulk opine that a sulker restored to normalcy must not tread the beaten track again as no one would care a dime for him or her. There the history does not repeat itself.
Address : UPVAN 609, Sector 29 , NOIDA – 201303 INDIA
Mobile 0091-9811173590 Phone 0091-120-2454622
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com upvanom@yahoo.com
PEOPLE'S PRINCESS PASSES AWAY
AUM
PEOPLE’S PRINCESS PASSES AWAY
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant, VSM
A PRINCESS IS A PRINCESS and people are people. The twain shall never meet.(kipling , please forgive). There are exceptions and these exceptions prove the rule. Ninety years ago a princess was born in the state of Cooch-Behar and grew up to be a beauty par excellence. Her mother, the Maharani was a princess from the royal family of Baroda and thus the Marathi and the Bengali cultures left a combined imprint on the new born babe. Named Ayesha , she had her education in the school of life travelling from one country to another. It was in one of the Polo seasons of Calcutta where princely India and their British overlords including the Viceroy assembled every winter to play polo that His Highness Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur took a fancy for Ayesha, a teenager. He asked the Maharani of Cooch-Behar for Ayesha’s hand in marriage and in one of her weaker moments the mother-maharani agreed. Ayesha too fell for him and much against the advice of family and friends, their marriage was solemnised in Europe. The Maharajah already had two queens and three children but that was no barrier to the budding love.
Ayesha came to be known to the royalty of India and the fashion world beyond borders as Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. She called her husband Jai as he was the ruler of Jaipur. The royal couple was made for each other. They shared love of horses and never missed an opportunity to play polo in India and abroad. Gayatri Devi’s interests were not confined to pleasures of royals like a tiger hunt or shikar of big game but turned her attention to education of girls. The girls in Rajputana were rarely permitted to go out of the four walls of the house, the question of educating them in a school just did not arise. The new Maharani paid undivided attention to this problem. She opened a school for girls in Jaipur that was named after her as Maharani Gayatri Devi School for Girls. It is a successful institution and has brought good education to girls from developing areas. Gayatri Devi made it a point to promote interests of the school and did not let any obstacle come in the way of its progress.
In 1970 His Highness Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II had a massive heart attack while playing polo in Jaipur. Gayatri Devi was shattered but she did not let her widowhood come in the way of her welfare of common man programme. To let the country know of the woes of farmers and artisans she contested elections and entered the Lok Sabha as an M.P. three times. Her success at the hustings and defeat of the party in power at the Centre annoyed the powers that be. When Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, Maharani Gayatri Devi was put behind the bars for many months. Her Highness was kept in the same prison barracks as hardened criminals, prostitutes and psychic killers. It was so traumatic for Gayatri Devi that she chose to quit politics rather than keep company with harlots in prison in Tihar, Delhi. Unbelievable but true.
Gayatri Devi was a pretty woman and a class by herself. She was voted as one of the most beautiful women in top ten in the world by Vogue. She lived in style and built a small house with lily ponds inside on the premises of the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. She had her guests looked after well, irrespective of her absence or presence in the house. Her small modern bungalow was an open house to all her friends, acquaintances and even former subjects. No wonder she was so popular among the people that she won three elections to the Lok Sabha hands down.
Her own son pre-deceased her. The grand children are settled abroad. Lonely life was successfully kept at bay by her by espousing causes of man in the street. The cause of common man that she espoused alienated her from own kith and kin at times. Sometimes the administration did not relish the idea of an ex-queen pleading for the people. Nevertheless, she pressed on regardless and earned the gratitude of the have-nots. A busy schedule kept her in good health both physically and mentally and she touched 90 before calling it a day.
As a princess of the royal household she chose to represent the people and have them heard in the august House of parliament. No wonder she earned the name PEOPLE’S PRINCESS.
________________________________________________________________Address : UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA 201303, INDIA Mob. 0091-9811173590. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
PEOPLE’S PRINCESS PASSES AWAY
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant, VSM
A PRINCESS IS A PRINCESS and people are people. The twain shall never meet.(kipling , please forgive). There are exceptions and these exceptions prove the rule. Ninety years ago a princess was born in the state of Cooch-Behar and grew up to be a beauty par excellence. Her mother, the Maharani was a princess from the royal family of Baroda and thus the Marathi and the Bengali cultures left a combined imprint on the new born babe. Named Ayesha , she had her education in the school of life travelling from one country to another. It was in one of the Polo seasons of Calcutta where princely India and their British overlords including the Viceroy assembled every winter to play polo that His Highness Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur took a fancy for Ayesha, a teenager. He asked the Maharani of Cooch-Behar for Ayesha’s hand in marriage and in one of her weaker moments the mother-maharani agreed. Ayesha too fell for him and much against the advice of family and friends, their marriage was solemnised in Europe. The Maharajah already had two queens and three children but that was no barrier to the budding love.
Ayesha came to be known to the royalty of India and the fashion world beyond borders as Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. She called her husband Jai as he was the ruler of Jaipur. The royal couple was made for each other. They shared love of horses and never missed an opportunity to play polo in India and abroad. Gayatri Devi’s interests were not confined to pleasures of royals like a tiger hunt or shikar of big game but turned her attention to education of girls. The girls in Rajputana were rarely permitted to go out of the four walls of the house, the question of educating them in a school just did not arise. The new Maharani paid undivided attention to this problem. She opened a school for girls in Jaipur that was named after her as Maharani Gayatri Devi School for Girls. It is a successful institution and has brought good education to girls from developing areas. Gayatri Devi made it a point to promote interests of the school and did not let any obstacle come in the way of its progress.
In 1970 His Highness Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II had a massive heart attack while playing polo in Jaipur. Gayatri Devi was shattered but she did not let her widowhood come in the way of her welfare of common man programme. To let the country know of the woes of farmers and artisans she contested elections and entered the Lok Sabha as an M.P. three times. Her success at the hustings and defeat of the party in power at the Centre annoyed the powers that be. When Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, Maharani Gayatri Devi was put behind the bars for many months. Her Highness was kept in the same prison barracks as hardened criminals, prostitutes and psychic killers. It was so traumatic for Gayatri Devi that she chose to quit politics rather than keep company with harlots in prison in Tihar, Delhi. Unbelievable but true.
Gayatri Devi was a pretty woman and a class by herself. She was voted as one of the most beautiful women in top ten in the world by Vogue. She lived in style and built a small house with lily ponds inside on the premises of the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. She had her guests looked after well, irrespective of her absence or presence in the house. Her small modern bungalow was an open house to all her friends, acquaintances and even former subjects. No wonder she was so popular among the people that she won three elections to the Lok Sabha hands down.
Her own son pre-deceased her. The grand children are settled abroad. Lonely life was successfully kept at bay by her by espousing causes of man in the street. The cause of common man that she espoused alienated her from own kith and kin at times. Sometimes the administration did not relish the idea of an ex-queen pleading for the people. Nevertheless, she pressed on regardless and earned the gratitude of the have-nots. A busy schedule kept her in good health both physically and mentally and she touched 90 before calling it a day.
As a princess of the royal household she chose to represent the people and have them heard in the august House of parliament. No wonder she earned the name PEOPLE’S PRINCESS.
________________________________________________________________Address : UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA 201303, INDIA Mob. 0091-9811173590. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
ACTING STUPIDLY IS GOOD FUN
AUM
ACTING STUPIDLY IS GOOD FUN
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Acting Stupidly is no one’s prerogative. Your position in politics or society does not grant you an amnesty either. President of the United States of America, the most powerful man on earth, acted stupidly by describing an act of a Sergeant of Cambridge, Mass, police “acted stupidly”. The white Sergeant had arrested a black professor of Harvard for disorderly behaviour in front of his own house. The entire police department of Cambridge, Mass, was up in arms and their union asked the President to apologise. Indeed the professor had acted stupidly by arguing with the police officer and calling him a racist. The acting stupidly episode was in the process of snow balling and exploding into a racial confrontation between blacks and whites when sanity prevailed on all concerned. President Barrack Obama invited both Prof Gates and the white Police Sergeant to the White House and have a glass of beer with him. The two contending parties have accepted the invitation and the “acted stupidly” episode will blow over. Just a suggestion is made how to end the controversy for good. Instead of burying the hatchet or drowning it in beer tankards
, it would be a good idea to cremate the ghost of an unpleasant episode to prevent it from rising again.
A quarter of a century ago while preparing for commentary on the Golden Jubilee Parade of the Indian Military Academy I came across some interesting but little known facts and figures about well known generals when they were Gentlemen Cadets in the first course of IMA in 1932. The distinguished assembly of spectators at the Chetwode drill square had enjoyed listening to it. How does one act stupidly in youth is crystal clear here. A young gentleman cadet overstayed the weekend leave in Mussoorie much against the advice of his mentors. It is Just not done at the beginning of a career. But he over stayed regardless of the advice. He was suitably punished for infringement of rules but he earned a place in the book of records for being the first ever of the First Forty cadets of the first course to receive punishment for over staying the sanctioned period of leave. The gentleman cadet who acted stupidly was none other than the celebrity named Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. By the way, for acting stupidly time and again, Sam could not remain a cadet appointment for long and passed out in 1934 as a plain gentleman cadet. He did very well later in life and won a war against Pakistan in 1971.
In an interview on the Akashvani in 1973 on his promotion to the rank of Field Marshal, he talked about his gallantry medal, Military Cross. As a young officer he acted stupidly by charging at the Japanese defences in utter disregard of teaching of tactics at the Academy. He confessed that courage is a bye-product of acting stupidly in battle. In that battle of Sittang bridge the enemy was taken aback but fought bravely. So did jawans of Sam. In the hand to hand fight Sam succeeded in capturing the objective by dislodging the Japanese. In the heat of the battle Sam received NINE carbine bullets in his stomach. The divisional commander honoured Sam by pinning his own Military Cross on Sam’s chest because no one thought he would survive his courageous stupidity. He did. A Military Cross is awarded to a living soldier only and not given posthumously.
In 1971 war with Pakistan on the western front the Charlie company of the Grenadiers sat cheek by jowl with the Charlie company of a regiment of the Pakistan army whole night. It was pitch dark and under orders complete silence was observed. Radio silence was also enforced. Both the Indians and Pakistanis knew by whisper that the Charlie company was lying in wait at the Forming Up Place to launch an attack at the crack of dawn. At the first light, wisdom dawned on both C companies and hell broke loose. A perfect example of close-quarter battle it was, well generated by acts of stupidity of guides the previous night. The Indian Charlie company led by Major Hoshiar Singh carried the day and won laurels. Old Hoshiar was honoured with a Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award. So, acting stupidly brings honours and awards too in its wake.
Acting stupidly is not the prerogative of the political persons or military men alone. There are people of that tribe in other walks of life too. Let us take a look at the Media, especially the electronic one. An experienced senior commentator took pride in not attending rehearsals of any event, national or local. He just went by the script issued by the organisers as backgrounders. At the presentation of the president’s banner, an event of tattoo was dropped but the script remained unaltered. The tattoo event comprised a mass P.T. with torches in hands of performers. The ace commentator went ahead with his commentary on the non-existent item much to the chagrin of organisers and media managers. Here acting stupidly did not bring laurels but only brickbats.
Look before you leap – that is the advice given to the PT enthusiasts in the army who do acrobatics on the high horse. It is a kind of Trojan horse of wood. Many an aspiring fellow met his Waterloo there because in sheer misplaced enthusiasm of doing a perfect jump and equally perfect landing, the assessment of time and space goes haywire. Over enthusiasm with an eye on achieving a good grade may be termed as a stupidity. It is a kind of thinking stupidly that is followed by acting stupidly. Of course, a Gentleman Cadet is discouraged by his seniors not to think but to act. The moment a junior cadet comes up with an excuse for not completing a task and says “I thought....”he is sharply cut mid-sentence by an age-old admonishment “stop thoughting”. Queen may not be pleased with a bad deal to her English language but cadets actually stop thinking thereafter – the question of stupidity or otherwise just does not arise. Be that as it may, the baton is thus passed on from generation to generation and there has been no occasion where a Chief had to invite those compatriots in uniform for beer whom he chastised for acting stupidly.
Address. UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303 INDIA. Mobile . 0091-9811173590. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
ACTING STUPIDLY IS GOOD FUN
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Acting Stupidly is no one’s prerogative. Your position in politics or society does not grant you an amnesty either. President of the United States of America, the most powerful man on earth, acted stupidly by describing an act of a Sergeant of Cambridge, Mass, police “acted stupidly”. The white Sergeant had arrested a black professor of Harvard for disorderly behaviour in front of his own house. The entire police department of Cambridge, Mass, was up in arms and their union asked the President to apologise. Indeed the professor had acted stupidly by arguing with the police officer and calling him a racist. The acting stupidly episode was in the process of snow balling and exploding into a racial confrontation between blacks and whites when sanity prevailed on all concerned. President Barrack Obama invited both Prof Gates and the white Police Sergeant to the White House and have a glass of beer with him. The two contending parties have accepted the invitation and the “acted stupidly” episode will blow over. Just a suggestion is made how to end the controversy for good. Instead of burying the hatchet or drowning it in beer tankards
, it would be a good idea to cremate the ghost of an unpleasant episode to prevent it from rising again.
A quarter of a century ago while preparing for commentary on the Golden Jubilee Parade of the Indian Military Academy I came across some interesting but little known facts and figures about well known generals when they were Gentlemen Cadets in the first course of IMA in 1932. The distinguished assembly of spectators at the Chetwode drill square had enjoyed listening to it. How does one act stupidly in youth is crystal clear here. A young gentleman cadet overstayed the weekend leave in Mussoorie much against the advice of his mentors. It is Just not done at the beginning of a career. But he over stayed regardless of the advice. He was suitably punished for infringement of rules but he earned a place in the book of records for being the first ever of the First Forty cadets of the first course to receive punishment for over staying the sanctioned period of leave. The gentleman cadet who acted stupidly was none other than the celebrity named Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. By the way, for acting stupidly time and again, Sam could not remain a cadet appointment for long and passed out in 1934 as a plain gentleman cadet. He did very well later in life and won a war against Pakistan in 1971.
In an interview on the Akashvani in 1973 on his promotion to the rank of Field Marshal, he talked about his gallantry medal, Military Cross. As a young officer he acted stupidly by charging at the Japanese defences in utter disregard of teaching of tactics at the Academy. He confessed that courage is a bye-product of acting stupidly in battle. In that battle of Sittang bridge the enemy was taken aback but fought bravely. So did jawans of Sam. In the hand to hand fight Sam succeeded in capturing the objective by dislodging the Japanese. In the heat of the battle Sam received NINE carbine bullets in his stomach. The divisional commander honoured Sam by pinning his own Military Cross on Sam’s chest because no one thought he would survive his courageous stupidity. He did. A Military Cross is awarded to a living soldier only and not given posthumously.
In 1971 war with Pakistan on the western front the Charlie company of the Grenadiers sat cheek by jowl with the Charlie company of a regiment of the Pakistan army whole night. It was pitch dark and under orders complete silence was observed. Radio silence was also enforced. Both the Indians and Pakistanis knew by whisper that the Charlie company was lying in wait at the Forming Up Place to launch an attack at the crack of dawn. At the first light, wisdom dawned on both C companies and hell broke loose. A perfect example of close-quarter battle it was, well generated by acts of stupidity of guides the previous night. The Indian Charlie company led by Major Hoshiar Singh carried the day and won laurels. Old Hoshiar was honoured with a Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award. So, acting stupidly brings honours and awards too in its wake.
Acting stupidly is not the prerogative of the political persons or military men alone. There are people of that tribe in other walks of life too. Let us take a look at the Media, especially the electronic one. An experienced senior commentator took pride in not attending rehearsals of any event, national or local. He just went by the script issued by the organisers as backgrounders. At the presentation of the president’s banner, an event of tattoo was dropped but the script remained unaltered. The tattoo event comprised a mass P.T. with torches in hands of performers. The ace commentator went ahead with his commentary on the non-existent item much to the chagrin of organisers and media managers. Here acting stupidly did not bring laurels but only brickbats.
Look before you leap – that is the advice given to the PT enthusiasts in the army who do acrobatics on the high horse. It is a kind of Trojan horse of wood. Many an aspiring fellow met his Waterloo there because in sheer misplaced enthusiasm of doing a perfect jump and equally perfect landing, the assessment of time and space goes haywire. Over enthusiasm with an eye on achieving a good grade may be termed as a stupidity. It is a kind of thinking stupidly that is followed by acting stupidly. Of course, a Gentleman Cadet is discouraged by his seniors not to think but to act. The moment a junior cadet comes up with an excuse for not completing a task and says “I thought....”he is sharply cut mid-sentence by an age-old admonishment “stop thoughting”. Queen may not be pleased with a bad deal to her English language but cadets actually stop thinking thereafter – the question of stupidity or otherwise just does not arise. Be that as it may, the baton is thus passed on from generation to generation and there has been no occasion where a Chief had to invite those compatriots in uniform for beer whom he chastised for acting stupidly.
Address. UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303 INDIA. Mobile . 0091-9811173590. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
AUM
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
AMAZING, FANTASTIC, BREATHTAKING, UNBELIEVABLE – these are some of the many expressions of men, women and children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds who saw the total solar eclipse this morning. On 22 July 2009, the day dawned with a promise to let us see one of the biggest celestial spectacles of our galaxy that won’t be repeated in the next 123 years. Understandably there was a lot of excitement in the air. The Media, both electronic and print, had kept the people informed and had also apprised them of do’s and don’ts minus the superstitious beliefs. Some channels that were out to grab TRPs as grab you can, did dish out superstitious stories. The intelligentsia did not appreciate it, though. All said and done, by the time the total solar eclipse was over in India, people have had their fill of this event of the century, not to be repeated in our lifetime. Everybody enjoyed every moment of it.
MANY EYES IN THE SKY
Generally speaking, we reserve the epithet “Eye in the sky” for the satellites that can read your car’s number plate while you are driving in the Connaught Place in New Delhi. This morning these eyes were in the sky to catch the best glimpses of the solar eclipse in more than a dozen places in India, not mentioning China, Japan and beyond in the Pacific Ocean where the solar eclipse was TOTAL. What walks away with the cake is the successful project of Cox and King to launch a special flight of star watchers who were keen to see the biggest of the celestial body in our part of the galaxy . It was not everyone’s cup of tea. One had to loosen the purse string and shell out Rs80,000/- per seat. Those who were really keen to see the solar eclipse from a height of 41,000 feet above sea level boarded the ECLIPSE FLIGHT and had real good time of a life time. What was the difference between the ground level watch and the high level watch in the sky, one may ask. Tremendous and indeed a breath taking experience, so said those who experienced it. The high price that the individuals had paid gave the expected returns. So, no complaints. The large number of cameras inside the aeroplane and the ecstasy writ large on viewers faces inside the aircraft made one believe that they were having as good a celestial experience as a pious soul has on attaining the Moksha. Of course, the Captain of the flight had the best view from the cockpit and it more than compensated for the pain of leaving the cosy bed at an unearthly hour to pilot the plane at an angle and at an appropriate height so that the special flight passengers have the best view of the last total eclipse of a century plus. The cameras worked well despite the air turbulence that could be termed as minimal. The TV channels transmitted live pictures and commentaries that the viewers back home enjoyed in the cool climes of their air-conditioned bedrooms. The superstitious pregnant housewives did not have to stir out of the house for fear of a miscarriage. The enlightened TV channels, however, kept on underscoring the educational point that a total or even a partial solar or lunar eclipse and a miscarriage have nothing in common. And yet expectant mothers and educated fathers-to be did not want to take a chance.
The Naked Eye gave the best view, better than what a camera lens could, that was everyone’s opinion. Precautions had to be observed lest an eye was damaged for good. Superstitious beliefs pursued men and women all over the world, especially in Asia where the total solar eclipse was visible this time. In China the common man believes that the Sun is eaten away by the Dragon and that causes the eclipse. In India the dragon is substituted by Rahu and Ketu who cause this turmoil at fixed intervals. Imagine, Bharat gave learned scholars like Arya Bhatta to the world and he could calculate the movement of celestial bodies accurately and common man in Arya Bhatta’s motherland believes in Rahu and ketu causing the eclipse. It was at a place called “TARAGNA” in modern Bihar where Arya Bhatta calculated movement of stars and, therefore, a large number of scientists had gathered there to study all about eclipse and turbulence on Sun’s surface, if any. They were disappointed as the cloud cover hanging heavy over the place spoiled the show.
PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi – these ancient towns along the river Ganges attracted maximum number of pilgrims who flocked there to take a dip in mother Ganga and wash away all sins. Unfortunately, there was a stampede at the Dashaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi where some lives were lost. The eye witness accounts blamed poor administration and poor crowd management. In an ancient country where large crowds of devotees has been congregating on the banks of sacred rivers since time immemorial, crowd management should be a part of the standard operating procedure. Perhaps, it is lack of attention to details on the part of senior crowd managers and top echelon administrators that cause loss of life. It is preventable. The non-Ganges- bank place that attracted almost a million and a half devotees is Kurukshetra in Haryana. Everyone was keen to take a dip in the Brahma Sarovar to help the Sun god defeat the demon, Rahu. The devotees came out with flying colours as the Sun was shining bright in a little over three minutes. The birds that had gone to sleep again during the total eclipse returned to life and chirped again as the period of eclipse was over.
The Indian Air Force flew its own Jaguar fighter planes from Gwalior to Arunachal Pradesh to record on camera the solar eclipse as visible there. IAF has been doing these studies for quite some time and the results help them in gaining authentic knowledge about the celestial bodies, our firmament and the unknown stars of the galaxy. Commendable, indeed. Our Air Force has kept the Arya Bhatta tradition of gaining scientific knowledge alive. True Knowledge is worth acquiring for national use. Never mind, if it turns out to be against the age-old beliefs that are not scientific. The total solar eclipse in Asia has once again aroused the instinct for quest of knowledge in young and old alike in Bharat and elsewhere. A good step forward for the benefit of Mankind!
Address: UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA-201303. INDIA. Mob. 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622. Email. Sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
AMAZING, FANTASTIC, BREATHTAKING, UNBELIEVABLE – these are some of the many expressions of men, women and children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds who saw the total solar eclipse this morning. On 22 July 2009, the day dawned with a promise to let us see one of the biggest celestial spectacles of our galaxy that won’t be repeated in the next 123 years. Understandably there was a lot of excitement in the air. The Media, both electronic and print, had kept the people informed and had also apprised them of do’s and don’ts minus the superstitious beliefs. Some channels that were out to grab TRPs as grab you can, did dish out superstitious stories. The intelligentsia did not appreciate it, though. All said and done, by the time the total solar eclipse was over in India, people have had their fill of this event of the century, not to be repeated in our lifetime. Everybody enjoyed every moment of it.
MANY EYES IN THE SKY
Generally speaking, we reserve the epithet “Eye in the sky” for the satellites that can read your car’s number plate while you are driving in the Connaught Place in New Delhi. This morning these eyes were in the sky to catch the best glimpses of the solar eclipse in more than a dozen places in India, not mentioning China, Japan and beyond in the Pacific Ocean where the solar eclipse was TOTAL. What walks away with the cake is the successful project of Cox and King to launch a special flight of star watchers who were keen to see the biggest of the celestial body in our part of the galaxy . It was not everyone’s cup of tea. One had to loosen the purse string and shell out Rs80,000/- per seat. Those who were really keen to see the solar eclipse from a height of 41,000 feet above sea level boarded the ECLIPSE FLIGHT and had real good time of a life time. What was the difference between the ground level watch and the high level watch in the sky, one may ask. Tremendous and indeed a breath taking experience, so said those who experienced it. The high price that the individuals had paid gave the expected returns. So, no complaints. The large number of cameras inside the aeroplane and the ecstasy writ large on viewers faces inside the aircraft made one believe that they were having as good a celestial experience as a pious soul has on attaining the Moksha. Of course, the Captain of the flight had the best view from the cockpit and it more than compensated for the pain of leaving the cosy bed at an unearthly hour to pilot the plane at an angle and at an appropriate height so that the special flight passengers have the best view of the last total eclipse of a century plus. The cameras worked well despite the air turbulence that could be termed as minimal. The TV channels transmitted live pictures and commentaries that the viewers back home enjoyed in the cool climes of their air-conditioned bedrooms. The superstitious pregnant housewives did not have to stir out of the house for fear of a miscarriage. The enlightened TV channels, however, kept on underscoring the educational point that a total or even a partial solar or lunar eclipse and a miscarriage have nothing in common. And yet expectant mothers and educated fathers-to be did not want to take a chance.
The Naked Eye gave the best view, better than what a camera lens could, that was everyone’s opinion. Precautions had to be observed lest an eye was damaged for good. Superstitious beliefs pursued men and women all over the world, especially in Asia where the total solar eclipse was visible this time. In China the common man believes that the Sun is eaten away by the Dragon and that causes the eclipse. In India the dragon is substituted by Rahu and Ketu who cause this turmoil at fixed intervals. Imagine, Bharat gave learned scholars like Arya Bhatta to the world and he could calculate the movement of celestial bodies accurately and common man in Arya Bhatta’s motherland believes in Rahu and ketu causing the eclipse. It was at a place called “TARAGNA” in modern Bihar where Arya Bhatta calculated movement of stars and, therefore, a large number of scientists had gathered there to study all about eclipse and turbulence on Sun’s surface, if any. They were disappointed as the cloud cover hanging heavy over the place spoiled the show.
PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi – these ancient towns along the river Ganges attracted maximum number of pilgrims who flocked there to take a dip in mother Ganga and wash away all sins. Unfortunately, there was a stampede at the Dashaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi where some lives were lost. The eye witness accounts blamed poor administration and poor crowd management. In an ancient country where large crowds of devotees has been congregating on the banks of sacred rivers since time immemorial, crowd management should be a part of the standard operating procedure. Perhaps, it is lack of attention to details on the part of senior crowd managers and top echelon administrators that cause loss of life. It is preventable. The non-Ganges- bank place that attracted almost a million and a half devotees is Kurukshetra in Haryana. Everyone was keen to take a dip in the Brahma Sarovar to help the Sun god defeat the demon, Rahu. The devotees came out with flying colours as the Sun was shining bright in a little over three minutes. The birds that had gone to sleep again during the total eclipse returned to life and chirped again as the period of eclipse was over.
The Indian Air Force flew its own Jaguar fighter planes from Gwalior to Arunachal Pradesh to record on camera the solar eclipse as visible there. IAF has been doing these studies for quite some time and the results help them in gaining authentic knowledge about the celestial bodies, our firmament and the unknown stars of the galaxy. Commendable, indeed. Our Air Force has kept the Arya Bhatta tradition of gaining scientific knowledge alive. True Knowledge is worth acquiring for national use. Never mind, if it turns out to be against the age-old beliefs that are not scientific. The total solar eclipse in Asia has once again aroused the instinct for quest of knowledge in young and old alike in Bharat and elsewhere. A good step forward for the benefit of Mankind!
Address: UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA-201303. INDIA. Mob. 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622. Email. Sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
Monday, July 20, 2009
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
AUM
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Driving out the Pakistan Army soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry from the Indian territory in Kargil in the last year of the last century, the Indian Army’s officers and men won the fourth and the last of the four India-Pakistan Wars fought between the years 1947 and 1999.Every time it was Pakistan that committed an aggression and every time it was she who got beaten and turned tail. After wars, invariably negotiations for peace followed where Pakistan promised to behave as a good boy but never kept the word. The Pakistan Generals who always over-estimated their prowess and fighting skill and under-estimated that of the Indian Army, would return to war games before ink on joint peace declarations had dried up. A silly scenario of a multi-pronged attack on India on land, sea and air was as delightful hobby horse as drinking single malt Scotch whiskey on the house. As is well known a drunken general may be enchanting while spinning yarns but is always a bad strategist for a real war. Generals of the Pakistan Army have proved that statement as gospel truth time and again.
TEN YEARS ON
Much water has flown down the Indus river and tributaries since our victory in Kargil a decade ago. It was on 26 July 09 that the Indian soil was declared clear of the invaders and intruders from across the border and Kargil Vijay Divas was celebrated. The military situation in the area on our side has undergone a thorough change for the better.”There will NOT be a Second Kargil by Pakistan Army” is the proud declaration of our Army strategists. We are proud of them. Let us see what changes have taken place that prompts our compatriots to make a bold declaration nullifying future sinister designs-in-making in the war rooms of Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The day-to-day activity of the common citizen mirrors the state of wellness of a society. Are they going about the daily chores in a normal manner or there is discernible tension because of the enemy activity across the border. Ten years ago, every house in Kargil town had a bunker where civilians could take shelter when the enemy shelling started. Every outer wall of every house had shell marks as a result of enemy bombardment. Kargil was a ghost town after a few days of commencement of war. Men, women and children had left their home and hearth for safer shelters elsewhere. Ten years on, Kargil looks different. There is hustle and bustle of a tourist town. Now, every house has a guest room where tourists are welcome for bed and breakfast on a nominal payment. The old dilapidated hotels have been renovated and feel happy in displaying a notice of one hundred per cent occupation. The economy of Kargil is booming under the patronage of the 8 Mountain Division. General officer Commanding of the Army formation said that they pump Rs two crores every month in the local economy in the form of wages for labour, hire charges for ponies and buying knick-knacks and what have you. In a nutshell, Peace Prevails all over, thanks to the Indian Army. A full- fledged golf course of 18 holes in the green Mushkoh valley is on the cards. Now white golf balls will fly at tee off” in the area where ten years ago big guns of our artillery had boomed and shells whistled past to destroy Pakistan Army’s bunkers “.
“NEVER TRUST PAKISTAN”, that is the first lesson the Indian Army has learnt. Alas our top politicians and bureaucrats still believe in the worn out adage : keep talking to both friend and foe until a result is achieved. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and yet some diplomats love to loiter around in that tunnel aimlessly. The combat treachery of Pakistan is etched in the heart of every Jawan. How can one forget the mutilated bodies of Captain Kalia and his jawans that Pakistan had returned. It was a deliberate devilish act of Pakistan that can never be condoned. In any case they did not have the courtesy to apologise for the heinous offence of mutilating bodies of soldiers of another country. In naked contrast to this the Indian Army showed respect to the enemy war dead and buried their bodies with military honours and Islamic rites because Pakistan had refused to accept them for burial in Pakistan. Of course, the enemy made an exception in the case of their officers who belonged to influential families of Pakistan who pressurised their govt to get bodies back for burial in family burial grounds. Double Speak; Double Standards: thy name is Pakistan.
MODERNISATION ALL OVER
A complete make- over of arms and equipment, clothing and boots, tactics and strategy had been the crying need of our Armed Forces since independence. How unfortunate, little attention was paid to these aspects of defence by the powers that be. This deficiency came to light in the First Kashmir war, Goa operations, the Chinese debacle in NEFA(now Arunachal Pradesh), wars against Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and in 1999. In the 1971 war, the situation was a wee bit better because the then Army Chief made it plain that going to war with major deficiencies in weapon and equipment would mean courting defeat and disaster. Our Finance Ministry mandarins loosened their purse for the first time and the Soviet Union had made up our deficiencies. In Kargil too, Jawans had sad tales to tell. However, thereafter the Army was given wide financial powers and red tapism was done away with in case of essential purchases for war. Now the Jawans are well clad, well fed and well connected with their loved ones on phone. However, the big guns need replacement. The good old Bofors that won war in kargil along with Man behind the gun, is now 22 years old. The infantryman’s rifle needs be replaced by a modern assault and rapid firing rifle to instil confidence in infanteers’ heart. A bunker-buster weapon system is the crying need of the hour.
Unless the most modern weapon system with accurate and effective fire power is made available to the Army, our war machine cannot be expected to win laurels. A weak weapon system continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the Indian Army. Strategically speaking, more coordination is needed between the Government of India and the Armed Forces. India is a nuclear power. Fine. However, the Service Chiefs are not a part of the war mechanism that controls the nuclear button. The Armed Forces are not aware of the future targets of our nuclear weapon system and also our defence mechanism to safeguard the nation from a nuclear attack. In a case of emergency, it would take time to coordinate the present mechanism of a nuclear war. It would be in the fitness of things to streamline the mechanism for use of nuclear deterrent for both attack and defence.
As far as Kargil is concerned the Army is happy with the man power situation. Ten years ago, only 2,000 uniformed personnel were guarding the Line of Control (LOC), now as many as 20,000 officers and soldiers are keeping a watch on the enemy movement across the Line. No doubt the expenditure on their upkeep and maintenance of weapon and equipment has gone up many times. It is estimated to be Rs 8 to 10 crores per day in that area. No one should feel bad about it because the defence of the country is our supreme concern. The motto of the Indian Army is: NATION ABOVE ALL.
Let us all Rejoice and make merry as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our
KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303. Mob. 9811173590.
Telephone : 0091-120-2454622. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Driving out the Pakistan Army soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry from the Indian territory in Kargil in the last year of the last century, the Indian Army’s officers and men won the fourth and the last of the four India-Pakistan Wars fought between the years 1947 and 1999.Every time it was Pakistan that committed an aggression and every time it was she who got beaten and turned tail. After wars, invariably negotiations for peace followed where Pakistan promised to behave as a good boy but never kept the word. The Pakistan Generals who always over-estimated their prowess and fighting skill and under-estimated that of the Indian Army, would return to war games before ink on joint peace declarations had dried up. A silly scenario of a multi-pronged attack on India on land, sea and air was as delightful hobby horse as drinking single malt Scotch whiskey on the house. As is well known a drunken general may be enchanting while spinning yarns but is always a bad strategist for a real war. Generals of the Pakistan Army have proved that statement as gospel truth time and again.
TEN YEARS ON
Much water has flown down the Indus river and tributaries since our victory in Kargil a decade ago. It was on 26 July 09 that the Indian soil was declared clear of the invaders and intruders from across the border and Kargil Vijay Divas was celebrated. The military situation in the area on our side has undergone a thorough change for the better.”There will NOT be a Second Kargil by Pakistan Army” is the proud declaration of our Army strategists. We are proud of them. Let us see what changes have taken place that prompts our compatriots to make a bold declaration nullifying future sinister designs-in-making in the war rooms of Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The day-to-day activity of the common citizen mirrors the state of wellness of a society. Are they going about the daily chores in a normal manner or there is discernible tension because of the enemy activity across the border. Ten years ago, every house in Kargil town had a bunker where civilians could take shelter when the enemy shelling started. Every outer wall of every house had shell marks as a result of enemy bombardment. Kargil was a ghost town after a few days of commencement of war. Men, women and children had left their home and hearth for safer shelters elsewhere. Ten years on, Kargil looks different. There is hustle and bustle of a tourist town. Now, every house has a guest room where tourists are welcome for bed and breakfast on a nominal payment. The old dilapidated hotels have been renovated and feel happy in displaying a notice of one hundred per cent occupation. The economy of Kargil is booming under the patronage of the 8 Mountain Division. General officer Commanding of the Army formation said that they pump Rs two crores every month in the local economy in the form of wages for labour, hire charges for ponies and buying knick-knacks and what have you. In a nutshell, Peace Prevails all over, thanks to the Indian Army. A full- fledged golf course of 18 holes in the green Mushkoh valley is on the cards. Now white golf balls will fly at tee off” in the area where ten years ago big guns of our artillery had boomed and shells whistled past to destroy Pakistan Army’s bunkers “.
“NEVER TRUST PAKISTAN”, that is the first lesson the Indian Army has learnt. Alas our top politicians and bureaucrats still believe in the worn out adage : keep talking to both friend and foe until a result is achieved. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and yet some diplomats love to loiter around in that tunnel aimlessly. The combat treachery of Pakistan is etched in the heart of every Jawan. How can one forget the mutilated bodies of Captain Kalia and his jawans that Pakistan had returned. It was a deliberate devilish act of Pakistan that can never be condoned. In any case they did not have the courtesy to apologise for the heinous offence of mutilating bodies of soldiers of another country. In naked contrast to this the Indian Army showed respect to the enemy war dead and buried their bodies with military honours and Islamic rites because Pakistan had refused to accept them for burial in Pakistan. Of course, the enemy made an exception in the case of their officers who belonged to influential families of Pakistan who pressurised their govt to get bodies back for burial in family burial grounds. Double Speak; Double Standards: thy name is Pakistan.
MODERNISATION ALL OVER
A complete make- over of arms and equipment, clothing and boots, tactics and strategy had been the crying need of our Armed Forces since independence. How unfortunate, little attention was paid to these aspects of defence by the powers that be. This deficiency came to light in the First Kashmir war, Goa operations, the Chinese debacle in NEFA(now Arunachal Pradesh), wars against Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and in 1999. In the 1971 war, the situation was a wee bit better because the then Army Chief made it plain that going to war with major deficiencies in weapon and equipment would mean courting defeat and disaster. Our Finance Ministry mandarins loosened their purse for the first time and the Soviet Union had made up our deficiencies. In Kargil too, Jawans had sad tales to tell. However, thereafter the Army was given wide financial powers and red tapism was done away with in case of essential purchases for war. Now the Jawans are well clad, well fed and well connected with their loved ones on phone. However, the big guns need replacement. The good old Bofors that won war in kargil along with Man behind the gun, is now 22 years old. The infantryman’s rifle needs be replaced by a modern assault and rapid firing rifle to instil confidence in infanteers’ heart. A bunker-buster weapon system is the crying need of the hour.
Unless the most modern weapon system with accurate and effective fire power is made available to the Army, our war machine cannot be expected to win laurels. A weak weapon system continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the Indian Army. Strategically speaking, more coordination is needed between the Government of India and the Armed Forces. India is a nuclear power. Fine. However, the Service Chiefs are not a part of the war mechanism that controls the nuclear button. The Armed Forces are not aware of the future targets of our nuclear weapon system and also our defence mechanism to safeguard the nation from a nuclear attack. In a case of emergency, it would take time to coordinate the present mechanism of a nuclear war. It would be in the fitness of things to streamline the mechanism for use of nuclear deterrent for both attack and defence.
As far as Kargil is concerned the Army is happy with the man power situation. Ten years ago, only 2,000 uniformed personnel were guarding the Line of Control (LOC), now as many as 20,000 officers and soldiers are keeping a watch on the enemy movement across the Line. No doubt the expenditure on their upkeep and maintenance of weapon and equipment has gone up many times. It is estimated to be Rs 8 to 10 crores per day in that area. No one should feel bad about it because the defence of the country is our supreme concern. The motto of the Indian Army is: NATION ABOVE ALL.
Let us all Rejoice and make merry as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our
KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303. Mob. 9811173590.
Telephone : 0091-120-2454622. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
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