Woman thrashes abuser on bus.

Netizens toast her. She says women should be vigilant, react against those who misbehave with them.

The video of a woman reacting against a man who allegedly misbehaved with her while travelling on a bus has gone viral on the social media. Netizens appreciated the boldness of the woman who knocked down the abuser. 

It was Sandhya Sunil, 43, a homemaker and a mother of two from Kapinchaal near Panamaram, Wayanad who decided to handle things on her own when the man's actions went too far

The incident took place at the Padinjarathara bus stand in Wayanad on Sunday afternoon. Talking about the incident, Sandhya said, "I was on my way to Vengapally on a bus and a man came and sat near me. Soon he started showing me things in his bag including soap and a box. I ignored him but he kept on doing things to get my attention. Since it was so uncomfortable, I asked him to move to another seat as many of them were vacant. But he was not ready to listen. Hence, I had to seek help from the conductor. After verbally abusing me, he got down from the bus but continued to stage a huge drama. I remained patient till the moment he started touching me from outside the bus. That was when I lost my temper. I got out of the bus and started hitting him with all my strength. Someone from the crowd might have taken the video which went viral".

As a word of advice to women, she said, "As women, we need to be very vigilant about living in this society. Start speaking up and react to things that make you uncomfortable and react against people who misbehave with you".

Courtesy. The NIE.

My take

Attagirl, Sandhya Sunil! Take a bow for your no-nonsense approach and you shall remain a bright beacon for generations of women. You have become my hero!

Tailpiece.

Today's Lekha's birthday and wished her first thing in the morning, on getting up at 6. She got ready, fed Kittu and the two kittens and then, proceeded to the Mammiyur kshetram. Hameed was her sa'arthi. The maid was on leave.

Meanwhile, I'd gone through the chores, put the soiled clothes for washing machinex and was ready by a half past 9.

Lekha had cut her birthday cake before lunchtime. 

Letha, her sister, fetched up by a trifle after 5.

Back at 'The Quarterdeck'.

For Lekha and me, the day had begun at 4 when her cellphone alarm jingled. Went about our chores and wound up Raj Nivas in a systematic manner. There was a let up in the rain and consequently, it was a bright and sunny morning. Though I'd planned to kick off at 6, by the time I'd handed over the keys of the house to Syamala, the caretaker's wife as he had gone for tapping the milk from his rubber trees.

We'd kicked off by 7. Stopped by at the snake temple at Randalummoodu and the pujari gave me the 'prasadam'. Mom had put a habit in me that whenever I crossed the compact shrine, I must put in an offering.

 From then on, it has become quite a usual practice!

I decided to take the Kottarakkara route, today. And curved off from Adoor on to the KP Road and reached the snake temple at Mannarasala, for darshan. Thankfully, the rain held and the crowd was manageable. We'd breakfast after the darshan and resumed our journey. We'd taken about 45' out the temple.

Our next stop was at Dr Sreekanth Mallan's dental clinic at Muhamma. Lekha has been complaining about a pain on one of her teeth. It was extracted and she's been advised a course of antibiotics over the next three days. The whole procedure took under an hour, had a chat with the doctor as usual on all subjects except dentistry, bought the medicines from the nearby medical store and we resumed our journey.

Around a half past 1, after crossing Chalakkudy we had stopped at the Anand Bhavan for lunch. Had meals. After a halt of about half an hour we'd resumed our journey, passed through the town of Thrissur and got on to the road to Guruvayur, which has many deviations now, thanks to a massive road work in progress. Crossed Kunnamkulam, turned off from Kottappady towards Thampuranpadi Junction, Mammiyur and finally to Guruvayur.

Bought our fruit basket from Ravindran, grocery from Jayan and had a cuppa tea. The time was about a quarter to 5. Soon, we were at The Quarterdeck, opened up the house and the unpacking was carried out while watching our favourite serials. Kittu and his children were in attendance and Lekha had given them food.

Went through our evening chores, had a quick, light dinner, had a bit of work on the computer and we hit the sack by 11.

Tailpiece.

A hectic day but the drive was smooth and we could do all that we planned to do.  

Ranks and their meaning.

Lieutenant

French...."Tenant" ie "in lieu" or "Lieutenant". One performing the duty of another.

Captain

Latin...."Caput" meaning "Head".

Major

Latin..."Magnus" meaning "greatness, importance".

Colonel

Italian...."Colonello" meaning "leader of a column". Also "colonel" is pronounced as "Kernel" meaning...."a nut".

Brigadier

"Brigand" ,eaning "a robber" or "a free booter".

Major General

Originally "Sgt Maj General" later "Sgt" was dropped.

General

Latin "Genius" meaning "not special, common, loose, vague".

   *      *      *

The Principle of "Just Leave It"

(Worth Practicing)

* Try convincing a person once or twice. If he or she refuses to get convinced

Just Leave it

* When the children grow up and take their own decisions, do not impose

Just Leave it

* Your frequency doesn't match with everyone in life. If you can't connect with someone

Just Leave it

* After a certain age if someone criticises you don't get upset

Just Leave it

* When you realise that nothing is in your hands, stop worrying about others and the future

Just Leave it

* When the gap between your wish list and your capabilities increases, stop self expectations

Just Leave it

* Everyone's path of life, size of life, quality of life is different so stop comparing

Just Leave it

* When life has given you such a wonderful treasure of experience, stop counting your daily earnings, but

Just Leave it

* And if this does not appeal or apply to you....

Just Leave it

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle late, opened up the house, lit the lamp, recited my prayers and cleaned up the Chevy. Rains came off and on.

Sanil, Mini and Mithun drove in by a quarter to 9. We all had breakfast together and they set off for Bangalore by 10, when it was pouring.

The caretaker had provided us with breakfast and lunch as our LPG cylinder had got empty. Mini had fetched up our live cylinder from Ayur after the 'housewarming requirement' at their new house.

Chakki had come by in the afternoon, demanded food and it was given.

A quiet day otherwise as Lekha kept stacking the plates and utensils that had been taken out from the 'meal safe' and the other cupboards. 

We plan for an early morning get away tomorrow to Guruvayur. 

Out of the hospital.

Had got up at 6, the chores and was ready by about a quarter past 9. Got the good tidings that Sanil had got up around 3AM in the ICU and asked for food. Mini, who was there, bought a plate of idlies, chutney and sambar from the cafe and passed it on to the sister-on-duty.

Meanwhile, Mithun had spoken to the doctor and got his clarifications. Sanil was discharged by about a half past 1 as all his vital parameters were within acceptable limits. They set off for home around a half past 2.

We'd set off from home and gone across to Padmakumar's house. Rema gave us lunch, I talked to Ramachandrettan and Bharathi chechi and we left for Ayur by a half past 2. On reaching our destination, it was nice to see a topless Sanil inspecting his 'budding' efforts on the mango tree at his courtyard, much to our pleasant surprise!

It was yakkittiyak and exchange of thoughts from then on. Yesterday was Sanil-Mini's 30th wedding anniversary and the cake that was ordered was brought in by teatime and the ceremonial cake cutting was carried out. The cake distribution and photography ensued, making it an enthusiastic and impromptu get together.

The chairs, tables and the pandal were removed and passed on to the proprietor. The things in the house were collected and stacked up safely in one of the rooms. Told Sanil, Mini and Mithun about the additions & alterations required in the house, that were to be made good by the contractor, at no extra cost during the one month period when they'll complete the remaining work.

We left Anjanam about a half an hour before sunset and I'd taken the Pooyappalli-Veliyam short cut to Kottarakkara and headed straight for the regular petrol pump to top up the Chevy and check tyre pressure. Lekha and Padmakumar had picked up our dinner in the meanwhile.

Dropped Rema and Padmakumar at Pidavoor and reached home by a quarter past 8. 

It was our usual chores of the evening that followed and we'd a late dinner. 'Lights out' time was at a half past 11.

Tailpiece.

Sanil, Mini and Mithun will kick off for Bangalore tomorrow morning. We've, therefore, decided to return to Guruvayur by early morning, the after. 

On an unexpectedly discordant note.

and the way forward! 

We were woken up at a quarter past 4 when Mini, Sanil and Mithun drove off to Ayur for the Ganapati puja. We went through our chores and drove off to the Kottarakkara Mahaganapati kshetram for an early morning darshan. Returned by a quarter past 7, changed and were off to Ayur after picking up Rema and Padmakumar. The caretaker's wife, Syamala was also with us.

Today happens to be the 30th wedding anniversary of my sister, Mini and Sanil. Wished them early in the morning. Was reminded of this day, thirty years ago, when all our near and dear ones were present, to conduct the grand event. Only Ammachi and of course, Appooppan and Ammoomma (dad's parents) were not there as they had already passed into the mist of time.

Reached 'Anjanam', the name Mini has christened her new house with. This was the name suggested by my mother, years back when Mini had bought her flat in Dwarka, New Delhi. The gaiety and the associated festivities were already on. Many of our relations were there along, with Sanil's. Made an effort to meet each and every one of them being the patriarch from Mini's side.

The ceremonial boiling of the milk - "paalukaachu" - commenced at a half past 9, with the priest guiding my sister at each step. The entire ceremony had gone off well, first three rounds of guests had gone around the double storeyed house - everyone was awed by the grandeur of the house; had something or the other to tell - during the course of the ceremonial lunch. It was then that we decided to move in.

Sanil had some difficulty, he was brought on to the table where he'd a bite of a banana, two gulps of salted 'nimboopani' and then he had passed out. Nandu (Sanil's nephew) was behind the wheel, Mithun and Somarajan (their family friend) were in the rear seat with Sanil (he'd passed out by then) and I rushed to the Azizia hospital, 9 km away. Nandu was efficient, literally sat on the horn and made it to the hospital by 13' flat through the traffic. Meanwhile, I'd coaxed Mithun to provide a chest massage and Somarajan to provide massage to the feet. 

Sanil was quickly wheeled into the emergency, I and Mithun briefed the doctor and a CT scan was taken. The doctors had anticipated a stroke/internal bleeding which were ruled out after the scan. With a saline drip on, Sanil was back to normal, asking to be discharged from the hospital! He would, however, spend the night at the ICU and we shall press for his discharge tomorrow. 

We returned to Anjanam by a half past 4 and after ensuring that Mini had secured everything in the new house, set off for Raj Nivas at a half past 8 after having our dinner. Dropped Padmakumar and Rema, Syamala before we reached our place by a half past 9. 

Tailpiece.

A day with dramatic events!

 

The QUAD in session.

Today's day 2 meeting of the QUAD, being flagged off by Modi, Biden, Albanese and Fumio Kishida isn't a run of the mill meet as seen earlier. 

A key objective is to sort out China once and for all..... 

The weapon? 

It's the Quad led IPEF global alliance targeted specifically with China in mind backed by a staggering 20 trillion dollar joint budget with USA and Japan as the leading contributors.

And China knows it all too well.....

12 technically savvy, rich and powerful nations will form a counter to global Chinese domination as an engine for global economic growth.

They are bound by common values of democracy, excellence in supply chain logistics, intelligence sharing, space technology and who knows going forward - maybe even open military cooperation to blunt the ongoing Chinese threat.

China is seriously worried at the scale of the budgets being committed towards this IPEF (Indo Pacific Economic Framework) : 20 trillion dollars with more to follow.

The four-member QUAD club involving India, USA, Japan and Australia will steer the IPEF as permanent members with voting rights and India will be jointly pitched by all member countries as the supply chain alternative to China in the coming decade to show China its place.

China is seriously rattled and shooting off threat after threat from its foreign office as it realises the enormity of the problem that's facing it.

This should finish off China's economy forever without a bullet being fired by giving member countries preferred trade and manufacturing access while leveraging 85% of the world's free markets to buy and sell non Chinese products.....

Another big headache for China is the joint use and sharing of space surveillance involving member countries (particularly NASA and ISRO) to spot and put a hard stop to illegal Chinese fishing boats that harass and intrude into the South China sea's neighbouring countries....

India is smack bang in the centre of the world's anti-China drive and the international chess board is heating up big time as China realises the extent to which India is being feted and welcomed by the world as a natural successor to China while the Chinese are getting isolated and cornered worldwide even as they are sorted out with no rich, powerful allies in their corner except a beleagured Russia, poverty stricken North Korea and debt ridden Pakistan.....

China is in big trouble for its overt expansionism and muscular military display as the world takes note and forms a formidable economic alliance that is bound to hurt China seriously in the long run, depriving it of future business and markets and diverting cutting edge technology, business and trade elsewhere....

Where else but India?

My take

China has been asking for this since the last two decades! It has been riding roughshod with weak countries, forcing them into a debt trap! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, opened up the house and switched on the music, the chores and was ready by a half past 10. Sanil, Mini and Mithun left for Ayur by around a half past 10. All items connected with today's puja were also loaded in their car.

A quiet day.

The 'Vaasthu puja' and the 'Bhagavathi seva' were conducted in the evening, which rolled on to the night.  

Remembering Admiral Ronnie Pereira.

Admiral Ronald Lynsdale Pereira, PVSM, AVSM served as the ninth Chief of Naval Staff from 1979 to 1982. He is one of the architects of the modern Indian Navy. He was also the 23rd Chairman of of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 30 Aug 1981 - 26 Feb 1982.

Important information 

He was the 9th CNS from 01 Mar 1979 to 28 Feb 1982. He was preceded by Jal Cursetji and succeeded by OS Dawson.

Personal details

Born                      25 May 1923 (At Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.

Died                      14 Oct 1993 (Aged 70). At Bangalore.

Resting place        Bangalore, India.

Spouse                  Phyllis Beatrice Badal

Nickname             Ronnie

Military service

Allegiance            British India (1923 - 1947)

                             India (Since 1947)

Branch/service     Royal Indian Navy (1943 - 1947)

                             Indian Navy (1947 - 1982)

Years of service   1943 - 1982.

Rank                    Admiral

Commands          Western Naval Command

                            Southern Naval Area

                            Eastern Fleet

                            INS Delhi

                            14th Frigate squadron

                            INS Kuthar

Battles/wars        World War II

                            Indo - Pakistan War of 1971

Awards                PVSM

                            AVSM

                            Sangram Medal

                            Burma Star.

During World War II, he saw active service aboard various Motor Launches inBurma and Malaysia between 1943 - '45 and thereafter, continued at sea with an amphibious task group based in Iraq, till 1946. After Independence in 1947 and completion of professional gunnery training at HMS Excellent at Portsmouth, he served for several years as a Gunnery Specialist, both afloat and ashore. He has commanded INS Kuthat (F146) and the Navy's Flagship, INS Delhi. He served as Deputy Commandant of the National Defence Academy and as the Director of Combat Policy & Tactics at Naval Headquarters.

In his 39-year illustrious naval career, Pereira held prestigious appointments of Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Command and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. An able sportsman, he represented the Indian Navy in Hockey in 1946 and in Golf in the 1960s.

How the Admiral and I became friends!

It was Spring Term 1973. I'd joined, along with many others of the 49th course, on 10 Jan. Our first sight of the DepCom, then Commodore RL Pereira, was in front of the Cadets' Mess. While welcoming us, after a hot cup of drinking chocolate and biscuits, he spoke to us about the need to study things fast and to get used to the rigours of the Academy. He said that we'd be subjected to 'fagging' by our seniors and it had to be taken in the right spirit as it helped us find our feet. It was a week of us, 1st termers, the cadet appointments and the retest types as the NDA was to reopen after the recess, after that week.

And then the first day of Spring Term '73 had dawned and at 0600 hrs, the entire Hunter Squadron - like all the other 11 Squadrons - had fallen in on the squadron parade ground. The familiar white Ambassador of the DepCom, came to a screeching halt at our area. The Squadron was quickly brought to attention and the SCC - Squadron Cadet Captain Priya Ranjan Munshi of the 44th Course, summoned a 3rd termer to recite the Academy prayer, as a matter of course.

The DepCom would have nothing of it, sent him back and thundered, "You, that shortest 1st termer go up and recite the prayer". We, first termers were attired in shirt full sleeves, trouser and tie as our uniforms were getting ready at the Kapoor & Co. I mumbled and fumbled through the prayer - ably assisted by PR Sharma (SCC), AK Rai (CSM - Cadet Sergeant Major) and Dipankar Ghosh (CQMS - Cadet Quarter Master Sergeant) who were at the verandah with me, then. A visibly unhappy DepCom said, "You, young man meet me at my office after the 7th period and you'd better know the prayer backward" before getting into his car and driving off with a screech of tyres.

The entire squadron was sympathetic and advised me to forget everything, including the classes and to just concentrate on by hearting the prayer! Realised the intensity of the 'Squadron Spirit' for the first time and I followed their advice. 

After the 7th Period, I reached the DepCom's imposing office in the first floor of the central lobby of the Sudan Block and almost to a cue, the DepCom was returning to his office from the Commandant (AVM MB Naik), with a file in hand. On sighting me, he asked me the reason for my being there and after hearing me out, he put his arm around my shoulder and sat on the edge of his imposing table that had quite a few dossiers and files, started reciting the prayer, stopped midway and asked me to resume from where he'd left and I did just that, flawlessly. 

He kept tapping me on my right shoulder and said, "So, Rajeev you always knew the prayer ,why did you fumble in the morning? Got scared seeing your DepCom?" It was a serene me who'd left his office that afternoon. Everyone in the squadron was eager to know as to what had transpired including the Squadee and the DivOs! I'd become a hero overnight.

From then on, whenever I used to brace myself to salute him - the drill square test was yet to happen -  as his car passed by, invariably, he used to push his head out and acknowledge my salute with a smile. Years later, on his visit to Kochi after taking over as the CNS, he tapped my shoulder and asked me as to how I was - I was one of the Platoon Commanders - and invited me over to a cup of tea at his suite, in the Command Mess. He introduced me to his wife saying, "Rajeev, here, was a 1st termer with us at the NDA and we learnt the prayer together". I still remember that lovely evening with the Admiral and Mrs Pereira, with the gracious lady egging me on to have the small eats on offer! 

Yes, we'd become friends thanks to the NDA prayer!         

Epilogue.

Am the proud owner of Admiral Ronnie Pereira's biography, 'With Pride & Honour' - my complimentary copy - that was sent during my absence on the yatra. The Admiral was the Deputy Commandant of the NDA during my first term out there. I'd written an anecdote on him about how he'd caught me during a morning fall-in - within the first week of my joining - for fumbling while reciting the Academy prayer. He'd ensured that I learnt it by heart that very same day and always used to acknowledge me at every event that we came across subsequently. He really had an elephantine memory! He shall always remain as one of the architects of what I am today.

This is the commencement of his birth centenary celebrations! My salute and prayers for a noble soul.

Tailpiece.

Sanil and Mithun drove in by a quarter past 5. Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9.

Lekha went off to Kottarakkara on work. Sanil, Mini and Mithun went off to Ayur for the monitoring of the house warming formalities of their new house the day after..

Hit the sack at our usual time.

The trends in vogue.

India's five new trends and what they mean.

# 1

India now has more women than men. The fifth National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) carried out by the government between 2019 and 2021, India has 1,020 women for every 1,000 men. In 2011, that figure was 943 females per 1,000 males and in 1991, it was 927 females per 1,000 men.

Governments and non-government agencies worked in rare cohesion on this. From awareness campaigns to crackdowns on sex determination clinics, the message was drilled into the psyche of the nation.

# 2

There are more internet users in Indian villages than in the cities. Rural India has 20% more internet users than urban areas, according to a recent study by data and market measurement firm, Nielsen.

The study titled Bharat 2.0 internet study shows that out of 646 million active internet users aged two years and above as of Dec 2021, rural users have grown at 45% compared with urban users' growth of 28% over 2019. The internet user base for 12 years and above has grown by 37% in that period.

# 3

India has seen a sharp decline in fertility rate among women. The recent National Family Health Survey has shown that India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR, or average number of children a woman would bear) is 2.0, down from 2.2 in the 2015-2016 survey.

Fertility among Muslims has shown the sharpest dip at 2.36, while it is still much higher than that of Hindus and Christians at 1.94 and 1.88 respectively.

# 4

India has surpassed every nation, including China and the US, in digital financial transactions. For a country which was so cash-reliant till just six years ago, this is extraordinary.

India had the highest real-time payments among businesses around the world, with over 40 percent of such payments worldwide in 2021 being done here. A report by payment solutions provider ACI Worldwide, data analytics firm GlobalData and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) shows that India made 48.6 billion real-time payments through 2021, more than 2.6 times higher than China, which is at the second place with 18.5 billion real-time transactions.

# 5

Indian economy is just about one year away from overtaking that of Britain's, its erstwhile coloniser.

The Indian economy is all set to become the sixth largest in the world, says a recent report by British consultancy Cybr. It says that in 2022; the Indian economy will surpass France's and in 2023, Britain's. Toppling economies of first-world nations is a game changer, although there are several crucial parameters like per capita income and social security and medical protection of its poorest citizens to fix.

Each trend has its unique implications but what do these five trends mean together?

They testify to a transforming, maturing nation. A healthy sex ration and a dipping fertility rate means that a new dawn has silently arrived for half of India's population: women. The nation has started realising that without the mental and physical well-being of its mothers, sisters, partners, wives and daughters, it cannot progress or prosper. While the tipping point seems to have come suddenly and remarkably fast, it provides the springboard for very important leaps in the future.

A rural India connected by the internet and digital economy is another sweeping change in a remarkably short time. The hinterland is a phenomenally powerful sleeping beast. Once it arises, the nation's entire social and economic arithmetic is likely to radically change for the better.

The first four trends dovetail into the fifth, which marks the nation's material wellbeing. But these trends go much beyond economic growth. They signal a civilisational revival, a great rise encompassing the social, cultural, financial and military.

When we are in the centrifuge of change, it is hard to notice it. Which is why we must listen to what the figures are telling us. This generation is both the witness and executor of defining change. It must take pride and keep chipping away silently at dismantling the old world and perfecting the new one.

Courtesy. Abhijit Majumder in First Post

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, washed down the Chevy and recited my prayers. The caretaker had come along with Manu, the electrician and the fuse was set right.

A quiet day with a steady trickle of guests. 

At Raj Nivas!

Dateline 23 May.

Was up at 4, thanks to Lekha’s cellphone alarm. As she’d granted me a half an hour respite, I’d turned off to sleep only to get up at a quarter to 5. We went through our chores and was ready to take off when my friend had called up. He has had a heart attack a couple of days earlier and was speaking to me from the ICU bed in one of the nearby hospitals. His condition is okay but he will have to undergo an open heart bypass surgery next Monday, at the Sri Chithira Thirunal hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Listened to him as he went through the details and I didn’t have the heart to stop him and the conversation took over a half an hour.

This time, strangely, Kittu wasn’t seen around though Lekha had kept his feed at the verandah. His two kids were given their food. I turned off from our part of the highway which brought me straight to the Convent and from then on to Kottappadi jn, Kunnamkulam, Thrissur and onward to the NH 66. We’d breakfast at the Saravana Bhavan, near the Paliyekkara toll – the time was a half past 8!

We resumed our drive soon after and the journey was smooth except at Kalady, where I’d a brush with an auto taxi. The driver made a lot of noise and I told him to park a few yards ahead so that the motorists, behind, weren’t affected, to sort out the issue. We went a bit ahead and as I was getting out of my Chevy, he simply scooted away. Probably, his vehicle’s papers weren’t right!

The thrill of the day’s drive was lost because of the small dent on my car’s port bonnet.

We, then, passed through Ernakulam and Alappuzha and stopped at the Kalpakavadi Inn for lunch. The ambience was nice and the lunch – fish curry, meals – was okay. We arrived at Kottarakkara and after parking the Chevy with Lekha sitting inside the car, I’d gone to the Dish TV, recharged the Airtel Digital and exchanged the remote control of our set top box. The attendant had asked me to inform her on switching on the television.

My sister, Mini was at home but couldn’t do the needful because there was a power interruption since lunch time. I do not have to report as to how dejected I was and drove into Raj Nivas, by a half past 3.

As the house was opened, there were a few guests who had called on. Felt nice interacting with them. It was then that I realized that I had forgotten my bifocals either at the Dish TV office or at the bakery next door! Didn’t get through both the shops and it’s yet to be confirmed as to whether my spectacles is really there or not which will be confirmed at 10, tomorrow morning. So much about having state-of-the-art-technology – when it comes to actuals, one can be in a real helpless state!

Spoke to Dad and mom about our programme and felt at peace, as usual.

Could only watch the Malayalam news and entertainment channels as my account hasn’t opened up completely. To make matters worse, around 9, there was a power  interruption because the fuse, between the main switch board and the connections into the house, had blown off. So, it was a night of neither lights nor fans!

The first day at the Raj Nivas was tempestuous to say the least! Hope to get the error sorted out, first thing in the morning.!!

Tailpiece.

My ill luck didn't stop at that! While trying to upload this post, found that my dongle needed a recharge. Hence the delay. Apologies!

     

Two events have gone by with neither a hard look nor any analysis.

1. The London Conference

The "Ideas for India" conference where Rahul Gandhi made his speech was pitched as bringing together business, policy and NRI leaders from India and Europe for sessions on investment, education and green technology but it had another agenda - to enable a left-wing alliance of politicians from India to travel to Britain to forge alliances with left wing sections of the UK as part of a bid to defeat BJP in the 2024 election and also "change the narrative" in India.

Besides the dimwitted Rahul Gandhi from the Congress, there was TMC's Mohua Moitra, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and the motor mouth, Sitarm Yechuri of the CPM. And in trying to familiarise the UK-based Indian diaspora with what's happening in India, these guys - without exception - were peddling lies.

What these 'turncoats' - I'd like to call them that - don't realise that washing dirty linen in someone else's place won't fetch them dividends at all. The Indians in India won't approve of their behaviour abroad, especially in former colonial empire of all places.

Sad, how can one let down one's country unashamedly and visciously...? They need to be put in their rightful place - the garbage bin and nothing short of it.

2. The criminal Malayalam film star, Dileep, seems to be getting away lightly 

About a fortnight ago, DIG Sreejith, who was investigating the case was quietly changed citing the need for immediate results. The funniest thing was that even after changing him, the government and the police maintained that there was no change in the constitution of the investigating team! Today, it has been unequivocally stated that the team has been changed.

The blighter, Dileep, has a lot of friends among the high and the mighty. Today's announcement that investigation into the new charges will not be pursued is the clincher to show that the tainted star is involved in a lot of wrong things.

His movies are being shown everyday on various channels and the songs picturised on him are beamed on the television by all the channels. By doing so, what are the guys expecting....the public will miss him terribly and want him back at the earliest? Do they think that the people are so idiotic?

This guy has to be dealt with seriously and brought to book at the earliest. Otherwise, he'll thumb his nose at the law enforcing agencies.

Sad, isn't there any way to get him to undergo a clear-cut investigation to bring out the truth in the bizarre molestation case?

My take

These are dangerous trends and cannot be encouraged!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Washing machinex was carried out of the bed clothes and the soiled clothes.

Rain persisted all through the day.  

The fireworks of the Thrissur Pooram, at last!

More than a week after the Thrissur Pooram ended formally, the postponed fireworks display was finally held yesterday afternoon as the rain stayed away for a while. And boy, it was magnificent! 

The major pyrotechnics show was originally scheduled to happen in the early hours of 11 May, the concluding day of the Pooram. Rain forced the organisers to postpone it. Despite the short notice, hundreds of people came to the city to witness the show, indicating the enthusiasm of the public for the Pooram culmination.

Quick safety arrangements

Though the announcement of the pyrotechnics show was at a very short notice, the district administration with the police, the fire force and the devaswoms made all arrangements foolproof for public safety. Traffic at Swaraj Round was blocked from noon and the people were not allowed to enter the Swaraj Round to witness the show as it came within 100 mt of the firing line.

Many people, including women and children stood on terraces of nearby buildings to watch the show as the rain stayed away.

People were momentarily dejected when the city received a drizzle around noon. However, it soon stopped and the fireworks organisers speeded up the arrangements. The explosive items including palm leaf crackers were kept covered in plastic covers to protect them from getting wet in the rain.

The Paramekkavu faction lit the crackers first around 1400 hrs. Then the Thiruvambady began the fireworks display after a half past 2. The show was spectacular, as always.

Courtesy. The NIE.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm and the both of us were ready much before 7. We kicked off, on the dot, turning off from Moonnu Peedika, towards Angamaly. Enroute, we'd our breakfast at the Ananda Bhavan, Chalakkudy; Lekha and I shared a 'combo', as usual.

We reached Lekha's beautician's - Seena - newly purchased house and weren't they taken by surprise? The villa was bright and vibrant.....

From there, we'd dropped Lekha at the Bhima showroom as she had her ear studs and the locket of a gold chain repaired while I'd gone to collect my monthly medicines from the doctor. 

Lunch was had at a quarter to 2, at the Aryaas in Panampilli Nagar from where we set off on our return trip and reached The Quarterdeck by 7 but not before picking up grocery from the Harisree Supermarket.

Also, participated in the 569th episode of the Aazhchakkoottam : "Spirituality in daily life" by Shri K Dinakaran, Secretary of the Kerala Theosophical Federation from 1600 - 1700 hrs during the transit from Kochi to Guruvayur. An interesting one though I didn't take part in the Q & A session. 

A short, quiet trip where all that we'd planned were accomplished.  

Adieu Kanniamma ma'am!

The Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle was a series of protests to close the Coca-Cola factory in the village of Plachimada in Palakkad district in the early 2000s. The villagers noted that soon after the factory opened, their wells started to run dry and the available water turned contaminated and toxic. The lady who spearheaded the agitation was none other than Kanniamma!

Background

* The Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, erected its factory on a 38-acre plot in 1999.

* The land had historically belonged to the adivasis.

* The factory had employed 284 people.

* Audits reveal that around 600 cases comprising of 24 bottles of 300 ml capacity each, were produced everyday.

Kanniamma had spearheaded the agitation under the "Plachimada Coca-Cola Virudha Samara Samithi" against the depletion of groundwater due to the functioning of the beverages plant. 

The area had faced severe drinking water issues while the sludge from the plant also led to pollution in the area.

After the plant shut shop, Kanniamma continued protesting in front of the closed factory demanding compensation for those affected by the pollution and the damage to the environment caused due to the discharge of effluents. 

She had also launched a satyagraha in front of the plant and was jailed for 23 days.

Epilogue

95-year old Kanniamma passed into the mist of time. Wife of late Kannan, she died in her house in Vijaya Nagar Colony in Plachimada. Her death coincides with the 20th anniversary of the agitation against the MNC, Coca-Cola!

Adieu Kanniamma ma'am! My salute, tears and prayers for the tough and no-nonsense leader who empowered the poor adivasis to fight against injustice. Om Shanti! Sadgati.

God doesn't make people like 'em anymore! 

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Another thoroughly wet day.

Lekha had gone to town for purchases and to pick up our fruit basket.

Government fumbling on defence issues?

Are the 26-month blanket ban on recruitment and rethinking over the charter of the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) casting a shadow on our operational capabilities?

A nationalist government that treats national security as a sacred patriotic duty has surprisingly put the brakes and taken a laid-back position on two critical defence matters : Recruitment of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

After milking the armed forces through cross-border strikes - the Uri surgical raids, Balakot airstrikes or hot pursuit in Myanmar against dissident Naga groups, that yielded enormous electoral dividends - the government has gone kind of numb and begun fumbling on key issues.

Late CDS Gen Rawat would not have let recruitment stop for so long at a time when the Chinese PLA is breathing down our neck of our troops across multiple un-vacated intrusion points. Nothing explains the suspension of soldier recruitment in combat  and combat-support arms.

The current mess in Defence is partly due to the absence of the CDS. But the cat is out of the bag. After six months of suspense, MoD officials are leaking information to justify delay in naming the CDS that some of us in the strategic community had predicted - that the government is rethinking the charter of CDS, in particular, remit of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) which has deprived the Defence Secretary and his bureaucrats of the control they exercised over the military. 

By transferring several sections/departments that the Defence Secretary controlled to the DMA, the civilian officials were marginalised.

- Excerpts from an article by Lt Gen Ashok K Mehta (Retd) in The Pioneer.

My take

The Modi government had taken a historic step in drawing up and later, appointing the CDS. The tragic and untimely end of the General in a helicopter crash at Wellington, Ooty has brought about a void that should have been filled soon after. The continuing delay will definitely embolden the bureaucrats to hanker for the 'status quo ante' so that they can have control over the defence establishment as before, which will be very, very unfortunate!   

Tailpiece.

Got up late around a half past 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

The forenoon saw heavy rain which subsided by mid-afternoon.

Ranjoo, the service rep of the Pest Control of India (PCI), had come by to carry out the quarterly routine as per the annual maintenance contract that I've with it. 

Spacemoms.

A celebration of Girl Power, a celebration of India!

"Space Moms" is another must watch movie. We watched the screening in the presence of director/producer Radha Bhardwaj and the Consulate General of India.

The movie is based on the inspiring true story of the women behind India's historic Mars mission. The movie exhibits the real strength of India, its ancient culture, Hindu value system, intelligent engineers and scientists. It makes you emotional and brings tears to your eyes. The movie production took over 4 years whereas the actual mission was accomplished in just 14 months. Extremely aggressive plan for such a gigantic project. Indeed "Rocket Science" in a true sense!

A few remarkable highlights of India's Mars mission :-

* Only 4 countries have successful Mars missions. India is among them.

* India is the first country with a successful first attempt!

* It took 9 months to travel from the Earth to the Mars.

* Its budget was 1/4th the cost of the US Mars mission and

* It is cheaper than the movie "Gravity".

Typical Bollywood/Hollywood movies paint India/Hindus in a bad light. They demonize India/Hindus and make you feel ashamed, inferior or apologetic. Whereas this movie tells the truth about India and its people. It brings positivity! Watch and feel prouder. It's very inspiring for women, moms, girls and children.

Salute to director Radha Bhardwaj who took the risk of making an out-of-the-box movie. Unlike other movies, her intention is not to earn money but to highlight the positive image of motherland India, to show the world the strength of India and its ancient roots, to make you feel prouder. Must watch.

My take.

Must watch. It's a movie that has been made well.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, hearing the deluge which continued almost through the entire day.

Another of those quiet days!  

India's latest BrahMos missile test was different.

India test-fired the extended-range of the BrahMos missile from a SU-30 MKI fighter jet. This missile has a range of over 350 km, compared to the 290 km of the older version.

It's another feather in the cap for the Indian Armed Forces.

India successfully test-fired an extended-range version of the BrahMos Air Launched missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. As per reports, the Sukhoi from the "Tiger Sharks" squadron took off from the Thanjavur airbase in Tamilnadu, underwent mid-air refueling and then fired the missile at the "designated target" in the Bay of Bengal.

According to a statement by the Indian Air Force, the test firing from the aircraft went as planned and it also achieved a direct hit on the designated target located in the Bay of Bengal region.

This is a "game changer" for India.

The new BrahMos missile

While the BrahMos missile is not new weaponry for India, this particular trial was special for the nation as it was testing the extended range (ER) version of the missile.

BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound. The range of the BrahMos missile is said to be 290 km.

The first test of the initial version was carried out in 2017.

However, this time, the IAF test-fired the newer version, which has a range of over 350 km, compared to the 290-km range of the previous variety.

India had conducted at least 10 BrahMos  supersonic cruise missile tests this year, starting with the test-firing of an advanced sea-to-sea variant of the missile from INS Visakhapatnam on 11 January.

Why is this such a big deal?

Defence experts have noted that the extended range and the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a "strategic reach".

The IAF, in fact, in its statement, said, "The extended range-capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the Sukhoi-30MKI gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battlefields".

Explaining how this will be beneficial to India's defence capabilities, an expert told the ToI, "This is the first time the new BrahMos missile with a strike range of over 450 km (original range 290 km) has been tested from the air. The Sukhoi, with a combat radius of almost 1,500-km without mid-air refueling, combined with the 450-km range BrahMos missile is a formidable weapons package".

This will come handy at a time when India is facing the double threat of China and Pakistan.

- Adapted from the article that was published on the Firstpost.

My take

This will have an effect on our adversaries!

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, lazed on bed for a while before going through the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. 

It was a quiet but rainy day. 

 

Gyanvapi Mosque - Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Beyond politics, Gyanvapi is about the Hindu civilisation. Surveys and studies matter and before focusing on what can be reclaimed, the estimates of what was lost must be made public.

Across the history of independent India, secularism, from the perspective of history, has been a one-way street, favouring the interests of one minority community against those of the majority and several other minority groups.

A teaser of it was visible during the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when one and only one minority community protested a framework to aid the cause of oppressed minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, conveniently forgetting that two of these three countries were founded on the principle of two-nation theory or simply because one community wanted its way of life to prevail and refused to coexist.

Post the Supreme Court verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi, there was an expectation among many that an elaborate and honest debate would now be a part of the public discourse, emphasising the wrongs of of the Mughal era and several Islamic invaders before them and how, several temples and sites important to the Hindu civilization were decimated and new structures were built upon their ruins.

A case in point was the Gyanvapi mosque, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. A petition filed in 2019, post the verdict, sought an archeological survey of the mosque and come 2022, after much resistance, the survey is finally underway.

The survey is not merely a political stunt, as the likes of Asaduddin Owaisi would want it to be but points to a greater civilizational question. For the better part of the last seven decades, we have been taught to romanticise everything Mughal, from their cuisines to their fashion and from their architecture to their literature. The focus has been commercially translated into forms of cinema for mass consumption, thus imposing upon the gullible young population the unverified and disputable 'greatness' of the Mughal empire.

For an empire that lasted three centuries, in bits and pieces, there is no way to dismiss its existence or legacy altogether but it cannot be at the cost of the civilizations before it, one that has been here for more than three millennia. The argument about not looking back at Mughals or their atrocities and rather focusing on the future of India is a lazy one, for all great economies have either corrected their historical wrongs or learned from them as they marched ahead. Look at the United States and China, for starters.

If there has to be a disproportionate focus on the Mughal architecture , there must also be a focus on the ruins upon which most of the mosques from that era were built. If the Red Fort can still serve as the political centre every Independence Day, if the Taj Mahal can be on every possible travel brochure ever printed in India and if the Moghuls can occupy a significant portion of the curriculum in history books, then an honest conversation around the atrocities  committed against the Hindus across the subcontinent must also be a part of the popular narrative, starting with Afghanistan.

The court-mandated survey in Gyanvapi will only affirm what is otherwise a public secret but the pursuit must not stop there or merely extend to Mathura. Even if the legal constraints due to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, are factored in , the surveys are being merely undertaken in the interests of archeology, civilizational history and science. A court-mandated survey or a petition for it, as is the case with Gyanvapi, does not amount to changing the religious character of any place. One hopes the same surveys are extended to all the temples that have been lost to time, given an elaborate list has been put together by many scholars.

Beyond the surveys, the government, without being apologetic or frightened, must also adopt methods like carbon dating, dendrochronology and thermoluminescence dating, for not all answers and ruins can be located through surveys alone and in the interest of science and history, the findings of such studies undertaken must be made available for public consumption and not be locked away in some sealed rooms in some underground structure.

To correct the wrongs of history, which are no fault of the present-day regimes or societies, the first step is acknowledging the wrong, followed by an elaborate discussion to undo the damage to the farthest extent possible and then finally undertaking the redemption. In India, we have failed to take the first step and that is what gives many politicians the nerve to go and bow before the tombs of Babur or Aurangzeb, thus almost metaphorically spitting on the sentiments of the majority Hindu population.

We are now looking at a generation that finds it hard to believe that an exodus was perpetrated merely three decades ago in Kashmir. Therefore, the surveys and studies matter and before focusing on what can be reclaimed, the estimates of what was lost must be made public, for everyone to realise the hypocrisy and ignorance upon which the foundations of secularism in India rests.

- Tushar Gupta in Swarajya.

Tailpiece.

We continued our journey towards Thrissur and I was dropped at Kunnamkulam by about a quarter to 2, at night. Got Sunil's auto rickshaw and made a beeline to Guruvayur while Maman and the rest, continued their journey to Thiruvananthapuram. Hit the sack around a half past 2. They reached their destination by 11 o' clock!

Got up at our usual time, the chores. After breakfast, Lekha had gone to the Mammiyur temple and then to Asha's place, to collect her saree. Today's our 31st wedding anniversary when we cut the anniversary cake, had a chicken biryani lunch and watched television.

The usual evening chores. Calls, messages and telephone calls were exchanged on the occasion.  

PS.

The name of the mosque is derived from an adjoining well, the Gyan Vapi (Well of Knowledge). 

The return.

Got up at 7, went through the chores and was ready by about a quarter to 9. Mr George, our Kuttu's dad, had come by to give us the contact person at the Thirunelli temple who would coordinate our visit, this morning. We, then, went and had breakfast at the Indian Coffee House which was heavy......dosa with egg is definitely heavy for me.

We were off to the Thirunelli temple soon after. Enjoyed the long drive; on reaching, Ajesh and Santhosh - on instructions from Mr George - were at hand to conduct us through the temple. We offered the 'pithrupuja' for Muthachhan, Ammachi, Achhan and Amma and prayed for the departed. Felt very nice after that.

Lunch was at the Georges and oh, what a spread it was! Kuttu's mom - a high school teacher at the Government Upper Primary School - had taken pains to cook the lovely food. We thanked her profusely and headed for the school for the District Level Meeting at the school. We had the privilege of meeting stalwarts of the district, who'd walked along with PN Panicker, both in the Library Movement as well as the Literacy Movement.

Everyone assembled there, were eager to interact with my Maman and me, take selfies and had promised to work for Foundation. The district general council was formed and all the members gave a brief account about themselves. The actions required in the run up to the celebration of the 'Vaayana Dinam/Vayana Maasam' this year were put across to the team. It's now for them to take this on and make it a success.

We'd then gone back to the resort to collect our luggage to commence our return. There was a massive traffic disruption enroute and we were stuck for over an hour. Thankfully, prior to that we had gone to the local TV station which had shot an interview with Maman. We resumed our journey and had dinner around a half past 9 at Thamarasserri.

We'd headed straight for Thrissur as I'd to be dropped at Kunnamkulam.

We used the transit to discuss the salient features of this year's 'Vaayana Dinam'.     

So, we were on the move as the day came to an end.

Tailpiece.

Met quite a lot of people at Wayanad. I'd very nice interactions with each. 

At Wayanad.

Last night, it was decided between Maman and me that he'd call me up when he crosses Ernakulam, early in the morning today so that I could adjust my arrival at the turning off point towards Ponnani, at Chavakkad on our trip to Kozhikode for the district level meeting of our co-ordinators and volunteers scheduled at 1030 hrs. Accordingly, I'd tied up with Hameed to drop me around a quarter past 5.

But things did not work out the way it was planned by us. Perhaps, proving the point yet again that, "man proposes and god disposes". Maman called me up at a quarter past 5, saying that he was off Haripad and that he wouldn't be able to reach me in time. Could I, therefore, proceed to Kozhikode by myself to be at the meeting?

Accordingly, Hameed dropped me at the KSRTC bus stand at a 20' to 7 and I clambered on to the 7 o'clock superfast, bound for Kozhikode and reached my destination by a quarter to 10. After a quick wash, I'd the vegetable sandwiches made by Lekha sitting at the bus stand itself. Soon after, I headed for the TBS (touring book stall) library which was the venue for our meeting.

Adv Rajan, our co-ordinator at Kozhikode, was anxiously waiting for my Maman and wasn't he relieved to see me? The meeting started on the dot at a half past 10 and I became the cynosure of everyone's eyes being my grandfather's grandson! Interacted with the audience and gave them an outline about the aim of the meeting. Mr PV Gangadharan, the ageing patriarch of the KTC whose contribution, as a producer, towards the Malayalam film industry in the form of quite a few good movies is folklore, was the chief guest. He met me with a lot of love and affection and spoke about his interactions with my grandfather. He spoke about the importance of digital literacy and said that every library must have the photograph of PN Panicker! He was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Kozhikode District General body of the PN Panicker Foundation.

While seeing him off, I told him about the enormous pain inflicted upon the family by a vicious article written by Pirappancode Murali recently, in the Malayalam daily, 'Mathrubhumi', which his family owns. He, then, asked me to counter it and to meet the Executive Editor, Mr V Ravindranath regarding the matter. And once Maman had arrived, that's exactly what we did after a simple and scrumptious lunch at the Gandhi Peace Foundation.

Meeting up with the executive director of the Mathrubhoomi was a sheer delight. He has agreed to do the needful. With that we cut from Kozhikode on our long drive to Wayanad but not before buying the famous 'Kozhikode halwa' - our co-ordinator, Karayil Sukumar from Kannur is also with us. Lekha, our financial wizard, Bijumon sir the national co-ordinator of reading and our sa'arthi, Ajith comprise our team. 

Enroute, we also took part in the 568th episode of the Aazhchakkoottam on "Sister Abhaya case's legal battle and how it created an awareness in society" by Jomon Puthanpurackal - who'd single handedly put the facts of the case to the judiciary till the murdered nun got justice - from 1600 to 1700 hrs. 

We commenced our drive by a half past 6 to Wayanad through rain and reached our night halt at Mananthavady by a half past 10. Dinner, that was light, was had enroute at Kalpetta. Arjun Kuttu - our co-ordinator of Wayanad - and his dad were there to receive us and to tuck us into our beds.

It was a fairly long day!

Tailpiece.

Go up at 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 6. Leaving Lekha is always a difficult thing to do but I've asked Muthachhan to keep her safe and look after her during my absence. And I know that he will! And moreover, our neighbours had told me that they'll keep an eye on her.

    

  

Agalega : India's military infrastructure.

Satellite imagery dated 20 Apr 2022 shows hangars large enough to house the Indian Navy's P-81 submarine-hunting aircraft are under construction next to the newly-built runway.

India is building military infrastructure on Mauritius' Agalega Island to increase its presence in the western Indian Ocean.

Over the last few years, a 10,000-foot runway and a jetty have been constructed on the island, which is located over 1,100 km north of the main island of Mauritius.

The hangars "measure 180 feet long and 200 feet wide - big enough to house large military aircraft such as India's P-83 Poseidon, which measures 39.5 m in length and has a wind span of 37.6 m.

China has been rapidly expanding its presence in the western Indian Ocean. Apart from building its first foreign military base in Djibouti, it has invested heavily in infrastructure in Africa, particularly ports. Many of these ports are located on the eastern coast of Africa and could be the Chinese outposts.

India in Western Indian Ocean

India's maritime security strategy lists the south-west Indian Ocean, including the Mozambique Channel (used by shipping transiting the Cape of Good Hope) and the east coast of Africa, where China has been investing heavily, as one of the primary areas of interest.

The infrastructure coming up on Agalega will support India's maritime assets in the western Indian Ocean, particularly waters close to the western coast of Africa, an increasingly important region where the Indian Navy's engagements have been relatively limited.

- Courtesy. Adapted from an article from Swarajya

My take

Any country nurturing superpower ambitions will have to develop bases in areas of its interest to support its maritime/defence assets.

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. The sky was overcast through out the day but it didn't rain much.

Finally, our landline has been revived after a break for almost three weeks. Pravin of the BSNL and Bijeesh, the electrician got the system working. Phew!

Limbering up for tomorrow's journey in connection with the meetings of the co-ordinators and the volunteers of the PN Panicker Foundation of Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. Will return by Sunday evening. Our vehicle, from Thiruvananthapuram, will pick me up at Chavakkad junction because of the ongoing road repair work.

'

Murphy's Laws for the Military.

All of us have heard of Murphy's Laws.....Let's see as to how it is relevant to the armed forces.

* Never share a bunker with anyone braver than yourself.

* Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.

* Five-second fuses always burn in three seconds.

* No battle plan ever survives after contact with the enemy.

* Friendly fire ain't friendly.

* The easy way is always mined.

* Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.

* If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.

* Incoming fire has the right of way.

* No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection.

* No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.

* If the enemy is within range, so are you.

* The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.

* Tracers work both ways.

* Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.

* Military Intelligence is a contradiction in terms.

* Mines are equal opportunity weapons.

* When in doubt, empty your magazine.

* The side with the simplest uniform wins. 

* Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps.

* If your advance is going well, you are walking into an ambush.

* The most dangerous thing in the world is a Lieutenant with a map and a compass.

* The more a weapon costs, the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.

* The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon's operator.

* If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.

* To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence.

* The weapon that usually jams when you need it the most is the one you are trained with.

* The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range.

* The crucial round is a dud.

* There is no such place as a convenient foxhole.

* The density of fire increases proportionately to the curiosity of the target.

* Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the General is watching.

* Things that must be together to work can never be shipped together.

* The Quarter Master has only two sizes, too large and too small.

* If you have a personality conflict with your superior, he has the personality, you have the conflict.

* If you enter the CO's office with an idea, most likely, you will leave hos office with his idea. 

My take

Nothing but the truth!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 10' past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

First went to Jimmy's studio, got the documents ready and then, off to the Devaswom Office to get the order regarding the allotment of the 'Aadhyaathmika Hall' for my aunt, Indirakutty and her friends (There would be 30 of them, from Tvpm) for their 'Narayaneeyam Recital', on 09 Jul.

The usual evening chores, thereafter.

Grand Plan Gone Waste?

Border gadgets worth Rs.86 cr sinks in Brahmaputra. 

When CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System) was included into the border management plan, it was to enable the BSF to equip the India-Bangladesh border with different kinds of sensors in the unfenced riverine stretches of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The CIBMS concept involved integrating manpower, sensors and command and control to improve "situational awareness and facilitate quick response to emerging situations".

While CIBMS's major component is the 'virtual fence', its second part is the command and control structure which aims to optimise the use of resources for border management and the third component is power management to keep CIBMS running.

Vital Statistics

4,096.7 km is the total length of the India-Bangladesh border.

Of that 3,112.18 km has physical fencing.

Physical and non-physical barriers comprising of technological solutions covers 984.52 km.   

* Border with the NE states

   West Bengal              2,216.7 km

   Tripura                         856 km

   Mizoram                      318 km

   Meghalaya                   443 km

   Assam                          263 km

The project to secure the Assam's riverine stretch on the Brahmaputra to prevent cross-border crime, illegal immigration from Bangladesh and cattle smuggling in Dhubri district  of Assam was conceived in 2017 and named BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Techniques). In 2018, BSF's information and technology wing began executing the project and completed it in record time with technical support from various manufacturers and suppliers. On 05 Mar 2019, the project was inaugurated with a lot of fanfare by the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh

However, the following observations were put up by the BSF to its headquarters viz. :-

* Many equipment still to be put to use even after a long time and

* Sub-standard equipment were procured.

Last year, an internal audit carried out by a Guwahati-based IG of BSF described the BOLD-QIT as a 'failed project'.

Consequently, gadgets worth Rs.86 cr like thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms, ground sensors have not been exploited to their maximum capacity!

Courtesy. The NIE.

My take

A bad show, if true. Corrective steps need to be taken forthwith! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 20' past 6, the chores and was ready by a 20' past 10. Went to town for getting utensils repaired, pay the booking amount for Indirakutty for her 'Narayaneeyam recital' on 09 Jul and to pick up grocery from the department store.

Cleared up pending work.

How we defend our long coastline.

The story of how Brahmos missiles guard the long coastline of India and the waters around it. 

Working on the 'Fire & Forget' principle, Brahmos is the first ramjet supersonic cruise missile stealth weapon in the world. The destructiveness of the cruise is reflected in the state of the art features like a universal launching platform, long flight with varieties of trajectories, low radar signature and pinpoint accuracy multiplying the lethality due to the large kinetic energy on impact. Instilling fear in the deep heart of enemies, Brahmos single-handedly provide a wholesome security net to the nation.

Protector of the Indian Ocean

Recently, the ANC (Andaman & Nicobar Command)of the Indian Navy released a video of the missile strike capability of the Brahmos cruise missile. Showcasing the pinpoint accuracy of the missile system, the command said, "Indian Navy and ANC yet again demonstrate combat readiness by successfully destroying targets at sea through the anti-ship version of Brahmos at Andaman & Nicobar Island on 27 Apr 2022".

String of Pearls

The recent attempt of China to limit the power of India with 'String of Pearls' has forced Indian security strategists to counter the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region in a more assertive & strategic way.

The Chinese presence in the region is a grave concern for the security of India. Further, its aggressive push for expanding footprints in the strategic location and ground realization of the theory of 'string of pearls' by 'capturing' strategic ports through 'debt trap diplomacy' in the region will cause greater damage to the security in the future conflicts.

Already, China has captured the strategic port location in the region through its debt-trap diplomacy. The Doraleh multipurpose port in Djibouti, Gwadar and Karachi deep water ports in Pakistan, Hambantota and CICT Terminal in Sri Lanka and Kyaukpyu port in Myanmar has already been completed and the theory of string of pearls been realised.

Brahmos - The Silent Killer

Although India is strategically pushing for its diplomacy to counter the 'port capturing diplomacy' with a 'mutual development program', the presence of the Chinese can only be countered by building a strategic deterrent defence force and the Brahmos cruise gives the highest edge of offensive strike capabilities against any country of the world.

Since 2013, the Indian Navy warships have inducted eight Brahmos cruise systems in their arsenals of missiles. The deadly combination of the navy's destroyer warships and Brahmos stealth capabilities makes it a silent killer machine in the region. Its capacity to fly as low as 10 metres above sea level makes it stealth as it 'neutralises' the radar defence system to detect the missile.

Further, the integration of Brahmos in the Su-30 MKI fighter jets gives another nightmare to enemies in the waters. Its capacity to fly up to 290-km with supersonic speed all through the flight provides a full security net to the 7,516.6 km Indian coastlines in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Moreover, the 3 Mach speed, capacity to carry a warhead weighing 200 to 300 kgs, quicker engagement and non-interception capacity makes it a leader in cruise missile technology.

Strategic Brahmos Alliance

Securing the Indo-Pacific from the Chinese dominance in the region, India has started to form a Brahmos alliance with the region's neighbours. In a recent formation of such an alliance, India has entered into an agreement with the Philippines for the sale of Brahmos. The $374 million deal is an attempt by India to counterbalance the Pakistan-China security nexus to increase the military presence in the close neighbour of respective countries. It will not only provide a good market to the Indian defence industry but will give the Chinese the taste of their own medicine.

The Brahmos, named by combining the name of the Indian river Brahmaputra and the Russian river of Moskva has inculcated the true character of both rivers which is the 'destructiveness' of Brahmaputra and steadiness of Moskva. The silent killing machine machine is truly the guardian of Indian waters which gives both offensive and second-strike capabilities to the Indian defence system.

- Rahul Gupta in TFIPOST.

My take

A measure that was long overdue!

Tailpiece.

The day had begun at 3 with Lekha's cellphone alarm giving us the shake up, went about our chores and were ready on the dot at 5. Sajeesh had reached by then and we kicked off for Kochi without much ado. The traffic was comparatively less and we reached the Indian Coffee House opposite Mallan's Clinic by 8. Had breakfast of dosas and shifted across the highway. We were, thus, there at the clinic by about a half past 8.

The doctor and his staff were a trifle late. In fact, the woman scavenger, Rinjoo, opened up the doctor's consulting room for us to sit. The review - the healing of the wound is going fine - and the removal of stitches took about a half an hour. After a coffee and snack, we were on our return trip by about a 10' past 11. 

Looked up my cousin at her office and resumed our journey by 12. Had lunch by about a half past 12 at the Periyar restaurant and headed for home. Picked up our fruit basket and visited the bank before reaching home at a half past 3.

It was a quiet evening thereafter.

  

A grave situation!

The woes of senior citizens with their off-springs in foreign lands!

Kudos to Mr Vijay Phanshikar for bringing up the serious issue of socio-emotional aspect of lonely senior citizens in his column "Loud Thinking". As a doctor, I have seen many senior citizens going into the phase of loneliness and then depression after staying far away from their children who are mostly settled abroad. The problem has worsened many folds during Covid times.

In their young days, the same parents encourage their children to study abroad, supporting them financially. Over a period of time children take up lucrative jobs and decide to settle down permanently. The excited proud parents in their haydays make frequent trips to be with them and later mostly for baby-sitting. But later, the same parents are reluctant to visit their children due to the tiring air travel and children also do not encourage their elderly parents to visit them due to unaffordable medical expenses. At such times children visit their parents for short periods.

Everyone is happy with this arrangement till the parents are physically fit. Once their health starts deteriorating, the parents start feeling the necessity of being near their children. Then it's too late to make compromises from either side. The irony of the situation is, the same parents who looked after their elderly parents sincerely, do not have the same kind of support from children.

Unfortunately, most of the senior citizens are left to tend for themselves mostly in old age homes. Western trends are replacing our rich Indian values. How do we solve the problems of migrating diaspora? Doesn't the present generation owe some moral responsibility towards their parents? Emotions, attachments, sense of responsibilities, are they taking a backseat in today's materialistic world? Can long distance video calls kill parents' loneliness? Is the Empty Nest Syndrome  a permanent reality in the life of the elderly??

Should the parents be selfish enough to refuse funding or discourage their children in settling down in foreign countries? Should the Government of India make certain laws (like China) to ensure that Indian citizens return home after a stipulated time period and serve their native country and parents?

The problem is complex but quick solutions is the need of the hour before one entire generation of senior citizens becomes mentally unstable.

A strong debate is required and senior citizens need a platform for this controversial debate.

- Dr Shubhangi Deshmane, Gynaecologist. 

My take

Truly an undesirable trend that needs sorting out at the earliest. Remember the saying, "Time erodes gratitude just as it does beauty!"

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Covered a lot of pending work.

A quiet Sunday!

I had reached the Thrissur bus stand around midnight; the number of passengers had dwindled to about 10. It was drizzling continuously as we cast off on our final leg.....the conductor was a young lady who was very helpful.

Earlier, I'd chided the scavenger collecting money from the customers, at the public comfort station, for keeping the place dirty. He promised to do the needful at the earliest. (Incidentally, it's Rs.3/- that's being collected!). The cleanliness was piss poor.

The bus left soon after and I'd requested the conductor to drop me at the Little Flower College, from where I would have to walk another 50' to my house but that was not to be. The road was blocked at Kottappadi and the bus had to turn off towards Thampuraanpadi junction and then to the Mammiyoor junction and onward, to the bus stand. It had begun to rain steadily with the accompaniment of thunder and lightning.

My cellphone's charge was abysmally low and I, therefore, had to switch it off and wasn't in a position to answer Lekha's queries but she was updated before I went off the air. The block was from the Mammiyoor junction and I'd to disembark there for the long trudge to my house.....there was no escape from it. From the entrance to the road that leads to my house, the road had caved in the middle by about a foot and a half in depth - where the huge pipes, for fresh water, had been newly laid - across a stretch of about 100 mts. 

Thankfully, I had a folding umbrella in my bag and taking shelter under it, had commenced my long trek home. The conductor and the driver asked me to negotiate the messy road, full of slush and rubble, with utmost care. They seemed to be concerned about this tottering (old) man! Damn sweet of them!!

Work was going on at the site where the road had caved in - they were filling up the caved portion in the stretch, with small granite stones. I was fascinated to see them at work with excavators, JCBs and smaller tools. Their leader told me that they'd have to repeat this at least twice again to get the road firm! Stood there watching them at work with the rain lashing all the time and gave them a thumbs up, as I headed for home.

Got wet - my clothes were partially drenched along with my bag. Thankfully, the laptop was safe and dry. Reached home by about a quarter past 1. Had a quick bath and change, with Lekha laying out a hot dinner with a piping hot cup of milk! And mind you, a power failure was on during the period but we'd adequate light thanks to the inverter. 

We hit the sack at a half past 2.

Got up around 7, the chores and had breakfast before bath. Earlier, heard the Rangoli and it carried a good collection of old Hindi movie songs.

Washing machinex of the bedlinen and my two-day collection of soiled clothes.

It was a quiet Sunday and no, we didn't venture out. The Seetharamans were talked to and the newly married couple viz. Haritha and Shyam were conveyed our wishes. Geoffrey and Rupali - at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh - were also wished on their great day!

Tailpiece.

Chalked out our programme for this week. Lekha is due for a visit to her dentist.