News views.

A day of happenings. News that have grabbed the headlines shall be gone through and analysed. So, without much ado, let me press on.

(a) Babri verdict is out.

The special CBI court has finally handed over the verdict on the Babri Masjid demolition case after 28 long years. It was investigating as to whether there was a criminal conspiracy in pulling down the monument. After going through a mountain of evidence, mostly circumstantial and interrogating about 130 witnesses, the court has concluded that there was no proof to show that there was a criminal conspiracy to bring down the structure.

It was a spontaneous and emotional action that was beyond the control of the leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others. Consequently, all 32 accused were acquitted.

The tortuous case has finally found closure. However, parties aggrieved with the verdict can appeal to a higher court as is the usual legal procedure. The Congress and the CPM want to appeal, while Mamata Banerjee's TMC has asked the aggrieved party to go for appeal - an action clearly dictated by the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.

There are a couple of points to ponder * It took 28 years for the verdict to arrive * Was there a connivance by interested parties to make the demolition look as part of a conspiracy?

(b) The gang rape at Hathras, UP.

A 19 year old Dalit woman of Hathras, UP was brutally gang raped and strangulated by four upper caste men on 14 Sep. She was taken to New Delhi as she had spine injuries, cuts and bruises and a bitten tongue. She passed away at the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday but what has whipped up passions is by the news that the UP Police showed undue haste in carrying out the cremation of her body during the unearthly time of 0230 hrs, last night.

The natural query that comes up is as to why the UP Police showed such haste to dispose off the body. Was it to destroy evidence? Whom are they trying to help?

The PM had contacted the UP chief minister to fast track the investigation to bring the culprits to book. Accordingly, a special investigation team has been formed to look into the case.

The details of the case will be discernible once the fog of the charges and the counter charges are cleared. 

Here's wishing that the culprits be hanged for their heinous act....and that too, without delay.

(c) A case against the CBI.

The 'Life Mission' case is the flagship project of Kerala's LDF government for the providing housing to the poor - the landless and the homeless. An FCRA case has been filed by the CBI against the project, in that, necessary clearances that had to be taken from the central government were not taken. The head of the Unitac Builders - which had landed the plum project - has been taken taken into custody and interrogated by the CBI.

The state government has filed a case in the Supreme Court and also requested for its disposal tomorrow itself. Why is the state government worried? Or is it that the central government is unnecessarily poking its nose in this case? The outcome of the case, tomorrow, should clinch it.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The KSEB had called for a power interruption from 1000 to 1700 hrs to carry out maintenance. Otherwise, it was a quiet Wednesday and the last day of September.       

Every brand has a story.

 Here are how these 30 famous brands were christened.

  1. Nike. Name for the Greek goddess of victory. The swoosh signifies her flight.

  2. Coca-Cola. The two main ingredients were Coca leaves and Cola berries.

  3. Pepsi. From the digestive enzyme 'pepsin' though pepsin is not is not an ingredient in the drink.

  4. Google. Derived from 'googul' which means 1 followed by 100 zeros. Signifies owners Larry Page and Sergey Brin's mission to provide innumerable information to all users.

  5. Adidas. Named after owner Adolf Dassler whose nick name was Adi. Adi Dassler became Adidas.

  6. Intel. Short for integrated electronics.

  7. Canon. Adapted from Kwanon (Japanese name of Buddhist Bodhisattva of Mercy). It was changed to Canon for easier acceptance worldwide.

  8. Lego. Derived from Danish words "Leg Godt', which means to 'play well'. Lego also means 'put together' in Latin, which they claim is actually a coincidence.

  9. Nintendo. Transliterated from Nintendou. Nin in Japanese means 'entrusted' and and Ten-dou means 'heaven'.

10. Amazon. CEO Jeff Bazos wanted a name starting with 'A'. He chose Amazon because it is the biggest river in the world, just what he wanted his company to be.

11. Skype. Originally the idea was 'Sky peer to peer', which later became Skyper and finally, Skype.

12. Adobe. Named after a creek that ran behind the co-founder, John Warnock's house, called Adobe Creek

13. Nokia. Started as wood-pulp mill, it expanded its business to producing rubber products in a city in Finland called Nokia.

14. Sony. Derived from the Latin word, 'Sonus' (meaning sound) and an American slang 'Sonny' (Meaning bright youngster).

15. Vodafone. Voice, Data and Telefone.

16. Volkswagen. Means 'People's car' in German. There was a time when only very expensive cars used to ply on German roads. Volkswagen was a revolution.

17. ebay. Originally called Echo Bay. The domain echobay.com was already taken. So it was shortened to ebay.

18. IBM. Founder TJ Watson Sr wanted to be a step ahead of his former employers 'National cash Register', so he decided to call his company 'International Business Machines'.

19. Nikon. Short for Nippon Kogaku, which means 'Japanese Optical'.

20. Reebok. Derived from the Afrikaans spelling of an African Antelope, 'Rhebok'.

21. Starbucks. Named after a character in Moby Dick, Starbuck. Originally the name 'Peqoud' was suggested, the name of the ship from the novel. When it got rejected, they settled for 'Starbuck', the chief mate of that very ship.

22. Virgin. Because the business was new and the team members were virgins at business. This was suggested by a girl in Richard Branson's team.

23. Durex. Durable, Reliable and Excellence.

24. Fanta. The head of the German Coca-Cola team asked them to use their 'Fantasie' to come up with the name. That did not take long though.

25. Nivea. Derived from the Latin word 'Niveus', which means snow white.

26. HP (Hewlett Packard). William Hewlett and David Packard flipped a coin to decide whose name would come first.

27. Toyota. Named after founder Kiichiro Toyoda. The name was changed to Toyota because Toyoda literally means, 'fertile rice paddies'.

28. Microsoft. A combination of the words Microcomputer and Software.

29. Cisco. Not actually an acronym. They just removed San Fran from San Francisco.

30. Budweiser. Beer has been brewed in Budweis, Bohemia, since 1245. Budweiser means 'of Budweis' and was developed as a 'Bohemian-style' beer. Founder Adolphus Busch was inspired to create the beverage after a trip to the region.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. An additional step has been added to the process of pulling out money from the ATM. After one has punched in one's requirement, an OTP that's generated for realising the transaction, is sent to your registered mobile phone. It's only after you feed in this number that you would get your money. So kindly carry your mobile phone to the ATM to carry out a transaction.

The Ashoka Syndrome.

 An interesting article by a retired army officer!

* In India, it's never about ideology. It is only about civilisation.

* And to put it on record this is why PM Modi faces a massive smear campaign from a powerful lobby.

* But this did not start in 2014. It started long ago, we have to go back by centuries to understand this.

* India wasn't born in 1947 because unlike many other countries we got independent and were not created afresh. Therefore, what happened before 1947 is as important as to what happened after 1947.

* The most underrated event in our history is the Kalinga War of 265 BC.

* The war changed Ashoka, the famous Mauryan ruler but it would also change India for centuries to come.

* The emperor became pacifist. Whatever be his own ideology, it is very easy to confuse reluctance to wage war with a senselessly defensive mindset.

* For years to come, the Indian civilisation became utterly defensive.

* Succeeding Indian dynasties and emperors would avoid expansionism.

* But their ability to perceive and pre-empt threats also went down.

* Compromise and forgiveness became the keywords of our civilisation.

* The Ashoka syndrome would soon become the Prithviraj syndrome.

* Indians have been valiant warriors but the issue is that of excessive magnanimity. Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori in the 11th century but let him go. Later, Ghori defeated Prithviraj and blinded him.

* In the course of this thread, you will realise how we would keep getting betrayed just like Prithviraj Chauhan another 10 centuries later.

* Anyway, Prithviraj Chauhan's unnecessary magnanimity allowed Islamic conquest of India.

* This, of course, led to centuries of plunder.

* After the Kalinga war, we never achieved a system that would match up to the aggression against Indian civilisation.

* The unnecessary defensive regime would give way to Islamic conquest and Islamic conquest would give way to the British Raj.

* Needless to mention, the social thinkers and commoners also became timid/defensive about their own civilisation.

* Britishers made us believe that we were misogynist and archaic.

* Some of our most celebrated social thinkers relentlessly promoted British education as a panacea.

* As I told you, everything is about civilisation. Every successive regime shamed anyone who tried to stand up for civilisational pride.

* British era gave way to the Nehruvian era. India's political leadership again ordained that India would adopt strategic restraint.

* China entered our territory. So, India's first PM said, "Not a blade of grass grows" in those barren mountains.

* Of course, no one in the intellectual lobby protested. Nehru was doing what they wanted him to do. Be magnanimous to the extent of being self-harming.

* Nehru was only continuing what started with the Kalinga war. Then came Indira. She suffered from the Prithviraj syndrome. Won the 1971 war but gave away the exploits in Simla Agreement.

* Pakistan turned another Ghori. ISI came up with a doctrine - bleed India through a thousand cuts.

* This doesn't end here. Vajpayee faced the wrath of the ecosystem for many reasons. The only thing that they don't criticise him for is not crossing the LoC during the 1999 Kargil war. This is again a manifestation of extreme generosity. Pakistan could cross the LoC but India would not.

* The Parliament attack happened, we didn't retaliate. Operation Parakram never materialised into anything.

* A few years later, 26/11 happened but India's, then, PM Manmohan Singh chose "strategic restraint".

* No one in a powerful lobby criticised him.

* As long as you don't go beyond the Lakshman Rekha that has been drawn by centuries of timidity, no one will rebuke you.

* But PM Modi went a step further. Pakistan attacked in Uri, so the Para special forces caused damage to terror launch pads across the LoC.

* With the Balakot airstrikes, he still went several steps further.

* Of course, he is hated.

* After several centuries, India is pre-empting threats.

* We had stopped pre-empting in 265 BC, how come we could pre-empt now.

* Modi-hate is not about ideology, it's about civilisation.

* I wish and I hope that this Modi succeeds in transforming our mindset for the other Modis to follow suit because one Modi will not be sufficient enough to clear the rot accumulated through centuries.

- Siddharth Gautam.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma had to leave early because of a death in her family. Bunty and Babli had called up to invite us for there son's wedding at New Delhi on 27 Nov.

   

The ignominy.

23 Oct 1975

Location : Tulung La on the LAC in West Kameng of Arunachal Pradesh.

Event : On 20 Oct '75, the PLA crossed over the LAC at Tulung La and shot 4 men of 5 Assam Rifles. They had perhaps captured two of them alive and tortured them to death. They had established a post on the LAC, post the incident.

Col BR Shah, CO 3/1 GR located at Sela, with a group of 19 men, was tasked to get back the dead bodies of our soldiers. The decision to release the dead bodies was arrived at after a third country prevailed on China, most probably the USSR and the government of India agreed to the terms of release.

What was humiliating about the task assigned to the CO was that they were to go unarmed to the PLA post, where the enemy was fully armed. The party had to carry a blue flag 6 ft x 4 ft and under no circumstances were they to enter into any argument with the PLA. Col Shah later describes the state of the dead bodies which bore several torture marks. He had to return with the mortal remains without uttering a word. Worse still was the fact that the Tulung La incident and the torture of our men were never raised with China in a worthwhile manner. No Galwan type meetings ensued.

Even by 1975, the humiliation of 1962 had not worn off from the government in power and consequently, the army. It was evident in the manner in which the terms and conditions of releasing the dead bodies were agreed to.

Much water has flown under the bridges in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

On 15 Jun 2020, in one eventful and bloody night, Col Santosh Babu and his brave men made the supreme sacrifice and washed off the humiliation of 1962 and 1975. 15 Jun and thereafter, China and PLA have started seeing a new Indian resolve and its unrelenting army. India's firm stand can be seen in all the military level talks too after 15 Jun.

PS. But for two photographs clicked by Col BR Shah's party, no official pictures exist of the event. That's the level of secrecy (fear) which ensued after the humiliating incident of 1975.

- Satish Padmanabh. 

Got up at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a quiet Sunday except for the fact that Suma had turned up for work and so, we didn't feel like it was a holiday! Spoke to Mini and Ammu around 12. My Master Chief saab Sajith Kumar, at the MCO, Kochi had called up and it was nice to catch up with him. He has said that he'd come by after the Corona phase subsides. 

Watched a good Malayalam movie, "Maniyarayile Asokan" in the evening. It has been produced by Dulquer Salman (Mammootty's son) and he plays a cameo in it as a naval commander! 

Interesting statistics.

The current population of Earth is more than 7 billion. The statistics can tell us the numbers, the distribution, various races and other information about the population.

As the population is so large, a purely statistical report, for most of us, would not make meaningful sense. Therefore, someone has produced this set of statistical report condensing the 7 billion in the world into 100 persons and then into various percentage statistics. The resulting analysis is much easier to comprehend.

Out of 100 : 

(a) * 11 are in Europe * 5 are in North America * 9 are in South America *15 are in Africa * 60 are in Asia.  

(b) * 49 live in the countryside * 51 live in cities. 

(c) * 12 speak Chinese * 5 speak Spanish * 5 speak English * 3 speak Arabic * 3 speak Hindi * 3 speak Bengali * 3 speak Portuguese * 2 speak Russian * 62 speak their own language.  

(d) * 77 have their own houses * 23 have no place to live.

(e) * 21 are over-nourished * 63 can eat full * 15 are under-nourished * 1 ate the last meal but did not make it to the next meal.

(f) The daily cost of living for 48 is less than US $2.

(g) * 87 have clean drinking water * 13 either lack clean drinking water or have access to a water source that is polluted.

(h) * 75 have mobile phones * 25 do not.

(j) * 30 have internet access * 70 do not have conditions to go online.

(k)  * 7 received university education * 93 did not attend college.    

(l)  * 83 can read * 17 are illiterate.

(m)   * 26 live less than 14 years * 66 died between 15-64 years of age * 8 are over 65 years old.

If you have your own home, eat full meals and drink clean water, have a mobile phone, can surf the net and have gone to college, you have little reason to complain.

Among 100 persons in the world, only 8 can live or exceed the age of 65.

If you are over 65 years of age, be content and grateful.  

Source. What'sApp.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Ramesh and Appu had come by to clip the grass patch, clean up the interlocking tiles - paved on the courtyard - with high-pressure-water-jet, remove the weeds from all around and to augment soil, provide manure for the potted plants and the vegetable-garden-in-grow- bags, tended by Lekha and her assistant, Suma.

Participated in the Foundation's 484th session of the 'Aazhchakkoottam' (Weekly Interactions) which was an interesting lecture on 'Diabetics and Corona Environment' by Dr Sreejith Kumar between 1500-1600 hrs. It was an enlightening interaction!                                                          

Adieu SPB!

Noted playback singer, Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam popularly known by his initials, SPB passed into the mist of time, this afternoon, at 1304 hrs. He was 74. 

He had begun his singing career in 1966 and has to his credit over 40,000 songs, sung in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri by the central government. I shan't be saying anything more because the media is covering his life and times to the minutest details and a repetition on my part will be like carrying coal to Newcastle. And hence, I desist.

I had become an ardent fan of his through that immortal number, "Sankara....." in the movie 'Sankarabharanam' an all time hit that was released on 15 Jan 1980. Hearing about his passing away, I have already heard the song thrice today.......definitely, a magical voice. As I punch in this post, the song is playing on the television!

RIP SPB! My salute, tears and prayers to a maestro and a person of utmost humility!! May God give strength to his near and dear ones to tide over his loss. 

      *              *               *

An Interesting Set of Questions and Answers

 1. How long did the Hundred Years' War last? 116 years.

 2. Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador.

 3. From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses.

 4. In which month do the Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November.

 5. What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur.

 6. The Canary islands in the Pacific are named after what animals? Dogs.

 7. What was King George VI's first name? Albert.

 8. What colour is a purple finch? Crimson.

 9. Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand.

10.What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange.

      *           *            *

Do you know?

Today in 1965, the Indian Army reached Lahore!

* The Army halted outside Lahore, awaiting orders from the government. Unfortunately, a ceasefire was signed 3 days later. 

Had they been allowed to advance, history would've been very different today!

Tailpiece.

Had got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was another quiet day.

My queries.

I've queries over three of the news bytes that seem to be grabbing headlines. Without much ado, let me go over them.

Rampant Use of Drugs

The rampant use of drugs by the glamorous men and women in tinsel town have been coming out into the public domain for the past few weeks. While one liked and adored many of these actors and actresses, a doubt has set in as to whether these people are worth our adulation and love. The investigation is poised to go a long way, going by the involvement of many of the so called 'A' listers and it might be a bit too early to zero in on the names that are already out. The funny thing is that many of these folks who had taken on the 'no drugs' campaign has been unusually quiet thus far: are they also junkies or are they scared of the drug cartel, I wonder? They have indeed let us down!

My query. Do these artistes require a snort or a shot of drugs to help them emote? If yes, I don't want them to be my heroes and heroines, anymore!

The Reconstruction of a Flyover

The Rs.42-crore flyover at Palarivattom, in the heart of Ernakulam town, was closed for traffic just three years after its commissioning in 2016, because of major cracks. That a flyover develops defects within three years of its use is preposterous and the makers should have been made to go through a public inquiry, shamed and sent to the hangman's noose for having let down the country and their countrymen by swindling public money. The PWD and Roads minister of the time, Mr Ibrahim kunju is going through an investigation but I'm cynical about its outcome. Metroman E Sreedharan who conducted a detailed inspection, had submitted a report to the state government ruling out total demolition and recommending partial reconstruction to restore it.

The state government had gone ahead with Mr Sreedharan's recommendations.

The High Court's decision directing a 'load test' prior to the demolition has been turned down by the Supreme Court. Consequently, the government is going ahead with the work and promises to finish the work within 8 months.

Hope the timelines are adhered to. Can't think of driving through the Edappalli-Palarivattam-Vyttila-Kundannoor stretch when the reconstruction work would be on in full swing but there's a glimmer of hope - that it will be managed well - since E Sreedharan would be overseeing it!

A Correct Judgement

The CJM Court in Thiruvananthapuram has dismissed the state government's plea to withdraw the case pertaining to the mayhem in the state's Legislative Assembly in 2015. The confusion created and the destruction of property on the part of the opposition, then, was to prevent the then finance minister, KM Mani, from presenting the state's annual budget. If convicted, six LDF MLAs including two current ministers, who were involved in the case, could end up in jail for up to five years and also face an embargo from contesting elections.

The government has decided to take up the verdict for review, in the High Court.

Does it mean that the lawmakers can get away with anything and everything on the floor of the Assembly? 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by about a half past 9. Evaluation of the JSS, Kollam was being monitored based on the feedback received from there. The rain seems to have receded because of the consequent warmth in weather.

  

Assorted ones.

1. A Few Interesting Messages

* A businessman who lost everything in a fire, placed a sign board : "Everything burnt but luckily faith and confidence undamaged. Business starts tomorrow".

* Someone asked Life : "Why are you so difficult? Life smiled and said : "You people never appreciate easy things".

* Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness but because you deserve peace.

* Our body is full of water but wherever it hurts, blood comes out. Our heart is full of blood but whenever it hurts, tears come out...

* If you have a 'magnetic' personality and yet people don't get attracted to you, it's not your fault......They have 'iron' deficiency in their bodies.......

    *                 *                  *

2. The Usual Indian Mistakes

What are some mistakes Indians make, that are destroying their financial lives?

* Buying insurance policies for investment purposes * Not able to crack the credit card mystery * No idea about the power of compounding * Buying stocks based on tips without any knowledge * Becoming a victim of lifestyle inflation * Buying things just because they are on discount * Getting tempted to go for an exotic vacation just because someone put a post on Facebook and Instagram * Spending a bomb on weekend parties * No track of cash flow * No emergency budget * No medical insurance * No financial plan * No diversification * Spending all the on children marriage * Buying excessive gold only to keep it in the locker * An extremely conservative approach with investment * Lack of clarity between asset and liability * Considering frugal as cheap * Procrastinating investment decisions * Spending a lot of money on fancy stuff * Lack of patience * Depending upon others for investment decisions * Not discussing the money matters in the family * Getting too greedy with investment * Wasting time on unproductive things * Lack of disciplined investment and the root cause is 'Lack of knowledge about personal financial management'.

     *                 *                   *

3. Pandemic Laughter

* If you see me leaving this group, please add me again. It's just that I'm so desperate to go out! (What'sApp).

* Never in my wildest dreams have I imagined myself entering a bank, wearing a mask and asking for money.

* Never thought my hands would one day consume more alcohol than my liver......ever!

* Quarantine seems like a Netflix series : just when you think it's over, they release the next season.

* I'm starting to like this mask thing. I went to the supermarket yesterday and two people that I owe money to didn't recognise me.

* Those complaining 2020 didn't have enough holidays, what now?!

* I need to social distance myself from my fridge; I tested positive for excess weight.

* Could someone tell me if the second quarantine would be with the same family or we get to exchange?

* I'm not planning to add 2020 to my age. I didn't even use it!

* We want to publicly apologise to the year 2019 for all the bad the bad things we said about it.

* To all the ladies who were praying for their husbands to spend more time with them, how are you doing?

* My washing machine only accepts pajamas these days. I put in a pair of jeans and a message popped up : "Stay Home!"

* I feel like a teenager all year long : no money in the wallet, hair long and out of control, thinking what to do with my life and grounded at home.

PS.

Today is 23 Sep and it's the Autumnal Equinox where the day equals night. The sun begins to move towards the southern hemisphere from now.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house and was ready by a half past 9. Another of those quiet days. 

 

An inspiring story!

Mr Zavere Poonawala is a well-known industrialist in Pune. He had this driver named Ganga Datt with him for the last 30 years driving his limousine.

Ganga Datt passed away recently and at that time Mr Poonawala was in Bombay for some important work. As soon as he heard the news, he cancelled all his meetings and requested the driver's family to wait for him for the cremation and returned to Pune immediately, by a helicopter.

On reaching Pune, he asked for the limousine to be decorated with flowers, as he wished Ganga Datt should be taken in the same car which he, himself, had driven since the beginning. 

When Ganga Datt's family agreed to his wishes, he himself drove Ganga Datt from his home up to the ghat on his last journey.

When asked about it, Mr Poonawala replied that Ganga Datt had served him day and night and he could at least do this, being eternally grateful to him. He further, added, that Ganga Datt rose up from poverty and educated both his children very well. His daughter is a Chartered Accountant and that is so commendable.

His comment in the end, is the essence of a successful life in all aspects.: "Everybody earns money which is nothing unusual, but we should always be grateful to those people who contribute to our success. This is the belief, we have been brought up with, which made me do, what I did".

An inspiring example of humility!

   *            *             *

And just in jest!

A mother travelled 2000 miles across the world to be with her only son on the day he received his Air Force Wings (Licence to fly) and also got married the same evening. "Thanks for coming", he said later, "It meant so much to me".

"I wouldn't have missed it", she said. "After all, not every day a mother can watch her son get wings in the morning and have them clipped in the evening".

 

Tailpiece.

Got up about half an hour late, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a quiet Tuesday! Rain has receded.

   

The politics of the farm reforms bills.

The three farm bills that have been passed in the Parliament yesterday were initially articulated by the Congress and its allies, while in power, but had hesitated in the legislation process on account of vote bank politics. Prime Minister Modi and his government have shown the guts to take on the vested interests that have a vice-like grip on agriculture and the farming activities in our country with special focus on the middlemen of Punjab and Haryana. The 'opposition unity' in the name of fighting the bills is pure 'perfidy', if I may venture on a new phrase because perfidy can never be pure!

1. Trade of farmers' produce

(a) Key Benefits

* Allows intra and inter trade of farmer's produce * Outside the physical premises of market yards by APMC Acts * Outside trade area of farm produce * Electronic trading can be set up by companies * Market fees abolished.

(b) Who gains and how?

* Farmer by having free access to markets across the country * Not bound by lehacy restrictive APMC acts * Can trade in any place * FDI will flow in * Economy improves.

(c) Who loses and how?

* Traders, commission agents and other functionaries who have organised themselves into associations or cartels * Do not allow easy entry entry of new persons into market yards * Stifling competition * Acts are highly restrictive in promotion of multiple channels of marketing.

(d) Why opposition?

* Most APMCs have a limited number of traders operating, which leads to cartelization and reduces competition * Undue deductions in the form of commission charges and market fees.

2. Farming agreement

(a) Key benefits

* Arrangement between a farmer and a buyer * The minimum period one crop season or one production cycle of livestock * The maximum period is five years * Pricing of farming produce in agreement * Guaranteed price for the produce plus an additional amount specified * Process of price determination * Dispute settlement with conciliation process and board.

(b) Who gains and how?

* Farmer is now having an agreement and does not depend on cartels' prices * One of the root causes of suicides is the farmer's inability to get the cost with profit * No action can be taken against the agricultural land of the farmer for recovery of any dues.

(c) Who loses and how?

* Exploitation by middlemen is totally minimised * With agreement in place, chances of dispute resolution legally is available * Cartels lose their role.

(d) Why opposition?

* Sense of insecurity as more foreign companies with better infrastructure may come * Any monopoly of politicians + select traders is finished.

3. Essential Commodities

(a) Key benefits

* Central government may regulate the supply of food items including cereals, pulses, potatoes, onions, edible oil seeds and oils, only under extraordinary circumstances * Stock limit on agricultural produce based on price rise.

(b) Who gains and how?

* End consumer by having regular supply without artificial scarcity * Farmer may be able to get higher price for his produce.

(c) Who loses and how?

* Middle men who were creating false food and essential commodity scarcity for artificial price escalation benefits * Margins of cartels eroded.

(d) Why opposition?

 * Unholy nexus, if any, between politician, middle men and producers are removed. 

    *           *           *

A Must Read

One day the guru told the disciple, "Go to the rose garden and come back with the tallest rose plant. One condition is that you should not come back the same path you took while going".

The disciple went to the garden and came back empty handed. When asked why, the disciple gave his answer, "As I went in, I saw a tall beautiful tree. But, I kept going for the next tree expecting a better tree. But moving forward, I came across only smaller plants and since, I cannot trace the path back, I had to return empty handed.

The guru said : this is Love.

Then he said, "Now go to the sunflower garden and bring the most beautiful sunflower plant. The additional condition is that once you pluck a sunflower plant, you can't pluck another".

Now the disciple goes into the garden and comes back quickly with a plant. The guru asks, "Is this the most beautiful plant?"

The disciple says, "No guru. Based on my previous experience, I did not want to miss and hence, I took the first plant which looked beautiful to me. On the way back, I saw more beautiful plants but since I was not allowed to pick another plant, I came back with the plant, I had originally picked".

The guru smiled and said : this is Marriage.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma was given a day off by Lekha as she wasn't well. Learnt the intricacies of the induction cooker and the washing machine!

The much dreaded rain was feeble and less spread!

The Malayalee and the art of drinking.

On most days it is impossible to get two Malayalee men to agree on anything. If a group of four men were discussing Trump's politics, Mohanlal's conquests, Messi's recent lack of goals and the shameless doings of the young couple in the next street, one can be certain there would be 16 different points of view. Until the topic of alcohol comes up and a strange gleam enters their eye : a hushed reverence, an abject unconditional adoration and the manic happiness at the certainty of being at heaven's doorstep.

There is concurrence and there is steadfast belief. All of them wear the same face - of a zealot and a devotee. In fact, I'm quite certain I've seen the same expression in the video footage of followers of Jonestown and the Kofuku-No-Kagaku sect in Japan.

I grew up in a household in which everyone liked a drink. My uncles, grandmother and aunt liked their scotch. As did my great grandmother, I've been told. My father is a social drinker and my mother is a teetotaler.

But, even she doesn't protest when they all sit with a drink most evenings under the mango tree when we were in Kerala for the summer vacations. Or, when they offered my brother and me an occasional sip.

Alcohol was associated with family times, bonhomie and recycled nostalgic recollection of family lore. As children, it was also about the array of snacks that appeared on the table, from fried chicken to cutlets to tapioca sticks to peanuts.

But, this lot, especially the men, were an anomaly I discovered when I saw how the Malayalee male is when it comes to liquor and the touchings. The Kerala government's recent proclamation caught even the non-drinking Malayalee by surprise. There's just something that binds the Malayalee man by his umbilicus, stem cell and DNA to spirits. The kind that comes in a bottle.

There is the rustic youth who follows his father or uncle's footsteps to the toddy shop, which is a men's club with no sartorial rules, a wounded animals' convention and a round table on world events you think you can sort when a 'half ' nestles in your belly. To the suburban youth, it is the bar that offers the rite of passage.

At an age when everything is a dare, stepping into a bar frequented by regular drunks is how you prove the man you are. Elsewhere, the Malayalee youth might pub crawl or bar hop, but in Kerala, it is inevitable you'll cut your egg tooth to manhood with a 'nilpan' (a drink you toss down standing at the bar counter) that you might spew outside the shop by the end of the evening.

You can let go off the cheap alcohol but it won't let go of you, for it will live in your breath and pores for the next 24 hours as a reminder of your path to manhood. That's how cool a 'small' is. In a matter of a few years, he is considered man enough to pour himself a drink at home. 

So, there he is in the evening after a shower, Yardley or Cuticura talc-ed and he retreats to that corner room where his friends and male relatives will congregate for a round of smalls topped with water. No ice, of course, because ice gives him throat pain. Sometimes there is music, sometimes there is desultory conversation but mostly there will be an endless supply of fried fish and bowls of mixture as touching. The 'touchings' is a whole cuisine by itself, so much so that it is considered quite alright to take your wife or girlfriend to the posh toddy shops or bar hotels that have a family room, in which women can sample touchings without the stigma of being seen in a place of drink.

Beef fry. Duck roast. Pork masala. Natholi fry. Shrimp and squid. Boiled tapioca and fish curry. Boiled eggs. And if you can't afford any of it, there is the pickle in a packet, which is how I guess the term 'touchings' emerged. Touch, lick, drink. Drink, touch, lick.

There is something to be said for the Malayalee man's ability to laugh at himself even when the joke is on him. In the mimicry circuit, which is as much a Malayalee fixation as alcohol, there are countless jokes about the Malayalee man's love affair with the small.

I once read in The Economist, "At 8.3 litres of alcohol per citizen per year, (Kerala's) rate of consumption is the highest in India. Most Muslims and many Hindus in Kerala are teetotalers as are most women. This means some people are drinking far more than the average amount".

According to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, an NGO, "25% of all hospital admissions and 69% of all crimes in the state are due, in part, to intoxication".  

But, here is the  conundrum. There isn't anyone better behaved or more orderly than the man waiting in line outside the Beverages Corporation (the state-owned liquor outlets) in Kerala. There is no pushing or jostling. In fact, I wish they displayed as much restraint and calm when they queue to enter Guruvayur or the Sabarimala temples.

But, once he has his drink in his hands, the beast changes. From a pussycat, he metamorphoses to a panther. A howling, spitting, growling male who will regurgitate past hurts, imagined slights, tilt at windmills and think nothing of removing his mundu, tying it like a turban and walking in his underwear. A male Malayalee friend describes to me what follows next  with that particular brand of sarcasm so intrinsic to the Malayalee man. "And, then he will pass out in the gutter. There is no merit to passing out in your own bed. It's only when you lie in a drunken heap on the side of the road that you can show the world the mettle of your drunkenness".

"Starting an argument, getting into a brawl, throwing up, passing out, all of it is customary. There is neither embarrassment nor remorse the day after. A hangover, perhaps, but no self-censure. Nothing much changes whether he drinks in a bar hotel, a toddy shop or his own house. A man is a man when he drinks".

Hey, he is doing what is expected of him. He earns a salary, gives a portion of it to his family and the rest must go towards healing the existential angst that is so part of his psyche. In other parts of the world, a man thus stricken might hammer shelves into a wall, grow roses, sail boats or climb mountains.

But, the Malayalee man will peer into his glass of rum and coke, sing old Yesudas songs or Talat  Mahmood ghazals, reach out for his touchings to bring alive his ennui-stricken palate and then find reprieve in the alcohol that's coursing a fiery trail down his gullet.

The world is a better place, a happier place when a half warms your insides with a deep rosy glow. The Malayalee man will drink when he is happy to celebrate. He will drink when he is sad to forget. He will drink when he is angry to calm down. He will drink when he is confused about a decision. He will drink when he is ill, to feel better. He will drink on long weekends, hartals and holidays. He will drink to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries  and triumphs. He will drink to drown failures and erase stress. He will drink on a train, taking a pre-mix in a bottle with him. He will drink in a car, stopping by the road somewhere. He will drink when friends come over. He will drink when he is alone and has nothing to do.

He will drink, for the Malayalee man knows himself only when he has a drink swilling in him. The rest of the time he is merely role-playing.

- Adapted from a lady author's What'sApp post!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a very, very wet day and it's red alert in the district for tomorrow and the day after on account of rains. Video called my sisters and had a long chat.

Spoke to Santhosh on the concept of our dream house.

You must find time for others.......

The last ride of my cab shift.....

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just riding away but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.....'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived  in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she asked. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly towards the curb. 

She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her....."I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated".

"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way", I answered quickly.....

"Oh, I don't mind", she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left", she continued in a soft voice...."The doctor says I don't have very long". I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

"What route would you like me to take?" I asked. 

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. 

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now".

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" She asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing", I said.

"You have to make a living", she answered.

"There are other passengers", I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy", she said. "Thank you".

I squeezed her hand and then walked into the dim morning light......Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life......

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly in thought. For the rest of the day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unawares - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said - but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we are here, we might as well dance!

Source. What'sApp.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The new induction cooker reached Lekha by lunchtime. It was pouring, meanwhile, thanks to a trough of low over the Bay of Bengal.

Participated in the Foundation's 'Aazhchakkoottam' (Weekly Gathering) webinar on the topic, "A post - Covid Kerala" and the chief guest was the Minister of Ports, Mr Ramachandran Kadannappalli. It was a nice interaction. 

Three stories.

I shall narrate three stories today and their contents shall convince you as to why they need to be told and retold.

1. Introducing Viroban.

A sustainable, trusted and proven antimicrobial and antiviral textile finish. To know more : https://lnkd.in/gqwJ4PQ

Indian Textile Industry Gears for Swiss Polymer Technology to Fight Corona virus.

An innovative product has emerged in the Indian textile industry that promises to render viruses such as corona virus ineffective. The credit to bring this technology goes to N9 World Technologies, a subsidiary of Bangalore Resil Chemicals and Consolidated Pathways Inc., USA. The two firms signed an agreement to build unique Swiss antiviral and antimicrobial technologies into sustainable cost effective custom blends for India's textile industry.

At the centre of the partnership is N9's unique organofunctional polymer marketed under the umbrella brand VIROBAN. The durable antiviral technology from the house of N9 brings hygiene to textile materials, thereby helping improve the fabric's resilience against viruses, including Corona virus.

The VIROBAN N9 XTS-18 creates a highly-catonic charge density on the textile's surface, deactivating the spread of the virus and bacteria upon contact. The technology is highly effective against enveloped and capsid viruses, having proven in reducing infective viruses by 99.99% in ISO 18184 tests. The technology is designed to quickly prevent transmission of viruses. VIROBAN polymers are highly compatible with other textiles while remaining gentle on human skin.

The proprietor of Resil Chemicals is MS Mohan Nair, my classmate and a good friend. A simple man who has not let success get into his head! In fact, this is the latest of a series of achievements that he has under his belt!! Proud of his team's achievement!!!

     *              *               *

2. The Greatness of Two Legendary Sons of India.

When Dr Abdul Kalam was the President, he visited Coonoor. On reaching, he came to know that Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was in the Military Hospital there. Dr Kalam wanted to visit Sam, which was unscheduled. Arrangements were made. At the bedside, Kalam spent about 15 minutes talking to Sam and inquiring about his health.

Just before leaving, Kalam asked Sam, "Are you comfortable? Is there anything I could do? Do you have any grievance or any requirement that would make you more comfortable?

Sam said, "Yes, Your Excellency, I have one grievance". Shocked, with concern and anguish, Kalam asked him what it was. 

Sam replied, "Sir, my grievance is that I am not able to get up and salute my most respected President of my beloved country".

Kalam held Sam's hand as both were in tears.

      *              *                *

3. Performance = Potential - internal interference!

A TV anchor once asked Martina Navratilova, "How do you maintain your focus and manage to keep playing, even at the age of 43?"

Her suave response was, "The ball doesn't know how old I am. Besides, for 90% of the match I don't have to focus".

In a typical tennis match, the players spend less than 15% of their time hitting the ball. During a round of golf, golfers spend less than 20% of their round swinging a golf club and in American football, the ball is actually in play for only 6% of the game.

In his excellent book, Stillpower, Sports Psychologist Garret Kramer says that a key factor to performing well in sports (and in life) is your ability to control the quality and quantity of your "internal dialogue", understanding.

Performance = Potential - internal interference.

In other words, you need to stop yourself from stopping yourself.

Sports, fitness, business and indeed life are played on a 6-inch course......the space between our ears!  

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Initiated procurement of an induction cooker as the existing one has gone kaput. The contraption is needed by Lekha and her assistant, in the kitchen, to make things easier and it will fetch up tomorrow morning!

Spoke to my friends, the Banerjees, as part of the ongoing visual dialogue with close friends that I'd initiated. It was a nice interaction and I felt very glad. 

Saw the last episode of a Malayalam soap, 'Vanambaadi' - it has been going on for the past two-and-a-half years and I'd got hooked on to it, during my jaundice days. Felt sad in the manner it ended. I thought that the last episode would have that 'musical evening' where the father (Mohan) would at last, announce to the people that Anumol aka Anugraha was his daughter! 

I suppose this is what creative freedom of the director and the script writer is all about!   

The news that were!

Going through the news currently grabbing headlines, one is bewildered as to how fluid the situation is in many cases. There's a sense of uncertainty, a case of brute use of power - and in a democracy, it's absurd because today's rulers could be the opposition in no time - and yet another instant case, the narrative is slowly being given a differing spin to slink away from the actual problem. In fact, short term expediency seems to be the favoured mantra!

1. The India-China Face off.

The two armies are on an eyeball to eyeball confrontation all along the LAC. The Indian Army has been deployed all along the northern front and from the present outlook it looks that the deployment is gonna be for a long duration beginning from now. The Chinese Army as well as Xi Jinping's government are yet to get over the shock of the Indian Army's capturing of key heights in eastern Ladakh. Till now, it was the Chinese Army that used to do acts of perfidy while the Indian Army tried to peacefully sort out the issue. They used to, literally, advance by 5 km and when asked to withdraw, drop back by say, 3 km and thereby grab our land in the bargain! It's this aspect that has undergone a sea change when we took the offensive action.

The Chinese president must be desperately wanting to have a one on one with our Prime Minister to sort out the issue, especially, the banning of the 254 odd apps. What he seems to have forgotten is that our Prime Minister had met him about 18 times over the last few years, developing sufficient bonhomie between them to expect the two countries to forget the setbacks of the past and to live together on a 'live and let live' policy. The Doklam incident of 2017 had jolted it for a while but the Chinese mischief was thwarted after a 74-day face off between the two armies. The Galwan incident in March, this year, only increased the distrust between the two countries and it's slowly dawning on us that the Chinese cannot be depended upon as a friend!

While talks could continue to end the stalemate, having got out of the '62 syndrome, India should maintain the pressure and show the Chinese that our writ must run and we won't tolerate any unilateral change of status quo of the LAC.   

2. The Tamasha going on in Maharashtra.

It all started with the Palghar lynching case. Arnab Goswami and his Republic channel went hammer and tongs, investigating the brutal murder of the two Hindu monks, coming out with key observations that showed the Maharashtra government in bad light. Soon after, started the channel's investigation of the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide(?). The channel brought out that it was not a suicide but a planned murder preceded by the actor's manager, Disha Salian's death on similar lines.

Arnab was able to make a convincing case that the two suicides were indeed murders and the incidents are now being investigated by the CBI. The investigations must be on the right track because the Maharashtra government has been harsh on Bollywood actress, Kangana Ranaut - she had brought out the story in an interview by Arnab on his channel - tearing down her office space and putting the Republic Channel's reporter Anuj, behind bars for five days, through a weekend. A sad state of affairs indeed!

Today, the state Assembly, has sent a breach of privilege notice to Arnab Goswami for his actions, thus far and he has promptly said that he wasn't gonna apologise as he has done nothing wrong. 

What Udhav Thackeray and his team mates, the NCP and the Congress don't seem to realise is that firstly, their's is a fragile alliance and secondly, they could soon end up sitting in the opposition minus the trappings of power. They are using power and the administrative machinery against Arnab Goswami and his Republic when they're poised to dig out the chief minister's son's involvement in the shenanigans. When will they realise that truth has a mysterious way of popping up at the most (in)opportune  moment much to their discomfort and that all their muzzling and cover up were futile?

3. The Kerala Agitations.

Over the past five days, the opposition parties have been out in the streets demanding the resignation of the minister, KT Jaleel, who has been questioned by the ED and the NIA in connection with the gold smuggling case (Thousands of copies of the holy Quran were brought in from the UAE, through the diplomatic channel, around the same time when the gold was smuggled in.

To take the heat of the investigation off the government's back, the chief minister has said that it is a case of the opposition going after a particular community! Now, that's a serious charge! The agitation, however, has gained momentum and doesn't seem to be coming under control!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the washing machinex of bed linen - despite it being a rainy day - and was ready by a quarter to 10. It was a hectic day and my director was in need of assistance; time just flew and consequently, couldn't follow up with my telephonic interaction with friends.  

How long do you worry about your children?

Is there an imaginary cut off period when offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there some wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, "It's their life" and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my son's head and I asked, "When do you stop worrying?" The nurse said, "When they get out of the accident stage". My parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them". My parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said, "They're trying to find themselves. Don't worry! In a few years, they'll be adults. They'll be off on their own, they'll be out of your hair". My parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.    

By the time I was 50, I was sick and tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle....Even though they were on their own, I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments. And there was nothing I could do about it. My parents just smiled faintly and said nothing.  

My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that but I was haunted by my parents' warm smiles and their occasional, "You look pale. Are you all right? call me the minute you get home. Are you depressed about something?"

My friends said that when I became a grandparent, I'd get to enjoy the happy little voices yelling Grandpa! Grandma! But now I find that I worry just as much about the little kids as the big ones. How can anyone cope with all this worry?

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of earthly creation?

Recently, one of my own children became quite irritable, saying to me, "Where are you? I've been calling for three days and no one answered, I was worried". I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.

Source. What'sApp.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma was given an off, by Lekha, as her ankles were swollen. The entire forenoon saw rain but it was bright and sunny from lunchtime onward. Spoke to three of my friends - numbers selected randomly - and spoke to them through video calls so that we had the privilege of seeing them too! The Koijams are at Imphal; we've got an invitation to visit them, Ravi Ponappa is at Bangalore; ageing gracefully inviting us to stay at his place during our next trip to his city and the Vargheses are at a point somewhere between Coonoor and Ooty; giving us an invitation to visit them too! 

Felt very nice and I'm gonna pursue this interaction over the coming days, perhaps weeks or even months and catch up with friends and relatives! 

In these Covid times.

When I wear a mask in public or decline an invitation to a party or to come inside, I want you to know that :-

* I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.

* No, I don't "live in fear" of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

* I don't feel like the "government is controlling me"; I feel like I'm being a contributing adult to society.

* The world doesn't revolve around me. It's not all about me and my comfort.

* If we all could live with other people's consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.

* Wearing a mask doesn't make me weak, scared, stupid or even "controlled". It makes me considerate.

* When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is or what others think of you - a child, a father, a mother, grandparent, aunt or uncle - choking on a respirator, alone without you or any family member allowed at the bedside.

* Ask yourself if it was worth the risk?

* Wearing a mask is not political.

*             *              *

Military's Murphy Laws

* 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 three seconds.

* 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 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.

* 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.

* 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 any 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.

* Density of fire increases proportionally to the curiousness 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 Quartermaster 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 the office with his idea.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Helped Lekha and Suma in cleaning up the fridge. The afternoon siesta was skipped thanks to an interesting episode of Crime Patrol.  

 

The 75th Raising Day of the Kerala Library Movement.

The Diamond Jubilee of the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham

75 years ago, PN Panicker had organised a mammoth meeting at Ambalappuzha, on account of the inauguration of the Travancore Library Movement (Thiruvithaankoor Grandhasala Sangham). On 14 Sep 1945, through his tireless efforts preceding the occasion, he was able to get the office bearers of 47 rural libraries to reach Ambalappuzha to participate in that historic occasion. The chief guest was none other than Sir CP Ramaswamy Aiyer, the then Diwan of Travancore.

The princely states of Kochi and Travancore merged to form the Thiru-Kochi state in 1949 and the movement was rechristened as the 'Thiru-Kochi Grandhasala Sangham'. When states were reorganised on linguistic basis, in 1956, the state of Kerala came into being on 01 Nov of that year. The movement had, by then, become the Kerala Library Movement (Kerala Grandhasala Sangham).

The phenomenal growth attained by the movement was due to the personal efforts and hard work of PN Panicker and his group of volunteers with a pittance as remuneration! He got a measly pension of a primary school teacher but was quite satisfied with it. Since the communications were poor, he and his men used all modes of transport available, including trekking long distances to gain access into the remote, hilly areas often subsisting on bananas and water because of the unearthly hours they used to fetch up. The aim was to reach every man, every Malayalee, to bring him under the ambit of the movement so that at least one library could be established in each village which would be the focal point for the conduct of socio-cultural activities, create a feeling of togetherness when the villagers came to read books and newspapers during their leisure.

There's a story about the manner in which PN Panicker went about setting up the network of libraries all over the state. He, along with his assistants with bicycles knocked on the doors of every house, asking the inmates to gift books and reading material that they could spare. After having collected them, he used to visit the house of the wealthiest person of the village, nudging him/her to provide a room in the house for the safe keeping of the books collected, christening it as a library. He preferred receiving the gifts in kind to receiving money and the villagers, seeing his perseverance and sincerity, joined him in his efforts whole heartedly.

One of the early barbs that he'd to face from a few of the affluent people was and I quote, "Hey, Panicker, what are you trying to achieve by teaching the people to read and write? Are you trying to wean them away from us?" There was another refrain, "You will never succeed in your efforts, the common man is just not interested". 

How PN Panicker, was able to overcome all the obstacles was through his belief in himself and the confidence in his endeavours. He was a man with a vision and criss-crossed the entire state of Kerala which brought about a saying during those times that, 'There's no piece of land, in Kerala, that has not felt the footsteps of PN Panicker!' In 1970, when the Kerala Library Movement was celebrating its Silver Jubilee, he had set up a network of about 5,280 libraries all over the state.

He had also undertaken a 'yatra' from the northern most part of Kerala to the southern most part and gave the Keralites the famous slogan, "Vaayichu Valaruka, Chinthichu Vivekam Neduka" (Read and grow, Think and be enlightened!). The Malayalee was flabbergasted seeing a 'yatra' seeking to empower them and was not asking for rights for themselves which they had been, otherwise, seeing all around them till then. They willingly accepted him as their leader and messiah, rolled into one! The 'yatra' had concluded at the Museum Junction of Thiruvananthapuram city and PN Panicker and his team were received by none other than the late C Achutha Menon, the then, Chief Minister of Kerala.

The UNESCO, was so impressed with the outstanding contribution of the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham towards the empowerment of the society, that it awarded the organisation the 'Nadezhda Krupskaya' award named after Lenin's wife, that year.

Today I bow with humble respect to PN Panicker for his ever lasting contributions towards the socio-cultural growth of Kerala. He's the beacon that has guided succeeding generations to reach where they have today! 

He was the General Secretary of the Sangham for 32 long years since its inception! He was elected to the post 32 times unanimously!! He was insistent upon the democratic functioning of his organisation - much against the advice of many of his well wishers - whereby all the office bearers would be elected through free and fair elections. 

It was during the '70s that PN Panicker had decided to give thrust and focus his efforts on the literacy movement in the state and formed the Kerala Association for Non-Formal education (KANFED). It was through his untiring efforts, yet again, that helped the state to achieve 100% literacy in 1991!

                                                     EPILOGUE

Upon PN Panicker's persistent requests, the government took over the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham in 1977 and put in place a Control Board for the day to day functioning and administration, appointing PN Panicker as the Secretary. The Kerala Grandhasala Sangham later went on to become the 'State Library Council' in 1989. 

Sadly, the democratic nature of the organisation has been seriously impaired over the years and the testimony to that statement is the fact that the CPM has been able to fill up all the key positions with its followers since its inception and has a vice-like grip over it today. Since a section of that party, has a problem with PN Panicker - for reasons beyond my comprehension - the celebration of a great and historic day such as today has been muted, carefully blaming the pandemic for the no show! 

PS.

At this juncture, I must place on record the unstinting support that the present chief minister has provided to the PN Panicker Foundation and the encouragement that he has given to all our activities!      

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Could catch up with my work and meet up with a lot of people, who had dropped by, to spend time. Felt nice!       

We will have a national butterfly soon!

A first-of-its kind online public campaign is underway to choose from a list of seven winged wonders nominated by experts. The butterfly poll will end on 07 Oct 2020.

Everybody loves to chase butterflies. With mesmerising colours and patterns on their wings, when even one flits about near us, we experience joy. India is home to the most number of diverse species (1,400 plus and rising), says Vijay Barve, Biodiversity Informatics Researcher, Florida Museum of biodiversity portals. To have one identified as a national icon, like we have our national animal, flower and bird, is the best celebration of butterflies, he says.

Considering the ecological importance, conservation significance and growing popularity of butterflies among people in the recent years, it was time we initiated the selection driven by citizens, adds Krushnamegh Kunte, Associate Professor, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

Several other butterfly enthusiasts, experts, researchers and scientists like them shared the thought and came together during lock down to start the process of choosing the country's national butterfly.

The last three weeks were spent in hours of online discussion before 50 of them from across the country collated a list of three recommendations each. Since it was going to be a symbolic representative of the country's natural abundance, the list was next shortened to 50, based on several criteria such as the species being neither rare nor too common and be fairly distributed across the landscape.

The butterfly should not have multiple forms but be easily identified, observed and remembered by the public due to some inherently attractive aspect such as its name, colours or charisma. "Once chosen, these characteristics would help to define the cultural, ecological and conservation significance for the country and even attract tourism in later years", says Amol Patwardhan, Bombay-based Zoology professor.

In the next round, an internal polling was done by a core group of experts to draw up a list of seven finalists. The seven species that made it are the Krishna Peacock, Common Jezebel, Orange Oakleaf, Fivebar Sword Tail, Common Nawab, Yellow Gorgon and Northern Jungle Queen.

"Butterflies are ambassadors of Nature conservation and important biological indicators that reflect the health of our environment", says Sharan Venkatesh, founder of Rhopalocera and Odonata Association of Rajapalayam, Tamilnadu. "It is important to have a national butterfly as it will help generate awareness about Nature and how these beautiful insects warn us about changes in the environment like pollution and global warming", he says.

The panel is expecting more than a lakh people, if not more, to state their first choice in the online poll that was thrown open on Friday. By evening, more than 5,000 people had already cast their votes. Those willing to participate need to click on the link : https://forms.gle/u7WgCuuGSYC9AgLG6

It will guide them to a google form to be filled. Some basic details and photographs of the seven butterflies are provided for people to make their choice. The polling will end on 07 Oct, coinciding with the culmination of the Wildlife Week.

With this national campaign, butterflies will hopefully get the place of importance they deserve, says Kunte. "They are not just attractive to watch but are crucial indicators of a healthy ecosystem". A national butterfly will represent all that a  country wants to be identified with, adds Amol.

By mid-October, the proposal with the top three ranking butterfly species from public polling will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests. It has already been apprised of the matter verbally and after the necessary protocols, the name is likely to be announced by early 2021. "We are hoping in the new year, we will have a national butterfly", says Barve.

- Soma Basu's A vote for India's national butterfly in The Hindu.

My take 

I'm gonna vote, won't you?

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour late, the chores and was ready by a 5' to 10. It was a thoroughly wet day. Suma did some spring cleaning and the process will continue. The lace curtains have already been washed, pressed and kept ready.

A quiet day otherwise!  

And I thought I knew all about love.

What does love mean to 4-8 year old kids?

A group of professionals posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'  The answers they got were broader, deeper and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined!

1. 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love' - Mithun, age 8.

2. 'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth' - Karan, age 4.

3. 'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other' - Shirish, age 5.

4. 'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs' - Smita, age 6.

5. Love is what makes you smile when you're tired' - Sapna, age 4.

6. 'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay" - Aparna, age 8.

7. 'Love is what's in the room with you at Diwali if you stop opening presents and just listen' - Kaushal, age 7.

8. 'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate' - Arinjay, age 6.

9. 'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday' - Nilambari, age 7.

10. 'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well' - Padma, age 6.

11. 'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore' - Vahida, age 8.

12. 'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken' - Subhash, age 5.

13. 'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day' - Rahul, age 4.

14. 'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones' - Sweety, age 4.

15. 'You really shouldn't say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget' - Archana, age 8.

16. And the final one : The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a real wet day.

Took part in the Foundation's 'Aazhchakkoottam' programme on 'Should the byelections and the local self government elections be held now, as per schedule?' and the guest speaker was Comrade Pannian Raveendran. He said that the byelections must be avoided but the local self government elections should be held as per schedule. I'd differed with him saying that while I supported the cancellation of the byelections, the local self government elections should be held only after the Covid curve was flattened. To which he'd replied that it would be like waiting till eternity and I replied that we needed to be positive.

The EU has had enough!

The EU has had enough of Erdogan's bullying, decides to bury Turkey under sanctions if it doesn't stop messing with Greece.

The clock is ticking for Ankara and its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan as lawmakers in Brussels are drawing up a list of sanctions against Turkey in an effort to get Ankara to limit its disputed maritime gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean to its own territorial waters.

Cyprus and Greece - the two countries most troubled by the menace of Turkey have issued a closeted warning to the EU saying they will only agree to sanctions against Belarus - which are finished and ready for approval - if sanctions are also imposed on Ankara.  The measures can only be enacted by unanimous consent, so each member country can potentially block the move."We do need dialogue but not when held at gunpoint. What threatens my country's security and stability threatens the well-being and safety of all EU member states", Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, in an article published in the London Times, Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and France's Le Monde newspapers.

"If Europe wants to exercise true geopolitical power, it simply cannot afford to appease a belligerent Turkey", Mitsotakis said. Turkey's fellow East Mediterranean countries - Israel, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and all major global powers including France, Russia, India, the UAE and the US are breathing down Ankara's neck and sanctions from the EU looks given.

Reported by TFI, the combined bloc of Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece and the UAE had already signed a declaration in May denouncing Turkey's illegal drilling efforts around Cyprus, its military intervention in Libya and its maritime borders deal with the GNA. The EU sanctions are the natural progression.

France has strongly backed Greece and Cyprus in a growing stand off with Turkey over hydrocarbon resources and naval influence in the eastern Mediterranean, which has sparked fears of more severe conflict. The French President has assumed paramount importance in the conflict and has overshadowed Germany, which has sadly looked out of ideas.

Berlin - which now holds the EU's rotating presidency - has attempted to mediate between the three countries, with little to show for the effort. The de facto leader of EU, Angela Merkel has been one big dud in the entire exchange as it looks like Germany has succumbed to Turkeys whimsies. 

If the growing pressure on EU is anything to go by and if sanctions were to kick in, it wouldn't be a hyperbole to predict that the EU could formally end its long-running negotiations with Turkey over EU membership. 

The United States has had just about enough of the Islamist President Erdogan and has decided to partially lift the decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus, one of the biggest victims of Turkish expansionism and belligerence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara, which had violently partitioned Cyprus in 1974, is responsible for most of Cyprus' woes today. 

The US State Department has disclosed that from 01 Oct, the US will remove the embargo for one year on sale or transfer of "non-lethal defence articles and defence services", which was imposed in 1987 with the hope that it would help reunify the island country of Cyprus.

Ankara has emerged as a villain in the new world order where its President Erdogan thinks himself off as a 'wannabe khalifa' who has the responsibility to usher the world into a bygone era. The quest of creating an empire reminiscent to that of the Ottoman Empire, might just spell doom for Turkey and the EU sanctions could be the beginning of the end for it.

- Adapted from Abhinav Singh's article in the TFIPOST! 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by about a half past 9. It was a quiet day with plenty of rain. 

Hypersonics.

The successful test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) by India, last Monday, by integrating the scramjet engine technology is a quantum jump for the country in bolstering its missile capability.

The scramjet is supersonic combustion ramjet engine; the ramjet engine is used in most missiles of the day. It is a variant of a ramjet air breathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow. Scramjet powered vehicles can operate at speeds up to Mach 15. 

India will now be able to power futuristic missiles to attain speeds of around Mach 6 or six times the speed of sound. Only the US, Russia and China have this capability. It's a precursor to develop the next generation hypersonic cruise missiles. The technology has a wider civil and military use and is definitely a giant leap in indigenous defence technologies.

The DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) was elated by the successful test. The capability will change the profile of Indian missiles. The future missiles will become more lethal by decrease in the length of the vehicle without compromising on the payload.

Vehicles with hypersonic air-breathing propulsion offer additional advantages such as rapid response at long range, increased maneuverability and better survivability.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Had cancelled the barber's visit home - at the last moment as Covid is spreading like wildfire and I didn't want to increase our interaction with new sets of people and increase vulnerability.

Today Sri Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated all over Kerala, exactly four weeks after its celebration in the rest of the country. I suppose we, Malayalees, celebrate the 28th day-after-birth of Sri Krishna. It's an auspicious day when the child is given its name. Lekha had made 'paayasam' on the occasion.  

Is governance taking place in Maharashtra?

Have been following the happenings in Maharashtra over the past few months. Two shots - that have been making the rounds on the media many time around - come distinctly to mind. One is Udhav Thackeray, standing in 'savdhan' with a 'namasthe'(Reminds me of a guy asking for mercy for a crime that he has committed) and the pathetic sight of the Bombay Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh addressing a crowded press meet without convincing answers to their queries. 

Meanwhile, many other events were taking place. The deluge during the monsoon which rendered many people homeless, searching for food and shelter, the Palghar lynchings when two Hindu monks were beaten to death by an unruly mob and thereafter, the mysterious deaths of Bollywood personalities, Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput, in quick succession. And all the while, the Covid cases in the state were on the rise exponentially with the government seemingly unable to take remedial actions on any of the three happenings.

It was amply evident that to the Udhav Thackeray government, providing governance to its people was  never in its agenda because managing the contradictions of the coalition itself was a Herculean task. A hotch potch of the Shiv Sena, Pawar's NCP and the Congress - ideologically different from each other like chalk and cheese - but brought together just to keep the BJP, the single largest party, away from power can never be effective. 

The consequent lawlessness and waywardness are sadly evident!

The relief for the flood affected poor left much to be desired. The police adamantly refused to hand over the Palghar lynching case to the Crime Branch and then the final straw on the proverbial camel's back was the pathetic Bombay Police's handling of the investigation of the murder of Sushant Singh Rajput, an upcoming and promising Bollywood actor - no case sheet has been filed to this day after over two months of investigation. 

And witness the happenings of the day. Kangana Ranaut, the actress had arrived at Bombay from Chandigarh. The Shiv Sainiks were stage managed to carry out a 'tamasha' outside the airport, protesting her arrival. Her office was demolished by the BMC - which is under Shiv Sena control - despite the High Court having given a stay on the demolitions. 

Based on the foregoing, I have a few queries which are (a) How can the entire government machinery be used to put down an individual and that, too, a hapless lady? (b) What has the Bombay Police done thus far? (d)Why has it not filed a charge sheet after two months of investigation in the Sushant murder case? (e) Whom is it trying to shield? Aditya Thackeray, the CM's son as reliable sources have said?

Is it the reason that the Bombay Police has locked up the Republic channel's investigating team under the weak alibi of having trespassed (?) into Udhav's farmhouse? They have not been allowed to get their legal assistance! Can you beat that?

Udhav Thackeray and team, why don't you initiate immediate steps to take positive control of containing the Covid pandemic and streamline/provide effective leadership to the Covid fighters? Govern, for a change.....otherwise you'll be handled nice and proper by the people of Maharashtra, at the next hustings!

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Another quiet day. The second set of curtains was washed, dried and folded. 

China's problems with the world!

Apologies for covering China, yet again, but this needs to be put across to you to understand the psyche of that nation. All can't be wrong, so China seems to be wrong in all cases - to aspire to be a super power the rest cannot be crushed under your boots. Let's go through its problems with the world. Its disputes between 21 countries are highlighted below.

1. Russia

Despite signing bilateral agreements in 1991 and 1994 to delimit the eastern and western sections of the Russia-China border, a few sectors remain unresolved. There are 160,000 sq km still unilaterally claimed.

2. Kazakhstan

China has laid claim to a territory in Kazakhstan stretching from Semirechie to Lake Balkhash covering 34,000 sq km. China has settled for 22% of its claim over Kazakh territory.

3. Kyrgyzstan

China lays claim to the whole of Kyrgyz territory. China has settled for 32% of its claim. Under the 1999 agreement, Kyrgyzstan handed over 1,250 sq km to China.

4. Tajikistan

The two sides have a bilateral dispute dating back to 1884. The Chinese claims are based on historical precedent (Qing Dynasty 1644 - 1912). In 1991, Tajikistan inherited from the Soviet Union 3 disputed border segments which China and the Soviet Union couldn't resolve. In 1999, Tajikistan and China signed a border demarcation agreement defining the border in two of the three segments. China has, in all, settled for 3.5% of the claimed territory.

5. India

China occupies 38,000 sq km Indian territory in the Aksai Chin region apart from staking claim on Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh. It was this expansionist policy that led to the LAC standoff.

6. Nepal

Nepal and China have issues over 3 boundary pillars in Dolakha and two in the vicinity of Mt Everest. There were reports of China illegally occupying strategic land at 12 places across Nepal.

7. Thailand

Thailand opposes China's dredging on River Mekong since 2001 to carry goods from its landlocked Yunnan.

8. Laos

China claims large areas of Laos on historical precedent of China's Yuan Dynasty during 1271 - 1368.

9. Singapore

Singapore is not a claimant state in the South China Sea disputes but allows the presence of US naval forces in its waters.

10. Cambodia

China has often claimed part of the country on historical precedent (China's Ming Dynasty)

11. Mongolia

China and Mongolia have settled their boundary dispute but China has claimed all of Mongolia on historical precedent (Yuan Dynasty).

12. North Korea

The two have a dispute over Mount Paektu and Yalu and Tuman rivers. China has also claimed Baekhu Mountain and Jiandao.

13. South Korea

The two countries have an overlapping Air Defence Identification Zone and an Exclusive Economic Zone dispute over Leodo.

14. Taiwan

China claims all of Taiwan but particularly Macclesfield bank, Paracel and Spratly Islands.

15. Brunei

China claims the southern part of the Spratly Islands chain. Brunei claims part of South China Sea.

16. Malaysia

Their dispute revolves around parts of the South China Sea.

17. Indonesia

China's nine-dash line overlaps the Natuna Sea/Exclusive Economic Zoneof Indonesia leading to disputes.

18. Japan

Its dispute with China centers around South China Sea, Ryukyu Islands and overlapping Air Defence Identification Zone in the East China Sea.

19. Bhutan

Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet. It has lost a substantial chunk of area under dispute.

20. Philippines

China and Philippines disagree over parts of the South China Sea. 

21. Vietnam

Both have territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The two countries share a 1,281 km border though not much of problems are known to exist there.

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour late, the chores and was ready by a 10' to 10. The first set of the window curtains were cleaned in the washing machine and got ready by the end of the day, the second set is soaked in soap water and will go through the same process tomorrow.

 

   

The Indian Offensive - Part 2.

.......contd

 Presently, the Chief of Army Staff is handling the crisis. His vast hands-on experience in dealing with the Chinese is a blessing. Offensive plans were drawn under his watch and vetted at the highest levels. The strategy of static defence was an antiquated idea by now.

Concurrently to this planning, defences were bolstered all across the LAC. Additional divisions were mobilised, building upon the existing force levels already deployed right across to the last bend of Arunachal Pradesh.

To deny the Chinese any surprises from air, the Indian Air Force was conducting round the clock airspace domination. Indian Army had also carried operational deployment of various strategic assets like the land version of Brahmos cruise missiles by the end of June. All avenues of Chinese ingress, if any, were plugged by now. 

The LAC held firmly in strength, the defensive plans over land were all in place, completed by those at sea and in the air. This seriousness and resolve beckoned India's intention to defend every inch of her territory.

Indian Navy had also set sail into the deep blue waters of Indian Ocean. Our warships were well poised, threatening the Chinese supply lines passing through the Malacca Strait, just in case the balloon went up. In the Far East, Indian naval warships were also carrying out sea manoeuvres alongside the ships of friendly world powers in the disputed waters of South China Sea. Global support had been mobilised in India's favour.

Earlier in Ladakh, a brigade had been pulled out of the Army Headquarters' reserve Mountain Division and brought into 14 Corps zone. The great strategic airlift by C-17 Globe Masters of the IAF was executed. These gigantic machines ferried tons of weapons, ammunition and logistics alongside the troop build-up throughout May and June.

On 21 May, the first brigade of this reserve arrived in Leh. Initially, they were tasked to augment the existing resources of 14 Corps in holding role. However, the Galwan incident of mid-Jun changed the dynamics. Since an offensive action was on the table, it was decided to bring in the rest this Mountain Division. The air lift began soon thereafter and this Division closed in by 20 Jun, now armed with fresh operational mandate.  

The 17 Corps, India's sole strike corps, was fully acclimatized and prepared for any eventuality, though not to be committed at this early stage. However, the GOC 17 Corps, Lt General Sawneet Singh was given an additional task : to exercise operational control of this newly inducted crack Mountain Division. Trained to infiltrate and strike deep behind enemy lines. They were capable of turning the enemy's defences.

By now, the reserve Division of Northern Command was also deployed, beefing up the entire defences along the LAC in Ladakh. Deployments were from the Depsang plains to the occupying heights around Galwan, providing depth to the Shyok-Dubruk-DBO road and strengthening the Dungti-Demchok corridor.

The military to military negotiations continued. A number of rounds were conducted, with each talk lasting for hours. The efforts were to amicably resolve the dispute through talks. Unfortunately, all these talks failed to make any substantial headway. In the meanwhile, our plans for a quid pro quo were in place with multiple options.

Over Optimistic China

The haplessness of the Indian establishment was also clearly manifesting with each failed talk. This in turn made the Chinese over-optimistic of their strategy. Their grand plan appeared to be to hold fast and not relent to the Indian demand of pre-April positions. The idea seemed to be to exhaust the Indian Army through the winter deployments. The huge economic cost of prolonged military mobilization was likely to prove unsustainable for a de-growing economy in these Covid times. Thus China would win this war without firing a single shot.

On our side, among other challenges there was strong unhappiness in the rank and file of the Indian Army. They were unhappy in the manner they were used at pangong and Galwan, fighting the PLA with sticks and stones.

This failed strategy had led to the death of 20 soldiers, with an equal or a greater number of casualties on the other side. The scenes of soldiers throwing stones and using clubs to defend themselves had brought a lot of embarrassment to the professional Army. It was now the time to test our tactical acumen and flex our muscles.

Offensive Plans

In early Aug, this newly inducted Mountain Division was fully acclimatized. They had started to carry out reconnaissance and validate their offensive plans. These plans were so secret that even the holding formation troops were unaware of what was going on. Options were carefully drawn and diligently vetted.

By 24 Aug, one plan was finally given the go ahead. Simultaneously, the CDS also cautioned the nation to stay prepared for any eventuality, even if that meant war.

At ground zero, the company commanders and platoon commanders of this elite mountain division had by now selected their routes of infiltration, identified tactical heights to be occupied and timed their paces for speedy retaking.

From the word go, the final phase of the retaking was planned to be completed in 120 minutes flat. Artillery was put in place, ready to support the infiltrating troops should the need arise. Armoured elements were well poised, ready to out-manoeuvre and destroy any PLA attempt, if they thrust into the Chushul valley. Air defence troops were also deployed with shoulder fired anti-aircraft Igla missiles, networked and coordinated to shoot down any Chinese aircraft interfering with our advancing troops.

The Chinese on their side had their mechanized Combat Team located in Spangur near Moldo. They had 33-ton T15 light tanks designed to fight a battle in this high-altitude region.

Geared for Action

The Indian troops were fully geared for action, all ends tied, contingencies catered for and rehearsed. We were ready to strike. The objective was Spangur Bowl, an area south of Pangong and east of Chushul.

The features dominating the Spangur gap provided provided great tactical dominance and huge strategic advantages. Black Top, Helmet, Magar and Gurung Hills stretching right up to Rezang La were these features. Under the cover of darkness, Indian infiltrating troops moved up to the LAC, established their release points and waited for the green signal. some troops mounted on high mobility vehicles and drove straight up to the objective - the 3 km ridge line on the hill alongside Requin.

At the word go, these troops crossed over into the enemy claimed territory with lightning speed. The mountain division of Tibetan troops of the Special Frontier Force occupied the hill features, beating their own planned timings well under 120 minutes.

Before the break of dawn, one complte infantry brigade with over 2,000 troops was holding the heights overlooking the Spangur Bowl. Armed with French Milan anti-tank missiles, and Carl Gustav rocket launchers, the Indians had literally rendered the Chinese armoured tanks at Moldo redundant and out manoeuvred. On 31 Aug, the garrison at Moldo was virtually under siege.

Surprised and shocked, the Chinese mustered their club wielding troops and advanced towards the positions now held by the Indians. More shock was in wait. The Indian troops warned the advancing troops but the PLA men continued with their advance. The Indians had to fire a few warning shots in the air and this brought in new realities to the fore. The Chinese, on seeing the aggressive posture, fled, only to return a little later.

This time they came with their armoured personnel carriers, driving on their cemented road from Moldo to Rezang La. But this advance also came to halt and was followed by a hasty retreat. The Indian troops were at a stone's throw away from the Moldo garrison, dominating each and every move of the PLA. The sight of anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers had deterred the move of the Chinese armoured personnel carriers and halted them in their tracks.

The Chinese had realised by now that they were not only outnumbered but totally out-flanked, making their position untenable. Any armed clash hereafter would prove suicidal. The annihilation of Moldo garrison was assured for the Chinese had clashes erupted. The Indians by now were firmly dug in.

The way of doing business on the borders with China has undergone a paradigm shift. In the past five decades this was the first ever offensive operation carried out against the Chinese. The initiative is now with India; the shoe is on the other foot. Having enhanced India's negotiating power manifold, the unthinkable so far is now a new reality.

- Col Danvir Singh (R), Associate Editor, IDR on the Sunday Guardian

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a quiet day. Got quite a few jobs done. The washing of the curtains has begun.