Extraordinary steps!

I was quite amused to see the reactions last night to the Prime Minister's teaser of the massive economic package being unveiled......it was a teaser, the actual details will be coming out over the next few days......

A whole lot of our 'esteemed' critics were rendered speechless, probably unable to comprehend the size of the package......
India is only used to comprehending the number of zeroes after a numeral when it comes to corruption scams.....

This is a stimulation package.......

A noted TV anchor wanted to know where that kind of money is going to come from? Well if you are going to believe your own lies about the state of our economy, you'll definitely wonder about where that kind of money is going to come from? We mustn't forget the fact that India is the fifth largest economy in the world.....

Another prominent critic of the government, a left liberal this time, criticised the government for restricting FDI......He must have meant investments from China.....India has not shut its doors on FDI, only FDI from certain destinations.

This is precisely what the PM meant.....Go local....(Reduce your dependence on Chinese goods).

All over the world, nations are looking inwards.....There is indeed a great churning taking place. The Prime Minister wants to position India in the pole position to take advantage of the arisng opportunities.....

After World War II, two countries, Germany and Japan rose phoenix like to reclaim their space. It needed iron self discipline and focus and a lot of nationalist spirit, energies channelised into industry......This package is intended to boost our economic activity.....Even if we get a fifty percent return on investments, which I believe is a fairly consevative figure, look at the stimulus it generates.......

There are many who said that they could not understand what the Prime minister said......I missed out on the live speech....But I caught up on a recorded version subsequently....The same has been dissected on social media adequately.......

I will not like to add on to the mountain of material already available......Suffice to say, that this speech reflected a reiteration of our ancient values.

We have got the first installment on the package today....it will astound a lot many critics with its range and details......Brilliant minds have been working on this over the last few weeks.

One of the greatest irritants of certain critics, liberals and experts is the total lack of 'leaks' from within the government.....

No one had an idea of what was coming before the PM spoke....The old journalistic tagline, 'as received from sources within the government' no longer holds true.....

There are no sources within the government. This inability to crack the code of silence is making some of our 'journalists' feel so irrelevant.....It's making our opposition parties also paranoid....

Let us await the grand unveiling over the next few few days......it will be something the likes of which have never been seen before.....It's an unprecedented situation and it is only appropriate that our responses are equally unprecedented.....

- Col Rajib Bhuiyan.



Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 4, the chores and we were off in George's cab by 10' past 7, for work at Palakkad. Had an extension of our breakfast of idlis and chutney powder on reaching Palakkad by 9; George took full advantage of the comparatively sparse traffic. Lekha's sister and Ashok had arrived soon after. After completing our work, we were on our return and reached home by a half past 3.

Since the taxis are prohibited from using air conditioners, it was a rather warm journey up and down. A quiet evening, thereafter!     

Bravo Zulu IIT, Bombay!

India's first Covid-19 test bus was launched in Bombay, the other day!

The bus is based on indigenous technology and is the first vehicle of its kind in the world with on board genetic testing. Artificial Intelligence-based teleradiology and contactless sample collection. The IIT Covid-19 Test Bus is based on the indigenous Kodoy Technology Stack and executed by partner organisations led by the IIT alumni.

The Kodoy architecture involves e-vehicles for sample selection and telemedicine, algorithm-based pooled genetic testing and indigenous megalabs capable of up to 5 million tests per month per lab.

The medical equipment on board comprises a low dosage digital X-Ray, real time teleradiology, contactless swab collection and instant RNA testing. The bus has been configured keeping for heavy rains and has 384 sq ft of lab space on board. It also has a wireless robotic tele-operated ultrasound lung probe and a nanopore gene sequencer.

Congratulations IIT, Bombay!

    *                  *                    *

NDA VIGNETTEs.

I bet none of you know that I am responsible for all the colours of the battalions and squadrons in NDA?

My dad was Commandant and I was studying commercial art in Sir JJ School of Art in Bombay. I usually came home on the Deccan Queen for weekends. One day my father said, please sort out some colours for battalions and squadrons. When I see a cadet, I know his name but also want to know which squadron and battalion he belongs to. You are an arts student. You do it. Why should NDA pay some artist?

So, yours truly, half qualified, did all the colours for him. It really amuses me to see them painted till today at the entry of every cadet's residential building!

- Mrs Sunita Garware, daughter of Lt Gen Bakshi.

     *                   *                    *

This Is Not Right.

'A Major has died' is all one heard. It was Maj Mukund Vardarajan of 44 Rashtriya Rifles who died while fighting terrorists in Shopian yesterday. This should have made national headlines on TV and in print. Why such nameless faceless sacrifices by our men in uniform......Let's show our gratitude. I request you to spread this message. We don't need Arnab Goswami every time.

A country that fails to respect its soldiers is setting itself up adversely in a future war.


Tailpiece.

Had got up at our usual time with apprehensions about Lekha's condition after her tumble, last night. She'd gone to the rest room around a half past 3, in the wee hours of the morning and had that fall. Thankfully there's nothing to worry, I guess, though Suma gave her a massage with warm, saline water.

Bijeesh and his understudy, came by for the airconditioners' servicing. The ground floor one has a problem and they've taken its mother board for repairs.

The Sikkim clash.

'Small' Indian Lieutenant who punched a 'Big' Chinese Major.

When a young Indian Army Lieutenant punched a Chinese PLA Major on his nose, at Muguthang and sent blood oozing from his nose, he nearly provoked an escalation that his officers had not bargained for.

The officer's infantry unit had stopped the intruding Chinese PLA at Muguthang last week and were furious at the Chinese commissar for shouting, "This (Sikkim) is not your land, this is not Indian territory......so just go back".

Brought up in a military family - his grandfather a veteran of the Royal and then Indian Air Force and his father a Colonel in the Indian Army - the officer could not stomach it anymore.

"What Sikkim not our territory? What the hell!" he shouted back. Then as one PLA Major moved menacingly towards his senior officer, a Captain, the Lieutenant flew into him and punched him in the face. 

The Lieutenant was patted for bravery, yet admonished for 'provoking a bigger spat'. The Chinese Major collapsed with a thud and his name tab came loose - a good souvenir to carry back - but the Lieutenant left it alone, as his colleagues pulled him back.

After being admonished for a while by senior officers, for provoking a bigger spat and being congratulated by the officers from command and divisional headquarters at Calcutta and Sukna, the Lieutenant was preparing for a commendation. But the senior commanders could not land at Muguthang because of bad weather. Even Army Chief Gen MM Naravane is said to have expressed his desire to 'have a look at the boy'.

Meanwhile, the Lieutenant is unrepentant but somewhat crestfallen because he has been pulled back to location away from the front. His only comfort that his troops are loving his act of 'teaching the Chinese the right lesson'.

A senior officer said, "he (the Lieutenant) is a hero for his troops - slight build but extremely pugnacious".

Source. Adapted from The Quint.

       *                      *                       *

Why is National Technology Day celebrated?

 - On 11 May 1998, India successfully conducted its first nuclear test at the Indian Army's Pokhran
   Test Range in Rajasthan.

 - Codenamed 'Operation Shakti', the set of 5 nuclear bomb detonations marked India's entry into the
    nuclear club.


Tailpiece.

Had got up a trifle late, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Sent our request for going to Palakkad and back, the day after tomorrow in George's cab, to the Police Station but am yet to get the clearance. And it was Suma's long day in the house.

Roy, the plumber, had come by in the morning to replace the capacitor on the water motor. Nidhin, from the Faber, had come by about 1300 hrs to carry out the servicing of the stove and chimney at the kitchen. He'll have to replace a light on the chimney within the next couple of days!  

Project Artemis - NASA.

Preface.

 (a) Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo.
 (b) This is a project that marks Humanity's return to the Moon!
 (c) The Artemis program will land the first woman and next man, on the Moon, by 2024.
 (d) NASA will collaborate with its commercial and international partners and establish sustainable
      exploration by 2028.
 (e) Next use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap - sending astronauts
      to Mars.

And How We Are Going?

With sustainable architecture like :-

 (a) Exploration Ground Systems + a network of Earth-based structures required for launch.
 (b) Space Launch System + the most powerful rocket in the world.
 (c) Orion + deep space human rated command module.

Artemis I.                                First human spacecraft to the Moon in the 21st century.

Artemis II.                              First human to orbit the Moon in the 21st century.

Artemis Support Mission.     First high power Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) System. 

Artemis Support Mission.     First pressurized module delivered to Gateway. 

Artemis Support Mission.     Human landing system delivered to Gateway.

Artemis III.                             Crewed Mission to Gateway and lunar surface.

  Lunar South Pole is target site.
  Early South Pole Missions - 2020 to 2024.
  First robotic landing followed by eventual human lunar return and in sites.


Tailpiece.

Got up about 15' late, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The morning power interruption prevented us from watching the Rangoli on Doordarshan National channel - our Sunday Morning habit. A very warm day despite the early morning shower!  

Another random collection...

Essence of Military Training Routine at the NDA.

 (a) Drill. Practice makes you perfect and perfect you have to be.
 (b) PT. How can you ever think of giving up?
 (c) Horse Riding. Don't mess with me 'ole guy. I may be a fresher but I'll get you.
 (d) Weapon Training (WT). How to become a jerk! (Cadet - Chatkee).
 (e) Ragging. You learn for yourself, where you want your break point to be, if any.
 (f)  Dinner Nights. The one thing that instills pride and makes it all worthwhile.
 (g) Cabin Cupboard. Not this time, sir. Teaches you to perfect your own ways to overcome
       problems.
 (h) Kit Muster. How to have the last laugh. Teaches you how not to get surprised.
 (j)  Fall in. Reach on the dot. Perfects the art of backward planning and execution.
 (k) Announcements. Your start point on commanding a parade.
 (l)  PT, Drill and WT. Even the impossible has to be made possible. No two ways to this.
 (m)Lights out. Time to start planning.
 (n) Academics. Teaches you the art of how to rest even while walking.
 (p) Study period. Look busy, do nothing.
 (q) SCC. How to command with responsibility.
 (r) DCC. How to command with no responsibility.
 (s) CSM. How to manage even if the above two are duffers.
 (t) CQMS. Practising the art of OC Rear.
 (u)Ordinary Cadet. Learns that life is a marathon. Initial sprints are meaningless.
 (v)Liberty. Teaches how to put plans into action with zero resources.
 (x)Pay Parade. Coping with occasions where a moment of intense joy is followed by total
      disillusionment, but you still look forward to another.
 (y)Tea room. Where you learn how to extract tea from an empty kettle or get biscuit from an
      empty tray.
 (z)Cycle Stand. Where you learn the importance of the right side of the toast to be buttered.
 (*)Dhobi. You hate him for the money he extracts but you quickly learn the art of how to praise
      him, despite it.
 (*)Extra Drill. Where you learn how to give the least to a guy trying to extract the most out of you.
 (*)Barber Shop. Where you learn to sit back and let your nut get raped.
 (*)Cross country. Where you learn to look over your shoulder, either to remain the first or not be
      the last.

     * Ready Reckoner.
        * SCC      Squadron Cadet Captain.
        * DCC     Divisional Cadet Captain.
        * CSM     Cadet Sergeant Major.
        * CQMS. Cadet Quarter Master Sergeant.

   *                   *                    *

Be Civilized

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts.

Mead said, "We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized".
- Ira Byock.

   *                   *                      *

Fuel Prices Decoded

A detailed break up of what you're paying for a litre of petrol or diesel.
Taxes now make up 69% of retail fuel prices.

 Petrol                          As of 06 May 2020                        Diesel
  17.96                                 Base Price                                 18.49
    0.32                                   Freight                                      0.29
  18.28                           Price charged to dealers
                                     (excluding Excise Duty and VAT)   18.78
  32.98                              Excise Duty                                 31.83
    3.56                           Dealer's Commission(Average)        2.52
  16.44                VAT(including VAT on dealer's com)        16.26
  71.26            Retail Selling Price in Delhi(Rounded)      69.39



Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9. Suma was back, hale and hearty. Roy, the plumber had come by to check up the water motor and will return on Monday to change a spare part. Shibu of Geeyem Motors reports that work has recommenced on our Chevy from Thursday as both the spares have fetched up from Pune. Should get back our car by early next week. Phew!

A random collection.

Yesterday was Rabindranath Tagore's Birthday

       "That side of our existence
     whose direction is towards the
        infinite seeks not wealth,
     but freedom and joy".

It was the 159th birth anniversary of the poet, yesterday, for he was born in Calcutta on 07 May 1861. 

   *                        *                          *

Top Hizbul Terrorist Killed

Security forces eliminated Hizbul Mujahideen's top leader and Jammu and Kashmir commander, Riyaz Naikoo. He was active in the valley for 8 yrs. At least two more terrorists were also killed by security forces in the encounter in Sharshali Khrew area of Awantipora. Naikoo had a bounty of Rs.12 lakh on his head!

And the anti-national journalist, Barkha Dutt, says that he was studious and aspired to be another famous mathematician like Srinivasa Ramanujan who was murdered by the security forces. Why is she allowed to spew venom at our armed forces? It's high time that she is tried for treason!

    *                          *                           *

Did You Know These Things Had Names?

  (a) The space between your eyebrows is called a glabella.
  (b) The way it smells after the rain is called petrichor.
  (c) The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is actually called a wamble.
  (d) The cry of a new born baby is called a vagitus.
  (e) The prongs on a fork are called tines.
  (f) The sheen or light that you see when you close your eyes and press your hand on them is
       called phosphenes.
  (g) The tiny box plastic table in the middle of a pizza box is called a box tent.
  (h) The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
  (j)  Your tiny toe or finger is called minimus.
  (k) The wired cage that holds the cork in a bottle of champagne is called an agraffe.
  (l)  The 'na na na' and 'la la la', which don't really have any meaning in the lyrics of any song, are
        called vocables.
  (m) When you combine an exclamation mark with a question mark (like this ?!), it is referred to
         as an interrobang.
  (n)  The space between your nostrils is called columella nasi.
  (p)  The armhole in clothes, where the sleeves are sewn, is called armscye.
  (q)  The condition of finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called dysania.
  (r)  Unreadable hand-writing is called griffonage.
  (s)  The dot over an "i" or a "j" is called tittle.
  (t)  That utterly sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
  (u) The metallic device used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called Bannock device.

  *                           *                           *

"Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs!"

This is the new sentence which has all 26 Letters of English.

Previously it was, "A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog".

Discovered by a proud drinker. Cheers!


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by about 9. Suma was unwell and Lekha had given her an off. Went to the shopping complex, nearby, to buy sundries, just before lunch time. Have been put on a three-day antibiotic course to sort out the congestion in my lungs.

After the first round, felt better or was it the 'placebo' effect?

The shape of things to come?

China will cease to exist by 2027. The Soviet Union (USSR) to just Russia story is about to be replicated.

The Afghan war broke USSR. The Wuhan virus will balkanise China.

You will wonder how it is possible? You will also say that the mighty military and economic power, coupled with the totalitarian regime will never allow this to happen. The very same questions were asked for USSR too. But USSR balkanised. It will happen and happen soon to China too.

It does not matter if the Wuhan virus escaped from a laboratory, was deliberately made to escape or originated in wet markets; China will pay the price. The western powers have had a heavy death toll that surpasses the number of US soldiers who died in Vietnam War or the civilian casualty during 9/11.

To put things in perspective, 2043 Americans were killed in Pearl Harbour but Japan paid the price, multiple times  when 'little boy' and 'fat man' were released from B-29 bomber. The Wuhan virus toll in the US is beyond 70,000. Cowboy justice will be implemented. Very basic justice. You hit us we will hit you. Virus killed our people; we will make you suffer.

The sequence of events will be as under :-

  1. When the world limps back to normalcy, businesses will pull out of China. All major MNCs
       manufacturing in China will either move back to their home countries or will relocate to other
       non-threatening nations.

  2. Anyone who trumpets the benefits cheap labour leading to higher profits for western
      multinationals will be either a non-conformist or a Chinese.

  3. Western nations will correct the presently skewed trade balance in favour of their countries and
      China will suffer a trade deficit.

  4.  A US led campaign will bring all developed and developing countries under one umbrella to
       isolate China. Only Pakistan and North Korea will remain in the China camp.

  5.  China will flex her military might by increasing presence in the South China Sea. This will
       make other countries feel threatened. This fear will be leveraged by the western powers.
       Australia and New Zealand will seek help from the US, leading to their increased military
       presence in the region.

  6. A cornered China will start bullying smaller countries who refuse to trade with it in consonance
      with the international anti-Chinese mood.

  7. This will trigger even greater military deployment in land, air and sea of western powers as a
      deterrent.

  8.  Western Intelligence agencies will release report that the Wuhan virus was man made. WHO
       will counter this report by its own research findings that the COVID-19 had originated in nature
       and China is not to be blamed.

  9. Western powers will discredit WHO and its funding  pattern will change. China will go against
      the tide and try to keep WHO afloat.

10. China will approach UN to protest against presence of other Navies and Forces in Chinese waters
      'area of influence'.

11.  Belligerent statements will emanate from Chinese Government mouthpiece on how strong China
       is and can match any western power in firepower.

12. Aggressive patrols of Chinese nuclear tipped submarines and aircraft carriers will start.

13. Sterner trade sanctions will be imposed on China.

14. Its double digit growth rate will come down to negative growth.

15. Unemployment will increase in China.

16. The citizens who were on a tight leash will protest.

17. Massive demonstrations will breakout in major cities and villages in China.

18. The resistance to the communist government will be fuelled and fanned by the western powers.

19. A government under pressure will try to brutally suppress the protests.

20. UNHCR will be activated.

21. Videos of brutal suppression will escape out of China and will be broadcast on all major channels.

22. A western coalition to rein in the communist government of China will get active militarily. All
      major bases in and around the neighbourhood of China will be activated to protect human rights
      abuses.

23. In the meantime North Korea will implode and both the Koreas will be unified.

24. The authoritarian Chinese government will find it untenable to continue.

25. The leaders will go into hiding or will escape in exile to South American tinpot dictator country
      and African banana republics.

26. There will be unrest in China.

27. Many of the PLA soldiers will join protesters.

28. There will be mass desertions in PLA.

29. Western coalition will disarm the residual PLA.

30. A "Beijing Human Rights Tribunal"(BHRT) will be constituted with judges from 42 countries
      to try the PLA leadership for excesses. The trials will be conducted 'in absentia'. (Just like the
      post WW II Nazi trials).

31. A geographical longitude will be decided by the UN and the "Chinese Melon will be cut" into
      two administrative zones of East China and West China.

32. UN Administrative Mission in China (UNAMC) will help develop democratic institutions in
      both these countries.

33. The UNAMC will provide stability for two years after which the first democratic elections
      would be held in East China and West China.

34. After which the UNAMC will be dissolved.

35. The two new democratic countries be the proud new members of the United Nations.

36. Tibet will gain independence. Dalai Lama and the Tibetans will leave India for their promised
      land.

Source. What's App.


Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time. The chores and was ready by 9. It was a warm, quiet day.