O, those lovely days!

I grew up in Bombay, not Mumbai. Regardless of the weather, our dinner time was at 8:00 PM and bed time was 10:30 PM.

Eating out at a restaurant was a huge deal, a rarity actually, that only happened when it was a birthday or a very special occasion to celebrate.

There was no such thing as fast food on every other day and having a bottle of soft drink and an ice-cream from the local shop was a real treat. Pass your final exams and you might have gotten a new set of clothes or Bata shoes.

You took your school clothes off as soon as you got home and put on your 'home' clothes. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you either boarded the school bus or rode on public transport or just walked home. You got home, did your chores and homework before dinner.

Not everyone had a house phone and much later, all private conversations were at the PCO booths.

We didn't have Apple tv, Amazon Prime or Netflix. We had only Doordarshan to watch. Jungle Book came once a week on a Sunday and Chhaya Geet on Thursdays, for which we waited all week.

We played chor police, lappa chuppi, football, cricket, lagori, dabba ice-spice (actually it was "I spy"). Marbles and any other game we could come up with...... At home, we stuck to chess, ludo, snakes and ladders and Monopoly.

Staying shut in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored" was....."You better find something to do before I find it for you!"

Life was good without insta, facebook, twitter. Followers were the friends standing behind you.

We played music via magnetic tapes or radio. A walkman was a luxury for the uber rich.

We went to the local shop for groceries, jeera goli, kismi used to be a couple of paise.

We ate what Mum made for dinner and put in our lunch and snack box. Bottled water was non existent. We drank from the school water filter.

We called our friends from home by shouting their names from the street below.

We weren't afraid of anything. We played until dark.....sunset was our alarm.

If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a day later if not sooner.   

We watched our mouths around our elders because all of our aunts, uncles, grandpas, grandmas and our parents' best friends were all extensions of our parents and you didn't want them telling your parents you'd misbehaved! Or they would give you something to cry about.

We respected the Police, Firemen, Ambulance workers, Teachers, Doctors and Nurses.

We never answered back......ever!

We got detention at school for not doing homework, no hair cut, being late to class or being naughty. Our teachers spanked us when we deserved it and our parents did not complain about it.

We did not know what luxury was. Our simple lives were so good.

Those were the good days. So many kids today will never know how it feels to be a real kid. I loved my childhood and all the friends I hung around with.

Tailpiece. 

Got up at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Video called my sister and family, who are at Bangalore.

Attended the webinar : "Necessity to Promote Green Jobs for Green Economy through Digital Literacy" by Dr Sunil Chacko, Adjunct Professor, Former Faculty - Harvard University and Former Advisor, World Bank. It was short and interesting. 

The transition at the White House.

Joe Biden has secured Pennsylvania and is poised to become the 46th President of the United States.

What is the manner in which the transition of the Presidency take place in the United States? It's interesting! Or is it premature, in that, Donald Trump is seeking the Court's intervention regarding the proliferation of the postal ballots heavily in favour of Joe Biden? 

On 04 Mar 1801, the second President of the United States, John Adams, refused to hand over office to his main rival at the 1800 election, Thomas Jefferson. The rule of midday Jan 20 had not been written yet. Despite his stubbornness the office simply left him!

After Thomas Jefferson was sworn in at an event which the incumbent refused to attend, the White House staff started to remove the President's belongings from the White House (Adams was the first president to reside at the new official residence). All security organs cut all official communication. All the presidential staff stopped taking orders from Adams - the office moved.

From that time all incumbents at the White House prepare early to leave in - case they see signs of losing to avoid humiliation by the independent organs of the state (The Military, The Secret Service, The CIA, FBI and all the White House Staff. They all operate under a code - that of serving a man/woman who has carried the will of the people at an election).

As Biden has clinched the 270 votes and is officially declared by all returning officers in the states, the following are going to happen :-

(a) The Secret Service divides its attention between the incumbent and the incoming President.

(b) CIA begins to brief both (including top secret intelligence which is traditionally reserved for one individual - the commander in chief).

(c) White House staff begins to prepare to re-do the house in-line with the taste of the president elect.

(d) At Midday on 20 Jan. The White House staff remove all his belongings from the house and bring in the belongings of the new president (they wait for no one's instructions).

(e) The deductions for White House rent on Trump's salary stops in January.

(f) The deductions for White House rent begins on Joe Biden's presidential salary in January.

(g) Melania Trump stops being the boss of White House on 20 Jan at midday.

(h) Dr Jill Biden becomes the boss of White House on 20 Jan at midday.

(j)  At midday on 20 Jan, all the power organs of the US cut official communication with Trump: The Pentagon, The CIA, The FBI, The Attorney General. The Secret Service maintains minimal communication since it is going to guard the ex-President all his life.

(k) The Beast and Air Force One salute Trump for the last time and move their attention to Biden. The Beast begins to carry Biden's blood samples as is the tradition.

Without instructions from anyone! It has been so for over 200 years. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma was back at work and her leg seemed to be okay, she said. Lekha orders fish, online, from the 'Meat Hub' - for the first time.

Participated in the Aazhchakkoottam (Weekly Interactions) on "Homeopathy and Covid-19" by Dr G Satish, Superintendent, Government Homeopathy Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.

  

Shankaracharya's articulation.

One night Shankaracharya was desperately searching for something on the street outside his small hut.

When his pupil returned from his errand, he saw this and curiously asked the Master, "Acharya, what are you looking for here on the street at this hour?"

Shankaracharya replied, "I lost my needle, I am looking for it".

The pupil joined him in the search but after searching for a while, he asked, "Can you try and recollect where you might have dropped it?"

Shankacharya said, "Of course, I remember. I dropped it near the bed in the hut".

The pupil, utterly astonished at the strange answer, said, "Acharya, you say you lost it inside the house, then why are we looking for it outside?"

Shankaracharya innocently replied, "There is no oil left in the lamp, so it is pitch dark inside the house. Hence I thought of searching for it outside, since there is enough street light here".

While holding back his laugh, the pupil said, "If you lost your needle inside the house, how could you even expect to find it outside?"

Shankaracharya simply smiled back at the pupil and said, "Isn't that what we do? We run to far away temples and walk up mountains to search for what we have lost inside ourselves. We are all seeking outside what we have lost inside us. Why? Just because it is pitch dark inside.

Silly, aren't we?"

"Light the Lamp inside you and find your lost treasure right there in".

Awake and arise to search the treasure.

  *          *           *

Just in jest!

Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Nirvana is making Bloody Mary out of it and not worrying if it's a fruit or a vegetable.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Suma was given a day off today as her leg was having a problem. She will meet her doctor.

Participated in a webinar, "Covid-19 and Mental Health" by Dr Kumud Srivastava, Psychological Counsellor between 1500 - 1630 hrs. It was very illuminating! 

Those halcyon days!

Elvis made us dislocate our bones. Dylan helped us discover poetry.

Abba made us fall in love with blondes and brunettes. Beatles inspired us to imagine and live in an octopus's garden.

Cohen gave us a baritone complex. Marley taught us to stand up and fight. Boney M lit us a rocket to Venus.

Osibisa brought us the sounds of Africa. Eagles flew us to a hotel in California.

Dire Straits put us with some sultans high up on swings. Jimi Hendrix spoke to us with his guitar.

Beegees did us in with very deep love. Carpenters led us to the top of the world.

Queen brought us the legend of Mercury. Rainbow invited us to the Temple of the Fox.

Kenny Rogers told us about cowards. Doors opened us to a certain Mr Morrison.

Deep Purple set us on fire with smoke on water.

Smokie got us Alice. Don McLean fed us Pie. Cliff Richards congratulated us. Dolly Parton distracted us.

Santana hypnotised us. Tull broadsworded us. Floyd pinked us.

Michael thrilled us. Kiss kissed us. And Jim Reeves, Harry Belafonte, Tom Jones and others left us with memories that will never leave.

For the lot of us who grew our ears in the late '70s, the ride to adulthood was one mind blowing trip on the back of the humble cassette tape. 

   *          *          *

Diwali after Dussera.....

Why does Diwali come exactly 21 days after Dussehra every year?

If you don't believe, check the calendar. Sage Valmiki says that it took 21 days (504 hours) to reach Ayodhya on foot from Sri Lanka, for Lord Rama's army! 

So 504 hours divided by 24 hours, the answer will be 21.00 or 21 days.

I was surprised. To confirm, I searched on Google map out of curiosity. I was shocked to see the distance from Sri Lanka to Ayodhya on foot is 3,145 km and time taken to walk is 504 hours!

We celebrate Dussehra and Diwali since Tretayug, according to tradition. Sage Valmiki had written Ramayana with accuracy. This is the great Hindu culture.

Jai Siyaram!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Both Lekha and I were glad to see Kittu back and he had his breakfast and lunch!

Got our Chevy's insurance renewed online.  

Two events of the day that need highlighting!

Many news made headlines today but I shall touch upon just the two of them as I have a lot of queries on them.

1. Arnab Goswami Taken into Custody

The chief executive editor of the Republic News Channel was taken into custody, early in the morning at 6, in Bombay. The Bombay Police Commissioner Parambir Singh, with the blessings of the Maharashtra government and the ruling political powers viz. Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP seem to have pulled off this stunt that would have far reaching ramifications.

The arrest of Arnab Goswami is the culmination of the relentless crusades he had undertaken over the past few months like the Palghar killings, establishing the police-announced-suicides of Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Salian as murders resulting in the cases being handed over to the CBI for further investigation, the drug abuse in Bollywood and certain regional film industries and had, consequently, made many influential people in high places run for cover! 

He, therefore needed to be fixed nice and proper and I believe, he has been charged by the Bombay Police as being involved in an abetment to suicide case of 2018. 

What the Maharashtra government has done in using state machinery to muzzle the free press in this country needs condemnation and immediate rollback. The common people are already on the streets, questioning this sinister move and are clamouring for an immediate action. The court raising a suo moto case on the arrest and have the journalist released could be an option or the Home Ministry of the union government issuing necessary directives to the Maharashtra government to free Arnab Goswami.

An early release of the journalist is a must. And what does one say about the rest of the channels who've decided to keep quiet on the entire issue? It's really a dog-eats-dog situation! Ugh!!

2. The Delay in the Results of the American Presidential Election.

The just concluded American Presidential election, yesterday, is yet to throw up a clear winner as both the candidates have approached the court, citing irregularities in the voting as well as counting procedures. The following factors are discernible and of course, must admit that these are personal observations from a layman's viewpoint:-

* This election has been all about Trump vs the rest - disgruntled Republicans, his party men who hate him, the former Presidents Clinton, Obama and even Bush endorsing their support for Biden and the entire media * The media had whipped up a complete endorsement of the Biden candidature by the African Americans, which turned out to be a false call * The media predicting a  highly-inflated, sweeping Biden victory * Trump's core constituency has hardly been dented, in fact, they have shown it by getting out to vote in droves * Biden's choice of Kamala Harris as his VP candidate does not seem to have attracted enough voters.  

I appreciate President Trump's ability to put up a good show, thus far, despite all the constraints cited above.

It's my fond hope that all misgivings are removed and the winner is announced at the earliest!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The usual Wednesday 'aarathi' was carried out around 0800 hrs.

Kittu, the friendly cat, was not seen around lunchtime. Wonder where he has gone? Hope he's out of harm's way!       

Fused Bulbs.

 A big officer, who had just retired, came to stay in the housing society.

This elderly, big, retired officer, shocked and disturbed, used to walk in the Society park every evening, looking at the others with contempt and avoided talking to anyone.

One day, he sat near an elderly one in the evening for a chat and then started sitting continuously with him. His conversation was always the same topic, "I was such a big officer that one can't imagine and don't ask, here I have come in compulsion, etc etc" and that elder used to listen to him quietly.

One day when the "retired officer" showed some signs of inquisitiveness in his eyes and a bit of curiosity, the elderly listener, finally, gave him true wisdom.

He explained :-

"After retirement, we are all like a fused bulb, which was of how much wattage, how much light and glitter it gave don't matter after it is fused".

He continued and said, "I have been living in this Society for the last five years and have not told anyone that I have been a Member of the Parliament twice. He there, is Vermaji who was the General Manager of Railways, He there, Singh Saab was a Brigadier in the Army, that there, Mehra ji was the chief of the ISRO; he has not told this to anyone, not even to me but I know".

All fused bulbs are now almost the same whether it's zero watt, 40, 60, 100 watts, halogen or flood light, now no light no use; and that's you too. The day you will understand this, you will be able to live in the Society peacefully".

In Indian religious philosophy, the rising and setting sun are given equal respect, but in real life - we worship the rising sun by offering water but not the setting sun, the sooner we understand this, life will be easy.

     *         *           *

In jest

Why is the CA exam very difficult? Difference between CA and BCom.

BCom :

Question : How many Balls are there in an Over? * Answer : 6 * Full Marks!

If this were a CA exam question, the answer would be WRONG and the examiner's comment in the suggested answers would be : "Most of the students answered the questions. However, students have not understood the question correctly. Answers point to a lack of in depth understanding and conceptual clarity on the subject".

The correct answer is : 1 ball which is delivered 6 times".

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The power interruption had come about at a half past 12 and much to my dismay, even the water in the overhead tank had finished.

Anyways Suma had drawn a few buckets of water from the well and we could tide over till 1800 hrs, when the power was restored. Worked the motor and had one of the overhead tanks filled soon after and the second around a half past 9.  

  

Restore Fauji Ecosystem.

The top Army leadership is holding its bi-annual conference, concurrently, veterans What'sApp groups are witnessing unprecedented spewing of venom. There is widespread apprehension that a major drive is underway to take away privileges and so-called perks in the garb of optimisation and economy drive. Self perpetuating rumours are viral about impending cuts in canteen entitlements, ECHS benefits and even pensions. 

The overall sense is that the current hierarchy, afflicted with a tinkering syndrome is out to cut down hard-earned and well-deserved benefits and destroying time tested traditions like messes, bands and regimental norms. 

At the outset, it will be pertinent to state unequivocally that very little of this, affects the serving community and they continue to be in high morale and josh. The Army has enough resilience to get over such rough patches and its core remains strong and focused. Normally, it is best to trust current leadership even when some criticism is natural to vent off the steam but when diatribe goes beyond normal level, it is best to flag such trends, especially when they impact the veterans directly. The unfortunate part is that there seems to be some sort of distancing and even a bit of disconnect between the serving fraternity and veterans, which is both unfortunate and avoidable.

As a veteran, I am conscious of the likelihood of being accused of "20x20 hind sight" but in all humility, let me flag three relevant examples. The Tricity has probably the most vociferous and very large veteran community, yet after every bi-annual conference, we had structured feedback sessions.

Over ruling staff advice open house sessions were included. It is to the credit of veterans that they not only maintained decorum but also understood the constraints. The second major initiative was the creation of the regional think tank, Gyan Chakra, which has been stymied as Delhi Durbar considers thinking as their exclusive right. Thirdly, veterans were projected to the Shekatkar Committee by arranging interaction. Covid-19 precludes physical sessions but webinars can still enhance interaction, feedback and reduce apprehensions. To put it very bluntly, communication with the veteran's community needs urgent attention.

The current angst is also fuelled by rank hypocrisy across cadres. The Army seems to be in penny pinching overdrive while others are not even remotely contemplating similar measures. A dangerous trend of self-depreciation of golf courses and and messes is manifesting, even when others are creating highly subsidised, seven star facilities. Rentals for rooms in state and PSU guest houses are a mere fraction of Army mess, though former may have better facilities. Another recent irritant has been the much publicized oath taking on probity, unintended signalling of deep rot within. 

Armed Forces must aspire for zero tolerance on corruption notwithstanding challenges of keeping out societal osmosis effects. While others get away by annual vigilance day oath, soldiers have to maintain vigil on 24x7x365 basis. It is apparent that the timing and airing of the oath were avoidable.

Tehelka scandal, resulted in an Army General, with enviable track record, not only accepting lapse but suspension by the end of the day. I had the onerous responsibility to serve him that order which he literally took it on the chin. He was 'sorted out' at bullet train speed. His civilian counterpart, went on leave, resurfaced after crafting his defence, shifting blame to the mental state of his wife. He rose to become secretary and later held the statutory appointment as the tribunal chairman. Tehelka was classic publicity-oriented sting by fauji kids-turned-journalists exploiting hypothetical scenario.

Whe  queried about targeting the Army, their response, "Corruption outside hardly makes news but in fauj, it is dhamaka (bang)". The Army has a fairly rigorous system, where even an inquiry spells doom, whereas other cadres have near zero accountability. Most importantly, will focus ever shift from, 'chiller-chors' (small time thieves) to highway robbers?

Whe we joined Sainik School, immediately after 1965 war and NDA after 1971 operations; wars were frequent, risks high and pay without perks (like earned rations), just about adequate. We didn't dream beyond unit command and Lt Col rank. We were attracted by an ecosystem promising 'izzat' (respect), camaraderie, outdoors and adventure.

Environment was modelled on "the battle of a Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton". By and large, the Army enjoyed anonymity and was insulated from politics. I recall ex-CM of Punjab Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir refused to nintervene in an Army related matter even when the applicant belonged to our village, Adhwal, now in Pakistan. His stern refrain was : "Let Army remain free of influence and politics". Over the years, things have taken full circle, on a wrong trajectory.

Supersessions, social media, opening of cantonments and politicisation have eroded privacy and insular character of the forces. There is a need to restore this ecosystem, give it privacy and space. This is not to suggest that the forces should be beyond scrutiny or accountability. As CO, we received from a newspaper editor, a photograph of a regimental vehicle parked incorrectly. When we enquired, why didn't they publish it the wise reply was, "Army is best out of news, we know you apply correctives". Zero-error and fix-all syndromes sound the death knell for risk taking and innovation/ Naysayers are advised to reflect on raising of Special Forces (Meghdoot) by court-martialled Maj Megh Singh. Transition from hollow demonstrative support to trusting its systems is overdue.

Parting advice, for those in a tearing hurry for tinkering, in the garb of transformation; it is time to take counsel from the Japanese saying, "Hurry, but slowly". It will also be appropriate to take veterans on board, essence is communication and inclusion.

- Lt Gen KJ Singh.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Washing machinex of the bed linen. It was a quiet Monday. 

Came the sad news from our caretaker, that his wife has been tested positive and is admitted in hospital. What worries us is that she has quite a few co-morbidities. Hope she returns safe and sound!