The Himalayan Blunder of 1962.

Yesterday, 20 Oct, was the 60th anniversary of the start of the 1962 war of aggression by China against India. A period that all Indians and especially, the armed forces look back with great grief at a lost war brought about by an ignorant and egoistic government, pliant brass of the armed forces and a cunning enemy. The woefully kitted soldiers with inadequate weapons and ammunition were a sure recipe for the mammoth scale of defeat which was cushioned, to a considerable extent, by acts of spectacular valour and courage on the part of extraordinary men at the Sino-Indian border. My salutes, tears and prayers to each one of them on this occasion.

A month long disastrous conflict for which the political dispensation, headed by PM Nehru and defence minister VK Krishna Menon were directly responsible. Nehru, without appreciating the consequences, ordered an unprepared, poorly armed and ill equipped army to implement his weird 'forward policy', with absolutely no intelligence and wherewithal to back it up. His defence minister brushed aside all fears of a Chinese retaliation. What happened, thereafter, was a series of shameful events, with the government fumbling and panicking. The inept favourites of Nehru, placed at the top slots of the Army hierarchy, proved unworthy for the job. The IAF wasn't ordered into the war for bizarre reasons.

The government of India faltered fatally along with their chosen, inept army top brass.

The army fought desperately against all odds. Major Shaitan Singh PVC, Major DS Thapa PVC, Subedar Joginder Singh PVC, Rfn Jaswant Singh MVC and many others like them defended every inch of Mother India before making the supreme sacrifice. Units like 2 Rajput and 4 Rajput, under Lt Col Brahmanand Avasthy, perished fighting to the finish, inflicting huge casualties on the enemy.

The army suffered a severe loss of face for no fault of theirs. The nation also witnessed many in the undivided Communist Party of India taking a pro-China stand. A prominent communist leaderwas prevented from donating blood to soldiers.

At the end of it, Nehru should have resigned because he was largely responsible for the nation's and its army's humiliation. However, he did not quit.

The army learnt its lessons fast and five years later the Chinese were given a bloody nose, initially at Nathu La and later on, at Cho La.

Dedicated to the 1,383 killed, 1,047 wounded, 1,696 missing and 3,968 captured bravehearts of the army.

Tailpiece.

Had got up around 4 to ease my bladder and turned off to sleep only to get up at a quarter to 7. Lit the lamp at the puja room, opened up the house. The chores.

A quiet day and wet, since afternoon.

Crossing the Bar.

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of

the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems

asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the

boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of

farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of time

and

place the flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, lit the lamp in the puja room, opened up the house, switched on the music and went back to bed. After the morning cuppa', said my prayers and had breakfast before bath.

A fright, sunny day though the sky was overcast at sunset.

Finished my work on the laptop.

Got my program sorted out for the week. Spoke to Chandradeep who used to be the hair-stylist on board INS Sagardhwani.

A quiet day, otherwise.

At Raj Nivas after a while!

Got up at 5, thanks to Lekha's cellphone alarm. Went about our chores but was able to kick off from The Quarterdeck at a trifle past 8. There was an orange alert that was prevalent in seven districts from Thiruvananthapuram, northward to Malappuram. I must, however, say that we didn't encounter rain any where enroute and it was bright and sunny all through. Perhaps, since it's the north east monsoon, it generally begins precipitating only during late afternoons/evenings.

Traffic was within limits and we'd a trouble free drive. Breakfast was at the Saravana Bhavan, near the Paliyekkara toll plaza, around 9 and lunch was at the KTDC's outlet at Alappuzha, around a quarter past 1.

Reached Pulamon Junction, Kottarakkara around 4 and we made it to our dish TV franchisee, got our connection recharged and then we hit the home run. Reached Raj Nivas by a half past 4. The house was opened up, the bed linen changed, sent Lekha to catch up on her siesta and had a quick round of the compound where the grass was clipped just a week back but the growth had picked up, thanks to the evening rains that are getting to be frequent.

Spoke to my parents and briefly outlined our program. Mom and dad are happy, I'm sure!

The dish TV had some problems with its remote control being non operational. Sent the caretaker's son, Aniyan with the faulty remote control and the set top box, as directed by the franchisee and the problems of the dish were sorted out and we could view our favourite channels through the evening.

The caretaker spent time with us as he gave a resume about the general happenings in our village and certain serials to be sorted out by me during our stay here. For some reason, both he and his son were happy when I'd told him that we would be here for a week, till Diwali. Mr Sarma, HM of the Thalavoor UPS has also invited me to an informal chat with his students, next week. Will gift books to six students who'd done well during my last interaction during the 'Vaayana Dinam' of 2022, last Jun.

Lekha's supper was light, nutritious and enjoyable.

It was a hectic day but damn comfortable!

Tailpiece.

Had traversed 260.1 km during the day but it was a relaxing drive!  

Rupee falling or Dollar strengthening? (2)

.......contd.

Reason for this, Petrol import covers 30-40% of our total import. In the last one year, due to Russia-Ukraine war, prices of oil and gas has sky rocketed. India's import bill is getting higher.

Oil is traded in USD.

Import high, export less means demand of USD is high, demand of INR is less.

So, despite such negative condition, INR is fighting bravely.

And performing well against other currencies.

Now, let me tell the reason why Dollar is sky rocketing.

Reason is US federal reserve rate that was 0 in Feb 2022 is now at 3.5%.

Now understand this. 

American banks need to maintain a fixed amount to US Fed bank and for that, on daily basis.

They keep taking loans from other banks at interest rates on that loan which is called Federal Interest Rate.

When Fed increase that interest rate then all investors of the world, take out money from their current investment and invest into US Fed bank because investment in Fed bank is considered the safest investment in difficult situation.

You can invest in fed bank only in USD, so you need USD and therefore the demand for USD invreases and prices of USD  goes high and it was exactly this that had happened in the last 6 months.

Why fed increased interest rate?

To control the inflation as interest goes high.

Interest rate of savings account, FD also increased, credit card, home loan interests go high.

People stop spending and start investing, circulation of money goes down in the market, demand goes down and prices come down.

Basic economics!

My take

This is what the strengthening of the Dollar has done, globally and the rupee is holding its fort well!

Tailpiece.

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

Kala and Unni fetched up from Kayamkulam for a darshan and then to clear the air with me.

The maid had turned up soon after the guests had left.

Shut down 'The Quarterdeck' systematically as we limbered up for tomorrow's journey to Raj Nivas. 

Rupee falling or Dollar strengthening? (1)

If someone has basic knowledge of economics, will know the answer to this question but in India, the standard of journalist and leaders is so low that they don't even know such basics. The following thread will answer - dollar flying or rupee falling.

There are around 200 countries in the world and each have their respective currencyand all currencies maintain exchange rate with the currency of other countries.

Exchange rate of currency depends upon supply and demand of that currency. 

Now the question - dollar is strengthening or rupee is weakening?

* Check USD INR performance of last 1 year.

   Oct 2021 : 1 USD = Rs.75

   Oct 2022 : 1 USD = Rs.82

It's due to good performance of USD or due to bad performance of INR?

To check this, we have to find :-

* How rupee is performing against the other major currencies of the world?

* How other currencies are performing against USD?

If rupee is falling against other currencies also then we can say rupee is falling.

If other currencies are also falling against USD then we can say dollar is strengthening.

British Pound, Euro and Japanese Yen are the major currencies of the world.

Let's check rupee vs pound

Oct 2021  :  1 GBP = Rs.104

Oct 2022  :  1 GBP = Rs.92

So, in the last one year rupee strengthened against GBP.  

Let's check rupee vs euro

Oct 2021   :  1 Euro = Rs.88

Oct 2022   :  1 Euro = Rs.82

S, rupee strengthened against Euro also.

Let's check rupee vs yen

Oct 2021  :  1 Yen = Re.0.65

Oct 2022  :  1 Yen = Re.0.55

So, rupee strengthened against Yen also.

In last 1 year, rupee has weakened against dollar but strengthened against all major currencies. It gives the indication that rupee is not falling.

Let's check the performance of these currencies against dollar.

For that we will check dollar index. Dollar Index measures relative performance of dollar against 6 major currencies of the world including GBP, Euro and Yen.

Oct 2021   :  USD value against 6 major currency = 93

Oct 2022   :  USD value against 6 major currency = 112

So, it proves that rupee is not falling, it's actually dollar that's strengthening. Rupee is fighting bravely against dollar and performing very well compared to the other currencies and India really deserves appreciation of it. 

.......to be contd.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9. A quick breakfast of dosas, chutney and sambar. Went off at 10 to the bank to give instructions, took the first bus for Thrissur from the other side of the flyover-in-the-making and reached Puzhakkal by a quarter to 11 and my heart sank when I saw the road to the service station cut into two.

The paper work was done, had a cup of tea and Shibu drove me back on to the main road from where I'd taken off for Guruvayur. Went to Harisree for sundries, then to our regular fruit stall for the fruit basket, topped up our Chevy with fuel and checked tyre pressure.

A quiet evening.

India test fires SLBM successfully!

India fires ballistic missile from nuclear submarine in landmark test. Earlier test-firings were done from fixed underwater pontoons. Here are 10 facts about it.

1. The submarine-launched ballistic missile test proves the credibility of India's naval nuclear deterrent. Indian ballistic missile submarines may now be able to terget China and Pakistan from underwater locations when deployed.

2. The latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test proves that the home-made INS Arihant class submarines are operational in all respects.

3. "All operational and technological parameters of the weapon system have been validated", the Defence Ministry said in a statement after the test-firing.

4. The submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, was tested to a predetermined range and impacted the target area in the Bay of Bengal with very high accuracy, the Defence Ministry said.

5. The successful test launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate India's ballistic missile submarine program, a key element of India's nuclear deterrence capability.

6. "A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India's policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins its 'no first use' commitment", the Defence Ministry said.

7. India operates three home-made ballistic missile submarines and has developed two submarine-launched surface-to-surface missiles - the K-15 and the K-4. The latter has a range of 3,500 km which acts as a nuclear deterrent against China.

8. The program to build nuclear-powered submarines and fit them with submarine-launched ballistic missiles is, by far, the most complicated weapons development program India has ever engaged in. 

9. India is the 6th country in the world to have nuclear-powered submarines armed with ballistic missiles after the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.

10. INS Arihant is India's first home-made nuclear submarine. It was launched in Jul 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by former PM Dr Manmohan Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur.

Tailpiece.

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

It's a quiet Sunday.

Saw Mona Lisa in Paris thanks to Ammu, who was visiting the place at that instant. Saw also the day's session of Indian Idol - a Sharmila Tagore special - which was splendid. Yesterday's was a Tanuja special, that was equally splendid. 

 

The Joy of Giving.

Once, a very poor man came to Buddha.

He asked : Why am I so poor?

Buddha answered : You are poor because you don't practice

generosity. 

You don't practice charity.

"But how can I practice charity if I

don't have anything to give?"

Asked the poor man.

Buddha replied, "You have five 

treasures that you can share with others.

1. You have your face. You can 

share your smiles with others. It's

free and awesome and has an

amazing impact on others.

2. You have your eyes. You can 

look at others with eyes full of love

and care. Genuinely you can 

impact millions. Make them feel

valued. Make them feel good..

3. You have your mouth. With this

mouth you can say nice things to

others. Talk good. Make them feel

valued. Spread joy and positivity.

4. You have a heart. With your

loving heart you can wish

happiness to others. Make others 

feel a bundle of emotions. Touch 

their lives.

5. Last treasure that you possess is

your body. 

With this body you can do many

good things to others. Help the

people who need. Help is not

money.

No person in this world has ever

been rewarded for what he has

received,

He is always Honoured for what he

has given.

Today, start the process of giving

Give a smile to a stranger,

Give a hug to a loved one,

Give some kindness to an

associate,

Give some gratitude to the 

Almighty,

Give some money to the needy,

Give some respect to your juniors,

Give some strength to your faith,

Give some power to your dreams,

No one has ever become poorer by

giving,

Give to receive,

give everyone your best to receive

the best.

Give, for the sheer joy of it,

A small caring gesture can light up

lives.

Do these simple acts of Charity

even randomly, Feel rich

abundantly and stay blessed forever.

Tailpiece.

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

Selvam came for pressing our clothes followed by Bijeesh, who got the parallel telephone line going.

The maid, too, had come for work at the right time.

A quiet evening with rain!