The Other Side

One of my friends, who is an officer in the Indian Army, recently posted this article on Facebook. It has been written by one of his close friends.

The officer to men ratio in the Indian Army is approximately 1 is to 160. However during the Kargil conflict the ratio of the casualties was 1 is to 10. These are not mere statistics but speak volumes of the quality of the officer cadre that led their men-from the front. Leading from the front requires raw courage, undying zeal and relentless enthusiasm. How do these boys, no more than 23 years old, an age when their counterparts in the civil society have not even figured out what they want to do in life, are able to muster such a strong sense of purpose as to lead men into fire? This comes from the rigorous training that they are made to go through, toughening the mind, body and spirit. An aggressive spirit is ingrained in them that makes these men to lay down their lives for the cause of a forgetful and ungrateful nation.

The case in question is the recent unfortunate turn events took in Pune resulting in confrontation between the Defence Forces, egged on and catalysed by the media. The aim is not to discuss the events but to give an insight into their cause. Owing to operational and security reasons the defense forces are generally shrouded in a cloud of mystery evoking curiosity and speculations. This not only provides the media with a sea of unexplored opportunity to dig their nose into any issue concerning the Armed forces but also places on them the responsibility to exercise discretion in the publication of any such issue. Care should be taken to ensure that the media’s role does not jeopardize the security of personnel or information and most importantly tarnish the image of the Forces. A country’s Defense Forces symbolize not only its strength but also the character of the nation. A blow served to the image of the Defense Forces not only lowers the morale of the force but also the faith of the common man in them, the biggest boost for the morale of any soldier.

No denying the fact that the course taken by the Army officers in this case was not the best one, neither the wisest. But a careful analysis of the facts will reveal that the belligerents were all young officers in their early twenties. When these officers initially introduced themselves as ‘Army Officers’ all it implied was that they deserved to be treated in a dignified manner, they really were not asking for too much. These men spend months and years of their lives in god forsaken places guarding our frontiers or training- totally aloof from civilization, the only communication to the outside world being occasional letters from near and dear ones. So when a person declares himself as an ‘Army personnel’ it does not mean that he considers himself above rule of law, it only means-

- I have been living far away from civilization in a place you could hardly spot on a map for months so that you can stand here without fear, grant me that respect.
- Expect me not be conversant with the changes that have taken place recently or new signboards that you may have put.
- I have no permanent home and neither does my family and every some years it’s a new town or city I’ve to call home.
- I will someday put my life in peril for you and all my countrymen, expecting nothing but respect and gratitude in return.
- I put my life so often in peril that I know no fear (often misinterpreted as arrogance).

These young men lacked thoughtfulness, agreed, and with some provocation got aggressive. But remember here that these men are trained to be such. A seasoned and reasoning man lacks the spontaneity to jump in the way of fire without heeding for personal safety for no personal gain of his own. It is these young men with this aggression who led the Indian Army to historic victories - for God’s sake, they are not criminals. A matured handling of these officers by the police and subsequent handling of the issue by the media could have averted tarnishing the image of the Armed Forces in the eyes of a gossip happy nation.

-Akhilesh

I have seen an Army officer's life as closely as possible - as a daughter. My father has served in the Indian Army for 20+ years. I know all sides of it - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Yes, there are officers out there who think they are "above the law" and call all non-army folks "bloody civilians". But aren't there a lot of other non-Army folks out there who are equally arrogant? Don't political party workers treat everyone like that all the time? What gives *them* the authority to do that? And I don't see the media making a big deal out of all these other things (unless of course, the competing party is paying them to do that... ).

There are weirdos in every sect, community, group. Let's not judge a whole community by some of its people who did not act according to expectations. And let's never forget that there is a free media in this country because the people whom it is pinning up as "Arrogant" and "Violent" are the ones who are protecting its rights to function.

Moving pictures

"Questions show the mind's range, and answers, its subtlety" ~ Joseph Joubert

These words came to life for me when I (finally!) watched "Harishchandrachi Factory" yesterday. What a beautifully crafted movie - so moving, and yet absolutely no trace of melodrama. Proof of the fact that one need not have slapstick comedy to induce laughter or shedding glycerine tears to induce empathy or emotion ...

Indeed, the mind is such a wonderful thing.. But what's more wonderful is to see that there are minds that are capable of making a direct connection to others, simply using (as Dadasaheb would have said) "halti chitra" (meaning, moving pictures).. There truly could not have been a better tribute to the great mind who started what later became the largest movie industry in the world !!

Needless to say, the pun "moving" in the title is intended.. :)

Tolerant != Timid

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle

It amazes me to find many *uneducated* people around! (Shall I just call them pig-headed, or would that be unfair to pigs?) I can totally understand having strong opinions, but how is that synonymous with believing that any other opinion is crap?!

I love music and arts, but do I think that anyone who is does not have an inclination to these creative expressions is useless or wasting their life? No, I don't. So it puzzles me to no end when people assume that the absence of interest for *their* passion in another person's life makes that person a pathetic, non-motivated soul without purpose.

Oh, and I did follow Aristotle's principle and the entertained the thought of being pig-headed (sorry PETA!), and I chose not accept it. Opinionated? No, because I gave the other thought a chance, but it did not win !!

Flight of Fancy

Highway in the Sky

The clouds make shapes
In the vast blue sky
A dog there, maybe a boat
... They always seem so high

But today, it is different
As all art falls shy
It is a grand masterpiece -
A highway, in the sky

Colors of twilight's shadows
Vivid, bold, defiant
The sun, melting down
Shining, bright, silent

Over that endless road
My thoughts soar high
They're taking a leap
From the highway in the sky.

Noise Filter

"Man can believe the impossible, but can never believe the improbable"
~ Oscar Wilde

Sometimes, it just takes one small doubt to turn you into an incurable skeptic..

Don't beware of all doubts because doubts help you learn and be sane - just beware of the ones which stop you from unlearning !!!

Point Blank

"It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations"
~ Kahlil Gibran

The next time you doubt a bond because it's too new, or trust another because it's pretty old, think again..

Apart

"I miss you when something really good happens, because you are the one I want to share it with. I miss you when something is troubling me, because you are the one who understands me so well. I miss you when I laugh and cry because i know that you are the one that makes my laughter grow and my tears disappear. I miss you all the time, but I miss you most when I lay awake at night and think of all the wonderful times we spent with each other; for those are some of the best times of my life."

I am waiting for all the many more good times to come.. So be it !!

Entangled

The beautiful piece of poetry below makes me wonder how strange it is that a society that worships Radha-Krishna as gods, and celebrates their togetherness as an epitome of love, does not approve of similar togetherness in mortals. Maybe because they don't trust that the same level of sublimity and dignity will be maintained. Or maybe because they don't want to take the risk of giving mortals the chance to compete with Gods :)

Unlicensed Love

On a summer's day long, long ago
I fell in love and I'll never know
Just what it was that made me feel
So drawn to her, what the appeal
That set my pulses so to race
When e'er I gazed upon that face
Of one who was scarce but a child
Yet even then could drive me wild
I'll never know the how's and why's
I lost my heart to Hazel Eyes
But when I got that long sought kiss
I knew I'd found my Perfect Miss
My elfin girl from down the lane
And I'll never let her go again

For how could I describe our love?
Romantic love, all hearts and flowers
No way to count the days and hours
Spent in self-indulgent wishes
And thoughts of long awaited kisses
Of sweet embraces, tender sighs
And gazing into love filled eyes
Oh yes, it is that kind of love

Or, is it yet the love of passion
The ecstasy that knows no ration
That shuddering nerve-tingling feeling
The climax with your senses reeling
The wondrous joy when you discover
That sweet surrender to your lover
Oh yes, it's that kind of love too.

Or even yet a love that grows
One that cares and one that knows
That sees beyond the outer skin
Into the person deep within
That loves the spirit and the soul
The inner self that makes the whole
Built on trust and empathy
A love you know was meant to be

The love we share is all these things
A love that has no need of rings
A love you never need to doubt
A love I cannot live without
A love to last us all our days
A love I'll share with you always

~ Jim Sharman

I first read this poem five years ago, and at that time, I thought I understood what it was saying. I put it up on my hostel room wall as an inspiration that I woke up to everyday. Then one day, it stopped making any sense, and I took it down. A few days back, it came back to me as suddenly as it went away.

I don't think it's going down now. Because this time around, it has come up on its own. Yes, it will stay.