An ode to a Soldier
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat under the banyan tree,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Thapa has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Singhs and Thapas and Nairs
Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple line
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY"
Contributed by my buddy, a blooded soldier - Sanjay Mani Pradhan
24 January, 2011
06 May, 2010
KASAB - beyond religion, nationality and the death sentence
I love my parents; if mom sneezes, I run to see what is bothering her; just as she did every time I needed anything when I was a kid.
“What’s so great about that? Isn’t everyone like that for their parents and their near and dear ones?” If that is the thought you have then I have to agree with you. You are right, it is completely normal, we all love and care for our near and dear ones. That’s how it is supposed to be.
Now imagine the person you love most in your life being terrorised, hunted down and killed like a hapless beast by a few strangers with a swagger for nothing he or she did. Don’t just imagine it, visualize it...please.
That’s exactly what Ajmal Kasab and his associates did on 26th November. They walked into our lives, hunted down and murdered helpless people. Hard working people who were heading home to their families. Lives were destroyed, generations have been affected, healthy people lost their limbs. Kasab and friends killed people they had never met or known and they laughed and chatted with each other while doing it.
Pity, remorse, regret? Sense of responsibility? These are words barbarians like Kasab don’t understand.
To quote Ranjan Roy’s blog “If you were living on Arthur Road in Mumbai, you'd like to wake up in the morning, sip tea in the veranda as you pore over the morning papers. That's what Ajmal Kasab, the newest celebrity resident of Arthur Road, albeit its jail, wants to do. He has also demanded perfume to clear the air around him and wants back the money that his Pakistani terror trainers had packed into his rucksack before they sent him off on a murderous sail to Mumbai.”
(http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/crosslines/entry/kasab-trial-or-circus1)
Death sentence for Ajmal Kasab is a foregone conclusion, it’s a no brainer!
Gargoyles like him have no religion or country or purpose. they thrive on fear and weakness. to him and his kind, civilisation and law are weaknesses so please don’t just kill him, work his sentence in stages. Here are some humble suggestions:
1. Castrate the bastard
2. Hang him naked in full public view outside Chartrapati Shivaji Terminus
3. Let pigs feed on him (Hannibal style)
4. Let him feed on human excreta
5. Sodomize him 9 times a day
Keeping his likes in mind, I further recommend that all of the above should be shown live on reality TV or web only for his satisfaction. We all know how much he loves publicity, we can even have an electric prod handy to keep reminding him to smile for the cameras. He would love that, after all we know how much he loves attention and playing games for publicity.
As far as his death sentence is concerned, I hope it’s not by electric chair because my country has a power shortage. Why waste what little there is on him? The next option would be gas chamber but then that’s just an accelerated form of living in any one of our polluted cities.
His death sentence should be by hanging from a handmade jute or Khadi rope. Making that rope would generate employment here and it would symbolise the power of our small-scale industry, it would also promote Swadeshi. Lastly, hanging Kasab to death by hanging on a jute or khadi rope will also send a message to other worms like Kasab that their violent ways will end will at the hands of the most non-violent people in the world...followers of our beloved Mahatma Gandhi ;)
“What’s so great about that? Isn’t everyone like that for their parents and their near and dear ones?” If that is the thought you have then I have to agree with you. You are right, it is completely normal, we all love and care for our near and dear ones. That’s how it is supposed to be.
Now imagine the person you love most in your life being terrorised, hunted down and killed like a hapless beast by a few strangers with a swagger for nothing he or she did. Don’t just imagine it, visualize it...please.
That’s exactly what Ajmal Kasab and his associates did on 26th November. They walked into our lives, hunted down and murdered helpless people. Hard working people who were heading home to their families. Lives were destroyed, generations have been affected, healthy people lost their limbs. Kasab and friends killed people they had never met or known and they laughed and chatted with each other while doing it.
Pity, remorse, regret? Sense of responsibility? These are words barbarians like Kasab don’t understand.
To quote Ranjan Roy’s blog “If you were living on Arthur Road in Mumbai, you'd like to wake up in the morning, sip tea in the veranda as you pore over the morning papers. That's what Ajmal Kasab, the newest celebrity resident of Arthur Road, albeit its jail, wants to do. He has also demanded perfume to clear the air around him and wants back the money that his Pakistani terror trainers had packed into his rucksack before they sent him off on a murderous sail to Mumbai.”
(http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/crosslines/entry/kasab-trial-or-circus1)
Death sentence for Ajmal Kasab is a foregone conclusion, it’s a no brainer!
Gargoyles like him have no religion or country or purpose. they thrive on fear and weakness. to him and his kind, civilisation and law are weaknesses so please don’t just kill him, work his sentence in stages. Here are some humble suggestions:
1. Castrate the bastard
2. Hang him naked in full public view outside Chartrapati Shivaji Terminus
3. Let pigs feed on him (Hannibal style)
4. Let him feed on human excreta
5. Sodomize him 9 times a day
Keeping his likes in mind, I further recommend that all of the above should be shown live on reality TV or web only for his satisfaction. We all know how much he loves publicity, we can even have an electric prod handy to keep reminding him to smile for the cameras. He would love that, after all we know how much he loves attention and playing games for publicity.
As far as his death sentence is concerned, I hope it’s not by electric chair because my country has a power shortage. Why waste what little there is on him? The next option would be gas chamber but then that’s just an accelerated form of living in any one of our polluted cities.
His death sentence should be by hanging from a handmade jute or Khadi rope. Making that rope would generate employment here and it would symbolise the power of our small-scale industry, it would also promote Swadeshi. Lastly, hanging Kasab to death by hanging on a jute or khadi rope will also send a message to other worms like Kasab that their violent ways will end will at the hands of the most non-violent people in the world...followers of our beloved Mahatma Gandhi ;)
30 April, 2010
Review of Housefull
I have a friend named Sonia, known her for a few years now. She's a certified nut case but as brilliant as can be. I guess thats because genius is normally accompanied by a streak of eccentricity.
I havent yet seen Housefull but she has and she reviewed it too. I think the review really is worth reading. So here it is completely uncensored...no edits no cuts. read on :)
Review of HOUSEFULL--
as expected--another 60crore crap from sajid nadiadwala and akshay kumar--after kambakht ishq!!!stupid,crass,senseless,done to death jokes,and awful stereotypes and caricatures of gays,gujaratis,punjabis,black people!!!juvenile humor!!
we r still supposed to laugh at boman thinking ritesh and akshay r gay!!and akshay doing break dance after being electrocuted!!and sensible directors dont get even 2 crore funding from these producers who dont mind spending millionns on chandni chowk to china,veer,blue and now ,another dud,housefull!!!
am aghast at this mindless spending on shit cinema!!!
rating---5/10!!
Sonia Singh
I havent yet seen Housefull but she has and she reviewed it too. I think the review really is worth reading. So here it is completely uncensored...no edits no cuts. read on :)
Review of HOUSEFULL--
as expected--another 60crore crap from sajid nadiadwala and akshay kumar--after kambakht ishq!!!stupid,crass,senseless,done to death jokes,and awful stereotypes and caricatures of gays,gujaratis,punjabis,black people!!!juvenile humor!!
we r still supposed to laugh at boman thinking ritesh and akshay r gay!!and akshay doing break dance after being electrocuted!!and sensible directors dont get even 2 crore funding from these producers who dont mind spending millionns on chandni chowk to china,veer,blue and now ,another dud,housefull!!!
am aghast at this mindless spending on shit cinema!!!
rating---5/10!!
Sonia Singh
29 March, 2010
Rancho versus Riz
Rancho (Phunsuk Wangdu – Aamir Khan’s character in 3 idiots) versus Riz (Rizwan Khan – Shahrukh Khan’s character in My Name is Khan)
Both are extremely popular lead characters and both have lead their films to create box office legend. However, both are complete opposites of each other.
Rancho is self-assured, intelligent, confident and mature beyond his years. Riz is disadvantaged and challenged in several ways and yet is confident enough to hold his own regardless of who he is up against.
Rancho oozes charm and can sometimes be a smug brat while Riz endears with his haplessness. His stubbornness and unpredictability land him trouble regularly.
What is it about each one that appeals to you and why?
What is it about each one that puts you off and why?
17 February, 2010
MESSAGE FOR THE SENAS OF OUR WORLD - Part 1
My grandfather, Shri Sankara Pillai was a rich land lord whose property spread across many fields in the South of India right upto Kanya Kumari. But he was also reputed lawyer and freedom fighter, his proficiency with the law made him an asset to every Nationalist of that time. India’s finest (including Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru among many others) often sought his advice before taking giant steps. The fact that he was rich, highly educated, razor sharp, fearless and committed to the cause of freedom made him a thorn on the British side because unlike most Indians of those days, he knew the law and used this knowledge aggressively for his compatriots in their struggle for freedom.
The British authorities in turn regularly raided our ancestral home and confiscated, destroyed and damaged everything they could (harassment and pressure was one of their most popular tactics). They ripped mattresses, broke walls, tore through fertile fields destroying crops. They man handled every member of our family and anyone even close to the family. Shri Sanakar Pillai, members of the family, relatives and neighbours were often dragged off to prison where they were beaten mercilessly and tortured for no crime at all. Besides this, they burnt and shredded any documentation they could get their hands on including property papers. In a few years, our farms and lands that once spanned many, many acres shrunk to virtually nothing. Our ancestral home, once a sprawling 26-room mansion looked like it had been hit by several tornados at once. Harassment and pressure was one of their most popular tactics.
Shri Sankara Pillai’s resolve and iron will was supported and yet surpassed only by his wife, Appiama Bhargavi Amma. She was his backbone. In those years of turmoil and chaos, they somehow managed to maintain a balance between passion for their country’s freedom and their personal life. Together they raised eight wonderful children (four boys and four girls). While Shri Sankara Pillai continued to work towards procuring freedom for his country, his wife Bhargavi Amma took care of their eight children, ran an orphanage, a temple and toiled towards educating uplifting women. This was during the early 19th century. Long, long before the West started bra burning and other allied causes for women’s rights.
They proudly hoisted and fluttered an Indian flag outside their home every single day regardless of the consequences. On one occasion, when Shri Sankara Pillai was carted off to jail on some flimsy pretext, the British Brigadier (Simpson) in charge of that area decided to bring down the flag. He gave a 24-hour notice to the Indians in his area to remove all such local flags or face dire consequences. Since Shri Sankara Pillai was in jail, the onus now fell on Bhargavi Amma.
Residents of the village ran to her to warn her and help her bring down the flag. Without batting an eyelid, she flatly refused went about her business of the day. The village folk then went to the local jail where her husband, (my grandfather) Shri Sankara Pillai was lodged. On hearing the entire story, he said that since he was in jail and she was now the head of the family, the decision was hers and hers alone. Whatever she decided, he would stand by her.
The clock was ticking and the villagers knew what would happen to their beloved Bhargavi Amma and her eight adorable children if the flag was not pulled down before that dreaded Brigadier Simpson reached the spot. They ran back to her and pleaded with her to bring down the flag. They tried to reason with her for the sake of her eight children if not anything else. An ever smiling and perpetually pleasant Bhargavi Amma simply refused and stood her ground in the politest, plainest yet most assertive way possible.
Strangely, their nerve-racking fear of the British crackdown was over powered by their love for their beloved Bhargavi Amma and her children. Knowing that they could not get her to change her mind, they decided to stand by her. One by one village folk came together and quietly camped outside our ancestral home. They decided that if anything had to happen to her it would have to happen to them first. As the news spread, the number of villagers outside our home kept multiplying in geometric progression! By early next morning our home was surrounded by thousands of villagers not only from our own sleepy little hamlet but from all over the state!!
By 12 noon that day, Brigadier Simpson suddenly decided that he needed to attend some other pressing matters in his area and therefore ‘postponed’ his order regarding Indian flags indefinitely.
What a victory it was, unarmed, under nourished, untrained and unorganized villagers stood their ground against a trained, well fed, well equipped and organized army and that too without any violence!!! No press, no 24/7 news coverage, no high stakes, no speeches. Conviction, faith, love and affection versus lust for power.
My dear readers, this entire episode may ring a bell, in that you may find a few similarities between this incident and one that happened recently here over the release of a film.
Does this story end here? No it does not!!
The British army issued shoot at sight orders against all eight of Shri Sankara Pillai’s children. To know what happened, do look out for part 2 of this very true series.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, I have served the Indian army with dignity and honour in battlefields in far-flung corners of our proud nation and still help wherever possible. I love Mumbai, I love Delhi, I love Kerala, I love Kolkata, I love every inch of my motherland and uphold the rights that our constitution has given us: My name is Captain Vinod Nair.
The British authorities in turn regularly raided our ancestral home and confiscated, destroyed and damaged everything they could (harassment and pressure was one of their most popular tactics). They ripped mattresses, broke walls, tore through fertile fields destroying crops. They man handled every member of our family and anyone even close to the family. Shri Sanakar Pillai, members of the family, relatives and neighbours were often dragged off to prison where they were beaten mercilessly and tortured for no crime at all. Besides this, they burnt and shredded any documentation they could get their hands on including property papers. In a few years, our farms and lands that once spanned many, many acres shrunk to virtually nothing. Our ancestral home, once a sprawling 26-room mansion looked like it had been hit by several tornados at once. Harassment and pressure was one of their most popular tactics.
Shri Sankara Pillai’s resolve and iron will was supported and yet surpassed only by his wife, Appiama Bhargavi Amma. She was his backbone. In those years of turmoil and chaos, they somehow managed to maintain a balance between passion for their country’s freedom and their personal life. Together they raised eight wonderful children (four boys and four girls). While Shri Sankara Pillai continued to work towards procuring freedom for his country, his wife Bhargavi Amma took care of their eight children, ran an orphanage, a temple and toiled towards educating uplifting women. This was during the early 19th century. Long, long before the West started bra burning and other allied causes for women’s rights.
They proudly hoisted and fluttered an Indian flag outside their home every single day regardless of the consequences. On one occasion, when Shri Sankara Pillai was carted off to jail on some flimsy pretext, the British Brigadier (Simpson) in charge of that area decided to bring down the flag. He gave a 24-hour notice to the Indians in his area to remove all such local flags or face dire consequences. Since Shri Sankara Pillai was in jail, the onus now fell on Bhargavi Amma.
Residents of the village ran to her to warn her and help her bring down the flag. Without batting an eyelid, she flatly refused went about her business of the day. The village folk then went to the local jail where her husband, (my grandfather) Shri Sankara Pillai was lodged. On hearing the entire story, he said that since he was in jail and she was now the head of the family, the decision was hers and hers alone. Whatever she decided, he would stand by her.
The clock was ticking and the villagers knew what would happen to their beloved Bhargavi Amma and her eight adorable children if the flag was not pulled down before that dreaded Brigadier Simpson reached the spot. They ran back to her and pleaded with her to bring down the flag. They tried to reason with her for the sake of her eight children if not anything else. An ever smiling and perpetually pleasant Bhargavi Amma simply refused and stood her ground in the politest, plainest yet most assertive way possible.
Strangely, their nerve-racking fear of the British crackdown was over powered by their love for their beloved Bhargavi Amma and her children. Knowing that they could not get her to change her mind, they decided to stand by her. One by one village folk came together and quietly camped outside our ancestral home. They decided that if anything had to happen to her it would have to happen to them first. As the news spread, the number of villagers outside our home kept multiplying in geometric progression! By early next morning our home was surrounded by thousands of villagers not only from our own sleepy little hamlet but from all over the state!!
By 12 noon that day, Brigadier Simpson suddenly decided that he needed to attend some other pressing matters in his area and therefore ‘postponed’ his order regarding Indian flags indefinitely.
What a victory it was, unarmed, under nourished, untrained and unorganized villagers stood their ground against a trained, well fed, well equipped and organized army and that too without any violence!!! No press, no 24/7 news coverage, no high stakes, no speeches. Conviction, faith, love and affection versus lust for power.
My dear readers, this entire episode may ring a bell, in that you may find a few similarities between this incident and one that happened recently here over the release of a film.
Does this story end here? No it does not!!
The British army issued shoot at sight orders against all eight of Shri Sankara Pillai’s children. To know what happened, do look out for part 2 of this very true series.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, I have served the Indian army with dignity and honour in battlefields in far-flung corners of our proud nation and still help wherever possible. I love Mumbai, I love Delhi, I love Kerala, I love Kolkata, I love every inch of my motherland and uphold the rights that our constitution has given us: My name is Captain Vinod Nair.
27 August, 2009
DADDY COOL - REVIEW
Daddy Cool
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Behind the camera:
It’s an Inder Kumar film, the person who was responsible for Dhamaal, Ishq, Pyare Mohan, Masti, Rishtey, Mann, Raja, Beta & Dil.
In front of the camera:
Tulip Joshi, Kim Sharma, Aarti Chabria, Sophey Choudhary, Suneil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Ashish Chowdhary, Javed Jaffry, Chunkey Pandey, Prem Chopra & Rajpal Yadav among others.
This is clearly a comedy film.
While the film is supposed to be about a family coming together at their Patriarch’s funeral, it is actually about letting the wizards of comedy loose in a house and then capturing the madness that follows. The result is a faced paced, witty film that has you laughing so hard you need to gasp for air.
A better cast couldn’t be put together for this film. Suneil Shetty is at his best as a controlled elder brother. That doesn’t stop him from dominating and swiping some of the funniest scenes in the film. Ashish Choudhary, Chunkey Pandey and Rajpal Yadav deliver performances that are fantastic. Javed Jaffry, Prem Chopra and Aftab Shivdasani outdo themselves. Their comic timing and brilliance is unmatched by any of their previous performances.
The film has you laughing loudly from the very beginning. The toilet scene between Javed Jaffry and Prem Chopra rates as my personal favorite. A friend of mine (very well known in the film fraternity) was sipping her drink when she uncontrollably sprayed it on the poor people in front of her. No one seemed to mind because everyone in the entire theatre was too busy howling with laughter to notice!
The lady brigade kept pace all along, Sophie Choudhary shines in her very limited role. Kim Sharma pairs up excellently as the doubting Thomas who watches her husbands’ every move. Aarti Chabria’s character is probably the only unfunny one in the entire film.
The real surprise package is Tulip Joshi. Known for being presented in a surreal manner as a timeless, ethereal beauty in her previous hits like Mere Yaar ki Shaadi Hai, Dhoka & Jag Jeode de mele, one wonders what she’s doing in a madcap film like this. Once again (as she did with Matrabhoomi), she stuns with her performance. She reveals a side not known before. While we may debate whether this is a Suneil Shetty or and Aftab Shivdasani film, from among the ladies it is unarguably a Tulip Joshi film. Her stellar performance easily steals the show.
All said and done, Daddy Cool gets a double Thumbs up and a 4 star rating from me. While Tulip Joshi, Suneil Shetty, Javed Jaffry and Aftab have the audience rolling with laughter, the real winner laughing all the way to the bank is the master mind Mr. Inder Kumar. Kudos to him for being able to keep pace with the audience dynamics and deliver hit after hit for decades in a row.
Thank you and cheers to you Mr. Inder Kumar, we love laughing with you!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Behind the camera:
It’s an Inder Kumar film, the person who was responsible for Dhamaal, Ishq, Pyare Mohan, Masti, Rishtey, Mann, Raja, Beta & Dil.
In front of the camera:
Tulip Joshi, Kim Sharma, Aarti Chabria, Sophey Choudhary, Suneil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Ashish Chowdhary, Javed Jaffry, Chunkey Pandey, Prem Chopra & Rajpal Yadav among others.
This is clearly a comedy film.
While the film is supposed to be about a family coming together at their Patriarch’s funeral, it is actually about letting the wizards of comedy loose in a house and then capturing the madness that follows. The result is a faced paced, witty film that has you laughing so hard you need to gasp for air.
A better cast couldn’t be put together for this film. Suneil Shetty is at his best as a controlled elder brother. That doesn’t stop him from dominating and swiping some of the funniest scenes in the film. Ashish Choudhary, Chunkey Pandey and Rajpal Yadav deliver performances that are fantastic. Javed Jaffry, Prem Chopra and Aftab Shivdasani outdo themselves. Their comic timing and brilliance is unmatched by any of their previous performances.
The film has you laughing loudly from the very beginning. The toilet scene between Javed Jaffry and Prem Chopra rates as my personal favorite. A friend of mine (very well known in the film fraternity) was sipping her drink when she uncontrollably sprayed it on the poor people in front of her. No one seemed to mind because everyone in the entire theatre was too busy howling with laughter to notice!
The lady brigade kept pace all along, Sophie Choudhary shines in her very limited role. Kim Sharma pairs up excellently as the doubting Thomas who watches her husbands’ every move. Aarti Chabria’s character is probably the only unfunny one in the entire film.
The real surprise package is Tulip Joshi. Known for being presented in a surreal manner as a timeless, ethereal beauty in her previous hits like Mere Yaar ki Shaadi Hai, Dhoka & Jag Jeode de mele, one wonders what she’s doing in a madcap film like this. Once again (as she did with Matrabhoomi), she stuns with her performance. She reveals a side not known before. While we may debate whether this is a Suneil Shetty or and Aftab Shivdasani film, from among the ladies it is unarguably a Tulip Joshi film. Her stellar performance easily steals the show.
All said and done, Daddy Cool gets a double Thumbs up and a 4 star rating from me. While Tulip Joshi, Suneil Shetty, Javed Jaffry and Aftab have the audience rolling with laughter, the real winner laughing all the way to the bank is the master mind Mr. Inder Kumar. Kudos to him for being able to keep pace with the audience dynamics and deliver hit after hit for decades in a row.
Thank you and cheers to you Mr. Inder Kumar, we love laughing with you!
17 July, 2009
BIG FAT CRY BABY
BIG FAT CRY BABY
India & Pakistan love dancing with each other.
The two have been dancing this dance ever since they came into being as independent nations. Switch on the news and you’ll know what I am talking about. The headlines scream the usual lines line “Pak backtracks on its word”, “Zardari under pressure”, “Pakistan’s lies exposed in international forum”, etc.
This article is not about who is right or who is wrong. This article is a manifestation of the frustration and exasperation of any intelligent and educated Indian at being led by a team with no will to ever take a stand on any issue.
India in the international scene behaves like a helpless baby. Let me state my case with a few points:
1. Whenever there is a terror attack, India goes on hyper drive to prove that Pakistan was involved.
2. Whenever the US sanctions weapons or aid to Pakistan, India goes ape all over again.
3. Whenever terrorists are caught crossing the border, India goes ballistic.
4. When our PM recently confronted Zardari at a meet about terrorism, the news played it till every viewer puked out of sheer overdose.
5. After the infamous 26/11, Pakistan has brilliantly played ball with every accusation we’ve made and ‘pooh-pooh-ed’ our videos, facts and dossiers with the ease of dusting lint off an old suit.
My list could go on but does it need to?
Here are some thoughts that come to my mind:
1. If India is convinced about Pakistan’s guilt, what are we doing about it (other than pointing fingers)?
2. If our borders are porous, what are we doing about it?
3. How much responsibility do we take for ourselves?
4. Why is our relationship with the US tied with their relationship with Pakistan or anyone? Let the US supply and support whoever they like. Our equation has to be free of this baggage. What stops us from building relations independent of others?
We need to take concrete pro active steps to protect ourselves and anything that we value. The US is a case in point, it is probably the first on every terror groups’ hit list. In a country where guns are freely available, there hasn’t been a single terror attack since 2001. Wow, they must be doing something right!
Besides bawling before the UN, US, SAARC, G8, Common wealth and anyone else who pretends to listen, what really are we doing? Even when the world collapses and death is in the air (for example the recent atrocities on Tamils in Lanka or the attack on Indians in Australia), the toughest line I’ve ever seen us take is when our spokesperson makes a serious poker face and says “India is watching the situation very closely.”
We’ve seen North Korea, Australia, US, Israel, Pakistan, UK, France and so many other nations do what they feel is right regardless of consequences. Once convinced on any issue they all follow it up with action. Does it mean that we believe in nothing? Is it a desperate need for international popularity and a pat on the head saying “good child”? We love to be the big cry baby who keeps complaining but does nothing!
When will we take responsibility for ourselves? Learn some ownership? Let’s stop pointing fingers outside and do something about it instead. Let’s just grow up it really is about time!!
Captain Vinod Nair
India & Pakistan love dancing with each other.
The two have been dancing this dance ever since they came into being as independent nations. Switch on the news and you’ll know what I am talking about. The headlines scream the usual lines line “Pak backtracks on its word”, “Zardari under pressure”, “Pakistan’s lies exposed in international forum”, etc.
This article is not about who is right or who is wrong. This article is a manifestation of the frustration and exasperation of any intelligent and educated Indian at being led by a team with no will to ever take a stand on any issue.
India in the international scene behaves like a helpless baby. Let me state my case with a few points:
1. Whenever there is a terror attack, India goes on hyper drive to prove that Pakistan was involved.
2. Whenever the US sanctions weapons or aid to Pakistan, India goes ape all over again.
3. Whenever terrorists are caught crossing the border, India goes ballistic.
4. When our PM recently confronted Zardari at a meet about terrorism, the news played it till every viewer puked out of sheer overdose.
5. After the infamous 26/11, Pakistan has brilliantly played ball with every accusation we’ve made and ‘pooh-pooh-ed’ our videos, facts and dossiers with the ease of dusting lint off an old suit.
My list could go on but does it need to?
Here are some thoughts that come to my mind:
1. If India is convinced about Pakistan’s guilt, what are we doing about it (other than pointing fingers)?
2. If our borders are porous, what are we doing about it?
3. How much responsibility do we take for ourselves?
4. Why is our relationship with the US tied with their relationship with Pakistan or anyone? Let the US supply and support whoever they like. Our equation has to be free of this baggage. What stops us from building relations independent of others?
We need to take concrete pro active steps to protect ourselves and anything that we value. The US is a case in point, it is probably the first on every terror groups’ hit list. In a country where guns are freely available, there hasn’t been a single terror attack since 2001. Wow, they must be doing something right!
Besides bawling before the UN, US, SAARC, G8, Common wealth and anyone else who pretends to listen, what really are we doing? Even when the world collapses and death is in the air (for example the recent atrocities on Tamils in Lanka or the attack on Indians in Australia), the toughest line I’ve ever seen us take is when our spokesperson makes a serious poker face and says “India is watching the situation very closely.”
We’ve seen North Korea, Australia, US, Israel, Pakistan, UK, France and so many other nations do what they feel is right regardless of consequences. Once convinced on any issue they all follow it up with action. Does it mean that we believe in nothing? Is it a desperate need for international popularity and a pat on the head saying “good child”? We love to be the big cry baby who keeps complaining but does nothing!
When will we take responsibility for ourselves? Learn some ownership? Let’s stop pointing fingers outside and do something about it instead. Let’s just grow up it really is about time!!
Captain Vinod Nair
05 July, 2009
KAMBAKKHT ISHQ
Sylvester Stallone has always been a great source of inspiration to me. He reached out through his movies and spoke to me when I needed it most in my teen age years; he inspired and gave me hope. Riveted and wide eyed, I watched movies like shaped ‘Escape’, ‘Over the top’, the ‘Rocky’ series, the ‘Rambo’ series and many others in my formative years.
To me, Stallone was more than a movie star; he was a beacon of hope. I used to blast ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and work out at intensely at home while watching the awe inspiring training sequence in Rocky 3. Believe it or not, I lost over 20 kgs doing just that. Stallone’s philosophies motivated me no end. The 80’s for me were shaped by Stallone.
After a brief lull, he made a formidable come back with two giant hits ‘Rocky Balboa’ and ‘Rambo 4’. Firmly entrenching himself in his well deserved super star status for yet another decade.
So when the news said that an Indian Hindi film was going to feature Sylvester Stallone along with a few other Hollywood biggies, my delight knew no bounds! The icing on the cake was that the Indian star would be Akshay Kumar, a man whose fitness lifestyle I endorse readily!
Unable to make it for the pre-release trial, I went to the theatre to see the film (I owed that much to my idol Stallone). With much ado, I sank into my seat with my ice cream in hand and waited pregnant with anticipation for the film to start.
At the beginning, I sat wide eyed with raised eyebrows and a huge smile plastered across my face but with each passing frame, my eyebrows dipped a little and my wide eyes began to reduce in size. My smile began to invert. As the film progressed, I covered my battered and distorted face to save my senses from more savage punishment but the film was relentless, it bashed on regardless.
Like a well coordinated terror attack, Kambakkth Ishq attacks mercilessly from all fronts and flanks. The film knows no pity, hesitation, regret or remorse. The smarter ones left the cinema hall while a few of us foolishly braved on. When the savagery of the viewer’s senses was finally over (that is, when the film finally ended), a few of crawled out of the theatre on all fours. The rest had to be carted away before rigor mortis set in.
The time spent watching Kambakkth Ishq wasn’t wasted. It was payback to Stallone for all that he had done for me during my growing years. Today, I can finally look at Stallone in the eye (on the cover of my DVD of Rocky 3) and say “Thanks a million Sylvester for all you’ve given me but we are even now.”
So I, Captain Vinod Nair sign off here feeling relieved of baggage and ready for a good nights’ sleep. Thank you Kambakkth Ishq for helping me repay a debt that has weighed on my shoulders for over two long decades :)
Captain Vinod Nair
To me, Stallone was more than a movie star; he was a beacon of hope. I used to blast ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and work out at intensely at home while watching the awe inspiring training sequence in Rocky 3. Believe it or not, I lost over 20 kgs doing just that. Stallone’s philosophies motivated me no end. The 80’s for me were shaped by Stallone.
After a brief lull, he made a formidable come back with two giant hits ‘Rocky Balboa’ and ‘Rambo 4’. Firmly entrenching himself in his well deserved super star status for yet another decade.
So when the news said that an Indian Hindi film was going to feature Sylvester Stallone along with a few other Hollywood biggies, my delight knew no bounds! The icing on the cake was that the Indian star would be Akshay Kumar, a man whose fitness lifestyle I endorse readily!
Unable to make it for the pre-release trial, I went to the theatre to see the film (I owed that much to my idol Stallone). With much ado, I sank into my seat with my ice cream in hand and waited pregnant with anticipation for the film to start.
At the beginning, I sat wide eyed with raised eyebrows and a huge smile plastered across my face but with each passing frame, my eyebrows dipped a little and my wide eyes began to reduce in size. My smile began to invert. As the film progressed, I covered my battered and distorted face to save my senses from more savage punishment but the film was relentless, it bashed on regardless.
Like a well coordinated terror attack, Kambakkth Ishq attacks mercilessly from all fronts and flanks. The film knows no pity, hesitation, regret or remorse. The smarter ones left the cinema hall while a few of us foolishly braved on. When the savagery of the viewer’s senses was finally over (that is, when the film finally ended), a few of crawled out of the theatre on all fours. The rest had to be carted away before rigor mortis set in.
The time spent watching Kambakkth Ishq wasn’t wasted. It was payback to Stallone for all that he had done for me during my growing years. Today, I can finally look at Stallone in the eye (on the cover of my DVD of Rocky 3) and say “Thanks a million Sylvester for all you’ve given me but we are even now.”
So I, Captain Vinod Nair sign off here feeling relieved of baggage and ready for a good nights’ sleep. Thank you Kambakkth Ishq for helping me repay a debt that has weighed on my shoulders for over two long decades :)
Captain Vinod Nair
11 May, 2009
Diet for your mind
Diet for your mind
By Captain Vinod Nair
Nowadays, almost everyone I meet is health conscious! Even the biggest and most popular food brands are reshaping their offerings to be healthy. It wasn't always like this. Till recently, most people indulged their taste buds to the hilt. Having paid the price for that kind of indulgence, most of us are now careful of what goes into our system.
As important as the foods we put into our bodies, are the thoughts we put into our minds. Like foods, there are clearly thoughts to avoid and thoughts to embrace.
Here are some thoughts to avoid: Thoughts of bitterness, hatred, despair, fear, worry, doubt, greed and self-loathing. A constant diet of these killer thoughts will destroy us long before cholesterol or fat.
Thoughts to embrace would include: intelligent analysis, positivity, belief, faith, happiness, peace and fulfilment.
How we fill our minds will shape our lives. So fill your mind only with that which is healthy, and harmonious. Watch your diet, rid your mind of all that is destructive and fill it with that which is good and peaceful. That is the way of patience and courage, love and contentment, peace and kindness.
Our thoughts shape our actions so we inevitably become how and what we think. Your past thoughts have brought you where you are today.
Even as you read this, today's thoughts are shaping your tomorrow. Fill your mind with healthy and happy thoughts.
By Captain Vinod Nair
(first published by TOI's idiva)
20 April, 2009
Make a difference, excel!
It was back in 1989. Just out of my teens when life, priorities and realities were different. Amongst the millions of youth my age back then a few of us, from various parts of India had one thing in common: We chose to dedicate our lives to the nation.
We applied, got selected and survived the rigorous training of the Indian Army. (Out of the estimated 5,00,000 people who apply to join the Indian Army as officers, less than 120 are successful every year.) We were from diverse backgrounds when first met at the Officer's Training Academy in Chennai.
There we were subjected to gruelling routines, ground to dust, thrashed first out of and then into shape. Our egos weren't bruised or battered - they were simply decimated!! Through these months of madness, in rare moments of reflection, we'd wonder about our lives.
Our classmates, relatives and friends in the real world were studying, fooling around or working while we were encapsulated, far removed from commerce, business, and the real world in general.
We had given up our families, our ambitions and dedicated our lives to the nation. We became each other's family and friends.
People from the real world called us fools and dreamers. "Why do you do it?" they asked. "It's not worth it," they insisted.
Were they right? Were we just insane?
Our endless days at the academy finally ended with some of us becoming proud commissioned officers in the Indian Army. We were posted to various units across the length and breadth of the globe.
Some were landed with peace postings in exotic locales while some of us were (at the tender age of 21) plunged into bitter and gory combat where we were tested in every way a human can be tested.
Some perished over the years, some wounded and maimed for life. Few of us are civilians now, while some still serve selflessly.
This is 2009, twenty years have gone by. I now look back and ask questions that have dogged so many of us for so long: Why did we do it? Was it worth it? Were we pursuing a dream or was it just insanity?
Looking back and looking around now, I know that if I were to live this life a second time, I'd do it all over again.
The answers to my several questions lie in one four word phrase: "It was worth it."
This page is dedicated to my brothers in arms, who aren't with us today: Sameer Ul Islam, Freddie Merchant, Rajiv Laul, Chandrashekhsr, Maj Bhandarkar and many, many others.
For readers who may not know the names mentioned here, you don't need to but you must know that they were real people like you and I. They however, gave their "today" for our "tomorrow" without even being asked. How can we pay them back for such supreme sacrifice?
Make your life worthy of their sacrifices. Don't be mediocre, make a difference. Excel in everything you do.
Written by Captain Vinod Nair
First published at http://www.idiva.com/bin/idiva/BlogPage?theme=Captains%20corner
We applied, got selected and survived the rigorous training of the Indian Army. (Out of the estimated 5,00,000 people who apply to join the Indian Army as officers, less than 120 are successful every year.) We were from diverse backgrounds when first met at the Officer's Training Academy in Chennai.
There we were subjected to gruelling routines, ground to dust, thrashed first out of and then into shape. Our egos weren't bruised or battered - they were simply decimated!! Through these months of madness, in rare moments of reflection, we'd wonder about our lives.
Our classmates, relatives and friends in the real world were studying, fooling around or working while we were encapsulated, far removed from commerce, business, and the real world in general.
We had given up our families, our ambitions and dedicated our lives to the nation. We became each other's family and friends.
People from the real world called us fools and dreamers. "Why do you do it?" they asked. "It's not worth it," they insisted.
Were they right? Were we just insane?
Our endless days at the academy finally ended with some of us becoming proud commissioned officers in the Indian Army. We were posted to various units across the length and breadth of the globe.
Some were landed with peace postings in exotic locales while some of us were (at the tender age of 21) plunged into bitter and gory combat where we were tested in every way a human can be tested.
Some perished over the years, some wounded and maimed for life. Few of us are civilians now, while some still serve selflessly.
This is 2009, twenty years have gone by. I now look back and ask questions that have dogged so many of us for so long: Why did we do it? Was it worth it? Were we pursuing a dream or was it just insanity?
Looking back and looking around now, I know that if I were to live this life a second time, I'd do it all over again.
The answers to my several questions lie in one four word phrase: "It was worth it."
This page is dedicated to my brothers in arms, who aren't with us today: Sameer Ul Islam, Freddie Merchant, Rajiv Laul, Chandrashekhsr, Maj Bhandarkar and many, many others.
For readers who may not know the names mentioned here, you don't need to but you must know that they were real people like you and I. They however, gave their "today" for our "tomorrow" without even being asked. How can we pay them back for such supreme sacrifice?
Make your life worthy of their sacrifices. Don't be mediocre, make a difference. Excel in everything you do.
Written by Captain Vinod Nair
First published at http://www.idiva.com/bin/idiva/BlogPage?theme=Captains%20corner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)