Category Archives: Uncategorized

Last night informed ‘Lady of the House’ (LOH plagiarised curtsy Col CL Proudfoot) of my mission to venture out of the apartment today morning! She was aghast! Her looks pierced through me as if asking, “Old man! Who do you think you are?” “What makes you think you can cross the ‘Laxman Rekha’ laid downContinue reading “I stepped out of the apartment……”

Years ago, read a poem by Sahir Ludhianvi, ‘Yeh Kiska Lahu Hai Kaun Mara’. He had penned it in 1946 to honour the Sailors who participated and some of whom were killed in the Naval uprising against the British. The tone and fervor were patriotic. The poet both questioned and served an ultimatum to theContinue reading “‘Ai Rahabar Mulk-o-qaum Bata, Yeh Kiska Lahu Hai Kaun Mara!’”

There have been a few incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China that had potential of escalation and spiraling out of control. However, these were successfully diffused by a combination of skillful diplomacy, ‘show of force’ and political statesmanship. Noteworthy among these was the Somdurong Chu incident, sometimes called theContinue reading “Super Humans………every one of them!!”

They come from all parts of India, speak different languages, practice different religions, have dissimilar cultural imprint, distinctive eating habits and with lots of baggage of influence of their environment! And yet, when they become a part of Indian Army, they all become ‘just soldiers!’ Training changes their orientation – makes them focussed to accomplishContinue reading “A World of Words!!??”

Kupwara was a sleepy small town or better called a hamlet in late 70s with little population and practically no facilities. The only land marks were Sheer Bhavani Temple, local Gurudwara and Mosque. The town had sizable Hindus and Sikhs living in complete harmony with Muslims. Our Battalion was located approximately a Kilometer or soContinue reading “Heroes all….”

Our battalion was located at Amritsar- a peace station. The peace tenures are for recouping after a difficult tenure in high mountains, insurgency or line of control, reshaping and honing skills to meet any future eventuality and giving time to troops to spend time with their families. Senior commanders visit Units to see for themselvesContinue reading “Code Olive Green…”

Once, during my time as Commander of an Infantry Brigade operating close the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir we experienced particularly hostile weather for days. After a particularly stormy night and freezing temperatures, I ventured out to spend time with troops. At one company base, the Commanding Officer of the Unit introduced meContinue reading “We before I….”

This story is all about courage, selflessness, reliability and clarity of thought in an ambiguous and volatile situation! We were operating as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. My Company was deployed in midst of Vavuniya Jungles. Leave parties came in and went out using bi-weekly helicopter sorties. In one suchContinue reading “‘Oath of a Soldier’”

Almost two decades ago, sitting on a post along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, a yearning to pen my thoughts made me start writing them down two to three times a week under the heading ‘State of My nation’. One got hold of a few bits of paper and started my firstContinue reading “First Post”

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click theContinue reading “Introduce Yourself (Example Post)”