REPUBLIC WHITHERING ?

*WHITHERING REPUBLIC*

Army, the last bastion of the republic is crumbling. Termites have eaten away the foundation. The decay had started long ago when FM Cariappa took over as first indian C-in-C. He agreed to reduce salaries of officers but not of KCIOS who had graduated from Sandhurst, only of ICOs from IMA. He was unceremoniously booted out of Teen Murti bhawan which was official residence of army chief. Gen Thimmaya was humiliated on the floor of the parliament. Who stopped him from resigning second time?  Darbaris like Gen Kaul were promoted and the likes of Sam Manekshah were sidelined.

THE LOOT - FORMER IPS OFFICER SAYS

*Former IPS Officer says:-*  I was so upbeat when Shashi Tharoor came into politics in 2009. I still remember talking to so many of my NRI friends on how the politics of India will change for better with highly accomplished people and intelligent people like him joining politics. Then by 2013, I was disillusioned with congress and felt Anna Hazare supported by IITian Kejriwal, IPS Kiran Bedi, great actor Aamir Khan will usher in a new change in India. I even donated to India against corruption, went to Ramlila maidaan to shout slogans 

SEVEN YEARS OF SEWA

While we find it difficult to reach to end of the list; Government actually did all in 7 years of Seva.!!

🙏❤️🙏

Category Wise achievements below👇

🔘 International Memberships

● EBRD Membership

SR 71 BLACK BIRD - BY US PILOT

Sharing a superb piece by a US Pilot,   The  SR-71 Blackbird

In April 1986, following an attack on American soldiers in a Berlin disco, President Reagan ordered the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi's terrorist camps in Libya .

My duty was to fly over Libya , and take photographs recording the damage our F-111's had inflicted.

Qaddafi had established a 'line of death,' a territorial marking across the Gulf of Sidra , swearing to shoot down any intruder, that crossed the boundary.

ISLAM & INDIA

● इस्लाम और भारत ●

मौहम्मद साहब की मृत्यु के एक दशक के भीतर ही अरब हमलावरो ने तलवार के दम पर ईरान ईराक सीरिया मिस्र और पुरे मध्य पूर्व एशिया का इस्लामीकरण कर दिया और जीतते हुए वो स्पेन तक जा पहुंचे,

आज से करीब 1400 साल पहले जब मक्का से इंसानी खून की प्यासी इस्लाम की तलवार लपलपाते हुए निकली तो …

एक झटके में ही

ईरान..इराक…सीरिया ..मिश्र ..दमिश्क ..अफगानिस्तान कतर .. बलूचिस्तान से ले के मंगोलिया और रूस तक ध्वस्त होते चले गए ..!

NURSING - OLD AGE HOME

SENIOR CITIZEN

In our close contact a lady (85) is thinking of leaving Mumbai and shifting to a senior citizens colony near Pune. Her husband passed away many years ago. 

She educated and married her three daughters who are now US citizens. They have  two kids each who are now in High School/College. The lady travelled to US on her own many a times. She lived there for six months or more on six occasions when her daughters delivered babies.

The other day when we called on her she became emotional and disclosed her plan to settle for assisted living in an old age home here and that she had no intention to go back to US for some reasons. We felt very sorry for her life in sun set years.

AKHAND BHARAT

How many of you know that ..

Q: Partition of India was done how many times ?

Answer- SEVEN times in 61 years by the British rule.

Afghanistan was separated from India in 1876,

TEETERING 'TWITTER'

TEETERING 'TWITTER'

By

Lt Gen PG Kamath (Veteran)

 I am so delighted and grateful to you for the stand taken by you for the rights of we; Indians. You know; we don't have a government; we also do not have a constitution; we do not have democracy and do not have adult franchise; we are absolutely naïve of our rights, but for you; who else can salvage our freedom.  The 1.3 billion Indians are roaming the countryside covering themselves with leaves and barks with our faces painted and dancing around the fire babbling and prattling gibberish noises to the beat of drums.  Who will emancipate us?

 

DESTRUCTION OF GREAT INSTITUTION

*Destruction of a Great Institution *

India is the only country where there are 400+ Lt Gen rank wearing police officers  (Army has 83 Lt Gens, though being 1.3 million).

Out of 400 plus DG and ADG post officers, 40 plus are drawing salary equivalent of Army Commander  from 25 years of service till they retire( even DG NDRF having strength less then 5 infantry battalions draw Army Commanders salary.

Another astonishing fact is that Indian police is only organization in world to wear Rank batches of Lt Col in 2 years of service after two years of probation and trg.

Our Majors and Lt cols address these 2 yrs mocked police boys as sir and maam, and our senior officers force this wrong precedence in name of liaison with civ auths.

SURGICAL STRIKE BY JUDICIARY ON ARMED FORCES

SURGICAL STRIKES BY JUDICIARY ON THE ARMED FORCES
By
Lt Gen PG Kamath (Veteran)

You must have come across one person who knows every aspect better than you: be it Astronomy, Astrophysics, Nanoscience, Medicine, Engineering, Law, Oceanography, National Strategy, Operational Art, History, Geography, Genetic Science, Physics, Aviation technology, Architecture, Palaeontology; further going into the realm of literature: Shakespeare, Keats, Tagore, Wordsworth, Hemingway, RK Narayan, Greek Philosophy, Indian Philosophy and all past scriptures from Rig Veda to future inventions of this and next century; the married blokes definitely know the answer; it is their wives. Literally; amazed at God; to give so much knowledge, wisdom and confidence to them, unilaterally without exception.

STORY OF GALLANTRY MEDALS IN INDIA

😊 Design of Indian Gallantry medals...!!

🌷 Story of GALLANTRY MEDALS  of Indian Defence Forces:

Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros would have been 107 years old had she been alive !!

Unfortunately, most of us may not have heard of her... 

But who was she ???

She was born on 20th July 1913 in Switzerland to a Russian Mother and Hungarian father. 

RELATIONSHIPS - CARE TO SHUT THE DOOR

*SHUT THE DOOR OF RELATIONSHIP GENTLY, YOU MAY NEED TO USE IT LATER!*

A friend told me this personal story of his. I'm sure he will remember if he comes across this post because he is on my friend's list.

His words..... Many years ago I was working as a clerk at a faculty in one popular university in Nigeria, then I saw an advert for NDA (Nigeria Defence Academy), I have always loved to go to NDA so I applied, submitted my form, and was called for admission examination.

YOGI ADITYA

... 2007, a saffron clad monk was weeping in front of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.  He was the youngest MP in the country and had won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections.  Yet he was crying because the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in his state of Uttar Pradesh were staging anti-Hindu riots one after another.  He himself has been attacked seven times.  Massacres of Hindus were going on all over Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

SHIVA JI - WE NEVER LEARNT MUCH

Never learnt much about Shivaji in history in School. Amazed at what many think of him:

*"From Kabul to Kandahar my Taimur family created the Mogul Sultanate. Iraq, Iran, Turkistan and in many more countries my army defeated ferocious warriors. But in India Shivaji put brakes on us. I spent my maximum energy on Shivaji but could not bring him to his knees.*

POST BY BASU

FB POST BY MR PRABEER BASU, IAS-1976 (BIHAR) 

Received a hurtful post from an old friend and a colleague. He was on my daily broadcast list of Whatsapp. He requested that I not send him any of my posts on Political issues. I gave him a long explanation on why I write and what I write.  But he was not convinced.

Being alerted by him thus, I felt I should clarify to all who read my posts on what exactly I think and do.

March to free Dhaka

 March to free Dhaka

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/march-to-free-dhaka-267645

50TH YEARS OF THE 1971 WAR

Former Western Army Commander Lt Gen SS Mehta (Retd), who commanded a tank squadron that rolled into Dhaka as a greenhorn, remembers the epic battles beyond the brief

Updated At: Jun 13, 2021 03:58 PM (IST)

 

The 5 Independent Armoured Squadron (63 Cavalry) making a victorious entry into Dhaka. Troops of assorted units and some correspondents can be seen atop tanks.

 It is now only a four-hour journey by road but 50 years ago, the Akhaura to Dhaka march that redrew the map of South Asia and rewrote its military history took us 13 tumultuous days. 

END OF AN EMPIRE

*End of an Empire* 

_Written by a friend Goutam Bhattacharya_ 

A spectre is haunting the United States — the spectre of decline.

Every kingdom is born to die. The 15th century belonged to the Portuguese, the 16th to Spain, 17th to the Dutch. France dominated the 18th and Britain the 19th. Bled white and left bankrupt by WWI, the British maintained a pretence of domination as late as 1935, when the empire reached its greatest geographical extent.

VETERANS - ?

*We Are Veterans.*
 
We left home as teenagers for an unknown adventure.
 
We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.
 
We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.
 
We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.
 
We found new friends and new family.
 
We became brothers and sisters regardless of colour, race or creed.
 
We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.
 
We didn't get enough sleep.
 
Some smoked and drank too much.
 
We picked up both good and bad habits.
 
We worked hard and played harder.
 
We didn't earn a great wage.
 
We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events.
 
We didn't know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again.
 
We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all.
 
We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
 
Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn't.
 
Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn't.
 
Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.
 
We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can't fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.
 
We participated in time honoured ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.
 
We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.
 
We have dealt with victory and tragedy.
 
We have celebrated and mourned.
 
We lost a few along the way.
 
When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.
 
We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
 
We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don't experience, and few will understand.
 
We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
 
We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
 
Being a veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away.
 

SHAPELESS ROTIS & MOTHER-IN-LAW

 SHAPELESS ROTIS & MOTHER IN LAW.

A mother writes a heart-warming letter to her son, on why he should not laugh at his wife’s shapeless rotis.

 

Dear Son,

 

Hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits and health. You might be surprised to find an email from your mom. Something told me to write to you; that you need to hear from me today.

 

TIME - समय गणना तन्त्र

👌इसे सेव कर सुरक्षित कर ले। ऐसी पोस्ट कम ही आती है।

विश्व का सबसे बड़ा और वैज्ञानिक समय गणना तन्त्र (ऋषि मुनियों द्वारा किया गया अनुसंधान)

■ काष्ठा = सैकन्ड का  34000 वाँ भाग

■ 1 त्रुटि  = सैकन्ड का 300 वाँ भाग

■ 2 त्रुटि  = 1 लव ,

■ 1 लव = 1 क्षण

■ 30 क्षण = 1 विपल ,

■ 60 विपल = 1 पल

■ 60 पल = 1 घड़ी (24 मिनट ) ,

■ 2.5 घड़ी = 1 होरा (घन्टा )

■3 होरा=1प्रहर व 8 प्रहर 1 दिवस (वार)

■ 24 होरा = 1 दिवस (दिन या वार) ,

■ 7 दिवस = 1 सप्ताह

■ 4 सप्ताह = 1 माह ,

■ 2 माह = 1 ऋतू

■ 6 ऋतू = 1 वर्ष ,

■ 100 वर्ष = 1 शताब्दी

■ 10 शताब्दी = 1 सहस्राब्दी ,

VACCINE - COVID 19

*Finish India when it is at its lowest. The message from the world and self-loathing Indians is loud and clear*

There is no getting around the fact that India is presumably at its worst in the fight against the China-made coronavirus pandemic. The second wave of the pandemic has been far more severe, infectious and deadly than the first wave which India had managed to flatten out somehow. However, as the cases continue to rise, it is the few usual suspects that have come out of their burrow holes and started kicking India down, when it certainly is not in a position of strength.

THE COLOR REVOLUTION OF USA AND TWITTER

https://spashtvichar.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-colorrevolution-of-usa-twitter-what.html

What is Color Revolution? In International Politics, it is not rare for hegemony or a strong power to influence the politics and policies of other nations. There are different ways in which this can be done, including military invasion and regime change. However, a new method is now emerging as more popular. This method is known as a "Color Revolution".

FORGIVNESS - FAMILY IS THE PLACE

FAMILY, PLACE OF FORGIVENESS ...

Please look at the speech that was read yesterday at retirement by the Pope.

Regardless of religion, see how Pope Francis has beautifully written about the family. 

©️  There is no perfect family.

©️  We do not have perfect parents,

- you are not perfect yourself.

We do not marry a perfect person or we do not have perfect children.

NAVRATRA TIMES

NAVARATRI        by       Jawhar Sircar 

      

             I am in Delhi where Navaratri has just begun and people are either fasting or undergoing severe restrictions on food and indulgences for the next nine days. Most are surprised that Bengal does not go through such severities and are amazed to hear of our feasting on the chief days, from Maha-Saptami to Maha-Navami. 

               

THE DOG BITE

The Dog Bite

Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi

My brief article was published in the Hindustan Times Chandigarh on 27-04-2021.

 A copy of the original piece is placed below. My sedate title "The Dog Bite" was changed to "When a Dog Bit a General and the 2/LT the Bullet". A photo copy of the piece is also attached (not very readable)..

 

MILITARY LEADERSHIP NEED FOR MERIT

 LEADERSHIP IN INDIAN ARMY: NEED FOR MERIT

Published 2:28 am IST on August 19, 2021

By LT GEN PR SHANKAR (Retd)

The collapse of the Afghan National Army (ANA), the hasty withdrawal of the US and the rapid gains of Taliban in Afghanistan have major lessons for military and political leadership. ANA lost it completely due to poor motivation and training. Its leadership was too political, corrupt, and unprofessional. Lesson: Nations cannot afford poorly trained and unprofessional armed forces dabbling in politics even if well equipped. The US is facing yet another major international embarrassment. Its political and military leadership were on the same page at combat level but on vastly different pages at political level. The US is facing a political defeat rather than a military one.

THE 1962 WAR - TORN FAMILY

 LIFE AND FATE: HOW THE 1962 WAR TORE A FAMILY

November 5, 2012, 2:32 PM IST

https://www.news18.com/blogs/india/neeharika-naidu/life-and-fate-how-the-1962-war-tore-a-family-14264-747335.html

 Mrs Neeharika Naidu

 This is not a new story. This story is not one looking for sympathy or pity, as all of these days have been left far far behind. This is not a common story of the loss and desperation of a family but rather it is the story of a very brave woman's struggle with life and its vagaries, in face of a terrible calamity.

A very long long time ago, there lived two little princesses in a small mofussil town called Mhow. In those faraway days it was quiet, much quieter than now with small well-maintained houses, few cars that only the privileged owned. Life was absolutely idyllic.

ON CHINA

Friends not sure how many in the group appreciate the content but being alarmed and baffled with stats , thought sharing is my duty. More important is to re-evaluate our national attitude towards China. We need to set right our centuries old relationship with China spoilt by Nehru and then justified for decades by Congress which had no clue of how to run a nation. The intellectuals will never allow us to understand China. 

A bit long but an important Dose of Reality. Now read on ………

RULES - CALCULATIONS

*Some Personal Finance Rules we all should better know*

- Rule of 72 (Double Your Money)

- Rule of 70 (Inflation)

- 4% Withdrawal Rule

- 100 Minus Age Rule

- 10, 5, 3 Rule

- 50-30-20 Rule

- 3X Emergency Rule

- 40℅ EMI Rule

- Life Insurance Rule

*Rule of 72*

MILITARY SPECIAL

The Military Special

I made up my mind not to care so much about the destination, and simply enjoy the journey.

~ David Archuleta ~ (Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance) 

It was nearing the end of the training of our first term at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehra Dun. The training was so rigorous that it was but natural for all of us to eagerly look forward to the end of the term, so that we could take a well-deserved break. The break was very essential to help us refresh and recoup ourselves so that we could complete the next leg of our training, which would only be tougher. 

NDA BOXING - A WRITE UP

An excellent write up on NDA boxing... a gripping account which each of us can relate with and will have you holding your breath, I promise!!

Read on....

The sixth and the final term for the 35th course NDA  had begun on 12 July 1968. In the sixth term , being the seniors , the  cadets, indulge themselves  in minor privileges of bypassing some inconsequential unique to NDA regulations. Trivial liberties give them the pleasure  of notional liberation from the strict mentally and physically gruelling syllabus . I  had this gain within six months of reporting to  the Academy having joined in penultimate fifth term as a special entry cadet ( ND)

DAK BUNGLOWS

AN INTRIGUING TALE OF THE DAK BUNGLOWS IN COLONIAL ERA ..

In the year 1774,  Robert Clive  first set up a regular postal system in India and the first bungalows built to relay the post or 'dak'. Quickly, they became a network for the men who ruled India as they toured the districts, sometimes en famille. Before we know it, the dak bungalow has turned into a government circuit house.

KEDARNATH TEMPLE - UNSOLVED CODE

Kedarnath temple is an unsolved code.

Many things are said about who built the Kedarnath temple. Even from the Pandavas to Adya Shankaracharya. But we don't want to go into that.

Today's science suggests that the Kedarnath temple was probably built in the 8th century. Even if you say no, this temple has existed for at least 1200 years.

The land where Kedarnath is is very unfavorable even in the 21st century. Kedarnath hill 22,000 feet high on one side, Karachkund 21,600 feet high on the other side and Bharatkund 22,700 feet high on the third side.

AGED CITIZEN

Relevant message to all of us at this age. Please share this content with your spouse too. You may got it from other groups. I normally don't forward any message. I thought it's worth repeating. 

Zhou Daxin's latest novel, "The Sky Gets Dark Slowly". It is a sensitive exploration of old age and the complex, hidden emotional worlds of the elderly in a rapidly ageing population.

In it he writes, "…Many elderly speak as though they know everything, but of old age they are in fact as ignorant as children.

ROOKHY SOOKHY KHA KAY

"*Rookhi Sookhy Khai kay*"

By Khushwant Singh @ 98 

Coming on to 98 and still earning more than I did in my younger days, people ask me how I manage to do it. They regard me as an expert on longevity. I have pronounced on the subject before; I will repeat it with suitable amendments based on my experience in the past two years.*

PENSIONER'S CHECK LIST

*Dear Veteran Pensioner*

Point 26,27 49, and 50  important please read AND 

     *Please update yourself....!!*

1. Fixed Medical Allowance @ Rs.100 was introduced w.e.f. 01.12.1997.

2.Fixed Medical Allowance @ Rs.1000 was increased w.e.f. 01.07.2017.

3. ECHS members not eligible for Medical Allowance.

NOMINEE IN ACCOUNT

A very informative post put out by Ajit George, ex-SBI Legal department.

(NO DOUBT VERY LENGTHY, BUT TO MY MIND WORTH INVESTING TIME)

Is Legal heir and Nominee the same?

I wonder how many of us are aware of this legal twist.

Will your Nominee get the money on your death ?

Did you think that your nominee is the person, who will get all the money legally from your Life Insurance Policy and Mutual funds investments ?

Ha! That is exactly what you think if you are not aware of the legal aspects.

We assume a lot of things which sounds like they are obvious, but are not true from the legal point of view.

BRITISH LOOT

There is a story that is commonly told in Britain that the colonisation of India - as horrible as it may have been - was not of any major economic benefit to Britain itself. If anything, the administration of India was a cost to Britain. So the fact that the empire was sustained for so long - the story goes - was a gesture of Britain's benevolence.

New research by the renowned economist Utsa Patnaik - just published by Columbia University Press - deals a crushing blow to this narrative. Drawing on nearly two centuries of detailed data on tax and trade, Patnaik calculated that Britain drained a total of nearly $45 trillion from India during the period 1765 to 1938. 

Fwd: Income Tax+: Why even one day matters when investing

Equity funds and capital gains

Even one day matters while selling your stocks and funds

INCOME TAX 

Dear Reader,

Equities and equity funds make for great investment options. But pay heed to when you exit these funds or sell shares, because one day is all it takes for your short-term capital gains tax to become a long-term capital gains tax.

For some years now, shares and mutual funds have been popular investment choices. The buoyancy in the capital market, coupled with low interest rates of guaranteed investment options like bank fixed deposits, has meant that the equity market offers far better returns. Of course, this comes with its share of risk, as returns depend on market conditions. Then there's the taxing issue of whether your investment will attract long-term or short-term capital gains tax, and what, if any, tax benefits you can claim.