Thursday, 10 September 2015

[www.keralites.net] To Modi from Aurangzeb

 

Aurangzeb, sixth Mughal Emperor, writes a letter to the prime minister on the common thread between their legacies.

By: Rohit Chopra

Aurangzeb, sixth Mughal Emperor, writes a letter to the prime minister on the common thread between their legacies.

 To Modi, from AurangzebYour Highness, Emperor of India, host of Mann ki Baat, harbinger of achhe din, Lord of the bhakts, I hope you are well. I trust you will not mind if I call you Emperor. I know you are a democratically elected leader, but your regal bearing and magnificent sartorial adventures are worthy of the finest traditions of hereditary monarchy and feudal nobility. And, beside, as pretty much most Indians know, you don't necessarily have a liking or patience for parliamentary democracy. Don't blame you for that. By the way, the next time someone throws that at you, you can hand them a copy of Hind Swaraj and tell them that Gandhi didn't think much of it either.

 A crying shame you had to part with that beautiful suit, with its golden thread resplendently proclaiming your name over and over again. Any king with an iota of fashion sense worth his name, from Louis XIV to Kanye West, would be proud to have that in his wardrobe. Don't ever capitulate on the turbans, you hear me.

 I am writing simply to say that I bear no ill-will towards you for stripping my name of that road, tony, tony address though it was. I know it was the New Delhi Municipal Corporation that effected the change, perhaps at the behest of a BJP leader. But it happened on your watch. The buck stops with the Emperor. In any event, I suspect you're not particularly unhappy about it. Parenthetically speaking, will you let me know if it cropped up at the RSS conclave at all? I'm really curious to know.

 You see, Narendraji, we're really not that different, you and I, once you adjust for historical difference and different contextual standards. And, no, I'm not just talking about the taste for imperial threads.

We've both had to manage a large, unwieldly, and fractious population — these endlessly argumentative Indians, I tell you! You probably don't care for Amartya much, but he is on to something there, isn't he? Of course, I have the advantage of decades of rule, but it is just your second year so you do get some slack. Word of advice: not sure you'll be able to turn all of India into Gujarat — find me a Punju who isn't befuddled by dhokla — but I'll let you figure that out on your own.

 Then there's the bad rap for targeting minorities or, at the very least, being callously indifferent to them. I won't deny my hands aren't clean there but, hey, in what bizarre universe does Akbar get called secular? His violence against people of other faiths is 'political' and mine 'religious'? Wah!! I must say I agree with the RSS high command that JNU must be shut down for its crime of dividing Indian history into neatly opposing camps of 'communal' and 'secular'. Seriously, none of these academic dudes can even govern a faculty meeting with any competence! But you and I, men of the world, know the mess that realpolitik entails.

 I'm sure you're familiar with this double standard. It must gall to see the Congress call itself secular again and again, what with its role in unlocking the Babri Masjid and the 1984 riots, two small facts that every Indian except Mani Shankar Aiyar is aware of.

I also really dig your style of marginalising rivals, seniors, peers and irritants. Showering them with awards, keeping them grounded at home, cutting them out of decision-making process, or—my personal favourite—postings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Nice! My methods were, well, a tad more direct, but we are talking about the seventeenth century. Side note to the ignorant Indian media: the seventeenth century was not the medieval era.

 The one area in which we differ is our respective proclivities towards song and dance. I was of the impression that, much like my own puritanical self, you would be given to RSS-style austerity. That Madison Square Garden gala nite, with its neon body suits and electronic music, and where you proved yourself a man of the overseas people, was quite a surprise. Truth be told, that extravaganza had a little more in common with the 1903 Imperial Darbar organised in Delhi by that upstart firang Curzon to commemorate Edward and Alexandra. And, so, despite my reputation as agrump opposed to the fine arts, I am quite looking forward to your Silicon Valley show livestream. Hope Amit Shah will upload it on You- Tube. Or if he is busy, you could always ask Adani.

 Pity, then, that we live in different times. I think you would have been a great leader in the seventeenth century. I doubt we would have worked together. Both of us are ruthlessly ambitious and trust no one other than our respective selves. But you would have made a formidable adversary.

I might even have named a road after you.

Yours truly, Aurangzeb

http://www.punemirror.in/columns/columnists/To-Modi-from-Aurangzeb/articleshow/48860223.cms

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[www.keralites.net] Sine Curve of OROP

 

Sine Curve of OROP-An Article by Lt Gen BPS Mander

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Surgical Analysis. Right on Dot. I found the views a reflection of MY views, and perhaps those of the entire Rational Thinking Indian Citizenry.PS. The Fauji is a quick learner. Fights all weather, all terrain, all eras. Learns to tackle newer situations. From EL Alamein, to Sangro, to Normandy to Haji Pir, to Kargil heights and ....well now to a newer conflict form........ ..out in open now, but having been taken for a ride all these six odd decades, the defaulter for our predicament seems clear to most.

We are learning. And if the rules of engagement seem changing, so be it. An open confrontation is better than a thousand cuts from hidden opponents. "Thukta Hai Veer Aise Dharam aur Iman Par, Chupp Kar Jo Hamla Karey Bekhabarr Insaan Par", the valorous soldier is now taking stock, to prepare for ways to face the menace, rather than be perpetually naive. One thing though. Its not a conflict started by the soldier. And why should it be?

The conflict I speak of is a affirmation of is angst at being continuously derided despite being the Trump Card of the nation. Just because its not a vote bank?

The Sine Curve of OROP-An Article byLt Gen BPS Mander

So much has been written and discussed about OPOP that it has become impossible to resist from throwing in one's 'two anna' bit.

Those familiar with physics will know that the sine curve goes through crests and troughs as measured from the line of equilibrium. A crest is a point on the wave where the displacement of the medium is at maximum and the trough is the point where the displacement is at the minimum. Let us examine the OROP movement in this relation.

Crests

The tip of the crest is that the servicemen have come to learn of their entitlements, notwithstanding that it is a bit too late. Having retired after 38 of service in the Army, it was only after retirement, I learnt that our pensions had been reduced 40 years back when we were Lieutenants.

If anyone thinks that the system is going to take care of you, it is an erroneous belief.

The serving officers are retired officers of tomorrow ( though one does not believe it as long as one is serving).

We have clearly come to recognize the difference between the pay scales and service conditions of the Defence forces and the following:- (a) Bureaucracy (b) Para Military Forces (c) Politicians. (d) Other Government Agencies. We don't need a genius to tell us that the services have been short changed from when on.

The fact that we can be exploited because the Defence Forces are not allowed to protest, has come across with great clarity.

That there still exist officers with pride and self respect who will do anything for a collective cause. My respect and salutation goes out to the officers and other ranks who went on fast unto death, because only the defence forces understand the 'value of life', and they were doing it in peace time for their colleagues.

Mahroof Raza. This is my individual opinion, That he came across as a sane voice in support of the veterans in spite of being on Times Now.

Troughs The trust between the government and the defence forces has been eroded to some extent. The defence forces will demand their rightful place in the in the hierarchy, maybe in a more forceful manner than earlier.

The Chiefs of the three services may act in unison to demand their rightful place and status vis as vis the bureaucracy.

The psyce of the soldier may change.

Bureaucracy. Nothing was expected from them, but they still excelled in the negative. The red herrings of VRS and 5 years review and the like, are all their insertions. Let me kill the point of the bureaucracy here. Why do they rule roost? It happens all over the world including matured democracies. What do they exploit? Their continuity, their ability to show 'greener pastures', and the Core - principle,- ' when we are together, no one else matters'.

Lots of people let us down, but I am putting across only those whose opinion may have mattered, but they did not come forward. Why they did not come forward could only be for two reasons: (a) That they did not understand what our demand was; or whether the Defence forces had actually not been given their due. (b) They were aware; but their self preservation instincts did not allow them to come forward to support the cause.

Where were our defence officer's children who were part of the film fraternity and today playing croquet with sapphire studded mallets? The Anushkas, the Dhupias, the Jetlys, and so on. The list is endless. They acknowledge that they grew to that stature because they were Defence Forces Children. So is there no payback time? They go cart wheeling with 'Coldrin' tablets, when Salman Khan sneezes. So (?)

Where were the defence officer's children in the media? The Arnabs, Thapars, Sawants, Rahuls and so on who owe so much to their background. They covered Kargil not because of their interest in the Services, but because of the glory they got form it. Some of them rose by putting out anti defence forces articles, to reach where they did. Was it not time to pay back? Or did they succumb to pressures from the Ministry of Info and Broadcasting, which loads them with funds? And where were the Corporates? Though I don't blame them. Their survival is directly linked to the government. But today some are so big that an indication from them, makes the government take notice.

And finally the political system. Has it become so enslaved to the babus, that they need clearance for everything? Are we seeing a reversal of roles here? Are we going to see a government that will have no say by the elected representatives and a country controlled by file pushing babus? You take your pick.

Line of Equilibrium There were a lot of fence sitters. Army never has fence sitters as the fence in the army is of barbed wire, and it is difficult to sit on it. This phenomenon is peculiar to the others.

Come friends, we are not looking for sympathy, as the fight is about our rights. We are asking for something which should not have been taken away from us forty years back.

We would have wanted so many to come out from the 'shadow of the node' and take sides. Not necessarily ours. We would have known where we stand.

And to the Defence Forces I say that we are fighting over trivia and missing a larger point. OROP is a life time concept and its implementation has to be independent of the Central Pay Commission. The CPC must take OROP into its fold as it is, and not adjudicate on it !let not OROP stand for' Our Retest On Perseverance 39;

I end with only a small note of caution, as we are not begging; only demanding our rights. We will find a method to achieve it. ' Hum to dariya hain, apna hunar jaante hain; Jis taraf Jaaenge, raasta banaa lenge.' ( We are like a river in flow, we know our talent and capability, We will make and carve our way, as we go along)

Anyway let the Tweedledum ( Pol class) and the Tweedledee ( Babus) resolve the issue. Let Lewis Carroll rest in peace.

PS:- My grateful thanks to the Delhi Police who tried to wrestle with veterans, bringing OROP into focus. Without their help, there would have been no OROP.

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[www.keralites.net] Divine life

 

*
 

நல்லதுசெய் நல்லதே நடக்கும்
जन सेवा ईश्वर  सेवा  
cnu.pne
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[www.keralites.net] Interesting Story

 

Interesting Story

Interesting Story

The Taj hotel group had invited Mr. Masai Imai from Japan to hold a workshop for its staff. The staff were very skeptical - the hotel is doing excellent business, this person from Japan has no exposure to hotel industry - what exactly is he going to teach? But everybody gathered as planned for the workshop in the conference hall sharp at 9 am. Mr. Masai was introduced to them - a not so impressive personality, nor the English all that good; spoke as if he was first formulating each sentence in Japanese and then translating it into rather clumsy English. "Good morning!

Let's start work.

I am told this is a workshop; but I see neither work nor shop.

So let's proceed where work is happening.

Let's start with the first room on the first floor."

Mr. Masai, followed by the senior management, the participants, the video camera crew trouped out of the conference room and proceeded to the destination.

That happened to be the laundry room of the hotel.

Mr. Masai entered the room and stood at the window, "beautiful view!" he said.

The staff knew it; they need not invite a Japanese consultant to tell them this!

"A room with such a beautiful view is being wasted as a laundry room.

Shift the laundry to the basement and convert this into a guest room."

Aa Haa!

Now nobody had ever thought about that!

The manager said, "Yes, it can be done."

"Then let's do it," Mr. Masai said.

"Yes sir, I will make a note of this and we will include it in the report on the workshop that will be prepared." Manager

"Excuse me, but there is nothing to note down in this.

Let's just do it, just now." Mr. Masai.

"Just now?" Manager

"Yes, decide on a room on the ground floor/basement and shift the stuff out of this room right away.

It should take a couple of hours, right?" asked Mr. Masai.

"Yes." Manager.

"Let's come back here just before lunch.

By then all this stuff will have got shifted out and the room must be ready with the carpets, furniture etc. and from today you can start earning the few thousand that you charge your customers for a night."

"Ok, Sir." The manager had no option.

The next destination was the pantry.

The group entered.

At the entrance were two huge sinks full of plates to be washed.

Mr. Masai removed his jacket and started washing the plates.

"Sir, Please, what are you doing?" the manager didn't know what to say and what to do.

"Why, I am washing the plates", Mr. Masai.

"But sir, there is staff here to do that." Manager Mr. Masai continued washing, "I think sink is for washing plates, there are stands here to keep the plates and the plates should go into the stands."

All the officials wondered - did they require a consultant to tell them this?

After finishing the job, Mr. Masai asked, "How many plates do you have?'

"Plenty, so that there should never be any shortage." answered the Manager.

Mr. Masai said, "We have a word in Japanese -'Muda'.

Muda means delay, Muda means unnecessary spending.

One lesson to be learned in this workshop is to avoid both.

If you have plenty of plates, there will be delay in cleaning them up.

The first step to correct this situation is to remove all the excess plates."

"Yes, we will say this in the report." Manager.

"No, wasting our time in writing the report is again an instance of 'Muda'.

We must pack the extra plates in a box right away and send these to whichever other section of Taj requires these.

Throughout the workshop now we will find out where all we find this 'Muda' hidden."

And then at every spot and session, the staff eagerly awaited to find out Muda and learn how to avoid it.

On the last day, Mr. Masai told a story.

"A Japanese and an American, both fond of hunting, met in a jungle.

They entered deep jungle and suddenly realized that they had run out of bullets.

Just then they heard a lion roaring.

Both started running.

But the Japanese took a short break to put on his sports shoes.

The American said, "What are you doing?

We must first get to the car."

The Japanese responded, "No. I only have to ensure that I remain ahead of you."

All the participants engrossed in listening to the story, realized suddenly that the lion would stop after getting his victim!

"The lesson is:

competition in today's world is so fierce, that it is important to stay ahead of other, even by just a couple of steps.

And you have such a huge and naturally well endowed country.

If you remember to curtail your production expenditure and give the best quality always, you will be miles ahead as compared to so many other countries in the world.", concluded Mr. Ma sai.

It is never late to learn.......

COURTESY: INTERNET.
With warm Regards,

K.THIAGARAJAN,KTR (A to Z),
 Flat F-1, AABHARANA Apts, Sairam Avenue I Cross,
Plot No.6,JAI NAGAR 6 th Street,
VALASARAVAKKAM,CHENNAI - 600 087.
Ph: 044-2476 4882, Mob: 0938 000 4882 / 0978 906 3882
E Mail: althiagu@gmail.com

www.keralites.net

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