PREDOMINANT THOUGHT

 

Each thought brings in good or bad feeling. The moments associated with the feelings shapes the mood. Especially when things go wrong, bad memories get ignited and then whole day one plunges into unkind memories, as if somebody pulled the thought bob of the mind pendulum and left it to ding dong the whole day! This disturbs the mental balance and releases the chemicals that inhibit happy hormones leading to a bad mood. There are several ways to elevate the mood. One is to indulge in mood elevating drugs or other is to remain busy in work or indulge in creative art or think about some unsolved mysteries facing mankind. In short, the good, bad, happy or sad feeling stays till the thought prevails like the ever-increasing concentric wave circles in the mind pond when a thought stone is dropped. Thoughts don’t leave us in sleep also. Connected and unconnected thoughts flash as episodes and we live the dream till it melts when we wake up. Scientist August Kekule lived such a dream of six snakes eating tail of next snake in a ringed fashion which explained the mystery of Benzene molecule. Was it so easy that the elusive molecular structure got explained by a mere dream? The dream would have been an outcome of a predominant thought on his mind during the days of his research. For sure those days leading to that famous dream would have been the best days of August Kekule. Healthy thought, which is predominant acts like an anti-depressant, energy giver, mental soother.

 On emergence of a thought, person with stable mind, devoid of any feelings of anger, happiness or sadness is a saint. To have thoughts without any associated feelings is best for mental health, but it is difficult. There is no guarantee that the invoked thought would result in happy moment. Moreover, unhealthy thoughts tend to latch on to a person’s mind. To keep our self away from the unhealthy thought, cultivate a skill of healthy thought and make it predominant for the day. Base the predominant thought on a chosen theme. The theme can be future plans, world politics, unsolved mysteries of the human race, social issues, current politics, daily riddle, puzzle, crossword, skill, new topic. Anything larger than life and not directly connected to self is good to be taken as healthy thought. That thought which does not stir emotions - sad or happy feelings but still consume the mind as if you are in a trance, is a neutral thought. Neutral thought is healthy thought.  This trance due to a predominant thought does wonders for one’s mental health and time flies. Aim is to bring in neutral thoughts.

Is there any way to have a predominant thought which is neutral? Here are few steps as an exercise to have predominant neutral thought. There are three ways to get a predominant neutral thought. First and simplest is start the day by chanting your favorite GODs name or reciting a prayer. Continue this whenever there is void period – in between conversation with someone, in between mobile use, in between two tasks or during idle time. Idea is never to keep mind idle, but it should overflow with chants. The second way of bringing in predominant neutral thought is to get submerged in a creative hobby, Job or skill which requires focused attention or to get into some kind of social service (a service without any expectation in return). That social service should be carried out by self not to be funded or outsourced. The third and most difficult way is rational thinking, reasoning it out the purpose of life and thereby training our mind to be in a zone of neutral thought and make it a predominant thought. Easier said than done. All three ways can be tried and adopted depending upon one's liking viz – devotion, service or reasoning. Person can try combinations of all three and then decide the route for oneself.

A predominant neutral thought brings in wonders. In times as ours, ability to delve in a predominant healthy thought is equivalent to drugs which control body hormones. The drugs which are available to sooth the nerves and upswing the mood induce side effects like dry mouth, weight gain, drug dependance, lethargy, drowsiness. In the treatment of lifestyle deceases, getting a predominant healthy thought is a big win for the person as it complements the therapy.

 

Additional reading -

·       In chapter 8 verse 6 of Bhagwat Gita - Lord Krishna explains that a person’s predominant thought at the exact moment of death determine their next state of existence-

 

·       यं यं वापि स्मरनभावं त्यज्यत्यन्ते कलेवरम्।

तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ।।

 

·       English translation - whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail, because of being always absorbed in that thought.

·    To introduce this topic Krishna starts in the verse 5 that those who relinquish the body while remembering Me at the moment of death will come to Me and to summarize the topic Verse 7 says - because no one knows when death will arise, Krishna advises practicing constant remembrance while carrying out daily duties – therefore think of Me at all times and (fight)

·       As a matter of fact, it is difficult to artificially force a specific thought at the just moment of death – therefore, the mind naturally defaults to whatever it was most obsessed with or accustomed to during life and it attains that – like a final exam – suddenly no new learning emerges but it has to come from earlier whatever the student has practiced.

 

CENSUS 2027

Process of census has started with effect from 01 Apr 2026. Self enumeration is till 15th Apr 2026. 

As a responsible citizen of Bharat, please carry out self enumeration and help the government - 

click on the self enumerator link. It will lead you to enumerate in the census. Please click on this ---->>>   Self enumeration link -

After self enumeration, a sms will be received keep it handy. 

Census will lead to such data sets, where government would be able to use the data for economic and social development in a more focussed manner. 

CHAPTER 20 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART V) – WALK THE TALK

 

CHAPTER 20 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART V) – WALK THE TALK

 

Rationalists, service oriented and devotion minded are the three ways to keep trying to control the organs and associated thoughts. So even if it is difficult to control senses, if every time we become aware of the need to control the senses, half the battle is won. The journey towards trying to control the senses physically and mentally is difficult but if we achieve through a medium of our bent of mind of being rationalists, service oriented or devotional then the same journey becomes joy filled and constructive. The attempts made to control the senses and attempts made to remain mentally unattached with the senses either by reasoning, or by indulging in serving or by devotion bears fruits which gives satisfaction, enhances mood and positivity, refurbishes self-esteem and brings in a state of happiness. Even the attempts in controlling give the satisfaction. 

 

All three mental makeups are capable of giving a person a direction so as to live a happy contended life. The paths chosen are equally good and give peace, joy and lasting happiness. What happens is either we falter in correctly identifying our mental makeup or we dither and don’t tread the chosen path sincerely. We don’t walk the talk. Consistency in approach is important.  There are no short cuts and there is no easier or difficult path. If we don’t choose path as per our mental makeup then we find difficulty in treading that path and we don’t get satisfaction.

 

Action leads to some kind of reaction. The after effect of action sticks and gives happy and sad moments. To avoid any happy or sad moments if action is shunned then also some kind of action takes place. If not anything the action needed to maintain day to day body needs such as taking food or having bath or even having daily ablutions is an action. Any physical activity can be termed as an action and it’s required to sustain our life. The minimum possible action brings along with it good and bad experiences making us happy or sad. The fact is one cannot shun action altogether. So instead face it in a different way by not getting emotionally attached to the action..........keep reading !!!!

CHAPTER 19 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART IV) – SADHANA

 

CHAPTER 19 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART IV) – SADHANA

 

The suffering starts with getting attracted to materialistic things and indulgence of sense organs. This desire then leads to an action with the intention of a favorable outcome. Action brings in contact with things which are external to self. Till the time the action leads to favorable outcomes we are happy and enjoy the outcome. When we don’t get what we desire makes us angry and frustrated. Anger is a side product of ego. Anger makes a person lose logic. Once the rational sense is lost, person gets into trouble. Trouble and unfavourable outcome makes the person sad and restless. This cycle keeps repeating. Every now and then the person hopes, he can get what he desires then tries to control things which are not in his control. He loses the sense of what he can control and what is not under his control. The truth is other than his mind to some extent, nothing is under his control. Actions emanating from the mind looking for a favorable outcome then end up in frustration as the outcome may not be to his likings. To lead a happy life there is no prior requirement of happy situations or conditions. A person can be happy in any situation. It is a choice and a state of mind rather than depending on external factors. Happiness is mind dependent and mind can be conditioned.

 

It is important to control our senses if we want everlasting happiness. We are under ignorance when we think we are happy by as a result of happenings in our lives which are external creations. Such kind of happiness won’t last long. In fact moments of happiness ends when the action ends and we start our craving for happiness and get more and more frustrated. Unless we control our sense organs our mind won’t be focused enough to see the happiness which is within.  Controlling sense organs is not easy. Even if physically we control them it is seen that thoughts about the indulgence of the sense organs and senses gives even more frustration and restlessness. Moreover action starts with appearing of thoughts and thoughts are the main drivers of sense organs. Actions are the result of thoughts driven fueling of organs with the aim of achieving some desired results. We have to control the senses, sense organs and the thoughts behind that. It is difficult but we have to keep trying it. This is called ‘sadhana साधना’...............keep reading...........!!!

CHAPTER 18 - START A BETTER LIFE - LESSON 3 - (PART III) - JOURNEY FROM DESIREFUL ACTION TO DESIRELESS ACTION

 

So even if a person who has achieved highest conscience don’t undertake any desireful action, the person still keeps carrying out righteous actions for the universal good. For one if he stops, the followers will stop carrying out actions. Ordinary people do what is done by the role models and leaders because it is seen that when a role model accepts a thing as correct, the same is followed by people.

 

As per mental makeup of the person, upbringing, experiences (bitter or good during growing up), influences and situations a person becomes a desireful action doer or desireless action doer. Desireful action results in suffering and desireless action results in mental peace. Although the desireless action is better as it takes a person on a higher conscience level, but majority of the persons are entangled in desireful actions for various reasons. They are either convinced or unknowingly follow that path. With desireful action the fruits are sweet as well as sour. Thereby making a person happy or sad depending upon the outcome.

 

A balanced person of higher conscience and a leader should not be in a hurry to change a person’s orientation from performing desireful action to desireless action. Let the person himself through the journey of life discover the futility of desireful action....... keep reading

CHAPTER 17 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART II) – ACTION OR NO ACTION

 

CHAPTER 17 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART II) – ACTION OR NO ACTION

 

 

A doubt arises that – if, a balanced mind is the only reason which results in a non-doing (desireless action) then why should there be an action at all. Only keeping a balanced mind is enough to attain higher conscience or salvation or release. A gyani/ jnanin is a person who has achieved a rational mind. Lokmanya Tilak in Gita Rahasya Book 2 pg 930 writes - “On a question asked by Arjuna to Krishna that - It is then not necessary for a person who has achieved a balanced mind (gyani/ jnanin) to personally perform any action; and it will be quite enough if he imparts knowledge to people thereby making them wiser. Imparting knowledge itself is an action! To this, the Blessed Lord replies that: ‘if knowledge is merely orally imparted to those persons, who have not got into the habit of righteous and desireless action, (most of the people belong to this category), cannot rise in attaining higher conscience nor can they experience bliss. Temporary happiness on favorable outcome and sadness on a setback is all that they get by listening to a spiritual discourse. Unless they walk the talk, joy is away and permanent bliss is unachievable. If a gyani/ Jnanin absolutely gives up all Action, that becomes an example or illustration for the Ajnanin or ignorant (A person who carries out action with attached mind) to remain idle. Therefore, the Gita has laid down the important doctrine that, it is an important duty of a man who is a gyani/ Janin, to remain himself in worldly life, for the purpose of ‘loksangraha’, that is, in order to make people wise, and put them in the righteous path of living a desireless action, leading to joy. Knowing the path and walking the path are two different things. A stable mind walks the path. keep reading .............

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE

 

Part IV, Article 44 of the Constitution states that “The State shall endeavor to secure the citizen a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India”

 

Courtesy – Wikipedia – “Personal laws were first framed during the British Raj, mainly for Hindu and Muslim citizens. The British feared opposition from community leaders and refrained from further interfering within this domestic sphere. Indian state of Goa was separated from India due to colonial rule in the erstwhile Portuguese Goa and Damaon, retained a common family law known as the Goa civil code and thus being only state in India with a uniform civil code till date”.

Why Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

At present though IPC is present matters of faith, religions are allowed to manage matters such as marriage, property rights, adoption, maintenance, divorce. Having Uniform Civil Code would strengthen secularism in our country and make all the citizens equal having same rights irrespective of class, faith and gender orientation.

UCC is supported by liberals and opposed by conservative religious bodies for their personal narrow short term gain. For one nation there has to be one law. This will ensure fair treatment to everyone and ensure justice to everybody irrespective of his religious orientation, class, creed and gender. An apt example is of Shah Bano case where court could not give justice to the lady where she got a unilateral divorce based on Sharia. A 73 year old lady married for 40 yrs could not get maintenance when unilaterally based on triple talaq , her husband divorced her. The SC remained a mute spectator when Indian National Congress supported a bill to protect the muslim personal law and with the brute majority of congress the law was passed and the lady did not get justice.  To read more on it one may google it.

The constitution exhorts us to adopt it. It has been in the manifesto of some of the progressive political parties and was twice considered for tabling it in parliament. This monsoon season there is a strong possibility of it getting tabled in the parliament for consideration and Law Commission of India has asked for suggestions and inputs from individuals and organizations.

The suggestion window is open till 13 th Jul 2023. Giving here the procedure to register suggestions from progressive citizens of India   -

 

Go to the following site

https://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/

GO TO

Click on Uniform Civil Code  - Public Notice (NEW)

This window will appear

Click on View

A public notice will appear like this

 Share your recommendations/ comments / suggestions at “click here” or email at membersecretary-lci@gov.in

 I am sharing the recommendations which I have shared to Law Commission of India on the topic.

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR UCC

There should be a common uniform code (refer to article 44 of our constitution) of civility based on sound ethics and values even though people are of different faith or different religious affiliations. The values and ethics may be based on best practices customs and traditions observed by persons of different faiths for the following

 

1. Uniform Property rights

2. Uniform policies on polygamy/ monogamy/ live in relationship allowance continuance and government subsidy cover to such families

3. Control of places of worship in terms of govt/ trust/ private

4. Uniform Divorce laws

5. Uniformity upto 10 th education wrt dress and appearance

6. Uniform laws for Madrassas, Gurukuls and other faiths’ open schooling not following CBSE/ NCERT/ UGC pattern

7. Subsidy / or no subsidy for various ' yatras' of various faiths.

8. More incentives for family with not more than 2 children, highest incentives for family with no children and no subsidies/ incentives for a family with more than two children belonging to all faiths.

9. Appointment to places of worships as Moulavis/ Pujari/ or religious teacher to be made on recommendations of the outcome of internal exams/ panel interviews or such boards regulated by apex body of respective faiths/ religious body.

10. Uniform policies for trans genders from respective faiths.

11. Abolition of certain inhuman (and hurting flora and fauna) customs / traditions across the faiths/ religious affiliations after due consideration by intelligentsia of the respective faith/ religions.  

12. Abolition of coercive conversion.

13. Abolition of any art forms, depiction of any expressions denigrating any faith / religion.

14. Abolition of any local kangaroo court based on faith/ religious beliefs such as Khaps, Fatwas and other exhortations by local bodies not having any legal standing or is not based on Indian constitution / IPC and other Indian jurisdictional proclaims.

15. Creation of apex body for each faith/ religious affiliation to be met every 5 yrs to weed out time barred customs / traditions and to welcome new ideas.

16. Strive to make a society where there are no castes in any religion/ faith. To start with try to abolish the Title/ Surname/ Last name from while keeping the names of the newborns. Over the period the caste impressions would get blurred.

 

  

अग्निपथ

There is a growing chorus in the society for conscription. Conscription would instill discipline and develop the personality of youth. Government cannot afford conscription. 

The pension in Armed forces is substantial. Every year the pension bill is ballooning and it eats into defence budget. It is necessary to have substantial pension for those jawans who have given their 17 - 20 yrs of prime youth for the nation. A jawan gets pension as he completes his stipulated 17 - 20 yrs of service. As he is in his late thirties, he along with pension takes up a second career to assist his family. The pension is for next 30 plus years and after him his wife / daughter gets the pension. 

With a change in policy, government can bring down the pension bill, make average age of the defence forces lesser and thereby infuse more energy and still give an opportunity to the youth to start a new career outside when they are young. This midpath would usher benefits to  the government, the defence forces and to the youth. When the youth comes out of Agnipath scheme, they would have 10 - 12 lakhs as bounty, a good personality with some softskills learnt as agniveers and a touch of discipline. With this capital they can make themselves employable. They would also get a preference in CAPF and other central paramilitary forces. The 25 % retention is a good carrot for them to get motivated and prove themselves. So the youth should start preparing for next 90 days to be Agniveers instead of getting swayed by the opportunist opposition parties and indulging in protests.  

The defence forces have their own think tanks and any policy is after deliberations at all levels. They have there own checks and balances and so nobody should think that it is a throttled decision. 

The youth of the country prepare and join the tour of duty  -  Agnipath.

समाजात सगळ्यांनी सैनिकी शिक्षण घेतले पाहिजे व सैन्यसेवा सक्तीची केली पाहिजे असे कित्येक लोकांना वाटते. अशाने जागरूकता येईल, शिस्त वाढेल व त्याच बरोबर तरुणांच्या व्यक्तिमत्त्वाचा विकास होण्याची शक्यता आहेच. पण लोकांना जरी वाटले तरी ते शक्य होणारे नाही कारण सरकारी तिजोरीत सगळ्यांना पगार देण्याइतके पैसेच नाहीत.

सरकारी सैन्यात पेन्शन खूप आहे व त्याचा खर्च इतका मोठा व दरवर्षी वाढत जाणारा आहे की सरकारला तो झेपणारा नाही. एक जवान २० वर्षानंतर पेन्शन घ्यायला लागतो (तेव्हा त्याचे वय साधारण ३६ ते ४० असते) तेव्हा पासून तो पुढची किमान ३० वर्ष पेन्शन घेतो त्याच्या नंतर त्याच्या मागे त्याची पत्नी किंवा मुलगी पेन्शन घेते. तो ३६ - ४० वर्षाचा असल्याने व सैन्यातल्या शिस्तीच्या सवयीने पेन्शन बरोबर दुसरी नोकरी पकडून चार पैसे कमावतो व घराला हातभार लावतो. सैन्यात केलेल्या १७ - ते २० वर्षाच्या सेवेबद्दल पेन्शन मिळालीच पाहिजे. 

आपल्या सेनेतल्या जवानांचे सरासरी वय कमी होऊन त्याच बरोबर सरकारचे पेन्शन बिल कमी होण्यास साध्य असे दूरगामी धोरण अमलात आणले तर दोघांचाही फायदा होऊ शकतो. त्याच बरोबर जवानांना बाहेर जाऊन दुसरा उद्योग धंदा किंवा नोकरी पण करता येईल. अग्निपथातून बाहेर पडते समयी तरुणांचे वय २२ ते २८ असणार आहे त्याच बरोबर हातात १० - १२ लाखाचा निधीही. परत २५ टक्के सैन्यात भरती होण्याच्या गाजराच्या आशेवर ते सैन्यात असताना काम पण चांगले करतील, पुढे केंद्रीय सैन्यबळात भरती होण्यास प्राधान्य पण मिळेल व काही जणांना तर १० - १२ लाखाच्या भांडवलावर स्टारटअप सुद्धा करता येईल. तेव्हा उगाच तोडफोड करून विरुद्ध पक्षाच्या लोकांनी ठरवून व लोकांना चिथवून अग्नीपथ योजने विरुद्ध निषेध करण्यापेक्षा ह्या योजनेचा तरुणांनी लाभ घ्यावा व येत्या ९० दिवसात भरती होण्यासाठी तयारी करावी. 

मराठी पत्रकार (सगळे नाही, पण बहू) जे अर्ध्या हळकुंडाने पिवळे होऊन स्वतःला पत्रकार समजतात व एका कोणत्यातरी पक्षाची री ओढत बसतात किंवा रक्षासंदर्भातला कोर्स करून सुद्धा फुसक्या राजकीय घडामोडींवर चार वाक्य लिहितात त्यांनी उगाच ताशेने झाडण्यापेक्षा ह्या योजनेचा अभ्यास करून लेख लिहिवावेत. उगाच मोदी आवडत नाहीत फक्त ह्याच कारणास्तव अग्निपथाचा निषेध न करता त्याचे फायदे काय आहेत, तरुणांना कसे भरती होता येईल हे लिहावे. अशा लिहिण्याला म्हणतात जबाबदार लेखणी. 

तरुणांनो उठा अग्नीवीर व्हा उगाच कोणाच्या चिथवण्यावर जाळपोळ व निषेध करून काही मिळणार नाही - आपल्या देशाला ह्याच पासून तर वाचवायचे आहे. अग्निपथावर अग्नीवीर बना व स्वतःचा जठराग्नी शमवा देशाचे भले करा.

CHAPTER 16 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 3 – (PART I) – DUTY DOER’S NON DOING OR DESIRELESS ACTION!

Commentary – Every action elicits reaction. There are many types of actions which we undertake during our course of life. They are grouped as under -  

Unavoidable Action – This covers base of Maslow’s Hierarchy Pyramid starting with basic needs of physiological nature like food, water, sleep and safety needs like safety and security.

Desireful Action – These actions are performed in order to gain something. These are middle part of Maslow’s pyramid covering psychological needs of belongingness like relationships, relations and esteem needs like name, fame.

Desireless Action – At the crest of pyramid are the actions performed after self-actualization. These desireless actions are carried out for the good of the maximum.

Every cause has an effect. Every action leads to a reaction. Even if action is by self, its reactions may come from inside (body and mind) and from outside (by others). The reactions or effects gives us peace, joy or sorrow. Unavoidable actions result in effects of joy or pain. Desireful actions give happy moments on suitable outcomes and unhappy moments on adverse outcome. Even though there is an effect or reaction after a desireless action, the performer is insulated from any kind of suffering.

For the discussion when the word ‘action’ is used, it means avoidable, desireful and desireless action. Where specific action is intended there it is specified.

Desireless action or duty doer’s non doing (desireless action) results from doing work or duties with a balanced mind, resulting in righteous actions for the universal good of beings and non-beings....... keep reading!!!!!!

FIRST INDIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE - 1857

Years ago, our freedom fighters fought first unified war against the oppressive British regime. They were successful in pushing back the British Army everywhere and this day 165 years ago Delhi area was declared free of British Army.

Aided by martyrdom of Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi bai, Tatya Tope and others Bahadur Shah Jaffar, got reinstated as the head of free India albeit for six days when he was again out powered by Britishers. The first war of independence was unsuccessful. Britishers declared it as a mutiny, a local revolt due to a trivial event of bullets wrapping paper laced with cow/pig tallow.  

It was Veer Savarkar who rewrote the history in right perspective in the first decade of last century and gave the real purport to the freedom fighters actions and termed it as the First Indian War of Independence. In fact, due to his efforts, memories of fighters Rani Laxmi bai, Tatya Tope and Mangal Pandey were rekindled amongst Indians and these freedom fighters became pivot points during the freedom struggle. First Indian War of Independence and Bankim Chandra’s Vande Mataram written in 1870s instilled confidence in the erstwhile freedom movement. The proletariat came to understand that, to achieve freedom, mere petitions and prayers would not suffice but would require direct action.

This day every year should be celebrated in memory of First Indian War of Independence.

CHAPTER 15 - START A BETTER LIFE – LESSON 2 – (PART VI) – DUTY DOER’S NON DOING!

From 39^th stanza till the end of Chapter II of Gita, duty doer’s non doing is explained. These are capable persons, who believe in carrying out the duty. The aim of such persons is to do good of maximum (beings and non-beings).

Some think, for serving the mankind, special set of skills or capabilities are a must! I came across a very learned person, who wants to serve the society, but his lament is, he is not a doctor. According to him, a doctor can serve the community better – and he is not! Doctors can serve but so can anyone. What is required is mindset. The keyword here is ‘without expecting anything in return’. Right mindset associated with good health can do wonders for the society. We have examples of uneducated persons doing yeoman’s service to the nation and in turn for the universe. We may not be the person to actually prescribe the medicines but we can be the person who delivers the medicines!!!

The duty has to be understood. It is a self-assigned work for the community which is selfless and without any expectations. The duty is assumed, based on synthesis of own capability, family and individual constraints including health and circumstances they are in. By carrying out the duty without any expectations these duty doers become non doers. That is, they do and don’t expect anything in return, don’t become sad if they couldn’t achieve, don’t carry with them hatred against any one or praise doesn’t stick on to them. Only such non doers remain contended.  Those who do their duty with expectations or work for profit, face frustration, disenchantment and problems sometime or other in their life.

Doing without expectation, and becoming a doing non doer have positive effect on self. One remains happy, contended and without any baggage and has better effect on mental and physical health.

 Keep reading…………….!!!!!

AULD LANG SYNE

When the Army Navy Airforce ceremonial band plays, Auld Lang Syne composition, it makes the listener nostalgic and instantly transports him to down memory lane. The original Scottish folk song meaning  - "Old long since", or "days gone by" or "old times" was edited and rewritten by Robert Burns in 1788 and since then has stroked the emotional chord of the western world and armed forces of many commonwealth countries including India. 

Since the song recalls the bygone days of the listener, it is remembered on new year festivities, or adieu functions. The tune is given here. Courtesy Youtube and is rendered by Maratha Light Infantry Band. 

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Please click on the link to listen to the tune - Auld Lang Syne Tune by Maratha LI  

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The tune is sombre, simple and very similar to Rabindra Sangeet. Tagore composition “Purano Shei Diner Katha” is said to be an inspiration from the Auld Lang Syne composition and it seamlessly fits into Rabindra Sangeet tunes. Just like Rabindra Sangeet has that solemn hint in its compositions, so does Auld Lang Syne has. 

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Please click on the link to listen to the tune. Courtesy youtube by Shaan. He has sung both versions well - Purano Sei Dinner Kotha . How seamlessly it merges with Rabindra Sangeet!

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Auld lang Syne tune is extensively played by Indian Army, Navy and Airforce at various occasions by the military band. This tradition is set to be changed and in the "Azadi ka Amrut Mohotsav" year, more focus is being given on the Indian tunes played at such ceremonies. In the 75th year of Independence, military bands will play indigenous compositions at the end of solemn national ceremonial events such as beating the retreat, passing out parades and other such occasions.

  

FARM LAWS REPEALED

Farm laws have been repealed. 

As it is they were kept in suspended animation indefinitely by Supreme Court. 

Better to scrap them for following reasons

    - Due to various vested interests people were opposing them (without understanding them) even if they are under stay by SC. 

    - by repealing them BJP has shown that it listens and doesn't make ego issues like they had done it for Land acquisition Bill. 

    - Till 2024 Tikait (propped up by opposition and manufactured opposition) would have hurt BJP even though the laws were good and were for the betterment of farmers .... FARM LAWS  (CLICK THIS LINK IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE), they were a choice given to the farmers, they were giving more opportunities of selling their produce still a narrative built up and the toolkit was opened. 

    -    there was a feeling that public awareness was lacking about the bills. 

May be 2024 elections would be contested on FARM LAWS -- who knows.. it requires more awareness , it requires more जनजागृती

 

कुछ करो

 

9^th Jun, 22 yrs back  - tortured and mutilated remains of Lt Saurabh Kalia and 5 Jawans were given by Pak in gunny bags!!

19^th Jun, 22 yrs back pt 5140 near Tololing was captured (B Coy Lt Sanjiv Singh Jamwal and D Coy Lt Vikram Batra of 13 JAK RIF led the operation). This was the famous 'दिल मांगे more' moment of Lt Vikram Batra.

7^TH Jul, this day 22yrs back point 4875 in Mushkoh Valley was captured. Capt Vikram Batra was martyred during the capture. It is now named as Batra Top. The martyrdom of Lt Saurabh Kalia and Capt Vikram Batra shook up the nation and we Indians saw the fourth war with Pakistan.

8^th Jul. This day 22 yrs. back Tiger Hill was recaptured. This was a decisive point in Op Vijay. The tables turned and India regained the lost ground.

In memory of OP VIJAY here is a two-part KUCH KARO –

 

Part 1 – कूछ करो ।

Part 2 – बारी हैं फिर कुछ करने की ।

10 Jun 1999. 6 am. 7 Race Course Road. Prime Minister’s residence. ..

Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM was at the door with an important message to Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. They had a short talk and it was decided that Cabinet Committee with Chief of Staff Committee would meet at PM’s residence at 9 am same day. Before calling on, Brajesh Mishra had been briefed by Joint Intelligence Committee chief and Service Chiefs along with Dte Gen Mil Ops.

There was unusual somber atmosphere when the emergency cabinet meeting began. PM was in a huddle with Defence Minister George Fernandes and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, on his right. On his left sat, Mr Brijesh Mishra who was also National Security Adivisor, followed by Defence Secy and the three service Chiefs. The meeting started with a presentation by Joint Intelligence Committee chief which was under Chiefs of Staff Committee. It was just a repetition for all the stakeholders as most of them were briefed in the midnight itself. This meeting was to bring all agencies to the same level of information and decide the future course. 

The JIC chief presented the situation to the PM, Cabinet ministers and others present including the Service Chiefs.

With grim face JIC chief started . ..

"Yesterday at Bajrang Post, Pakistanis called and handed over six gunny bags to the 4 Jat Regiment Long Range Patrol (LRP) scouts in the Kaksar sector. All six gunny bags had mutilated bodies of Indian soldiers.  The tortured and mutilated bodies of Lt Saurabh Kalia and 5 sepoys were handed over by Pakistani rangers".

JIC chief further said - "Earlier on May 3^rd, the Indian Army’s 121 Brigade in Kargil received reports of armed intruders in the Kargil sector. In the first half of May, patrols were sent in the Kaksar Langpa area of Kargil to check whether the snow had retreated enough for the summer positions to be re-occupied. As the terrain consists of high altitude mountains and inclement weather during winters it becomes extremely difficult to sustain and so, by mutual arrangement, both armies vacate certain forward posts during winter. But last winter, with a premediated plan, the Pakistan Army did not vacate its posts, and instead took over vacated Indian Army posts. This is a new behaviour pattern emerged in the history of Pak treachery. To confirm these intrusions on 15^th May, LRP was sent from the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector consisting of Lt Kalia and 5 jawans  - Arjun Ram, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Moola Ram and Naresh Singh of the 4th Jat Regiment. Lt Kalia, confirmed large-scale intrusion of Pakistani Army and foreign mercenaries on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) at Kargil".

Photo Courtesy - Imgur - KAKSAR SECTOR

The briefing of JIC concluded and the Cabinet and the Service Chiefs understood that the aim of Pakistani Infiltration was driven by an ambitious Head of Armed Forces (of pakistan) Gen Pervez Musharraf. Who wanted to show his nation that he solved Kashmir issue to their advantage. Therefore a plan was set in and at the onset of summer, infiltration started and by May that year over 5000 Pakistani infiltrators from Pak regular army Rangers disguised as militants occupied the heights commanding the NH1  with the aim :-

1.  To occupy military posts in Kargil as it is a sparcely populated part of Ladakh. It has tactically vital features and many unoccupied posts atop peaks overlooking NH1 (national highway which connects Jammu Srinagar Kargil Leh). Kargil is about 175 km from Pak occupied Skardu so it can be used as logistical and artillery support base.

2.     To dominate NH1 and thereby cut Leh from rest of India.

3.     To affect the logistical supply route to Leh. 

Photo Courtesy - Wiki - Map showing the Line of Control 

Photo Courtesy – Wiki – This shows the NH1 alignment from Jammu to Leh alongwith Pak Infltration

Briefing finished and all eyes were on Mr PM. We as a nation had to decide our future course. PM had keenly heard the briefing. He had cancelled all his engagements for the day. PM, fluttering his eyelids, looking in the general direction of the three service chiefs but meant for everybody there sitting on his right and left, after a long eerie pause throwing his hands open,  uttered heavily loaded two words –

………कुछ करो ।

PM departed the room and drove straight to PMO office.

The task of each one was cut :- To translate KUCH KARO into executable and timebound tasks with least damage to own image and forces and to be able to push the intrusion and get back the territory which was occupied by the infiltrators.

Indian side should be seen winning and strong. For that, the Defence Minister with three service chiefs would have to make a plan for flushing out the intrusion without escalating it into full fledged war.

Foreign Minister would try to shape the world view of what has happened and diplomatically expose Pakistan.

Cabinet secy and Defence secy to take a call on any emergency logistical defence procurement requirement.

Chief of Army Staff along with DGMO spelt KUCH KARO into an executable task to the Northern, South Western Commands of Army. The task of Indian Armed Services was to recapture peaks that were in immediate vicinity of NH1. After this flush out all the infiltrators present. 

Everyone had done their homework and started the execution of the plan – The GOC in C Northern Command asked the GOC 14, GOC 15 and GOC 16 Corps Cdr to secure the Vital Ground KAKSAR BATALIK and DRASS. The respective Corps Cdrs in turn asked the GOC Div Cdrs to secure respective ground of tactical importance covering each of the div area which consisted of brigades and battalions. This led to the coordinated attacks on Tololing Point 4590, Pt 5140, Mushkoh Pt 4875, Pimple area, Tiger Hill in Drass and Batalik Turtuk sub sector Point 5353 and other areas.

Navy and Airforce had their tasks spelt out. The IAF launched Operation Safed Sagar, in support of mobilization of Indian Army. Indian Navy launched Operation Talwar to block Pak ports with an aim  to cut off supply routes.

The rest is history. This military op was code named as Op Vijay which started from 03 May 1999 till 26 Jul 1999.

To derive correct course of action from a seemingly ambiguous direction given by the top leader needs an uncanny understanding of the person, situation and ramifications. This is a fit case study in management - How to translate ambiguity to executable, verifiable and time bound tasks - which the three Service Chiefs’ showed after that crucial two word  कुछ करो dictate. 

Part 2 – बारी हैं फिर कुछ करने की ।

Enemy country infiltrations with an intent of area domination and to gobble some posts which happened during Mar – Jul 1999 have international ramifications, have agenda driven media waiting to extract TRPs and opposition parties grabbing the moment to corner the government of the day. Keeping in mind the interests of the country, the government has to act. Most importantly it is to be seen that the citizens remain motivated and their faith is not shaken.

PM Atal Bihari knew his subordinates well and had faith in their capabilities. He knew with his laconic कूछ करो direction, each one would come up with a befitting plan to face the situation. This trust of the top leader in his subordinates, clarity of the senior level, mid level leaders and the soldiers’ will to defend saw us victorious in OP VIJAY. 

Today in 2021 when the whole world is ravaged by Chinese Corona virus कूछ करो becomes all the more relevant. This biological war has been unleashed by China but unfortunately nations are not acknowledging this, due to various reasons.

कूछ करो becomes more relevant when China gobbled our vast territory in Aksai Chin and we had bitter experience in Dhemchok and Galwan.  

It becomes relevant when Pakistan fights a proxy war in Kashmir.

To translate this कूछ करो into a practical, verifiable timebound plan, the National Security Advisor (NSA) and Chief of Defense staff (CDS) need to ascertain the National Threat Perception (NTP)

1.  List out all tactical threats across the border that has to be tackled upto Battalion and Bde level.

2.  List out all tactical and strategic threats upto COMMAND level.

3.  List out all Nuclear Biological (like CORONA) Chemical threats upto National level.

4.  List out similar threats for Navy, Airforce, paramilitary forces.

5.  List out Cyber, Psychological, Financial, Religious threats and vulnerable national assets.

6.  The NSA and CDS should review these threats periodically.

7.  List out the requirements for mitigating these threats.

8.  Match the requirements with available technology/ available human resource. Look first in our country itself and if not found then scout outside. Matching is enough. Overkill may impose time and cost penalties which would turn the notional advantage into disadvantage.

Examples –

 

1.     Example for airborne mitigator for strategic and tactical threats - 42 Sqns of MIG were based on threat perception and prevalent technology in the mid 60s. Even if the threats remain same with the modern technology (e.g. Mirages), there can be a scale down of 42 Sqns. Along with technology the combat scene has under gone a change and military aviation has grown into a superior tactical and strategic arm. Present day fighter aircrafts carryout tasks of several aircrafts in one single modern fighter aircraft. With the fantastic capabilities, the emphasis should  be on ‘smart’ capability and not numbers. 

 

2.     Example for vulnerable assets - NH1 is very vulnerable. If gets cut by enemy then it will cut Leh/ Ladakh region. To mitigate this a plan was evolved to make another motorable road which would be open whole year. This is the alternate route from Himachal Pradesh. In 1999 the road was not good and used to be closed for almost half the year. With ATAL tunnel (opened in 2019) and Shingo la tunnel (slated to be opened in 2024) Shimla Leh axes would be open throughout the yr. Such kind of decisions which mitigate the threats are needed by NSA and CDS.

3.   Example for Biological Warfare – Even if the world does not openly say but the fact is Corona/ Covid is a biological war unleashed by China so that world economy is affected. India has taken steps to develop vaccines to combat covid. Seen from the biological warfare point of view, NSA/ CDS have stake in the program for mitigating this biological warfare. In this context the Indian vaccine program should be encouraged and supported.

 

 

Capital procurement for Defence forces (Army, Navy Airforce) is based on Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). DPP is the outcome of Kargil Review Committee. An important aspect of procurement process is Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). AoN is defined as follows - The services based on Staff Requirements makes a case before Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) and only after council accepts the necessity, a go ahead for procurement is given. This ensures acquisition is based on a national threat and is not subjective. The capital procurement based on threat perception of each service is good, but better would be a coordinated capital procurement for three services based upon NTP. As a nation we need to curb the tendencies of expanding the kingdom beyond requirement of NTP by each service. Procurement necessities based upon NTP when viewed from a platform which is at least one level above the Army Navy Airforce services would result in optimum procurement and coordinated spending. Based upon the NTP, The NSA or CDS should be the level for a coordinated capital procurement.