Bharat R Pandya It is good that the great jurists of law Commission have woken up to the inhuman practice of Triple Talaq, I am shocked to note that they are very concerned about the well being and welfare of the muslim women. It is a healthy sign that some Hindu jurists have at least some corner for humanity in their heart. ..... I congratulate them for this step. But i want to ask these great jurists where they were when Muslim women were raped, their womb pierced , foetus taken out and put on nip of a sword by some Hindu militant in Ahmedabad in 2002. ? Where were they when such inhuman atrocities were perpetrated on our Muslim sisters and daughters ? Were they worshipping Modi ?---------------------------Let me make it clear I AM AGAINST THIS PRACTICE OF TRIPLE TALAQ AS OUR MUSLIM WOMEN SUFFER THE MOST. If any law is in mind, the Supreme Court should call for the laws framed in so many Muslim countries where triple talaq is prohibited. One particular law most advantageous to the Muslim women should be accepted in toto and included in the Statute Book.------------- The discussion should not be allowed to lapse into the war between the Rights of Muslim Men and Women. Why the men are so much jealous of maintaining their inhuman hold on the lives of their wives ?
Friday, October 14, 2016
The heroes of 1971
On 16 Dec 1971, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal of the 17 Poona Horse Regiment, was killed in the Battle of Basantar and was awarded the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. His portrait hangs in the central lobby of the Sudan Block in the NDA.
In 2001, Brigadier ML Khetarpal (Father of Late 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC) then 81 years old - felt a strong desire to visit his birthplace Sargodha, now in Pakistan. At Lahore airport, Brigadier Khetarpal was met by Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Naser, who took it upon himself to be Brigadier Khetarpal’s host and guide. Brigadier Naser really went out of his way to ensure that Brigadier Khetarpal had a satisfying and nostalgic visit to his old house in Sargodha.
Upon his return to Lahore he was once again the guest of Brigadier Naser for three days. Brigadier Khetarpal was overwhelmed by the extreme kindness, deference, courtesy and respect bestowed upon him by Brigadier Naser and by all the members of his family and his many servants. However Brigadier Khetarpal felt that something was amiss but could not make out what it was. Was it the long silences that punctuated their animated conversation or was it the look of compassion in the eyes of the women in the family? He could not make out but was sure he was being treated as someone very special. Finally, on the last night before Brigadier Khetarpal's departure, Brigadier Naser said "Sir, there is something that I wanted to tell you for many years but I did not know how to get through to you. Finally, fate has intervened and sent you to me as an honoured guest. The last few days we have become close to one another and that has made my task even more difficult."
"It is regarding your son who is, of course, a national hero in India. However on that fateful day, your son and I were soldiers, unknown to one another, fighting for the respect and safety of our respective countries. I regret to tell you that your son died at my hands. Arun's courage was exemplary and he moved his tank with fearless courage and daring, totally unconcerned about his safety. Tank casualties were very high till finally there were just two of us left facing one another. We both fired simultaneously. It was destined that I was to live and he was to die. It was only later that I got to know how young he was and who he was. I had all along thought that I would ask your forgiveness, but in telling the story I realize that there is nothing to forgive.
Instead I salute your son for what he did at such a young age and I salute you too, because I know how he grew into such a young man. In the end it is character and values that matter."
Brigadier Khetarpal was silent as he did not know how to react. To be enjoying the hospitality of the person who had killed his son was a confusing feeling. However being a soldier himself he genuinely admired the chivalry of an officer whose complete squadron was decimated by his son. Both the Brigadiers retired for the night deep in thought. There are never any victors in war; both sides lose and it is the families that have to pay the price and suffer the most. As someone once said 'Wars are created by politicians, compounded by bureaucrats and fought by soldiers.'
The next day photographs were taken and Brigadier ML Khetarpal returned back to Delhi. Later the photos reached Delhi along with a note from Brigadier Naser that said:
"With Warmest regards and utmost sincerity, To: Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, Father of Shaheed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, (who stood like an unsurmountable rock, between the victory and failure, of the counter attack by the 'SPEARHEADS' 13 LANCERS on 16 December 1971 in the battle of "Bara Pind' as we call it and battle of "Basantar' as 17 Poona Horse remembers) "
"With Warmest regards and utmost sincerity, To: Brigadier M.L. Khetarpal, Father of Shaheed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, (who stood like an unsurmountable rock, between the victory and failure, of the counter attack by the 'SPEARHEADS' 13 LANCERS on 16 December 1971 in the battle of "Bara Pind' as we call it and battle of "Basantar' as 17 Poona Horse remembers) "
This is what soldiering is made of - honour and respect among enemies.
Forwarded as received.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Air Chief marshal Idris Hassan Latif 's manner
It is the custom in the Indian Air Force, for the Chief, before he retires, to make a round visiting squadrons and stations he has commanded during his service, in a manner of bidding farewell...
So it was with Air Chief Marshal Idris Hassan Latif in 1981, when he landed up in Air Force Station Pune for two days of pre-retirement partying, having commanded the Wing earlier. A polished man and an accomplished and soft-spoken, articulate speaker, he won hearts easily.
On the third afternoon, his cavalcade was making its way to the dispersal tarmac before the ATC, where the Chief's Boeing was awaiting his departure to Delhi, when the Chief suddenly remembered he had forgotten to meet Uncle and bade his driver turn back to the Officers' Mess.
India at the time, was in the middle of the Khalistan terrorism phase and the Chief's security was tight. As his car turned around, the security detail quickly blocked its path with their vehicles and instantly his car was surrounded by commandos wielding automatic weapons, loaded and ready to fire at the driver. The Chief got out, apologized to the security detail and the cavalcade made its way back to the Officers' Mess, to allow the Chief of Air Staff to meet Uncle.
Uncle was an institution. His name was Fernandez, he was from Goa, was a bachelor and had been a barman at the Mess well before Chief Latif was a Pilot Officer, posted to a Squadron at the Lohegaon, Pune Base. Uncle would have been around 80 at the time. Late in the night once, after he had closed the bar and was walking to his room in the Officers' Mess, I had accosted Uncle to ask him how he was still in service when he was bent double and obviously far older than the retiring age of 60. He told me with a twinkle in his eye that after Independence they were made to fill up new forms. At the time, while he was 30+, he filled in his age as 18!
Fernandez was affectionately called Uncle by everyone, including the Station Commander and indeed, the Chief of Air Staff himself. One night, as Uncle had lined up drinks for me and a Debonair magazine journalist I had been assigned to accompany, take care of and show around the fighter base, the Station Commander's staff car stopped in front of the Mess lobby. The Air Commodore, on his way home from a party in town, stopped at the bar for a quick one, asking Uncle, just locking up the bar, for a drink. Uncle, bent double, turned sideways, turned his head to the side to look up at the Air Commodore and told him, "You've had enough, son. Go home."
Soon Air Chief Marshal Latif was in Uncle's tiny bachelor pad, sitting beside him on his cot, reminiscing of older times. After a while, he gifted Uncle with a mohair blanket and a cheque of Rs.1,000, a third more than a young fighter pilot's salary at the time, before once again getting into his car to join the cavalcade back to his Boeing. ---- Story by Rajiv Tyagi a Fighter plane Officer on Oct 8, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
On Art
For the attn. Madam Munira ji Surati and Essa Shab-------------Art
Art is expression of emotions and thoughts. Since time immemorial man has resorted to expressing some thoughts and emotions , without alphabet, through the medium of pictures, on wall, utensils, ceilings and coins too. Some people like the Chinese are peculiar to include pictures in their alphabet and some languages like Urduhave some characteristics like drawings. Though it remains a fact that when Urdu was given shape there were not enough idealism except the man’s urge to break out of the Dark Age shackles and rise into a new world. Bur before that even Mughal Kings gave prominence to the farsi language which was for some time official language of old India. The picturesque shapes in Urdu as we are seeing are of the origin of 19th century. Ancient India had its own legacy of paintings and idols and temples in the form of Art. But Art always took a back seat in the kingdoms of the Hindu kings . The Brahmins who wrote epics had written many things in the religious books but had not included a single painting in the epics describing the physical features of the multi-Gods , their family members and the places of their residence . Learned thinking on Art is the peculiar quality of the Western Scholars. Let us examine some of their thoughts on the formulation of Art and its manifestations in the form of 1. Paintings 2. Sculpture 3. Architecture . These are the kinds of visual art. Hippocrates had described importance as “ Life is short, art long “ Art is ever lasting in the human history and art has been instrumental in understanding the historical incidents and the state of the society , appearance , physique, living conditions, public facilities like roads, lakes, weapons, vehicles like chariots, etc. They become part of history to understand social , political and cultural environment of the Society. Olden India is lacking in these aspects and we have no source to learn the living conditions , styles of living, customs etc until the westerners dug out our history from Mohan Jo Daro, Nalanda , Shilalekhs of Buddha period ( they are also unusual specimen of old art . made and forgotten . Let us concentrate on paintings. Some scholars have defined paintings like 1. Simonides of 6th – 5th century Before Christ as “ Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is silent painting that speaks . “ So even olden scholars had envisioned painting similar to poetry. Poetry is just not finding one word here and putting another there . It is a clear manifestation of the inner mind, some times even his sub-conscious mind , where experiences are stored , and take out the images slowly and steadily , Some Paintings take months to complete , is it not creditable for the artist to keep some images in store in the memory for months and years and then to draw the paintings ? The Greek painter Exekias ( period 550-480 BC --- refer my post on Facebook in Aug 15 ) The artist has drawn picture of two soldiers playng draughts . It tells us all things about the hobby, dress, weapons, furniture a painting on vase Some paintings of the battles fought in Europe were really credit worthy as the artist had kept even small details of the soil, clothes , weapons, dreess, manners etc. Take the example of the artist Paolo Uccello ( born 1397 ) He painted a painting of the Rout of San Romano , I had posted this painting in Aug 2015 describing features of the painting including dress, weapons, , war animals,Now see the painting of Velazquez drawn in the years 1635-1636 regarding surrender of Breda , this painting was posted by me in Aug 15 describing salient features of the painting including mannerism of the victors . ( Here I relax , the more matter will be posted later on ) |
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I also have a desire to stand at her grave and offer floral tribute when I shall visit Mumbai next
Can any one including Amir Khan help in showing the graveyard ? |
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