Russian Women like Tenderness and Soft Lovers

Russian girls as I have pointed out have great regard for Indians and I have had my fair share of their company in my life.  Been to Russia umpteen times starting from my first affair with a major's wife at Kanpur, the Base repair depot for Russian aircraft.
In Russia the  Second World war took it's toll and 20 million Russians died, mostly men in fighting the Nazi menace. This has led to a lopsided sex ratio in favor of women and as more women are available than men, they are not that assiduously wooed. This is just a statement from my experience and not to be taken as a gospel truth.

Russian girls also do many jobs in other countries reserved for men as they are a significant part of the work force; does this affect their psyche and make them a little tougher and hard? I can't say , but my view is that most Russian girls do not know love and tenderness and the sex act is something like a bullet and just fired and spent. Why" because of the peculiar environment in Russia, where women are more than men and many shoulder tough jobs.

My first encounter is vivid as I visited the BRD at Kanpur. There were many Russians there with their wives. What struck me was the heavy drinking by the Russian men and one day the inevitable happened. After a dinner, a major drank so much that he passed out and his wife a beautiful lady was aghast. A rang up the beat motorcyclist of the Air forecPoilce and they came and took the Russian to his quarters. The wife remained and I asked her after all the hula bull was over, whether she would take a small drink with me.

She consented and I could see that the lady was not happy and after small talk and drinks I told her she was lovely. She was a bit surprised as nobody for a long time had paid her this compliment. She was about 30 and to my mind very beautiful.
I compliment her on her looks and seeing an opportune moment kissed her hand. Then I bent down and removed her sandals and sucked her toes. It was something she had never experienced.  The inevitable happened and I spent a long , long time almost an eon as I awakened her. it was a rare experience for her as all along she had had sex like a bullet from a revolver. She never had sex with soft music of a Hindu chant to god playing in the background and a man who literally worshiped her body as a altar.

This affair which lasted a few months was one of the most satisfying she had ever had as she was ushered into a world of sensual love as I believe in the art as taught to me by my guru swami Shraddanand of Bassein.
Subsequently I visited Russia so many times and came across so many girls and all along I realized that love and its finer points, the finesse and all that goes with it were alien to them. For me it was a glorious time and i looked forward to go to Russia as and when required. I felt it a godsend that i was on Russian aircraft and again the message of Lord Krishna boomed to me " not a leaf moves beyond my will". Perhaps it was ordained this way . What then has been my philosophy ? I think the verse below  illustrates it.

If I could kiss you all the way
From your sweet eyes to your bosom
With three hundred thousand kisses
I'd be forever moistening
Some thick dry plough so as to reap
Each new harvest of our kisses.
Poem by Catullus the Latin poet

A Study of Nehru's Folly and Ineptitude in Facing China

 Indian Claim to Aksai Chin in Ladakh and NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh)

India  has a long border with Tibet. The border undulates along the Himalayan range, which acted as a natural barrier between the two nations. Thus people to people contact between the Chinese and Tibetan populace on one side and India was minimal and both nations existed together for centuries without any acrimony.
The Advent of British Power
The situation changed with the advent of the British  as the rulers. They followed a policy of expansion of British power and looked for ways to counter Russia which was expanding its influence in Central Asia. The result was the YoungHusband expedition of 1903/4 against Tibet. The result was a foregone conclusion, as the ill equipped Tibet Army was defeated and Young Husband reached Lhasa. As the paramount power in SE Asia the British enforced their will and demarcated borders as per their requirement. Thus the McMahan line appeared in the Eastern region and Aksai Chin became part of the British Empire.
To legitimize their writ they convened a tripartite conference at Simla in 1913, which was attended by the representatives of China and Tibet. However the agreement on the border was not initialed by the Chinese and Tibetans, but the British as the super power in the region enforced the agreement. It must be noted that at that time China was weak and the European powers were controlling vast area of China. Later the Japanese occupied the entire North East of China. During this period Tibet had a semblance of Independence, but all along it had remained a vassal state of China.
The Eastern Border
The McMahan line is an artificial line drawn by the British to demarcate the border in the east. The Entire NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) now called Arunachal Pradesh, thus fell into the British lap. History records that this area was at no stage before the advent of the British, a part of India. Even the writ of the Mughul Empire at its zenith under Aurangzeb never had control beyond Assam. Thus Twang and other areas of NEFA were outside the pale of the Indian empire.
Twang and the areas of NEFA were in real terms closer to Tibet and there are reports that Twang paid tribute to the Dalai Lama.

Aksai Chin and the Western Border
 As far as Aksai Chin is concerned there is no historical record of it having had any Indian administration either Mughul or Sikh. Ranjit Singh the Sikh ruler did attack Ladakh, but he also did not venture into Aksai Chin. This area remained a no mans land with some ties to Tibet.
Thus when India was freed by England in 1947 the Indian government took over as the legitimate inheritor of what the British had left behind. However Nehru, the Indian Leader never understood the dynamics of power politics. He forgot that the British had enforced their will by a naked show of Military strength. If India was to sustain the borders as left behind by the English a strong Military was a must

The Folly of Nehru and India’s Claim
This Nehru neglected and the Army went to seed. In addition he made no attempt to establish any form of control administrative or other wise over Aksai Chin. He made matters worse by once remarking ‘not a blade of grass grows there’. This remark only showed has naivety and inaptitude in handling the politics of nations.
With India absent in Aksai Chin, the Chinese occupied the entire area (30000 sq miles) and  India  knew nothing. Thus Nehru and India cannot really claim Aksai chin, an area that was never administered from Delhi by any Indian ruler or government. In the East also he clung to British interpretation of the border, but he made a fatal mistake again by not policing the area and allowed the Chinese to establish a hold over Tibet. His recognition of Tibet as a part of China was a fatal blunder and Tibet which had enjoyed some degree of Independence and acted as a buffer between India and China was lost. Nehru also talked of Himalayas as our natural border, but again modern armies can easily cross the Himalayas which the Chinese did in 1962 and Nehru was caught napping.
Last Word
The crucial point we must remember is that India lost the territories to China in absentia.Without a strong army to counter an expansionist China, Nehru sold India down the drain and though India accepted the British interpretation of the border, it never had the where with all to enforce it. In addition the weak historical claim has emboldened the Chinese, who claim they are the direct inheritors of Tibet and its territories .This they have enforced by a military might that even tests the United Sates. What of the future? I do not visualize any solution of the border and recovery of Aksai Chin ever. India will have to face the Dragon and stop it from further incursions. The case of India as a legitimate ruler of these territories is goine forever.

Secularism in India and Role of Congress Party

Do Indians understand what secularism Means; Congress and Pampering of Muslims

I think the title of this post should have been "Does the Congress party Understand what secularism" means". I have used the word Indians only because the Congress helped shaped India's  policies  for almost 6 decades after India became free. In that respect it represented India and thrust its brand of secularism all over India.

Pandit Nehru for reasons best known to him was always to sympathetic to the Muslims . I again use the word sympathetic , well the actual word is appeasement as he seemed to hold the Muslims in awe for whatever reason we do not know. One man in a light hearted meander once expressed to me that  Pandit Nehru had close affinity and blood relations with Muslims and Sheik Abdullah was his half brother. This can all be treated as drivel and perhaps not true, but the fact is that Nehru went out of his way to accommodate the Muslims.

There is no doubt that the Muslims ruled India for 900 years and this does prey on the mind of Hindus in a sub conscious manner. The Hindu psyche cannot rid itself of it and the result is a desire not to antagonize the  Muslim community and gave them a greater rope than is warranted. This has also led to twisted interpretation of the word secularism

Secularism is something good , but it does not mean a deprivation of the majority community and pampering of any community or religion. Unfortunately Gandhi followed by Nehru believed in pampering the Muslims and this was in fact a doubled sword. The pampered Muslims failed to integrate with the nation and remained backward, wedded to obscurantism and old fashioned ideas. Education failed to seep through to them and the community remained backward. By giving a warped sense of secularism the Congress failed to integrate Muslims with India  and in a way harmed the Muslims themselves.

Things like personal law and Sharia continued in the 21st century and even though Muslim nations like Turkey discarded them, but not the India led by the congress. This is the bane of India that once the Hindus came to power albeit by default and without a fight, they have squandered a united India by allowing the Congress to rule and thus India is riven by casteism and religion and the so called secularism in real terms an anchor around its neck.

Why Julius Caesar Marched Against Rome in 49 BC and Meaning of Crossing the Rubicon

 Julius Caesar March on Rome in 49 BC

Caesar‘s march on Rome is also referred to as Caesars civil war. There is no doubt he unleashed a civil war, but there is also no doubt that he was the ablest general and a great soldier. He was a man of decision and his crossing the Rubicon River was an act of great decisive importance. He would not have crossed the Rubicon, in case he was not consumed by a burning ambition to control the destiny of Rome.

Julius Ceaser is one of the great figures of world history. He was born in 100 BC and stabbed to death in 44 BC. During his life span Ceaser proved himself a great general and ambitious leader. He was a man with great political ambition. He was also a great orator and in 59 BC became the consul of Rome.
On completion of his term as consul he was appointed governor of Gaul. Here he exhibited his immense military skill by besting the Germanic tribes and subduing the Celts. These successes saw Caesar’s popularity soar. The senate was wary of Caesar and led by Pompey called upon Caesar to disband his army and give up his command. He was informed that in case he failed to do as instructed, he would be declared an ‘Enemy of the State’ and dealt with accordingly.
Caesar received the senate’s command and he had to make the fateful decision, either to oppose or acquiesce to the senate’s diktat. At that time he was staying in the Italian city of Ravenna in the north of Italy.  Caesar took the fateful decision to oppose the senate and Pompey’s order. At that time there was an ancient law that forbade any Roman general from crossing the Rubicon River with his army. Any general attempting this was to be tried for treason.

Caesar took the fateful decision and in 49 BC crossed the Rubicon. The fact that he ignored the senate order revealed Caesar’s real intentions. He was thirsting for power and glory and nothing was going to stop him. He thus marched on Rome to realize his ambition of being a dictator and ruler of Rome. Once Caesar crossed the Rubicon, the point of no return was reached
 Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his army and moved victoriously to Rome. He was welcomed all along and the senate fearing the worst fled to Capua.  In Rome he became a virtual dictator and after 11 days a consul he set out for Greece in pursuit of Pompey.
In hind sight after a lapse of some 2000 years historians have concluded that Caesar’s march on Rome was inevitable. He had no choice, either he had to relinquish power and be sidelined or he could aspire to control Rome. Caesar took the decision that he wanted greater glory and complete control of Rome, hence he marched on Rome. It was a furtherance of his dream of total power.  In that respect Caesar is no different from later day rulers who desired absolute power like Napoleon.
Caesar‘s march on Rome is also referred to as Caesars civil war. There is no doubt he unleashed a civil war, but there is also no doubt that he was the ablest general and a great soldier. He was a man of decision and his crossing the Rubicon River was an act of great decisive importance. He would not have crossed the Rubicon, in case he was not consumed by a burning ambition to control the destiny of Rome.
Ceaser carried out great conquests, but the senate fearful of his dictatorial powers assassinated him in 44 BC.  Ceaser was a man of ambition who was not only a great soldier, but a man who put the Roman Empire on a firm footing. For this he deserves the title ‘The Great’ and his crossing the Rubicon a masterstroke.

Sultana Daku: His Loves and Life

Sultana Daku was a real life dacoit who terrorized central India during the twenties of the last century when the Raj was omnipotent. Sultana was ultimately captured and hanged in 1924. But over the years the legend of Sultana Daku has grown larger than life and many ballads and songs extol his greatness.

The Raj is a period in Indian history that can never be forgotten. This was a period when the Sahib’s travelled to the remotest corners of India and opened up the country to progress. There was also a class of people who lived their live as they had lived for hundreds of years. For these people the Raj had no meaning as they pursued the vocation which their ancestors had followed.
India at one time was home to thuggery, when thugs roamed central India and looted travelers by killing them. The Raj put down this menace, but another class of men emerged who were Daku’s (dacoits). They were not all evil and had a code of chivalry that is hard to explain now.

One such Daku is the famous Sultana, a Muslim who terrorized the United Provinces (now known as Utter Pradesh) in the twenties of the last century. He operated in the same region that earlier thugs had operated.
 Sultana Daku was a swashbuckling dacoit who rode a horse named Chetek and had a pet dog named Rai Bahadur. He was born into the Bhantu clan of criminals. He was ultimately captured by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Pearce and was sent to the gallows. Working along with Pearce was the Deputy Superintendent of police named Freddie Young.

This young man did not want Sultana to be hanged and he visited Sultana in jail many times and also went to Delhi to petition the higher ups to pardon Sultana. But the pardon never came and Young met Sultana before his hanging and asked for his last wish. Sultana requested Young to adopt his 7 year old son and bring him up as a ‘sahib’. Young agreed and later sent the boy to England for studies.  Freddie young’s grave has been located by an enterprising reporter and is at Bhopal. He had retired as Inspector General Prisons at Bhopal.

 The descendents of Sultan Daku were settled by Young at Bhopal and still live there at Belawadu near Obeidullahganj.

Sultana was also a great lover of women and his favorite was Phulkanwarn a dancing girl. Sultan lived the life which he knew. He killed and raped women and above all was a pain for the British Indian police. He was a however loved by the people. This is difficult to explain; maybe he articulated feelings of the people against the Raj. When was Sultan Daku hanged? He was sent to the gallows on 7 July 1924 and on that day he had the famous last meeting with Freddie Young.

 Over the decades the legend of Sultan Daku has taken on a nationalist hue with songs and ballads extolling the man. People sing of how he looted the trains and treasury of the Raj and distributed to the poor. They sing of his loves and his rides on his horse Chetak as he eluded the police. They sing of his sexual prowess and a verse outlines how an English girl fell for Sultana. He has now become a legend and Bollywood has made a number of films on his life. Sultana Daku brought fact and fiction together.

A Tower in Afghanistan that Rivals Kutab Minar: Minaret of Jam

Mineret of Jam in Afghanistan: Inspired by the Kutab Minar at Delhi

One of the monuments built in Eastern Afghanistan is the Minaret of Jam. One look at it will show that it is inspired by the Kutab Minar, which was erected by Kutabdin Aibak a member of the slave dynasty that ruled Delhi between the 11th and 13th century AD. Some historians believe that it was erected to mark the victory of Mohammed Ghuri over Prithviraj Chauhan

Afghanistan is more in the news with activities of the Taliban and al Qaeda and one is apt to overlook that this ancient land has a strong architectural history of monuments and forts. At one time the entire North Indian plains and Afghanistan was part of one region ruled by the Emperors from Delhi.   The rulers of Delhi often visited Afghanistan and spent quality time there.
At that time Afghanistan was a peaceful nation and was not party to internecine warfare that has over taken the nation now. It is a matter of relief that despite the on going insurrection some monuments of great historical value have survived destruction.
One of the monuments is the Minaret of Jam. One look at it will show that it is inspired by the Kutab Minar, which was erected by Kutabdin Aibak a member of the slave dynasty that ruled Delhi between the 11^th and 13^th century AD.
The minaret is 62 meters in height and compared to the Kutab Minar which stands 72.5 meters high is shorter by over 10 meters. It is one of the many minarets built between the 12^th and 13^thcentury all over central Asia. The principle of building these minarets was to glorify Islam and bring out the fact that no other religion or faith could match it. The minarets also reached upwards to the sky as it was felt that the higher the minaret the closer a believer is to Allah while praying. Many historians led by Ralph-Pindar Wilson are of the opinion that the Minar was built by Mohammed Ghuri to commemorate his victory over Prithviraj Chauhan at the battle of Tarain in 1138.

The minaret is recognized as a world heritage site in 2002 by UNESCO. It is a matter of delight that this minaret has survived wars and pillage. However the minaret is in danger from nature and erosion. It is also tilting and world heritage experts are trying to restore the monument.The minaret is surrounded by mountains that reach a height of 2400 meters and is close to  a small secluded vale through which a river flows. That is one of the reasons this minaret has escaped the ravages of wars . The minaret is made of roasted bricks and is an engineering feat. It has verses engraved on its walls and the surprise is that the some of the verses eulogies   Mary the mother of Jesus Christ.
Minaret of Jam

The Legend of Dr. Fidel Castro

One man who has won the admiration of the third world is Dr Fidel Castro. This bearded cigar smoking Cuban revolutionary is like a brand name. He stood up to the might of Uncle Sam and carved a niche of his own in world history. For the record he is the longest serving President of any country in the world. He retired in 2006 and handed over the reins to his brother Raul Castro. As on date the Castro brothers have ruled Cuba for 53 years and that is a record that will be difficult to emulate.

Coming to Power and bay of Pigs Invasion

Castro came to power in 1959 when he landed in Cuba with a band of revolutionaries. These revolutionaries moved towards Havana and the small group swelled to thousands as people en masse joined them with a one point aim to overthrow the American puppet Batista. This man fled and Castro came to the helm of affairs in Cuba.

The fledgling government now faced its first test in 1960 as the CIA launched an invasion with the help of Cuban exiles in the USA. Kennedy was the President at the time of the invasion, but the plans were drafted and approved earlier during the presidency of General Ike. The invasion known as the Bay of Pigs invasion failed and most US citizens were surprised. It showed that Castro had a groundswell of support among the masses.

In 1962 the Cuban missile crisis erupted when the Soviet government started erecting missiles in Cuba. Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba and Nikita Khrushchev, the realist that he was agreed to dismantle the missiles. But a secret protocol included a quid pro quo that was agreed to by Kennedy. In this the USA agreed not to destabilize the Cuba regime. The US has honored this commitment till date. The result is that Castro remained in power and became a bone in the US throat. Thus despite all the touting of a US victory, Kennedy had to pay a heavy price for it in the shape of a communist government in Cuba. For Castro had embraced Marxism and communism was the de facto economic policy in Cuba.The 1962 Missile Crisis and the Quid Pro Quo

Castro and Power

The US press and the so called free world regularly publicized ‘news’ of Castro’s atrocities. But independent observers were of the view that the people targeted were only the rich sugar barons who were in any case close to the US. Economically also the USA was hit as Castro nationalized all foreign companies. As the USA controlled 90% of Cuban economy, they were badly hit. But the agreement of Kennedy gave them no leeway to attack Castro.

Last Word

Castro ruled till 2006 till his health failed him and he handed over the reins of power to his brother Raul Castro. Raul has been at the helm of affairs since then and in the 2013 party Congress announced that he would retire in 2018 as he is already 81. This is a magnificent gesture and an appreciation of ground realities as a successor in the 52 year old Miguel Diaz- Cannel is appointed first Vice President. An orderly succession is thus on the line. When Raul retires in 2018, the Castro brothers would have made history by ruling for 59 years. A wonderful achievement.

American propaganda has failed to overthrow the Castro brothers, as even after the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba has rolled ahead. The lot of the common man has improved beyond measure and an element of pride instituted in the third world. Dr. Fidel Castro’s place in world history is assured for ever.

Christian Dating:Ttry singlesoffaith.com and a Christian Girl in Your Arms

With the advent of the internet the wold has changed and barriers of contact between people have been erased. Dating sites have made full use of this application of technology and have proliferated. We now have sites catering exclusively to a religious sect like Muslims or sites that represent a particular area like Iran.
The Christians are not far behind and a number of Christian dating and marriage sites have mushroomed. One of these sites is www.singlesoffaith.com that caters exclusively to men and women who profess the Christian faith

Singles Of Faith is a dating site with a difference as it exclusively caters only to Christians and also restricts its membership to residents of the USA. The site was set up in 2000 though it is operational since 1981. The aim of the site is to help Christians find a partner or date for love and marriage. Another aim of the site is to strengthen the bond of the members with the Christian faith.The promoters of the site feel that they are furthering the will of god by doing this.

The sites stress is on helping Christians find a partner and with that in view the site is a shade cheaper than normal dating sites. In addition the membership fees are structured in a way that they depend on the number of Christian members within a radius of 200 miles from where you stay. You can sign up for a free or paid membership.

As a non paying member you can access the site and the search facility, but will not be able to activate your mail box to proceed further. However this facility is a help as you can see how many members are in your area.

Once you become a paid member you can make use of other facilities of the site. Unfortunately the site has only a mailbox system, unlike other sites. The site does not have live chat,instant messenger or other contact feature. This can be considered a drawback. But the site more than makes up for this lacuna by organizing social events across the USA. These are gala affairs where the members can meet meet the men and women whom they wish to date in flesh and blood. Gays are not accepted.
The stress of the site is on the Christian faith and members will receive articles and write ups on how to be a good christian.

Red or White Wedding Dress ?

I have been in Abu Dhabi for almost 2 years now, doing work for an American company . A few days back . I attended a Muslim wedding and saw the bride bedecked in a red wedding dress, a Sharara. It made me think as to why Red is the color for a wedding dress in the East, while the stress in the West and the Christian faith is white.

A wedding is a red letter day for a bride. Throughout history in the west women have worn white on wedding days. This is more for the fact that in Christianity the white color symbolizes truth, purity and fidelity. How these qualities came to be associated with this color is another story. The stress on the white color symbolized by Snow White is built into the psyche of the West.

In the east it is a different story. Here the Muslim and Hindu women will wear red. Maybe because it is associated with the red rose that symbolizes love. Chinese brides will only wear red as well. Why? This is because the white color is associated with something mournful and death. Its not a good omen and Chinese on their wedding day will choose the red color. They feel it’s more vibrant and has no association with morbid thoughts like white color has in China.

Time and tide do not wait and what was abhorrent yesterday is passé now. A look at the sites selling wedding dresses in the west will show that a fair amount of red wedding dresses are on display. This means that some women in the west are wearing red wedding dresses for their weddings. Even in India and China many girls are choosing to wear white. The walls of convention and superstition are breaking and there are no water tight compartments now. Red is a lovely color and so is white. The choice should be with the bride.

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One Rank One pension is Like Elusive Holy Grail

The Holy Grail is a great myth in Christianity. it refer to a goblet that was used during the last supper before Jesus was crucified. There are many tales of searching for this grail, but nobody has ever found it.

Three decades back the demand of ex-servicemen took shape for One Rank One Pension. 3 decades is a long time, but the government was not ready to accede to the demand. The demand was legitimate, but the political masters thought that firstly it would upset the budget and secondly not palatable to the other services. In any case they were aware that the forces are headed by some spineless men were not expected to rock the boat.

I will further digress and say that in this entire scenario the role of the Air Force Chief and the Navy chief is minimal as it is only the army chief who heads the most organized  force in India. The political bosses simply gave short shrift to the men in uniform
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I will relate an example here. In the eighties the government sanctioned additional DA for central Government employees in the East part of India. Overnight the civilians began to draw the additional DA, but the man in uniform was not sanctioned. It was some 2/3 years later that the government relented and made the DA applicable to the soldier. I recollect that at that time the Air Chief was Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh and he on a visit to Shillong, the headquarters of the Eastern Command expressed his helplessness in the matter. This example is just to show that the army top brass led by the COAS has virtually no say in any matter.

The present COAS in an address to almost 17000 ex-servicemen announced that OROP is sanctioned. This was just about a month back. But so many deadlines have passed and the BJP government is in saddle for over a year, but yet OROP letter is not issued. Frankly depite some lollipop news the actual letter signing may be some months away.

The ex-serviceman's association led by General Satbir  Singh has done a great job, but all credit must still go to Narendra Modi. Yet the fact is that despite the OK from Modi the OROP GOI letter is nowhere under issue. One  wonders what is the  hold up? it just shows the callous attitude of a civilian government ungrateful to the soldier and the force that holds India together. If there had been a realization they would have sanctioned OROP 2 decades back.

The White Elephant is Rare and a Good Omen

The white elephant  is a rare species and though not totally white is a pinkish color. It is a good omen to see a white elephant. The white elephant is only seen in Burma and the zoo there have 9 of these rare animals.

Stalin's Place in Russian History

The Place of Stalin in Russian History

Stalin 1945

Stalin seized power after the death of Lenin in 1924 and ruled Russia with an Iron hand till his death in 1953. His climb to power in 1924 was marked by a lot of blood shed. Most of his opponents were executed and some like Leon Trotsky who was exiled, was done to death by killers with his sanction in far away Mexico in 1940.
Stalin and the Totaltorian StateStalin and the Great War
Stalin is blamed as a double crosser for his signing the no aggression pact with Hitler, but the western powers themselves made a sell out deal with Hitler at the famous Munich conference. But the German attack in 1941 brought out the finest in Stalin. We cannot overlook his contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany. His mettle was seen as with the Germans barely 30 miles from Moscow; he refused to abandon the city and stayed put there. This was a great morale boost for the Russian troops who were into a bitter battle with the Germans.
Stalin and the Rise of the Soviet Union
The end of the war saw the Soviet Union emerge as a super power. With England and France the colonial powers on the wane, the void was filled by the Soviet Union, which now emerged as a power to challenge the United States. One thing that cannot be denied is that the Stalin era ushered in a period when the Mafia and related crimes were non existent. Russia also moved ahead in Industry and the quest for Nuclear weapons.
Stalin died in 1953 and a succession of rulers who followed him did not have his iron will and Charisma with the result that in just about 3 decades of his death the Soviet empire broke up into a number of states. Perhaps we can blame Stalin for this as he failed in establishing a permanent state and conventions that could stand the test of time. But it cannot be his fault only as his successors perhaps were not men with his caliber and efficiency.
Stalin’s Place in Russian History
Where do we place Stalin now? Russia is a democracy and is still a powerful nation that packs a mighty punch. But Crime is on the upswing and it is not safe to venture out unescorted in Moscow after dark. One of my friends who visited Russia recently told me that he had met a lot many Russians, who were nostalgic of the past and Stalin when peace and order was the watchword.
Another point that must never be forgotten is that the basis of the present Russian state can be traced to Stalin. To deny him a role in the build up of Russia as a world power would be a travesty of history. It is fashionable to condemn Stalin, yet his contribution to the development of Russia as a super power cannot be brushed away. Perhaps Stalin was a necessary episode in Russian history. Maybe a hundred years down the line, he may be equated with Ivan the terrible and other greats of Russian history.

Concept of Mobilty in War Gave Victory to the Muslims in Hindustan

Introduction

Military history is an interesting subject and not just for soldiers. By studying it we can guard against similar problems in the years to come. The defeat of the Hindus at the hands of the Muslims and the Turks is worth study. It shows us why the Hindu armies lost, despite displaying tremendous courage and bravery and a fatalistic contempt of death. This is part of the module on mobility, which we studied when I was undergoing the 41st Staff course at Wellington.

Principles of War

One thing should be clear that bravery alone is not a substitute for victory. The important thing is to understand the concept of war and the principles involved. In the 19th century Clausewitz propounded the Principles of War and earlier Sun Tzu outlined his ideas in the Art of War. One wishes that the Hindus had studied the art of war. 

Bravery and Hindus

The Hindus liked war and were very brave. They had a warrior class called the Kshatriyas , yet in most encounters with Turki and Muslim armies they were decisively defeated. An excellent analysis of the causes of the Hindu defeat is written by Field Marshal Viscount Barnard Montgomery of Al Alamein in his "History of Warfare." Field Marshal Montgomery also referred to as "Monty “was the most successful British general during World War II. 

Lack of strategic Concept

Monty states that one of the reasons for the defeat of the Hindus was a lack of strategic concept as the passes of the North West like the Khyber Pass were never defended. He also states that the Hindu armies were sluggish and slow moving affairs and lacked mobility.

Mobility and Muslim tactics

Mobility is one of the most important principles of war. This concept was imbibed by the Muslim armies. This concept consisted of reliance on the horse cavalry with mounted archers. Muslim armies consisted of hordes of mounted archers who would encircle an enemy  and mount offensive as and when required. They would also retreat and counterattack in a short time. The Hindu armies used to a static concept of war with elephants were thus found wanting in their battles with the Muslims. This weakness was evident from the time of 7th century when Muhammad Qasim defeated the Hindu king Dahir of Sind. yet the Hindus learn't nothing from this defeat and the reliance on the elephant continued. The elephants were slow moving and countering thousands of archers on horseback was a difficult proposition. The Muslim army had mobility and along with it came a better tactical sense. It also allowed a commander to change tactics and reposition his force during a battle.

The Mounted Archer: a Muslim Concept

This concept of the mounted archer was something new. It was known to others, but the development to its full potential goes to  the credit of the Muslims. The entire campaign by which the massive Ottoman Empire and subsequent conquests in India were carried out was by legions of mounted archers.

Last Word

 The Hindus by neglecting the art of war and not copying the Muslim tactics of mobility and strategic retreat and counterattack sealed their fate and lost, leaving the Muslims to rule India for close to 900 years

The Tomb of Lenin at Red Square in Moscow

Vladimir Lenin died in Jan 21, 1924, that is exactly 91 years ago, but he lives on in an eerie way.  His body is preserved in a granite and marble mausoleum in Red Square. As per reports last year a million visitor’s paid homage to him. Lenin’s body is kept embalmed. Every 18 months it is taken out for a make over.  This is done in a professional way. Firstly, his body is immersed in a mixture of glycerol and potassium acetate for 30 days. This gives moisture to the body. Secondly, his body is sealed in a glass sarcophagus, which is maintained at 61 degrees. The humidity is kept between 80-90 %. This is also the period when a new suit is stitched and donned on him.  The body of Lenin is looked after by Dr Denisov- Nikolsky, aged 71. He has been caring for the body since 1970.

  Specially filtered light falls on the body, which gives the face a warm glow. Denisov-Nikolsky has informed that modern cosmetics are not used and only mild bleach is used to take care of the occasional fungus stains that sometimes appear on Lenin’s face.

  Lenin  has some notable firsts. He was the first man to build concentration camps in Europe and imprison his opponents by the thousands.  When Lenin died in 1924, there were 70,000 Russians in concentration camps. In a short period of 7 years rule Lenin created a morbid model for his successors to follow.  

 Lenin had a close companion. He was Leon Trotsky. Between them the duo orchestrated the execution of 4 million people and that included men,  women and even children.  Anybody whom the Bolsheviks thought was their opponent was simply executed. There were mass executions and now it is difficult to visualize why they took place.  Lenin also authorized the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1920.

 The visitors go past the body, in single file.   Perhaps not many realize that the body in the glass cabin is the body of a man who caused at least 4 million deaths.   After 1991 the Russian government has stopped funding the upkeep of the mausoleum, which is now maintained by donations from private individuals. Lenin represents evil, which needs to be buried and  not  resurrected for public viewing.

America a Land of Milk and Honey? No Longer

 Most people all over the world feel that the best place to live in the world is America. Even when I have gone abroad, most of the people I have interacted have a desire to go to the USA. In my own backyard, Punjab thousands of Sikhs and Punjabis are making a bee line for America. People feel that there is minimal poverty in America and it is mostly a land of milk and honey.

 But now, I have during my last visit observed a subtle change. Perhaps the analogy with milk and honey is of the past. I have observed and this is corroborated by my American friends that things have changed dramatically since the turn of this century. How is that? Figures and statistics do not lie Not many may be aware that fully 25 percent of Americans, since tax policies favoring the very rich have been put in place and the economy has tanked, live at or below the poverty line. Of course the poverty line is not like in India where Montek Singh that ludicrous economist and government tout has come up with a figure if Rs 28 per day. But American poverty is real as far as America is concerned and over 75 million people are affected

  In addition over fifty million Americans are without health insurance. This is a colossal figure and America must be the only developed country in the world without free, single-payer (government paid) health insurance.

 Twenty-one percent of all children in America are on food stamps, with the number climbing daily. American civil liberties have been severely stripped with the passage of the Patriot Act and now the National Security Defense Act. For all intents and purposes the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects American citizens from unreasonable search and seizure, has been repealed.

 We will have to think twice about America being a land of Milk and Honey The honey seems to have gone and I wonder whether the downslide has begun .

Tantra Sex: relevance to Buddhism and Hinduism

What is Tantra ?

Tantra is a facet of Hindu and Buddhist thought and the subject of many books.  Tantra has a connotation with sex and that is part of both these great faiths. 'Tantra' is a Sanskrit word and has many meanings. One of the meanings is growth and enlightenment. Obviously this aspect of Hindu thought means that it refers to the achievement of inner peace and salvation through sex. Many Catholics consider Tantra sex as Satanic in nature, but it is not so and really means that there are many paths to God.

Study of Tantra

The origins of Tantra and its earliest practices have been shrouded in Mystery and have existed for thousands of years. The earliest texts on Tantra require a deep study and proper interpretation as they cover all aspects of human life like health, belief, philosophy, sex, pleasure and God.

Western society has learnt about Tantra only in the 20th century and this has focused mainly on sex. But Tantra covers many other aspects of life as well including meditation and prayer, all interlinked with sex.  Tantra advocates a different form of sex, where the stress is not on orgasm, but on something more sublime like a dream and an attempt to prolong the pleasure and in the bargain get closer to the almighty.

Tantra Practice

Tantra sex is revealing your innermost feelings to your partner with the aim of a total union. It is not like a bullet fired from a gun which after it is fired loses its potency, but something deeper that can awaken the inner feelings and heighten the union with your partner.  Just imagine how wonderful sex is if you can dream with your partner and at the same time spend hours in a sublime embrace that can only make you happier.

There is nothing taboo in Tantra and it would be appropriate to consider the body as a temple and worship it accordingly. It is worth remembering that orgasm is not the goal of tantra, but a stop on the path to being one with God. This concept of Hindu and Buddhist thought is difficult to understand for men and women brought up on orgasm as the goal of the sex act. Tantra does not deny orgasm only wishes to inculcate something deeper, where a man could end up having many orgasms.

Advanced tantric Practices

Advanced tantric practices can be weird and sometimes involve sex in a grave yard to please the nether Gods. These are aberrations and one has to make his or her own choice in the matter. Tantra sex is beautiful if done with a pure heart and a belief that what you are doing is correct.

Of Ghosts and spirits: A real Incident

Some time back my father narrated me an interesting tale. It appears when he was a student of Government College, Hoshiarpur he decided to go home to his village about 15 miles away during the week end. As it was 9 pm the last bus had left, therefore he and a friend of his named Harbans decided to walk down to the village.

The duo started walking to the village. It was a dark night and a cold icy wind blew as it was November and winter was setting in. Mid way to the village there is a small rivulet called a "CHO" in the local language. As the two approached the rivulet my father says he heard horse's hooves on the earth.

 After some time it appeared that the rider had fallen from the horse. Three times more they heard the horse's hooves and at each time it appeared the horse and rider was nearing them. When ever they looked back the saw nothing. They now waded into the rivulet to cross it and at the same time they decided not to look back. They also started reciting the 'Jap' the holy prayer of Guru Nanak.When they were mid way down the river which had a little less than waist deep water, they heard the rider come close behind them and then fall into the water. They did not look back and continued reciting the prayer. As they emerged out of the river my father says he heard a voice that said 'You have escaped now....but not next time"

This incident looks unbelievable but as my own father narrated this tale to me I am apt to believe it. All religions agree that there is a dark world that includes the undead. The existence of ghosts, demons, and angels is an age old question. Many people are skeptic but many are believers. There is a small percentage that are in between who cannot decide. Ghosts are a fact and the villagers later told him that a ghost did exist there and he was the spirit of a man who had drowned in the stream

The question that everyone asks spontaneously is "do ghosts and demons exist?" There is no simple answer to this question.

Krishna Menon and First Russian Fighter to Join IAF

Role of Krishna Menon

The MIG 21 has been the backbone of the Indian Air Force for almost 5 decades. During this period the MIG 21 and its variants have done yeoman service for the IAF and have to say the least done well. Credit for the induction of the MIG must go to Krishna Menon the defense Minister of India. In 1961 he took a monumental decision to go in for the Soviet plane in preference to comparative Western fighters. The deal was swung by the Russians as they offered to give technical knowhow to manufacture the plane. Accordingly two MIG plants came up in India at Nashik and Koraput and these plants manufactured over 600 planes for the Indian Air Force. the bulk of the IAF squadrons were equipped with the MIG 21.

MIG 21 Vrs F-104
The MIG was a Mach 2 supersonic interceptor with a delta wing and single engine. But its endurance was only 45 minutes and hence great care was undertaken in planning missions with this aircraft. The MIG first saw action in the 1965 war. But its real forte emerged in the 1971 war when it proved the better fighter than the Pakistan Air Force F104 star fighter. The Star fighter was a gift of the US to Pakistan.
The MIG 21 was also used in the 1999 Kargil conflict when one plane was also lost to a stinger missile. Its last kill was the Atalntiq Naval plane which was shot down in the Kutch. The plane over the years has done excellent service for the Indian Air force. The MIG 21 is a supersonic interceptor that has an air-conditioned canopy. It also carries missiles.

Last word
The IAF has however lost over a 100 MIGs in accidents and ground attacks over the years. This does appear an inordinate large number as 83 pilots have also died. But people feel that these accidents are not a reflection on the plane and to prove it the earlier Chief Air Marshal Tyagi regularly flew it.
The MIG 21 is now going into the sunset and the upgraded version is slated to be phased put by 2017. But the era of the MIG and the history of the IAF are linked for ever and can never be erased. The MiG 21 remained the backbone of the IAF fleet for almost 5 decades.

Jim Corbett and his tigers: Great Hunter and Conservationist

The British were the imperial rulers of India for nearly 200 years. This period is popularly referred to as the Raj and has a permanent place in Indian History. Though India was a colony, yet the British rulers ushered in an era of progress and enlightenment.Of course this development was not without purpose as it strengthened the rule of the English over India. But after the English left the good work done by them remained.

The Raj

The period of the Raj was also the period of the big game hunters like Jim Corbett. Corbett was born in Haldwani in India in 1875. He grew up under the aegis of the Raj where his father was a postmaster at Nainital. But it must be said about him that from his young age the wild life and in particular the big cats fascinated him.
Corbett took to hunting man eating tigers which were rampant in India at that time. He is credited with killing 33 big cats including 19 tigers. He risked his life umpteen times to save the simple Indian villagers from the marauding man eating tigers. Only once Jim shot the wrong beast and he felt tremendous remorse after that killing.

Jim Corbett and Tiger Shoots

Jim Corbett killed his first tiger the notorious beast of Champawat, which had killed 436 human beings in the early part of his life. He followed up by shooting another 18 more. He was active as a hunter till 1937.But after that he had a change of heart and devoted his energy to saving the tiger. He will be remembered for this phase of his life.as well. He did monumental work in bringing about awareness about the plight of the dwindling tigers and lectured all over India and abroad to save the big cats. His efforts soon bore fruit in the shape of the Corbett national park on the foothills to Nainital. The Park was renamed after him in 1957.

Retirement
Corbett retired to Kenya and settled at Nyeri where he died in 1955.The period of retirement saw him write a number of books based on his vast tiger hunting experiences.

Arvind Kejriwal Must be tried for Abetment of Suicide of the Farmer at his Rally

A botched suicide?

The man who would be king, an imposter

The title of my post is  just rhetoric and mirrors my anguish at the stunts of Arvind Kejriwal in politics. Arvind Kejriwal is the powerful man in the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and is the man who calls all the shots. A mini Hitler in the making, this man tolerates no criticism and feels that what ever he says is the gospel truth. He cannot countenance anyone  opposing him as he does not know what dissent means in a democratic set up. One can see his dictatorial streak in expelling two founder members of the AAP in Bhushan and Yadav.

All this is OK, but what is not OK is his brazen desire to seize power at any cost, come what may. One can recollect that this man thought he would be king, when he started dreaming of being Prime Minister of India and opposed Narendra Modi in Varanasi. He assumed he would win like he did against the former Delhi CM Sheila Diksit and then he would move to the chair of the prime minster. Unfortunately he was soundly defeated and for some time lay low.

He came back with a vengeance on the back of people who genuinely believed that he was a messiah of the poor. What a packaging this man did !! He could have done in a US presidential candidate, as with half truths and blatant lies he fooled the public. Perhaps he believed in the Dr Goebbles theory of " A lie repeated a 100 times becomes a truth"

After the success of Rahul Gandhi rally in the capital,Arvind Kejriwal thought it a good time to show his credentials as a man who stands by farmers. He organized his own rally, but a farmer a long time member of the AAP from Rajasthan climbed up a tree and hung himself to death. Perhaps it was a fixed hanging and it was all part of drama and Arvind knew about it. Its just a conjecture for even when the news reached him the man showed his utter callous behaviour and continued with his speech. Death of a man maybe by mistake or otherwise had no effect on him. All he could see was the power and the road to the PM's chair.

Arvind kejriwal has a lot to answer. The rally was organized by him against the advice of the police. He was duty bound to insure that all arrangements for the rally are properly done, which he didnt do. In fact the AAP watched the hanging as it was a "Tamasha". Can anything be sadder than this. Not to be outdone he has alleged a conspiracy theory by the BJP

To my mind in case there is a conspiracy theory it fits Kejriwal very well. What is the guarantee that he had planned the hanging as a show and it got botched up?  the farmer Gajendra Singh does not look like a man who will hang himself and he was not that poor as well. There is thus something fishy about all this. Kejriwal must answer. The kin of Gajendra Singh have asked a case to be registered against Kejriwal for abetment of suicide. I think this is the need of the hour. The impostor  who would like to be king must be exposed.

Why Everybody is Secretive about One Rank One Pension

OROP we are told is approved, in other words its a cut and dried affair. Maybe it is, but there seems to be an aura of mystery about it. As the saying goes" The proof of the pudding is in its eating" and till it comes out in black and white the retired soldier can only speculate as to what he will get. There are some suggestive leaks all around, but they don't amount to much.

The fact is OROP and what exactly is approved or likely to be approved is a secret. Almost like it is the Order of Battle. One fails to understand why all concerned cannot publish the tables and likely form of approvals.Yes, something recommended may not be approved, but that is part of the game.

Again I will state,that there is many a slip between the cup and lip and there no guarantee that what is expected will be approved. This is where openness comes in and this cloak of secrecy must be discarded. Only once the official government letter is out and tables published can one conclude the real benefit.

The armed forces are agitating for 3 decades and it required a political will of Narendra Modi to get it approved. Otherwise the issue would have been ongoing for another 30 years, simply because in India the men in uniform have no clout. So all we can do is to keep the fingers crossed.

Nissan Jonga and the Indian Army. An SUV that Gave Great Service

In the sixties the Indian Army was looking for a rugged vehicle for use in the mountain regions of the Himalayas. The Chinese attack had made it imperative that the Army needed a vehicle to negotiate the Himalayan Mountain ranges and dirt tracks that abounded in that region. The Indian Army finally after necessary trials chose the Nissan P-60. This was an SUV and was manufactered at the Indian Heavy Vehicles factory at Jabalpur. It was christened as the ‘Jonga’ . The vehicle derived its name from the acronym for Jabalpur Ordnance and Guncarriage Assembly. .

Induction of the Jonga

The Jonga gave excellent service to the Indian Army. Later it was also used by the Navy and the Air Force as well. The Air Force police also used the Jonga and after stripping it down, used it for piloting duties. The Jonga was a real military vehicle and people who have driven it will vouchsafe for its reliability and maneuverability. The vehicle was modified by the army and put to use as an ambulance, signal vehicle, troop carrier and commanding officers vehicle.

The vehicle had an advantage of high ground clearance and thus could easily traverse cross-country and also move with ease in places where there were no roads. Its 4×4 version negotiated the high Himalayan ranges with ease. The Jonga supported a six cylinder engine that devolved 110hp, which gave it sufficient power for its tasks.

Phasing Out of The Jonga

Production of the Jonga continued till 1999 when it was replaced with the Mahindra jeep. The original Jonga had a 3 speed gear box, but it was very sensitive to handle. The army equipped their infantry units with the Jonga and it also served in multifarious roles.

The Jonga also served in the deserts of Rajasthan, where it was painted in Khaki shade. Its engine despite the intense temperatures of the desert never heated up. The Jonga with its olive-green paint was a hit in the forests of Assam and played a significant role in the attack on East Pakistan in a logistic role. However no AC version of the Jonga appeared. 

The Jonga is now phased out, but many a service officer will still like to own one of these rugged machines, which can now only be bought at Army auctions of Class E Vehicles. These are vehicles that are phased out as being beyond economical repair.