Punjab Farmers Agitation Against the Farm LAWS

 There is a lot of news these days about the farmers from Punjab having become agitated and started an agitation to block the roads to the capital of India that is New Delhi. There are some points which we must consider. Firstly how do the farmers of Punjab feel that they represent all the farmers of India? We know that 90% of the farmers all over the country from Assam to Kerala not interested in opposing the farm laws.  Secondly, the farmers must remember that by starting this agitation and thousands of them congregating outside Delhi the ecological disaster can just be imagined. These farmers would be relieving themselves in the open and that would be the harbinger of greater disease as there are no cleaning facilities available.I wonder if anybody has thought about this aspect.

There is a need for agitators to realize that an ecological balance has to be maintained and if they are going to defecate in the open it's not going to help anybody.  One thing is very clear that the farmers have been instigated to carry out these agitations and there is no doubt that the Congress party and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has a big hand in all this. Captain Amarinder Singh is from the erstwhile royal family of Patiala and it is a matter of regret that this man is indulging in petty politics. He may well remember that those who ride the tiger are eaten by the tiger.

No government in any country can survive if the agitators start agitations and expect parliament to change laws, especially as they are only a fringe of the entire farmer population. The need of the hour is to deal with this agitation firmly for the good of India. When I think of such foolish agitations I cannot help saying that the chance of India becoming a great power is almost zero and one can die laughing on a bed of nails thinking about it.

Abbas ALI Baig: Repeatedly kissed at the Brabourne `Stadium

I must confess that I have not seen the Bombay test in 1959 against the Australian team led by Richie Benaud. My father however saw the test and what I have written is recounted by him. This was the third test of the series and the Indian team was led by GS Ramchand a hard-hitting right-hand batsman and a competent pacer.

The Advent of Abbas Ali Baig

The Indian team included a young man who had made a century on first appearance against England just a season earlier in England when he had hit 112. India had risen from its sick- bed and beaten the Aussies in the Kanpur test due to the bowling effort of Jasu Patel. Thus the series was 1-1 as both the teams came to Bombay.

Ramchand won the toss and India batted. But Davidson in an inspired spell clean bowled Pankaj Roy and had Polly Umrigar caught in the slips and the score read 21-2.

Abbas Ali Baig stepped in and along with Contactor who hit 108 helped India to a total of 289. Baig made 53. Baig in particular made a tremendous impression as he deftly handled the Aussie attack.

Australia now batted and declared at 387 for8 and India came into bat. At the end of the day (4th) Roy and Contractor had seen India to 92-0. The last day dawned and people thought that India could easily draw the game, but alas both the openers were dismissed and India was in a precarious 109 for4, The aghast crowd was silent as they saw India sliding to another familiar defeat.

The Kissing Episode

However, Abbas Ali Baig played a stellar inning of 58, and Ramnath Kenny kept him company as India drew the match. Baig negotiated the pace of Meckiff, swing of Davidson as well as the spin of Richie Benaud with ease. It was a great knock marked by some superb drives to the fence.

When Baig returned to the pavilion a young girl in a frock rushed forward and planted a number of Kisses on Baig. In fact, Vijay Merchant in the Commentators box counted the kisses on the radio in excitement 1, 2, 3. 12...13. it showed the love of the Indian masses for the game of cricket. How else could a 20-year-old girl do such a thing? Anyway, this has never happened after that and Baig will be remembered for this. Inexplicably Baig faded from the scene, but the kissing episode can never be forgotten.

 

The falcon and the UAE

The Falcon is a majestic bird. It is from the eagle family but is more intelligent and swifter. It can soar to a height of three to four thousand feet and is a carnivorous bird that eyes its prey from a great height and then swoops down on the hapless victim. It has a telescopic sight and can see from great heights even a small animal like a baby hare. The falcon is a prized possession and rich sheiks keep many of them as pets. The falcon cannot however be completely domesticated and given an option will fly away. 

I had an opportunity to visit many exhibitions and watching the falcon carefully. I have got at least a dozen photos of which one is published along with this post. The falcon is a hunting bird and lives up to its name. Many fighter squadrons name themselves as "Falcons". The UAE is the home of the falcon and the bird is greatly prized. Owning a few falcons adds to the stature of the locals.

will tie one leg of the falcon to a small stake that restrict the bird from flying away.I had an opportunity to visit many exhibitions and watching the falcon carefully. I have got at least a dozen photos of which one is published along with this post. The falcon is a hunting bird  and lives up to its name. Many fighter squadrons name themselves as "Falcons". The UAE is the home of the falcon and the bird is greatly prized. Owning a few falcon adds to stature of the locals.

Honolulu in Mumbai: Annexe at the US Club

The United Services Club Annexe is a piece of exotica

Image Source - Photo by the Author

The US club at lands end, Colaba is a dream as nestled in pristine surroundings it is almost like a piece of cake from Honululu.

Everybody dreams of Honolulu and it's pristine and exotic beaches, far away in the Pacific. Not many from India can reach this tropical place in the deep Pacific, as firstly it's pretty far, and secondly,  the airfare will set you back by a lakh of rupees.

Having said this,  I can state with confidence that closer home in Mumbai there is one such place nestled deep in Colaba. It is the United Services Club, a gift of the Raj; that euphemism for British rule. It's like a piece of cake from far away Hunululu and has its own sea frontage on the Arabian Sea with an exotic atmosphere. It can't be otherwise with two lovely bars serving the choicest of wines and a 9 hole golf course, where a long shot with wood could sail the ball into the Sea.

The United Services Club has a lovely promenade abutting the Arabian Sea as it's waves alternatively crash or lap the club edge, depending on high tide or low tide. It has coconut and palm trees and a wide lawn with a dance floor and bars on the edge of the coast.

The sea crashes and it's a relish to have a glass of champagne in such an atmosphere. If you are lucky and have a love, it will kindle desire and something to cherish.

However, there is a fly in the ointment as this is a restricted place and an exclusive joint for military officers and families. But plenty of guests come in and it's worthwhile to cultivate a navy or air force officer to, get an entry to this exotic place. Hats off to the "Goraji", the erstwhile rulers who created such an exotic place in Mumbai.

Why did the Raja of Chittor Show his `wife Padmavati to Allauddin Khilji?

Image Source - Ranveer Singh Twitter Account

Legend tells us that the Raja of Chittor showed his wife's reflection in a mirror to Allauddin. Was it appeasement or a sign of weakness. It was certainly not bravery and many feel it was an act of cowardice.

The film" Padmavati"  is worth a look again. It generated a lot of controversies and people's passions are inflamed in Rajasthan and Gujerat. Allauddin was the Sultan of Delhi, about a thousand miles from Chittor. He was a great soldier and had subdued most of North India. He was rumored to be gay and loved a slave, who later became emperor and launched the Slave Dynasty. The Delhi Sultan also was fond of women and had a harem with many lovely women, both Hindus, and Muslims.

The long and short is, that he coveted the Rani Padmavati for his harem and for this reason marched against Chittor.

The tale relates that when Allauddin reached the gates of Chittor fort, he offered to go away in case the Raja showed his wife to him. He grandly passed the message, that he just wanted to see the queen and then would march back with his army. Was the Raja petrified of Allauddin? Yes, he had a fearful reputation but no historian has said why the Raja agreed to show his wife Rani Padmavati to Allauddin? There is no explanation for it and now we can only make conjectures. Needless to say, that was the period of Purdah and seclusion for women, yet the Raja did the unthinkable and showed his wife's reflection in a mirror to Allauddin.

This act on the face of it is cowardice and in case it took place, one has to sadly conclude that the Raja was dictated by something. Was it fear or dread?. It was not an act of bravery and there is no record of any such incident elsewhere in World history. This will remain a million-dollar question. In the 13th century, it was not routine and one wonders what were the motives of the Raja. He didn't cover himself with glory

A War Book to Read and Savor by MG Singh

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