This is the usual in my college life,four months of being idle followed by one month of serios studying.The days to follow in the coming month must be very tough as this is going to be my last big series of exams and I certainly want to prove a point here.So as for as my blogging is conerned ,I think I have to give a temperory break!
See u again after my exams are over,Fresh...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
They are Our Real Heros ,,not our cricketers and Actors
The article here was the one in 'The Hindu ' ,Open page and I certainly beleive that every Indian has to read this one at this point of our bllooming economy.
Not enough to draw youth into armed forces
To say we honour our soldiers and to practise it are two different things
Sonika Uppal
A second generation army wife married to a fourth generation army officer, it is not just a way of life for me, it is my entire life....and that is by no means an understatement. I grew up in this cocooned world, never doubting even once that there was something lacking in it, and there wasn’t!
It was a wonderful way of life, comfortable and secure, drifty, voyaging, invigorating and always peppy. A certain glamour and romance attached to the austere sober side.
Nowadays, I sometimes sit and wonder where that old way of life has gone. Somewhere it got lost or probably left behind in this new world where mind-boggling salaries and unheard of amounts are paid to young boys and girls, who have yet to learn the value and worth of hard earned money.
The old age saying of “simple living and high thinking” has literally flown out of the window. Everybody seems to nurse a wholesome passion for all the “good” things in life ...a monthly six figure salary, a luxurious apartment, latest cars and gizmos and of course vacations abroad. No altruistic desires to change the world, just pursuing one’s own dreams. Frankly, I don’t see anything wrong with it; it is a new changed world with new changed needs. Money is no longer a dirty word.
All pains and no gains?
So why should an army officer feel differently? Or is it that simply by virtue of being in this profession, his dreams should be limited to sacrificing his whole life for the country, all pains and no gains? No wonder our country has a shortage of 13,000 officers at present, a shame considering our burgeoning population. We need to wake up to reality.
To expect a young man to join this profession and stick to it, you have to make it attractive and worthwhile. We all know there is no dearth of talent and brains in our country. But the top lot never opt for the defence services and even if they do, it turns out to be a very dissatisfying vocation for them. It might seem that I am flogging a dead horse here, but the truth is out there for all to see.
Many army officers I know, some of them close friends, have either put up their papers or are in the process of doing so. And let me tell you, among them are mostly the toppers of their respective courses, highly intelligent, self-motivated, and hardworking individuals. And why not? In spite of putting in their best, working undefined ungodly hours, in the worst of living conditions, separated from their families for half the year if not more, no guarantee of promotions and putting their life at risk, these are still among the low paid class A gazetted officers in this country.
Their frustration is inevitable and understandable. To say we honour our soldiers and to practise it are two different things. When our cricketers run around the stadium with our country’s flag after winning a single match, they are treated like god and are gifted crores from the taxpayers’ kitty, and yet what most of us do not know is that the amount paid to a soldier for being awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry is Rs. 250 a month, with lower awards getting no monetary compensation.
A commercial pilot gets paid a few lakhs a month for transporting people safely, and a soldier posted at Siachen gets a few thousands for keeping the tricolour safe. Why would anyone want to do this? The so called “josh,” the thrill of serving your country, does not last long when these frustrations set in and when you know that you have it in you to be the best, and if out there with the corporates, you could be earning your present salary manifold.
We as a nation need to dwell on these issues in detail, to refocus on the criticalities ailing the armed forces, and make becoming an officer an attractive ideal to the youth of today, a youth faced with alternative attractive options as well. For starters, it would serve well to let a good remuneration package and the armed forces be synonymous.
Not enough to draw youth into armed forces
To say we honour our soldiers and to practise it are two different things
Sonika Uppal
A second generation army wife married to a fourth generation army officer, it is not just a way of life for me, it is my entire life....and that is by no means an understatement. I grew up in this cocooned world, never doubting even once that there was something lacking in it, and there wasn’t!
It was a wonderful way of life, comfortable and secure, drifty, voyaging, invigorating and always peppy. A certain glamour and romance attached to the austere sober side.
Nowadays, I sometimes sit and wonder where that old way of life has gone. Somewhere it got lost or probably left behind in this new world where mind-boggling salaries and unheard of amounts are paid to young boys and girls, who have yet to learn the value and worth of hard earned money.
The old age saying of “simple living and high thinking” has literally flown out of the window. Everybody seems to nurse a wholesome passion for all the “good” things in life ...a monthly six figure salary, a luxurious apartment, latest cars and gizmos and of course vacations abroad. No altruistic desires to change the world, just pursuing one’s own dreams. Frankly, I don’t see anything wrong with it; it is a new changed world with new changed needs. Money is no longer a dirty word.
All pains and no gains?
So why should an army officer feel differently? Or is it that simply by virtue of being in this profession, his dreams should be limited to sacrificing his whole life for the country, all pains and no gains? No wonder our country has a shortage of 13,000 officers at present, a shame considering our burgeoning population. We need to wake up to reality.
To expect a young man to join this profession and stick to it, you have to make it attractive and worthwhile. We all know there is no dearth of talent and brains in our country. But the top lot never opt for the defence services and even if they do, it turns out to be a very dissatisfying vocation for them. It might seem that I am flogging a dead horse here, but the truth is out there for all to see.
Many army officers I know, some of them close friends, have either put up their papers or are in the process of doing so. And let me tell you, among them are mostly the toppers of their respective courses, highly intelligent, self-motivated, and hardworking individuals. And why not? In spite of putting in their best, working undefined ungodly hours, in the worst of living conditions, separated from their families for half the year if not more, no guarantee of promotions and putting their life at risk, these are still among the low paid class A gazetted officers in this country.
Their frustration is inevitable and understandable. To say we honour our soldiers and to practise it are two different things. When our cricketers run around the stadium with our country’s flag after winning a single match, they are treated like god and are gifted crores from the taxpayers’ kitty, and yet what most of us do not know is that the amount paid to a soldier for being awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry is Rs. 250 a month, with lower awards getting no monetary compensation.
A commercial pilot gets paid a few lakhs a month for transporting people safely, and a soldier posted at Siachen gets a few thousands for keeping the tricolour safe. Why would anyone want to do this? The so called “josh,” the thrill of serving your country, does not last long when these frustrations set in and when you know that you have it in you to be the best, and if out there with the corporates, you could be earning your present salary manifold.
We as a nation need to dwell on these issues in detail, to refocus on the criticalities ailing the armed forces, and make becoming an officer an attractive ideal to the youth of today, a youth faced with alternative attractive options as well. For starters, it would serve well to let a good remuneration package and the armed forces be synonymous.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
What do u call this?
I was there in the busstand in tirunelveli,waiting for my bus to start to coimbatore.It was around 10.00 pm,it was the scene that would move evryone who sees it to stop for a moment or two and make them pay attension.
A man was packing or i should write closing his so called shop,that he owns in the open area in the platform of the busstand.He was alone,he had a whole lot of materials ranging from biscuit packets to cosmetics.The shop was nothing but a stand,a big piece of synthetic cloth and some ropes.He was putting all the materials in the stand,covering it with his cloth and tieing it neatly as if he was tieing a rollsroyce in a lorry,all alone.It took him nearly one and half hour to complete 75% of his work(my bus came then).His rope fell every now and then on to the ground,none tried to help him.The thing that was so special about the man was he did not have a leg.
Same Place,Same Time:A well built man coming in a taxi directly from his hotel taking with him his waiter from the hotel with his two suitcases that even my grandmother would carry .He asks the waiter to take them to his bus and gives him a fifty rupee note,which i think is what our shopkeeper earn for a day .....
A man was packing or i should write closing his so called shop,that he owns in the open area in the platform of the busstand.He was alone,he had a whole lot of materials ranging from biscuit packets to cosmetics.The shop was nothing but a stand,a big piece of synthetic cloth and some ropes.He was putting all the materials in the stand,covering it with his cloth and tieing it neatly as if he was tieing a rollsroyce in a lorry,all alone.It took him nearly one and half hour to complete 75% of his work(my bus came then).His rope fell every now and then on to the ground,none tried to help him.The thing that was so special about the man was he did not have a leg.
Same Place,Same Time:A well built man coming in a taxi directly from his hotel taking with him his waiter from the hotel with his two suitcases that even my grandmother would carry .He asks the waiter to take them to his bus and gives him a fifty rupee note,which i think is what our shopkeeper earn for a day .....
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The book called 'Doors'
A novel called "Doors".Can U predict what the novel would be about.It's an account of a burglar's life over a period of time.It records incidents that affects the softer side of the burglar when he comes in contact with a square(a normal lady).He decides to quit burglary and start living with his girl Jessica but only after completing one of the biggest burglaries of his life.But once he compltes it successfully,his mind takes a drastic 'U' turn and he tries ignoring the poor girl.
The story seems simple,but the syle in which the authour handles the plot is really interesting.The minute details covered regarding all burglaries and the way Alex uses an ordinary telephone to get all the information he needs for his looting, is simply amazing.The language,the people,the accent makes the reader feel himself inthe middle of burglars....
The part played by the whores and the characterization of Alex is what the book is all aboout.The character almost becomes an epitome of a cold hearted thief when thinks frustrated by Jessica,whom he loved and deciding to ignore her inthe climax.This novel is not action packed but it takes into a diferent world that u cant neglect wherever u go...
Good book,never miss it if u come to see it...
The story seems simple,but the syle in which the authour handles the plot is really interesting.The minute details covered regarding all burglaries and the way Alex uses an ordinary telephone to get all the information he needs for his looting, is simply amazing.The language,the people,the accent makes the reader feel himself inthe middle of burglars....
The part played by the whores and the characterization of Alex is what the book is all aboout.The character almost becomes an epitome of a cold hearted thief when thinks frustrated by Jessica,whom he loved and deciding to ignore her inthe climax.This novel is not action packed but it takes into a diferent world that u cant neglect wherever u go...
Good book,never miss it if u come to see it...
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