ON flights around the world, we come across all kinds of passengers. After all, people embark on journeys for myriad reasons. While we forget most of our co-passengers, some end up making a place in our hearts. Some years ago,...
ON flights around the world, we come across all kinds of passengers. After all, people embark on journeys for myriad reasons. While we forget most of our co-passengers, some end up making a place in our hearts. Some years ago,...
Golfers faced a wasp swarm during an afternoon round. One player's panicked movements agitated the wasps, leading to stings. The incident triggered memories of past wasp encounters and a business magnate's fatal bee sting. They resumed playing after first aid.
In the 1970s, a battalion fought insurgents in Nagaland, using Jessami as its HQ. They sought to capture the underground leader Hurie in Phek. A local informant signaled Hurie's presence by extinguishing the church light. A large operation ensued, but Hurie was not found. The informant claimed drunkenness, leaving the unit uncertain of his loyalty.
In 1975, Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) was detained at Chandigarh's PGI for medical care during the Emergency. Medical staff faced security scrutiny while treating him. He was briefly moved to a guest house but his health declined. Released on parole, he humorously thanked the staff before departing for Delhi.
A woman recounts her enduring struggle: her husband prioritizes rest, leaving her overburdened with household and childcare responsibilities. This imbalance, stemming from the mental load, leads to resentment and unequal partnerships. True happiness requires men to share the load, fostering mutual respect and connection.
Escaping the plains' heat, the author journeyed to the hills, taking the Kalka-Shimla railway. The trip included visiting the unfinished Barog tunnel, a monument to Col Barog's failure and suicide. The tunnel symbolizes the weight of responsibility, professional honor, and the cost of high standards in a world that often forgives easily.
The author accompanied Gen. Sundarji on a 1986 trip to the USSR to discuss AEW&CS acquisition. A copy of a Jane's Compendium entry prompted a humorous negotiation. The Soviets initially denied possessing the technology, but eventually agreed to provide India with the first AEW&CS produced in Russia, resulting in a hybrid system of Israeli and American technology.
A patient, facing hernia surgery, contrasts his experiences in a government and private hospital. The government hospital offered impersonal, rushed care, lacking privacy and empathy. The private hospital provided dignity but pressured for expensive treatment. He questions why public healthcare fails to prioritize basic patient respect.
During Operation Parakram, minefields were laid in Gurdaspur, disrupting villagers' access to their fields. One villager, driven by alcohol cravings, entered a minefield to retrieve buried liquor and lost a leg. He was rescued and given a prosthetic. Despite the incident, another similar accident occurred months later. (This summary is generated via AI.)
In June 1975, the author, a Hindi teacher, was arrested in Bathinda, Punjab, during the Emergency. He was held in jail, encountering prominent political figures. Released in January 1976, he was denied JNU admission initially. He earned his MA, eventually gaining admission to JNU and completing his PhD in 1982. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author feels overwhelmed by the NCR's fast-paced life and longs for the simplicity of their childhood in Yamunanagar. They cherish memories of playful games, innocent joy, and the close-knit community of their hometown. The author wishes to rewind to a time of unedited joy and simpler connections, contrasting it with the complexities of modern life. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author's first flight, a turbulent experience, shattered the romantic ideal of freedom. Overwhelmed by fear and the sensation of weightlessness, the author longed for the grounding pull of gravity, akin to a child's yearning for the mother's womb. Despite the initial aversion, the experience revealed a profound appreciation for the comfort and security of Earth. (This summary is generated via AI.)
As commander of the Jammu Transit Camp in 2005, the author used yoga to improve discipline and morale among transient troops. He personally learned yoga and led daily sessions, fostering team spirit through roll calls, prizes, and shared practice. This initiative led to a calmer atmosphere and, ultimately, the camp's ISO 9001 certification. Yoga remains a personal practice for good health and focus. (This summary is generated via AI.)
Astrology is booming in India, fueled by lucrative apps, especially among Gen Z. This trend is diverting funds from essential needs and impacting legal and political decisions. The reliance on astrology can trigger mental health issues and is promoted as logic, not faith. (This summary is generated via AI.)
During the 1965 war, India faced technological limitations. Innovative solutions like a makeshift ATC in a small hut with trenches were crucial. 'Operation Batti Jalao' used flares for night landings. A mobile ATC was created. Despite challenges, the Indian forces showed high spirits, exemplified by the downing of a Sabre jet. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author's wife struggles to open coconuts in his absence. She had a bad experience with a shopkeeper and avoids the task. The author reminisces about a dedicated coconut scraper and a bull-driven oil mill he knew. He later sees the mill modernized, replacing the bulls with machinery. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author, inspired by a reckless bus driver, analyzed seat safety. Considering frontal, rear, and lateral impacts, the middle aisle seat on the left was deemed safest. The author realized that seat choice can impact survival and suggests thoughtful seat selection during travel. (This summary is generated via AI.)
A mother manipulated a seat swap on a train, securing a two-seater for herself and her daughter. Auntyji, tricked into the swap, was crammed in a three-seater. The mother was then subjected to a noisy baby and a loud video call, while Auntyji enjoyed her misfortune. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author recounts his past vanity and obsession with his hair. Facing inevitable hair loss, he tried various remedies, eventually accepting his baldness. Initially distressed, he found his profession benefited from the perceived wisdom associated with baldness. While his wife remained supportive, her subtle hints suggested disappointment. He now accepts his baldness with nostalgia. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author visited her father in Karu, Ladakh, a remote military outpost. After arriving, the CO's son, Unni, disappeared, causing a widespread search. Despite extensive efforts, Unni was found sleeping under a bed in his own house, having hidden there for a nap. (This summary is generated via AI.)
Rotary medical missions bring healthcare to underserved populations. The Morena mission provided 5,129 consultations and 1,048 surgeries. Diverse medical specialists performed complex procedures, restoring hope and dignity. Volunteers, local doctors, and Rotarians collaborated. These missions impact lives beyond the numbers, strengthening humanity through selfless service. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author's short drive from Shoghi to Shimla turned into a grueling, hours-long ordeal due to extreme traffic. The journey, a test of patience, was filled with slow progress, honking cars, and personal despair. The author finally arrived at the High Court, only for the case to be quickly adjourned. The trip's length was a humbling reminder of the beauty, and challenges, of Himachal Pradesh. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author, a police superintendent, recounts a busy tenure in Gujarat. He managed a flood, plague refugees, an election, and a prime ministerial visit. A key event involved resurfacing a helipad for the PM. The District Collector, known for frugality, revealed he'd once used cow dung paste for the same purpose, amusing the election observer. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The India-Pakistan conflict remains unresolved despite cultural exchange and shared history. Personal experiences highlight warm hospitality and commonalities, contrasting with political tensions. India's economic strength necessitates strategic restraint, while Pakistan needs economic repair. The author hopes for peace and an end to bloodshed along the border. (This summary is generated via AI.)
The author, a researcher with Pakistani Muslim friends, observed diverse perspectives on Bakrid. Contrary to common belief, many Muslims, including vegetarians, do not sacrifice animals. They believe the focus should be on sacrificing ego, not an animal. This highlights the ignorance fueling inter-communal conflict. (This summary is generated via AI.)
In the summer of 1953, the author moved from Poona to Delhi and was enrolled in the Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM). Initially, she was met with resistance from the principal, but her father's persistence and her good academic record secured her admission. She was then placed in Class V under the strict and critical Miss Rondo, who immediately branded her a 'dunce.' Due to a misunderstanding, the author was placed in Class III, where she thrived and was warmly welcomed, achieving good grades. However, she was placed back in Miss Rondo's Class V. Miss Rondo imposed strict rules, including fines and humiliating punishments for clumsiness. Despite the author's efforts to improve and her participation in school activities, Miss Rondo consistently belittled and condemned her, refusing to acknowledge her talents. This contrasted sharply with the kindness and support the author received from her teacher Miss Saldana, creating a clear division in her childhood memories of teachers. (This summary is generated via AI.)
This article reflects on a childhood lived with a built-in environmental consciousness, contrasting it with the modern emphasis on convenience. The author reminisces about a time when reusable glass bottles for drinks and milk, along with cloth shopping bags, were the norm, creating a cyclical and low-waste lifestyle. Reusing items like jars, newspapers, and old clothes was also commonplace. However, the article notes a shift towards single-use plastics and disposable packaging, driven by convenience, which ultimately led to a disconnect from the environment. The author concludes that while environmental awareness is now prominent, the practices of the past, such as reusing and reducing waste, offered a simpler, more sustainable way of life that we should consider returning to. (This summary is generated via AI.)
GETTING my three-year-old daughter ready for school each morning in Chandigarh brings a wave of nostalgia, taking me back to my childhood in Shimla. Just as my parents did for me, my husband and I wake up early to prepare...
OLD buildings, be it monuments or ordinary houses, have something interesting hidden in them that gets unravelled with the passage of time. I experienced it during a visit to Amritsar, my hometown. The trip took me back more than half...
RECENTLY, there was a nasty voltage fluctuation in my house. Lights flickered, fans stuttered, and one by one, the circuit-breakers started tripping. I quickly unplugged most of the appliances, but the fridge — poor fellow — was packed with groceries,...