The Indian Navy, like any other governmental organization, loves meetings. So much so that if meetings were ships, we would have achieved Sea Control over lake Baikal in no time. Some naval meetings are aimed at planning campaigns, others at improving logistics. Even others deal with the topic ‘manpower reduction’…
Beauty Queens, Chief Guests and Cliches
Many famous humour writers advise thus – ‘Do not use clichés.’ I say, ‘stuff and nonsense’. Our very existence is clichéd… Please allow me to buttress my argument with two examples. Beauty contests and Chief Guests. Let Us Start With Beauty Contests Most of you dear readers, would have watched…
Military Housing: Tales of Maintenance Guys (MG) and Fauji Struggles
Life in the Armed Forces is, like I have said many times earlier, pretty good. Excellent camaraderie, a reasonable work life balance and military housing that has converted the poet Longfellow’s words – ‘into each life some rain must fall’, into policy. The rain for example, doesn’t just fall. It…
Men Versus Women – The Photography Divide
Google tells me that Kodak was the pioneer of photography. From there, it was only a short slippery ride to today’s smartphones where everyone got promoted to official food plate recorders. Well not everyone. Make that half of everyone. 50% of humans (women) developed a deep love for cameras and…
Battles and Annexures: A Peek into Indian Navy’s Paper Warfare
The Indian Navy is a formidable fighting force; well equipped with the latest technology – guns, missiles, radars. But most importantly, paper. A look then into the Navy’s paper warfare…. In peacetime especially, paper becomes the primary weapon for projecting a unit’s battle readiness, professionalism and expertise in yoga. The…
Having a Brother-in-law is not something worth tom tomming
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a problem in the shape of a brother-in-law (BIL). Many of you may be afflicted similarly. BILs after all, come free with the spouse, like that small plastic pizza stool/table that comes with a pizza box. The reason I bring this up though is that…
Four NDA Cadets, Some Chicken, And Sandpapered Backsides
My most popular post to date pertained to Commander NKR. (Those wanting to refresh their memories can read about him here.) He is tall, strapping, and with his zest for early morning 10 km runs, a pain in the neck. Especially when holidaying. In one of my earlier posts I…