Puneet's Page

1971.... It was yet another cold depressing evening in early December that year. She stood by the kitchen fire in her small two room home, reluctantly cooking some food which was to be her dinner. Reluctantly because she wasn't really interested in eating. For she was all alone - in the house that was small, and empty. She was all alone and lonely and that made her sad... This winter the whole day was depressing , the evenings even more so. Like during every winter this year too, she sat each day on the cot laid out in the front veranda of her house, right under the bright warm afternoon sun. She sat and did what she had been doing for years. She sat and knitted. She knitted sweaters and dabbled off and on with crochet. Her fingers were old and wrinkled but they moved the needles with such speed that they seemed but a blur... But there was something missing this winter. Her two sons, both officers in the Army, had not returned home for their regular two month annual leave. When her...

Colonel Neeraj Sood was the Commanding Officer of the 18th Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, a unit tasked to fight terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Always the one known to lead from the front, the Colonel acting upon a tip off about the presence of militants in the Kupwara region, got his ''Quick Search Team" together and headed off to take on the terrorists. In the ensuing gun battle, Colonel Sood received a bullet in the head, and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Colonel Sood leaves behind his wife and an 11 year old daughter. Heading the Quick Search Team was clearly something that COs of a battalion would not do. But Colonel Sood demonstrated rare courage and determination to duty, and in the process upheld the highest traditions of the Indian Army. I salute this brave soldier who clearly exceeded his brief and in the process made the supreme sacrifice by laying down his life. His sacrifice should also serve as a reminder to all Indians, of the innumerable sacrif...

Occasionally, and when I can remember to tune in, I like to watch music reality shows like 'Indian Idol' or 'Sa Re Ga Ma' I like to watch these programs because I like music. And to me its a special experience listening to good singers with melodious voices render familiar songs from old films. But one thing about the music competitions is invariably disturbing. Some of the best singers are among the first to be eliminated. Not surprising, considering the format of the competition. The audience votes and decides. (The judges are mere show pieces). Through text messages and phone calls. Cell phone operators mint millions and in turn sponsor the show. The result is there for all to see. Aspirants who are genuine singers fail to make the grade because they don't get enough audience votes. Contestants who are less deserving by any stretch of imagination move up the competition rounds. The deserving contestants who get eliminated early manage to get singing contracts any...

My father didn't teach me anything. Yet - in living his life, he taught me about living life. He rose from a humble beginning and faced adversities when young And I learnt about perseverance,determination and resolve He brought up his young siblings took care of his ageing and frail mother Placing their welfare before his own Always and every time And I learnt about sacrifice He stood upright through moments of trial And I learnt about honesty, conviction and moral strength When he was heart broken on the death of a sibling and wept bitterly and unashamedly I learnt about expressing and sharing grief He took me for long drives and played with me And I learnt about expressing and sharing happiness. He loved to talk and share, cracked jokes and brought a smile to people's faces And I learnt to enjoy the simple moments in life. He sat long hours during the day, and at night listening to 'raagas' with total concentration, fascination and involvement. And I learnt to appre...

Today I read a news item in the newspaper that made me happy, because it was about how people can be nice to animals. This was a story about Varun, a Doberman, who was a police dog. Varun died of a heart ailment, after serving the police in Koppal in Karnataka, for almost the same time as his entire life -eight years. Varun was inducted into the police force when he was one month old ! And his training started when he was just three months. During his career in the police force, Varun actually helped solve about 90 cases of theft and 30 cases of murder. When Varun died, the citizens and police force of Koppal gathered in the District Armed Reserve Police grounds for an official 'funeral'. Wreaths were laid and a bugle was sounded after which Varun was laid to rest. Varun's feat as a police dog was exemplary. What was amazing though, was the love and respect the police force and the local citizens had for this canine. This in a way restores one's faith in humanity - th...

I would like to meet someone who will tell me that he or she hasn't ever chewed gum. All of us did - when we were young, and continue to do so even today. The difference is - when we were small we blew bubbles, and now we chew gum for different reasons. We know chewing gum existed in the 'Neolithic' period - almost 5000 years ago. But modern chewing gum was developed in the 1860s when 'chicle' was exported from Mexico as a rubber substitute. Most gum manufacturers have since switched to synthetic gum bases for reasons of cost. Chewing gum has a long history. And more importantly it has a great great future. The United States military has regularly supplied soldiers with chewing gum since World War II, because it helped both to improve the soldiers' concentration and to relieve stress. In the 60s and 70s, chewing gum was a product which people consumed for two reasons. The first reason was 'just fun' - you didn't chew gum for any reason, but just f...

Vivek Sanyal was my class mate through many years in School. I stayed in RK Puram, and he, close by in Munirka. We became friends. When School finished, we parted ways, each one anxious of what lay ahead in life. And in that keenness to look forward to the future, most of us forgot to say our 'good byes' and forgot to promise each other to keep in touch.... Thirty one year later we reunited. And now while the faces were the same, the reunion was all about rediscovering each other. Vivek went to the Armed Forces Medical College, and became a Doctor.He completed his 'tour of duty' in the five years that he served in the Indian Army. I discovered that Vivek was also a good story teller. One of the stories - part of his memoirs of his life back then in the 'fauj' particularly struck me as very 'absorbing'. With Vivek's permission I am reproducing it right here - on my blog. So here it is - a short story titled "Long Ago" by Captain (Retd) Dr. V...

Here is a old lesson that we could all learn - about leadership and teamwork - from 'geese ! M any of us might be familiar with this. But this still remains a gem.... Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others. Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation...

The Giza pyramids of Egypt, stand tall and elegant, as if a testimony to an entire era, and entire life, and entire World gone by... And the 'Sphynx' stands alone to guard the pyramids and those that rest within... In St. Patrick's Garden Dublin, a little girl enjoys playing with the birds, along with her young mother. The birds enjoy too - and why shouldn't they? The park has everything, trees, water, a beautiful climate, and of course nothing to disturb them . Its just after sunset in Amsterdam (March 2010), and the setting sun provides such a spectacular combination of colors when the light reflects on the water..... A different kind of sunset - this time in Dublin, with an overcast summer sky. (August 2009) And yet another sunset - the setting sun's light reflects upon the old building - an architectural beauty - of the Grand Central Station, Amsterdam (March 2010) . Back home in New Delhi, the sun peeks in from just above the horizon, one morning (September 20...

The 'Lincoln Memorial' in Washington DC - built to honor Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the US. The Washington Memorial with 'The Capitol' or the Sentate building in the far background. The 'Roosevelt Memorial'. I got to see all of these landmarks thanks to Swati - my classmate and friend, and her husband Rajeev, who invested a good part of their weekend for my benefit. The United States Supreme Court, which is just opposite 'The Capitol' The United States Capitol - the meeting place of the Congress - the legislature of the United States Federal Government.

Lesson 7 - "Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds" In a brain bases economy, the best assets are people. This is a well known fact. But how many leaders actually 'walk the talk"? How many leaders immerse time in the goal of creating and environment where the best, the bright and the most creative are attracted, retained and more importantly 'unleashed'? Lesson 8 - " Organization charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing" In a well run organization titles are meaningless. Titles mean little in terms of 'real' power, which is the capacity to influence and inspire. A team will commit to a person who might not have any authority on paper but who possesses drive, expertise and genuine concern for team members.... Lesson 9 - "Never let you ego come so close to your position so that when your position goes, your ego goes along with it..." Very...

General Colin Powell is known to most of us. He was excelled in his career in the US Army, to rise to the position of Commander - United Forces Command, and later Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff. After retirement from the Army, he served his Country as the 65th Secretary of State under President George Bush. Genl Powell's presentation on Leadership is an invaluable lesson on the subject. Here's the summary Lesson 1 - " Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off...." Good leadership means looking after the welfare of the people you lead. And this means that some people can sometimes get people angry at your actions and decisions. This is inevitable if you are honorable. A leader has to focus on what or who is right. Trying to please people is a sign of mediocrity. The right choices can many times be the tough choice. By procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying hard not to get anyone mad, and by trying to be nice to most people regardless of their ...