Washington - At a glance

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.

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Memories of the 1971 War.....

1. Flight Lt. Vijay Kumar Wahi - 10144 F(P) Vikram Wahi was my class mate in Class V, in 1971. When the Indo-Pak war broke out in December 1971, our Class V final examinations were on. Many 'fauji' families had to grapple with the stress of these exams, with the war as a backdrop. There were two papers each day, and between them, during the break, I remember seeing the Air Force's fighers landing close by at Palam, after a Combat Air Patrol sortie... On the 7th of December, 1971, we - all 10 year olds were busy writing whatever we had crammed, in our answer sheets, when all of a sudden, we noticed some commotion at the back of the classroom. We saw Vikram Wahi, breaking down, and sobbing away inconsolably. We ten year olds did not quite comprehend the problem, and got back to our answer sheets. That was the last we saw of Vikram Wahi. Till this day, I do not know where Vikram went, and where he is. On the 6th of December, Vikram's family received the news t...

Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh MVC - An erstwhile Maharaja and a forgotten Soldier

Most Indians do NOT as a matter of habit, remember our National heroes especially t hose, that put their lives at peril to guard the frontiers of our Country, and made sure that we live - independent and free, each day. One such soldier of the soil - Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh MVC - also the Maharaja of Jaipur, fought bravely for the Nation, during the 1971 Indo - Pak war. So bravely, that the Nation decorated him with India's second highest gallantry award - the Maha Vir Chakra. Yet, when he died on April 17, 2011, his death went virtually un-noticed in the backdrop of the cricket, the scams and the other problems that took precedence in this Country. Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur was born on October 22 1931 to Sawai Man "Jai" Singh II (Maharaja of Jaipur from 1911) and Marudhar Kanwar of Jodhpur, the first of his father's three wives (who would die when her son was 13). Given the nickname "Bubbles" by his British nanny because of the ...

Diwali

Tomorrow is Deepwali - the Indian festival of lights. There is an atmosphere of festivities everywhere. The festival symbolises brightness and light, and so millions of homes across the Country, are brightly lit up for the past so many days to pay obeisance to God Almighty for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame. Diwali also symbolises removing darkness - in the form of ignorance and all negative forces - wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, by spreading light in the form of knowledge. Deepawali also symbolises a 'new beginning' The festivities reach a peak. People shop for new clothes and jewellery, and sweets and gifts to exchange with near and dear ones. Households are refurbished and cleaned, and then lit up brightly. Relatives and friends reunite this time of the year -if not at anytime else. There is happiness all around. On Deepawali this year - as in all the previous yea...

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