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Kalyani Nandurkar answered the question Remembering Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan.
I really like her most films including Guddi, Zanjeer, Jawani Diwani, Chupke Chupke etc. She has also given a sterling performance in Koshish, which was quite difficult acting as a deaf and mute girl married to deaf and mute guy. But my top favorite four films of Jaya Bachchan are
Chupke Chupke
Zanjeer
Mili
Parichay
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic No water to drink but enough for IPL show.
We are aware that venues for IPL were shifted, after Maharashtra CM refused to hold the IPL championship. After this, many States came forward to hold IPL. BCCI agreed for some venues in AP, Vizag, where there is no water scarcity to hold IPL. But within a few days the situation changed. IMF predicted, that there would be water scarcity in the entire country. With this new development many agitations were staged. There were a couple of PILs filed in the AP High court.But IPL is continuing. Now , according to news channels, there is political interference to gain political mileage.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic No water to drink but enough for IPL show.
usha manohar wrote:
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
rambabu wrote:
LOL. This cartoon is self explanatory. I feel this is the ideal act for stopping the IPL. In vizag too, where some IPL matches are going, there are some agitations and few PILs are filed in the court. It is yet to be seen for the final verdict of the Court.
Spread the word around, bring them in hundreds and stop the matches!
I sincerely wish something like that would happen, but people give up easily on issues that really matter but waste precious time on the ones that don't really matter .
True...see the current agitations of various women's and progressive outfits demanding that women be allowed entry into temples and mosques etc. See how much response and they are getting from everywhere, but something more crucial and sensitive issue that requires topmost priority such as water and food etc., no one seems to be bothering much about.....that is why our country can never become a superpower!
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
usha manohar wrote:
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
That is so ad, but this kind of thing happens in almost organisations. Truth is, nowadays, seniority and experience hardly counts for much. The younger people might be good workers and may have talent and knowledge of latest technology required than the senior person may have. But the fact still remains that the senior person has put in more years of his life to the job and has the benefit of better experience and judgement that will come handy while leading others, so ignoring such a person and promoting others is simply not fair.
Exactly ! Another fact is that these days percentage wise many of the youngsters are foot loose , changing jobs and looking for better opportunities all the time rather than stick to one job and become thorough! In such a scenario, how wise is it for companies to overlook senior workers who have stuck on and contributed all through their career . Unless a balance is stuck it may become counter productive for an organisation to take on a younger worker and give him more responsibilities.Everything should happen step by step.
Exactly, younger candidates are concerned more about their own growth than the company's growth. I have seen with my own eyes, how younger candidates decisions have been seen as more beneficial to the company which in reality, were damaging in the long run, but they went ahead with it anyway and then had to pay the cost by losing a valuable client. In this case, it was my close friend, a senior manager whose experience and wisdom had been thwarted in favour of a younger, more dynamic guy. But by the time the company realised her true worth, she had left the company for another who favoured experience and wisdom more than younger candidates' so-called dynamism and charisma! So like you said, balance in striking all these factors together is necessary. Younger people also have really questionable loyalty as they keep hopping jobs every two years for better package!
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to Bajirao for his/her reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
I personally believe both seniority and merit should be taken into consideration.
Only a person being senior should not be eligible for promotion, unless the senior person has capability to work for the position and also has the required experience.
Most of the time youngsters has lots of degrees but no or very minimal experience, in such cases seniority should be given the preferences.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar liked a reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to usha manohar for his/her reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
That is so ad, but this kind of thing happens in almost organisations. Truth is, nowadays, seniority and experience hardly counts for much. The younger people might be good workers and may have talent and knowledge of latest technology required than the senior person may have. But the fact still remains that the senior person has put in more years of his life to the job and has the benefit of better experience and judgement that will come handy while leading others, so ignoring such a person and promoting others is simply not fair.
Exactly ! Another fact is that these days percentage wise many of the youngsters are foot loose , changing jobs and looking for better opportunities all the time rather than stick to one job and become thorough! In such a scenario, how wise is it for companies to overlook senior workers who have stuck on and contributed all through their career . Unless a balance is stuck it may become counter productive for an organisation to take on a younger worker and give him more responsibilities.Everything should happen step by step.
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
A good solution. But there are many Organizations that view Senior employees as White elephants.Unproductive Man power reduction would be more profitable to these Organizations. In this process, seemingly productive innovative ideas of the Youngsters who generally are recruited with low salaries. are preferred. by these Organizations.
9 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
It is a fact that senior members have grown with the organization and are well aware of its needs for sustainanc and growth. A youngster might come up with new ideas which may or may not work since it has not been tested. An ideal situation would be for the youngsters to take advise while implementing their ideas , from seniors who know the ins and outs of the organization much better.It also helps seniors to learn new ideas.
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
In these days of Globalization and swift changes, any Business organization, looks towards new trends in Business practices in order to make profits. No Business organization can thrive with obsolete and outdated practices. I observed Senor employees generally are not oriented towards new business practices. They feel jumping to new trends may be risky. Whereas youngsters in the organization, being inquisitive show orientation towards trying new trends. Many Business organizations shot up owing to the enterprising and groundbreaking innovations introduced by the youngsters in their respective fields. Youngsters with innovative ideas must be considered for promotions.
9 years ago
Gulshan Kumar Ajmani replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
Seniority is a significant fact and cannot be ignored totally. Merit is an opinion whereas seniority is a fact. Seniority needs be major criterion in promotions. But seniority alone does not suffice. The service record of the senior also needs be seen. If he has performed satisfactory service, he must be promoted. Juniors can wait for their turn. Only when a senior has shown dismal performance or lack of interest in work, he may be bypassed. For very senior posts needing exceptional merit, seniority cum merit should be criterion. First, candidates should be shortlisted on basis of seniority. Then their performance during career be reviewed and suitable one may be selected.
9 years ago
Bajirao replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
I personally believe both seniority and merit should be taken into consideration.
Only a person being senior should not be eligible for promotion, unless the senior person has capability to work for the position and also has the required experience.
Most of the time youngsters has lots of degrees but no or very minimal experience, in such cases seniority should be given the preferences.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Sword in Indian History.
https://pixabay.com/en/girl-sword-sensual-blonde-beauty-1271166/
When a Cadet passes out from a military academy, the cadet who stands first is awarded a sword of honor. This is a symbolic prize of having excelled at the Academy in all disciples. Swords are also carried by Sikh grooms during weddings and this is attributed to the martial quality expected of a groom. The sword is part of Hindu psyche and its origin can be traced to 5000 BC. The first mention of a sword is in the Mahabharata. The epic mentions the sword as a personal weapon and it was carried by all warriors. The credit for developing this must go to the genius of Hindus who developed such a fine personal weapon of defence and offence. The Indian sword is also referred to as Tulwar or Talwar and was generally about 36 inches in length with a curved blade, that had a cutting edge only on one side.
The sword is the great gift of Hindus to man and history. It is difficult to understand how the ancient craftsmen who manufactured swords got the concept of the curved sword. Now after scientific tests, we know that a curved sword compared to other swords like the English broad sword was more aerodynamic and also had a low drag coefficient. One has to marvel at ingenuity and knowledge of Hindu craftsmen who invented the curved sword as at that time they had no knowledge of the principles of statics and dynamics. Yet they produced a superb weapon which was ultimately copied by the entire world. this needs to be trumpeted to the entire world who often talk of " meek and mild Hindu".
The Greeks had their first brush with the curved sword or Tulwar when Alexander invaded India. After making peace with his opponent the Hindu king Porus Alexander reportedly took many samples of curved swords to Baghdad.The Arabs later also liked the curved sword and adopted it as their main personal weapon. Arab warriors like Saladin carried the curved sword in battle. it was extensively used against the Christians during the Crusades.
In India, the sword was developed further and modern testing of the metallurgy of the Tulwar has confirmed that it had about 1% of carbon and overall the steel used was a high content. this clearly brings out the fact that the science of metallurgy of the Hindus was of a high order.
the Muslims who came and settled in India also adopted the curved sword as their main personal weapon. The British soldiers of the East India Company had their first brush with the curved sword in battles with Indian kings. The curved sword was examined by them and they found that it was a weapon that must be adopted by them. They incorporated the weapon ( tulwar) as part of their cavalry and gave it the name sabre. British Indian army cavalry regiments like the Skinners horse and Poona Horse were all equipped with curved swords. They also used the curved sword in their battles in Crimea against the Russians.
The curved sword with minor modifications was used all over India. from the deep South to the North the Talwar was the main weapon of offence and defence for a soldier. Hindu armies carried the sword with a small shield tied to the left forearm and went into battle in a massed charge. This massed charge resulted in many victories and even Mohammed of Ghor was defeated by the Rajputs in the First battle of Tarain( now Thanesar).
The curved sword is thus one of the most important contribution of the Hindus to weaponry of the world. Only the Japanese swords developed independently. In all other places, the curved sword held sway and was the forerunner of the bayonet charge.
In India itself, many derivates of the curved sword appeared. Notable being the Khukuri and the Katar( small curved dagger).Another weapon that held sway for some time was the Khanda. It was a weapon to be used with two hands and sometimes weighed 40 kg. It was used by Baba Deep Singh in his assault on the Muslims to free the Golden temple from the forces of Ahmed Shah Abdali. this Khanda which weighs 40 kg is kept at the gurdwara at Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Many Indian kings loved swords and used jewels and gems to embellish their sword handles. This gave the sword a distinctive look. Many Indian swords are on display at the Imperial Museum in London. there is also an excellent display of Indian swords at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum at Jodhpur. I have visited this museum and the Maharajah has an awesome collection.
The sword was used in battle for the last time during World war I. It was used as a weapon for beheading enemy and captured soldiers by the Japanese during World War II. Now it is used for executions by beheading in Saudi Arabia. The weapon used is the curved sword.
The curved sword has lived its life and historically it is the greatest invention before the invention of gunpowder. All credit to the Hindus who thought and conceived this weapon. I have never handled swords except one that I carried when I got married the first time. In India, the trade of sword making thrives, particularly in Jammu and Western UP. Many foreigners come to India to buy the Tulwar as a memento. It's a lovely weapon to own and I have one with me.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Women in the Armed Forces : Modern Day Camp Followers?.
I spent quality time in the armed forces and took my premature release as a Group Captain. When I left the Air Force women were very much part of the cadre and I had the opportunity to fly with a few of the girls. I recollect that in one of the operations to carry out a recce of the Kashmir mountains, I had filed the flight plan for a take off at 6 am in the morning. I had selected a young girl as a co-pilot and we were to do contour flying to try and detect any movement of infiltrators from occupied Pakistan held Kashmir. Just 15 minutes before take off the young girl pilot informed me that she had a severe headache and would not be able to fly. I immediately selected another pilot from the ORP( Operational Readiness Platform) and took off. I realized that women have their infirmities due to the biological cycle and also an issue of strength and endurance and just to use them for combat duties is not the best idea for any force.
A bit of knowledge was with me as the Flight Commander that this particular girl who was just 22, was into an affair with a senior officer almost 27 years her senior. I treated this as part of life and never gave it another thought. But a thought did occur to me that the girls in the forces perhaps were the modern day camp followers.
" Camp Followers" is a very old term and has existed since the time the Roman Legions marched to battle in Europe and Asia. These were women who accompanied the army to give sexual comfort to the soldiers and officers. They were almost a permanent fixture in an army on the march. This continued throughout history and during the American Civil war ( 1861-65), camp followers were very much part of the scenario. In India the British Indian army followed this practice and camp Followers, meaning younger women went with the army on the march. When the Duke of Wellesley marched against Tippu Sultan from Madras, a huge retinue of camp followers i.e young women went along with the British Indian army. Camp followers never fought any war or went to battle, but they were an important part of the army on the march.
As far as soldiering is concerned, there is no record of women soldiers in history. There may be an odd exception or two, but remember one swallow doesn't make the summer. The only tale of women as soldiers is in mythology when women ruled the lost continent of Atlantis. This land is supposed to have sunk in the Atlantic Ocean.
Women rode horses and wielded swords, but they were not warriors. They had also issues of strength, stamina, and the biological cycle and historically were unfit to be soldiers. They were part of the army and went along as comfort women or camp followers.
In the 20th and 21st century, the concept of camp followers was considered an affront to women's rights and this practice was discontinued. Women now joined the armed forces for Auxiliary duties like radio operators, signal women, nurses, and cryptographers. Towards the end of the 20th century, women were also inducted for combat roles. The USAF and the army took the lead in this and tens of girls were commissioned into the various corps and squadrons. But this has led to a piquant situation and rape and molestation is on the rise. One can recollect the incident at one of the Naval bases in the USA when almost 50-60 women officers were stripped naked and molested by the men they were commanding.
Another facet of this induction of women is the liaisons between the senior officers and younger women soldiers and airmen and the navy and army have had to take disciplinary action in quite a few cases. In India, women are inducted in all branches and now they are also inducted into the fighter stream. But there are so many unsavory incidents that have happened. One girl a flight Lieutenant named Anjali Gupta committed suicide as she was in a relationship with a Group Captain 30 years her senior who had a son older than her. Such relationships are common and I must not state it, but many of the younger girls have become pregnant. Some of these cases have been reported in the press as well.
I remember one of the PSO's well known to me, an Air Marshal had stated that women cannot make good airmen or soldiers. He was silenced by the government intent on "empowering women". I have no comments to make on this, but the stark fact is that women are needed in the armed forces as they have a calming effect and also a physiological outlet for men. But there is no way the fact that the modern breed of women in the armed forces is in real terms little better off then the comfort women of yore can be ignored.
The armed forces have a peculiar environment and that includes strict discipline. In the armed forces, the Commanding officer or a senior officer must be obeyed and this blind obedience does lead to older officers taking advantage, but the girls themselves also get enmeshed in love and fantasy. I wouldn't mind a little flirtation or a short liaison as it will do good for both the woman and the man, but operational efficiency must not be hampered. There was the case of a woman Major of the USAir Force who flew B-52 bombers and she started sleeping with a corporal and she had to be disciplined for her act of indiscretion.
The world is changing, but old concepts don't die and the concept of the camp follower is alive and kicking.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar answered the question Remembering Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan.
I really like her most films including Guddi, Zanjeer, Jawani Diwani, Chupke Chupke etc. She has also given a sterling performance in Koshish, which was quite difficult acting as a deaf and mute girl married to deaf and mute guy. But my top favorite four films of Jaya Bachchan are
Chupke Chupke
Zanjeer
Mili
Parichay
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic No water to drink but enough for IPL show.
We are aware that venues for IPL were shifted, after Maharashtra CM refused to hold the IPL championship. After this, many States came forward to hold IPL. BCCI agreed for some venues in AP, Vizag, where there is no water scarcity to hold IPL. But within a few days the situation changed. IMF predicted, that there would be water scarcity in the entire country. With this new development many agitations were staged. There were a couple of PILs filed in the AP High court.But IPL is continuing. Now , according to news channels, there is political interference to gain political mileage.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic No water to drink but enough for IPL show.
usha manohar wrote:
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
rambabu wrote:
LOL. This cartoon is self explanatory. I feel this is the ideal act for stopping the IPL. In vizag too, where some IPL matches are going, there are some agitations and few PILs are filed in the court. It is yet to be seen for the final verdict of the Court.
Spread the word around, bring them in hundreds and stop the matches!
I sincerely wish something like that would happen, but people give up easily on issues that really matter but waste precious time on the ones that don't really matter .
True...see the current agitations of various women's and progressive outfits demanding that women be allowed entry into temples and mosques etc. See how much response and they are getting from everywhere, but something more crucial and sensitive issue that requires topmost priority such as water and food etc., no one seems to be bothering much about.....that is why our country can never become a superpower!
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
usha manohar wrote:
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
That is so ad, but this kind of thing happens in almost organisations. Truth is, nowadays, seniority and experience hardly counts for much. The younger people might be good workers and may have talent and knowledge of latest technology required than the senior person may have. But the fact still remains that the senior person has put in more years of his life to the job and has the benefit of better experience and judgement that will come handy while leading others, so ignoring such a person and promoting others is simply not fair.
Exactly ! Another fact is that these days percentage wise many of the youngsters are foot loose , changing jobs and looking for better opportunities all the time rather than stick to one job and become thorough! In such a scenario, how wise is it for companies to overlook senior workers who have stuck on and contributed all through their career . Unless a balance is stuck it may become counter productive for an organisation to take on a younger worker and give him more responsibilities.Everything should happen step by step.
Exactly, younger candidates are concerned more about their own growth than the company's growth. I have seen with my own eyes, how younger candidates decisions have been seen as more beneficial to the company which in reality, were damaging in the long run, but they went ahead with it anyway and then had to pay the cost by losing a valuable client. In this case, it was my close friend, a senior manager whose experience and wisdom had been thwarted in favour of a younger, more dynamic guy. But by the time the company realised her true worth, she had left the company for another who favoured experience and wisdom more than younger candidates' so-called dynamism and charisma! So like you said, balance in striking all these factors together is necessary. Younger people also have really questionable loyalty as they keep hopping jobs every two years for better package!
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to Bajirao for his/her reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
I personally believe both seniority and merit should be taken into consideration.
Only a person being senior should not be eligible for promotion, unless the senior person has capability to work for the position and also has the required experience.
Most of the time youngsters has lots of degrees but no or very minimal experience, in such cases seniority should be given the preferences.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar liked a reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
9 years ago
Kalyani Nandurkar said thank you to usha manohar for his/her reply to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:
That is so ad, but this kind of thing happens in almost organisations. Truth is, nowadays, seniority and experience hardly counts for much. The younger people might be good workers and may have talent and knowledge of latest technology required than the senior person may have. But the fact still remains that the senior person has put in more years of his life to the job and has the benefit of better experience and judgement that will come handy while leading others, so ignoring such a person and promoting others is simply not fair.
Exactly ! Another fact is that these days percentage wise many of the youngsters are foot loose , changing jobs and looking for better opportunities all the time rather than stick to one job and become thorough! In such a scenario, how wise is it for companies to overlook senior workers who have stuck on and contributed all through their career . Unless a balance is stuck it may become counter productive for an organisation to take on a younger worker and give him more responsibilities.Everything should happen step by step.
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
A good solution. But there are many Organizations that view Senior employees as White elephants.Unproductive Man power reduction would be more profitable to these Organizations. In this process, seemingly productive innovative ideas of the Youngsters who generally are recruited with low salaries. are preferred. by these Organizations.
9 years ago
usha manohar replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
It is a fact that senior members have grown with the organization and are well aware of its needs for sustainanc and growth. A youngster might come up with new ideas which may or may not work since it has not been tested. An ideal situation would be for the youngsters to take advise while implementing their ideas , from seniors who know the ins and outs of the organization much better.It also helps seniors to learn new ideas.
9 years ago
rambabu replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
In these days of Globalization and swift changes, any Business organization, looks towards new trends in Business practices in order to make profits. No Business organization can thrive with obsolete and outdated practices. I observed Senor employees generally are not oriented towards new business practices. They feel jumping to new trends may be risky. Whereas youngsters in the organization, being inquisitive show orientation towards trying new trends. Many Business organizations shot up owing to the enterprising and groundbreaking innovations introduced by the youngsters in their respective fields. Youngsters with innovative ideas must be considered for promotions.
9 years ago
Gulshan Kumar Ajmani replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
Seniority is a significant fact and cannot be ignored totally. Merit is an opinion whereas seniority is a fact. Seniority needs be major criterion in promotions. But seniority alone does not suffice. The service record of the senior also needs be seen. If he has performed satisfactory service, he must be promoted. Juniors can wait for their turn. Only when a senior has shown dismal performance or lack of interest in work, he may be bypassed. For very senior posts needing exceptional merit, seniority cum merit should be criterion. First, candidates should be shortlisted on basis of seniority. Then their performance during career be reviewed and suitable one may be selected.
9 years ago
Bajirao replied to the topic Criteria for promotions - merit or seniority ?.
I personally believe both seniority and merit should be taken into consideration.
Only a person being senior should not be eligible for promotion, unless the senior person has capability to work for the position and also has the required experience.
Most of the time youngsters has lots of degrees but no or very minimal experience, in such cases seniority should be given the preferences.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article The Sword in Indian History.
https://pixabay.com/en/girl-sword-sensual-blonde-beauty-1271166/
When a Cadet passes out from a military academy, the cadet who stands first is awarded a sword of honor. This is a symbolic prize of having excelled at the Academy in all disciples. Swords are also carried by Sikh grooms during weddings and this is attributed to the martial quality expected of a groom. The sword is part of Hindu psyche and its origin can be traced to 5000 BC. The first mention of a sword is in the Mahabharata. The epic mentions the sword as a personal weapon and it was carried by all warriors. The credit for developing this must go to the genius of Hindus who developed such a fine personal weapon of defence and offence. The Indian sword is also referred to as Tulwar or Talwar and was generally about 36 inches in length with a curved blade, that had a cutting edge only on one side.
The sword is the great gift of Hindus to man and history. It is difficult to understand how the ancient craftsmen who manufactured swords got the concept of the curved sword. Now after scientific tests, we know that a curved sword compared to other swords like the English broad sword was more aerodynamic and also had a low drag coefficient. One has to marvel at ingenuity and knowledge of Hindu craftsmen who invented the curved sword as at that time they had no knowledge of the principles of statics and dynamics. Yet they produced a superb weapon which was ultimately copied by the entire world. this needs to be trumpeted to the entire world who often talk of " meek and mild Hindu".
The Greeks had their first brush with the curved sword or Tulwar when Alexander invaded India. After making peace with his opponent the Hindu king Porus Alexander reportedly took many samples of curved swords to Baghdad.The Arabs later also liked the curved sword and adopted it as their main personal weapon. Arab warriors like Saladin carried the curved sword in battle. it was extensively used against the Christians during the Crusades.
In India, the sword was developed further and modern testing of the metallurgy of the Tulwar has confirmed that it had about 1% of carbon and overall the steel used was a high content. this clearly brings out the fact that the science of metallurgy of the Hindus was of a high order.
the Muslims who came and settled in India also adopted the curved sword as their main personal weapon. The British soldiers of the East India Company had their first brush with the curved sword in battles with Indian kings. The curved sword was examined by them and they found that it was a weapon that must be adopted by them. They incorporated the weapon ( tulwar) as part of their cavalry and gave it the name sabre. British Indian army cavalry regiments like the Skinners horse and Poona Horse were all equipped with curved swords. They also used the curved sword in their battles in Crimea against the Russians.
The curved sword with minor modifications was used all over India. from the deep South to the North the Talwar was the main weapon of offence and defence for a soldier. Hindu armies carried the sword with a small shield tied to the left forearm and went into battle in a massed charge. This massed charge resulted in many victories and even Mohammed of Ghor was defeated by the Rajputs in the First battle of Tarain( now Thanesar).
The curved sword is thus one of the most important contribution of the Hindus to weaponry of the world. Only the Japanese swords developed independently. In all other places, the curved sword held sway and was the forerunner of the bayonet charge.
In India itself, many derivates of the curved sword appeared. Notable being the Khukuri and the Katar( small curved dagger).Another weapon that held sway for some time was the Khanda. It was a weapon to be used with two hands and sometimes weighed 40 kg. It was used by Baba Deep Singh in his assault on the Muslims to free the Golden temple from the forces of Ahmed Shah Abdali. this Khanda which weighs 40 kg is kept at the gurdwara at Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.
Many Indian kings loved swords and used jewels and gems to embellish their sword handles. This gave the sword a distinctive look. Many Indian swords are on display at the Imperial Museum in London. there is also an excellent display of Indian swords at the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum at Jodhpur. I have visited this museum and the Maharajah has an awesome collection.
The sword was used in battle for the last time during World war I. It was used as a weapon for beheading enemy and captured soldiers by the Japanese during World War II. Now it is used for executions by beheading in Saudi Arabia. The weapon used is the curved sword.
The curved sword has lived its life and historically it is the greatest invention before the invention of gunpowder. All credit to the Hindus who thought and conceived this weapon. I have never handled swords except one that I carried when I got married the first time. In India, the trade of sword making thrives, particularly in Jammu and Western UP. Many foreigners come to India to buy the Tulwar as a memento. It's a lovely weapon to own and I have one with me.
9 years ago
MG Singh created new article Women in the Armed Forces : Modern Day Camp Followers?.
I spent quality time in the armed forces and took my premature release as a Group Captain. When I left the Air Force women were very much part of the cadre and I had the opportunity to fly with a few of the girls. I recollect that in one of the operations to carry out a recce of the Kashmir mountains, I had filed the flight plan for a take off at 6 am in the morning. I had selected a young girl as a co-pilot and we were to do contour flying to try and detect any movement of infiltrators from occupied Pakistan held Kashmir. Just 15 minutes before take off the young girl pilot informed me that she had a severe headache and would not be able to fly. I immediately selected another pilot from the ORP( Operational Readiness Platform) and took off. I realized that women have their infirmities due to the biological cycle and also an issue of strength and endurance and just to use them for combat duties is not the best idea for any force.
A bit of knowledge was with me as the Flight Commander that this particular girl who was just 22, was into an affair with a senior officer almost 27 years her senior. I treated this as part of life and never gave it another thought. But a thought did occur to me that the girls in the forces perhaps were the modern day camp followers.
" Camp Followers" is a very old term and has existed since the time the Roman Legions marched to battle in Europe and Asia. These were women who accompanied the army to give sexual comfort to the soldiers and officers. They were almost a permanent fixture in an army on the march. This continued throughout history and during the American Civil war ( 1861-65), camp followers were very much part of the scenario. In India the British Indian army followed this practice and camp Followers, meaning younger women went with the army on the march. When the Duke of Wellesley marched against Tippu Sultan from Madras, a huge retinue of camp followers i.e young women went along with the British Indian army. Camp followers never fought any war or went to battle, but they were an important part of the army on the march.
As far as soldiering is concerned, there is no record of women soldiers in history. There may be an odd exception or two, but remember one swallow doesn't make the summer. The only tale of women as soldiers is in mythology when women ruled the lost continent of Atlantis. This land is supposed to have sunk in the Atlantic Ocean.
Women rode horses and wielded swords, but they were not warriors. They had also issues of strength, stamina, and the biological cycle and historically were unfit to be soldiers. They were part of the army and went along as comfort women or camp followers.
In the 20th and 21st century, the concept of camp followers was considered an affront to women's rights and this practice was discontinued. Women now joined the armed forces for Auxiliary duties like radio operators, signal women, nurses, and cryptographers. Towards the end of the 20th century, women were also inducted for combat roles. The USAF and the army took the lead in this and tens of girls were commissioned into the various corps and squadrons. But this has led to a piquant situation and rape and molestation is on the rise. One can recollect the incident at one of the Naval bases in the USA when almost 50-60 women officers were stripped naked and molested by the men they were commanding.
Another facet of this induction of women is the liaisons between the senior officers and younger women soldiers and airmen and the navy and army have had to take disciplinary action in quite a few cases. In India, women are inducted in all branches and now they are also inducted into the fighter stream. But there are so many unsavory incidents that have happened. One girl a flight Lieutenant named Anjali Gupta committed suicide as she was in a relationship with a Group Captain 30 years her senior who had a son older than her. Such relationships are common and I must not state it, but many of the younger girls have become pregnant. Some of these cases have been reported in the press as well.
I remember one of the PSO's well known to me, an Air Marshal had stated that women cannot make good airmen or soldiers. He was silenced by the government intent on "empowering women". I have no comments to make on this, but the stark fact is that women are needed in the armed forces as they have a calming effect and also a physiological outlet for men. But there is no way the fact that the modern breed of women in the armed forces is in real terms little better off then the comfort women of yore can be ignored.
The armed forces have a peculiar environment and that includes strict discipline. In the armed forces, the Commanding officer or a senior officer must be obeyed and this blind obedience does lead to older officers taking advantage, but the girls themselves also get enmeshed in love and fantasy. I wouldn't mind a little flirtation or a short liaison as it will do good for both the woman and the man, but operational efficiency must not be hampered. There was the case of a woman Major of the USAir Force who flew B-52 bombers and she started sleeping with a corporal and she had to be disciplined for her act of indiscretion.
The world is changing, but old concepts don't die and the concept of the camp follower is alive and kicking.
9 years ago