In Sector 17 – The Destitute

Do look at him.

Old and beaten,

By the hounds of cruel fate,

Physically, broken,

Half blind, hunch backed,

Seemingly ashamed of his

Half naked body.

His spiritual ruin

Has now begun, he begs,

He cries piteously,

Some grains of shame remain,

Slowly, silently they

Will be blown away.

Then he will belong,

To that derelict wreck

Of society, which we

Form by our callousness,

He will be called a beggar

By us,

And a destitute on

A numbered government file,

In an imposing government office.

(Composed by Dinesh K Kapila)

===============================================================================

(Sector 17 is the commercial hub of Chandigarh for those who do not know)

================================================================================

Comments

The Forgotten Unsung Heroes of the Battle of Madhumati. 1971. Bangladesh. 45 Cavalry.

The Forgotten Unsung Heroes of the Battle of Madhumati. 1971. Bangladesh. 45 Cavalry. By Dinesh K Kapila (Chief General Manager (Retd). NABARD (As discussed with Major General (then Major) Pramod Kumar Batra, Retd and Other Veterans) Just a Glimpse – Cdr 62 Mountain Brigade – “Pramod, I believe it is hard to maneuver PT 76 tanks in this terrain and waters”. Pat is the answer, “it is hard and I may struggle, but you will never see me to give up or fai”l. They stood together, on the edge of the swift flowing Madhumati, the staff and soldiers waiting. It was dark. Very Dark. After waiting for some time the Bde Cdr had said, “lets go”. Major PK Batra vividly recollects even now watching the Cdr's face as he looked at the map with a torch. He was calm and very quiet, showing ,no fear or afraid and maintaining a dignified silence. He remembered the old saying, "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". It was a moment in not only the life of the Brigade Co...

A Knock on The Door and a Memory

A Knock on The Door and a Memory A Short Story By Dinesh K Kapila (written for a contest, had to start with Knock Knock ...) Knock knock. The sharp rap shattered the silence, jolting her from a restless daze. Who would knock so late ? Open the door ! The voice, urgent, cut through the stillness. Her breath hitched. That voice ……. Unmistakable. She froze, heart pounding, hand inches from the knob. It could not be…. It sounded just like Dheeraj. How could it be? Just could not be. She was wondering, in the meantime, the knocking continued. Sharp raps. Relentless. She stood back a couple of steps. Wondering. Thinking should she open the door. It was late. Very late. ‘Wait’, she shouted loudly. ‘I will just take a minute”. That would buy her time. To think. What did he look like now. It was now more than three decades since they last met. She had moved on and so had Dheeraj. Life, it gives chances, you grab some, some you let go. On an impulse she steeled herself and o...

The Role of NABARD in the Economic Development of India

The Role of NABARD in the Economic Development of India By Dinesh Kumar Kapila, Chief General Manager (Retd), NABARD . (Written as requested within 850 words for Business Sandesh, Published on 1st Aug 2025) The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) plays a crucial role in advancing rural development in India through a multifaceted approach . Established in 1982 by an Act of Parliament, NABARD , a statutory apex development al financial institution , has the mandate to foster agricultural and rural development by sustainable and inclusive growth with a focus on both financial and non-financial interventions . NABARD plays a crucial role in the growth of the rural economy through a range of functions. These include refinancing rural financial institutions for short term credit for agriculture , refinancing banks and NBFCs for i...

DK Kapila The Oracle

Search This Blog