DK Kapila The Oracle

It was today morning. A crisp 13 degrees centigrade with the sun out around 925 am. I was out for my walk. Sunday walks are always around this time. I saw a girl in the park walking ever so gracefully backwards. Just a few steps. She was so light on her feet. From a distance I thought she was on her toes. To me It was as though she was a ballerina. As I walked on I noticed her step forward. Just a light step. Then another. A slight twist of her body and her arms stretched out . Next she was bending over and did a cartwheel. Smoothly and effortlessly. Then another and another with the Same grace and poise. I walked on and noticed she was again focused as she walked or rather pirouetted a bit forward, then backwards again. The poise and grace not leaving her even for a second. Then she went in for the routine again. The same three cartwheels. No break, gracefully and no extra momentum imparted to herself. I could have snapped it to retain the memory but it would have been an invasion of...

The Entrepreneurs Amongst the Poor - Geeta - The financially literate and enterprising among the poor are pulling themselves out of poverty by sheer grit and determination. And coupled with a fierce determination to succeed and even being smart about it in their own way. The Schemes of the GOI and State Governments also become a facilitator in this success, in that they build the necessary infrastructure or environment for success (This could be imparting of soft skills or en abling infrastructure). Geeta belongs to District Hoshiarpur in Punjab State by her roots, but her success has come after she moved to Chandigarh. A Scheduled Caste, she has shown how grit and enterprise can pull a person out of abject poverty. After trying varied entrepreneurial ventures she took to working as a masseuse for the ladies from the middle class and above, specially the age group above 50 years. This group is willing to spend on massages as the aches and pains have begun to set in. Charging around Rs...

The 1971 War - 45 Cavalry A Squadron Today is the Day when War was officially declared way back in 1971. But the 2/9 GR states in it's Momento presented to my father after the war, "In Memory of the Battles we fought together" 21st November 1971 - 16th December 1971. Between facts and declarations facts win, my Father commanding 62 Mountain Brigade was well within the erstwhile East Pakistan Boundary / Borders on 3rd December 1971. He had the 5 Maratha Light Infantry, the 4 Sikh Light Infantry, The 2/9 GR and an Armoured Unit under his command. The official declaration of war was welcomed by cheers as some forward elements could remove their lungis or rather dhotis wrapped over their uniforms. Here is one piece written by by father last year at the request of the 45 Cavalry and then Major Batra. I have edited it. Performance of the 45 Cavalry Regiment during the Bangladesh War – December 1971 - specially A Squadron. by Major General Rajendra Nath, PVSM (Retd) ...

1971 War - An Emotional Memory for my Father Down Madhumati Road Dinesh K. Kapila As you drive towards Shimla from Chandigarh, a road sign on the highway passing through Chandimandir cantonment states “Madhumati Road”. Few would know why this name is on the board except may be that it’s the name of a large river in Bangladesh. For me, passing by the road sign gives a feeling of familiarity and pride, for the road sign signifies a hard-fought victory of the 1971 war by the 62 Mountain Brigade. One battalion of the 7th Brigade also performed the important function of a road block in this battle. Someday I plan to stand my children by the roadside for a photograph, for I want them to remember what their grandpa achieved 30 years ago. The children are yet small but I am sure they understand what I explain to them. For it was Dad who commanded the 62 Mountain Brigade in this battle. The Army observes Victory Day and Infantry Day every year, but for my father such occasions are for re...

Stubble Burning-Paddy and Smog Some thoughts just by the way on a Sunday Morning by me as I share this video. 1. We cannot reduce the time period to sow as that is related to the lowering of the water table. Plus as per feedback the farmer has only 15 to 20 days to prepare his fields for the changeover to the next crop. And I am not discussing here doing away or minimising the cultivation of paddy, that is too drastic a prescription as of now. 2. The farmers constraint is the reduced time period post harvest of paddy. 3. The answer obviously lies in the utilisation of mechanisation and technology to remove the Stubble post harvesting by combine harvesters. 4. We need to encourage Farmers to turn entrepreneurs by acquiring the equipment to remove the Stubble or to plough it into the field. 5. The farmer Entreoreneur needs to be commercially oriented and ready to move to where the demand is. For example one Entreoreneur in Punjab moves from South Punjab to Haryana to Rajasthan. 6...

The Violence in Panchkula. Baba black sheep, have you any fools? Yes sir yes sir, two states full .... 😜 Now that's my take on the violence and mayhem. This was quite avoidable. The scale of deaths is.rather disturbing, 31 deaths by firing by security forces is rather frightening. Knowing fully well the nature of followers and their inclination to violence, the solution lay at all times in scattering the devotees and in disallowing their groups to converge at the courts. Yet all mistakes which ought not to have been committed were committed, if I may say so, deliberately. Perhaps an assurance of overall peace being maintained was made. But them astute  administrators take their call on such issues, not on the say so of a so called God Man, no matter what his following. Or is that fear there, in many of us, that maybe he really does have some dark powers and could harm them individually, this is not light hearted writing, plenty have these fears. To sum up ~ 1. There certain...

O Vandana. What did you do . Anyone thinking I found a new flame or remembered an old flame just got it wrong. Totally. All I know is that a girl, or maybe lady, by the name Vandana tried to play matchmaker and just broke a guy’s heart. Badly. I was walking alone in the park. It was dark already and the lights were on. Before I forget a young owl or maybe a small owl  is always there when I walk alone through a wooded section. Any forecasts, why this happens. In any case it sits on the bushes, flies about till the end of the trees and then flies away.  It’s happened a number of times. This is also the time I love, you walk with your thoughts, or If I could put it, I walk with myself. Thoughts come and go, some light, some dark, some give clues to the future, some are what could have been and what actually happened. Just as I was walking with myself, I crossed two young men. Our pace matched and I could not pull away. Age, even If I concede I am not actually old, does s...

Driving in The Greater Punjab. This is not a short note on what was Punjab and what remains, all that is water under the bridge. But the sheer bliss of driving in my beloved region has to be shared. For this article I am taking Greater Punjab as Punjab. (Not Pakistan Punjab, not been there, not going there), Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi (to some extent) and of course Chandigarh. On a strictly honorary basis, I am including Jammu & Kashmir since I worked there. Honorary as otherwise God Knows what some feverish soul may find offensive in it. Me, I am focusing on the driving part only. However I culturally found J&K guys quite the same on driving. Except the ability for some to shout for azadi when checked for documents ! I find something unique in Chandigarh the past few years. If coming from the right and you find a stop sign (red light), you do not lose time. As absolutely punctual Indians, as is our predominant trait, take the slip road on the left. Enter the next road...

Clueless. Yeah That's Me. Now I do hope that this piece does not offend anyone, specially of the religious bent of mind. I have always been a rather straightforward guy, sometimes maybe reasonably blind even to subtle undercurrents and messaging practised by many. I have managed by I would say quite happily, though maybe being more clued into cultural messaging would have been better. For me life ideally is meant to be batted through by slogging, with a push and a shove to oneself if required and also to some others  who need it. Add to it, read some, discuss some. have a small drink leisurely and listen to music and the days chug along. Not for me, beyond a point, an over analysis of who said what and to whom or why or who married whom or even discussing the deeper meaning of life. I do pray, am proud of my religion and culture but am not prone to diving deep into it for meaning. But then the better half will always now and then just get exasperated and advise me to keep at it,...

Transfer and Farewell – From Shimla to Srinagar On Friday (19th July 2013) was given a farewell at Shimla. Now am in transit mode, mentally and physically, waiting for 23rd July to fly to Srinagar. Srinagar, the way things are panning out recently will be a challenge in all senses but that is a separate chapter. Right now I can reminiscence only about the slightly four plus years I passed at Shimla –  the capital of a mountainous state at 7000 feet, the years have passed so swiftly . These have been happy engrossing years in which I have felt professionally enriched. It has been a pleasure to work with bankers and state government officers alike in HP, polite and very devoted and committed to their state even if perceptions may vary from us. One can learn how a State can develop on the social indices front by interacting with them. There were adventurous days also at times in these four years. I remember one snowy day paying Rs 500/- to a local guy, to drive my car essentially 5...

The Kapil Sharma Show has become history it seems though Sony TV has given him a reprieve of a month as per press statements. With an over bearing ego as.evident now, can he really recover. Anyway, what can be the learning points.  These suggest themselves automatically~ 1. Everything that rises must fall. That is evident. This was rather swift though, riding on ego. 2. You can't continue to rise or stay at the top by insulting your team mates. Respect their success too and have confidence in your own ability. 3. Don't break the 'Winning Team'. This is age old wisdom. 4. People only worship the rising sun. And know this while riding success and remain grounded. 5. Too much alcohol and ego is bad for your health.  This is rather deadly and can blow up reputations. 6. It takes years to make a reputation and takes minutes to lose it. 7. You lose everything once you lose your reputation. Protect it by genuine efforts, the mask can always slip and reveal the r...

Activism run riot. The liquor ban by the Honourable Supreme Court is a what I can say as a layman and the  highest regard for the august judges, a judgment without considering it's actual impact. And if I can say, not much in depth practical thinking. It's certainly profound, laudable and will absolutely please all activists. Plus the lobby of all hues which sincerely believes that India is going to the dogs everytime they see a bottle of beer or wine even.   This will also certainly please all those who have a jaundiced eye and a holier than thou attitude towards liqour. But that is not the point at issue or concern. The judgment ought to have been delivered with discretion and leeway to local governments  to take into account local conditions and needs. In a vast country such as ours with varying cultures, trade compulsions such as tourism and maybe even consideration for  investments made and in the offing, a major all encompassing order such as this ought to be...

In the 1960s and 1970s, the CIA was everywhere in India.  Each and every ill including poverty  could be traced to the CIA. Now Russia is everywhere in The USA. Even talking to the Russians is so so incorrect  as per the democrats and the Intelligence Establishment. There are leaks galore on who met whom . It's ridiculously funny. For a superpower.  With TV anchors and democrats seriously pontificating on the issue. Maybe some of them get up each morning and check under the bed, behind the sofa etc for any Russian spies hiding there while simultaneously checking tablets and mobiles for Russian interference! And to think that the only major vicious war the American army actually fought with a communist state was with China. The Korean War, just after World War Two was with in a way China only. Yet with all the muscle flexing today by China, the fixation is with a much weakened Russia. Demonizing Russians is fashionably in.  The Russians, with a GDP placing the...

CREATION  EXPLAINED . Eureka!!! In the  beginning, God  created  the Heavens  and  the  Earth  and  populated the  Earth  with  broccoli, cauliflower  and spinach,  green  and  yellow,  and red  vegetables  of  all  kinds,  so  Man  and Woman  would  live  long  and  healthy lives. Then  using  God's  great  gifts,  Satan  created  Ben  and  Jerry's  Ice  Cream  and  Krispy  Creme  Donuts.   And  Satan said, "You  want  chocolate  with  that ?" And  Man  said, "Yes !"  and  Woman  said, "and as  long  as  you're  at  it,  add  some sprinkles." And  they  gained  10 pounds. And  Satan  smiled. And  God  created  the  healthful ...

It's Valentine's Day. I posted nothing. Don't get me wrong. I am not on a cultural trip of smugly saying its not a part of my culture. It's just that I thought why should I let it overwhelm my day and pre-occupy me. Sounded too official and humbug, well it seems to me also. But that's one part of it. The second part is when its a working day, it's just another day. How can a guy enjoy when he is off to work. On figures but of a different kind. Maybe, I would emphasize maybe, being nonchalant about it leads indirectly to savings. Hopefully the wife is not reading this ! And then listening to 'pravachan' in the morning does  dissipate the zing of the festival or whatever you would like to label it. Religious or Spiritual discourses may improve the mind, they certainly don't contribute to romance, by which I don't mean just of a couple but the romance of life. But then when I saw the red roses, huge bouquets and cars all decked up, while going tod...

A Short Story. Maybe a lesson. Maybe. Do Read on. A couple with two kids was leading a normal sedate life. Life was normal, nothing major or minor occured as they went  about their normal chores day after day.  Actually it could be boring. The wife  really wanted to spend a month  with her aged parents. They were calling her consistently. The only drawback were two, her husband's inability to cook properly, so she taught him to cook using simple kitchen tools. Another factor was she somehow did not fully trust her husband, though she had no complaints actually on this account. He was a plain regular guy going about his just normal life. Just a woman's natural instinct she told herself. Well, she went off for a month after multiple detailed instructions and handing out any number of lists  and explaining to the hubby and kids how to cope and manage. Once at her parents she called up her husband daily and he assured her all was well, the young kids fine and he...

And Then She Went Away. On 29th November 2016 morning as I went down the stairs of my house, I heard my mother speaking  on the phone. She was laughing away. I looked at my watch, realised I was just about on schedule for office and left. Only later was I know that she was having a really happy conversation with my youngest brother. Actually every day before leaving for office I would see her. She had her share of medical problems including diabetes but with regular check ups and medical care, she was quite ok. At office, I was busy with some colleagues in office when my daughter rang up and asked me to rush home as my mother was unwell. I told her to call the ambulance while I would get ready to leave office. Little was I to know that she was already no more, my daughter being the only one to see her pass on peacefully, as a massive cardiac arrest took her away forever. My lasting regret is that I could not see her one last time, that day if only I had stopped to exchange gre...

GM. We need religion in our lives and each religion comes with its share of myths we need to believe in. Religion I believe enables us to place our lives in a larger context and to find comfort in that process. We seem wired to believe that there is an unseen power or force which oversees our universe. Each Religion has it's own literature and content, rather Religious texts.are our first texts. Of course there is a belief that nany hold that we are born by a biological process and when we expire, we simply cease to exist. But this does not provide comfort to most people, who find solace in the belief that there is a larger purpose to life and birth and death are just a small part in the cosmic journey of the soul or atma. I find myself debating the issue of life, death, the larger context and an unseen benevolent force at times within myself. In addition I do believe that while each religion requires it's myths to place a context to the profundity it espouses, but we need to ...