DK Kapila The Oracle

A Parable for Our Times (It’s Set in the Future say 2020) By Dinesh Kumar Kapila  In a certain State in India a senior Bureaucrat in the rank of an Additional Chief Secretary informed the Chief Secretary of the State that on Principle he could not Report to him. He stated that since their pay scales were equal their equation was of a Senior amongst equals. He had therefore a right to dissent and refuse to implement policy decisions. Moreover all important policy decisions as related to his domain were to be taken only after consulting him. He thereafter went public with his grouse and was even applauded by a section of politicians for being so aware about his principles and devotion to important State issues. Many however were saddened by this episode and viewed it as uncalled for.  In the meantime at the Central Government level a Secretary rank officer stated that he by virtue of his seniority deserved to be heading an important Ministry such as Finance or Home or ...

Doctors you just screwed up our eating of food ! Dinesh K Kapila I sat and looked at the yolk of the egg as it sizzled on the toast and grilled tomatoes. I had wanted it exactly that way and said it was to be my breakfast a couple of days ago. Otherwise it is normally the same old boring, safe for the heart and body (and maybe mind) breakfast for me. Yet I could not eat it. Instead of the wonderfully tasting dish which was making me salivate just a few moments ago, I saw only cholesterol blocking my heart.  I started choking inside and could bring myself to eat one of my favourite breakfasts with great difficulty. When I see a banana now a days I see potassium and magnesium. One doctor has written extensively on how important both minerals are and spinach is really important in this context plus I am to believe it has iron. So now I am focused on spinach plus bananas. But then there goes another doctor stating the pomegranate is very good for the heart, a sort of elixir and so w...

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...