Musings from a Recliner

Oh yes…..those were the ‘wonder years’. I remember, so very often in our second, third and even fourth terms, Bhola and I and at times  Batra, would skip the movie on saturday and escape to the long range area via Gole, from where we would fill our satchels with all the goodies. We would locate a nice dug-out, which would be our make believe ‘home’ for the next 2 to 3 hours…….far from the madding crowd. It was as if we were suddenly ‘free’. No senior to suddenly pounce on you and ‘let you have it’ just because he didn’t like the way you looked at him or better still just the way you looked. Yes those were trying times for all of us. I remember we would lie down on the ground and look at the sky and the stars and get the feeling that the world was beckoning us. I was an idealist…….the Howard Roark kind, and staring at the expansive sky and the stars dreamt of how I would change the world…….. Bhola was a die-hard romantic and always saw the ‘love of his life’-Reet, in those star...

Till the British ruled India, history taught in schools only glorified them and the Mughals who obviously the Brits could not have wiped out from the history books. Thereafter, the Anti-Sikh mindset of the Congress which ruled India for a long time after partition prevented Sikh History from coming into the text books. The stand of RSS (BJP) needs no mention. This coupled with the fact that the Sikhs, who inspite having a distinct Identity and doing larger than life deeds, unfortunately could not create an Identity of their own majorly because they were always a minority. Even the state Governments in Punjab were too busy looting the state and possibly felt ashamed looking over their shoulders to see the Sikh Gurus or the other great Sikh Generals glaring at them as them emptied the exchequers. So how could Sikh history have entered text books in schools. Surprisingly, as per my knowledge, the only mention Sikhs find in Indian history books is mention of Guru Nanak in the “Bhagti ...

I had collated this basically for Gulnar & Yuvraj to make them aware of our lineage and our rich heritage. 👊⚔ It would be nice if Nirvaan could be made aware of his mother's lineage when he comes of age. It would I am sure give him strength and encourage him to live up to the rich traditions of his ancestors.⚔  We are direct descendants of the great Sikh General Nawab Kapur Singh Virk. In fact, my father Colonel Kapur Singh Virk, who was himself a gallantry award winning Veteran of 4 wars, was named after our ancestor. This is a bit long but it is important for you children to know your lineage and roots besides gaining  knowledge of the rich Sikh history and some of its great Generals. Do kindly go through this interesting piece collated by me specifically for you my children to apprise you of your rich legacy and ancestry and give you the strength to emulate your ancestors in keeping with the rich traditions and high ideals of our illustrious family. Salute to ...

I was just reflecting this morning on the events of the last few days and a question arose in my mind, “What is the difference between  gratitude and appreciation ?” Because we can be grateful for something in our lives without really appreciating it. The subtle shift from gratitude to appreciation involves being  more thoughtfully aware and active in reflecting on the reasons we feel grateful about something or someone. Through present moment awareness, we begin to generate feelings of appreciation. For example, we can be grateful for having food on our table.  However, we can go further and appreciate its beauty, fragrance, taste, nutrition, and preparation. We move beyond thankfulness as we consciously recognize the value that food adds to our lives. In fact, one definition of the word “appreciation” is “recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things.” Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and...

I have passed a mountain peak and my soul is soaring in the Firmament of complete and unbound freedom; I am far, far away, my companions, and the clouds are Hiding the hills from my eyes. The valleys are becoming flooded with an ocean of silence, and the Hands of oblivion are engulfing the roads and the houses; The prairies and fields are disappearing behind a white specter That looks like the spring cloud, yellow as the candlelight And red as the twilight. The songs of the waves and the hymns of the streams Are scattered, and the voices of the throngs reduced to silence; And I can hear naught but the music of Eternity In exact harmony with the spirit's desires. I am cloaked in full whiteness; I am in comfort; I am in peace. 🙏

It began with the, "The President and the PM who have never had time to meet the Veterans or speak for the martyrs are tweeting for Mr Bonny Kapoor's second wife !!"... Somehow somewhere the context advertantly or inadvertently seems to have changed...the goal post shifted. At no stage were any comparisons sought between any two funerals. There are no comparisons. One is a a presumed accidental death of a actress, the other lays down his life for his motherland. It was all about the Supreme Commander and the honourable Prime Minister always maintaining a stoic silence when a Soldier lays down his life or not ever having any time to address the legitimate  grievances of the Veterans but both have time to tweet their condolences for the accidental death of an actress and doing everything short of declaring state mourning. That is what my post was all about. Please read it in that context. 👊⚔ It is not a question of comparing. It is a question of honouring. Honouring ...

Morning Musings - All or Nothing from a Recliner – 04/04/18 - Lally Virk. The year 1975 - Hallowed precincts of The National Defence Academy. A ‘ragtag’ group of lads from diverse backgrounds thrown together by destiny, start their journey. What bound them all together were the ‘tears’ of pain, scare, disgust, exasperation, frustration and yet joy and jubilation, they all shed every night in those early halcyon days of Jun 1975. Cut to 2014. Thanks to Brian Acton, ‘BambooDoor’ is born, where this same bunch having completed their ‘long walk to freedom’, so to speak, come together again. ‘Bamboodoor’ an irresistible addiction for all of us….our ‘virtual home’ and the raison d’etre of the 54th Course, NDA. But today how does one best describe BambooDoor....? This ‘ragtag’ group whose biggest joy at one point of time was as simple as having the luxury of 35 minutes of breakfast time whereby you could polish off 35 toasts and walk out of the mess feeling like a ‘king’, has today beco...