Bravery Personified: Lt Navdeep Singh, Ashoka Chakra

Conferring the Ashok Chakra on Lt Navdeep Singh is the latest but not the last episode of gallantry in the long and chequered history of the Indian Armed Forces. His actions speak of military professionalism and placing duty, honour and selflessness above personal needs.

Go, Navdeep, Go!

Take home, dear reader, the overriding thought that Navdeep actually lives in all of us. In these desperate times when all seems to be falling apart, there is help at hand to resurrect; reconstruct…That help is within us…Jiva is Shiva. God and godliness live within ourselves and all we need to do is to evoke him and sincerely. We need to do ordinary things with extraordinary zeal and dedication and accountability as well as probity to invoke the Lt Navdeep Singh, Ashoka Chakra inside us. Start now.

Au Revoir, Lieutenant Navdeep Singh..

The soldier, who has taken position behind a boulder, simulating the terrorist who shot Navdeep, is just five meters away. This was the distance at which Navdeep was fired at, pulling in his buddy to safety as he fell dying. There could not have been a nobler death. Let us join in saluting this bravest of brave men who gave his today for our tomorrow.

I did at Bagtor. You should salute him, man or woman, from wherever you are.

Kashmir 2012: Which Way from the Turn?

The strategies and doctrines like the Chinar Doctrine which focus on people as the centre of gravity are largely dependent on the people who manage them. The ultimate derivative of the Doctrine was that there was a long term vision drawn up from a “people’s perspective”. 2012 should now be about fixing the nuts and bolts of these strategies. They comprise bold political decisions to be taken to ensure that the gains made in 2011 are not floundered away

Kashmir 2011: The Turning Point

Editor’s Note: Kashmir has reached a turning point because of the dint of hard work by leaders and people operating to make Kashmir safe. Personalities are important but secondary to the doctrines and people friendly strategies they have implemented. These strategies need to be evolved further by all stakeholders to make Kashmir what it is [...]

AFSPA – The Larger Picture

Pakistan, therefore, is using the current period to consolidate by silently building constituency for a popular support base. Currently it finds violence counter productive to its overall aim as it would suck away its Afghan resources and make it fight two proxy wars to its east and west.

Don’t Revoke AFSPA in Kashmir as Yet

One incident free summer, brought about through the dint of perceptive leadership and hard work of the troops can not be construed as a licence to dilute AFSPA and enable the militants and their Pakistani handlers from intensifying their operations amongst people. If implemented, it would severely marginalise our counter insurgency efforts and force us to contain the militancy with our hands behind our backs.

THE ANATOMY OF POINT BLANK COURAGE

Maj Gen Raj Mehta, AVSM, VSM (Retired) Courage is a moral quality; it is not a chance gift of nature like an aptitude for games. It is a cold choice between two alternatives, the fixed resolve not to quit; an act of renunciation which must be made not once but many times by the power [...]

Beginning of a Hope in Kashmir

When thousands of Kashmiri youth gather in stadii in South Kashmir, one expects to see stones being pelted, and a clamour for azaadi. And as the astounding realization dawns that they are here to compete in a half-marathon, hoping not for azaadi but this time for discs of gold, silver and bronze, one realizes that perhaps what young Kashmiris are clamoring for, is change.

A People’s General

The first Muslim officer to command the Army in Kashmir in two decades, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain is attempting to bridge the divide between the Army and the people with his “heart as weapon” doctrine, reports MUZAMIL JALEEL. This story first appeared in Indian Express 16 April 2011 ASSALAMUALIKUM. Mera naam Ata Hasnain hai.” [...]

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