Operation Entebee (part II)....

continued from Operation Entebee (part I)....

In part I, I have narrated the events taking place during the mission of the IDF-Mossad; I have mentioned few tactical points which were shared by Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari but are not easily found in literature available on the internet. These points infact, would be helping us the most as far as understanding is concerned. Men acted in the way they did during these tense days and they have left behind wisdom for all of us to gather - similar to plucking fruits of a big tree.

Operation Entebee (part I)....

4th of July is a day globally remembered as the Independence day of USA; 4th of July was also the day when the world learnt one of its best lessons ever from the land of Israel. A day prior, late night 3rd July 1976, Israeli commandos flew over 4000 kms into Africa to execute one of the best hostage rescue missions ever - Operation Entebee (also known as Operation Thunderbolt or retroactively as Operation Jonathan in the memory of KIA that night - the older brother of current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu,  Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu who was also the commander of the ground troups). That was the day when Israel reminded the world that it will not take any aggression upon its freedom lying down. It will strike back and it will also strike first if need be. The raid speaks volumes of what a nation possessed can do. I heard this daring raid as part of Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari's lecture series on eprasaran.com. It touched a core part within me and I thought it would be a great way to terminate my 52 day hiatus from Livin' Free - a celebration of sort for the end of one of the most difficult academic phases of my life. It brought back the bitter memories when we kneeled before terrorism in a similar scenario - IC 814, Kandahar 1999/2000. I draw inspiration from the dagger like nation of Israel (both literally and figuratively) and in a hope that it does the same to my countrymen, to my readers - I present what I gained from Shri. Avinash Dharmadhikari.

Veer Savarkar - a "Mrutyunjay" Tribute....

5 years back, i.e. at Bhagur in 2007 (a small village near Nasik) - the birthplace of Veer Savarkar, I did not say much but looked into the lively, energetic and powerful eyes of Veer Savarkar's statue at his ancestral home (a "waada" to be accurate) and promised him one thing - to put my life on the line; every moment from today would carry just one objective - freedom of my motherland and the rebirth of a nation unbounded - the emergence and establishment of a superpower. Every action of mine, every decision would henceforth reflect a target, a milestone somewhere important and crucial for the greater good; I knew I was going to break a few hearts, hurt a few people here and there and my karma would punish me for it - but then, that is a choice I had made and accepted the consequences as well without any regret or remorse in hindsight after 5 years. Today, I feel the same with words failing me as in the past - overwhelmed by the tremendous source of energy that Veer Savarkar is and hence this blog is not mine but shared from someplace else. It is a gentle, yet strong reminder, a testimonial to the countless fighters of our cause, courtesy www.savarkar.org; On the death anniversary of one of the greatest men ever to tread through the dust, the blood, the sweat of our motherland and embrace it with all that he ever had, I share it with my fellow countrymen. We continue through our actions towards the betterment of this beloved nation and that alone would be an apt tribute to this great soul; but till we achieve impact of that acceptable magnitude, something through words we put forth to let him know wherever he is, that we are fighting, and we are fighting hard. (The following text is the write-up I share)

Ghost Lines (part III) ....

continued from Ghost Lines (part II) ....

I have already given an outline as to the Governance side solution to the problem to a certain extent in my blog Elixir to Governance Paralysis. Since my focus of this blog series is on the major solution of education, I won't deliberate further on the other one but conclude the series with the education angle today.

The love for the nation and a sense of duty towards its people, the society and its liberty can't be trained but has to be inculcated. It is not a feeling which comes by hammering it in and mugging it up - it is in the form of a burning passion from within; there is always a flame inside every child and keeping that flame burning irrespective of all adversities externally is what the education system must do - if we ensure this today, we can be rest assured that such a child will never forget his roots, his culture and his ultimate duty as he travels through life - becomes a teen, then a man - the pure flame keeps burning day and night - never giving up! This is the crux of the solution I have in mind - Amar Jyot, Amar Vichaar, Ek Amar Desh. So, by making conditions suitable for an eternal burning of this inner flame can we achieve a long term change in the attitude of our nation leading to a recovery from our current injuries. How to do this? Cleanse the system of education !

Ghost Lines (part II) ....

continued from Ghost Lines (part I) ....

I pick up 2 lines from the last part to begin with this one - "The Government is not the problem, the attitude is. By incorporating a Lokpal, will that attitude be resolved?"

Many have succumbed willingly or unwillingly to the lure of money across different political parties, societies and organizations; to the greed born out of selfishness and hence it is not a disease characterized by only one of the parties, but a problem at large. This problem has been bred over the decades and is not out of the blue that we are witnessing it - it was just the case that it was a mere ghost to us till now and many skeletons are dropping out of these cupboards. If there is a problem there has to be a reason for it and only by addressing the reason can it be solved.

Ghost Lines (part I) ....

It has been a week since my exams have ended; from 26^th, it is back to the battlefield amidst the challenging and wonderful MBA subjects which are teaching me so much as I go along. The issue over the Lokpal is the headline news these days; and try as I might of disregarding the entire chaos and uselessness surrounding the issue, it keeps on reminding me of a topic which I have had in my mind since long. It makes me ponder over the connection I have observed between the Lokpal and the Education system of the country (reminded time and again when I see the condition of the 10th/12th kids or the numerous articles I read over the internet where many psychiatrists literally plead with folded hands to the parents and adults at large to protect their children against the rat race); It makes me think over where we are heading and reminds me what I had said in my blog Awakening the Ombudsman - I was unsure about how effective the sole implementation of the Lokpal will be and how those who wield the power would allow it to function; 8 months from that post - and if I was unsure then, I have become downright against it now. Now, I see it as a threat to the sovereign state of the future. Lokpal, whether that of the civil society or the Government is a grave threat for the country. I am going to break this blog into 3 parts :

Part I will contain the answer to why my attitude has changed from "unsure" to "against" highlighting as to why the Lokpal is NOT THE LONG TERM SOLUTION for the system. I was skeptical then about the Lokpal and the developments since then make me doubt the very foundation of the purpose of Lokpal.

The next two parts would deal with what I have not seen anyone tackling as the major solution in the long term. I have seen comments and opinions about the Lokpal, but solutions - I have not; so these parts would be my attempt to do that!

Part II will speak on the "ghost" link - the link between the Lokpal and the Education in India; it will be my attempt to flash a torch light in the dark corridors in a bid that I pass on what I have learnt from my readings and experiences/understanding.

Part III will finish this series culminating into my idea of "the solution" with an outline as to what "we" can do about it in the short as well as long term and manning the lines like dedicated soldiers !!

Part I --