Redefining Horizons

  “ Oye Gwachi ga, Kithe chale ?”  (I will let you in on the meaning a little later) Havildar Mahinder Singh shouted at the soldier carrying something and seemingly headed in the wrong direction.  I was a young lieutenant on attachment with an Infantry Battalion and was overseeing the maintenance parade of the unit. I liked the way my troops spoke Punjabi. It sounded musical even when they said the harshest things. The way Malayalam, my mother tongue, is spoken also changes from place to place. In my area, it sounds bland, but it often meant far more beyond what was said. H owever, in Thrissur and Trivandrum, there is a distinct musical touch to the way they speak their dialect. The Punjabi my troops spoke was different in every possible way.  We, as officers, are expected to learn the language of our Troops and communicate with them in their mother tongue.  During my training, I had picked up Hindi. I could communicate my way around. However, there was a proble...

  Happy New Year    May this year bring each one of you, and your loved ones, happiness, good health and a sense of safety. Being located in more than 180 different countries, we are separated by time, space, geography, and cultural backgrounds, but we are united in our quest for serious reading. Thank you for choosing to read my articles. Thank you for sharing my articles with your friends. Please use the comment section under each article published to engage in discussion and exchange thoughts on the subject discussed.  Now to the topic of the Day -  When silence prevails,  “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” “There is wisdom in silence.” “Learn to listen.” “Silence is Golden.” “Do you always have to speak?” “Can't you keep quiet?” “Why should you speak for him?” Irrespective of our nationalities, it is likely that we grew up having heard one or more of the above statements or questions. These are a few of the dictums that condit...