Redefining Horizons

  Background       Defence ministers, do address the press. But the one on 14th of June 2022 will remain indelibly etched in history of modern India. The RM, flanked by his service chiefs unveiled the new recruitment policy for ‘Personnel Below Officer Rank’ (PBOR) of the Indian defence forces. They named it ‘Agnipath’ (the path of fire) and called those to be recruited under this scheme ‘Agni Veer’ (fiery warriors). It is claimed to be the boldest and most transformative intervention the Indian defence forces has ever had in its lifetime.   Officially, it is claimed that the scheme would achieve “ National Integration providing equal opportunity ” and nation building nation “ through empowered disciplined youth with military ethos in civil society ”. For the Army it is supposed to “ improve battle preparedness through transformative evolution ”, select the best “ with rigorous and transparent selection process ”, achieve “youthful profile through optimal b...

  Mystery Of The Long Horned Ants The forest hides a lot even from the most prying eyes. Most of what we get to see in it is fleeting; what is not fleeting may just be a snapshot and not the full picture. The truth of the forest, a mystery! Today, let us unravel one; the Mystery of the Long Horned Ants! Each plant species has perfected the art of propagation. When it is season, flowering plants bloom and the forest becomes awash with pollen clouds, each grain in the cloud hoping to find a suitable recipient. Most, not reaching intended locations dry up and die. A fungus called Ophiocordyceps also sends out spores. Ants are no strangers to the forest. They come out from their colonies to forage. In millions, they crawl all over. Spores of Ophiocordyceps fall on plants, animals and the forest floor. It could also land on ants or they while crawling around could come in contact with it.   Harmless incident? No; because they are the intended recipient! If a carpenter ant (...

  Exhortations The most repeated exhortation in motivational and corporate training circuits is about remaining positive’ irrespective of circumstances. Having been on the circuit, I have done it, many times over.   But talks about positivity is meaningless unless we understand negativity, its contours and content and context. Negativity is everywhere. Overt or covert in application, crass or sophisticated in execution, words or deeds its manifestation, its existence recognised within or experienced from outside, negativity comes in countless shades and has little in common to call as character. Inseparable companion for some, identity for few, fuel for aggression or weapon of defense for many, we encounter negativity in some form every day. Interestingly, people reeking of negativity complain most about others’ negativity.   Power of Negativity I realised the power of ‘negativity’, first time in the mathematics class. We were attempting to solve a linear equa...

Gentle Giants   Majestic, mighty, intelligent and highly social, elephants are called gentle giants. The image that comes to us first, when we speak of them, is of the ones regally decked-up for various social and religious functions. We are so enamoured with its serene beauty that we easily miss the chains on its legs and the puny little man standing next to it carrying two stick like things. Has the narrative about its gentle nature been so much ingrained that captive elephants seem to have forgotten its might? What else can explain the power of a mahout, often drunk, making it obey his biddings.   The only weapons a mahout bears, beside his words of command, are a cane and a hooked-baton.   The chain that the elephant always carries around its legs become shackles only when the mahout feels threatened or wants to hold it to a post. Most often, the mahout just rests the baton on one leg of the elephant while he sits to drink or rest; the elephant doesn’t...