Visiting the Artillery Centre Mess at Nashik Road

Memory of Visiting the Artillery Centre at Nashik Road

The Arty Centre

Gunners

As a bachelor I was posted to Artillery Centre at Nashik  Road. I was part of the Air Force element of the helicopter units attached to the Artillery Centre. The Artillery centre in Nashik Road is over a 125 years old and was set up by the British Indian army to train gunners. Earlier it was a British cantonment and was much liked by the English soldiers. At one time it also housed the Staff College. It is in short the home of the Artillery which remains one of the most important arms of the Indian army. The Artillery centre also has its own airfield from which Air Observation Posts take off to help direct gun fire on the enemy. Presently the AOP's are equipped with the Chetak Mark II helicopters, which are a derivative of the French Allouette choppers.

The artillery centre trains recruits to handle and fire guns. It has long ranges that are used for long range firing practice and that includes heavy guns like the 155 mm cannons. The latest radar controlled guns and rockets fired from launchers are also tested here. In fact when as part of the staff college team we came to Nashik , the commandant organized a live firing demonstration of rockets on to the distant hills, some 10 miles away.

The Mini Museum

gunners

 The officers mess has a mini musem and is decorated with wall paintings that bring out the history of the Arty regiments of the Indian arrmy. Over a period of time some of the paintings need a touch up and I hope some experts can be drafted for the same. The paintings show Sikh gunners and later I learnt that during the days of the Raj, the Sikhs and Punjabi Muslims were preferred for these arty regiments.The paintings are all by British painters who were with the artillery regiments

The artillery centre is part of folklore of the Indian army and and traces a long history. It is very well kept and worth a visit. Civilian visitors can also visit after taking permission from the Commandant. .Nashik Road can be easily reached by rail from Mumbai and lies on the Mumbai- Nagpur/ Allahabad route.

Lastly, I remember dances at the Temple Hills club with a lovely Anglo Girl who was a teacher at St Barnes High School as well as long rides with her on my Enfield through the mountains of the Ghats.

Both photos of paintings in Officers Mess are uploaded by me

Pragmatism at its Best: UAE allots Land for Temple

UAE Allots Land For Temple in Abu Dhabi

The Visit of Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emeritus on 16-17 August this year has scripted a new chapter for the people of Indian origin, working in this region. The visit has resulted in allotment of land for constructing a Hindu Temple. The UAE has already allowed a Sikh Gurudwara (temple) to come up at Jebel Ali in Dubai and now this land for a temple brings out the magnanimity and tolerance of the rulers.

It should not be forgotten that the UAE is a Muslim state and the rule of the law is a modified form of Sharia. It is however a pragmatic state that follows the principle of tolerance. The rulers of the UAE are men of wisdom who have realised that tolerance and respect for other religions is the best form of progress. No wonder Dubai is often referred to as the ” City of gold” and the per capita income of the people is among the highest in the world.

The request for land for a temple was pending for a long time, but Modi with his penchant for delivering the impossible has been able to get the UAE government to release land for the temple. The vast Indian expatriate population that makes up 30% of the entire country is obviously overjoyed.

The visit of Narendra Modi the Indian prime minister this month is a landmark event and is the first by an Indian prime minister after 34 years. The last visit was by Ms. Indira Gandhi in 1981. This is a welcome visit indeed.

The Glory of India; Muslim Pir in Mumbai ** 83

The Muslim Pir in Mumbai: a Man with Uncanny Powers.

The Pir who is no more

The Pir with Supernatural Powers

Mohamedali Road is part of old Bombay. It has an old world charm and is a predominant Muslim populated area. There is an old mosque and around it some buildings which are old and popularly referred to as chawls. One such chawl referred to as Mauchi chawl is under the aegis of the Maharashtra Housing board who are carrying out repairs.

The Pir on Mohamedali Road

In this building on the first floor is a small two room set. As you enter the outer room the strong sense of incense will greet you and you can surmise that you are entering an abode of a holy man. You won’t be wide of the mark as this apartment is the place where a holy man called a Pir gives his darshan to believers. What will surprise you is that this Muslim Pir has equal numbers of Hindu followers as well who thong to the place. This man is Sayyed Nasiruddin Basdshaimiya Qadri Nakshbandi. He belongs to a long line of hereditary Pirs from Kutch where his ancestors originally resided. But what will strike you is the uncanny power the Pir exhibits. He has ESP and powers of divination that have to be experienced, for no amount of description can do justice to this Pir. He is now old and has to be helped to his place where he sits listening and advising thousands about their problems.

Meeting the Pir

The Pir normally sits in the evening when his meetings start and continue late into the early hours of the morning. People wait in a queue for hours to meet the Pir who listens to their problem and then will give a solution. Sometimes the Pir will himself tell you why you have come and that is a wonder by itself.

Last Word

The Pir has a small porcelain plate and that has a magical power. This is the plate where you have to put your thumb and then lo and behold the Pir tells you everything, why you have come and what your problem is. He will then prescribe a remedy which consists of certain rituals and I have been told by believers that these rituals work. Rituals that involve burning Taviz( holy relic) and the like. It’s uncanny and no science can explain this phenomena. I myself have met the Pir a number of times and his uncanny power has been a source of wonder. This is the mystery of the east and in the field of spiritualism India is way ahead of the west.

Update

Last month Pir Mohammed Nasiruddin Badshamiya Nakshbandi( His full and complete Title) passed away. Everybody is mortal and so was the Pir. His passing away is a matter of great sorrow. As I have written this is a hereditary Pirship, which has been going on for many centuries. Now his position is taken by his elder son Pir Raza.

I have met Pir Raza and I am unable to explain how Pir Raza also has Extra Sensory Powers. I will however confess that his father had greater spiritual acumen. Perhaps Pir Raza will also mature with age. He must be about 40 years old.

People like the Pir are the wonder of India

Deaths of White Tigers in Indore Zoo * 65

All the White Tigers have Died in Indore Zoo

The white tiger is not only a rare animal, but it’s upkeep in any zoo requires great care and expertise. The biggest zoo in Central India is located at Indore, a bustling city in the heart of India. This zoo at one time showcased a pair of white tigers.

Misfortune struck the zoo a few months back when a cobra entered the cage of the white tiger. There was a duel between the two and the tiger bitten by the cobra died. It’s a moot point how the cobra entered the cage. The second male tiger fell ill a few days back. He was rushed to the zoo hospital, but the tiger died despite treatment.

All this makes sad reading. One feels that the zoo upkeep needs a revamp. An inquiry is on, but one wonders whether it will lead anywhere.

Now Indore zoo has no white tigers. I hope they get some and also learn how white tigers are cared for in other zoo like the Al Alain zoo in Abu Dhabi

Kabir Bedi marries at 70. 3rd Time * 67

Men and horses don't age and that is a fact of life. So many older men have married younger women and many have added to their progeny as well. Now the Indian star Kabir Bedi, known more abroad than in India as well as a recipient of Knighthood by the Italian government has tied the knot with a girl who is 28 years younger than him. Bedi is 70 and his bride is 42 year old Praveen Dusanj. The best part is that praveen is 3 years younger than Kabir's daughter Pooja.

The marriage is a like a breath of fresh air ffor older men, who can now aspire for a relationship with younger women. Kabir is handsome and fit and all along has had a checkered carrier in films in both Hindi and Hollywood.

Kabir is a Sikh from  Delhi  and at one time was a follower of Acharya Rajneesh?  However he has a level head and has charmed many women all over the world. Best of luck to him

Taslima Nasreen is Running for Her Life 62

Taslima Nasreen is a woman writer who I admire. She hails from Bangladesh, but presently she has fled Bangladesh and is in exile in Delhi. Earlier for some she was given asylum in Norway. The reason Taslima had to run away from Bangladesh was primarily to escape death at the hands of Islamic fanatics who had issued a Fatwa for her death. Taslima though a Muslim, in an interview broadcast over BBC had opined that the holy books of Islam like the Koran need to be revised as they were anti-women. This interview brought the ire of hardline Muslims on her and a fatwa was issued that she be killed.

Taslima is also a writer of some standing. She writes in Bengali, but a few of her books have been translated into English. Her most famous novel is “Lajja” (Shame) which delineates a story about persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh at the hands of Muslims. Her latest novel ‘French Lover’ is published She is now catapulted in the big league of writers and her books sell like hot cakes.

Taslima was born in 1962 and her early life was non-descript. She came into limelight after publication of ‘Lajja‘ and her anti-Islamic views. It’s a pity that Bangladesh does not recognize the greatness of Taslima. Her views on Islam should not come in the way of appreciation of her books.

Yasukuni War Shrine in Japan * 73

The Yasukuni War Shrine: The Japanese Revere their War Dead

The Japanese lost the Second World War and that is a fact of history. They also lost 2.5 million dead and some of their military and civil leaders were tried in a dubious war crimes trial and hanged. For long the Japanese wondered how to commemorate their dead during this war, which the Japanese feel was a righteous war sanctioned by God. They do not acknowledge defeat. They got around by setting up peace museums at a few places in Japan.

The most famous is the Yasukuni War Shrine in Tokyo. I had visited this shrine in 2002 on my way to the United States. This shrine is impeccably maintained and has some lovely exhibits. One can see the famous Zero fighter in display as well as the rail Engine which pulled the train in Thailand. The Shrine also houses the ashes of the so called war criminals hanged by the Japanese. These ashes are held in awe and respect.

The museum is spread over 2 floors and the ground floor entry is free. The walls of the museum give the Japanese version of the War and its interesting to see the Japanese viewpoint. The museum is a sore point with the areas occupied by Japan notably China, Korea and Philippines. They do not want that any honor be given to japans dead during the war. 

But the Japanese political leadership still visit the shrine and pay homage to the war dead. Japan has a military tradition of 3000 years and the Japanese honor their army. They also hold in reverence the generals and leaders who led Japan during the war. The Japanese have a deep belief in after life and this theme pervades the museum. It’s a beautiful place and without going into politics, I will say it’s a place worth visiting.

Grease Devils of Sri Lanka: Sex with Tamil Girls * 74

Three officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force trained with us at the Air Force Admin College at Coimbatore. These men became my friends. I visited one of them in Sri Lanka and was taken aback by his admission that some men had threatened his maid, a Tamil woman. Incidentally the officer was a Sinhalese. He was not happy at all as these so called groups referred to as “ grease devils” were targeting Tamil women and one women had been assaulted and her breasts cut and bitten. This was not confirmed.

I was interested in the matter and did a bit of research to confirm whether there was any reality in this or it was a figment of imagination. I was told of a case of a young Tamil girl who was alone at home. Two men jumped inside the house from a window. Both men were covered with grease and were thus slippery to hold. The men moved to the girl and one held her hands, while the other removed her sari before subjecting her to their will. I also came to know that these men came at night and were only dressed in their underwear.

The worst thing I learnt further was that the police did not actively pursue the cases against these grease devils and the senior police officers dismissed these reports as a fantasy. This is hard to believe as some incidents have taken place. There is no proof and one can only conjecture that they are army men, who come out at night to have fun with Tamil girls. I wish the police would get to the bottom of this

My Favorite Punjabi Singer * 75

I have a confession to make and that concerns Punjabi Music. I simply love it and Punjabi singers like Gurudas Mann and Stereo nation are my favorites. I wonder how manay have heard Stereo Nation. About a decade he was on top , but now he has somewhat faded away, but for me he still is a favorite. Stereo Nation is a assumed name and his real name Tarsem Singh Saini and he was born in Englsnd in 1967, though his family hails from Punjab.

Tarsem Singh Saini 

Tarsem Singh is a unique singer witha distinct voice and he mixes rap with Punjabi and the concotion is simply heady. His songs  "Pyar ho Gaya" and "nachage saari Raat" were great hits at one time, but I still tune it to them. While writing this post I have these songs running in the background. Another favorite of mine is old timer Cliff Richard. He was born in Bangalore and that is a added snippet about him that I like.  But hats off to Tarsem, I am waiting for his latest album. I am told he is making a come back.

Want to Lose Weight? Recipe, Have More Sex 59

Recently, I attended a workshop at an Ashram close to Mumbai. I spent 3 days at the Ashram and learnt quite a few things. There were many foreigners also at the ashram and all seemed to be greatly impressed by the knowledge and wisdom imparted by the head of the ashram, a man named swami Permanadan.

In one of his discourses the swami said that weight gain and obesity is a big issue in the modern world. He advocated a revolutionary method to reduce weight and flab. What was it? The swami recommended maximum sexual unions for a reduction in weight. To say the least, I was surprised, but on deeper reflection I found the swami’s recipe quite plausible.

The Swami advocated two things:

a) Regular sex with partners who were younger in age

b) Sex to be prolonged as per the Tantra and with maximum indulgence and action.

I consulted a doctor who mentioned that sex does burn energy and the swami was thus bang on target in his suggestion. As per him a lot of sex will help burn energy and improve the blood circulation. It will also tone up the body and give an impetus to man to remain fit. As such exercise would be a natural corollary. Most of the audience lapped up the suggestions of the swami.

The swami also advocated diet control and eating a diet of nuts like almonds and dates with warm milk. He wanted the participants to give up all forms of meats and alcohol. The swami wished for sex with a variety of partners so that the novelty does not wear off. He however was against any form of group sex.

All this does sound weird, but then the holy men of India always have out of box solutions for everything. I wonder how correct he is. I hope to try the swami’s recipe for a couple of months to see if I can reduce my weight.

Movie "PK" was a Direct but Subtle Insult of Hinduism

India is a democracy and as such the citizens enjoy freedom which is unheard in Muslim nations and countries run by a dictatorship like in China. This freedom is the genesis of the movie 'PK' starring the Muslim star Amir Khan. The film in a subtle way takes a swipe at Hindutava. The movie is cleverly made and only an intelligent man can discern the diabolical plot of the director and main star.

The movie is about an alien who arrives on earth and lands in the Indian state of Rajasthan. He gets confused with the various religions and customs of the different religions. The director picks up the Hindu religion as the main target and in a subtle way shows that most Hindu beliefs and god men are without foundation.  It is correct, but why could not the director pick on any other religion?  The fact is the Hindus are the most tolerant and let such stuff pass. A movie like this in Pakistan with a satire on Islam would have led to rioting. Not only this the Muslim Star Amir Khan would have landed in Jail and probably never heard off again.

Amir Khan is known for needling and insulting India and Hinduism and this the genesis of this movie. It should have been banned in India but good things don't happen on the Indian scenario.

List of Alcohol Items manufactured in Pakistan

Products.

Murree beers

Murree Beer

Murree's Classic Beer

Murree's Millennium Beer

Lite Export Pils Beer

Strauss Beer

Liquors beers

Rarest Malt Whisky

Malt Whisky Classic

Vintage Whisky

Bolskaya Vodka

Gin beers

Silver Top Gin

London Dry Gin

dry gin

Citrus Gin

Lemo' Lime Gin

Non Alcoholic beers

Cindy

Malt-79 Malt drink

Last word

Pakistan is the only Muslim country in the world to have a functioning brewery. Despite strict laws the Murree brewery and its products have a carved a name for themselves in Pakistan. The company’s cellers hold over half a million liters of Malt whiskey in stock.

This whiskey and other hard liquor including beer are sold all over Pakistan at select outletss and guzzled by millions of Muslims in Pakistan. So much for prohibition of alcohol in Islam

Pakistan and India: The Road Ahead * 67

History has repeated itself.Just as Prime Minister Vajpayee's acclaimed Lahore bus visit and the Lahore Declaration in February 1999 was followed by the Kargil war in May the same year, so also Prime Minister Modi's recent Lahore visit, with all its bonhomie, hoopla and fanfare has been followed by the attack by militants on the Pathankot Air Force base, and later by the attack on the Indian consulate in Mazhar-e-Sharif.

Can there be peace between India and Pakistan? So all this talk of ' improving ' relations between India and Pakistan is humbug and cant. There can never be good relations between India and Pakistan because if there are good relations between the two, the very raison d'etre of Pakistan will disappear.

Pakistan was created as a theocratic state for Muslims and fact is that Islam and Hinduism are incompatible like water and oil. So there can never be peace between India and Pakistan  That is the truth. Its a harsh  truth but has to be faced. This will only end once a last fight the Armageddon the battle between good and evil takes place and Pakistan ceases to exist.

Review of an Erotic Book" Mistress" by Anonymous

Some books are a fleeting pastime that are to be read and left as it is. Some entertain and cater to the animal spirit of man. One such book is "Mistress". It is written by an unknown author and so obviously labeled as anonymous.  The novel is I presume penned during the Victorian period and is erotic fiction so popular in that period.

The plot of the story is simple, but the erotic description is excellent and chaste English is the highlight of the novel. The story is about haughty and extremely lovely mistress. She repeatedly spurns a man who loves her more than anything in the world, till the exasperated lover decides on a ruse to make her capitulate and give herself to him. He makes an elaborate plan and lures her to a chamber where he ties her with silken cords and then proceeds to gently love her as ordained in the Kama sutra with tongue and caresses. The lady is overwhelmed and submits to her lover and the bonds are removed as they make ferocious love.

The maid also becomes part of the erotic world as she is witness to this ferocious lovemaking and these episodes can make a man reading the book happy. A book one can read to pass away an idle hour.