THE PARALLEL LINES

The Boeing 747 rolled down the tarmac for that first time. Circa 1969 and the massive four engine bird was a brand new creation. Its Chief Test Pilot on that eventful 09 Feb 1969 was Jack Wadell. The cockpit was full of new technology as Jack throttled up the machine and the bird took to the skies. It was the beginning of a new era in the Aviation World. The big and strong machine started crossing the oceans and made the inter-continental travels simpler and easier. Each flight would create a line and the return flight would then crate another parallel line in the skies as cities linked their ends though parallel lines are not supposed to meet!

Parallel lines are not supposed to meet till infinity- that is the mathematical definition. Each day the parallel lines get drawn in various spheres of human existence and continue from infinity to infinity. Attempts are constantly made to open dialogue boxes and to make the lines meet at some location. Sometimes the lines meet as the issues close or else the lines continue to stretch into oblivion in search of infinity. The dialogues unite or the failed communication crashes the attempt to make the parallel lines meet.

Basically, humans are an intelligent race. Their tipping point comes when their emotions are disturbed by external or internal factors of their life’s arena. Once troubled, humans have a great tendency to boil the pot of life and cause troubles in and around them. This is where they stretch simple issues onto parallel lines mode and the search for that tranquil infinity begins. Many do end up finding the end to their woes but by then the time has taken its own toll on the warring humans. Compassion, which is a natural trait of humans, returns back to tranquilize them and sober them up. This state though comes late in one’s life and what has been lost never recovers.

Boeing 747 took its maiden flight in 1969 and almost 1500 such airliners touched the skies. The technology kept improvising and many an incremental changes brought better conditions for the humans who flew in these birds. Technology is developed through human intelligence and it is this very intelligence which can be used to nurture infinite compassion inside the humans! Intelligence is the basic factor which can identify good versus the bad emotions and can then filter the best for the humans. If the mind is stable and heart has peace then the physical health remains stable. This adage goes true for a B-747 also, that if the weather conditions are good and the machine is humming silently together, then the flight path creating lines passes away smoothly.

Why should humans not strive for peace and tranquility? The World is connected than ever before and with each passing moment something new is being generated to stitch various dots into a meaningful data. The interpretation of data is making humans reach finite conclusions. These finite conclusions then are becoming the start points for another journey. This again encompasses the diktats of human intelligence and the power of the connected! This is not a simple concept as it entails joining of human thoughts and minds at various levels to produce a finite result! If minds can join to produce a tangible result then why the parallel lines which keep ripping the humans apart in various facets of life be not skewed to meet at a point rather than stretch them till infinity? Infinity is till where the humans can stretch the limits, isn’t it?

B747 lasted close to 47 years and even survived the threat from the Supersonic Airliners which were supposed to disrupt the aviation world. Some engineer humans kept on adding versatility and make-overs to B747s to keep the design relevant till 2017. The intelligence came to the front and scaled up whenever required.

The working capability of humans can reach heights if mind, emotions and logic synchronize to produce the results. It is these heights from where the infinity point can be seen to make those parallel lines meet and then start a new journey.

The 747-100 was nearly twice as long as the Wright brothers’ entire first flight. Indeed, the jet may be most esteemed by those who have been lucky enough to fly it. The very first to do so, the test pilot Jack Waddell, described it as “a pilot’s dream” and a “two-finger airplane” — one that can be flown with just the forefinger and thumb on the control wheel; it is hard to imagine higher praise for such an enormous aircraft. Each human who piloted these birds found the aircraft to be both smooth and maneuverable, a joy to fly and to land. The subject remained simple for each pilot that sat in the cockpit- a distance to cover and arrive in time. The line had to be created both the ways to clock a perfect home-coming. The end of the journey sealed the line till a new dot emerged to draw a new line.

B747s would still be in sky as they get phased out with time. Their onboard Computers would continue to calculate till on that one last day when the power would not be fed to them anymore. Their parallel line would meet its end and the issue would be closed. Humans too possess some similar capabilities if they exercise their talents. After all, humans are the creators of their material possessions!

So, what is stopping humans from closing their parallel lines at a point and restarting the journey with less baggage and fresh minds? Control the emotions and see the positive results. So, have you planned to keep your emotions under control and achieve the results as big as the B747, eh? Wish you a Grand 2018.    

NAVY BALL 2005 

NAVY BALL 2005 ACTION 

NAVY BALL 2005 ACTION 

NAVY BALL 2005 ACTION 

NAVY BALL 2005 ACTION 

NAVY BALL 2005 ACTION 

NAVY BALL SNIPPETS 

NAVY BALL 2005 SNIPPETS 

DR.GIAN KAUSHIK-END OF AN ERA

Yesterday evening I heard the news about the passing away of my maternal grandfather DR GIAN KAUSHIK. He was living in the UK and had been with BBC's HINDI SERVICE. Famous as a cog in the BBC's Hindi Service,he had a deep booming voice and a personality designed to impress his peers and acquaintances.

I remember the days when I accompanied him to DELHI DOORDARSHAN and COFFEE HOUSE at Connaught Place on his Indian visit and the thundrous confidence he possesed.He lived a full life with a character and style that very few can impersonate.

May his soul rest in peace.

NOTE-Here you see Dr Gian Kaushik with Mr Kailash Budhwar. In the background is Dr Kaushik's Daughter-in-Law Mrs Sarika Kaushik.

TOTAL RECALL BY A LEGEND

TOTAL RECALL BY A LEGEND

BY

ARUN JYOTI
It was the term-break approach phase at the NDA and we were excitedly counting the DLTGH (Days Left To Go Home!). The May POP was just a week away and we, the North India bound cadets were expecting a gruesome summer. Well, heat or shine, the very fact of having vacations from the Academy coupled with an upgraded term badge and more privileges was a welcome change.

Suddenly, one afternoon after the POP practice, I heard some names being announced to the Squadron Commander’s Office. My name figured too and I wondered if I was being interviewed for the esteemed Sergeant’s stripes! The muster at the lobby was of only Naval Cadets and my goose pimples disappeared fast as they originated. With a baited breath, we heard the order that we were on a term – end hike to Sikkim’s forward Army locations near the World famous Nathu-la Pass. The joy of achieving the record time of snoring at home lay shattered and the brasso, blanko, blanket and walking outs accompanied the starched Levi’s.

An eventful journey from Mumbai to Kolkata in a snatched First Class Compartment was followed by a more eventful journey in the Malda Express to New Jalpaiguri. We sweated and cursed our luck and wished we were ‘Pongos’. This feeling was further strengthened by the warm welcome extended by the Army units along the picturesque way to Gangtok and an ever-staunch Naval Officer leading the expedition.

The host Army unit’s Officers accorded us a grand welcome and the post bottoms –up formalities were accorded to us by our Officer-in-Charge. The hike carried on and we reached Nathu-la amidst threats of relegation at each milestone. The exciting visit took us to a Jat Regiment whose ‘Tambi’ CO’s hilarious Haryanvi jokes kept us in splits. This was the place where we came across the Legend of Baba Harbhajan Singh.

The Jat Regiment CO narrated the epic tale of the Baba. The Baba was a foot soldier posted on the volatile Sikkim-China border in the 1960’s. On a routine patrol, young Harbhajan sought permission from his troop commander to read the sacred ‘Gutkha’. The young troop commander was averse to the demand fearing a skirmish with Chinese patrol. Harbhajan stood his ground and the patrol moved on. No one saw Harbhajan after that and as per the Army regulations he was declared missing and the discharge formalities were completed.



The skirmishes with the Chinese escalated into a full-fledged war and one eventful night Harbhajan came into the GOC’s dream. He explained that he was still active and safeguarding the border. The Chinese also started reporting about a Sikh who would torment their soldiers. The Army enlisted Harbhajan into its active duty rolls and a temple was constructed in his honour. He became a ‘Baba’ to the entire soldiers guarding Sikkim and his fame travelled far and wide. Baba religiously carried out his duties and provided a strong support to the Indian Army. The Army would go on a Red Alert whenever Baba went on leave!

This amazing saga of Baba Harbhajan captivated our thoughts and the Jat Regiment CO also exhorted us to pay regards to the Baba as was customary. Our Officer –in – Charge was not much inclined and instead wanted to visit an Army post at a steep height with a motorable road. This post gave a panoramic view of the ancient Silk Route and neighboring Bhutan. The Army CO’s request went unheard and the 11 Cadets in a 1-ton truck and the Officer-in-Charge in a Jonga began the steep climb to the post.

Suddenly the 1-ton lost power and slid backwards. It hinged on to a big boulder and a rear wheel lay hung over the deep valley. Any tilt in balance could have had a catastrophic effect and the vehicle could have rolled on into the valley. We all were in a shock and prayed for our lives. The DLTGH seemed far away. The Jat Regiment help came quickly and the vehicle was pulled up with a great effort. The Army CO took effective charge of the situation and we were all huddled into another vehicle and taken straight to Baba Harbhajan temple for saving our lives.

We were grateful to the Baba and paid our heartiest regards to the Legend for his grace. The drifting site of the temple on our way back is still fresh in my eyes. The legend of the Baba continues whenever I meet the Hike members. Recently, in April 2004, I met a Naval Officer who was the first cousin of the Baba and told that the Legend is retiring from the active duty. He was on way to Sikkim to complete the formalities. The memories of the fateful day 15 years ago again rushed to my mind. I thanked the Baba for all that he has done for the Army and the country and know that his soul will continue to guard our frontier.