Belated Post on 2014 Commissioning Day - Contents Received Yesterday kind Courtesy Paddy Dutta

'Course Commissioning Day 2014' was celebrated on 26 Apr 2014. A good no. of officers and their families attended the Dinner at Manekshaw Stadium. It was all fun. Organised well by SPS Rekhy !

SSNT2 Lunch at AVI, Noida (Contd)

The Lunch turned into Birthday Celebration of Paddy Dutta. He sprung surprise by announcing the lunch as 'account paid for'. All present accepted the invite gracefully, and showered on him many blessings. Good Health and Happiness, Paddy!!!!!

Many more such pleasant surprises ! It was great Event; short and sweet.

SSNT2 Lunch at AVI, Noida

A lunch was organised in the AVI (Club), Noida, on 15 Oct 2014. The function was organised under the leadership of Brigadier Kartar Sharawat , ably assisted by Karam and others.

Over 20 officers and ladies attended. It was an enjoyable Meet. Thanks, Kartar !

Course Blog

As you may appreciate, we all are near the 'goal post'. It would be good if we consolidate as a course once again. Course Blog www.ssnt2.blogspot.in  is an apt platform to share news within the course.In the 'evening' of our lives now we should remain connected thru the Internet/Blog.

Pse do patronize the Course Blog, and visit http://ssnt2.blogspot.in/  And pass all info of interest to the Course to me for uploading on the Blog.

All the Best,

Sukhi

Notice: Course Get Together on 26 Apr 2014

It is confirmed that Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt has been booked for the Course Social  at 2000 h, on Saturday, 26 April 2014. We expect maximum attendance.

Pse confirm your attendance to me at svipja@gmail.com , or Rekhi for making necessary arrangements.

Thanks.

Untimely Demise of Amb (Retired) JC Sharma

JC decided to call it a day today. Will be fondly remembered by all his course mates  for his professional competence, initiative, courage, course spirit, wit , and determination. Well Done, JC!

May God rest his soul in peace and grant courage to the Family to bear the loss.

In sorrow, Sukhi
------------------------------------------------
Some of the condolence messages received by me are appended below: 

Dear Sukhi,

I am shocked beyond words at the devastating news of the sad demise of our dear friend JC. My heart goes out to his family in their hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace.

Maj Gen Balachandra Murthy
#4, Pocket 4, Vasanth Vihar,
Bilmaranahalli, Bettahalasuru Post,
Bangalore – 562157
------------------------------------------------------------------

Sukhi, Shocked to learn of sad demise of dear JC. He was in perfect health. I'm traveling right now-- will be back on Monday. Do let me know when is the shanti path? GSahni

Sent from BlackBerry® on Airtel 

GS Sahni
-------------------------------------------------------

It is shocking to learn the sad demise of dear JC I find loss of words to express myself. JC the Amb, has been Amb of us all the SS-2.  It will be a great void in our fraternity. He was just a GEM. May God rest his soul in peace and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this loss.

Dear Sukhi,
Presently we are out of country so I request you to please convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family

Sent from my iPhone

Vinod Berry
-------------------------------------------------------------------

God bless his soul. Please convey my condolence.

DP Ramachandaran
---------------------------------------------------------

It is indeed very sad and shocking. JC was really a shining star of our couse. I recall meeting him on many course get-togethers in DELHI . We all will miss him.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

In sorrow
 
BHARAT & ANITA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sukhi

Thanks for the information. Indeed, it is a sad news. Please do convey our condolences to the family as we are out of country. How have you been?

Best Wishes

Lalit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deeply Grieved.

Let all of us in station jointly pay our homage to the departed soul at 1500h on 01Feb2014 in Lodhi Crematorium

In Grief

Rekhi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sukhi, and all CMs,

It was indeed sad to learn about untimely sad passing away of our JC, he was a gem of a person, i pray for his soul to rest in peace and give strength to members of the departed soul, with regards

Shashi Varma
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very sorry to learn about the demise of a very dear friend JC. Pray to the Almighty to give courage and strength to the family to bear the tragedy. Regards. Aarti and Ashok.

Ashok Sawhney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sukhi,

It has been a great shock to me and my wife to learn the untimely sad demise of our friend and course mate JC Sharma . I was present at the Electric Crematorium , Lodhi Road , Delhi to pay my last respects to the departed soul and the physical remains .

Though I met him occasionally in the DGC but whenever we met it was with same warmth and affection for each other ! The time is running out , we all have to go one by one , some one earlier some one later --- this is what the 'Cycle Of Life' is and the ultimate Truth ! May God Almighty rest JC's soul in eternal peace and give sufficient strength to all his dear and near ones to bear the loss !   

I would request you to kindly post this condolence message on the course blog .

Regards ,

Ram Bagai

Ronnie's Message

Dear Sukhi,

Felt so nostalgic to see your blog and the lovely pictures of the course get together.

Always look forward to attending it but this time could not since I was very unwell and hospitalised for a long time.People tell me it was my second birth.

Shall be grateful if you could remember me to all and convey my regrets and sincere greetings.

Sincerely


OUR PRAYERS! All the Best !!

Course Dinner on 23 Apr 2012 (Sapphire Anniversary)

The Course had a Dinner on 23 Apr 2012, its Sapphire Anniversary, at the DSOI, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. Over 20 couples attended the Dinner. It was great!

Col CMS Sandhu from Ludhiana and Col Nanda from Chandigarh attended the celebrations. All were in good cheer.

Col Rekhi had organised the Event. Thanks Kailash for the snaps. No other inputs were submitted for publishing. Paddy Dutta!!!

SSNT2 Meet at RSI , Bangalore, on 02 Mar 2012

We had a small group of 4-5 of us meeting for Beer in the morning at  RSI. We met Col Prakash (Grenadiers) in the CSD Canteen in RSI he is also seen in the snaps. We missed him in the evening get together.

Regards.

Lt Col. Pradeep Shirgaonkar ( Retd )

+91 9987154946

--------------------------------------------------------------

SSNT2: Naushera Company

Arun Kumar, Naushera Coy, commissioned in ASC, is kind enough to send Us the Group Photograph of the Company. After participating in Bangladesh War, he joined NCC in 1972. Retired in 2003 as DD (Trg) from NCC Dte Delhi. The Company photograph is uploaded on the Blog. His contact details are included in the Course Address List.

Course Dinner 2011

Course Dinner was organised at the Vasant Kunj Farm house of OS Deswal, IAS, on 23 Apr 2011 in Gurgaon. Over 20 course mates along with their Lady Wives got together to mark the occasion. Unfortunately I could not attend the Event as I was out of station.

The Event was a great success. OSD and his wife Neeru were 'totally' involved in making the Event memorable, Thanks.

We are not able to upload the snaps of the Course Dinner 2011 as I received none. Could still do it if I receive them.

All the Best!

We Are Blessed

INTERESTING COINCIDENCE !

India is blessed by.....

Amma in South;
Didi in East;
Bhenji in North;
Aunty in the Capital;
Madam in Center;
Nani on top (the President)
& "Wife At Home"

And yet people say.. It’s a Man's World ?

Courtesy: Shashi Varma

Some Memories: 21 - 23 Apr 1967

Our Passing out Parade was held on 22 Apr 1967. Lt Gen (then) Manekshaw, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, took the Salute. Pgme for the Passing Out was spread on 21-23 Apr 1967, with pipping ceremony on 23 Apr 1967 preceded by Buffet Supper in the OTS Cadets Mess.

Bn SUO D Dasgupta , School SUO BK Kailash, and Company SUO C Singh Deo were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal respectively.

A large number guests were present on the occasion. Justice and Mrs RS Narula, parents of Channi, also graced the occasion.

You have sweet memories!!

Sukhi

Courtesy: Channi Narula

Course Dinner 2011

Course Dinner 2011 was organised at the Farm House of OS Deswal. The Event went of very well with routine bonhomie in full display and 'usual' hugs.

Some who missed, we find them next year.

List of the attendees is enclosed.

Sukhi

Emerging Strategic Defence Culture in India, and Interplay of Civil - Military Relations

"Failing to Deliver Post-Crises Defence Reforms in India, 1998-2010", a Research Paper of Anit Mukherjee of the IDSA, laments lack of 'strategic culture' and inapt 'civil-military Ralations' as the main causes for the Reforms failing in a way.

This paper analyses civil-military relations in India from 1998 to 2010. It examines the reforms undertaken within national security agencies and their eventual outcome. In doing so it explores two major questions—what precipitated the reforms in India’s national security agencies after the 1999 Kargil war? And, what was the impact of these reforms and did they achieve their stated objectives?

It analyzes the Kargil Review Committee and its follow up, the Arun Singh Committee and describes some of the debates therein. While examining the implementation of defence reforms it then argues that despite some incremental progress they have failed the vision of their architects. This is primarily due to bureaucratic politics and the unique features of civil-military relations, which can be more accurately described as an “absent dialogue.” The penultimate section describes recent calls for re-visiting the defence reforms process but argues that without political will this is unlikely.

“bureaucratic inertia, political ineptitude and the state of civil-military relations .... may have more to do with the absence of strategic thinking”. Indeed, as this paper argues it is broadly these three factors that have obstructed defence reforms.

We, as a nation, let our inadequacies perpetuate incrementally for personal gains. This is the history of our sub-continent and its people unfortunately -- SvipjaCMRChair.

Read the Paper : http://www.idsa.in/system/files/OP_defencereform.pdf

SvipjaCMRChair

'Humour in Uniform'

Courtesy: Dheeraj Singh, Navjot Singh

Tempering Through Struggles

Courtesy: Ram Bagai

Army: Overused, Under-Appreciated?

On 26 Jan 2011, our ‘star’ Colonel SPS Rekhi participated in ‘we the people’ show of Barkha Dutt and contributed meaningfully in the discussions. Rekhi of course has contributed a lot to the System in various fields. Well Done, Rekhi !!

Click the following Link to see the Video, it is over 40 minutes. Ad clips in the beginning of the video are embedded by the Author.

We the People, 26 Jan 2011


Sukhi

'The Last Post'

We have all heard the Armed Forces Buglers rendering 'The Last Post'. It's the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. Here is the story behind it.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they gave him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.

The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born.

The words are:-

Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.
-------
Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.
From afar.
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night.
-------
Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky .
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh.

Courtesy: Mr GS Sahni, ex-Secretary, IAS.

PS: Remember those lost and harmed while serving their country. Also remember those who have served and returned; and those presently serving in the Armed Forces.

Brief Details of Channi Narula

Name & Rank: Capt. C S Narula
OTS Company: Meiktila
Corps: EME
Discharged on: 7 July 1973
Joined Civil Service: 7 July 1973.
Contact in India (June to October)
B 032 Belvedere Towers
DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon 122002
Mobile: 981871 6507

Address in Namibia (Oct to April)
P.O. Box 31428, WINDHOEK
NAMIBIA

Tele: +264 61 243065 (Res); +264 61 251567 (O)
Mobile: + 264 81 127 0921

e mails:
narulac@gmail.com
joys@mweb.com.na

SC Course 1987: SSNT-2 Get-Together

Hi Sukhi,

I am enclosing a photograph of our SSNT-2 Course get together while on Senior Command Course in July 1987 for publication on the Blog. Ten of us attended this course. This get together was not attended by uthapa due reasons unknown those who attended were: Kanwal, Merchant, Kewal Singh, Dhand, O P Kohli, ? (I cannot recall the name please help), Kailash, Anil Bhardwaj.

I am missing from the photograph because it was snapped by me.

Good hunting,

Paddy Dutta

Warm Greetings to My Dearest Buddies of SSNT-2

Hi My dear batch mates,

It is over four decades ago that we passed out from OTS, Madras, on a day that coincidentally happens to be my birth day too! (23 Apr). Except for few of us who have been meeting now and then while in Service, majority of us never met one another. Thanks to the samaritan effort of our dear colleague, Brig. Sukhwindar, there is a forum for us to interact and exchange one another's tale of stories in our “fading years" of our lives.

It will be a better idea, if we can share our life experiences whether on pleasant or unpleasant side, so that each of us will be interacting more often though this blog site, created by Sukhwindar.

To start with I wish to give you all in brief about me. My last posting while in Service was with Signals Enclave Computer Centre in Delhi, where from I took premature retirement in Feb, 1987 to enter into 'civvies' life as an Engineering college Professor at MIT, Manipal (South India ). After a stint of 5 years in Academic line, I went to join the Industry, as Senior Manager of Tata Elexsi Ltd., (Mainframe Computer mfg. Company in those days) in 1991. One year on, I left the company to take up an offer with a Chinese Company in China as the General Manager, in 1992 till 1997.

In 1997, I longed to be an entrepreneur, and started a company of my own, " Li Qun Enterprises ", which has been mainly a ' turn key projects handling ' Company undertaking multiple Products Sourcing, price negotiations with manufacturers, and to export items as per Global customer requirements.

In 2009 (last year), I decided to get relocated back to our sacred motherland, India, and moved back to Bangalore, where I have my own ' sweet home '. Being active and still agile, I did not want to ' idle ' and lead a sedentary life. So I took up an assignment with VIT University (Velour Institute o Technology) in Vellore, near Chennai, as Professor in its Business School and have been teaching Operational Management subjects to MBA students. (http://www.vit.ac.in) You can see my picture, if you go to Academics, select, VITBS, and Faculty (POSQ Division)

On the family front, currently me and my spouse, Rama are hale and hearty and live as ' honey mooning ' couple. Our three Children, by Grace of Almighty are all settled in their lives in comfortable way. Our eldest daughter, Dr. Gita Shekar along with her husband, Bharath, who works as Director ( Retail Marketing ) of Amazon.com and their daughter Nikita is settled in Seattle, USA.

Our second daughter, Anita Shekar, who is a Computer Engineer, is with IBM in Austin, Texas USA along with her Computer Software husband, and their two Children, Jharna and Arnav, and permanently settled there.

Our youngest Son, who is a Management graduate, is settled in Hong Kong, along with his Chinese spouse, since year 2000.

I can be reached either by email : major4511@gmail.com or on phone : 0416-2202755 (Ofice) / 2204603 ( Res ), 09677807632 ( Mobile ). Currently we are spending 4 weeks of vacation with our Son and daughter in law in Hong Kong, and will be back to Vellore on 27 June, 2010.

It will be my great pleasure, to hear from my dearest batchmates from henceforth.

Wishing you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous lives... buddies..

Major KL Chandrasekhar

2010 Course Dinner

2010 Course Dinner was organised on 23 Apr 2010 in the DSOI, New Delhi. A large number of batch mates attended the Dinner along with their lady wives. A good number of officers and their wives from outstations joined-in. I am NOT including their names specifically for fear of getting their ire if I inadvertently miss some. Delay in uploading this Post is precisely because of this -- I was all the time awaiting latest List compiled during the Dinner to place on the Blog; it was not to be despite requests. So, I decided to upload the photographs I received.

I have however taken care that 'faces' outside Delhi find place in this Posting.

It was a good Get-Together with usual warmth, and lot to speak and share. Lots of Ideas to advance the 'togetherness' as usual over a few drinks, but nothing would move forward except yet another Course Dinner in 2010.

All the Best till we meet next.

Sukhwindar
www.ssnt2.blogspot.com