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

Guess Who All !

Courtesy: Channi

CRPF Men 'Shot Dead' by Maoists in Chhatisgarh

It is difficult to comprehend loss of over 70 CRPF Men to the Maoists in Chhatisgarh without any casualty to them. There is no flaw in planning LRP Operations continuously for four days by a sub-unit. LRPs are known to go far beyond four days. Execution of the operations and ‘Conduct of the Company in the LRP’ needs to be put under scrutiny if we have to avoid such 'massacre' in future.

Let ‘truth’ be known to the Planners!

It is distressing to hear ‘mass killings’ of uniformed personnel in the Operations. No ‘plain’ reasons stand to justify the incident. No ‘cover-up’ are to be encouraged.

Sukhwindar
Svipja Technologies

India's Think Tanks

Firstly, Think Tanks should in the normal course aim to influence targeted audience for getting their ‘mind share’. It should take a ‘systems approach’ to an issue with the ultimate objective of sound implementation to achieve the desired outcome. It is not correct to say that the Policy Makers or Others may not ‘heed to the advice, or may not be influenced’ by the Think Tanks. It does in a way. If not, these are not Think Tanks then - their research results may be ‘tainted’, not in line with the democratic values, or totally out of context. Think Tanks need not work in ‘vacuum’ of any kind and should relate to the existing or future course(s). That much for the concept.

Secondly, Think Tanks need to be staffed with practicing managers/researchers and academia of the right kind to tackle real-life situations, and not be pure ‘philosophic’. These should relate to our ‘own’ environments. This would help in looking at their findings from ‘Policy Angle(s)’. Who funds it may not be very important in today’s intellectual scenario; system sees it through and places credibility on the Think Tanks accordingly. There may be hundreds of them but a few are creditworthy.

Thirdly, the subject matter to be tackled could take the form of a 'Chair’, for long life. The Chair could be established in Corporates, Universities, Foundations, etc, provided they operate under the Charter of Think Tanks. Intellect is widely dispersed.

Mr Kanti Bajpai’s Article in today’s TOI on ‘ Think Tanks in India’s Democracy’ puts the subject issue in a perspective, but the 'common notion'.

Click: Think Tanks in Democracy

'Svipja Civil-Military Relations (CMR) Chair' be seen in this context, a faithful delivery to the Indian Democracy and its People in CMR.

Svipja Technologies

Launch of 'Svipja Civil - Military Relations Chair'

General

“Svipja Civil- Military Relations Chair” (or ‘Chair’, for short) has been set-up by Svipja Technologies with a view to harness Ideas from Intellectual Defence Community to promote Civil-Military Relations in India. Views from the International Community will also be welcome.

This work is needed in order to raise intellectual capital of the stakeholders in line with the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution. It would help reinforcing democratic values in the Defence Community with Military Ethos intact.

Objectives

The establishment of the Chair and Fellowships is expected to:

1. Promote healthy and meaningful exchange of ideas amongst the intellectual Defence Community on civil-military relations in the Indian Context.

2. Facilitate wider, deeper, and un-biased discussions / interactions amongst the intellectual Community, and Faculty / Moderator(s) appointed against the Chair or as Fellows, in particular.

Terms and Conditions

The creation and operation of the Chair and Fellowships will be subject to the terms enumerated in the succeeding paras.

Methodology Research work on the subject will be undertaken by a Team constituted by Svipja Technologies within the Objectives laid. Certain identified Blogs / Sites will be used to initiate discussions amongst the stakeholders. Once done, ‘finished product’ would be circulated to the stakeholders, and published in a transparent manner.

Donor(s) Svipja Technologies will meet all the expenses of the Chair as a Founder.

Founder Fellowship Brigadier (Retired) Sukhwindar Singh will be the first faculty against the Chair.

Guidelines for “Appointment” of Faculty Against the Chair To be approved by the Board of Governors established by Svipja Technologies / Trusts / Donors.

Eligibility Anyone with a track record in defence with independent, impartial & sound logical abilities would be eligible to be considered for “appointment” against the Chair. Individual(s) being considered would first be appointed as Moderator(s). The Chair has a Think Tank’s charter.

Duration of the Chair The “appointment” against the Chair will be made for a period of up to five years. However, continuation into the fourth and fifth years will be subject to a review at the end of the third year. Further, an individual may be eligible to be considered for re-appointment, together with other eligible candidates, for a period of up to 5 years (without a break) any number of times.

Designation Member(s) appointed against the Chair will be called “Svipja Civil-Military Relations Chair Emeritus Research Fellow / Research Fellow / Research Associate Fellow”.

Research Grant To be assigned by Svipja Technologies on need basis as the faculty / work expands.

Intellectual Property (IP) Rights As a result of the “appointment” against the Chair, there shall be no change in the rights applicable to the IP developed by the researchers / faculty members and/or his/her collaborators.

Strategic Alliance(s) Svipja Technologies would be willing to establish strategic alliance(s) with like-minded bodies.

Research Presentations Research Articles will be published on Media/Sites/Blogs identified for the purpose. In addition, as a result of the “appointment” against the Chair, the faculty would be expected to undertake Presentations of the research findings of the Chair to various targeted audience, organizations and institutions.

Conclusion

This work would enhance intellectual capital of the stakeholders for security of the country in environments unfolding in the 21st Century India. Dynamics of the Civil-Military relations needs to be captured routinely in the Indian Polity.

All Veterans are welcome to contribute their thoughts.

Sukhwindar

www.svipja.com

Civil-Military Relations: Why are These More Important in a Democracy?

There is a ‘rooted’ tendency amongst Us to narrow Civil-Military Relations to IAS-Military Top Brass. In wider sense it in fact relates to who governs the Country, Civil or Military leadership?

Civil is all encompassing - politicians, civil bureaucracy including allied civil services, police, State machinery, civil offices providing services like supplies, power, water, teles, transportation, roads, etc. Military and its personnel deal at various levels of ‘civil governance’ in official and personal capacities. Any aberrations to military personnel while on duty, off duty, or at home leaves them frustrated if not handled well. Military has expectations to be governed / handled diligently and in an orderly fashion. It is here that a soldier ‘grumbles’ when he is ‘towed’ to follow ethos alien to him.

First damage to civil-military relation stems when a soldier is handled shabbily, dishonestly, or indifferently in the Civil. And this could multiply manifold as he moves through his ‘life cycle’. In his frustration, he then uses ‘force’, the only ‘expertise’ developed in him to reach his objective, at least temporarily, willing to face its consequences subsequently.

Any nation has to be sensitive not to bruise soldiers’ pride in day-to-day interactions. Self-Pride, Self-Respect, Self-Reliance, High-Class Motivation, Professionalism, Ability to Lead by Example, etc are his inherent strengths. Any act that tends to lower it is damaging to the Forces, and Nation as a whole. Anyone including Armed Forces Leadership hurting/undermining these basic traits in any manner is doing disservice to the Nation as it may result in ‘mass grouse’, sometimes difficult to be handled by leadership. That’s why the Armed Forces handle cases of bad management, indiscipline or corruption strictly.

‘All Civil Institutions’ need to fully appreciate it in a democracy like India, where ‘ethos & personal examples’ tend to become casualty.

A Soldier is a Class by Itself and Should be treated as Such. He is then ‘fit’ to deliver optimally ensuring Your Freedom.

We are an established democracy now, it is time that we talked and discussed Civil-Military Relations openly, and organised ourselves on 'Systems Approach' both in thinking and action.


Sukhwindar
Svipja Technologies
[It is a stub, could be expanded to a full Article by some Researcher(s)]

You Are Blessed !

Courtesy: Harpal Grewal

Happy Holi !

Creativity in Adolf Hitler

These drawings and watercolours are the childish attempts of a want-to-be-artist, Adolf Hitler. He was dreaming of attending courses at the Academy of Belle Arts in Vienna. Unfortunately, they did not accept him at the Academy. If they had accepted him, the world would have definitely been different today …

Courtesy: Mohinder Singh Saundh, IITK, Sweden.

Def Expo 2010: 'Self-Respect' Comes from 'Self-Reliance'

India has fairly large-sized Security Forces to maintain its integrity with hostile environment in the South Asia and not very conducive environment for its development & growth in the rest of the world. Do we let India realize its potential, is the question to be answered by the developed nations, and how would it affect Us? This should be the main ‘Term of Reference’ for developed nations.

We have small and large advocacy organizations operating in India which are always happy in ‘Doing Down Indian Achievements’ for reasons best known to them. 30% of Us below poverty line, corruption, slow Govt. processes, etc are well drummed, but what is not appreciated is ‘middle class and above’ in India, tone of young Indians to achieve heights, its technological leaps, improvements all around despite certain problems, etc. It is a kind of Psy War unleashed on Us by interested parties with connivance of some of Us, even intellectuals ‘hired’ to do Us down --- a dangerous trend.

GoI has always had a vision to achieve ‘near-self-reliance’ in various fields. It has achieved this with mixed success. Security Industry, Defence & Aerospace specifically, has not reached the objective for various strategic and tactical reasons. Our focus to achieve high degree of self-reliance in this Segment must remain – a message delivered loud and clear in Def Expo 2010.

Policy Initiatives like ‘Buy’, Buy & Make (Indian)’, and ‘Make’ need implementation in all its facets. ‘Tainted Advocacy’ by Indians must stop for larger good whether You are part of an Indian or a foreign firm. Look at the development of the Indian Industry pragmatically in keeping with the ‘strategic needs’ of the country, of course with business sense. All this will help Us retain our independence in thought and action.

National Security is Not a Pure Business Case, Nevertheless Profits Flow.

Brigadier (Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for India Defence & Aerospace Ecosystem)

Def Expo 2010: Defence Offset Policy Implementation

India’s defence offset policy would be the key driver for growth and modernisation of the defence industrial base, says the Govt. “The industry therefore will evolve in sync with the overall development, leading to progressive policy initiatives coming up in future,” said Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju.

Raju outlined that offset proposals worth 49,000 crore are in the pipeline. Given the complexity involved in supervision of offset, an administration infrastructure has been put in place.

Public Sector alone will not be able to absorb the offset that are to be generated in future, he said. Offset, therefore, give domestic players an opportunity to enter the sensitive defence industry. The Govt. is also planning to extend tax sops enjoyed by exports firms to domestic players as well. Also, combining Public and Private Sector skills that will help achieve higher degree of defence indigenisation is also being mulled upon.

According to Raju, the role of SMEs has been a testimony of being a backbone of the defence industry and its role is vital for the self reliance of the industry. Urging the industry to gear up, the Minister earmarked the prospects of Buy and Make (Indian) category which facilitates JVs with foreign OEMs, strengthening R&D and technology up-gradation among others.

A strong defence industry will help India leverage its Buying Power, expanding technological base, facilitating global tie-ups and JVs. This will be aimed at reducing defence imports and promoting indigenisation, Raju said.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
www.IndianDefenceIndustry.com
(An e-Hub for India Defence & Aerospace Ecosystem)
Credit: Financial Express.