JNU protests

There is so much of politicking over the JNU protests!!! 

it is shocking and worrying to see young women and men take part in these protests in such large numbers. what is even more shocking is their belief in their cause (which is anti-india).

Such strong thoughts or visions could not have developed overnight and JNU must be harbouring these ideas over a long period of time.  The University must have been allowed to just simmer away quietly for years but now it has come to a boil.

There are people justifying it as "dissent" against government. Well you can dissent against the government but not against the country. That is basic common sense.

As the character Eddie Valentine (Paul Sorvino) in the 1991 movie "Rocketeer" says "I may not make an honest buck but I am 100% American"

There is a lot for our political parties to learn from this one line.   It may be too much of us to expect all of you to be honest but definitely we expect you to be 100% Indian!!

the simple botom line is - there is no place for anti-india protests in india. 

Cafe Leopold - why do you feel so inferior?

It is reported that while 02 Indian families were made to wait for tables a group of foreigners were seated as soon as they came.  On confronting the management & staff over the issue, they were asked this - "why do you feel so inferior?"

Hard to accept but the inferior treatment is true.  Any one who visited places like Leopold can clearly see the discrimination between foreigners and indians unless they are half blind!!! I once waited for 20 minutes despite all tables being empty.  "They are all reserved", was the reply. So, I did the only thing I could do - i.e leave the place. That was 15 years ago and never tried to go back again!!!  But things are very different now in the age of social media.  People may not meekly accept this kind of racism in our own country.

We are a democratic country for 65 years but people such as these can make us feel inferior in our country!!! Often they forget that many of these foreigners are relatively lower paid people whose income may not even be half the income of many indians aspiring to visit such places.    So what makes them a better draw then? fair skin? low cut dresses? possibility of making out? Well your guess is as good as mine!!! or even as one waiter at a 5 star hotel quietly told me - "they are better tippers sir".

This is one racism that media should take up. more than the vip racism  in this country (because vip is also indian), color and country based racism in our own country needs to be taken up so urgently.

we heard that hotels used to have sign boards such as these during the british raj!!!

Hope such things are not happening even now (without the sign boards of course)

many of us do not have the will or commitment to take on such big establishments.  like me - i felt bad about the way i was treated but walked away without doing anything about it.  In such a scenario, Kudos to this lady for taking up her case valiantly.  May there be more like her!!!

Lastly, it is not just about boycotting the restaurant. That may or may not work.  

What is more important is taking pride in being an "Indian". Nobody can make us feel "inferior" in our own country.  We are a growing world super power (despite the colour of our skin) which the entire world is recognising slowly.  When our PM Modi ji speaks the whole world listens with attention - which makes our hearts swell with pride - But if some establishments within our own country feel otherwise and want to puncture our pride - it is a sad state and the Government may also like to step in to ensure that such things do not happen.
 

Juvenile kills again

A juvenile apparently killed a elderly woman on monday in south delhi.

The killer was the same guy who was released (for good behaviour) just two months  after he killed a child in september last year - yes you read it right - just two months after he killed a child.

He was found guilty of having kidnapped a child and murdering him in september last year when the child's parents could not pay the ransom.  Despite  kidnapping and the gruesome act of killing a child he was remanded to a juvenile home as he was below 18 years.  

It is really quite inexplicable as to what good behaviour he would have shown the authorities in two months which made them overlook his act of kidnapping & murder and release him.  Atleast a thought could have been spared for the killed child and his parents!!!

Now the child might have found the easy way out - kill and rob - and even if gets caught he would be tried as a juvenile!!!

At this rate - even professional goons may hire children!!!

The authorities who apparently left him for good behaviour need to answer and such acts of largesse (if true) need to be made accountable so that they are not repeated.

We must call for further  changes in the juvenile law to keep it in tune with the current state of the society. 
http://recklessmusings.blogspot.in/2015/12/juvenile-rapists.html
a related post 

10 army soldiers killed in siachen avalanche

01 JCO and nine soldiers were reportedly killed in an avalanche in siachen.

HATS off to their courage in patrolling our borders despite the lurking danger of avalanches and snow trenches.

But the important point is - their tragic story is in the middle pages of National newspapers and what makes front page head lines in big n bold is this -

"Ex-Major Generals Son held in Goa for suspicious movement"

The story of the 10 soldiers should have been the front page news

This is rather strange news especially when the Goa DGP himself had said that nothing concrete had been found against the boy to link him with any terror organisation!!!

Then why this front page news?--just because his father is a retired Maj Gen?!!!

We must stop slandering the Armed Forces like this.  They are going through so many troubles in guarding our borders and keeping the Nation safe. Throwing muck at the Armed forces even without any concrete proof would severely demoralise the armed forces serving both at the border and peace areas and hope that Govt steps in to ensure that such articles do not appear in print media or even initiate legal action in cases of false reporting.

Rohith Vemula

(A disclaimer - I don't know the full background of the case but this post is not about that case itself. I also support reservations and feel that they must continue for a few decades more!!)

Rohith Vemula - God bless his soul!!

I write this post with all due regards to the departed soul.  

It is reported that about 1.35 lakh people commit suicide in our country every year which is about one in every 4 seconds and while you are reading this post 4-6 people would have committed suicide. That is an astonishing number and we need to see as to what makes people so weak that they want to take their lives.

Is it a fault in our education system? or is it lack of character building in our schools/colleges? or is it the ideology of Ahimsa  that altered our minds over generations!!!

Whatever be the reason, most of them are driven to suicide by drastic situations, but we must change the mental make up that suicide is  the only solution.  The people who die leave behind a suicide note listing out all the evils that forced them to take this drastic step.  They may not have been able to get the law enforcement agencies to take cognizance of their complaint (due to whatever reasons) while alive but once they pass away, the same agencies take note of the suicide note (as it is considered ultimate) and initiate legal proceedings against the alleged accused.  

Therefore, people are ready to die as a last resort to achieve their objective.  This can change if the law enforcement agencies take note of complaints before anyone has to commit suicide and address their issues and more importantly (very debatable though) not take any cognizance of a complaint post suicide.  This will surely stop people from committing suicide to get justice and will also dispel the idea that you can "Achieve justice by dying".  After all, what use is justice when the person is no more!!

Whatever may be the circumstances of the case, if a PhD scholar has to commit suicide, there is something very wrong with our educational system.  We are probably not imbibing enough mental strength to our children in their curriculum.  Also fighting one man or institution need not be a fight to the finish.  And one man should not be allowed to disturb you so much that he drives you to lose your life which is so precious to your family and the Nation.  A few lessons of "Art of living" or the like on student campuses may be in order to bring in a positive air and happiness.

I read Rohith's post about Che Guevara where he offered his salutations to the great man who helped Fidel castro liberate Cuba.  During his life time Che faced many Up's and Down's but remained focussed on his aim regardless. Che fought the oppressive regimes valiantly till he was killed in Bolivia.  I wish Rohith could have taken more inspiration from his idol Che and fought on his authorities as valiantly till he received what was due to him.  Then we would not have lost a precious soul and his family - a near & dear person.  But circumstances might have been very difficult for him to take that extreme step and our full sympathies are with him for that.

Lastly, couple of points  - the first is - i heard that there are separate hostels for bc, sc/st students in some university campuses.  The need for such separate hostels could be reconsidered because if we officially draw up such caste lines within the campus, they are bound to stay in all day to day dealings on campus.  The second - if Rohith's family was so desperately in need of  scholarship money which drove him to suicide - he could have taken up a job part/full time outside to support his family and continue his fight against the authorities rather then end his life.  That's where the student counseling centres on campus could help.   They can counsel the students in distress and lead them in the right direction.

There are some difficult questions to answer in this case but all universities must initiate action to promote equality of all students and endorse measures to creating a positive and transparent atmosphere on campus devoid of any politics. 

 

Shirdi darshan - updated facilities

Sadguru Sainadh Maharaj Ki Jai

I wanted to start the new year 2016 with a visit to Shirdi temple and now consider myself blessed to have been able to make the trip.  The darshan of Lord Sai Baba was mesmerising as usual and i could get three darshans in my short stay there.
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While browsing the net prior to my visit, I found that there are not many blogs/websites giving detailed instructions to a pilgrim about Shirdi.
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I thought i will do my bit and make a few issues clear to the first time pilgrim as to what to see and expect at Shirdi in a simple 10 point form. Before that, forthosewhohave read this post before - a quick look at the new facilities at shirdi - Senior citizens, parents with babies in arms (less than one year) can get entry from gate no 3. the pass counter is also next to gate no 3. the wheel chair bound personnel can get direct access to the sanctum sanctorum from the exit side entrance which the sss security staff would guide. Now everyone has to go to the booking counter and get a timeslot allotted for darshan (like in the case of tirupati)ans enter the queue asper the time slot
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1. LOCATION

Shirdi is located in the North Eastern part of Maharashtra. Road distances are as follows (all kms rounded off):-

       (a)   Pune             - 185 kms

       (b)   Mumbai         - 235 kms

       (c)   Nashik           -   85 kms

       (d)   Aurangabad  -   90 kms

       (e)   Ahmednagar -   85 kms
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2. ARRIVAL AT TEMPLE GATE 

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(a)   There are four gates for entry to the walled section of the temple (1,2,3,&4).  Wherever you are coming from and by whatever conveyance, you will always arrive at Gate No 1 which is on the NH 60 (also called NH 160 in some places).  As you reach the proximity of the Gate No 1 plenty of people will approach you to guide you to a car parking.  Cars may be parked on the side on NH 60 as shown in diagram or these guys may take you on the road alongside Gate no 2 to the parking lots on that side.  There is no glitch in this and you can safely follow them to parking.  In case you have a hotel booking you can park at your hotel itself.
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(b)  There are plenty of hotels from 700-2000 rupees close to the temple.  There are hotels that offer double room from 300 rupees itself but then they don't have attached toilets.  I am not dwelling on hotel booking at this juncture as there are plenty of travel portals offering the same, though i recommend booking through Shirdi Sai Sansthan (covered in point no 10).
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(c)   If you have a hotel booking leave all your stuff in the hotel (if not leave them in your vehicle) including mobile and camera as nothing is permitted.  However, if you are a large group i suggest the group coordinator should carry a mobile (which can be deposited at the cloak room) in case someone gets lost and tries to get in touch.  There are cloak rooms for shoes and mobiles as shown above.  The cloak room procedure is swift and hassle free costing only rs 2/-.  Then you can proceed to enter the temple.

3. ENTRY TO THE TEMPLE

There are various entry gates as follows:-
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(a) Normal darshan - The Queue starts anywhere in the green boxes depending on the rush.  The exact entry point will be indicated either by the security staff or by any of the many vendors selling roses, malas and the like.  Incidentally roses cost rs 10/- for a small set and malas cost between 30-50 rupees.

(b)  VVIP/VIP/Senior citizens/Defence/GOI staff etc (See points 9&10 as to how to get this darshan) - Enter through Gate No 2 as indicated by the red arrows and thereafter  proceed to Shani Gate.  VVIP's may be escorted directly.  This Queue merges with the normal Queue as shown in the diagram.

(c)  Wheel chair bound people - Entry is provided directly to the main temple from the gate shown.  It is not exactly a gate - it is just an opening in the exit passage for other pilgrims from the main temple - but it would take them straight inside without any waiting.

4. INSIDE THE TEMPLE (SAMADHI MANDIR) 
    
(a)    Whichever type of darshan you undertake, everyone finally reaches inside the main temple (samadhi mandir) in four lines, two to the left and two to the right.

(b)     Each of the lines offer a different view of the Lord (if you have time you can go for four darshans - one in each line).  The people in lines 1 & 2 turn into the well of the main temple after darshan, so they get to stay inside the temple for a longer time.  The disadvantage is that their time at the closest proximity of the Lord is limited as you are not allowed to stand for more than a few seconds there.  

(c)    The people in lines 3&4 can stand in proximity of the Lord for a longer time and they may also get a chance to touch his marble feet impressions (whenever they are kept uncovered).  The disadvantage is that the overall stay inside the main temple is much lesser. 

(d)     Further, Bhagwan Sai baba's idol has a natural tilt to the right (as you face it) so it appears that he is looking towards lines 1&3.  Therefore lines 1&3 are preferred by majority of people.

(e)     A simple measure to end up in lines 1&3 would be to just stick to to the right most wall of the temple in the queue.  It may also happen that 1&2 become overcrowded and the security staff may forcibly send people in lines 3&4.  You may request the security staff to be sent only in 1&2 which they may or may not agree, again depending on the rush.  If they agree, they may ask you to stand aside and wait for a short while after which they may permit you in 1&2.  If they agree, it is definitely worth the wait as by that point you are already in the main temple anyway. 
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5.  AFTER THE DARSHAN

After Darshan in the main temple (samadhi mandir) all pilgrims in lines 1&2 exit from the pathway shown in red and reach Gurusthan. Pilgrims in lines 3&4 reach Gurusthan directly from the main temple (samadhi mandir) exits.

6.  PLACES TO SEE AFTER DARSHAN

(a) Gurusthan - The Neem tree under whose shade baba spent a lot of time

(b)  Mukh Darshan - There is a Mukh darshan point from where one can see baba in a side pose.

(c)  3 temples - 3 temples of lord Ganesha, Shani bhagwan and Lord shiva

(d)  Museum - Personal items of Baba including the clothes that he had worn and many other items are on display

(e)  Udi counter - udi(vibhuti) is given in small packets strictly one per person.  So if you want more, either you have to queue up multiple times or have more people stand in the queue.

7.  OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST INSIDE THE WALLED TEMPLE.

(a)   Souvenir shop - where you can buy calendars, diaries. photos etc

(b)   Prasad cloth shop - where you can buy various clothes that have been draped on Baba

(c)  Book stall - where you can buy many books on Baba including Sai sat charitra in different languages

(d)    Parayanam room - for those wanting to read parayanam

(e)    Baby feeding room

8.   PLACES TO SEE OUTSIDE THE WALLED TEMPLE

(a)  Mukh Darshan point - As you exit from Gate No 3 the Mukh darshan point comes on the right side.  You can see Baba's face from a distance.  The advantage is that the line for this is very small and you can get a quick Mukh darshan to satiate your anxiety & excitement before getting into the darshan Q or while leaving shiridi (if you dont have time for normal darshan).

(b)  Dwarakamai  - This is the place where Baba spent most of his time and it is invigorating to sit in that house for some time.

(c)  Chavadi - this is the place where Baba used to sit in the evenings and sleep at nights towards the later part of his life. It is also said people started worshipping Baba formally in this place.

(d) Hanuman Mandir

9.  EXTERNAL FACILITIES

(a)   Hotels/Parking lots - There are plenty of them which you can book online or just walk in.  Rates have become very reasonable after the Shiridi sai sansthan also started offering accommodation online.

(b)   ATM - ATM of union bank is available just outside Gate no 4.

(c)  PRO office.   If you are a VIP/senior citizen/Defence person/GOI official, you can get a VIP pass issued here for you and your family members.  Passes are issued for forenoon in the forenoon and afternoon in the afternoon only, that too for same day only.  Counter opens at 7 am everyday and at present they are charging 100/- per person for the VIP pass.  The online fee per person is also the same.  In case you have booked online for darshan and have a printout, you can directly walk in through Gate No 2.  In case you don't have a printout and have the pass only on your cell phone/Tab, the PRO office will give a printout with no extra charge after checking your e-receipt.

(d) Restaurants - good south indian and north indian restaurants are available close to the temple at points marked by in the diagram above.


10. BOOKING OF DARSHAN AND ACCOMMODATION.  Shiridi Sai Sanshtan had commenced online booking of Darshan and accommodation.  You can also book aarti darshan on their website.  Their accommodation is very comfortable and neat and may be taken as the first choice if available.  Their link is given below. You have to first register wit your mail id and thereafter you can do the booking.

https://online.sai.org.in/homePage.do?parameter=displayMessage

YOU CAN ALSO GET LIVE DARSHAN ONLINE AT
http://shirdi.org.in/darshan/live-darshan/

(Lastly a disclaimer: I am not an authority on Bhagwan Sai Baba. This post was made only to help out devotees in their visit. Everything given above is factually correct to the best of my knowledge but incase there is any inaccuracy kindly intimate me of the same at thecommonman2@gmail.com)

juvenile rapists and mr derek o brien

The law may soon be amended to allow 16- 18 year old children also to be treated at par with adults in case of rape!!!

as expected several NGO's and some politicians do not feel that it is the right way forward!!!

I however fully agree with TMC MP Mr Derek O Brien who said that "had it been my daughter I would have shot the rapist".  He also displayed a rather unusual but rather welcome urgency both in pressing for a debate on the bill and in ensuring its passage!!! full marks to him and the BJP for walking the talk!! 

The passage of the law atleast ensures justice to all the victims where the state is able to secure a conviction!!!

But as the conviction rate is very very poor in our country due to various reasons, the battle doesn't end here!!! rape by a 16 year old is just the symptom of the disease.  A possible trial as a adult is unlikely to drastically change their mindset as the social atmosphere/conditions by virtue of  excessive sex/sleaze on tv, internet, movies and poor conviction rates still encourage them to take a chance!!

The real cure is in social engineering off the masses - we need to change the mindset of the people and it is no easy task. If we start today it may take 2-3 decades. we may not even be alive to see the change but it needs to be started now.

Towards that, the first step would be to cut down the sex/sleaze in our movies and off late inTV too.  Dont let guys promote sex in bollywood and TV in the name of free speech!!!  They are just trying to make a fast buck!!  If we don't stop these guys and the resultant corruption of young impressionable minds, no amount of laws can ensure safety of women.

Juvenile rapists

Is God the only hope!!!!

So, it seems!!!

In the light of the events today - the only way something can really change is - if all the women take to the streets to demand a change in the juvenile law!!

I can't believe that a Nation of 120 crores collectively believes (atleast the majority) that this person is guilty but there is no law in our constitution to punish him nor we have the drive to change the law!!!!

This effectively means that anyone even a few weeks below 18 years can do whatever he wants - be it rape or murder of the gruellest kind and can just walk away after 3 years at a reform facility!!!! and can u believe it - they are also given financial assistance to restart their life!!!!

when this law was made, juveniles must have been really juveniles and not like the juveniles of today!!!  As all reports point out - there has been a whopping increase in crime by juveniles in the last decade!!!

Time we all work towards the change we want to see.  

I am ready to support the push for a change in juvenile law and a retrial of this particular guy!!

Are you?!!!

 

juvenile rapist of nirbhaya

Today is a very important day in our social history - a day when the supreme court of india decides if a juvenile who committed a most heinous crime can be set free into our society!!

I heard Nirbhaya's mother speak - she said - if a boy who raped his daughter is looked after in a juvenile home for three years and then given 10,000 rupees to get settled in life and move on - then it will be a good practice to follow for all other similar children i.e to rape a girl, have themselves looked after for next few years and given some bounty to boot, at the end of the term.  

I am sure there will be enough human rights NGO's willing to embrace such people and show how they were reformed.  All the rapist needs to do is to just put on a facade of good behaviour and he would soon be the darling of these people!!

Without belittling the ordeal of rape - I wish to say, just raping has to be a smaller crime than raping n killing.  Then, raping n killing in this grue some manner has to be in an altogether different level and may qualify to be one of a kind crime.  I feel like throwing up whenever I read about it and I am sure many more would feel that way.  Therefore every case of rape even within the confines of existing laws has to be treated differently with regard to the heinousness of the act.

Therefore, this juvenile justice act has to change!!! with high levels of maturity in children due to easy access to violence n porn, be it through internet ot tv, the definition of juvenile age has to be lowered.  In addition rape cannot be a juvenile act. A small boy even killing someone out of rage or in a fit of anger,  can still be termed to be instantaneous i.e one cut with a knife and the person may die. So there is really no time to re-think.  But a rape is not like that - there is prolonged struggle by the victim and surely many cries for mercy!!! So there is enough time for the rapist to re-think his actions and let go the victim. Especially after rape, if he kills the victim, then it is a very cold and calculated decison and should not warrant any soft approach.  As a corollary, we must see that juvenile laws do not  cover rape by  boys.   

This is one time - when i would love hear a diktat or fatwa being issued by any religious head of any religion, on the juvenile!!!! but this is not utopia!!!

In case the honourable court's hands are tied today due to the compulsions of existing law - we must do two things - one to start a movement to change this juvenile law and the next to trace out this juvenile and keep him under watch.

I am sure justice will ultimately be delivered for Nirbhaya- if not today by the honourable court, then by God himself, because when all else fails - He will deliver justice.

But for the rest, We must join the movement to get this juvenile justice law amended to exclude rape.

indian railways

Yesterday, I went to the railway station to pick up my family.  As i was a little early, I spent some time observing people at the station.  While looking on, I found myself standing next to the general(unreserved) compartment of another train on the adjacent platform. I took a few steps forward and came across another unreserved compartment. I continued further and was surprised to see that there were more unreserved compartments which I found rather unusual as normally trains do not have more than one or two unreserved compartments.  Then I took a closer look at the compartments and to my horror I realised that they were reserved compartments!!!!  They were packed to the full with 4-5 people sitting on a 3 seater with the alleyways and even the spaces in front of bathrooms occupied.  And worse there were many more people on the platform waiting to hop in once the train started moving.

This could be attributed to the holiday rush but my first thoughts were about women and children on these trains.  I wondered about their safety and privacy where even the  simple task of using the wash room would be herculean, wading n pushing through so many men. 

But is it possible to do anything about this in our over populated country?  If the unreserved are denied entry they will cry and if they are allowed, the reserved will!!!  There are no easy solutions to this considering that we have to be sympathetic to the cause of the unreserved also as anyone can find themselves in an 'unreserved' situation!!! A few thoughts -

1.  TT must force unreserved to leave the train - easier said than done as in some places TT himself may get thrown overboard in the process - so it may be easier to stop them from boarding the train at the stations itself..

2.  Towards that - make railway stations like airports - allow entry only with a ticket - again easier said than done - too many practical difficulties but a beginning can be made

3.  or carry out complete ticket checking in station itself and detrain all unreserved passengers - not fool proof but more workable than other solutions!!! will need passengers to report earlier, need addl staff and RPF personnel.  But the additional cost can be passed on to the passenger. This is one price rise the reserved passengers would not mind.

4.   What about unreserved passengers then? - present tatkal scheme can be made steeper in price, so that only those who really have to travel would travel.  This would ensure that people who have to  travel in emergency can do so in a train at any time.

Once people get used to the idea that unreserved are not allowed to board the train, they will reschedule non essential travel. (Right now, the idea is to board the train with or without reservation!!) but this change will take a few years, even a generation but it is a change in the right direction and may be gently nudged by all concerned.

My last thoughts were - are these additional people paying passengers?!!! because if they are - the railways would make a decent profit and that would  at least be the silver lining!!!!

OROP - One Rank One Pension

Congrats to all the personnel of Armed forces and the BJP Govt.  Modiji has turned into a reality a 42 year old dream  of Armed Forces veterans and this is a herculean achievement and needs to be applauded at all levels!!!

While displaying his firm commitment to OROP our beloved PM made a passionate speech about what he feels about the difficulties faced by jawans which left no doubt about his intent and mindset.  He also assured that VRS is just a bogey and OROP will be applicable to everyone!!!.

Well that calls for a happy ending except for a few sticking points which may be met mid way by both parties in due course of time.

While going through this agitation, as a dedicated citizen of this country, I heard certain comments by some learned TV commentators and journalists about the Armed forces and OROP which pained me quite a bit and i would like to touch upon those:-

(Whatever clarifications I am giving here - Modiji and the Govt are already aware of, which is why OROP was granted.  This is for common people like you and me)

1.    Are the Armed forces asking for too much? - a question repeatedly asked by some TV channels.

Ans. The Armed forces are only asking for what is their due.  Upto 1973 the armed forces personnel drew 70% of their last drawn pay as pension and the civil staff drew 30%.  This was due to the short service span of a soldier and as pension was linked to years of service he was permitted to draw upto 70%.  Ironically, after the Armed forces won the 1971 war for India, the Govt of the day (led by Smt (late) Indira Gandhiji) reduced the pensions of the armed forces to 50% and surprisingly increased the pensions of the civilian staff to 50%.  To justify the reduction they assured a scheme which was akin to the present OROP which never fructified in four decades.  So, the veterans are only fighting for what was promised and accepted by the Govt.  They are not demanding anything more than what was promised to them by the Govt and therefore the question of  'asking for too much' does not arise.

2.     The burden of 8-10,000 crores is too much in addition to the 45,000 crores pension bill already there.

Ans. The figure of 45-50,000 crores that is being quoted includes the pension payout to civilians also who make up roughly 40% of the workforce.  Therefore, the entire quoted bill is not just for the uniformed personnel.  

3.    Why should OROP be applicable to VRS personnel?
Ans. Firstly there is no VRS in the services. They retire Prematurely i.e after completion of 15 years for jawans and 20 years for Officers.  They retire either due to war injuries, disabilities accrued on account of service or due to lack of further promotion opportunities.  The last one is particularly good for the country, as it is this exit policy that keeps the Army young. Jawans in the age of 35-40 retire and make way for younger ones in the age group of 17-23.  This obviously is to the Nation's advantage and not to its detriment.


4.  Why should OROP be applicable to people who are comfortably employed in their second careers?

SIR DOES THIS MAN LOOK COMFORTABLY EMPLOYED TO YOU?

Ans.  Everyone is not comfortably employed in second career.  One anchor chose to take the example of airforce pilots leaving to take up a career in the aviation sector as pilots.  I would say that it is a rather extreme example - bcoz the % of transport pilots in the entire armed forces is  a very miniscule number (probably less than 1%) and within that 1% the number who leave the service and join air india would be about 10 %.  Therefore, quoting a case which would apply to less than 0.1% of Armed forces as a norm to force an argument is outrightly unacceptable.  I hope it was done only out of ignorance of the facts and not with malicious intent.

5.    "Its a lot of money", "We have to face it, its going to be a huge bill" said another anchor.
Ans.  It is a huge bill - no doubt about it.  My answer to that anchor would be "Son, that is the cost of War (or the ability to prevent it)".  it is the huge bill on defence expenditure over decades that sustained peace for nearly 45 years (few low intensity conflicts not withstanding).   It is not unique to us.  The same happens in other countries such as the United States (where it is not even called pension -  it is called retirement pay), China, U.K etc.  Even they are paying this huge bill of Armed forces. 

Citizens over generations have paid this bill - to safeguard themselves from barbaric attacks of the enemy  - to preserve their freedom - to keep their Nation's flag flying high 

- the cost is very high, no doubt -

but "Freedom" ladies and gentlemen, does not come cheap!!!