A Mission in Mizoram

By Bhudeb Chakrabarti

The monsoon set in quite early this time in the high hills of Mizoram. It was raining incessantly throughout the day and night in the middle of July 1986. Zemabawk, on the outskirt of Aizawl, was the location of CRPF headquarters. I was posted as DIG CRPF, responsible for overseeing the operations of all CRPF battalions deployed in Mizoram.

 

The Mission

On 30 June, 1986, the Govt of India had signed a “Peace Accord” with the Mizo National Front (MNF) ending the two-decade old insurgency in the ”Land of the Highlanders”.

CRPF was assigned the mission to receive MNF cadres at designated places and take over their arms and ammunitions for handing over to the Army. Subsequently the MNF cadres were to be escorted to a Peace Camp “Remna Run” on a high ridge near Tui- Vamit-Tlang, a windy village, at one extreme end of Aizawl.

Parva and Marpara were the two earmarked places through which the MNF returnees were to enter Mizoram from Bangladesh and lay down their arms and ammunitions.

 

The Terrain

Aizawl, set on the ridges of steep hills is flanked by the lofty peaks of the beautiful Durtlang Hills.

Durtalang Hills , Mizoram | Image Source : misual.com

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10 Quotes on Nurturing Talent

 By Somali K Chakrabarti

How many times while reading a gripping book, or while seeing an awesome movie, or while watching an interesting game have you been completed fascinated by the performance of the artists, singer, writer or player and wondered at what makes them so amazingly talented.

Blessed are the people who are born with unique talents and are more gifted than others. When talent is honed and nurtured with rigor and discipline, and presented with the right opportunities, it leads to extraordinary results.

Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time. ― Marcus Buckingham

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Believe in the power of 'And'

 By Somali K Chakrabarti

'AND' -  the simple 3 lettered word represents the spirit of empowering yourself to pursue different tracks, without having to turn your back on one path for choosing the other.

One dimensional labels have, for long, been used to typecast women.

Time and again you are told that you can be either a successful homemaker OR a successful professional, a caring woman OR an ambitious woman, a demure woman OR a brazen woman. Unfortunately such stereotypes are painfully restrictive, leave women with little choice, and have dissuaded many women from reaching their potential.

Now is the time to give a chance to 'AND' .

I will tell you about two women, born in different times, almost 70 years apart, and how OR and AND have influenced their lives.

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The Great Indian Litterbug

 By Somali K Chakrabarti

Litterbug is the name; to litter is his game.

He is one you will adore, for his qualities galore.

This is the story of the 7 year old little Litterbug

Cute little Litterbug is just back from school. Hungry as hell, he throws around his bag and yells for food. His doting mother hands over an apple and some bananas to him. The little Litterbug eats the half apple and throws the other half right out of the window.

‘My son will grow up to be a great cricketer one day. See how he strives to perfect his aim!’ Mother Litterbug utters aloud drooling over the antics of her lil one.

The banana peel follows the half eaten apple out of the window as she lovingly looks on. He tears open a packet of chips, takes out his notebook, and starts scribbling vigorously to finish his homework before he goes out to play.

Little Litterbug

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10 Quotes on Love and Life - Valentine's Day

 By Somali K Chakrabarti

14th Feb is the day when love is in the air as people all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Love, it is said, is what makes life worth living. Philosophers and poets have defined love in numerous ways. Here is a collection of some of my favorite quotes on love and life.

1. ‘They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.' ~Tom Bodett

2. ‘There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.’ ~ John Lennon

3. 'Where there is love there is life.' ~Mahatma Gandhi

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Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan - Pictures from the 19th century Part II

By Somali K Chakrabarti

"And here, over the portals of my fort,
I shall cut in stone the word
which is to be my beacon and my banner.
The word which will not die should we all perish in battle.."

-  Ayn Rand, The sacred word

Taking on from my last post on Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan - Pictures from the 19th century  Part I, here I continue further with the imaginary leap back in time, and present pictures and photographs from the 19^th century of the historic forts and palaces of Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bundi, Jodhpur, Bikaner  and Jaisalmer. 

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Palace of Bheem and Padmini, Chittorgarh, ca 1885

Engraving of Padmini's Palace in Chittorgarh, by Edward Francis Finden and Patrick Young Waugh, ca 1829


Chittorgarh was the capital of the Mewar kingdom from the 8th to the mid-16th century.


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5 Lessons in Teamwork from Shamitabh

By Somali K Chakrabarti


Shamitabh – the movie with an unusual name formed by merging the names of the characters Daanish (played by Dhanush) and Amitabh (Bachchan), is a movie with an unusual theme.

Now before you think that this post is a review of the movie, I need to tell you it is not. This post is about the compelling thoughts conveyed beautifully through the story of Shamitabh.

A mute lad Daanish, who is obsessed with movies since he was a child, harbours the dream of becoming a film star. Akshara (played by Haasan), an assistant director, helps him to overcome his handicap and communicate through a borrowed voice with the use of technology. Amitabh Sinha, a cynical drunkard and a failed actor, with a baritone voice, who lives in a graveyard, becomes the voice of Daanish. The duo turn out to be a winning combination and Daanish, renamed as Shamitabh, becomes a superstar. 

Lessons from Shamitabh

Whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Success is usually brought about by a combination of several factors. For a team that becomes successful, it is very difficult to isolate the factor to which, or single out a person to whom, the entire success can be credited.

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