A LONG HIATUS


Been out of touch for a while, one year, well almost. Had been busy in many things‎. Life is strange, it compels you to think and think on many fronts: how has been my life? Has it been successful or a failure? We do tend to measure success in terms of money earned. Is it wrong? I don't really think so. There was a time when they said, 'money is not everything,' But hasn't the definition of success changed over time? I think it has. Today you can virtually buy anything if you have money, even health and may be happiness, too. How materialistic have we become today? Many people refuse to accept this fact but still run after money. I do think that money can buy you almost anything in this world. You want good things in life, there is money, you want good education for your children, there is money and you want to buy peace of mind, there is money again to your rescue, unless, of course, you are so wise and contented that you are happy and satisfied with whatever little you possess. There are people who are contented. After all, all you want is two square meals and the love of your family. But is that all really?

When will we all have that contentment?   If ever!

COME 14

At last 2013 is fading away, giving way to 2014. We always hope and pray at the end of every year that the next year will be different for good. Yes, year to year things differ. Some years prove to be good for humanity while some others leave an ugly imprint on humankind. 13 has not been very good. We saw many flashpoints in the world, some of which are still raging. Worst of all at the moment is South Sudan where more than 600 persons have been reportedly killed and the country is fast descending into the whirlpool of civil war. Ukraine, where people have been protesting against the government for not signing a deal with the EU, is still hot. Thailand is particularly bad and things don’t seem to be improving anytime soon. Bangladesh is experiencing a very bad phase in her history, with party in opposition boycotting the elections scheduled for early next year and people out on streets. Russia is faced with chances of disruption of forthcoming Winter Games at Sochi as two powerful explosions by suicide bombers have killed 33 people in Volgograd area past week. It seems to be the handiwork of Chechen militants who have been a constant source of trouble for the Russian Federation. Then there was that powerful typhoon Haiyan in Philippines resulting in more than 4500 deaths and colossal loss of property. Iraq, where dictator Saddam Hussein was removed hasn’t been the same again. Afghanistan and Pakistan are bearing the brunt of terrorism. It is like their own gun has turned the barrel towards its owner. They have been compelled to taste what they intended for others. Egypt, as usual, is on the boil. One is tempted to think that after all the Arab Spring wasn’t a very bright one. Many of the countries where the Arab Spring really sprang, have now been burning for years. Just look at Egypt and Libya. Heads of States overthrown by the people in these countries had at least kept their respective countries under control. And whoever said that democracy is the best form of government? It doesn’t suit every group of people. As George Bernard Shaw said, “Democracy is a device that ensures you are governed no better than you deserve.” How true! Democracy is not for every country. In many developing countries it is sham democracy which is on display for the world. 

Aside major international affairs, common man in India has seen steep rise in crimes in 2013. Price Index has also risen northwards, especially in the last six months of the year.

Not all has been bad and there have been many good events also. Now let us hope that as we enter the new year, there is wisdom, prudence, compassion and understanding among people and we end the next year on a better note. 

LEGENDARY MIKHAIL KALASHNIKOV DIES

I am saddened to learn that Mikhail Kalashnikov, who had designed AK 47 Rifle, has died on 23 Dec 2013 (Mon), aged 94 in Udmurtia Region of Russia. Mikhail was the 17^th child of his parents and was born in a Siberian village on 10 Nov 1919. 

Kalashnikov was a tank driver and during World War II was wounded and hospitalized. He had seen Russian Army suffer heavy losses at the hands of Germans and one of the main reasons for their superiority was the small arms issued to foot soldiers. German soldiers had better weapons. Russian rifles were slow to fire, prone to stoppages, especially in harsh, winter conditions and were less accurate. Lying on his hospital bed while recuperating, Kalashnikov thought and drew a basic design of a rifle. Gradually he built up on that drawing and was convinced that it was a working model, worth producing. By the time he was discharged and he made a prototype of Avtomat Kalashnikov 47 (year 1947), the war was over. But the rifle he made has been the single most successful small arm ever made in the world!  Total number of AK variants made and sold around the world exceeds 100 million – a mind boggling figure. And the production continues not only in Russia but many other countries. He was awarded many coveted awards, the most important being Hero of Russia.

He always maintained that it was never his intention to commercialize his product. Neither did he ever earn from any kind of royalty. He lived a very simple life post retirement and stayed loyal to his roots.
As we all know, AK 47 has been and is being used by scores of armies around the world as well as by terrorists and other militant groups. This remains the most favoured weapon of terrorists. It is an amazing weapon, USSR’s “modest, little gun”. I used it for many years in J & K and Assam and found that it was as smooth as ever in sub zero temperatures and heavy rains and slush in Assam. My AK never stopped, never let me down. Even when it was filled with mud and slush, it fired as effectively as I wanted it to.

AK was originally manufactured at Izhmash Factory in Udmurt Republic in Russia. The largest firearms producer in Russia OJSC Izhmash was founded by the order of the Russian Tzar Alexander I 1807. Almost all types of arms were produced here. Just consider these facts to estimate the size and importance of Izhmash: as many as 11.3 million rifles and carbines were made for the period of the Second World War, which is more than all German firearm plants taken together (10.3 million). Besides, they mastered the mass production of anti tank weapons, aircraft automatic guns, pistols and revolvers. Every day and night Izhmash used to arm one infantry and one airborne division. A soldier would know, it is a colossal work for a day.
 
AK 47 is still adopted in armed and special forces of 106 countries all over the world! The best weapon ever made.

Just imagine, the Izhmash Factory itself has been renamed as “Kalashnikov Concern”.
We salute you, Mikhail. Rest In Peace. You have earned it.