Adversity to Advantage

 History has witnessed many instances of men and women turning their weakness and adversity into advantage which is the secret sauce of their success. Instances are plenty, but let me address a few in chronological order, with one example each from Ancient, Medieval and Modern age of history.

Samrat Ashok from 260 BC in Ancient India and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century Medieval India are great examples of using their shortcomings as opportunities to turn the tides of fortune in their favor. Both killed their brothers to ascend the throne. Battle hardened, both eliminatrd their father's favorite, pampered and eldest son among others to ascend the throne.

Ashok was son of Bindusara and grandson of legendary Chandragupta Maurya. During his childhood a saint who came to Bindudara's court predicted that Ashok, not the the King's eldest son Sushim will follow him to powerful throne of the Magadh kingdom after killing all his brothers.

Bindusara ignored the  prediction. However his eldest queen and mother of eldest son Sushim was quite concerned. Apt at palace intrigues, jealous and insecure of her Souten's (co-wife and another queen) charismatic son Ashok's growing popularity, she succeeded in convincing the King to send Ashok to quell rebellion in some faraway province. While the eldest son Sushim stayed back, pampered in the Magadh court, Ashok polished his military skills by engaging with the enemies of the state. When he heard the news of his father the King's death, Ashok brutally killed his brother Sushim who tried to stop him at the gates of Magadh, followed by killing rest of his brothers (he purportedly didn't killed his brother from her own mother). As the Saint's prediction came true, the point is Ashok didn't whine about being banished out of the state at cost of his brother, the favorite to the throne, but used it as an opportunity hone his military strategy and acumen to go for the final kill when it mattered.

The medieval era Aurangzeb's case was slightly different. The brothers he killed were from his own mother's womb. The third son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, better known for building the famous Taj Mahal saw from childhood his eldest brother Dara Sikoh being pampered and groomed for the throne by no other than his father Sah Jahan. Dara's marriage in year 1633 to his cousin (cousin marriages were common among Mughals) was a costly affair. Historians have estimated that amount to be over $48 million in today's money which surpasses all display of opulence.

Aurangzeb noted the favoritism shown by his father to his eldest brother, breeding hatred and suspicion towards both. 25 years later in 1658 when Dara Sikoh was mollycoddled in Mughal court groomed to ascend the famous Peacock throne after Sah Jahan, the 3rd son of Sah Jahan was sent by his father on missions to distant Afghanistan and Deccan. Unfortunately for both father and his favourite son Dara Sikoh, this mistreatment of Aurangzeb produced a tough and experienced warrior. While the suave Dara sat with Pundits busy learning Sanskrit and translating Upanishad (a sacred Hindu text) to Persian, his younger brother became a hardened combatant learning all scheming and political maneuvering needed to fight a war. When push came to shove, the battle tested Aurangzeb not only defeated and killed Dara, he sent an imprisoned Sah Jahan the severed head of the old man's favorite son. Aurangzeb like Ashok before him used circumstances adverse to him to his advantage.

Now let's jump to modern era. Unlike Ashok or Aurangzeb, the case of Naveen Patnaik, Odisha's Chief Minister for 24 consecutive years is not about blood or bothers, but him using his inability to speak the native language Odia, his perceived shortcoming which he turned into positivity towards his advantage. He read the minds of the Odias pretty well as him not speaking Odia created an aura of exceptionalism and exclusiveness around him in front of Odisha millieu. Like these Emperors he is known to be politically ruthless and trusts no one. But his voters loved him, his suave and soft demeanor.

This part of his personality can be attributed to his legendary father who was rumored to have a low opinion of his youngest son. It is noted in a well researched book written by a reputed journalist that sometime during the early 1990s when Biju Patnaik was in his last and final tenure as the Chief minister, his Delhi based socialite son Naveen, a frugal visitor to the state suddenly dropped in with his British friend at the state capital (Now it's other way round. Naveen Patnaik rarely steps outside state). The father Biju Patnaik avoided entertaining the duo in his house and instructed one of his ministers to house them at a local hotel. This is one of several instances the Odia legend snubbing his son for reasons best know to him.

It is said that the son has paid it back by not being a big fan and protagonist of his legendary father's vision, except using his name for political gains. Yet, a la Aurangzeb who ruled the longest amongst the Mughals for almost half a century, the ignored son of Biju Patnaik eventually had the last laugh by ruling the state longest post independent Odisha has seen, with the possibility of ruling further if he is still around 2029. He is another example of turning adversity to advantage. No wonder, History loves to repeat itself. What was served as ruthlessly in ancient and medieval age has repeated itself in the modern era.

The saga of fountain pen

A part and parcel of our childhood memories, an ubiquitous paraphernalia of our early student life was the ubiquitous Fountain Pen. The first modern fountain pen was invented by an American, Lewis Waterman from New York, which revolutionized writing by making it less arduous.

Before that there was no plausible way for a continuous, capillary flow of ink. Many great writers had to contend with the pain of penning down their thought in a staggered manner, going through a tedious loop, the monotony of dipping the pen tip time and again inside the ink bowl to write. Our teachers carried multiple fountain pens inside their bulging shirt pockets. It was not unusual to see leaking pens spilling and blotting their shirts, causing embarrassments and occasionally spilling some beans.

The SULEKHA was the most popular brand of ink and Royal Blue being the more often used color, though I preferred black. The red ink was sparingly used, only for markings and notations by examiners. One had to be very careful while pouring ink after unscrewing the fountain pen, taking care not to spill it, lest it spoils your shirt and surrounding. During the hot weather or due to fewer usage, the nib of the pen would dry out. Shaking it off and letting the Newton's law of gravitation do the rest to make it workable. Sometimes widening the nib with an used razor blade also did the trick.

Razor blade serves multiple purposes. Once in my first job I met a guy from Barhampur, Odisha who came for an interview. Staring at his stained teeth due to over consumption of PAAN (Betel leaves with scented tobacco) I asked him - "Don't you think you need to clean your teeth before your interview" ? He snarled his brown teeth at me - "AJI RAATI RE. TOOPAAZA (Topaz) BLADE NEI DAANTA KURRIBARRA EKKA (Tonight using Topaz blade I will extract all the stains out of my teeth). Not sure if he ever got the job.

The iconic movie 3 IDIOTS pokes fun at our education system - our tendency to prefer complex solutions over simple ones, deliberately obfuscating versus common sense. At beginning of movie the Director of the Engineering College boasts in front of his students showing a pen he designed to work in space, where there is no gravitational pull to pull the ink downwards. The pragmatic yet playful Rancho played by Aamir Khan retorts back with a simpler solution - "Why don't they use pencils in space" ? As they say in Hindi "BADI BADI KHUSIYA HEY CHHOTI CHHOTI BATON MEIN" (Big happiness lies in small talks). The audience instantly burst into laughing after Rancho's impromptu response.

Back to fountain pen, its ink had many multipurpose usages - especially in our school aptly named as Demonstration Multipurpose (DM), a school with a high visibility in Bhubaneswar those days. One fine morning we boys decided to demonstrate the multipurpose utility of our fountain pens. Someone came up with this brilliant, creative idea of using the pen to bring out more playful joy and do justice to its potential of used other than using it for writing. Play HOLI with the fountain pen.

He wetted and painted the back of the front benchers by surreptitiously slashing some blue ink from behind. The front benchers did same by replicating it and passing the buck to the guy ahead of him. By afternoon, most of the guys looked colorful, their starched white shirts now converted to blue and black Polka dotted Hawaiians. Our martinet sports teacher, Hannan Sir spotted us spotted leopards and tried his best to get to the bottom to dig out the culprit who started it.

Like "NIRMULI LATA" or rootless creeper, which curls it's way from plant to plant, making it is very difficult to trace its roots, our teacher's curiosity to trace its source was futile. In spite of his best efforts, he could not get to the root of the matter. Frustrated, he punished all of us by forcing us into a tiring run around a field, along the edges of Eucalyptus trees. The Holi celebration written in ink had an unholy ending as no one ever dared to play this ink throwing game again.

Towards the end of the 1980s the  Fountain Pen started dying a slow, natural death, unable to compete with ball point pens which slowly took over. The Reynolds brand, unique of its kind and only available in Bhubaneswar those days were so popular that I used to get big orders and acted as a mule, carrying bagfuls of them to my eagerly waiting Engineering College friends in Rourkela.

Have you observed that no matter what, when you use some one's pen it has certain inertia associated with it. For a few more minutes it is not unusual for one to get this ghostly feeling of possessed by the last owner, as your handwriting tends to take the shape of the previous user of the pen. It had made me wonder how come my handwriting suddenly got better.

Now writing with a fountain pen is going to be of mountainous proportion, a real pain. Only left are nostalgic memories to cherish, which is going to die with our generation, as photo films, telegram and handwritten letters did. Wish you all had a Happy and Colorful Holy-day sans ink. 

Our social media warriors

 The ongoing Israel-US's war on Iran has set cat amongst pegions within social media in India. Many hitherto united due to their hatred against current Modi-BJP disposition are not only highly divided about a war where the Government of India has taken a neutral stance, they are rabidly warring among themselves more than the current war, being already divided and taking opposite sides. It is often outrageous and occasionally outright funny to see their clash of thoughts and watch them debating on social media. Those having opinions about the ongoing war in the Gulf fall into the following categories.

1. The Indian Liberals - especially those from an Eastern state of India known to have a long Commie leaning are not unexpectedly staunchly anti-USA although their idol Russia and comrade China have long relinquished communism and have a perfectly working relationship with the United States. America is certainly not above criticism and they have every right to be critical of its policies. But here comes their hypocrisy - they don't send their kids to Moscow or Beijing, rather to Marlyland or Boston and try their best to get American Visa for themselves. (One of my college mates and a huge critic of America had his US Visa rejected). If Hypocrisy would be an event in the Olympics, they would win Gold medal hands down.

2. Hard core Bhakts and supporters of Modi/BJP - They love to hate Iran and have a crush on Israel. Since time immemorial they have been cheering every time the Jewish nation bombs Hamas, Gaza or Iran. Some of them even address Israel as "Salom Dost" (salute my friend). Don't think common Israelis ever reciprocate in same frenzy and address us Indians as "Namaste Mitron". Even if Modi hugged Netanyahu (the later reciprocated the former's hug by an apparently uncomfortable embrace not to be seen as diplomatically impolite in public), the Israeli Prime Minister's "Fraandly" response was more strategic than any meaningful friendship with Modi. I am sure the Isreali commoners share the same feelings, without having any great love for us.

A few of them who are rabid Muslim haters are supporting Iran because of their antipathy towards Trump ever since the American President, once the darling of India's right wing now turned into rabid Trump/America haters. They are behaving like jilted lovers ever since their idol Modi was ditched by his Fraand Dolaand for his new love Pakistan. They come with their own confused defense of their support for Israel but opposition to USA - we stand with the Iranian public but are against their Ayotollah leadership. They are against American attack on Iran, at same time they're for Israeli attack on Iran, as if the results of their attacks are any different. Have you ever heard of more confusing opinions ! Regardless, the deserve a Silver medal in hypocrisy.

3. Indian Muslims - No surprise or hypocrisy here. They were anti Israel and Trump from the beginning, they are still now. Most of their love towards Iran dwell on religious affinity rather than understanding of the complex Middle East crisis. While they are critical of killing of innocents in Gaza (I too consider killing of innocents as inhuman), they are conspicuously silent of the attack by Hamas on innocent Israelis and the atrocious atrocities of the Iranian Mullahs on their own citizens, especially women. Bronze medal in hypocrisy goes to them.

Regardless of what's happening in the Middle East, the issue is too complicated to be solved militarily. A long term political solution is the key no one is talking about. Forget laymen like us, even professional foreign policy analysts have no clue about any long lasting solution. Middle East, what a mess !

Happy Women's Day

 There is a song from Amitabh Bachchan's blockbuster movie "KHUDDAR" which was released in the year 1982 where the tall actor who was the unquestioned Superstar, King and the one man Bollywood industry sings onscreen the Kishore Kumar's song -

"MAA KA PYAAR, BEHAN KYA PYAAR,
KABHI KABHI DULHAN KYA PYAR,
TERE PYAAR KA RANG HAZAAR".

Roughly transliterated...

"Mother's love, Sister's love,
Sometimes the love of the beloved,
Their love comes colored in thousands".

March 8 being the Women's day reminded me of this song from my teenage years. The love of mother and sister is in its purest form, precious and unadulterated, like the clear Spring water bubbling out of the top of a glacial mountain. It is perennially pristine, unequivocally soothing, unwavering and unflinching. When I go to India, my mother's hug and caressing hands used to feel so soothing, something I longed for days, months and years. Mother's love is panacea to all ills plaguing mind and body, heart and soul. Unfortunately she is no more. I am yet to get over the loss and probably never will.

The love of the beloved comes next, with the disclaimer of "Kabhi Kabhi" (sometimes) tied to it. It reminds me of another Bollywood movie titled "DULHAN WOHI JO PIYA MAN BHAYE" - "Beloved is the one who keeps her Lover happy". In my opinion, it applies other way round too. It is also the duty of a lover to keep his beloved happy, the men to keep their women happy, yet our misogynistic society rarely mentions about it. (Bollywood is still a misogynistic institution, filled with nepotism and hypocrisy. Otherwise how could be a silly movie like "Animal" released few years ago where a woman asks a man to lick his shoes be a big hit making millions) ?

But unfortunately with the progress of time, in the age of cutting edge technology where thoughts can fly in twinkle of an eye, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robots are replacing humans, the world has become anything but respectable to the fairer sex. Women are still belittled, harassed, persecuted, suffer from inequality and often treated as sex objects. There are plenty of stories of battered women, not from slums but from the so called elitist families. Discussing it here is beyond the scope of this blog. But I can say with confidence that I personally know many Indians and folks of Indian origin here in America boasting openly about treating their women as doormats, humiliating their wives in public like drop of a hat to prove their masculinity and indulged in rampant cheating.

I am now reminded of the Hindi saying - "MUCHHE WOHI RAKHTE HAIN JIN KE APNI MARDANGI PAR SHAQ HOTI HAI". Roughly transliterated it means - "Those who keep Moustache are those who got doubts on their masculinity". Similarly, those who needlessly boss over their women have an inferiority complex about their masculinity. I remember a scene from movie "ARJUN PUNDIT" where actor Sunny Deol slaps actress Juhi Chawla. An angry and humiliated Juhi retorts back - "AGLI BAAR IS HAATH KISI MARD PE UTHANA (next time you better try hitting a man using this hand of yours). I consider it isn't masculinity, rather a cowardly, despicable act to physically hit a woman universally considered as the weaker sex.

One guy, who doesn't live very far off from me well known for conquering whores once bragged in front of me that women should be treated as slaves and physically beaten, then quoting an Odia proverb to drive his convoluted logic -

"NAARI, GADHA, BHRUTYA AAU  DHOLA,
TANKU JETE BADEIBA SETE BHALA".

Roughly translated

"Women, Donkey, Servants and Drum,
The more you beat, the better they Perform". 

It made me feel sick to my stomach. I told him impromptu on his face in no uncertain terms, LOUD and CLEAR, that I COMPLETELY DISAGREED with him and believe that beating women, animals or servants is not only utterly disgraceful, it is cowardice, despicable act and the ultimate form of indecency. 

The fairer sex is no more the weaker sex. Things are changing of late, though not as fast we would desire. Still facing hurdles in their life, women have come a long way, matching mano to womano. They have succeeded, equalled and even bettered men in myriads fields. We still have some catch up to do and miles to go before achieving the gender equality of accepting women as equals. On the occasion of Women's Day I salute all women who have made a significant difference to my life, contributing to it, shaping my knowledge and character, like a potter shaping pottery out of clay. Happy Women's Day to all !!!

Ides of March

 Beware of the Ides of March. As weather warms up with the arrival of spring, the month began with a turbulent world heating up Middle East as war and turmoil there continues unabated with no sign of Russia's war against Ukrain ending anytime soon. It is further accentuated by uncertain economic future ransomed by Trump initiated war.

Historically nothing new about a tumultuous March as it brings back memories from a major historical event tied to this month eons ago, when Julius Caesar, the scion of the great Roman Empire was murdered inside the Senate by his own insidious colleagues, many he believed were his friends.

Julius Caesar was a fascinating character in history, a great general and politician, a handsome, muscular, flat stomach man with a magnetic persona, the Knight-in-Shining armor darling of the Roman women presiding over 50 million people of the Great Roman empire at its zenith of power, extending from Britain to Syria, from Bavarian Alps to North Africa. 50 million was a gargantuan population 2,000 years ago.

With success comes jealousy, rivalry, enemies and backstabbers. This has been since time immemorial, a basic human nature unaffected by passage of time. Caesar was a victim of his own success. In the quest for power a person's near and dear ones (as usual) can be your worst enemies. We have this Odia adage - "ANTI CHHURI TANTI KATE" (the waist knife can cut your throat, or your so called near and dear ones are the first ones to backstab you). It was vindicated two millenniums ago that politics invariably and eventually trumps over military. Most who planned Caesar's assassination were his close friends, especially his closest buddy Brutus of "Et To Brutus" fame. Those were Julius Caesar's last words as Brutus pulled the dagger on him to snuff life from his body.

Historians differ on how close Brutus was to Caesar. Some say they were extremely close. Others say it wasn't so, as Brutus once unsuccessfully rebelled against Julius and was pardoned by the later for he was the son of Caesar's mistress. He always had a grudge against Julius to settle, for he harbored the humiliation of often taunted for his mother's allegedly affair with Caesar. It is said Brutus's mother simply couldn't resist and succumbed to Julius's charm. Personal anger and jealousy can be a lethal concoction leading a person to get vindictive. Brutus was waiting for the opportune moment to push the dagger on Julius to backstab him.

The role of another Mistress of Caesar, the powerful Egyptian Queen Cleopatra in this imbroglio can't be ignored. She was from Royal Egyptian bloodline with a legendary blend of beauty and brain, a talented woman who spoke multiple languages and dabled in politics and medicines with equal aplomb. Cleopatra who was rumored to take bath in pure milk to preserve her beauty accentuated Caesar's ambition to be the ruler of great Roman empire by suggesting subjugation of Senate - the people's elected body. She too fell for Julius Caesar's irresistible charm.

Power could be an addictive aphrodisiac and its still now. Thousands years down the road we have seen democratically elected leaders soon developing dictatorial tendencies - Indira Gandhi, Trump, Modi and many more included. Cleopatra, who was the daughter of a politician from Egypt's powerful establishment and quite familiar with the palace intrigues saw this coming. It is said that based on a dream she had the night before her husband's Brute(al) assassination, she warned Julius Caesar to be on guard. But drunk with sheer public adulation, fame and the accompanied over confidence he chose to ignore her, least expecting an assault to come from his close friends on his familiar Senate floor.

Power often prevents the powerful from being aware of the vacuum surrounding them, keeping them myopic not to be able to see the approaching storm, leaving them off guard and vulnerable. China's all powerful President Xi Jinping who has consolidated power in China, the second largest powerful country in world couldn't see Corona virus coming. Trump ignored it only to pay a price of getting defeated after his first term. In India, Indira Gandhi, the iron lady Prime Minister with dictatorial tendencies was assassinated at the peak of her power when she was a pan Indian cult figure.

From Shakespeare's novel it looks as if the attack on Caesar was impromptu on that fateful Spring day inside the Roman Senate. But the sinister plot to kill him was hatched long before and later implemented to perfection. Gladiators were kept ready as back up, in case the best laid plan went wrong. Caesar was assassinated on the Senate floor as planned.

Plenty of water has flown in the river Tibur (the bank on which the city of Rome was established ) since that fateful day in the month of March. Guns, bombs, missiles have replaced dagger as the killing machine. Humans can fly into space and their thought can travel at twinkle of their eyes, with the world shrunk to a global village as Artificial intelligence and Robots take over.

Yet for quest of absolute power politics, the backroom deals, back stabbing, jealousy,  assassinations, leaders with dictatorial tendencies vying to consolidate power hasn't changed over the past 2000 years. The basic human nature hasn't changed at all. March has just started, we are not done with it yet. Beware of the Ides of March.

Israel - US launched strike on Iran

 Middle East is boiling again as Israel and America have launched attack on Iran behind the smokescreen of talks going on between US and Iran. It is rumored that the Iranian Supremo Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, though we all know that truth is the first casualty of war. Here are the major forces who are in action and what's in stake for them.

1. USA - I remember in 1996 US firing Monica missiles on targets in Afghanistan at peak of Bill Clinton's Lewinsky scandal. Fast forward 30 years to 2026. It's time for "Epstein" missiles to fall on Iran. Also pro-Israeli Jewish lobby is very strong in USA, a country which has more Jews than any country including Israel. American jews are extremely rich, powerful and influential. Their writ runs in any US Administration, regardless of Republican or Democrat. Trump who promised to end American involvement in overseas wars is true to the salt of his fellow Republicans is involved in wars, dancing to Netanyahu's tune. With US $38 trillion national debt and still growing,. the country can at least afford a war at this juncture.

Israel - The country seems to be obsessed with Iran and fully using America to do its dirty work. Ever since Israel was formed in 1948, followed by immediate recognition from US and UK the country along with its middle east neighborhood is in perpetual turmoil with no end in sight. Now too both countries have come swinging in support of the Zionist state unlike most of their NATO partners. But end of Iranian regime doesn't mean that Israel will be allowed to live in peace and tranquility. A place as complicated as Middle East can't be solved militarily, it needs a long term political solution.

Iran - It has done the strategic mistake of trying to be the hero of the Muslim world by taking on Israel which is more than thousand miles from Iran and both countries don't share a common border. In its zeal to be the darling of the Isramic world it started to poke Israel. This hasn't gone well with the Saudi Arabia led Sunni world of Middle East for whom Shia Iran is more dangerous than Zionist Israel. Iran is paying the price of taking the Israel bull by horn when the other Middle East Sunni dominated nations have compromised with it,grudgingly accepting Israel's existence to coexis with the Jewish state.

China - It is a country which ruthlessly follows its self interest policy with long term goal to dislodge America from its position of world's superpower. This war gives it an opportunity to test its weapons against American's with whom it is fast catching up. It is shrewd enough not directly get involved in a war, although it is a major buyer of Iranian oil. In one way we can see it as a proxy war between China-Russia versus US-Israel axis.

Russia - A long time partner and weapons supplier to Iran, it is busy in its war in Ukraine. Economically not in great shape, its war ridden economy benefits from high gas price due to the turmoil in the Middle East. Trump's softness towards Russia is pretty well known and American President will make sure that Putin is kept in good humor. Don't be surprised if top officials of the present Iranian regime end up finding asylum in Moscow.

India - Incidentally Prime Minister Modi was in Israel just few days ago when Israel-US were openly plotting to launch an attack on Iran. Incidentally Donald Trump already went public mentioning America was preparing to strike Iran. The recent public show of hospitality and extension of red carpet by Netanyahu towards Modi is not due to Israel's love for India, but as a timely strategy. Not that Netanyahu loves our Vishwaguru's white beard or fake laugh, being mostly isolated these days even by its erstwhile friendly western European nations, Israel is desperate for any support from any quarter in any form. In that context it doesn't hurt Israel to court India. No more, no less.

There are folks on social media fed with fake propaganda of India being a Vishwaguru are demanding India to intervene to stop the war. Let's be realistic here setting our jingoism aside. Do you think that US and Israel will listen to India and stop the war ? What leverage it has got to impress Israel and USA to change their mind to stop the war ? Modi was in Israel only few days ago when Israel was already in preparation for the war. What magic India has to stop the war at this moment ? The best option for India would be to follow a wait and watch policy as it won't do anything, as it cannot do nothing. Let's just keep fingers closed and hope for the best for the entire world.

Two men of February - Manoj Das and Khushwant Singh

 As we March into the month of March, February is the month I remember for giving birth to two great Indian writers - Manoj Das an Odia writer of international fame and Khushwant Singh, who needs no introduction. Both are my favorites whose simple, crispy and lucid style of writing without using many bombadistic words has a tremendous influence on me. 

Both are unique and contradictory in their own way  - One known for his sagacious and the other for his salacious writings. Manoj Das's writing touches the simple truth and philosophy of life. He never hurts a fly. But Khushwant Singh never spared anyone, including himself and his Sardar community by his self deprecating jokes, often mocking at his own religion and community.

Books by both authors are enchanting writing and make a fabulous read. Manoj Das was an excellent story tellers, his philosophical writing was way beyond to comprehend for a layman tyro like me. Both have some serious writings to their credit - Manoj Das with his philosophical stuff which can only be understood and appreciated by folks at an higher level of intellect (not me). Khushwant Singh is known for his volumes of "History of Sikhs" which is regarded as an authentic treatise and researched encyclopedia about the Sikh community and the religion.

Manoj Das was a vegetarian and spiritual person to core. Khushwant Singh loved his Spirits in the form his Scotch every evening. Prayers and Devotional songs were Sri Das's company during the evening, while the old Sardar cherished the company of wine and women his company. The fairer sex were attracted towards his intellect. He listened to their sorrows (most women have their secret sorrows to share) and his company was a soothing balm for them. The Sardar was smart enough to figure out Indians mind's hypocrisy and obsession with sex which he catered well in his work. Manoj Das never veered into that territory in his writing which was clean as a whistle.

Unlike poles are known attract each other. Manoj Das's short stories were serialized by Khushwant Singh when the later edited "THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY", the most widely read and circulated magazine in 1970s. Those days many were desperate to get their short stories published in Illustrated Weekly magazine. But Khushwant Singh would include Manoj Das's short stories which he found to be uniquely unique, very authentic and original.

Writings styles of both eminent writers were poles apart. The Sardar, a master of glut of smut, thrived on liberal dosage of crude humor, fart and sex, whereas Manoj Das's revolved on nature and life, the subtle humor hovering around its vagaries. No wonder Khushwant Singh who rejected many stories sent to him published many short stories written by Manoj Das because of the authenticity in the later's writing. Sri Das eulogized the witty Sardar as "JANE NIRBHIKA LEKHAKA" (One fearless writer). It is proved by the fact he dared to take head on the likes of Bal Thackarey and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at a time most other journos when expected to bend, volunteered to crawl before the those self proclaimed lords and myopic hate mongers).

Manoj Das, in his tribute to Khushwant Singh after the later's death has described how liquor used to flow during evenings at the Sardar's party, while Manoj Das would be sipping his endless glasses of Tomato juice. These two great writers formed a unique bond in diversity, of mutual trust and respect. The old Sardar still kept writing well into his late 90s and may Sri Manoj Das too. Khushwant Singh lived until 99 and Manoj Das late 80s. Kudos to both.