Message from Lt General PC Katoch, UYSM, AVSM, SC, Colonel of the Parachute Regiment

Dear Blog Team,

Congratulations on fulfilling a longstanding need of the Airborne Fraternity. This Blog will be a welcome addition to The Parachute Regiment website http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/ The Blog completes the "e-Arrival of the Maroon League" simultaneous with the Para Records having recently been hosted on the Army Intranet - accessible to all units already.

The Blog will definitely facilitate exchange of views across the board. However, may I recommend that discussion on professional issues be restricted to the Veterans. Should Serving Officers desire to join in, they would individually need to obtain prior security clearance of their script, as mandated by existing regulations.

My congratulations once again on this excellent initiative taken by you.

Warm regards.

Prakash Katoch.

A Very Happy Diwali !

Wishing You All Cheer and Happiness on this Diwali !

God Bless !!

The Blog Team

The Wisdom of the Ancients

In The Wisdom of Confucius (translated by Lin Yutang, London, 1958) there appears the following exchange:

Zigong asked Confucius “What would you say if all the people of a village like a person?” “That is not enough,” replied Confucius.

“What would you say if all the people of the village dislike a person?” “That is not enough,” replied Confucius.

“It is better when the good people of the village like him, and the bad people dislike him.”

This ancient wisdom (Confucius died in 479 BC) summarizes:

You cannot and should not try to please everyone. Make sure that the Right People Like You, and it will be expected That Others Will Not. That’s how the world works.

Sukhi

Kashmir of Ours

Enjoy nature around You !

Sukhi

Professional: Reversing 800 Years of History

Ayaz Amir contends that all the great Muslim rulers of our past whom we look upon as our heroes were either Turks or Afghans, from Mahmud Ghaznavi to the last of the Mughals -- Caucasians all of them, who, in successive waves of invasion and conquest from the colder climates of the north, made themselves masters of Hindustan.

For 800 years -- from 1192 AD. when Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the second battle of Tarain (in present-day Haryana) to the establishment of British rule in Bengal in the 18th century -- every ruler of Hindustan of any note or merit was of Caucasian origin. In all this vast expanse of history, the lands which now constitute Pakistan could produce only one ruler of indigenous origin who could lay claim to any ability: Ranjit Singh, Maharajah of Punjab.

We, the inhabitants of Pakistan, may claim in moments of (misplaced) exaltation that we descended from those early warriors. But this is a false claim. We are now more sub-continental than Central Asian. Just as empires and nations rise and fall, races too do not remain the same over time. The Mughals were a hardy people when they marched into India under Babar. After 200 years of unbroken rule their dynasty -- descended from the great Taimur -- had become degenerate and soft.

Read the full Article on http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=199842

It is a very ‘unbiased’ analysis about the Muslims of the Sub-Continent and problems faced by them as a race.

Sukhwindar
http://www.svipja.com/
Courtesy: Brigadier CL Lakhanpal, Guest Contributor.

Para Reunion in Agra from 27 to 30 Oct 2009 & Para Get-Together Lunch on 22 Nov 2009 in New Delhi

1. Para Reunion of the Airborne Fraternity is being organised in Agra from 27 to 30 Oct 2009. Detailed Pgme for this has already been intimated to You by the Colonel of the Regiment through his DO Letter. You all are requested to grace the occasion by Your presence.

2. Para Get-Together Lunch is being organised by Delhi Para Association at 1130 hrs on 22 Nov 2009 at the DG IS Offrs Mess , EDP Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi 110010. The Colonel of the Para Regt Sectt Letter posted above contains the details. All paratroopers are welcome !

Sukhi

Message from Lt General RL Magotra, PVSM, VSM (Retd)

Dear Sukhi,

I am very happy to learn that an exclusive Blog for veteran Paratroopers has been created.This is truly in keeping with the Para theme “Once a Trooper, Always a Trooper” without any caste, creed, or distinction. This Blog gives all the Paratroopers, both serving and retired, an excellent platform to interact and share their views and remain in touch with the Para fraternity.

Well done, and keep it up !

Happy Landings !!

Magotra

Message from Lt General KM Seth, PVSM, AVSM

My Dear Sukhi,

Great job, done in super time. This was a need I always felt which hopefully would be met to meet the aspirations of all the paratroopers who take pride in being a part of one family.

The Blog could not have been better. God bless you !

With Best wishes.

Gen Seth.

All Paratroopers are Welcome to Blog!

Hi Dear,

Greetings!

We have created this Blog for the Veteran Paratroopers of India. All Paratroopers and their wards are welcome to Blog.

This could include Your memoirs, Your excursions & experiences; poetry/poems written by You, photographs taken; events coverage and after-event reports; and anything else that would interest the Visitors. No Postings with security implications will be entertained.

Needless to say that all Your Postings should be decent and proper. Blogger himself is responsible and accountable for content of his Posting(s). The Blog Team indemnifies itself from any damages.

The Postings will be moderated without losing your 'flavour' in keeping with the aim of the Blog. Happy Blogging !!

Also, this Blog will be used for welfare activities of Para Veterans, including developing & harnessing their talent for the Indian Defence Industry in consulting and operational roles within Govt. Rules in a transparent manner.

Brigadier (Retired) Sukhwindar Singh

Credit: Photograph from PARATROOPER 2009.