COLUMN BUSY-BEE FEB/MARCH ISSUE

I have a deadline. This editorial has to be sent in by the third week of every month. Even as I am writing this, the Samjhauta blast casts an ominous cloud on the peace process. By the time you read it (which is usually the first week of the next month), two weeks would have gone. The two week old water under the bridge can make my views quite stale if not stink at times. “How come you forgot to mention the PSLV re-entry?” I am berated. “Why didn’t you talk about the conviction of Satish Sharma?” I am snubbed. Bear me out. A fortnight is a looong time. I may condemn the unnecessary fuss over Dolkia’s ‘Parzania’ in Gujarat before another riot breaks out on that with ‘Tablias’ and ‘Damruias’ churning out two dozen movies in those two weeks. I may simply comment on the unseasonal snows in Shimla, before they melt and there is a devastating flood to deal with. I may worry about our injured squad at the cricket pitch, when they do a back flip and win some laurels for a change. Just about anything can happen in those ticking 20160 precious minutes! Before you can analyse USA’s nuclear strategy with North Korea you may be gaping at a hole in the map that was Iran. Simpler to focus on obituaries you would think. But when our esteemed tabloids go bonkers covering deaths of bimbettes like Anna Nicole, I am not sure if it is even worth mentioning SC Shukla (who brought Mahanadi to the rice field of MP). I may just seem so antiquated, so boringly out of touch. What could John Nash’s solution to my unique dilemma be? In a recent tête-à-tête with the President this noble laureate explained how his ‘Games Theory,’ pre-empted the Corus deal of the Tatas. If only he could only anticipate the game plans of our politicians and our cricketers with as much consummate ease, writing an editorial would have certainly been easier for me.
Things are only slightly more predictable here in the hive. Even as we welcome to our midst, Lt General and Mrs Mohanty, we know it won’t be too long before they leave for higher climes. The HC – 35 and JC – ___ too will soon bid adieu to Mhow. And who knows if I will be there to welcome the next lot.
The bad news is that time flies (Like waves towards the pebbl'd shore, do our minutes hasten to their end) but the good news is that you are the pilot. If that is not enough, there’s news for the chronophobics. The Ethiopian calendar is yet to greet in its millennium on the 14th Sept. So unwind and get ready to BEEgin all over again.

COLUMN BUSY BEE - FEB ISSUE
If Mr Dhananjay Mahapatra is a classic victim of cognitive distortion, who tends to over exaggerate the brutality of the Army, Mulayam Singh‘s brother is the other extreme who underestimates the lethal nexus of politicians and rich businessmen in perpetuating crimes against the hapless. As the Nathari Village unearthed the most gruesome evidence of “brutal power”, unbelievable tales of cannibalism and sexual aberrations, the Park Street incident brought the entire Army under the scanner as a potent seat of violent lawbreakers. Wasn’t exactly a grand opening to a brand new year, but shocking enough to jangle your wits. So please forgive me if I sound like a hundred year old and am not my wittiest best.

It is evident irresponsible, high risk, self-centred; lifestyle is the credo of the day. It is all about I and MY .Even where people are seemingly dependent, their liaison is not necessarily based on trust and mutual friendship. It is more often an unhealthy clique of self aggrandisement. This as a phenomenon is widespread and global. But nothing comes from nothing. As we sow so we reap and as we reap so we sow. For a generation of confused self-centred lot this will perhaps be the bitterest pill to digest.

A word about the Army before I end. Sad none of the ‘arm chair worriers’ who write so disparagingly about the Army will ever read this. Reported generalisations of how certain incidents of misdemeanour by men in fatigue “smacks of traditional contempt of the army for civilian law”, is upsetting. It is sheer irresponsible coverage .If there is any method in the madness all around today, it is still in the Defence. I can only speak for the army at the moment. What the Army does beyond its call of duty in remote fur flung places is perhaps too boring to be reported on a daily basis. I do feel the need for a concerted effort to correct the semi-baked notions of the army that float outside. We have reasons to feel extremely privileged to be part of an organisation that values interdependence, nurtures responsibility and fosters discipline and cares not only for its people but for its surroundings as well. Even an average army wife makes more contribution towards its community than any civilian counterpart.

We are indeed the people who make the world a better place. So let’s keep the good work up and believe we are indeed the cat’s whiskers and the bee’s knees

BUSY BEE COLUMN _ MAY 2007 ISSUE

The media obsession with Pramod Mahajan made me wonder if “the state funeral” would have been quickly swapped with “a Bharat Ratna” had he survived! Infact the melange of (mis)deeds, hogging the headlines everyday, are packed with the dismal humour of a Laxman cartoon, to make you laugh and cry at the same time. With such endless saga of scandal, greed, revenge and shameless courage, it is no wonder that we are forever churning out Bollywood blockbusters and become the biggest movie makers of the world. “Kavya ki kartoot”, “Vidrohi Varodra”, “Bhatridrohi” may be the next few online. So watch on! Even if it is a hollow feeling to be part of this great decay, what keeps me going is the, “challenge of doing the impossible”- hoping against hope. I witnessed a flicker of that when tons of people joined in the revelry to cast their franchise ‘freely’ in the Kashmir Valley at last. The feeling revisited with the last Hindu kingdom going secular. The feeling stayed with the Amaltash and Gulmohars rushing to blossom, the ripening of the mangoes, the children excited over their summer capers and the great jamboree around the swimming pool. The thunder storms that drowned the mercury brought in a flush of relief. But now watch out! Malwa will sizzle one last time like the dying embers, under the influence of “Rohini”–Pray it does not rain for the final 'nau-tapa' or it’s a disaster for the farmers. “Cultivate Le petit bonheur (the little happiness) of the moment, our Mother Superior would say, “String them together, so that you don’t cry when they are gone”. When the college bid a wistful goodbye to General and Mrs HS Batra last month, I was busy stringing happy memories, of nurturing that few can give - of Rupa's inimitable spirit and zest for fun and her ability to accept us with all our bumbling mistakes. Thank you for BEE-ing with us and making us feel so precious. May there be more“Le petit bonheur”as we welcome General and Mrs Dilip Bhardwaj in their place. One unexpected change was the sudden posting out of Gen Deepak Raj. We shall miss Mrs Raj, her effervescent laughter and perpetual cheerfulness. The Bee world is B-usy as usual and not without a B-it of their own sting – A persistent one is that of “B-ecoming” (grooming).The new bees seem clueless as always, often unhappy with the responsibilities they are expected to B-ear (shoulder).As senior bees they grow sensitive and impatient to pass on the mantle. Caught in this B-ickering of “To BEE or not to BEE,” is the organisation, which decided to impart some B-enign lessons (ITL) on B-ridging this distance. All I say is Bee and let bee… Finally here’s something to think about: B-e a little patient, B-e a little kind/B-e in the other’s shoe and you will find /Life comes a full circle sooner than you know/ B-itterness takes one nowhere, sweetness will grow.