Musing: Empty Nester Regrets
Mark Twain in his book “The Mysterious Strangers” wrote “There has never been a just [war], never an honorable one — on the part of the instigator of the war.”
Rightly said, no wars are honourable and no wars are just and all wars are avoidable and can be won with words and language. All this makes for a feel good quote but in a world filled with politics and diplomacy and yearn for power, words are merely so.
At a time when Russia is invading Ukraine, China is preparing to take over Taiwan and Iran is flexing its muscles, the war of words is long over. It’s all about logistics and manpower and about losing and winning. Mere logistics cannot win wars and mere soldiers cannot win battles. Everything goes hand in hand. There can be no win without a loser and while the winners rejoice on their victory, the loser sulks and waits for its next opportunity. But losses cannot be defined and therefore can be physical, emotional and even suffering of existence. Dead or alive? Existing or extinct? Read more
The winners and losers of 1971 India-Pak War
Mark Twain in his book “The Mysterious Strangers” wrote “There has never been a just [war], never an honorable one — on the part of the instigator of the war.”
Rightly said, no wars are honourable and no wars are just and all wars are avoidable and can be won with words and language. All this makes for a feel-good quote but in a world filled with politics and diplomacy and yearn for power, words are merely so.
At a time when Russia is invading Ukraine, China is preparing to take over Taiwan and Iran is flexing its muscles, the war of words is long over. It’s all about logistics and manpower and about losing and winning. Mere logistics cannot win wars and mere soldiers cannot win battles. Everything goes hand in hand. There can be no win without a loser and while the winners rejoice in their victory, the loser sulks and waits for its next opportunity. But losses cannot be defined and therefore can be physical, emotional and even suffering of existence. Dead or alive? Existing or extinct? Read more
Manasvini Hindi Cultural Society turns one
Surrey BC – Manasvini, a literary women’s association in Vancouver Canada celebrated their one year anniversary on Saturday April 23rd at the Newton Cultural Center, Surrey BC. Four eminent women speakers were invited to share about their accomplishments, their struggles in a new country and inspiring journey. A book written by Neelam Batra-Verma, 1971:A War Story based on a true story of the missing 54 Missing Prisoners of War from the 1971 India Pakistan War, was launched on this occasion for the audiences and members of Manasvini. Read more
International Day of Pink
Wearing pink just one day a year does not fulfil your commitment to fight homophobia, transphobia or any other form of bullying. This year April 13 is being celebrated as International Day of Pink (2SLGBTQIA+ awareness) and we invite you on this day, to pledge, reflect and commit to creating awareness about these issues in society which plague us all – in schools, in college campuses, at workplaces, on the streets or even in transit. Read More
Animus approach to living
What can be more amazing than to receive an appreciation letter from the Premier of British Columbia, John Horgan on a life not only well lived but also highly inspirational, passionate and motivational.
“You have proven yourself to be an inspiration to not only your community but to all British Columbians,” affirmed Horgan’s letter to Gian Singh Kotli, a Punjabi scholar, a teacher, a lawyer, a hockey player, a writer, a poet, a hiker, a litterateur, a snowshoer and many other hats that he wears with pride.
A 365 day challenge with mother earth
Racism in British Monarchy only credulous Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview has not just triggered the racism row but brings forth the hypocrisy of how British have ruled the world. ‘Much awaited’ Buckingham Palace response which came after ‘crises meetings involving senior royals’ said that it takes race issues “very seriously”, that… Read More…
SSR Death: Murky Mystery Getting Muddier Revelation of Drug angle in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death seems to have opened up a mysterious ‘black box’ of nexus between ‘Bollywood and Drug Cartel’. With new expose coming every single day – love, conspiracy, depression, suicide, embezzlement, extortion, murder, drugs, rape, trafficking; mafia – police… Read More…
2020: A Pyjama Story Be careful what you wish for, lest it comes true! This phrase originated in Aesop Fables centuries ago. Who would have thought that this phrase would come true in 2020, after years of my hundreds of wishes going unfulfilled, unrecognized and unheard? But amazingly, this one has (smiley emoji). Read More…
Sushant Singh Rajput Death: Many Firsts in the Case Two months of persistent movement by fans of the bollywood actor late Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR), finally resulted in his case being transferred to CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). While we discuss and question at this point the role of Mumbai police and its reputation, which clearly has taken a hit, other… Read More…
Trial By Social Media-Guilty Till Proven Innocent By Dr. Neelam Batra-Verma It is Important to Investigate the Missing Links in Investigation Theories of Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death in Order to End Trial by Social-Media.A lot many years ago, I used to write stories on trial by media. This is 2020, and trial by media is obsolete. Read more…
Baron of Boondocks By Dr Neelam Batra-Verma One by one President of Unites States’ cases are falling flat in the courts of law. In November second week President Donald Trump’s team had to drop a lawsuit, asking for a review of a handful of votes, in Arizona; the Trump campaign lost six cases in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties over 9000 votes… Read More…
Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death: Police Should Follow Protocol Dr. Dinesh Rao Dr Dinesh Rao has been a Professor and Head of the Department of forensic medicine at The Oxford Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bengaluru, and former Director and chief forensic pathologist in Kingston, Jamaica.
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Biden’s ‘pipe-line’ of priorities The 46th President of United States of America, Joe Biden got down to business immediately after inauguration on January 20th, 2021 and signed a record breaking 17 executive orders, beating a previous record of just one executive order signed on the day of the inauguration. Read More…
Baljit Chadha : Exporting death to India It is ironical but true that people like Baljit Chadha want to earn a quick buck at the cost of dying workers in poor countries like India and China. It is high time anti-asbestos groups come together and stall his efforts to export death to… Read More…
No NRIs Please As India’s economy boomed, the demand for the NRI groom took a nose-dive. It is not only the reputation of the NRI that has travelled via the net that is keeping the prospective brides away, but the recent economic downturn has further strengthened Indian… Read More…
No pardon for the victims’ families Irked by the fact that girl killer Karla Homolka is eligible for pardon this year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked Public Safety Minister Vic Toews to table new legislation in the coming months that would tighten the pardon system. Read More…
Pandit Jasraj – Bright sun of Indian Music Legends don’t need introductions. Legends are sources of inspiration and have achieved what might need a few life times. He is now 80 years old but has spent more than six decades trying to popularize classical singing all over the world. A few years back… Read More…
Pandit Jasraj – The musical journey continues Legends don’t need introductions. Legends are sources of inspiration and have achieved what might need a few life times. He is now 80 years old but has spent more than six decades trying to popularize classical singing all over the world. A few years back… Read More…
Remembering Cairo Looking at the chaotic scenes on television on the streets of Cairo recently, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the days I spent in the city when my father was posted there as a diplomat of the Indian Embassy. My memories of the city are happy and sweet… Read More…
Success is my mantra, my passion, my reason to live – Russhita Russhita Singh — the name may not ring a familiar bell — but the young girl is already being tipped as the next big artiste to hit the marquee. She is being fondly talked about in the Indian film circle since she got the opportunity to share screen space with… Read More…
Facebook fetched the role Shakti Kapoor’s daughter Shraddha Kapoor, who made her debut in the blockbuster ‘Teen Patti’, will finally be known as herself now. Till now, she was recognized as being the daughter of the actor/comedian father Shakti Kapoor. She played the character… Read More…
Black and Blue Sari Black and Blue Sari is the first book the author, Kamal Dhillon has ever written. She doesn’t know, there may or may not be more to come. She talked to the editor of TAOM at length about her book and the circumstances that led to her first attempt at creativity. Read More…
Life behind the veil They are fifty per cent of the population in Afghanistan yet have toiled equally or more in the social and economic life of the country. They have contributed socially and economically yet have suffered at the hands of their male counterparts who have tortured… Read More…
Frozen Frames There are contrasts-the great Mahatma Gandhi getting off a Third Class compartment while Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister getting off a First Class compartment at a railway station. There are moments captured in frames of Gandhi arguing with… Read More…
SDM –Downsizing India or objet d’art As Slum Dog Millionaire is showered with accolades, many are left wondering whether the film is meant to depict India in a poor light in an attempt to stop its super power growth or the film really is a work of art. An analysis by Editor Dr. Neelam Verma. Read More…
A War Story Former LINK Reporter Neelam Verma’s Debut Novel 1971 – A War Story Examines The Missing And Presumed Dead 54 Indian Soldiers Inside Pakistan. Lest we forget that the 54 Indian defence personnel who had gone to 1971 India Pakistan war… Read More…
The final cruise Tis but human nature to live in denial that nothing bad could ever happen to us. It always happens to “other” people. Sometimes, those “other” people can be you. Every immigrant who leaves family and friends in their home country and plans to… Read More..
The Good And Evil Make Their Spirit Felt During Diwali Every year on Halloween day, I am reminded of the harrowing experience I had on the first Halloween of my life when I first moved to Canada from India. I had read about the festival in books and watched some children’s movies as a child but had… Read More…
Ghost Consultants – on the run The move by the victims of fraudulent immigration consultants to unite and act is now gaining momentum. Hundreds have joined in the campaign to fight for justice as Immigration Minister Jason Kenney pushes Bill C-35 in parliament… Read More…
Honour killing – an excuse to kill Shafia trial – Is it an eye-opener by Dr Neelam Batra Verma. Is the Shafia case an eye-opener? Not really. There have been numerous similar cases before and they continue to occur in different parts of the world. Lessons are learnt and soon forgotten. Read More…
India’s Lost Wealth As the news of the recovery of SS Gairoppa made headlines, it had people round the world thinking as to whom does this “loot” belong to. While it was the British who hired the Florida-based Odyssey Marin Exploration to locate the ship wreck, which… Read More…
Interview with Vikas As an Indian Foreign Service officer, Vikas Swarup’s job was to manage India’s image abroad. He was far away, posted in London, at the time when he wrote his novel Q&A, more famously called Slum Dog Millionaire. He was miles away from the grit and grime of… Read More…
Marriage of Convenience In an attempt to control fraudulent marriages in Canada, Immigration minister Jason Kenny held town hall meetings in Ontario, Vancouver, and Montreal etc apart from visiting immigrant rich countries like India, China and Philippines in an attempt to… Read More…
No pardon for the victims’ families Irked by the fact that girl killer Karla Homolka is eligible for pardon this year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked Public Safety Minister Vic Toews to table new legislation in the coming months that would tighten the pardon system. Read More…
ME TOO: The Rogue Gallery Of Dirty Old Men Though I cannot forget the suffering I had endured that time, yet years later, I am not sure if it is ethical enough to take names of those who have harmed me as I hope, some “may be” leading a quiet life somewhere now. Quiet possible, they… Read More…