Soldier and Professional

02 Aug 2012 was the first time I played 9 holes with Rahul, after he was part of the National Team. Till we finished the round, I never believed that at this age (64), I could improve my stance, or for that matter the distance or direction. All Rahul told me was as follows: - widen the gap between feet as you address the ball, I did, i got better distance and direction. do not use wrist work, play as if u were 'putting', the wrist does not move-I did, and found that my fade/ slice had disappeared. keep the club face square first and then take the stance, in the direction where u want to hit-well this was basic, a refresher was required in the bunker, do not force the ball, just hit the sand, an inch or so behind the ball-it worked

Vinod is 68, and rather persistent. As I do, he too continues to play squash. He knew, that with me he could continue to improve his game. Such a situation may be rather perplexing to too many. In first place Vinod as he nears 70, wants to learn any thing at all, and that the same happens to be Squash. Nov 2009, saw me participating in the National Squash in my age group (55-65). Since Rahul, by then, was already in the National Squad for Golf, this journey was satisfying. Surely children should be happy with me for having played squash consistently and having reached this stage. Somehow, in May 2011, I felt, increasing pain in my right knee. To begin with I shrugged it off to heredity, my father limped on right leg in his advanced years So, may be. Suman thought otherwise and ensured that I had myself checked by ortho. Ortho in Fortis NOIDA found increased gap between top and bottom right limb bones at knee on the inner side and less on outer. Ortho wondered how I played squash. He ha...

08 Sep was quite a day. a rare occasion, when I seemed have hypertension. The sequence that needed attention are as under: - IGNOU threatened to cancel the session for Jan 2010. The material is not yet in the form of SLP, as required by IGNOU. Gandhis thought that we were ignoring our mother. The Material in English is as bad, the subjects were under wrong heads. Suman still has a problem with her boutique functioning. Mr. Pratap of RDAT was offended, as I spoke loudly with him. Surprisingly, I had a headache today.

I commenced playing squash in the year 1970, then 21. In 1985, Col Sundar Lalawani was my squash partner in Kalu Chak, a hamlet on the outskirts of the Jammu. He was a tough competitor in the squash court. Abruptly he stopped coming for squash. It was appropriate, that we call on Lalwanis, and we did. It so transpired that Mrs Lalwani, happened to have read an article by a doctor, who advised, that squash should not be played beyond 35, by some other accounts after 40. Well, that was rather unpalatable to me and made me uncomfortable, for it has been squash, which I had been able to play consistently. Here, I was beneficiary of the un-utilized squash racquet of Col Lalwani It was a foregone conclusion that well defined difference of opinion and animated discussion was on cards. I have a knack of survival. Now 60 and still playing, any time I am confronted with wisdom on "when to stop playing squash" I get away by stating, that I am a limited player, and that ha...

Interviews on the TV News Channels seem to be one way that a person may be able to go beyond just the news, and get beyond what appears, an obvious approach for those curious. Years before Indian News Channels commenced their operations, it was just Hard Talk by Tim Sabastian and Larry King Live from CNN. While they could grow on the persons being spoken to, they had/ have courage to take the flak or back down when the situation demanded. During Tim's period Hard Talk was certainly true to its title, uncomfortable questions were the norm. Nevertheless, they were more to get into the subject, rather than subjective, as is commonplace in Indian News Channels. There was this eledrly BBC Correspondent from Africa, whose name I can not recall, spoke to the person being interviewed as they had a long walk. Whatever we saw, it had its own distinct style. Shekhar Gupta's "Walk the Talk" is though a clandestine imitation of the original, nevertheless objective enough to be lis...

TRYST WITH SURVIVAL: IT ALL BEGAN IN THE WOMB 1. Shweta’s instinct for survival has been some thing to chronicle about. She has had that strong defence and the survival instinct from the very go. 2. There was this time when she was merely 12 and got infatuated, when somewhere in her subconscious, she gathered strength to get out of the mess. Thereafter while choosing her calling at the school, it took her all the moral courage to be truthful to herself, and exercised an option despite, the apprehension “What will the others think”. 3. While choosing a PG Institute for her training, the internal struggle she underwent, rewarded her as per her very dreams. The struggles at the work place have had her on her toes all the time and she fights by herself, and surprises all by her resilience, inner strength, and patience that would envy the likes of Mahatma Gandhi. 4. It all began in the womb. She was destined to be born on 1...

SHEETAL: THE TENNIS ELBOW SPECIALIST SHEETAL: THE TENNIS ELBOW SPECIALIST 1. It was the Year of the Lord 1976. I was posted to National Defence Academy Kharagwasla, moment I was given the substantive rank of Captain in the Indian Army. Most of us have certain weaknesses, generally referred to as some of the Ws. Mine has an S there, ‘sports’, essentially the ‘squash’. Posting to NDA facilitated me to spend substantial measure of my time in the same. The facilities, in terms of routine as well as the materials in the NDA gave one ample opportunities to pick up and practice just any sports, from croquet to equitation. Ask the celebrated all-round sportsman Rupi Brar (an accomplished horse rider and fond golfer) that. Some where between croquet and equitation comes the Squash; I have weakness for even now, while I am running 55. 2. 10-15 games followed by a dip in the swimming pool right next to the Officer’s Mess-come-stadium was a ritual during the summers. It was here that I was intro...