00:00Welcome to Sam Conversation, a program of South Asia Monitor.
00:12рдЖрдЬ рдПрдХ рдмрдбрд╝реА рдмрдврд╝рд┐рдпрд╛ рдПрдХ рдХрд┐рддрд╛рдм рд╣реИ, рдпрд╛рджреЗ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдиреА рдЬреЛ рд▓рд┐рдлреНрдЯреЗрдирд┐рди рдЬреЗрдирд░рд▓ рдореБрдХреЗрд╢ рддрдмрд░рд╡рд╛рд▓ рдиреЗ рд▓рд┐рдЦреА рд╣реИ, рдереЛрдбрд╝рд╛ рд╕рд╛ рдЗрдирдХрд╛ рдкрд░рд┐рд╢рд╛рдп рдореИрдВ рджреЗрддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ, рд╣рдо рдПрдХ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдХреЛ рд▓рдбрд╝рдХрдкрди рд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рдирддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рд╡рд╣реА рд╕реНрдХреВрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рдкрдврд╝реЗ,
00:42рд╕реЗрдВрдЯ рдХрд▓рд╛рдВрдмрд╕, рдиреНрдпреВ рдбреЗрд▓реА, рдлрд┐рд░ рдиреИрд╢рдирд▓ рдбрд┐рдлреЗрдВрд╕ рдЕрдХреИрдбрдореА, рдЗрдВрдбрд┐рдпрди рдорд┐рд▓рд┐рдЯрд░реА рдЕрдХреИрдбрдореА рдФрд░ рдЗрдВрдбрд┐рдпрди рдЖрдореА, рдореБрдХреЗрд╢, рдХрдорд┐рд╢рди рд╣реБрдП рд░рд╛рдЬрдкреВрдд рд░реЗрдЬрд┐рдореЗрдВрдЯ рдореЗрдВ, рдФрд░ рд╕рд┐рд░рдл 1971 рдХреА рд▓рдбрд╝рд╛рдИ рд╕реЗ рдЫреЗ рдорд╣реАрдиреЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдХрдорд┐рд╢рди рд╣реБрдП рдереЗ, рддреЛ рдЙрд╕ рд▓рдбрд╝рд╛рдИ рдореЗрдВ рдмрдХрд╛рдИрджрд╛ рдпреЗ рд╢рд╛рдорд┐рд▓
01:12рдФрд░ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рдкрд╛рдХрд┐рд╕реНрддрд╛рди рдФрд░ рдареАрдо рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЬреЛ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдмреЛрдбрд╝реЗрдЬ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЙрди рдкрд░ рдХрд╛рдлреА рд╕рд╡рд┐рд╕ рд░рд╣реА рдЗрдирдХреА, рдФрд░ рдЙрддреНрддрд░рдкреБрд░рд╡рд╛рдВрдЪрд▓ рдореЗрдВ, рдиреМрдереАрд╕ рдореЗрдВ, рдордиреАрдкреБрд░ рдореЗрдВ рднреА, рдФрд░ рдпреЗ рдЗрддрдиреА рдмрдбрд╝реА-рдмрдбрд╝реА рд╢рд╛рдВрджрд╛рд░ рдлреЛрдЬреА рдореВрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдПрдХ рдЯрдЧрдбрд╛ рд╕реЗрдирд┐рдХ рд╣реИ,
01:42рдФрд░ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдмреАрдЬреЗ рдорди рд╣реИ, рдЬреЛ рднрд░рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ, рдкреНрдпрд╛рд░реА рдпрд╛рджреЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдЬрд┐рдВрджрдЧреА рдХреА рдмрд╣реБрдд рдкреНрдпрд╛рд░реА рдпрд╛рджреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ, рд░реБрдорд╛рдВрдЪрдХрд╛рд░реА рдХрд┐рд╕реНрддреЛрдВ, рдХрд╣рд╛рдирд┐рдпреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ,
01:57рддреБрдорд╛рд░реА рдХрд╡рд┐рддрд╛рдУрдВ рд╕реЗ рдмреБрдиреА рд╣реБрдИ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдиреА рдпрд╛рджреЗрдВ, рдПрдХ рд╕рд╣рд▓рд╛рдм рд╕рд╛рд▓ рдЖрд╣реА,
02:05рдХреБрдЫ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣рд╕реА рдФрд░ рдХреБрдЫ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдХреБрдЫ рдЖрд╕реВрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде,
02:10рдЗрд╕ рд▓рдВрдмреЗ рд╕реБрд╣рд╛рдиреЗ рд╕рдлрд░ рдкрд░ рд▓реЗ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП,
02:17рдореБрдХреЗрд╢ рд╕рдлрд░рд╡рд╛рд▓, рдЖрдкрдХрд╛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╢реБрдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛,
02:20рдереИрдВрдХ рдпреВ, рдЕрдирд┐рд▓, рдереИрдВрдХ рдпреВ рд╡реЗрд░реА рдорд╛рдЪ,
02:26рдореИрдВ рдЖрдк рд╕реЗ, рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдЕрднреА рдирд╣реАрдВ, рдЕрднреА рдореИрдВ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рджрд┐рд░реНрдЦрд╡рд╛рд╕ рдХрд░реВрдБ рдЧрд╛,
02:33рдХрд┐ рд╢реБрд░реВ рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рдИрдпреЗ, рдЬрд┐рд╕ рджрд┐рд░реЗ рд╕реЗ рдЖрдк рд╣реЛрдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ.
02:40Anil, like I was mentioning when you had asked me to talk about this book,
02:48this book is actually a culmination of a lot of work,
02:53means I have been writing poems right since I was in the army as a young officer,
02:59рддрдм рд╕реЗ рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдпреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдХрд┐рд╕реНрд╕рд╛ рддрдм рд╕реЗ рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ,
03:02especially when you are sitting on top of a mountain alone and various thoughts come to your mind.
03:10That's how this whole journey started.
03:13And I used to write for various journals in the army,
03:18like the Infantry Journal and College of Combat, etc.
03:22But then, you know, as time grew, the time was not so much to delve into this with the military commitments.
03:32But once on retirement, this whole passion, you know, kind of re-energized and
03:40there I was starting writing again.
03:44Initially, as you know, I used to write mostly in English.
03:47But after that, I realized that a lot of people were in Hindustani,
03:54so I also realized that this medium should be a try and I delved into this one.
04:03And then came COVID.
04:05Now, COVID in the time was more and I started doing this.
04:10And one day, my young daughter, Ritika, she told me,
04:15Dad, you are only writing.
04:17Why don't you come on to, you know, narrating these things?
04:23So then she put me on to this YouTube channel.
04:27And there I started narrating and recording my poems.
04:30So as time grew, in the last four, five years, I've written many poems in all.
04:37And like I mentioned,
04:38then I delved into Punjabi as well, because that is your original mother tongue.
04:45And so that's how this whole silsula grew.
04:48And then finally, you know,
04:52these friends like you and others who have been reading these poems
04:55and enjoying it on YouTube,
04:59they said,
04:59Why don't you publish in a book so that we can in one go,
05:04at leisure, read and, you know, these poems.
05:08And that is how this book came about.
05:12I'm glad you did that
05:17because it's a wonderful compilation, you know.
05:22And although we've been hearing you, you know,
05:26hearing those verses one by one,
05:29but yeah, they're all there.
05:32They're there in the English script and the Devanagari script.
05:38And as you said,
05:39they're in Hindustani and they're in Punjabi.
05:45Delightful ones.
05:47And they bring back wonderful memories.
05:53School
05:54They bring back memories of those days also.
06:10Yeah, actually, what I've done.
06:12The games we played in school,
06:14well, those have played in school,
06:16but these are the kind of games we had the chance of playing in our neighborhoods.
06:22True.
06:24Actually, Anil, you know,
06:26the nostalgia is one part of the book and all,
06:31but my military section,
06:33which is the initial section,
06:35that comes from, you know,
06:37having served with the troops in high altitude
06:42and various other terrains,
06:43very difficult terrain.
06:44Yes, yes.
06:45Having seen their,
06:47the plight of the Indian Army soldier.
06:50And actually,
06:51when I talk in my poems,
06:53mostly it's not only the army.
06:55It's all the,
06:56it is applicable to the Air Force, Navy,
06:58any kind of soldier,
07:00airman or,
07:00you know,
07:01sailor.
07:02So,
07:03in fact,
07:04the first poem,
07:05which really
07:06was very close to my heart
07:09and how it started,
07:10it was this poem called
07:11The Army Man
07:11and that is the first poem
07:13in this book.
07:15I was sitting on a post
07:17at 12,000 feet
07:18on the Pir Panjal ranges
07:20and there was this
07:22snowbound
07:24javaan's cut,
07:25as you are aware,
07:26the chuti and all is very,
07:28very,
07:28you know,
07:29very difficult to go in once.
07:31There is a javaan who comes back
07:33and tells me,
07:34sir,
07:34my problem is something
07:36and we wrote to the,
07:37you know,
07:38normal thing to the SP
07:39and to the DC
07:41which is the normal drill
07:42which we follow
07:43as a company commander
07:44or something.
07:45But,
07:46no reply,
07:48nothing at all
07:48and when he came back
07:50also from chuti,
07:51he mentioned the same thing,
07:53he said,
07:53that got me thinking
07:56that,
07:56you know,
07:56here is an army guy,
07:59a soldier
07:59who's sitting on
08:01these 12,000 feet
08:03high mountains,
08:05you know,
08:05as a sentinel
08:06for the motherland
08:07and when he goes back,
08:10there is no son,
08:10why the army man
08:12is looked after
08:12when there is,
08:14you know,
08:15some calamities
08:15and things like that.
08:17But when it comes
08:18to peacetime,
08:19then you are
08:20back to square one.
08:23You know,
08:23the lines which,
08:25you know,
08:26kind of
08:27explain this
08:29or some,
08:29this thing,
08:30the poem,
08:31the poem brings this out.
08:33I just
08:34say a few lines
08:35of those.
08:36Please,
08:36please.
08:37So it says,
08:38war,
08:39horror strikes,
08:40the nation jolts,
08:42sacred citizens
08:43run for shelter
08:44to safety.
08:46Towards the border
08:47with purpose
08:47moves the soldier
08:49with honor.
08:51Blood,
08:51guts and sacrifice
08:53ensure victory.
08:55Peace is restored
08:56by the army men.
08:58But then they say,
08:59protecting what?
09:00Guarding whom?
09:01A piece of terrain?
09:03Barren,
09:04inhospitable,
09:05worthless?
09:07Well,
09:07I say no.
09:08His motherland
09:09he protects.
09:10His citizens
09:11he guards,
09:13the army man.
09:14And the final
09:15thing which I say
09:16is that
09:17he protects
09:18his motherland,
09:20his own land
09:21he forfeeds.
09:22Because
09:23away in the village,
09:24the law cares
09:25but little.
09:27He may incur
09:27disability
09:28or lose a limb,
09:29due frostbite
09:30or jaundice.
09:31Who cares anyway?
09:32Or some of them
09:34say he's paid
09:35for the job,
09:35isn't he?
09:37You know,
09:38he seeks
09:38no reward,
09:39material or otherwise.
09:41His karma
09:42he performs
09:42with honor
09:43and pride.
09:45Yet he longs
09:46sometimes
09:47for he's human
09:48after all,
09:49for the love
09:49of his countrymen.
09:51Yes,
09:51he does.
09:52The army man.
09:54You know,
09:54this is how
09:55you know,
09:56these poems
09:57then I started
09:58writing
09:58more to do
10:00with the
10:01so initial
10:02journey
10:02was like
10:03more with
10:04the poems
10:05related to
10:06the army.
10:07And
10:11when you
10:13hearing this
10:14one can't
10:16but
10:16you know,
10:18it comes
10:19all back
10:19to you
10:19that
10:20those of us
10:22who served
10:22in Indian army,
10:24I think
10:24we are fortunate
10:25to have
10:27commanded
10:27the best
10:28and I'll have
10:29no hesitation
10:30in saying
10:31the best
10:31troops in the
10:32world
10:32and who
10:34were acknowledged
10:35who were
10:36acknowledged
10:36twice
10:37in the
10:38first world
10:38war
10:39and the
10:39second world
10:40war.
10:41They weren't
10:41our wars
10:42or whatever
10:43but
10:43there were
10:441.25 million
10:46in the
10:47first world
10:47war
10:48and won
10:482.5 million
10:49in the
10:50second world
10:50war.
10:51Indian
10:52soldiers
10:52who won
10:53both those
10:54wars
10:54for the
10:56allies.
10:57They were
10:58the winning
10:58partner.
10:59And it's
11:00their
11:00sons and
11:02grandsons
11:03and maybe
11:03great-grandsons
11:05who were
11:05serving
11:05and who
11:06have done
11:07the country
11:08proud
11:08thereafter
11:09after independence
11:10since today
11:12until date.
11:14Absolutely.
11:15You see
11:16the whole
11:17purpose
11:18it's not
11:19you know
11:19while you
11:19write
11:20there is
11:21always a
11:21thought
11:21behind
11:22that's
11:22what I
11:22wanted
11:23to convey.
11:23So this
11:23book
11:24you know
11:25the
11:25military
11:26section
11:26brings out
11:27not only
11:28the kind
11:29of work
11:29they've
11:30done
11:30and you
11:31know
11:31it's
11:31tribute
11:31to the
11:32soldiers
11:32not only
11:33say
11:34I've
11:35written
11:35a couple
11:36of poems
11:36on the
11:36infantry
11:37soldier
11:37being an
11:37infantry
11:38man of
11:38course
11:38but there
11:40are certain
11:41things which
11:42you know
11:43the general
11:44public
11:44they do
11:45respect the
11:46army men.
11:47There is no
11:47doubt when I
11:48say army
11:48men it
11:49means all
11:49the people
11:51in uniform
11:52especially after
11:53ops in
11:53Door you
11:54would have
11:54seen the
11:54kind of
11:55work they've
11:55done and
11:56how the
11:56army men
11:57is respected
11:57but at
11:59times you
11:59know
11:59I feel
12:01you know
12:02and this
12:02comes around
12:02in one
12:03of my
12:03poems
12:04it's called
12:04yes I
12:06am the
12:06soldier's
12:07beret
12:07you know
12:07the beret
12:08I'm using
12:09for people
12:10who don't
12:10know it's
12:10like the
12:11cap which
12:11we wear
12:12as uniformed
12:13people and
12:14that is used
12:16as a muse
12:17but I'm
12:18trying to say
12:19that we
12:20you know
12:21salute we do
12:22all that type
12:23of thing but
12:23when a person
12:24comes back
12:25in the
12:25tricolour
12:26wrapped and
12:27we put the
12:27beret his
12:28medals and
12:29all for
12:29valor but
12:31the last
12:31part which
12:32I write in
12:32my poem is
12:33significant I
12:34thought I'll
12:35just mention
12:35that and
12:36that it
12:36says is
12:37for my
12:38wearer though
12:38it is sad
12:40but true
12:40where is the
12:42respect that
12:43is rightfully
12:43his due
12:44day and
12:45night he
12:46struggles and
12:47he strives
12:47applaud him
12:49dear citizens
12:50while he's
12:51still alive
12:52be assured
12:54that is
12:54karma he
12:55will gladly
12:56perform for
12:57the love of
12:57his country
12:58and the
12:59uniform yes
13:00I am the
13:01soldier's
13:01beret so
13:02this was
13:03another you
13:05know kind
13:05of poem on
13:07the thing
13:08that although
13:09our citizenry
13:11and the
13:12people respect
13:13you and
13:14they kind of
13:14think of you
13:15when terms of
13:16war and
13:17they love you
13:18and give you
13:19all the respect
13:19but what I'm
13:20trying to say
13:21is that even
13:22during peace
13:22time or
13:23something that
13:24is where it
13:25is also
13:26required and
13:27this poem was
13:28kind of bringing
13:29that out so
13:31that that's what
13:32I was trying to
13:32make out that
13:33my poems have
13:36been they might
13:37look biased
13:37towards the
13:38military but
13:38that's what I
13:39am a military
13:40man and
13:40therefore a
13:42number of
13:43those
13:44I don't think
13:45there should be
13:45any hesitation
13:46if it's a bias
13:48towards the
13:48military it's
13:50it's a having
13:52having done
13:53our time there
13:54it's it's it's
13:55a it is a
13:57very very
13:57rewarding
13:58well let's
14:00say both of
14:01us are
14:01we've survived
14:03we're alive to
14:04tell you know
14:04tell the tell
14:05our tales
14:06there's a number
14:09of us who
14:10were not
14:11not with us
14:12you know
14:12that's true
14:14and you know
14:14sometimes
14:15like you
14:17like to tell
14:18the people
14:19of a country
14:20whom precisely
14:21what the
14:22armed forces
14:23do is defend
14:24the nation
14:25and do it
14:26for you know
14:27protecting their
14:28citizens in
14:29times of
14:30adversity and
14:30stuff like
14:31that so
14:31but sometimes
14:33I then one
14:34day I realize
14:35you know I
14:35want to give
14:36like an assurance
14:37to the people
14:38that we are
14:40there sometimes
14:41there is I
14:42find there's a
14:42little bit of
14:43fear factor
14:43which comes
14:44into God
14:45knows what
14:46will happen
14:46maybe if the
14:47enemy attacks
14:48or something
14:49like that
14:49so with that
14:51in mind I
14:52wrote another
14:52one and this
14:53one is in
14:54Hindustani and
14:55it goes like
14:57it's like an
14:57Ashwasan to
14:59the people
15:01to the Nagareks
15:02to the you
15:03know of the
15:04country itself
15:04yes yes
15:06it is called
15:06Sarhat Par
15:07Sena
15:08Bethi
15:08Sarhat Par
15:10Sena
15:11Bethi
15:11May
15:13ред
15:43ред
16:13This was like an assurance to the people that we are there. Don't you worry.
16:24No, no. Very moving. Most moving. It's a very, very sad commentary that we have. Some of our politicians have stooped so low as to, you know, make some,
16:41most awful comments on the army, less is it the better.
16:47But I still believe that by and large, our citizens understand the, you know, the kind of work the armed forces do.
16:58No doubt.
16:58And that is what is more important and relevant to us than the other things which keep on coming into life that is different, you know.
17:07And then that is how I just touch upon, you know, in the, some of the poems which I've made in the, that Hindustani section,
17:15there are some things on thoughts on life, you know. And this book also, there is a number of them which have covered away from, say, the forge.
17:26But, you know, in times of like perceptions, like you just mentioned who one particular quality, they are thinking in different manner,
17:33the other people thinking about it differently. But I wrote one saying,
17:38This poem is on perceptions, you know. Same thing, but people perceive it differently.
17:48A little bit of a thing, like,
17:51they say that the sound of the sound of the school is never changed, you know, it's never changed.
17:58They go to the class when they hear the bell.
18:03Now, the same bell is ringing in the afternoon.
18:09Now, the same bell is ringing in the afternoon.
18:12Now, that same bell is giving you a different thing.
18:19In the afternoon, for the kid, he's very good, he's going home and he can go and play and things like that.
18:25So, the point is that
18:27perceptions can change.
18:30And like a simple thing of a machis.
18:36You burn a light of fire with the machis.
18:49Now, he uses the same machis to detonate something and blast something.
18:59So, machis toh woh ye sirf anjaam alag.
19:01So, I'm talking of perceptions in this particular poem.
19:09And that's something which, you know, thoughts which keep coming up.
19:14And then how you, I just thought I'd put them down and put them onto paper.
19:19And so, this was one of the poems, you know, which talked about thoughts in general and about life.
19:30How about reciting a Punjabi one?
19:38See, yeah, sure.
19:42But, you know, Punjabi one, I'll just tell you how again.
19:45You know, I was, when I was at home, especially during COVID times.
19:52You know, then those memories which get you and
19:55So, you would talk on the phone to all our friends, schoolmates, cosmates, all these chaps,
20:03especially who've been with us, you know, since ages we've been together.
20:10And we've been, you know, being a Delhiite, as you understand,
20:17our memories are tied to that.
20:19And those days of those 50s, 60s, and 70s, they had a different kind of a charm altogether.
20:26So, I wrote a series of poems called
20:31And there was what, you know,
20:40So, these were, I just, I mean, instead of going into all,
20:48But I just, two paragraphs only, which will give you the essence, like, of the, of the times which we spent.
20:57And one, it says is,
20:59You know, those were the things which you probably remember, and those who've been in those areas,
21:21They, they remember that thing.
21:24And the next one was that,
21:27Janpath te rambles,
21:30The CP di shan.
21:31You remember Janpath and rambles?
21:33That was the areas we used to literally go.
21:35Yes, yes, of course.
21:36So, Janpath te rambles si,
21:39CP di shan,
21:40De Pauls di coffee si,
21:42Raju di pehchan.
21:43And who can forget Raju?
21:45And Vengas di petty,
21:47Te kona coffee da jar,
21:49Phir giggles toh lena,
21:50Card for meri jaan.
21:52A sadi jwani,
21:54Tere te kurban,
21:55O meri dilli,
21:56Tu hai alishan.
21:57You know,
21:58these were the Punjabi ones,
22:00which also got in.
22:02Then I started getting into these,
22:05got a lot of good response.
22:07So, I added a few more of these.
22:11Of course,
22:11of course,
22:12because you,
22:12you captured the best,
22:14best times of Delhi.
22:16The best times of Delhi,
22:18because we saw in the days,
22:21with the 50s and 60s,
22:23in the 50s,
22:25you know,
22:27in the
22:29Lutyens, Delhi,
22:33most of the cars were black.
22:35And in
22:36summer,
22:38most of the clothes were white.
22:40And
22:41it's only in the winter
22:43that they were a little,
22:44you know,
22:44colourful.
22:46True, true.
22:47Then,
22:48you know,
22:50as we went,
22:5260s was a little different.
22:56A little more,
22:57more cars that were made in India
22:58started,
22:59you know,
23:00coming out of the roads.
23:01And
23:0250s,
23:03they were all black
23:04and they were mostly,
23:05you know,
23:06British cars.
23:07Correct.
23:09But,
23:09you know,
23:09there weren't
23:11all these horrible
23:13scenes of,
23:14you know,
23:15pollution,
23:16smog.
23:19So,
23:19we did live in
23:21some very good times
23:22in Delhi.
23:24I think,
23:24as far as
23:25memories are
23:27concerned,
23:28there's one,
23:29there's one event
23:29which,
23:30I think,
23:31made a great,
23:32you know,
23:33impact on our lives.
23:34If you recall,
23:37in 1965,
23:40after,
23:41the war was
23:42in September,
23:45the India-Pakistan
23:46war was in September.
23:48And in November,
23:50Major Bhaskar Roy
23:51of the 20th Lancers,
23:54who was awarded
23:55the Mohamed Chakra,
23:58you know,
23:58he came to Delhi
23:59to receive it.
24:00and he was
24:03recently married then
24:07and he came
24:08with his wife
24:09to school.
24:10He's an old champion.
24:11I know.
24:12Brother Diner,
24:13who was the
24:14vice principal then,
24:15he very proudly
24:16took him to
24:17all our classrooms,
24:19you know,
24:20and in every classroom
24:21he introduced him
24:23and said,
24:24here's Major Bhaskar Roy.
24:26He's done us
24:27very proud.
24:28He's done the country
24:29proud.
24:29He's done the school
24:30proud,
24:31you know.
24:32And do you,
24:34can you remember
24:34now,
24:35how many of us
24:36made a beeline
24:38for the National
24:39Defense Academy
24:40then?
24:41True, true.
24:42That is absolutely
24:43correct.
24:43I remember that.
24:45And, you know,
24:46so these are the,
24:47you know,
24:47when I talk about
24:48nostalgia,
24:49it's one thing.
24:49But then also,
24:51when I was writing
24:52this, you know,
24:53at times some other
24:54things, you know,
24:54which are very serious
24:55and things which
24:57happened, you know,
24:57we lost a lot of
24:58people,
24:59not during COVID
25:01and during,
25:01just before that
25:02and things like.
25:04And then one day
25:05this thought came to
25:05me, I lost a lot
25:06of close friends
25:07and, you know,
25:09I wrote one
25:09poem called
25:11Moth Se Chonauti.
25:12You know,
25:14that's a challenging
25:15death.
25:15I said,
25:16death is,
25:16you know,
25:17it's absolute.
25:18It's the absolute
25:19truth.
25:20You can't do
25:20anything about it.
25:21But there is
25:22something I said,
25:23why can't I
25:24challenge it?
25:25You agreed.
25:25You can come and
25:26take away our
25:27lives when I'm
25:29saying it's part
25:30of the system.
25:32But there are
25:33certain things
25:34which I can
25:35challenge.
25:36You can't take
25:36away.
25:36So I'm kind
25:38of falling
25:38into death.
25:40And I'm telling
25:41this,
25:41that you cannot
25:44take away from
25:45me.
25:46Take away from
25:46us?
25:46So I took
26:04this to,
26:05you know,
26:06took this idea
26:07and then I
26:08wrote this
26:09that means
26:12challenging
26:12and you can
26:13take away our
26:14lives.
26:15But for our
26:15friends and for
26:16family and all,
26:17you can't take
26:18away our,
26:19you know,
26:19the nostalgia
26:21that yade
26:22and jo
26:22humare saath
26:23hain.
26:24So this book
26:24actually,
26:25since I wrote
26:26in different,
26:26I also put it
26:27in Roman because
26:28a lot of guys
26:28who, you know,
26:29don't understand
26:30the Devanagari
26:31script and
26:32the Saber and
26:33Quill of course
26:34have done a
26:34damn good job
26:35of this book
26:36publishing it
26:37for me.
26:38Very grateful
26:39to them.
26:40And I must say,
26:41you know,
26:41since we are
26:42talking about the
26:43book, it's my
26:44daughter Hrithika
26:44who really,
26:45I did the
26:46writing part
26:47and everything,
26:47but she was
26:48the main
26:49force behind
26:50getting this
26:50book into
26:52what it is
26:54today.
26:55Got it
26:55alive and
26:56really have to
26:58thank her
26:59for this
26:59whole thing.
27:01But I'm also
27:02grateful that,
27:02you know,
27:03you've decided
27:05and you mentioned
27:06that you would
27:06kind of,
27:08we'll talk about
27:09this book because
27:09it is relevant
27:10not only to the
27:11cogees,
27:12but to the
27:13general people
27:14at large.
27:15And there's
27:16nostalgia.
27:17Of course,
27:17there are two
27:18poems on NDA.
27:19One is in
27:20Hindustani and
27:21one is in
27:21English.
27:23The English one
27:24of course is on,
27:25you know,
27:26that famous
27:26sound of music.
27:28These are a few
27:28of my favorite
27:29things.
27:30So based on
27:31that song,
27:32I'd put this
27:33one,
27:34Memories of
27:35NDA,
27:35my favorite
27:36thing.
27:36So those
27:37are,
27:38you know,
27:38for all the
27:39ex-NDAs,
27:40I'm sure
27:40they'll be
27:42able to
27:42all those
27:44days of our
27:45cadet days,
27:45what we went
27:46through.
27:46So those have
27:47been covered
27:48in some of
27:49these.
27:49And overall,
27:51you know,
27:51it was good
27:52fun writing
27:53the whole thing,
27:54but now that
27:54it has come
27:55out in print,
27:58so it feels
27:59nice.
28:00And especially,
28:02you know,
28:02friends like you,
28:03whom we've
28:04been associated
28:05for since
28:05you need to
28:10be thanked
28:11for giving
28:12us some
28:12wonderful
28:12moments.
28:14Whenever we
28:15read them
28:16over the
28:17last couple
28:19of years
28:19or more,
28:20you know,
28:21as we kept
28:21receiving them,
28:24there's,
28:25there's so
28:29many memories,
28:29there are so
28:30many memories
28:30and,
28:31you know,
28:32we saw
28:33the very
28:34good times
28:35of Delhi,
28:37we saw
28:37good times
28:38of our
28:40school also,
28:41St.
28:41Columbus,
28:42quite well
28:44known for
28:45some very
28:46good students
28:46and well
28:48known for
28:49very,
28:49very few
28:49not so good
28:50students.
28:51I won't
28:51say anything.
28:58But then
29:00of course,
29:02whatever you
29:03captured about
29:04the army
29:04is something
29:07which,
29:08again,
29:09it's a kind
29:10of book
29:10which will,
29:11you know,
29:12not only
29:13we soldiers,
29:15but others
29:16also will
29:17enjoy
29:17reading.
29:22Any,
29:23any thoughts
29:23before we
29:24wind up?
29:26No,
29:26thank you
29:26very much.
29:27It's been
29:27nice talking
29:28to you
29:28and,
29:29you know,
29:30and hope
29:31people who
29:32read this
29:33will
29:33relish it.
29:35So,
29:35that's all.
29:37More and
29:38more,
29:38we hope
29:39the book
29:40gets circulated
29:41well.
29:42Thank you
29:42very much,
29:43Mukesh.
29:45Thanks,
29:45Anil.
29:46Thank you
29:46very much.
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