What is the command and control to launch nuclear warhead in India ?

                  Like USA, India is a democratic country. The main difference between these two is that  former is the non-parliamentary form of system while latter is the parliamentary form of system. Thus in USA executive is separate of the legislator while in India it solely depends upon the legislator. In USA president has the veto power in almost any case. However, it does not mean that he can launch it anytime.

Otto Skorzeny and his brave mission to rescue Benito Mussolini

                                
                      When we thought about brave military missions, happened on the back of the world, which required tremendous planning and brave hearts with soul of a lion, our eyes fixes on three incidences. First of course is 9/11 this is because of sudden and unexpected blow to great Americans and superb planning by Al Qaida to pinch New York in its heart.  Second mission is about the brave military planning done to assassinate Hitler by colonel Staffenberg in a mission Valkarie. 

          Staffenberg is considered as a most fearless man in the history of war. Third story is different from both of these two because it had a great deal of danger than that of mission in which Osama Bin laden was captured. This story is about world war second’s most dangerous planner and executioner colonel Otto Skorzeny and his world famous mission to rescue Benito Mussolini.

          ‘Europes most dangerous man’ as been said in post war trial by judges, Skorzeny was born in Austria. The effects of World War 1 caused his family severely poor condition. In his young days he joined German military as an engineer. His special skills to design trunks which would pass oil tankers  to the ship earned him higher rank in military. During war in Poland he used tactic of wearing opposite force’s uniform and suddenly ransacking them.  These special skills forced him to answer Hitler’s call when these leaders order him to join a special secret mission to rescue Benito Mussolini of Italy. Mussoliny so called as duke was Hitler’s only ally. He was overthrown by local government.

           First challenge by Otto skorzeny was to find where Mussoilini is placed. Italian government just tracked the codes of Nazis so they knew that something fishy and Hitler will certainly try to rescue Mussolini. They brought him to Ponzo one of the secret I-land. Skorzeny who was on his search came to know about his location but before he could act Skorzeny was shifted to some other place. After hunting for his location for over two months they finally got information about Skorzeny. There is an interesting story as how skorzeny got his info.

            Skorzeny  revealed that in a bar they saw a girl who was upset on inquiring she told him about his boyfriend who duty was canceled. She told them about Grann Saso, a place which was 6600 meters high. So skorzeny and his men started searching for the place. In a role of environmentalist they started looking for clue and best way was to start conversation. Once Skorzeny obtained to have conversation with a guy who was soldier placed at a base. After talking about few minutes skorzeny said ” I have heard that benito is been shifted in a rome”. The soldier in a hurry of showing that he has real info, “No he is not there Last night we brought him here.”

            The next task was to rescue Mussolini and it was indeed difficult as Mussolini was Placed in hotel well above 6600 meters from the ground. After researching on different options, Skorzeny decided to use Parachutes. So on 12 September 1943 they left to Grann saso with the help of Gliders. However their mission was halted when their gliders were attack by airplanes of opposite force. Only two gliders were remaining and the thing which considered as a grass was actually a steep slope which they forgot to mark. Despite these difficulties they landed on the the hotel. Skorzeny was badly injured. 

            However, with the help of remaining teammates he fought bravely and rescued Mussoliny. "Furrer has send me to take you", said the skorzeny to Mussolini. Mussolini hugged him and then they both went to Hitlars place with the aircraft which can accommodate only two person, however, brave Skorzeny ensured Mussolini that nothing will happen. When they meet Hitler he said “You have just made the history”. In a later mission Otto Skorzeny was awarded with Iron cross, a highest military medal in Germany. The rescue mission is considered as most daring in the history of world war.

Why Madras cafe is a milestone in the Indian cinema

            

                 It’s been one week since I watched Madras cafe  a masterpiece from John Abraham Production. I was eager to write about the movie but respecting the production house’s decision i.e. not to promote the movie unnecessarily I kept aloof from the subject. Production house along with director Shojit Sircar earlier decided that the movie will be only for the selected multiplex crowd. The major part was that they kept their promise. Madras café was milestone because of its great cinematography, awesome camerawork and artistic originality which kept Audience on the toes. However, I like the movie for some other reason.

               First one was its subject line which was based on Srilankan war and deadly Terrorist group LTTE (Liberation of Tamil tiger’s elum). It was definitely not the first movie on terrorist but this time situation was different since India was not a victim but rather culprit. I am saying this because intervention of India in Srilanka was first of its kind of aggression after Bangladesh liberation war of 1971-72. In Lankan war India had used different tactics like that of supporting opposition party against LTTE similar as USA used in different Middle East war for which they had to pay the price. 

               Second thing which I like about the movie is its non controversial nature. The subject of Sri-Lanka war is generally extremely controversial. Production house took care to give balance view output to all, like that to the Tamil people, Sinhalese and also supporter of congress party in India since India lost its cyber man cum Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Team of the movie kept the name of the characters different from original one to avoid the controversy. This was done before movie actually released not after the movie was released, strategy production house follows generally to remain in controversy.

              Indian audience was bored because of copy of Hollywood movies and recent unhealthy trend of remakes of South-Indian cinema. It’s sometime OK that these remakes make much money so trend should be encouraged but it certainly worsen the nature of Indian cinema. After the success of Vicky donor and Madras cafe John Abraham showed that he has sense for great cinema and we can expect the great to come from the actor. Another important thing which followed the subject line was that movie does not contain a single song in between which was the real need of such sensitive movie.

             Showing of North block of the parliament and it’s secretariat level meeting in the movie catch my attention. The policy making and decision taking scenario was first time shown in any movie which brought the movie closer to Hollywood. Meanwhile in a small budget Shoojit directed great masterpiece which is certainly a must watch and of-course like production house said it’s for the selected audience.

                                                                                                        

A critical case of a kiss from Kashmir

                                  

                 The one place which has amazed me from my childhood is nothing but the Kashmir. There is certainly a reason for that and it always comes from the one question. The question is critically simple, as why do Kashmir’s people hate so much to Indian army and New Delhi? The search for the answer has always led me to some astonishing discoveries. Few of them are certainly not known to this part of World. Finding the reasons to this, world’s most dangerous place is certainly a difficult task, as reason’s have to find being a neutral and as an ardent nationalist it becomes difficult task.

            If someone is active on some of the English news channel pages on social network, which have some kind of connectivity with the valley, the person  will see a group of people always engaging themselves in commenting against Indian army. These groups are definitely not illiterate; they are the young people who represented modern Kashmir. Most of them have someone of their family got killed through the hands of Indian army. Some of them are engineers, doctors and modern professionals who represent a new Kashmir. However, it’s not always compulsory that they are downtrodden by Indian army only; there are many factors which have influenced them towards the typical hate against India. One of the reasons is misunderstanding and second most important is not to know the actual history of the place.

            First of all, separatist Kashmir mindset believes that Kashmir was their property when India got freedom. They probably think that India might have pressurized Hari-singh; then king of Kashmir. At that time people of Pakistan, mostly Muslims wanted Kashmir to be an integral part of Pakistan. Fearing that Harisingh might accede Kashmir in India, they sent the army. Hari-Singh requested India to intervene but India put a condition that it will help only if he will join India. So again to reduce loss of life he accepted Kashmir to be a part of India. So morally India forcefully included Kashmir in India. The second thing which Pakistan’s separatist have problem is with the forceful separation of East Pakistan from mainland Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh. Pakistan thinks that it is only because of India that the East Pakistan separated from them.

             As far as Kashmir is concern whatever India did was morally right since both India and Pakistan were trying to include many states as they could in their own country. Politically, India used its tactics to include Kashmir in India.

    

            Here we have to look at the situations and circumstances which were present there in the East Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan were sufferer and they wanted autonomy from West Pakistan this is because the population of West Pakistan was much less compared to East Pakistan. So the east Pakistan never liked their country to be ruled by a country which has a less population.

 

             They wanted autonomy as this was going to ease the administration and other important processes. Further, there was a difference of language as East Pakistan favored Bengali over Urdu. Another reason was the export, as some 80% of the total export of whole Pakistan came from east Pakistan in the form of jute and tea. 

 

             So the due to these reasons the freedom waves started to blow from Bangladesh. The common people got the support of Awami league which was in opposition at that time. The Awami league won the election held 1970. However, Yahya khan and Pakistan’s Muslim league never approved it.

              At that time there was wide spread violation of human rights through the hands Yahya khan and his successors. Yahya khan and his successor Tikka khan led the massive destruction of human life which saw the death of some 2000000 to 3000000 people. So India had to interfere and Mrs. Indira Gandhi send the force of some 400000 Indian soldiers and in just 13 days. Bangladesh was formed out from East Pakistan with the help of Awami league and their leader Mujibur rahman called as Mujib became the main leader.

              Many Pakistan’s scholars believed that there was clear cut mistake of Pakistan which violated the human rights. This violation is even compared with a million deaths of Jews which happened during the world war two.

              Looking at Kashmir in 2013, the situation looks far more different. The Pakistan controlled military group Lashkar-E - Taeba and other 40 to 50 militant groups has nothing to do with freedom of Kashmir they just wanted to remain in news with arrogance of Jihadist mindset. The groups supported by Pakistan involve themselves in cross border insertion of Jihadist in India throughout the year.

              From last decade or so Kashmir was silent even after silent establishment of Armed forces special powers act [AFSPA]  which enabled Indian army to arrest any person in Kashmir without any warrant. This law also allows army to carry out search operation on civilians and to kill suspected civilian without having any accountability.

              AFSPA is the third reason after first reason of separation of Kashmir from British in 1947 and separation of Bengal from Pakistan which prompts hate against India. There is certainly some harsh human rights violation from Indian side in Kashmir  Indian army has killed thousands of suspected militants who were supported by Pakistan’s army.

The fight of the Leningrad

             "Troy fell, Rome fell, but Leningrad will never fall"

               Imagine a cold weather of Russia having temperature of -20 to -30 degree Celsius. Last three months have been passed and there is no food. People have already finished eating birds, horses, dogs and cats which they used to domesticate. Still there is no food.So now they have turned to human beings, situation has forced them to eat their city-men. People have turned into cannibalism. They are eating their own colleague for the sake of hunger. Government is providing 250 gram of food per day to military and civilians, which is not sufficient to fight.

               In addition to this situation, there is around 1.2 million of the enemy soldier at the gate of city, they have bombarded some thousand bombs in last three months. Deaths are so usual that every square is a pile of 20 to 30 new men felling because of the hunger. Each new day is bringing some 700 to 1000 deaths. Life expectancy of a new soldier in Leningrad has become 24 hours. The siege of Leningrad is the most fierce battle in the history of mankind. It is one of my favorite battles of research as it gives many brave untold stories.

              In the month of June 1941 breaking the code of no war with USSR, German launch operation Barbarossa on USSR .

              "First Leningrad then Stalingrad and then Moscow" was the order given by Hitler. 'Starve them to death' were the policy by Germans. They encircled Leningrad with the help of fin-lands army.

                On the other side there was Stalin who ordered not a step back. So new soldiers who joined the battle from Russia were in dual mode. A new recruit had no option but to fight. A situations was there, when only one soldier was given a gun and another soldier had to run behind him without gun. So when the front soldier would die the second soldier behind him who has no weapon, had to take his weapon. If someone in this chaos tried to move back he was being killed by his own men. The fierce battle continued till November by that time the population of Leningrad now st. Spitsbergen, was reduced to half, mostly due to hunger. 


             

                Winter came with new hope for people as lake Ladoga started to freeze. The battle now took turned across the lake as most of the reinforcement came from it. It became road of life for many people. German did bombard the lake so that Russian vehicles should drown. However, the brave Russian still brought it giving life to many people. No evacuation of citizen were ordered as Stalin thought it means downgrading the moral. In the chaos of this fierce battle Stalin carried out parade of red army in Moscow to boost the moral of Russians.

              
                Hitler on the other side frustrated by Leningrad, launch an attack on industrial city of Stalingrad now Volgograd. The battle of Stalingrad an ambitious city of Stalin saw biggest deaths. Within two months the 90 % of the city fell. Stalin repeated not a step back. The world saw a emergence of new hero Vasily Zaytsev , a sniper with great skill who killed as far as 243 Germans high ranking officer. Vasily so frustrated Germans, that they had to call for special officer of their head sniper institute. Vasily's heroics with sniper inspired Stalingrad, it inspired Stalin and it inspired Russia. They  launch counter attack taking Stalingrad from Germans.  By the end of February 1943 Stalingrad was captured as reinforcement to it was possible from river Volga.
                

                 Now the whole focus of Russia and Germans came again on Leningrad  the city became hell again waiting for winter. "The fight will continue still last man of Leningrad stands" roared Stalin. The new brigade of young red army launched final attack in the January 1944 taking Germans far away from the city. The Russians won but they had to fetch a price for that, a price of 1.7 million Russians citizens and soldiers. 


                 The siege of Leningrad was far more severe than the two atomic bombs which America dropped on Japan. The men who died were not only fighting for their land but for the order which was given.

A Few Good Men

                      

                      There is always something to learn from war movies. It helps in knowing about two sides of the same person. One of-course is good and other not so good. I always believed that there is no such side as bad, the thing is that the other side is not that much good. War movies have always attracts  towards essential part of a soldier i.e to follow the order irrespective of its consequences. However, what should be criteria for following the order is a question to be asked. Whether seniority should be a criteria to follow order or Junior soldier's own consent and understanding of a situation be a criteria, is a debatable question. The answer lies in Tom Cruise's A Few good men.


                     A Few good men is a movie directed by Rob Reiner with excellent massage. Military has tradition of punishing the soldier off the record, which is called as code red. In India it's called as Blanket Parade in which other soldiers punish a culprit, who has done some mistake at critical time in a mission. This mistake is generally related with forgetting one of the episode of the mission or some minor mistake which soldier often repeats. It does not include disobeying the order of the senior as for that there are punishments such as court marshal. This court marshal is of the type,  where everything follows according to military rule. However, code red is nonjudicial punishment given to the soldier.
                     Code red and similar kind of punishment includes hitting a culprit soldier by a group of soldiers, putting blanket on him It also includes ragging at personal level with the permission of the authority. The military consider it as OK, since there is common thought that it makes improvement in the soldier.


                      The whole situation is beautifully explained in the movie with Tom Cruise starring as a lawyer who has responsibility to save two soldier who executed code red on a soldier named William Santiago. The conduct of code become severe when Santiago got dead. These two soldier thinks that they have done nothing wrong in giving code red to Santiago as they simply followed the order. So Tom and his team files case and search for real culprit who gave the real order. Their fight happens with a arrogant colonel who is
powerful and is misleading the trial starred by Jack  Nicholson. Curiosity and suspense is equally maintained in the movie till last. Conversation between Tom and colonel who framed the two soldier on the charges of murder triggers the fight. Egos, ethics and human nature is equally described in the movie. Movie holds nerves to the most of the time. Dialogues with eye contacts between Tom and Colonel are great. So it simply becomes a must watch if you missed it when it actually got released in 1992. Don't forget that you cant handle the truth.