Friday, January 26, 2018

Honour Martyrs, this Republic Day: A letter to Modi by Armed Forces Veteran

SOURCE:
https://www.dailyo.in/voices/armed-forces-pm-modi-republic-day-honouring-martyrs-soldiers-veterans/story/1/21943.html



Please Honour Martyrs, this Republic     Day  : A letter to Modi by                                  Armed Forces Veteran                                      By 

              HARSHA KAKAR







I do hope that this prayer would result in positive


 response by you.



                                


Dear Prime Minister,

As a veteran, I would request you to consider directing your bureaucracy to issue a policy to honour martyrs who gallantly lay down their lives battling anti-national elements in various parts of the nation, including Kashmir, Northeast and even Naxal-affected regions.

These are soldiers, from different security agencies belonging to various parts of the country, who are martyred while trying to ensure the safety, integrity and honour of the nation. They selflessly challenged those attempting to disrupt the internal harmony of the nation as also the enemy along the borders.

It is requested that the policy encompasses actions to be taken from the time of his becoming a martyr up to caring for the needs of the family. While the service concerned does honour the martyr prior to dispatching his remains to his place of residence, it is beyond that stage that a common policy is essential.  

The remains of martyrs are conveyed by various airlines to the nearest airport, post which they are moved by road. The basic courtesy that any airline can do is announce the presence of such remains onboard the flight for the information of passengers and request them for a 30-second or a minute silence as a mark of respect.

Details are always available with the pilots, as also the remains are accompanied by a member of the same establishment. A common pattern of announcement would be ideal.






This small gesture would go a long way in making security forces feel that their sacrifices are respected by the common Indian and his honouring them is a sign of national gratitude. This request has been made multiple times to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, however, bureaucratic tangles emanating from the Ministry of Civil Aviation have prevented the same from being implemented.

While most airlines would willingly adopt the procedure, lack of central direction prevents it from being done.

The second aspect of the policy is ensuring that the local civil administration represents the states and Centre during the conduct of final rites. It is presently left to the whims and fancies of the local bureaucrats. This does not auger well for the nation as those belonging to the city or village attend in large numbers. The compulsory presence of local bureaucrats and laying of wreaths on behalf of the state administration would be ideal.


Finally, Mr Prime Minister, is the grant of financial assistance to the bereaved family. Each service has its own norms and rules and hence the grant varies. However, in each case, the soldier has laid down his life for the nation, hence all deserve to be considered on a par. A common factor, the highest grant as of today should be considered as the base line. Similarly, should be the additional grant by states. This again varies state to state, which conveys a wrong message of which party runs the state, a pro-Centre, or anti-Centre, or if elections are round the bend. In the case of martyrs, this should not be the deciding factor and a common figure should be considered.

I'm aware that some parts of the policy may not come under the jurisdiction of the Centre, but be a state subject. However, a letter from your office to all state governments would go a long way in ensuring that a common policy is adopted across the nation. It would also curtail previous incidents, where families have delayed conducting last rites seeking attendance by state representatives and release of grants.

Central grants are announced either by the home ministry or defence. Having different figures convey different messages. It also brings to fore the standing and prestige of the head of the organisation. A common figure would remove this anomaly.

Instructions to airlines have been withheld solely because of a block by the civil aviation ministry. This is directly under your leadership and there should be no hesitation on directions being issued.

I am releasing this request, just prior to Republic Day, a time when the nation’s heart swells with pride witnessing columns of military power marching down the Rajpath. I do hope that this prayer by a veteran would result in positive response by you and directions conveyed to the ministries concerned.




Writer

Harsha KakarHARSHA KAKAR @kakar_harsha
The author is a retired Major General.





VETERANS : Married Veterans More At Risk Of Suicide Than Single Soldiers

SOURCE:
https://www.stripes.com/news/study-married-veterans-face-greater-risk-of-suicide-1.508369











Married Veterans More At Risk Of Suicide                   Than Single Soldiers








       Veteran struggles upon return home. 


 

Among recently returned veterans, a new study says those who are married or living with a partner are at higher suicide risk than soldiers who are single, and older married female veterans are at the greatest risk.
While one might assume soldiers returning from deployment would find comfort and support reuniting with a spouse or loved one, the transition to a domestic environment can cause stress, according to the analysis by researchers at the University of Connecticut and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  
For some veterans, the transition back to a domestic home environment—and all of the pressures, roles, and responsibilities that come with it—only adds to their internal struggles.  
“It certainly makes sense when you think about it,” says Crystal Park, UConn psychology professor and one of the study’s co-authors. “There are added pressures that come with maintaining a relationship and meeting household needs. People may have expectations when they’re away and when they return it’s not what they imagined, the romance may not be there. It’s just the daily grind and that can drive up stress levels and increase feelings of despair.” 
The findings are based on the responses of 772 recently returned veterans who participated in the Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans (SERV), a longitudinal study overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Given the recent influx of women into the armed services, the survey sought to gauge the experiences of female veterans, in particular. As a result of a targeted recruiting campaign, women represented more than 40 percent of those surveyed, which is more than double the actual representation in the military. 
In the survey, the average age of veterans was 35, and they had served in Iran, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas as part of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. Most of them—62 percent—served in the Army. Seventy-five percent reported exposure to combat.
More than 20 percent of those surveyed reported thoughts of suicide, with 6 percent reporting a past attempt and current thoughts of suicide. Significantly, the study confirmed prior reports of female veterans, in general, being at increased risk of suicide relative to men. 
Younger veterans in their 20s, both male and female, reported much less suicide ideation than older vets in their 40s and 50s who completed the survey. Park suspects the finding may be due to the fact that many older veterans of recent conflicts were members of the National Guard or military reserves who were called into service. 
“A lot of the people who went over there weren’t active duty military,” says Park. “They were people who signed up for something but probably never anticipated they would be going to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. They had jobs. They had kids. They had a life that was much different than someone who chooses to enlist in the military.” 
The survey also looked at the role veterans’ religious feelings and spirituality might play in increasing or decreasing suicide risk. 
Researchers found that veterans who had negative attitudes about religion and spirituality—meaning they felt God was punishing them or that God had abandoned them—were at significantly higher risk for suicide, even after accounting for depression and other variables. 
Interestingly, the researchers found that positive feelings about religion and spirituality—feelings that God is a partner in your life and someone you can turn to for guidance, support and strength—did not significantly reduce veterans’ suicide risk. 
Most importantly, Park says, the study clearly showed that spiritual struggle among veterans is a separate and independent risk factor for suicide and not just a reflection of people’s depression. 
“This suggests that people are experiencing some profound spiritual struggle over and above any depression they might have,” says Park. “What people experience, what they do, and what they witness can have profound negative effects on them when they come back.” 
The findings emphasize the importance of religion and spirituality in veteran suicide prevention efforts, the researchers say, and underscore the need for counseling and supports that are both gender specific and tailored to the needs of veterans during their initial reintegration into civilian life. 
Addressing suicidal behavior among veterans is a major public health concern. It is estimated that 20 veterans die daily by suicide and 18 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States are attributed to current or former military personnel.  
But Park says the issue is far greater than those statistics reflect. 
“There are a lot more veterans out there thinking about suicide and who are in despair and we really do owe them some kind of help for these issues,” says Park. “People are having profound spiritual struggles in their lives that can’t simply be linked to depression and medicated away. It’s more of an existential crisis. When you think about what our country asks soldiers to go and do and then think that there won’t be any consequences to their spiritual life as a result, it’s kind of ridiculous.” 
The complete study can be found in the Archives of Suicide Research, a journal of the International Academy of Suicide Research.  
Yale Professor Rani Hoff, director of the Northeast Program Evaluation Center within the VA’s Office of Mental Health Operations, was the study’ principal investigator.  Dr. Marek Kopacz , a medical sociologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VISN2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, was the study’s lead author. Hugh Crean, a research affiliate at the VISN2 Center, is also a co-author. 
The study was supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 









Coming home can be especially stressful                                  for
                    married veterans



DRONE WARFARE - Swarm Drones: Could They Shape Future Of Naval Warfare?

SOURCE:
http://www.ipcs.org/article/southeast-asia/maritime-matters-swarm-drones-could-they-shape-the-future-of-5426.html




                   Swarm Drones:

         Could They Shape Future 

                              Of                                    

                    Naval Warfare?

                              By

                       Vijay Sakhuja*




 




An example of a robot swarm is Kilobot, a thousand robot swarm developed at Harvard University. Photo Credit: asuscreative, Wikimedia Commons.

                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8tGpwKWUT0





                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma-KyGZKop4





Drones operating in swarms are the new threat to militaries. In a recent case, Russian radars stationed around Latakia, Syria detected a swarm   Google url to open
 [  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma-KyGZKop4 
 of 10 fixed-wing drones strapped with small rockets descend over the Hmeimim air base. Concurrently, another group of three drones were detected heading for Russian Naval CSS point near the city of Tartus. The Russian Pantsir-S anti-aircraft system – known by the NATO codename, SA-22 Greyhound – and rapid firing auto-cannons shot down seven of these drones, and the balance were successfully swatted and crash landed by using electronic warfare assets.
                    Further, Russia also made public                                  Google url to open  [  http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russia-just-might-have-the-perfect-weapon-crush-swarm-24144 ]    their successes with the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft system in countering drones including destroying the Bayraktar drone from Turkey, Israeli Heron, and the US Navy and Marine Corps’ RQ-21A Blackjack. Apparently, in 2012, a Syrian Pantsir system was reported to have brought down a Turkish reconnaissance jet.
Although aircraft and helicopters have traditionally ruled the skies, in recent times, unmanned vehicles credited with low weight, small size, and ability to carry a variety of payloads and ordnance have found place in military inventories. The efficacy and successes of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for firepower and in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions have been demonstrated in a number of conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and more recently, in Yemen.
The drones fall in the same category as UAVs but are smaller, cheaper, and commercially available, thus offering an attractive option. They have a higher level of automation     Google url to open  [  http://www.uavinsider.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-drone-a-uav-and-a-uas//    ]  and their use in commercial operations is well established. Their  effectiveness is further augmented when they are operated in swarms. The concept of ‘swarm drones’ is inspired by bees or locusts which fly long distances in indefinite groups, unlimited in size and number, and apparently without colliding. ‘Swarm drones’ are programmed to follow very simple commands that do not require advanced computers and sensors, and therefore their collective numbers could be of the order of  hundreds and potentially thousands, which can conjure a lethal force on the battlefield.
China is a leader in ‘smart and intelligent drone’ technologies, and in December 2017, during an aerial show at Guangzhou, it set the world record    Google url to open       [    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LdaWMNKUHsfor the largest drone swarm ever deployed. On display were 1,180 drones that ‘danced and blinked’ autonomously with precision for nearly nine minutes, exhibiting the potential future of ‘swarm drone’ technology. China plans to develop next-generation anti-stealth drones and operate these beyond the skies into near space alongside high-altitude airships and hypersonic spy planes.
In the naval domain, the Chinese have set out ambitious plans to build ‘swarm drones’ that can be deployed over large areas for intelligence-gathering missions. These drones can also be strapped with explosives to carry out ‘saturation attacks’ on an enemy ship or even adopt kamikaze tactics to simultaneously dive in to attack from different directions and defeat ship-based anti-aircraft and anti-missile defences.
Likewise, in the US, many advances in ‘swarm drones’ are underway; for instance,  over a hundred  3D-printed disposable Perdix drones – each weighing a few hundred grams – were released from F/A-18 fighter through dispensers used for flares. These can potentially “suppress enemy air defences by acting as decoys or jammers or by locating radar so they can be destroyed.”   Google url to open  [  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGgHyfPGU0&t=16s   ]
The US Navy has plans to use intelligent and smart ‘swarm drones’ that can split into sub-swarms for different missions, as also new swarms to join seamlessly the mother-swarm. The US Marine Corps is conceptualising ‘swarm drones’ in amphibious operations to use them as “the first wave to hit the beach ahead of the humans, scouting, locating enemy positions, and possibly attacking them” as also setting up swarm-versus-swarm wargames by developing “drone catchers” that will capture or neutralise rogue drones.    Google url to open     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o13DPzaAOU&t=11s  ]

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is keen to use larger aircraft  Google url to open [  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5226505/US-military-test-swarms-tiny-Gremlin-drones-2019.html  ] such as the C-130 by which drones are launched and then retrieved based on the mid-air refuelling concept alongside sea-based platforms to capture drones as they come to land.

‘Swarm drones’ can be easily launched and controlled from remote and inaccessible locations. Their role may not be limited to non-kinetic missions such as ‘eyes in the sky’; instead they can do far more combat damage. Their ability to ‘self-organise in sub-swarms’ could be a game-changer in military and naval operations, achieved through coordinated and distributed attacks to saturate defences and breaching an adversary’s A2/AD strategy.

According to market assessments,   Google url to open [  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav-drones-market-worth-4888-billion-usd-by-2023-659327223.html the drone/UAV industry is set to grow by nearly 20 per cent annually from US$ 17.82 billion in 2017 to US$ 48.88 billion by 2023. Although most of this growth will take place in the civil domain, the ripple effects will be seen in the military where research and development in new unmanned systems will take higher precedence. The next-generation hybrid drone-missile unmanned systems may characterise the future naval realm, thereby challenging conventional monolithic systems. These would complement the ‘stand-off’ rages of the naval missiles and counter the broader A2/AD strategy at sea.

*Vijay Sakhuja
Former Director, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi













Wednesday, January 24, 2018

WW--I EK KAHANI : Usne Kaha Tha

SOURCE: 
http://www.theweek.in/features/society/the-untold-truth-indian-soldiers-in-world-war-1.html

ARTS AND CULTURE




          Untold truth: Role of Indian soldiers

                                    in

                          World War I

                         Sohaila Kapur



 'The Scene from 'The Troth' Simon Richardson


          EK KAHANI :  Usne  Kaha Tha



                     [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Gpj6X6KDs ]






            [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXkehIvIdvY ]






The new year has started off well, artistically. The Troth, an evocative dance-theatre production that has brought together the British and Indian governments, as well as the British Army, is premiering at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Republic Day. The moving force behind the collaboration, Mira Kaushik, an OBE (Order of the British Empire awardee) and director of the Akademi—a partner in the production—talks about the project. 
What is The Troth all about?
The Troth means ‘a solemn promise’. The production is based on Chandradhar Sharma Guleri’s iconic Hindi short story Usne Kaha Tha. It is about a soldier, Sardar Lehna Singh, and the sacrifice he makes to keep his secret promise to an unrequited love, mid-conflict in the trenches of Belgium during World War 1. The Troth reveals the contribution and human cost of Indian soldiers to the allied war effort. Over 1.3 million Indians contributed active service over the course of World War I; they were the largest voluntary force ever assembled. The losses were staggering.We wanted to tell that story.
Why this particular story at this time?
The Troth was appropriate because it marks the centenaries of World War I (1914-18), Indian cinema (1913) and publication of the first Hindi short story (1915). Also, it fitted in perfectly with the celebrations of the India-UK Year of Culture (2017) and the re-imagine India project, of which it was a part. It is rooted in the most recent academic research and in-depth cultural exchanges between the two countries.
It seems to be an audio-visual extravaganza....
Yes, we were inspired by film noir and the era of black and white films. The production weaves its poignant narrative through powerful dance, music, archival war footage and new subtitled films, an evocative soundscape that laces original compositions with sounds from WW I and Indian folk music. We are creating an Indian narrative in a western contemporary dance language.
Who are the artistic collaborators?
Award-winning director and choreographer Gary Clarke, who is acclaimed for his compelling works of narrative dance-theatre (most recently with Coal, based on the miners’ strike), is the choreographer. Clarke’s emotionally direct and physical approach to storytelling and character is notable. For The Troth he collaborates with dramaturge Lou Cope to tell the soldier’s story and the soundscape is created by BASCA award-winner Shri Sriram. Army musicians are involved in the sound score, contributing military themes and authenticity to the compositions. British soldiers worked with the dancers to assist them in the portrayal of drill, PT and movement under fire. Then we have six dancers who come from diverse backgrounds. One of them is Vidya Patel, finalist in BBC Young Dancer of the Year 2015 who has recently performed to great acclaim with Richard Alston Dance Company.
After Jaipur, where is it performing?
Its world premiere is being held at the Jaipur Lit Fest, in the famous Hawa Mahal, on January 26. The UK premiere will be held at the Leicester Curve, London, on February 20 and 21. The UK tour is up to March 16 this year. We have just confirmed a performance at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, on May 5.
Why are you opening in Jaipur first and which other Indian cities will you be touring?
We decided to premiere the work at JLF as the author of The Troth (Chandhra Sharma Guleri) hailed from Jaipur and Usne Kaha Tha was the first Hindi short story. We thought JLF would be the best place to celebrate this wonderful piece of literature and of course Teamwork Arts have been fantastic partners for us.
After that we perform in Delhi, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Kurukshetra. Many states we were talking to were unable to support us this time as this is our first tour in India.
When did the Arts Council, the British Army and the Indian govt come on board?
This project was initially funded by Arts Council England and the British Council’s Reimagine India project fund back in 2016. This was due to Akademi having already established several partnerships in India (with two state governments and JLF). After receiving this significant funding, I contacted ICCR through The Nehru Centre in London and they kindly agreed to come on board and host us in India. This was a significant achievement for the project which then lead us to receive the financial support of the Cultural Ministry in India, after going through the official application process.
Simultaneously in the UK, we were approached by several Trusts and Foundations as well as the British Army who agreed to join hands and support the making and UK tour of this production. Lt. Col Jo Young, the British Army’s Officer for the Arts, says: “The British Army is thrilled to be supporting the production of The Troth. It tells a vital piece of World War I history and speaks volumes about shared heritage”.
Tell us about your organisation Akademi...how it started and the kind of work it has done
Akademi’s mission is to inspire audiences and change lives by creating and nurturing excellence in classical, contemporary, popular and participatory South Asian dance. We believe that SA dance is a vital part of British Creative DNA.
Founded in 1979 by the legendary Tara Rajkumar, Akademi has been taking South Asian dance to unexpected places ever since.
Rooted in our local community, but active across the UK, we have a global perspective with worldwide connections. Our pioneering work contributes significantly to Britain’s international reputation for innovation in South Asian dance.
Are you planning any more collaborations, particularly with Indian groups?
We are currently planning a large project to celebrate Akademi’s 40th anniversary in 2019/20. I am in talks with several collaborators at present.
We have also been commissioned by The Space to release a digital film of The Troth, which will enable the show to reach a global audience. 


Related


FROM WARSAW WITH LOVE

http://www.theweek.in/features/society/with-love-from-warsaw-how-thousand-polish-children-found-refuge-gujarat-during-second-world-war.html

DOCUMENTARY

During WW-II, Polish orphans found refuge in Gujarat