Wednesday, February 21, 2001

My Life Journey

This series of posts on my life journey is inspired by the image of India's map. Every time i look at it, my eyes stop at various spots on the map where life has taken me around. Therefore i decided to narrate some of my memories related to those places in brief. 

The posts appearing in this series have been written by me at random but i have put them in chronological order for the ease of assimilation. The posts are as follows :- (click on any one to read)




  1.  Born and Brought Up
  2.  My Exploits on Stage
  3.  The Haircut
  4.   Surnames
  5.  Commissioned into Indian Army
  6.  Bare Beauties of Nagaland
  7. Swimming Lessons
  8. Military Special to Trivandrum
  9. Blue Beaches of Trivandrum
  10. Faux Pas at Trivandrum
  11. Was I Duped
  12. That Damn Altimeter
  13. Kanyakumari to Karakuram
  14. Divine Intervention
  15. Drifting Parachute
  16. Pony Race
  17. Where Were You On New Year's Eve
  18. Naughty Greetings
  19. Marriages are Made in Heavens and Honeymoons .....??
  20. Wild Goose Chase
  21. Sting Operation
  22. कर्तव्यन्वत्मा  -- Duty Before Self
  23. Laddoos at Five p.m.
  24. Twins One Year Apart



As I continue writing more posts in this series i will keep adding their titles here.


47 comments:

Nagesh said...

nice one!, I didn't know that only the senior most should acknowledge a salute in a group, Primus inter parse applies here also :)

Indyeah said...

A delightful read sir!:)
And so namy beautiful places that you have lived in!Kufri ,Shimla...*sigh*
lol@the bell bottoms and the salutes...:D..must have been some amazing times...:D

J P Joshi said...

Life.......and its many memories. Waiting to walk with you down memory lane.

Usha Pisharody said...

Wonderful to read of this, and also trace a line in history :)

The narrative is interesting and really a joy to read.

Z@ki-R said...

glad that you had been to NE India too. North East is a mini subcontinent with its diverse ethnicities, sentiments and politics & associated corruptions!!

Balvinder Balli said...

Nagesh, yes in the Indian Army such protocols are very sringently observed. In civil society people are not particular about such petty issues.

Abhilasha, yes been around lovely places in life, and you being an Army 'brat' [your words :-)] may not be stranger to such incidents as i have narrated.

JP thanks, yes this journey will continue and thanks for keeping company.

Usha, yes a bit of history too. Thanks for the compliments.

Zakir, yes after Faizabad i reported at Nagaland. Will be writing next on that.

Harpreet said...

Lovely, waiting .......... for next post

How do we know said...

VERY NICE POST!! Really enjoyed all of it.

Balvinder Balli said...

Happy, so you read it, i was going to send you an SMS to read my blog which i often do when i write something about our family. Yes, next post will follow shortly.

How Do We Know -- good that you enjoyed. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

It was a good read. My dad had narrated so many fun stories from his young days too.

Balvinder Balli said...

Solilo, thanks. Yes lots of funny incidents keep happening in life, so why not share with others.

Reflections said...

That was lovely....enjoyed reading it:-))
LOL at the cycle kissa & bellbottoms .

I will join u in ur prayers tht u'll be able to fulfill ur hearts desire:-))

waiting for the next post:-))!!!!!!

Reflections said...

And Wow..... ur father also was in the Indian Army. U must have so many stories to tell.

Always wanted to join the armed forces.....I applied once but didnt get selected on basis on weight.....I was underweight incase u misunderstood:-P

Balvinder Balli said...

Nancy, thanks for joining me in my prayers for purchasing that house.

At that age being under weight is ok 'cause gaining weight is very easy later on but not shedding.

Yes my father also used to narrate lots of Army stories.

Thanks once again, yes my next post shortly.

Gazal said...

wow..

am looking forward to the next post....

masters in english literature..wow

Razzer said...

ur one of the blessed ones,I truely believe.
We shud meet smeday.
Anand. :-)

LazyKing said...

Waouh, this is a great post. I didnt want to stop.
Waiting for the next cupcakes heuu post, lol

Balvinder Balli said...

Gazal, thanks, no, couldn't complete masters. yes, next post this weekend.

Anand, we are all blessed by the grace of that God Almighty. And God willing we will certainly meet some day.

Lazy King, thanks. Writing next post this weekend.

Material Girl said...

Fascinating and a very gripping blog, keep at it. Its brilliant :)

Balvinder Balli said...

Thanks, Newbie. Keep visiting.

Indyeah said...

http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com/

Sir an interesting link one you might like or maybe you already know about it..:)

Corinne Rodrigues said...

Hi Balvinder - Came by here via IHM's blog and was pleasantly surprised to find it was written by an Army Officer! What's more one from the Dogras. I have pleasant memories of Faizabad. My Dad (Brig F R Campos) was Sub Area Commander, Allahabad and hence frequent visits to Faizabad were made. I recall your Centre Commandant Col Babbar. Were you posted there around 76-78?
Regards
Corinne

Indian Home Maker said...

The bell bottom story had me in splits :)[just like the bell bottoms were ...]
But I feel defence officers in their crew cuts look perfectly fine,no matter what the trends.

The right hand person acknowledges the salute ... and in the car who sits behind the driver ...on the right side? The senior most again?

It was absolutely great reading this post :)

And I am discovering we have a lot of ex-services crowd here in the blogosphere!! Amazing !!

Balvinder Balli said...

Abhilasha, thanks for the very useful link on the Army. Have saved it in my fav.

Corinne, yes i got commissioned in 1978 and reported at the Dogra cenrte in Oct '78 and Col Babbar was the Centre Commandant. His soft and husky but heavily toned voice in which he used to speak, (or i will call it whisper) still echos in my ears. Corinne , any relations with General Rodrigues? I served under him in Ladakh in 1983-84. Nice meeting you in the blogworld. Keep in touch

IHM -- No, in the car it is other way round the senior most sits on the left.

Yes gradually i am also coming accross a number of bloggers, related to defence forces in some way or ther other.
Thanks for the compliments.

Mampi said...

You are right, I absolutely loved the jog down your memory lane. The dotting of the picture is a great idea, and it does make a beautiful pattern by itself also.
The story of your birth is no less than a legend, loved it. Here is an Amen to your wish of renovating the Simla-wali building.
The bell-bots split incident had me in splits. Now going to the next post.

Balvinder Balli said...

Mampi, thanks.

Neerav said...

Hello Sir,
I am Col Babbar's Grandson.Nice to know that you were known to my Grandfather.Do share with me the association you had with him in faizabad.My email add is neeravkohli@yahoo.com
Regards
Neerav

Neerav said...

Dear Sir,
Was very touched to read that after 31 years also you can recall the huskiness of(Col Babbar's) voice.I know it must have been a short association as you joined in 78, and he retired in 79, but I'm sure you would have lots to tell.My email add is neeravkohli@yahoo.com .Eagerly awaiting your reply
Warm Regards
Neerav

Balvinder Balli said...

Neerav, though our stay at Faizabad in 1978 was a brief one, yet the personality of Col HKS Babbar left an indelible mark on the minds of all the Dogra officers who stayed there briefly during his tenure or served under him for a longer time. In Dogra regiment Col Babbar is treated like a legend. His name is synonymous with discipline, uprightness, honesty and professionalism. He was dreaded by the Naga insurgents when he was posted in that area prior to his tenure in the Regimental Centre. They had in fact put a prize on his head.
He was such a hard task master that even if he himself committed a mistake in his day to day work, he would not forgive himself and would simply type a warning letter and send it for recording in his dossier.

I heard that after retirement he took up a job with coal fields but had to chuck it out because he could not put up with the strong nexus between the powers that be and the coal theft mafia.

Neerav thanks for your visit. It was a great feeling to receive response from someone related to Col Babbar. You are so lucky to be from his clan. Keep in touch

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AMOL said...

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