The King’s Gambit: Chapter 2 (The Soldier)

SHAH 32 = SHATRU SINHA 9 = ?? . . . look, since you are going on and on like the proverbial stuck record about Hindu/Muslims marrying each other in India, and want specific proof of Hindu girls marrying Muslim boys (non losers both) then may I start with, say Dilip Kumar (Yusuf Bhai to some) marrying almost every heroine of his day . . . then move on to Feroz Khan, Sanjay et al . . . lately we got Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Amir Khan &c&c marrying Hindu girls in every darn movie you can think of . . . so dude what difference does it make to anybody?

As for your extended family making the right or wrong choice 54 years, again, what difference did it make to, say, the price of bananas in Cape Town?

My only worry is that inspite of your family and you making the right/wrong choice, you still don`t seem to have the guts to come out with your real name at chowk. . . don`t worry. Don`t fear either.

Reply veeresh # 34

``As for your extended family making the right or wrong choice 54 years, again, what difference did it make to, say, the price of bananas in Cape Town?``

Dear Mr Veeresh,

I too have been thinking exactly this thing. IMHO Banana Monopoly was disturbed by this action, thereby leading by hook and by crook to end of Apartheid in South Africa. We should all think about it, and show gratitude. On the other hand, banana monopoly might actually have been strengthened, so opposite can also be true.

Aapka number one fan

Zafar Al-Talib

Yes dear Zafar of Veeresh Malik Fan Club Fame (Thank You!!) . . . for some time I have now been thinking of starting a religion and infact got presentation in powerpoint on a complete religion based on baingan (brinjals) . . . in consideration of which I allot you the world rights on taking over baingan seed market.

Now I will have to make it bananas?

There is no justice. There is no Miss Mann either.

Reply Veeresh # 37

“Now I will have to make it bananas?”

Compare Banana Puja with Baingan Puja. You decide. Flan club has no opinion either way.

Absolute conspiracy! Read about it here!! Aishwarya Rai`s father files a police complaint against Salman Khan for smashing up their family car!!! Aishwarya Rai reports for shooting with black eye!!!! Salman Khan wears blue jeans!!!!!

Yet another case of Muslim boy/s not getting it on with Hindu girl/s.

Kashmir must be resolved before such things go out of hand.

Alternately, Aishwarya Rai`s family must make the right choice, baby, unfortunately she already does stuff for Coke with Hrithik Roshan.

aside: does that make Coke a Hindu drink?

vereesh 40; Hrithak Roshan is married to the cousin of a friend of mine. Part of Feroze Khan and Sanjay Khan`s family is settled in Pakistan. Come to think of it, he would make a good Vijay Chauhan. Fits the description perfectly. Amitabh could be his father. And Dilip Kumar could be the grandfather.

The Rajputana Rifles and Rajput Regiment are not the same ...........

THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES

• Regimental Centre: Delhi Cantonment.

• Regimental Insignia: Bugle and Cords, with the letters `RR` in the centre, all below a pair of crossed Katars (Rajput daggers).

• Motto: Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (Brave enjoy the riches of earth).

• War Cry: Raja Ram Chandra Ki Jai (Victory to Raja Ram Chandra).

..................Bole Nara Haidiri Ya Ali.

Post-Independence

• Theatre Honours: Jammu & Kashmir, 1965.

• Battle Honours: Punch, Asal Uttar, Charwa, Basantar and Myanamati.

• Honours & Awards: 1 Param Vir Chakra, 1 Ashok Chakra, 1 Padma Bushan, 11 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 10 Maha Vir Chakras, 8 Kirti Chakras, 11 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 1 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 41 Vir Chakras, 25 Shaurya Chakras, 112 Sena Medals (including Bar), 36 Vishisht Seva Medals, 2 Yudh Seva Medals, 85 Mention-in-Despatches and 55 Arjun Awards.

comments: The Rajputana Rifles is the senior most Rifle Regiment of the Indian Army. Its first battalion was raised as far back as in January 1775. The Regiment, as it stands today was formed in 1921-22 during general re-organisation of the Indian Army. Battalions from the Bombay and Bengal Armies were also added in the Regiment. Each of the battalions, from the Bombay and Bengal Armies, have a long and glorious past. They have taken part in some of the bloodiest battles in many theatres of the world.

RAJPUT REGIMENT



The Rajput Regimental center is in Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh. The regiment now a days recruits Rajputs, Gujars, Bengalis, Brahmins, Muslims, Jats, Ahirs, Mazhabi & Ramdasia Sikhs and Dogras. A war memorial was erected at Fetehgarh in 1932. It is in a form of a chattri, with its dome resting on six pillars, each representing a battalion at that time and bearing its crest. The regimental motto is Sarvatra Vijaya, which means Victory Everywhere and the war cry is Bajrang Bali Ki Jai.

The honours and awards tally for the Rajputs is as follows (from Infantry in India):Pre-Independence: 1 VC, 1 GC, 10 DSO, 33 MC, 10 IOM, 27 MM and 46 IDSM.

Post-Independence: 1 PVC, 1 AC, 7 MVC, 12 KC, 58 VrC, 20 SC, 67 SM, 4 YSM.

From Vereesh:

``Roohi 241 / Romair 242 . . . well I guess I will sharpen up the debugging skills BUT BUT BUT . . . gentleman in question could have had Afghan or German or Tamil Brahmin grandmother and still been tall / fair / blue-eyed / aquiline nose without having Pathan blood . . . could have gone to any decent school in India, why only Mayo or MGD . . . his Sikhni fiancee could have gone to school anywhere including Hounslow or T-ronto . . . and yes, NDA has to be followed by IMA if you want to be an Army Officer EXCEPT in certain non-regular branches like Medical, Vet, JAG, and certain postings I don`t want to talk about, maybe our hero was out there doing stuff?

I did raise the issue of the RajRif and Rajput regiments with a cousin of mine . . . there is now enough intermingling but yes, Roohi is correct.

There are enough Pakistani & Indian military officers who go for further training to European and American destinations, often together. Likewise on UN postings.``

From Roohi:

``Romair - The Rajput Regiment and Rajputana Rifles are completely different ! I posted some data on the article board about the two.

BTW something like Simran maybe more suitable for the girl instead of Pooja if she is Sikh. and nothing personal about the Pathan Mom but be realistic !!

Mayo College Ajmer is really a boys boarding school (aka the Eton of India) set up in 1870 by the British for the Princes of Rajputana. Just the architecture is amazing - the boarding houses were made by the princely states like Bikaner, Alwar, Jaipur etc and one Prince lived there with a huge staff - now ofcourse it`s the other way around. Check it out at www.mayocollege.com - your Vijay could have been House Prefect and Polo captain before NDA :-) They even have a Prithvi Raj House building !!``

From Roohi:

``Romair #242

Hey, another hole in the Soldier is that Vijay didn`t go to IMA Dehradoon - you can skip National Defence Academy and Sandhurst but you HAVE to go to Indian Military Academy, Dehradoon to be an officer of the Indian Army, I think.``

From Roohi:

``Romair #233

Just read your The Warrior - hope it`s OK to give you some feedback here ... Funny - that could be my family ... just a couple of things though

- Vijay should have gone to Mayo College Ajmer (like all my cousins, don`t have any brothers) to have the right academic background

- his mother was a Pathan (!!!!) that would have had his Dad and him disinherited and thrown out on their butts by a proper Thakur Granddaddy, believe me Rajputs can be 5.11, fair and handsome without the Pathan genes

- Rajputana Rifles and Rajput Regiment are not the same (I have cousins in both)

- the ceremony should have had some religious element to it - Aarti and Tikka by proud (but not pathan)Mom at the Haveli or the family purohit at Amba temple

- the men usually all wear bandhani saffas for ceremonies

- Pooja should have gone to MGD (Maharani Gayatri Devi School Jaipur) or Sophia Ajmer and should be called Padmini (my big sister Mini`s name) or Yashaswini or something

- Thakurs NEVER seem to get too far in the top level in the Indian army - they are just not cut out for the politics and much happier commanding men``