This volume contains an anthology of writings over the last about ten years of Arvindar Singh—a well known scribe in the journalistic circles of Uttarakhand and Delhi. The author has meticulously dealt with the topics he chose to work upon and produced writings which are of great stimulant value to a productive mind and anyone who wants to know the twists and turns in the contemporary history of the modern Indian State.Here one finds pieces on individuals as diverse as Surjit Singh Barnala, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Jaiprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai and Nani Palkhivala—all described in a matter befitting a work of this nature. The author does not fail to pull his punches while dealing with themes like the controversial Siachen Glacier, a historical analysis of the Indo-China dispute as well as various personal narratives which will undoubtedly appeal to the perceptive reader.Various historic personalities are dealt with at a one to one level. The characteristics of Morarji Desai known for his forthright views, the humility of Nani Palkhivala, the élan of Sam Manekshaw who was a born charmer, to mention a few.
The writer has also reviewed a large number of books critically and his specialisations have been defence affairs and politics affecting the sub-continent among a multiplicity of subjects.

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Contents

Nation & Defence

1. 40th Anniversary of the Sino-Indian Conflict: A Historical Perspective —Pgs. 15

2. Gujarat: Where Do We Go From Here? —Pgs. 23

3. Indian Military Academy: 70th Anniversary Celebrations —Pgs. 26

4. The Madras Regiment and Lt General Mohindar Singh —Pgs. 32

5. Siachen Glacier: The Costly Standoff —Pgs. 41

6. MIG-21 Crashes: What Ails the IAF’s Warhorse? —Pgs. 45

personalities

7. Walking Down Memory Lane with Maj General  Ranbir Bakshi, MC —Pgs. 51

8. Our Marshal in Air Force Blue  —Pgs. 56

9. Jayaprakash Narayan Centenary: 1902–2002 —Pgs. 65

10. A Requiem to Madhu Dandavate —Pgs. 68

11. Morarji Desai: The Pilgrim of Eternity —Pgs. 70

12. Nani had a Magnetic Personality —Pgs. 74

13. Narain Dutt Tiwari Mulls over the Past and Future —Pgs. 78

14. Remembering a Politician of Substance —Pgs. 81

15. Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw, MC —Pgs. 83

16. Jacob’s Revelations on Manekshaw —Pgs. 129

17. Surjit Singh Barnala: The Man for all Seasons —Pgs. 132

18. Veer Savarkar: A Historical Review —Pgs. 138

Miscellany

19. Review of “Missed Opportunities: Indo-Pak War 1965” —Pgs. 143

20. The Mecca of Military Learning: Under a  Coffee Table Scanner —Pgs. 145

21. Defence Budgeting X-rayed —Pgs. 148

22. The Reflections of a Thinking Man’s General —Pgs. 150

23. Sam – Who is India’s Bahadur —Pgs. 152

24. A Field Marshal in War and Peace —Pgs. 155

25. The Timmy Legend Chronicled —Pgs. 157

26. Memoirs of a Controversial Figure —Pgs. 159

27. Remembering Pakistan’s Field Marshal —Pgs. 161

28. A Holistic Analysis of Indo-Pak Relations —Pgs. 164

29. A Book of an IAF Veteran —Pgs. 166

30. “Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity” —Pgs. 168

31. Some Thoughts on Dehradun —Pgs. 170

32. Some Musings Around the City of Dehradun —Pgs. 173

33. The Services and Political Leadership: Some Facets of the Relationship —Pgs. 175

34. Revelations of Service Customs —Pgs. 179

35. Dehradun: A Story of a Valley and a City of History and Hope —Pgs. 181

36. For the Honour of India and Beyond —Pgs. 200

37. Another “Daughter of the East” Rises —Pgs. 203

38. The Battle of Dograi and Batapore by Brig Desmond  E. Hayde, MVC (Retd) —Pgs. 206

39. Leaders in Olive Green —Pgs. 208

40. The Herbert Fieldman Omnibus —Pgs. 210

41. How the Vaishno Devi Temple was Reformed? —Pgs. 213

42. Those Whom I Have Known —Pgs. 216

43. Complicated Situations Analysed —Pgs. 230

44. Morarji Desai: In the Right Perspective —Pgs. 233

45. An Encounter with Orhan Pamuk —Pgs. 237

Arvindar Singh was born in 1964. He has had a brilliant scholastic record and has done a Master‘s in History. Since 1989 he has made his mark in the field of business where he has excelled on many fronts. Writing however, has been a passion with him. He has been writing for a variety of subjects as diverse as Sino-Indian relations, problems with Pakistan, the non-fulfilment of the fundamentals of our body politic and the pen pictures of various historical figures to mention a few.In-depth interviewing and reviewing a multifarious number of books and publications has been a forte with him. He has written extensively for the ‘United Services Institution of India Journal’ and ‘Defence Watch’ apart from the local press at Dehradun.In 1994 he wrote a full length biography on the former Prime Minister Morarji Desai during his birth centenary year. Singh has also contributed significantly to the book entitled ‘Nani Palkhivala:A Role Model’ which was a tribute to the great constitutional pundit.He is fond of activities like trekking, long distance motor driving and is a widely travelled person in India and abroad. An ardent swimmer, physical exercise and yoga enthusiast he believes in living a full life in every way.