The Fighter Pilot and the Politicians

BY STEWART SLATER The U.S Air Force has produced many fine pilots, but only one has regular conferences dedicated to analysing and publicising his thought: John Boyd. Although his combat experience was limited and he never scored a victory, his skills were such that he became known as “40-second Boyd” when an instructor at the Fighter Weapons School based on his standing bet that, starting … Continue reading The Fighter Pilot and the Politicians

Farewell Madame

BY DR KAUSTAV BHATTACHARYYA FAREWELL MADAME MARIA AURORA COUTO: PERSONAL TRIBUTE FROM A YOUNG ADMIRER … An article arrived in my smartphone newsfeed on Ms. Maria Aurora Couto and there was an instant excitement at the prospect of sharing it with her on WhatsApp, which I had done in the past until I read those devastating words ‘passed away’.  At which point the excitement turned … Continue reading Farewell Madame

A Chant for Difficult Times

It is said that the chant “Mookam karoti vaachaalamPangum langhayatey girimYatkripaa tamaham vandeyParamaananda Maadhavam” Can make the cripple climb mountains and the mute speak eloquently. The mantra asks for grace in order to ease someone out of difficult situations. It means: “I salute that Madhava,The source of Supreme Bliss,Whose grace makes the dumb man eloquentAnd the cripple cross mountains.” Continue reading A Chant for Difficult Times

Remembering Bangalore From Februaries Past

BY DRISHTI RAKHRA Telling someone that I’m from Bangalore is never easy. The statement of belonging always appears with a little bit of shame. My memory of Bangalore is not steeped in the sharp twists and turns of Kannada, it is not heavy with the experiences of going to landmarks like Lalbagh on weekends or eating breakfast at one of the many efficient darshinis of … Continue reading Remembering Bangalore From Februaries Past

“Hey Daddy!”

BY JOYA LALL “Hey Daddy! When are you coming home?”- the first line that comes to mind when thinking of both my older brother Dev and myself, as infants unable to understand why ‘Daddy’ was constantly away for so long! ‘This ‘Daddy’ was one of India’s then tennis representatives, constantly travelling both nationally and worldwide. According to Google, this ‘Daddy’ was in ‘the Indian ‘Davis … Continue reading “Hey Daddy!”