Whispers Forum

Many decades back, whenever a governor or a chief minister visited any district, the entire administrative machinery would turn upside down to make sure that everything goes on well. This trend was more keen and acute in southern Punjab Malwa district. A TPM from Chandigarh mentioning tour programme of such dignitaries, would trigger chain of meetings to make arrangements for their stay, catering and spot visits etc. The GA to deputy commissioner would then speak to SDMs, Tehsildars, DFSC, and AETC etc for arranging money for the visit. Some officials would be sent to Ludhiana and Chandigarh to bring brown bread and other rarely available delicacies of liking of the dignitaries. Some revenue officials would be asked to arrange partridges, quails, and junglee murgas etc and renowned cooks for making sumptuous dishes. In a particular district,a very well known SDM, was a master of such situations and whenever he was made in-charge of such rare occasions, he would bring laurels for his bosses. During one such visit at the heights of militancy, he made such splendid arrangements during the visit of a governor. The governor was so happy with the food arrangements that he specially mentioned it to the the deputy commissioner. The deputy commissioner was a nice old man. At the end of the tour, when the governor was about to depart, the deputy commissioner, called the SDM and told the governor that all the catering arrangements were made by him. The governor very happily remarked, ''Splendid ! You are a very good cook ! You are a very good cook !. ''In his heart of heart the SDM felt embarrassed as he was taken for a cook. The effect of applause by a governor, during governor's rule, was too overpowering on the deputy commissioner to correct him and tell that he was SDM and not a cook.
It is generally said that the good human beings are also good cooks. Recently, the chief minister of Punjab, has hosted the winners of medals in Olympics in a unique way. He has personally cooked royal food for them .Punjab has been contributing gold medals in the Indian kitty even before independence by producing super players in Olympics hockey In Olympics athletics, earlier Milkha Singh had got 4th position in 400 metres race, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa had got 5th position in 400 metres hurdles, and this time in Tokyo Kamalpreet Kaur has got 5th position in discuss throw. It was legendary Milkha Singh's dream to see a medal in athletics in Olympics. Neeraj Chopra has won a gold medal in javelin, but he belongs to Haryana, erstwhile part of Punjab. He was especially feted on the occasion. Had Amarinder Singh announced before the start of the Tokyo Olympics that he would host the winners and serve them delicacies cooked by him personally, may be Punjab's performance would have been better. The winners must have enjoyed the rare royal delicacies prepared by the cm and they may cherish the memories. I remember, the then chief minister of Punjab had undertaken the full responsibility of preparing the Indian hockey team for the 1975 world cup and it is now a history that Indian had won this cup then. Presently Odisha CM has been doing this work. Now doubt, it was at the initiative of cm that a sports university has been established at Patiala, but to promote sports in the state except hollow slogan of 'khelo Punjab', nothing is visible. Definitely the participants in this rare royal elegant feast would say, ''CM is a very good cook, he is a very good cook!''
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu

I agree with Anshumali (WIC, Sept 1).The US failed to see through the Talibans gameplan after ruling Afghanistan for two decades. Return of Talibans to power after 20-year proxy rule by the US and its NATO allies, is a collective failure of their foreign policies.
The elected Ashraf Ghani government was kept aloof by the US and its allies while carrying on negotiations with the Talibans. On the contrary, the Ashraf Ghani regime was forced by the US to hold talks with the Taliban for a power-sharing arrangement along with the release of 7,000 Talibani prisoners (read as ferocious fighters) captured in the past. This merely reinforced the nuisance value of the Talibans.
The situation in India’s neighbourhood is explosive, almost changing by the hour, ready to reach the flashpoint anytime. Pakistan seems determined to create mischief to add to India’s discomfiture. The turmoil has not ended. Situation in Jammu & Kashmir, would remain explosive due to infiltration of Pakistan- sponsored terrorists. Peace in India, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian republics will be adversely impacted leading to a change in geo-political situation in the region.
The USSR, China is waiting to accord recognition to the ‘rogue’ regime that is not democratically elected but took over Afghanistan by force. The USSR and China will be competing with each other in capturing the mineral resources like Lithium, gold, iron, copper, lead, zinc among others.
India is in a catch-22 situation. It cannot and should not trust the Talibans, let alone accord recognition to the new regime, which will be tilted towards Russia, China and Pakistan.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Afghanistan images in media, the gut-wrenching stories of death, devastation, despair and a distress sense of helplessness evoke an eerie feeling of déjà vu — one has been down this road 20 years ago. The US’ Afghanistan withdrawal is also an unforced foreign policy error of possibly historic proportions that could have been avoided had the US kept a small permanent military presence in the country so long as the Taliban and Al Qaeda remained active. It’s a blunder that will most harshly be felt by the Afghan people and U.S. counterterrorism interests as also several other countries including India.
Anshumali