Lost in Saral Sanchar

Licence Migration or A Bureaucratic Trap?

All my regular work collapsed the moment I saw that Department of Telecommunication Office Memorandum. It landed like a brick on my desk two weeks ago. I had my deadlines set, my plans neat and clear, but this notice pulled the plug. Suddenly my life was not about writing or work, but about surviving the Saral Sanchar portal.

The memorandum, dated 11 March 2025, ordered all licensed ham operators to migrate their certificates to this sparkling new online system before 15 September 2025. A clean digital push, they said. In reality, it was like asking us to wade through a swamp with leeches tied to our legs.

I saw the circular in a WhatsApp ham group. Oddly enough, the discussions there were muted. Maybe people were already too tired to rant.

Ham radio is no joke. It has been a lifeline in floods, quakes, cyclones. When phones die and networks collapse, ham operators keep authorities connected. No money, no perks. Pure service. And now, the very community that serves in crisis is itself in crisis,  thanks to a half-baked portal.

I logged in. Made an account. Took a quick glance at the migration tab. It looked like a puzzle dumped on a child. I still tried. Failed. Then flagged my frustration to fellow hams. Messages poured in. Some confused, some angry, some downright hilarious. “Why migrate at all?” one asked. “It’s tedious, I won't migrate,” groaned another. Someone said they managed to upload but were told to resubmit. Another gem: “Only Aadhaar needs attestation by a gazetted officer.”

Then came the manuals. One was 20 pages, the other 39. So apparently, to move my licence from one digital shelf to another, I must first pass an exam in patience and eyesight.

It wasn’t just me. Many were shaken, stuck, lost. Some tried helping others through remote screen-sharing. Some behaved like self-appointed WPC officers, flaunting their “cheat sheets” on WhatsApp. They were helpful until arrogance starts. A comedy show, but with more tears than laughs.

I reached out to the help desk. Their replies were slower than snail mail. And useless. Templates copied and pasted. Nothing addressed my problem. The portal itself was clunky, cryptic, allergic to common sense. No tooltips, no guidance, just endless trial and error. At one point, I begged them to delete my account so I could restart.

And then came the monster called attestation. Out of nowhere, hams were told to run behind gazetted officers to stamp Aadhaar cards. When the government itself says self-attestation is fine, why this madness? Why drag us back to the days of stamps and seals? To prove we exist, again and again?

Anyone who has tried approaching a gazetted officer knows the drill. Excuses, delays, smirks. I even recalled an old story. Years ago, when MTNL asked for attested IDs, I approached my uncle, a senior government officer. His reply? “How do I know you’re not a criminal?” I shot back: “I didn’t come for a character certificate. Your job is to match photocopy with the original and sign.” He finally did, after the drama. That’s what attestation culture looks like. Power, not purpose.

Meanwhile, other government services are years ahead. When I renewed my driving licence in Delhi, Aadhaar OTP was enough. Fast, simple, painless. Yet for ham radio migration, we are forced to perform clerical duties that WPC staff should be doing.

Office Memorandum: Typically meant for internal govt communication, not public dissemination. Yet, used here to coerce compliance via WhatsApp groups.

There’s also the strange legal twist. The 11 March 2025 note was an Office Memorandum, meant as an internal instruction. Not even a circular for public circulation. Yet hams are being coerced into compliance. And not a single direct email or SMS to licence holders, even though WPC has our details. Instead, whispers in WhatsApp groups. A mess created out of thin air.

At one point, I almost thought of quitting amateur radio altogether. The frustration was that heavy. A hobby rooted in freedom and service is now buried under paperwork, passwords, and pointless hurdles.

Saral Sanchar was supposed to make life easier. It has only made life smaller. A portal where time dies, humour struggles to stay alive, and passion for radio drowns in bureaucracy.

I’ll keep documenting this circus. Maybe one day someone in power will read, laugh nervously, and fix it. Until then, migration feels less like a system update and more like punishment for being a ham in India.

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Smartphones: The Upgrade Trap

 Disposable tech fuels e-waste epidemic!

Apple's iPhone 17 is yet to launch, but they are already teasing iPhone 18 and beyond since the past many months. It's like they are trying to keep us hooked with promises of future upgrades. Meanwhile, our current iPhones become obsolete after a few years, and we are left with devices that no longer receive software updates or security patches. And to make matters worse, e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart are fueling this cycle with glossy advertorials and "super discounts" on older iPhone models like iPhone 14, 15, and 16. But the reality is, these phones are already nearing the end of their software update and security patch lifecycle. That means you are not just paying the upfront cost, but also hidden costs down the line, like compromised security and outdated features. It's a clever marketing tactic, but not exactly a great deal for consumers.

Android manufacturers like Samsung aren't much better. Their premium phones are expensive, and they often abandon support after a few years. Samsung even tried to develop its own operating system, Bada OS and later Tizen OS, but did not gain much traction. Microsoft also had its own mobile ambition with Windows Mobile, but despite initial market presence, it ultimately failed to sustain itself. Ubuntu, the popular open-source operating system, also attempted to enter the smartphone market with Ubuntu Touch, but unfortunately, it's no longer a viable player in the space. It's frustrating that we are stuck with these two giants - Apple's iOS and Google's Android. No other company has been able to challenge their dominance.

Huawei, the Chinese Tech giant often pitched against Apple's iPhone, has been working on its own operating system, Harmony OS, in an attempt to break free from Android. While it's still in development, it's a step in the right direction. However, the result of this dominance is that we are forced to upgrade our phones every few years, generating massive amounts of e-waste and draining our wallets. Joy!

It's time for legislation to step in and ensure that smartphones are built to last. We need phones that can receive software updates and security patches for atleast a decade. This would not only benefit users but also reduce e-waste. Take Fairphone, for example, a Dutch social enterprise that designs modular, repairable, and upgradable smartphones made from responsibly sourced materials. They prioritise sustainability, fair labour practices, and long-term support, showing that a more responsible approach to smartphone manufacturing is possible. Until then, it's clear that some tech giants' sustainability claims might be more about PR than actual impact, and that's just green-washing. We need real change, not just clever marketing.

We need industry forums like the Mobile World Congress and tech-savvy groups to push for change. Governments must also play a role in regulating tech giants and ensuring that they prioritise user needs over profits. Can we make it happen? It's possible, but it will take effort and determination from all stakeholders involved. And maybe, just maybe, we will be able to keep our phones and our wallets intact.

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India’s Quiet Strength – Not Media Noise

Hype vs Reality & Multipolar Path Forward

I write this on the eve of Independence Day. I write it out of love for India. I do not wish to tear my country down. I want truth, so India can truly rise.

Our media loves big headlines about manufacturing. Newspapers, TV channels, and even NITI Aayog echo slogans like “India will lead electronics,” “5G self-reliance,” and “world leader in mobile phone production.” But much of the heavy lifting still comes from China. We import key parts, modules, and even the machines that make them, then assemble them here. Many finished goods with Indian brands are really built from imported components. Our so-called “5G network” rests largely on knock-down imports. Our space and defence agencies too are not immune to the charm of Chinese stuff. We even cheered when the US blocked Huawei, yet we still lack strong domestic research and development to fill that gap.

The same pattern shows in medicines. India still buys vital drug ingredients from abroad. Active pharmaceutical ingredients come largely from Chinese makers. That leaves our drug supply chain fragile if geopolitics or trade lines break.

Electric vehicles (EV) sound like a new India story. But our EV push depends on imported battery cells, magnets and other parts. Millions of rupees flow outward to buy things we do not yet fully make. That is not an industrial revolution. It is a supply-chain gap. 

The government’s production linked incentive (PLI) and similar schemes have pushed smartphone assembly upwards. Production numbers look good. But assembly can hide dependence. Much of the high-value kit still arrives from overseas. We must be honest about that difference. 

Why does this matter? Because slogans and PR cannot replace raw capability. If we call assembling a factory “manufacturing independence,” we sleepwalk into strategic risk. We should ask hard questions. Where are the chip fabs? Where are our own battery plants at scale? Who builds the machines that make the machines?

Instead of noisy headlines and puffed-up narratives, India should make real things quietly. True prestige follows real achievement, not empty cheers.

Foreign policy matters here. Recent U.S. pressure, including new tariffs tied to energy and trade has shaken the optimistic optics of India-US closeness. Trump slapped a 50% tariff on India over our oil imports from Russia. Reports say tariffs and trade coercion have even put some U.S. defence and Boeing aircraft purchases under review. New Delhi is watching options. This is a wake-up call: alliances shift when trade and power collide.

Recently, the US sent back 104 Indians in a military plane. Their hands and legs were chained for 40 hours, including women and children. The flight reached Amritsar. Opposition MPs called the treatment “degrading” and held protests. The foreign minister engaged Washington over the treatment. But the wounds remain. These actions frighten the diaspora and raise doubts about the “friendship” with America. This is not easy to swallow. It hurts, and many Indians now think twice before going abroad. Our friendly ties seem fragile when dignity is sacrificed.

Worse still, in early 2025 the U.S. moved to end birthright citizenship through an executive order. Children born in the U.S. to non-citizen or temporary visa holders, like many Indians, would no longer be guaranteed automatic citizenship. Courts stepped in. Multiple judges nationwide, including in Maryland, issued injunctions halting the policy, with the latest ruling reaffirming that birthright citizenship remains protected under the 14th Amendment. The worldwide backlash shows how deeply the issue touches immigrant families.

Additionally, Trump administration increased scrutiny of Green Card holders. These steps created deep anxiety among migrants, including Indians who have lived in the U.S. for decades.

Economist Jeffrey Sachs

As US ties flicker, India needs steadier partners. Russia stays close; Putin may visit New Delhi soon. Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. BRICS and SCO should be more than photo-ops. They should mean real multipolar solidarity. Economist Jeffrey Sachs says it plainly: India and China need each other in a multipolar world. The U.S. wants to use India, but we should stand tall. We are the third-largest economy. With care and respect, we can outgrow old power centres. A stable future demands mutual respect, not subservience. Watch Jeffrey Sachs's comments in these YouTube video links: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9xE4tumqzz0 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FyYv_WgYQeg

There is a moral angle, too. Our diplomatic choices, for example a visible tilt toward Israel and distancing from Palestine, have consequences at home and abroad. Large protests and international criticism show that many countries and civil societies object to the violence in Gaza and the humanitarian cost. These choices affect how India is judged on the world stage. 

Inside the country, institutions are under strain. Eminent voices warn that politics is creeping into education and public life. When universities and public bodies change appointments for political reasons, merit suffers. When the media shrinks from critique and repeats slogans, democracy weakens. Former Vice Chancellor at Delhi University and economist Deepak Nayyar, and others have pointed out the risks to higher education and institutional autonomy. This is not abstract. It is about the future of our public life. 

These concerns are not only about universities or the media. Many people feel the bureaucracy, once expected to be impartial, is now leaning toward the political mood of the ruling establishment. It is not acting like a neutral guardian of the Constitution. Even the armed forces, which have always stayed above politics, now face such doubts. Critics say some military statements seem aimed at serving political optics instead of plain facts. This raises serious questions. Are institutions that should unite the nation being pulled into politics?

I must be blunt. A free press and tough scrutiny are not enemies of the state. They are its protectors. If journalists avoid critical questions and prefer applause over accountability, power grows unchecked. Power without checks drifts toward arrogance. Arrogance can become something close to a dictatorial mood. That is a danger no patriot should ignore.

I believe in India’s talent and grit. I celebrate every factory that gives steady work. I salute scientists and engineers who push our limits. But I will not applaud theatre for progress. I want real factories, real research, real supply chains that can stand shocks. I want policies that back substance, not slogans.

I am not trying to put India in a poor light. I am asking the hard questions that the media should be asking. I am trying to nudge our conscience. Love of country is not blind love. True patriotism is pointing out faults with respect and demanding better. If the press, our institutions and our leaders listen, India will not just sound strong, it will be strong. I want my India to have a bureaucracy that is efficient, fearless and neutral, one that upholds the Constitution above all else. I want my India where politicians do not drag our defence forces into political theatre. Our institutions must serve the Republic, not a party, not a leader and certainly not a narrative.  I want my India to be tolerant to all religions and never harass the minorities, as enshrined in our Constitution. Only then will the true spirit of freedom and unity shine through for every Indian. Jai Hind!

Check out the relevant videos below:

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Sirens, Signals & Static Joy

                   Delhi’s Disaster Rehearsal with Hams on Air

Last Friday, 1 August 2025, Delhi woke up to sirens and emergency messages on phones. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) circular had already sent a notice:

Mock victims on Metro floor

“On 01/08/25, an earthquake and chemical disaster mock drill is being conducted in the districts of Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad. Sirens and announcements may occur. Please do not panic, do not spread rumours, and cooperate.”

Simulated injury loaded
in ambulance

This was no panic button. It was part of a larger plan called Exercise Suraksha Chakra. A massive mock drill ran at 55 locations across all 11 districts of Delhi, in sync with parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Residents watched ambulances, fire vehicles, police vans and even army trucks criss‑cross the city streets.

Teams from the National Disaster Management Authority, Delhi DDMA, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana SDMAs, NDRF, Indian Army, Delhi Police, fire services, health, transport, metro staff, civil defence and RWAs took part. They tested systems, coordination and response under pressure.

Meanwhile, I was intermittently monitoring the communication signals at my shack. I grabbed my handheld gear every now and then and tuned into the Ham radio channels keeping the drill in rhythm below.

The exercise started with a fake 6.8 magnitude quake at 9:03 am. That was only the opening act. Soon, mock chemical leaks were staged at industrial sites, metro stations, bus depots, even in some markets. At Ramesh Nagar Metro Station, staff and volunteers evacuated commuters, haz‑mat (Hazardous Materials Response Team)  teams sealed off the hazardous zone, and paramedics rushed in to treat simulated victims.

While all this drama was unfolding, another hero quietly took charge: the Ham radio

Radio Drill Action

community. Five VHF amateur radio stations were activated at key locations: near hospitals, markets, residential clusters and at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium close to India Gate. These licensed operators simulated emergency transmissions to ensure that even if mobile networks failed, communications would not.

A few calls that you could almost hear in real time:

“Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, Sec 22 Rohini: building collapsed, fire, casualties expected… any station acknowledge?”

“Shastri Park: gas cylinder burst, two dead, nine injured… relief services needed fast!”

Ham-Station crew

“IOCL Shahbad Mw Pur site: 30 persons trapped under debris, rescue teams on site…”

“Chlorine gas leak at Indraprastha Metro, situation critical: all stations remain alert.”

These were not rehearsed lines. They were sharp messages under test conditions. The hams handled high message traffic with grace. Their calm voices cut through chaos. They proved that when voice fails, radio prevails.

The brightest moment of the day came courtesy of the VU2DLR repeater, now housed atop the World Trade Tower (WTT) in Noida. At a height equivalent to a 45 storey building, it gave

VU2DLR repeater on WTT mock-up

Delhi‑NCR hams the reach they always dreamed of. Stations in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad easily triggered it using handheld radios, something thought impossible when it used to be under Vigyan Prasar Bharati.

This repeater, running on 145.60 MHz with a Motorola rig and a Diamond antenna, kept the network alive for hours. Traffic was heavy, yet stable. The Ham community was ecstatic. Many whispered, “Our repeater has come back stronger.”

What did this day teach us? First, clear communication is life’s

Ham SUV Antenna

backbone in a crisis. Second, quick coordination beats chaos. Static drills bring real learning. And third, when all else fails, a well-pointed little handheld radio can be the real hero.

In the end, this mock drill was more than just noise and sirens. It was Delhi’s way of saying: We will not be surprised. We will be prepared. A big salute to everyone who ran drills, wore gloves, spun antennae or just played their part in keeping tomorrow safer, sometimes rescue is just a frequency away. 

Few more images from the event:

Ambulances and rescue teams near IOSL

Civil Defence volunteers pose for snapshot

VHF transceiver inside event SUV

SUV with mag-mount antenna plus Ham duo

Banner: Suraksha Chakra organisers

Relief ham station at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium

Ham team at IOSL site

Delhi women police officers coordinating response

Fire brigade trucks park at the IOSL staging ground while rescue teams work alongside volunteers to coordinate aid and brief civilians

On the left: from a rescue SUV, you see a Ham operator transmitting updates and taking notes into the field. On the right, the same operator and a fellow Ham beam a big smile for a selfie break between drills

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Tourist Tragedies in Meghalaya

A Call For Accountability and Safety

As someone who grew up in Shillong, studied, and worked as a journalist in the city, I am deeply concerned about the recent incidents that have shaken the tourism industry in Meghalaya. The mysterious disappearance of the newlywed couple from Indore, with the husband’s body recovered and the wife still missing, is a matter of utmost concern.

Missing Honeymoon Couple

Sonam (26) and Raja Raghuvanshi (28), both from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were on their honeymoon. They checked into a homestay at Nongrait village in East Khasi Hills on May 22. The very next day, they checked out and were never seen again. Raja’s body was later found in a gorge near Sohra (Cherrapunji), while Sonam is still missing. Their families lost contact with them on May 23.

According to Raja’s family, he had planned everything carefully—he hired a local guide and rented a scooter. That scooter was later found parked by the roadside above the famous living root bridge, keys still in the ignition. It looked like they may have stepped out for a quick photo, and then vanished.

The Meghalaya police’s claim that the husband was hacked to death after being robbed raises more questions than answers. This incident, coupled with the earlier case of the Hungarian tourist who went missing in February, suggests a pattern that warrants thorough investigation. The authorities’ response to the Hungarian tourist’s case, attributing his death to venturing alone without local guides, seems inadequate, especially given the lack of further investigation.

Rainbow Falls near the Living Root Bridge – Nongrait

What’s striking is the contrast between the Shillong of my childhood and the city it has become. Until the mid-1990s, Shillong was a quiet and clean city, not particularly known for tourism. However, with the government’s aggressive marketing efforts, the state has become a prime destination, leading to a surge in tourist footfall. While this has brought economic benefits, it has also led to unplanned growth, with homestays and hotels mushrooming in tourist areas, making Shillong and its surroundings congested.

The recent incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some defending Meghalaya’s reputation as a tourist spot and others calling for tourists to boycott the state. In an internet age where messages travel at lightning speed, authorities need to be careful and sensitive about what they say to protect their state’s reputation. The state tourism minister’s statement in a section of the press that such incidents are common in other states and shouldn’t tarnish Meghalaya’s image is not only insensitive but also irresponsible.

The visit of the Madhya Pradesh MP to Shillong and his meeting with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is a welcome step. The MP’s concern about the safety of tourists and the need for a thorough investigation is shared by many. The kin of the couple have demanded a CBI inquiry, which is a reasonable demand given the circumstances. However, the government’s response to this demand remains to be seen.

It's disturbing to note that Raja's body was discovered after eight days, 20 kilometers away from where he had parked his scooter. It's widely argued that had the authorities immediately involved the army and air force on the first day, precious lives might have been saved, and the miscreants' plan thwarted. As Sonam remains untraced on the thirteenth day, this raises serious questions about the government's priorities and response to the incident.

Chief Minister Sangma called the case very unfortunate and said nothing like this had happened before in Meghalaya. He assured the family that the government was doing all it could to locate Sonam, who remains missing.

Living Root Bridge – Nongrait

The fact that the government has remained silent on the demand to involve the Indian army in search operations raises questions about their priorities. As someone who knows the state and its people, I believe it’s essential for the government to take concrete steps to ensure tourist safety. Implementing CCTV cameras, deploying local tourist police, and collaborating with the army and air force for search operations in emergency situations are essential measures.

The tourism industry thrives on peace, safety, and security. The government must prioritise transparency and accountability to restore faith among tourists and prevent such incidents in the future. It’s time for the Meghalaya government to take a proactive approach to address these concerns and ensure that tourists feel safe and secure in the state. Anything less would be a disservice to the people who call it home.


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Sindoor and the Silence We Needed

A look at India’s quick retaliation, rising risks with China–Pakistan

On the night of May 6–7, 2025, India launched airstrikes on nine targets across the Line of Control. The mission was called Operation Sindoor. It was a quick and intense response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam that had happened just two weeks earlier. In that attack, terrorists entered the meadow in Pahalgam and killed tourists after asking about their religion. The nation was shocked and angry. The pain was fresh. But was a war-like response the best answer?

Pahalgam Meadow Where Tragedy Struck 

Pravin Sawhney, a former Army officer and defence analyst, explained Operation Sindoor in great detail. Watch his video towards the bottom of this article. According to him, Sindoor wasn't exactly a war. It was a "crisis" – something just below a hot war. But what makes it worrying is how easily the line between peace and war is now being crossed. And it’s happening more often.

The Pre-War Shift

Sawhney explains the idea of a "pre-war stage." This is the phase when armies start mobilising. Pakistan, due to its geography, can send its troops and launch its offensive forces within 48 to 72 hours. India takes longer, especially to move its strike forces from central parts of the country.

Back in 2001–2002, during Operation Parakram, India took two weeks to fully mobilise. Now that time has reduced, but it still isn’t as quick as Pakistan. So, if there’s a sudden act of terror and India decides to respond with military action, Pakistan has a time edge.

Lowering the War Threshold

In 2019, India used its Air Force for the first time in a crisis when it carried out the Balakot strikes. That was a shift. The IAF had never been used in that way against Pakistan. It became the new normal.

Then came Sindoor. This time, both drones and missiles were freely used – not just in Jammu, but along the full border. That’s a second shift. Now, both countries might feel free to use drones and missiles even during a tense situation, not just full-scale war.

The Prime Minister even said that “any act of terror will now be treated as an act of war.” But what does that mean for the Indian Army? That it must be ready for war every time there’s a terror attack?

Sawhney’s warning is simple – we’re moving into a dangerous zone where peace and war are no longer clearly separated.

A Hidden Player: China

There’s more. Pravin Sawhney also talks about the idea of Multi-Domain Warfare – where war isn’t just about land, air, or sea. It includes space, cyber, and electronic attacks. This concept didn’t just come out of thin air. It’s been shaped over time by joint China–Pakistan military drills, especially the long-running Shaheen exercises. What started as basic air force collaboration has now grown into a larger, coordinated plan for modern warfare.

File Photo: Air Forces of China & Pakistan

Pakistan and China now train together in these multi-domain operations. They call it PAF–PLA Multi-Domain Coordination. So when India hits Pakistan, it’s not a solo game. China is watching, and possibly helping behind the scenes.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 80% of Pakistan’s weapons now come from China. In the recent conflict, Pakistan used Chinese jets to strike Indian targets. There are even claims – not officially denied – that one Indian Rafale jet may have been brought down.

China’s growing defence tech has made this more complex. Their J-10 and JF-17 fighter jets are becoming backbone assets for Pakistan. China’s PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles give them a major edge. Their BeiDou satellite constellation of 44 satellites supports precise navigation, surveillance, and targeting for PLA–PAF joint AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) platforms. Add to that their edge in electronic jamming, cyber tools, and signal intelligence – and you see a new kind of battlefield taking shape.

Adding to the complexity, Pakistan’s Air Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed cleverly fed false information to international media. This was part of an information war – mixing facts, fiction, and noise to confuse and shape global opinion. Sawhney warns that information itself is now a weapon, and India must catch up fast.

In contrast, Indian authorities chose not to confirm or deny key details and responded with the generic statement: “losses are a part of combat.” This silence, while perhaps intended to avoid escalation, gave Pakistan the upper hand in the international narrative. It added weight to their version of events, especially in foreign media.

China and Pakistan are getting closer. We cannot afford to ignore this.

The Human Cost

A Survivor Beside 
Her Slain Husband

Operation Sindoor may have killed around 100 terrorists, including big names from Lashkar and Jaish. But did it stop terror? Not likely. After the 2016 surgical strikes, there was Pulwama. After Balakot, there was Pahalgam. Quick airstrikes don’t erase deep-rooted terror networks.

The sad truth is that 26 people died in Pahalgam, and 26 more died after Sindoor - 21 civilians and 5 army personnel. Most of them lived in border villages. No plan was made to move them to safer places. No warnings were given. For them, war was not news - it came to their doorsteps.

Money Matters

Wars are expensive. A Rafale fighter jet uses 2,900 litres of fuel per hour in normal mode and over 9,000 litres in combat. Each missile costs at least ₹20 lakh. India was the second-largest arms importer last year, after Ukraine.

Can two nuclear nations afford this kind of spending over terror attacks? The economic cost is huge. And it adds up every time national emotions push us into action.

Diplomacy Undermined

During the Sindoor crisis, the U.S. claimed it brokered the ceasefire. Donald Trump even offered to mediate on Kashmir – an embarrassment for India, which has always insisted on bilateral talks. Behind the scenes, Indian and Pakistani officials were already in communication. But public statements and bravado threatened to undo that effort.

Modi later said, “Terror and trade talks cannot happen together.” But Trump said the U.S. would only do business with India and Pakistan if the fighting stopped. That’s how foreign powers used the situation for their own gains.

What Did Sindoor Achieve?

Maybe it gave people a sense of closure. Maybe it sent a message. But did it stop terrorism? Did it prevent future attacks? So far, the answer is no.

As some experts have said, fighting terror needs quiet, consistent effort – not emotional

Armed Forces Brief Media

decisions and shows of strength. Bravery is good, but wisdom is better.

What larger objective did Operation Sindoor serve? If anything, it has shown that a few men with guns can drag a country of a billion into a war posture.

Despite all these threats and downs, the Indian Armed Forces' integrity in upholding democracy since India's partition in 1947 is truly commendable. Unlike in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and other neighbouring countries where military coups have taken political powers, the Indian Armed Forces have never shown interest in grabbing power – rather, they have always stood as the defenders of democracy. That in itself is a remarkable strength.

Sometimes, silence and restraint are stronger than sound and fury.

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Acknowledgement: This article draws from the insights of defence expert Pravin Sawhney. Watch his full video on Operation Sindoor here

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Celebrating Prof. S.K. Acharya: A Brilliant Mind with a Playful Spirit

Reflecting on His Impact and Unforgettable Moments, 30 Years On

A Familiar View–Sketch by Prof Acharya 

As we approach the 30th anniversary of Prof. Salil Krishna Acharya’s passing on November 17, 2024, a flood of mixed thoughts comes to mind. While I’m proud of his pioneering work—like his blueprint for connecting the Ganges and Brahmaputra, which envisioned bringing Northeast India onto the international maritime map, and his founding of the Shillong Commerce College with groundbreaking courses—the lack of recognition by the authorities remains a painful reminder.

In Thought

In the 1970s, shortly after the formation of the State of Meghalaya, Dad prepared a ‘Blueprint for Industrialisation of Meghalaya’ and conducted a study on ‘Agriculture in Meghalaya, Mizoram, and the Mikir & North Cachar Hills’. His insights on education were also captured in articles such as ‘Professional Education in Degree Colleges’.

Beyond his intellectual achievements, Prof. Acharya had a deep love for the arts. An avid admirer of Indian literature, he was a fan of George Bernard Shaw, Shakespeare, and T.S. Eliot, and he even dabbled in poetry himself. His intricate sketches were renowned for their detail.

But, amid all his serious endeavors, it’s the other, more humorous side of Dad that sticks with me.

The Petticoat Episode

Dad had a habit of waking up early, cleaning the verandah, and settling in with his morning essentials: a cup of tea, a packet of cigarettes, The Statesman and The Economic Times, a Philips transistor radio, and sometimes his typewriter or a stack of papers. He loved this morning routine in the warmth of the Shillong sun. One autumn morning, however, my siblings and I were woken up by our mother, whispering, “Something’s off with what your dad is wearing!” We crept closer and burst into laughter—Dad was wearing Mom’s petticoat instead of his pajamas! Mom had mistakenly left it on his clothes rack the night before, and Dad, absorbed in his thoughts, put it on without realising. He even had dinner in it without anyone noticing!

The Case of the Missing Tie

Another gem was during an important conference at Gauhati University. After three days, Mom asked Dad how it went, and he spoke glowingly about Bellevue Hotel, where he stayed with S. Gurudev, a representative from The Statesman. They shared long conversations and a double room with a breathtaking view of the Brahmaputra. However, Dad mentioned that he was puzzled when he saw Gurudev wearing “his” blue Zodiac tie. When confronted, Gurudev insisted it was his own, and Dad, not wanting a fuss, let it go. But when he got home, Mom found his blue tie in the wardrobe! She stormed over, showed him the tie, and scolded, “You left your tie at home and embarrassed that poor man!” Dad, laughing, immediately called Mr. Gurudev to apologise.

The Suitcase Mix-Up

This final story is a classic family tale, passed down from my mom and aunts. One winter, Mom had escaped Shillong’s biting cold by staying with her parents in Lucknow. Dad was busy with his work and planned a trip to Lucknow to bring her back as spring approached. He packed his suitcase carefully ahead of time. But, in the morning rush, he grabbed the wrong suitcase—a near-identical one filled with old saris, blouses, pillow covers, and tablecloths. When he arrived in Lucknow and Mom opened the suitcase, expecting his clothes, she was mortified! Dad, however, found the whole situation hilarious, laughing heartily as he admitted that he’d been too preoccupied that morning to notice the switch. It was typical of him—so engrossed in his thoughts that practicalities sometimes took a back seat. Despite the inconvenience, the incident became a treasured family story, one that would make us laugh every time it was retold.

Another Hilarious Episode: Half-Human, Half-Cow!

Sometime in 1988 or 1989, while I was pursuing my post-graduation at NEHU, Dad traveled to Calcutta to make arrangements for our family's relocation. A few days later, he sent a detailed letter to Mom, excitedly describing a large flat he had rented in South Calcutta. The letter had a vivid description of each room, the washrooms, and the ample space for our Lhasa Apso, Dicky, to roam freely. Dad even wrote about the peaceful ambiance of the neighbourhood and its promising residents.

Mom read the letter aloud to me, but something about it didn't quite resonate. The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I recounted a bizarre dream I had to Mom. In my dream, the South Calcutta neighbourhood appeared outdated and shabby. Even stranger were its residents — from the waist up, they looked like normal humans, but from the waist down, they had cow-like legs! Every resident was a strange mix of human and bovine, half-man and half-cow!

Mom found my dream absolutely hilarious and shared it with Dad in her reply, followed by a trunk call. Dad was so entertained by my absurd vision of South Calcutta's half-human, half-cow residents that he brought it up many times over the years, laughing each time as if he had just heard it for the first time.

Dad’s playful ode to our beloved pet, Dicky, complete with a charming sketch and colorful signature.

Words from afar—a heartfelt letter penned from Calcutta during Dad's work trip.

Creativity on the fly—an old Air Mail envelope transformed into a sketchbook, capturing a slice of our surroundings – 'Bonokusum' House as viewed from our compound.

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