RIFLE RANGE BOY

If a genie would suddenly pop up in front of me today and want to grant me three wishes and asked me what would it be, I would probably ask for an alternative life where I have the luxury of travelling to small towns. That decision would be made, of course, after considering the merits of knowing whatever happened to Flight #MH370. In my alternative life, I would take a long slow leisurely ride (or drive) along the coastal and interior roads of Peninsular Malaysia. Since time is expandable, I would stop at every small town that I would come across, spend a few days there, mingle with the local populace to learn about the little things that unique is about them and write all about it. Just for the kick of it. Indeed there are many unexplored gems around. Now did you know that there is a Customs Museum in Jelebu District in the State of Negeri Sembilan? Customs not as Customs and Excise but traditional customs. T alking about Jelebu, during one of our long rides to Kuala Klawang ...

The Black Prince (2017) Punjab has the dubious honour of being one of the last states in India to stand steadfast against the might of the British. Even when it finally crumbled, the state was the site of one of the first resistance to the rule of the British Raj. We are all too familiar with the prowess of the one-eyed Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who remains the only person that managed to conquer Afghanistan. Even the mighty Alexander the Great was blocked at the borders by King Porus with a little unceremonious help of the Anopheles mosquito. The 1919 Jallianwala Bhag massacre ignited the fire of nationalism. On one hand, the Sikh can walk proudly with their heads held high knowing very well they had a few 'firsts'. However, as boastful as they may be of their feats, they would also bow their heads in shame for the treasonous acts of many their kind.  On 13th April 1919, which happened to be the day the Sikhs celebrated their holy day of Vaisakhi, the Christian ushered...

Plato, in the book Republic, suggested that the state should be ruled by philosophers. But he also mentioned about groups of people attuned to different classes to do different duties for the upkeep of the nation. In modern times, these ideas may not be politically correct as it is not good virtues that spins the modern world, but rather, stashes of money. In the 21st century, conformity of the majority to the whims of the 1% goes a long way in keeping order but not peace and definitely not law. Creation of just wars seems to the calling of the century whilst the powerful maintain their stronghold on the hapless majority. Harimandhir Sahib, was given the golden feel to the pre-existing temple by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. He has the honour of being the only power defeating the Afghanis. He created Punjab, ruled over Kashmir and Afghanistan. His royal regalia included the coveted Koh-i-Noor diamond which was snatched from the Persians who had looted it from Andhra Pradesh. T...

Job well done smoking 'em out of their foxholes?  Wow, I just realised that my friends are getting just as twisted as me. I guess that is why they say that friends with the same mental illness flock together. When a naturalised Sikh Canadian gets elevated to the rank of Minister of Defence, normally the whole world would sing praises of equality, of globalisation and acceptance of multiculturalism. That the world is everyone's oyster and all one has to do is show allegiance to a flag, bravery and the zest to fight for the Truth against the tyranny of Evil forces. There are two forces in this world, the Good and Evil. The Evil one is hellbent on crushing something good that the rest of the world (i.e. Good) is trying to propagate. But, no! My friend looks at it as a betrayal to Sikh community. The Sikhs have always had a special place in the heart of the people of the world. Before the Partition, Sikhs were the minority in the state of Punjab, overpowered in numbers b...

Dadah is Death (1988, Australian) I decided to give this film a go after discovering it in Karpal's book by Tim Donoghue. It mentioned his famous case involving 2 Australian citizens who eventually went to the gallows in Malaysia. Their case became an international sensation in the 80s as they were the first Caucasians to be hanged under drug related charges. It even created a riff in bilateral relation between nations. I was fascinated to read that the prolific international actor, Victor Banerjee, was chosen to portray the Tiger of Jelutong a.k.a. Karpal Singh. In the cast was also Sarah Jessica Parker of 'Sex and the City' before she was famous. The film was made to illustrate the barbaric nature of the Malaysian drug laws, the corrupt officials, the dungeon like accommodation in our prisons, the blatant abuse of prisoners by wardens, vice activities in jail and generally looking at the Malaysian way of doing thing through eyes above the uppity stiff upper l...

Thanks to RS for this collection of pictures starting from a time more than 150 years ago... Sikh Cavalry Officers, British India Army, attending Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1873 in London, England. circa 1919.. Photograph by Randolph Bezzant Holmes (1888-1973), India, North West Frontier, Indian army camel corp in Miran shah.. From an album, of 74 photographs compiled by Neville John Gordon Cameron,  1st Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. A British officer with his family, 1877, Mooltan. Five Indian soldiers near Miranshah, Tochi Valley, Waziristan, 1898 Military encampment in the Razmak,1898 Indian soldiers and elephants, Multan, 1898 British and Indian soldiers with elephants, Multan, 1899 Hyderabad contingent regtl center band in Toochi..1895.. Churchill introduced to Sikh VCOs in Shillong,1945.. 4th Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army. Group portrait of the Sikh officers and British captains of the 14th Sikh Regim...