I’ve spent 58-years studying defense, either full-time or part-time depending on the job situation. My output has been small for all those years, perhaps 30 books including four novels, ten annuals, two co-authored, and five refused publication permissions by Government of India. The reason is I study mainly what I want, and mostly that doesn’t translate into a monograph or book. I dropped out of college in my senior year; since I planned to go back I did not get my first degree until 29-years later. Subsequently, I’ve acquired a second bachelor’s and am working on a seventh masters. After completing one doctoral thesis (not submitted as I have been unable to pay the fees), I began another in conjunction with study for a third. Degrees are simply pieces of paper saying the holder has completed prescribed work. They don’t prove one knows much. Studying continuously has a negative side: the more one learns, the more one finds how little one knows. My intention was to have this up on Kindle by March, in anticipation of the next round at Doklam. For readers’ information, there will be no resumption of the Doklam crisis. China has built its road to Jampheri Ridge, which is where the trouble started in the first place. And China has moved in a combined arms brigade, plus reinforced its previously minimal fighter air presence. Meanwhile, GOI has been busy diplomatically and politically kow-towing to the Chinese. In my opinion, the next crisis will be at another point, perhaps…..”

[Editor: We are including a link to Amazon India, for those in other locations – please search by the book title or ASIN: B07HM5LKWG ].

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“The analysis asks one question and has one answer: Can India fight a two-front war against China and Pakistan? The answer is it cannot. Because of the China-Pakistan alliance, we cannot fight even a one-front war: engaging in a war with either adversary runs the risk of weakening the other front, leaving it open to exploitation. The solution, fortunately, is straightforward: build a 2-front war capability. The next problem is equally straightforward: The Government of India is determined not to spend money on defense. Today spending is down to 1.56% of GDP, lower even than in 1962. And we know how that ended. It takes little imagination to foresee what would have happened if 1962 had become 2-front: Pakistan would have walked over Punjab, perhaps all the way to Delhi, and we would have lost Kashmir too. If we chose to defend Punjab, we would have lost the North East Frontier Agency, now called Arunachal. If we tried to defend both fronts, we would have lost both.

For a strong defensive posture, we need to spend the 3 – 3.5% of GDP we spent 1963-1990, both to modernize and to raise eight more divisions that is the minimum needed. To negotiate from strength, we need 4%+ and to recover our lost territories we need 6%. Our spending is 1.6% of GDP, lower even than the 1.9% of 1962….”

OCA (INDIA) – 2018• DATE:21st September 2018• TIME:6.30 P.M.• VENUE: PARTY  COTTAGE, DELHI GYMKHANA CLUB, 2-SAFADARJUNG ROAD, New Delhi 110011

The Agenda:

1. Address by THE PRESIDENT OCA (INDIA) – Confirmation of the Minutes of the Last AGM (2017)

2. To approve and adopt the Annual Report of the Secretary

3. To approve and adopt the accounts of 2017-18

4. To examine any Proposal duly approved by the Executive Committee.

5. To conduct any other business with the permission of the Chair.

(Program will be followed by a Reunion OCA DINNER (Contributory), DELHI CHAPTER at 7.30 P.M.)

 Ashwani Singh Virk

Secretary- OCA INDIA

(9810194724)

RSVP K. Vijay Singh 9811056361 / 7982775761

 28 July Saturday. Kathmandu Nepal:

OCA Nepal vs OSS Nepal on 28 July 2018, Saturday, 3pm at Grassroots Recreation Center, Mandikatar, Kathmandu.

Good game guys! And great support! We made a comeback after starting 4-0 down. And then kept up the lead despite their re-comeback attempt. This is a result of everyone’s cooperation, hard work, endurance… all qualities of being a Cottonian. Shoutout to Bibhatsu and Dikshyant for defending our goal. See you all at the next gathering. Congrats on 13 – 11 victory over Sanawar on our 159th Founder’s day.

One more thing…

About 3-4 junior OCs asked me recently “can I play the match -or- can I join practice?”

The following message is from Jerry Godinho, President of OCA Canada-

“17 OC’s along with their spouses and friends from Greater Toronto Area and Michigan met on Sunday, June 3rd at Bombay Palace.

John McLauglin who is 85 drove 6 hrs from Flint Michigan, dressed in full regalia and drove back after lunch. It was good to see John’s picture in Ruskin Bond’s book.

Pratap Grewal shared about his life and how paralysis impacted him. He shared how he has overcome so many physical challenges in life. John and Pratap represent the true BCS spirit.

It was good to see Tom, Satinder and Ravdeep after a decade.

Akshay Bansal is the newest member as he is completing his MBA at York.

Later on in the summer we will be heading to Stratford to watch a play and another event at a Mexican restaurant is planned in September.

This is the list of the OC’s that attended the event-

1. Angad Singh- 2007
2. Satinder Singh- 1956
3. Akshay Bansal- 2008
4. Saranjit Singh- 1967
5. Tom Mehra- 1979
6. Shanker Basu- 1970
7. Gurpreet Bhogal-
8. Gautam Salwan- 1989
9. Sanjay Chadha- 1988
10. Tanvir Sodhi- 2004
11. Sameer Sodhi- 2007
12. John McLaughlin- 1948
13. Jerry Godinho- 1983
14. Jasraj Singh- 2009
15. Jiwan Goyal
16. Ravdeep Ahuja- 1989
17. Partap Grewal – Curzon 1963″

Thanks and kind regards,

Jasraj Singh

Ibbetson 2009

Felicitation given by my school Bishop Cotton School, Shimla during the concert day at the Irwin Hall by the Headmaster Mr Roy Robinson. Special award of appreciation by enrolling my name in the prestigious Spartan Club (Highest award given in the school).
Extremely emotional moment to cherish.

Sandeep Mansukhani.

The flag of Bishop Cotton School Simla proudly held by Sandeep.

CAPT SANDEEP MANSUKHANI SUMMITED MT EVEREST (8848m/29029ft)

And YES he did it!!!!!!!

21/6 day 5 @ 0757 hrs

With His grace and countless prayers of all you lovely people, the holy Mt Everest allowed Capt Sandeep Mansukhani to reach its summit.  He is blessed by Guru to be surrounded by such amazing  and caring people.

He is a first Sindhi, first commercial pilot and first Old Cottonian to reach the top of the world making us all proud.

Nothing more for now…

Just keep praying as the descent of Everest becomes very very critical with body losing all focus after doing non stop climb of 24 hrs in thinnest of air and barely eating anything. Will update u later in the day when he reaches lower camps.

Regards and loves…..Harsimran mansukhani

CAPT SANDEEP MANSUKHANI HAS LEFT FOR THE FINAL PUSH
20/5 @ 0830 hrs
Finally the hour has come. All geared up….layers of inners under the downsuits….head torches flickering in the cold scary darkness as Capt Sandeep Mansukhani started climbing the steep and dark wall towards summit. No talks at all….just the sound of his own breaths.

Unimaginably freezing cold increases the chances of frostbite and cerebral edema. I can imagine him kicking his crampons and taking one step ahead toward his dream summit.

And what makes me so positive today is the messages I am receiving from so many loving people out there who are visiting temples, gurdwaras, doing prayers in their own ways for the safe accomplishment of Capt Mansukhani’s mission Mt Everest. I am so so thankful and grateful to you all. 

Next update I might receive after 12am when they will rest a while to change their oxygen bottles if required. Will keep you posted….regards….Harsimran Mansukhani