Happy Independence Day
Another imp day in the history of our nation. Someone shared the calendar of 1947 on social media, it was also Friday then, as is today. Expectations are also as high today, though not exactly in that spirit but some where close to that, in a different manner. Our PM was inspiring and full of passion to say the least. He always is !
Interestingly, or should I say sadly, I also saw a lot of anguished tweets from some very distinguished Army/ forces veterans on the social networks, on the way they get treated by the authorities that be and society in general after their retirement. The feeling gets further accentuated when you read and hear about our counter parts in more developed and 'thankful' societies abroad. I personally, don't believe in lamenting and take on the life as it comes, after all that is what Army taught us.
However, I would like to share a personal experience. I came to Gurgaon in Sep 12 and got into an apartment in a society called Hextax Commune. What a wonderful owner we came across, Mr Sheoran. A man of his word, very dignified and honourable. He seemed to know how a soldier needs to be respected and trusted. We had a wonderful year or so there. We had to change the house for some reasons of convenience of my children and we parted with great mutual respect, We came to Suncity and are living with another good family now.
Interesting is what happened in between. In shifting we liked some apartments, but a couple of times the negotiations fell through apparently for no reason. When I asked the broker as to whys and hows, he would tell me that the owners normally prefer either foreigners or the employees of the MNCs. My pride took a bit of beating but I still asked him, just hoping for an escape, that did he not tell them that I am a soldier, a colonel, and they would have readily agreed to. He was a Bihari and a man in this profession for last 15 years. He gave me a pained smile and told me that Sahib, excuse me, but do not live in a false world, this is Gurgaon, here money is God and that's that. I told him about Mr Sheoran, but he said there will always be exceptions.
I did not think much of his cynicism and moved on. I told him that I would like to meet the next owner myself. This gentleman was a perfectly suited booted CEO of a multi national, had his wife in attendance when we met. I had gone to his Delhi banglow. He exchanged pleasantries and asked me some polite questions about my Army career and how we are the saviour of this 'sick' nation; as to what I am doing and would I be able to afford the house. I told him that it was well with in my budget and I will do it. He then asked me that with which MNC I was working with, I told him in my typical soldierly forthright-ness that I was working with so and so but I won't be continuing for long there and I planned to start of something of my own, There was just that small twitching of his facial muscle, but we talked on. We finalised the rentals, mode of payment, etc and parted way amicably. To my surprise, next day I got a call from the broker that they have changed their mind and no longer want to rent the apartment. On pressing, he gave me that " I told you so look"
I was taken aback, I sent this gentleman a mail, but he did not bother to even reply. I will not name and embarrass him, who knows he may be a member of this very circles and would have posted some hypocritical message as to how proud he is of our Defence Forces and so on. I had another ditto meeting with another guy, this time a bit brasher young man, whom I gave my bit on the issue, before parting ways.
So my request is , as the PM said in the morning, that saviour is bigger than the killer or may be liberator, not for a moment thinking less of our Freedom Fighters for I know what it takes . Our defence forces have been both, if we start from the known history of 1857 onwards.
Please show respect in your small l'il ways to them, you will be respecting yourselves only.
Jai Hind ! more
Interestingly, or should I say sadly, I also saw a lot of anguished tweets from some very distinguished Army/ forces veterans on the social networks, on the way they get treated by the authorities that be and society in general after their retirement. The feeling gets further accentuated when you read and hear about our counter parts in more developed and 'thankful' societies abroad. I personally, don't believe in lamenting and take on the life as it comes, after all that is what Army taught us.
However, I would like to share a personal experience. I came to Gurgaon in Sep 12 and got into an apartment in a society called Hextax Commune. What a wonderful owner we came across, Mr Sheoran. A man of his word, very dignified and honourable. He seemed to know how a soldier needs to be respected and trusted. We had a wonderful year or so there. We had to change the house for some reasons of convenience of my children and we parted with great mutual respect, We came to Suncity and are living with another good family now.
Interesting is what happened in between. In shifting we liked some apartments, but a couple of times the negotiations fell through apparently for no reason. When I asked the broker as to whys and hows, he would tell me that the owners normally prefer either foreigners or the employees of the MNCs. My pride took a bit of beating but I still asked him, just hoping for an escape, that did he not tell them that I am a soldier, a colonel, and they would have readily agreed to. He was a Bihari and a man in this profession for last 15 years. He gave me a pained smile and told me that Sahib, excuse me, but do not live in a false world, this is Gurgaon, here money is God and that's that. I told him about Mr Sheoran, but he said there will always be exceptions.
I did not think much of his cynicism and moved on. I told him that I would like to meet the next owner myself. This gentleman was a perfectly suited booted CEO of a multi national, had his wife in attendance when we met. I had gone to his Delhi banglow. He exchanged pleasantries and asked me some polite questions about my Army career and how we are the saviour of this 'sick' nation; as to what I am doing and would I be able to afford the house. I told him that it was well with in my budget and I will do it. He then asked me that with which MNC I was working with, I told him in my typical soldierly forthright-ness that I was working with so and so but I won't be continuing for long there and I planned to start of something of my own, There was just that small twitching of his facial muscle, but we talked on. We finalised the rentals, mode of payment, etc and parted way amicably. To my surprise, next day I got a call from the broker that they have changed their mind and no longer want to rent the apartment. On pressing, he gave me that " I told you so look"
I was taken aback, I sent this gentleman a mail, but he did not bother to even reply. I will not name and embarrass him, who knows he may be a member of this very circles and would have posted some hypocritical message as to how proud he is of our Defence Forces and so on. I had another ditto meeting with another guy, this time a bit brasher young man, whom I gave my bit on the issue, before parting ways.
So my request is , as the PM said in the morning, that saviour is bigger than the killer or may be liberator, not for a moment thinking less of our Freedom Fighters for I know what it takes . Our defence forces have been both, if we start from the known history of 1857 onwards.
Please show respect in your small l'il ways to them, you will be respecting yourselves only.
Jai Hind ! more
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Col. Mohan Sharma ji, You have been very transparent and shared your uppermost feelings on how we have got hooked by avarice. In the process have become exploitative & slaves of money. Nothing else matters. Regardless of the person/human being & family we are dealing with. i wish we had met. i have had an apt. in a well run multi storied campus. But, over the last 8/9 years have rented the same at a price Rs 10,000 less, than the market rates. We regard such families as part of an "extended family". Not view them as tenants. Leases for 11 months are signed, which get extended as per their convenience. In a period of 8/9 years 3 families have come. Have accepted even on the basis of one month's notice, to vacate, thereby making it easy for the "extended-family's" approach, request & convenience, to the so-called tenancy. The apt. is 2346 sq ft., a drawing room, 3 bed rooms, maid's room with a bathroom, a kitchen with the necessary equipment, and 4 bathrooms. Three A/Cs, etc., etc. (The rental has gone up from the earliest days of Rs 29,000 to Rs 45,000 per month, today.) We have always preferred an Indian family than an outsider -- not being focused on money alone. My purpose in sharing all the above was to share that there are some among us who value our own compatriots, more so from the armed services, who have served the country with a great sense of loyalty and "tun mun dhan". Best regards and Jai Hind. Peace. more
Aug 15
