Today's Update: Friends,
I am very very happy and glad to share that there has been a great breakthrough in our efforts. The following is the list of people whom I contacted today. 1. Vimala Acharya 2. Colonel Gowri Shakar 3. Dr. N.K. Kalia 4. Major Shiv Kiran Vimala Acharya: I actually didn't talk anything in particular with Vimala garu. I only told her that I want to talk to her and if she can give an appointment this weekend that would be fine. She told me that she is not yet sure of their weekend schedule and she has taken my number. But I told her that I only will call her this saturday morning. Colonel Gowri Shankar He is a retired colonel. I have taken his personal e-mail. I will be meeting him this thursday at 9:30 AM. Meanwhile I will mail him on what I want to discuss. Dr. N.K. Kalia This is indeed a very emotional call. I never imagined and thought that I could speak to him. I spoke with him around 8:30 pm. It seems he is very old and his voice is shivering. He is very much moved and he felt very happy to know that someone from Hyderabad (a different state) called and said that they are with him. He noted down my number and gave his email id as well. I told him like all of us are with him and we want to know how we can be of help to him. He said that he will give us the details. I mailed him and may be he can reply tomorrow as I mailed him very late (only a few min back). If I do not get a reply, I will talk to him again on thursday evening or so. Major Shiv Kiran He supported us. He told that first we need to collect information and our approach is right. He also told that it is better if we think on how to help the respective families. Though Army do help, it is not sufficient. He said that Military games are being held in Hyderabad on Oct 12th (may be 16th too. I forgot in my happiness) and all the top brass would attend and we can approach them if at all we can get clear data by that time. In the sense, the details from Dr. N.K. Kalia. Also this morning, Murthy garu from Marg Foundation send this mail. ------------------------------------------- I am close to Honorable Minister of State for defence Sri M M Pallam Raju, Govt of India . Pls let us know if you need any information or help if we can do something together. ------------------------------------------- Yesterday as I browsed through Bharat-rakshak.com, I mailed to one Gurmeet Kanwal. He responded immediately though he is not particularly interested in this effort. ---------------------------------------------- First Reply: Dear Prasanthi (if I may), Thanx for your mail. It is a good idea to honour Indian Army soldiers. I am sure you will find a lot of support among our countrymen and women. But, do make it 'armed forces' instead of only the army. Perhaps you could team up with other like-minded websites like defenceindia.com. Many others are there too. I would be happy to pass on my published articles for you to uplink, giving due acknowledgement to sources where these were first published. Warm regards, Gurmeet P.S. Which interview did you see on bharat rakshak? please send me a copy or give me a link to the page. Thanx. -- Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd.) Additional Director Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) RPSO Complex, Parade Road Delhi Cantonment -- 110010, India E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. -- Thoreau Second Reply: Thanx. I have written two books on the Kargil conflict and sympathise with the plight of the families. However, I am an analyst of strategic level issues and stay away from such stories. As such, I have no further info to add to what you have read. However, we do need to honour the memory of those who have died fighting for India. Cheers! ------------------------------------------------ Note: Gurmeet ji actually mailed his numbers too. I didn't post that here as this is a public group. Thank you. with regards, Prasanthi.
