Signal Officer is a Hero: Book by Col I Jayakaran

Dear fellow Signaller,
You may not know nor have heard of me. I am of 1947 batch and retired in Nov 1976. But you and I are related because we both belong to the great Corps of Signals. I have written a fiction titled, "His Princess Royal" in which the hero is a Signals Officer. The book will be of tremendous reading interest to all Army Officers and Signals Officers in particular, especially those who have served in Army HQ Sig Regt (in the old location near Lok Sabha) and have done their SODE course. The book will be available shortly in Landmark outlets in all cities. It is priced at Rs 160/-. If not available in the book shops as yet, the buyers may approach the publisher directly: either send an email or contact on telephone and the publisher will send it to you by courier, of course, after you have made the payment. His id: "Ana books, Anna Nagar West, Chennai- 600040". Tele:(044)42611223, 64601100, Cell 9840080014 and email: sales@anabooks.net
Those living in and around Anna Nagar, Chennai, may just walk across and collect the copy.
Col Israel Jayakaran (Retd)

They have Leaders and we have Readers

Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as president of the United States. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images
In a bold and at times sombre 18-minute inaugural speech, Mr Obama pledged to rally Americans to a "new era of responsibility", lamenting a profound "sapping of confidence across our land – a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sight".
Barack Obama vows to rebuild America in inaugural address

Dear Friend,
Like millions, nay billions, of other mortals on this planet, I sat glued to the TV watching the 'coronation' of Obama yesterday. The speech of the President was, indeed, a befitting climax to the regal proceedings. Every word which he spoke came straight out of his heart and went where it was intended to go; deep into the souls of the listeners. I was moved to tears; not once, but several times. And I suspect, I was not alone.

When I retired to the bed, a friend rang up and asked a rather innocent question. "When will we have a leader who can speak like this?" The candid answer is, "Never" Our leaders are not allowed to say what they please. They are required to read the speeches that are written out for them by people whom we shall never know. And therefore, even though our Rashtrapati Bhawan is quite comparable with the White House, and the Vijay Chowk complex can easily accommodate two million people, it is most unlikely that we shall ever have a Kennedy or an Obama to lift our spirits. And what our Presidents do is emulated by leaders down the line. Dignitaries at all levels read speeches.

I once heard of a public figure who was invited to inaugurate an exchange. Since he knew nothing about telecommunications, he directed a specialist in his staff to write a 15 minute speech for the occasion. With due grace and dignity, he delivered his speech. The only 'f***up' was that the speech took 30 minutes, and the audience became restive. Some people were even yawning by the time he wound up. Upon his return to his office he asked why the script was so long. And prompt came the rather sheepish reply, "Sir, the speech was for only 15 minutes, but as per the office orders, I had attached a spare copy!"
Long live, our 'readers' Republic!

Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)