Notes in Anguish

It will be worth examining where these three intersect and mesh. a.” Survival of the Fittest” is a drive basic to man. Once survival is assured, this drive over-extends and becomes the urge to dominate. This urge, to be fulfilled, needs the accumulation of power. And all things being equal, power comes from wealth. b.… →

When is it that the oppressed become justified in taking the life of the oppressor? And when do Revolts, graduate into Rebellions, and they become Revolutions? These are questions which first came to my mind when I read accounts about the French Revolution of 1789, considered especially bloody by the standards of the day. The… →

I was just talking to a retired general. My aim was to get a few of them, who still enjoyed credibility with the ranks, to approach the High Command with a view to impress upon them the imperative need to relinquish their present stance in favour of standing with the state and its people. “They… →

The drill square occupies a hallowed place in the culture of all armies. This is where troops are drilled. According to theory, it is drill which instills discipline among those who serve in the military. Hundreds may occupy the drill square in serried ranks, but only one shouts out words of command, which are executed… →

At 12: 02 a.m., on Apr 10, 2022, a tragedy was inflicted on Pakistan by the High Command of its army–those sworn to defend and protect the state and its people. They sold out the state to a foreign power, and overthrew a popularly elected legitimate government. On Apr 15 I sent the following note… →

Of the ancient civilizations, China and India may be fairly compared and contrasted, as size alone puts them apart. But the course each took, as history unfolded, was quite distinct. After the “Warring States” period [475-221 BCE] China began to consolidate and expand, till it covered nearly the whole geographic expanse we know as the… →

All employments of the military throw up lessons for those willing to learn. And unpopular employments, whether in war or in peace, have more to teach. But it is also true that those who ought to be learning such lessons, shy away from them, dig in their heels, and reinforce disaster to prove themselves right.… →

On Jan 8, 2024, when Qazi Isa, assisted by two of his sucklings, divested PTI of its electoral symbol, for all practical purposes he ruled the most popular political party in Pakistan, out of the electoral contest to be held on Feb 8, 2024. This was a body blow to Pakistan. Qazi is one of… →

The rise of the Sharif family allegedly began with stealing manhole covers of gutters, and continued to the point where Pakistan was left an open sewer, its coffers emptied of cash. The stepping stone of their great success was their love affair with the army. This has been consummated multiple times, and Pakistan has paid… →

Two questions: He has been able to maintain and constantly reinforce these positions because of two alliances. His first ally is a deluded mind, and his second is the bevy of bedecked generals who surround him, and are committed not to disabuse him of the fantasies. In better days the U.S. may have thrown some… →

In the old days, demonstrations, as a method of instruction, were frequently used during military training classes. Some of these demonstrations had two parts to them. In part one it was shown how NOT to do something, followed by part two, which gave instructions in the right way to do the same thing. For example,… →

Stronger than usual rumours are in circulation that Pakistan is now to be handed over to the technocrats. If true and shorn of all the redundant verbiage, this means: a. that the government forced on the country by the army high command in Apr 2022 has made a complete mess of things. b. and that… →