Mc Mohan line, patrols and growing up in Arunanchal!!

McMohan line a.k.a. Line of actual control is the alignment of the Himalayan foothills constituting effective boundary between China and India (although its legal status is disputed). It owes its origin and definiton to the Simla Accord of 1914, which is rejected by the Chinese regime, and as wikepedia tells us, even by the current British government, which released a statement to that effect in 2008 practically negating the essence of the agreement.

The official maps and surveys released and adopted by Indian government, which we read and mugged up in our schooldays reflect the Mc Mohan line as the international border. Of course, across the border, our chinese compatriots have grown up believing the same to be illegal and recognise our Arunachal Pradesh as southern tibet and i respect the fact that their views on the same would be as strong as anyone else this side of the border. Anyways, my purpose of writing this blog is not to carry out a thesis, but to reproduce an anecdote which I heard from a veteran who has served extensively on that 'border'. It is surprising that despite our chauvinism, most of the areas adjoining Mc Mohan line on the Indian side are mostly inaccessible. The foward posts of Assam Rifles, are also 25-30 KM away from the LAC. This gentleman served a tenure of 3 yrs there around 20 years after the 62' war. On one routine patrol, one of his initial ones, he came across remains of Indian soldiers who had perished in that battle. What surprised him was that his troops, who knew the area better, were aware of these remains and were content to relegate the existence of the same as folklore. He organised a burial of these remains(cremation would have required reseources, which his regiment may not have been keen to spare). He recounted another instance where they recovered a chinese military equipment, which was proudly brought back to the regiment as a trophy! It was a PLA marked volleyball, which the patrol found floating on a stream, which poor chinese fellas must have lost courtesy a bad shot. Of course, the volleyball provided the patrol with a welcome break and a quick game!

In all the noise that media has been making in the recent past about chinese incursions, maybe, it would not be out of place for some of them to actually go to those areas, a.k.a. Barkha dutt in kargil war, and try to figure out as to how exactly can we detect whether the chinese have been undertaking incursions or not. Instead of making comparisons on number of jets and tanks, we ought to study if the connectitivity has improved since 62'. They did capture Tawang in 1962 war and drove out the Indian administrative machinery from Assam, a fact which, is used by ULFA elements as a propoganda tool balming India and Indians to be deserters. Of course, since their sole intention was to teach indians a lesson, the Chinese withdrew. I have had the priviledge to have spent a considerable partof my childhood there and can remember the emotions, a mix of fear and hatred, which the name "China" evoked! I did some of my schooling in an area, which during 62' war, had been taken over by the Chinese. In fact, our games used to be called 'India-China' where China was the eternal enemy, which I recognised much before knowing about what pakistan was.

Despite the humiliation, most of the disputed territories remain inaccessible. Till date, most of the bridges are temporary constructions and can hardly transport heavy equipment. I remember having to get off the vehicles because the bridge could not support a maruti with people inside. We can go on and on on military ill-preparedness to fight a battle, but the enimity has created its own share of hawks this side of border, which does include me. I rememeber a relative telling me about the collection drive during the 62'war, when people in my maternal village in Bihar gave away their entire jewelleries and assets to the govt to raise funds for the army. I dont doubt that when needed, the country will rise up again, but I do doubt the credibility and vision of the political and babu class, which grossly underestimates the china factor, till date and forever, thereby really creating a doubt as to on whose payroll they actually are.

Human will!!

There is this movie which i must have seen at least 5 times!! It goes by the name of "Forrest Gump. I dont like it for the acting, but for the idea that if a man puts his mind to it, he can achieve anynthing! Now, after a working weekend and some deadlines met and waiting for yet another working weekend, today was one of the lighter business days at A-L! For me, it started with getting a regular update from rediff. They were running a feature on the real heoes and had a write up on Flight Lt. MP Anil Kumar. Now, here was a name whose name I could instantly recognise because he writes regulary on strategic and defence affairs and I have always liked his style of writing for the simple reason that he knows how to keep it simple, unlike most other writers of his cadre. The article carried a mini biography and started with the fact that he has been paralysed below his neck since the age of 24 due to an accident. Now, that was an aspect which I never knew. I read and re-read the article and was simply overawed! Its not just the aspect of him working with a disability (i hate this word, but my limited vocab didnt give me alternative), but the idea of completely re-orienting himself at the age of 24. Now, I may not be able to relate to him, but I can try to imagine the passion in him of flying a jet and a realisation that he could not do it anymore! Re-orienting himself to have such a good command over his subject matter is something thats truly inspirational. The article does not tell us much on that front, but it sure had its impact. Any ways, i decided to send him a mail ! I got a prompt reply which I will reproduce

" My dear Kaustubh,



Many, many thanks for your mail and the generous words. Please convey my regards to your folks. I hope life at your end is cruising on an even keel.
Cheers ............... MP"


Now, at A-L, we sure have our fair share of problems! But, at the root of the problems is the difficulty we face in re-adjusting or rather re-orienting from finely tuned life in earlier assignments ("processes")! But, it ain't impossible is it?? Thanks MP, you are truly our hero! And yes sir, now life definitely seems to be cruising on even keel!

till nxt time!

Office Infrastructure

When A-L was being conceptualized, we knew one thing!! we needed office and we needed infrastructure....now, a question which is second only to 'what is it that a girl really wants???' ! what all do we need to make make a room into a functional office.... i will not venture into the issue of room cauz' that is a tricky question which has consumed my life savings :) so, here it goes...tables , boss chair , other chairs, lappy, printer, racks, ac, file storage, stationary , stationary backup, BOOKS (and a lot of them) and yet it does not feel enough!! need something to hide the seepage creeping into wall (damn the 2nd floor waala)!! I wonder what is amiss..

yeah...have recieved suggestions for better table, a full time clerk..maybe we also need full time accountant!!! have been trained to live without a paralegal, so, that is a distant need!! and if i employ one of the latter, then will have to forgo my own income! so, we outsource the admin support!! But, i would luv to offer my clients a cuppa tea...and considering that I would be charging a time rated fee for the conference, they may not appreciate it if i leave them in office to go and brew a cuppa...my dad had a suggestion! he said i should emply one of the washermen's kids!! now i dont want to indulge in child labour, do I?? and considering this is NOIDA, really dont want to emply someone who i do not know (am still to recover from the shock of a stolen camera 10 yrs bak)!! Anyways, leaving tht aside, i need a better database! though a lot of stuff is available on net, but one has to pay through nose fr it!

U know what, i really need a 'Jinny'! what an idea, i should just rub the lamp, and whatever i need can be here. Now thats what is really called wishful thinking (or maybe the base of an entrpreneur idea, if anyone is listenin!) As far as tea is concerned, if u r visintin my office, dont be surprised if the tea is already ready! and Plz dont criticise it!

project report!!!!

Note: names of clients or details of projects are not being disclosed for confidentiality reasons!


These days, A-L is busy acting as project consultant to some dev. sec organisations bidding for international grants!! Of course, A-L is involved right from conceptualising the project after getting the broad framwork from the client and creating and collating the documentations. These projects are distant cousins of large, capital intensive infrastructure/other projects where project finance divisions of law firms take care of the documentation aspects! Largely, big NGOs have being doing this on their own but, it is a niche market that A-L wants to break into. The biggest problem which I am facing rt. now is evolving a constant/fixed fee structure for such projects! Now, I cannot say that fee will be chargeable as a commission on succesful reciept of grants (or approval) because that would risk voilating my Bar Council rules. Alternatively, placing a time rated fee schedule to the client will not be suitable as my targfet segment are unlikely to have the capacity to commit funds on projects that they do not have! So, trying to figure out a mutually convenient solution...So, as of rt now, A-L is taking it forward project by project! but hopefully, a stable structure will be put in place soon. Of course, that is subject to ideas!!!

Anyways, the woods are dark and deep, and A-L has deadlines to meet, and I got tonnes to write before I sleep ..........

My li'l project, processes and more

Disclaimer: This is not an attempt to advertise my setup. For that, you should visit http://www.adhritlegal.in/. Of course, as of now, you will be greeted by what seems to be my eternal status : 'Page Under construction'.

I have always wanted to mantain a blog. Primarily, its because I end up having an opinion on almost everything! During my student days, my buddies bore the brunt (earning me my nickname 'poruu'! During the initial years in professional life, my office colleagues got their share of piece of my mind (even my boss, who did seem to have some patience). Now, as I spend hours of solitude in my small cabin, with inteaction with outside world strictly on professional matters, I thought that this is the right place to vent out my views.. I want to speak about a lot of things. About the problems I face in day to day operations of my setup, about dealing with munshis and babus, about the nautanki that is the austerity drive, about how I feel that we will fight a war with china sooner or later, about INS arihant, about sources of professional gossips and infos, about the books that I want to buy for my setup, about my eternal need to get out of Delhi, etc, etc. So, friends, romans and countrymen, lend me your ears.

I realise that I am not bound by a process any more. Job, or committed association with any firm, is being part of a process that someone has worked very hard to create! It is a process tuned for generating max revenue for what is invested on you! Of course, as u rise, u shape the process as per your requirement or the requirements of your organisation. A 930-730 commitment is a major component of that process and efficiency and success of the process is dependent on your availability for the same. But, the question that I asked myself repeatedly is whether is it possible to create a process where the stakeholders (clients, associates, admin) have the flexibility of creating their own sub-processes which you direct? And all this without losing control or direction of process.. Is it possible to have worktimings of your convenience without missing the deadlines? Is it possible to work as a team, while enjoying an occassional break from the team? What does it take to create a new process and can a succeful process be replicated? I have read about these things, but now, will find the answers by creating my own process. Of course, will try to update you with my new discoveries and realisations and will hope that if you are reading this, you would like to place a comment............

till nxt tme!