SONALIKA TRACTORS- A SUCCESS STORY

In a short span of 26 years Sonalika Tractors have become the third largest tractor manufacturer in the country.

The credit for this goes to Laxman Das Mittal, the Founder-Chairman. The 89 year old ex-LIC agent turned billionaire entrepreneur has set a unique example.

Sonalika Tractors were the first to introduce an AC cabin on their tractor. Now they have brought out an electric engined tractor, the first in the country.

Unleashing a new era of agri-innovation, Sonalika, India’s fastest growing tractor brand and No.1 export brand across Europe, America, Africa and over 130 countries has raised curtains on India’s first field-ready electric tractor, the Tiger Electric. The latest model has been designed in Europe and developed in-house with proven aggregates to deliver seamless power on an emission free, noiseless farming in India and across the globe.

The Sonalika Tiger Electric is powered by the state-of-the-art IP 67 compliant 25.5 kw natural cooling compact battery to ensure running costs against the traditional diesel engine are at one fourth of the cost.

The innovative high quality battery of the Tiger Electric Tractor can be fully charged at a regular home charging point in 10 hours. This eliminates trips to the refuelling station. The tractor is now available for booking at an introductory price of Rs. 5.99 lakhs (Ex-showroom).

Sharing his thoughts on the Company’s innovative streak, Mr. Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika group said, “Sonalika Tractors have always been at the forefront of innovation and continues to offer best in class technology to farmers across the globe. Our promise to every Indian farmer is to constantly provide technological evolutions to enhance farmer productivity and profitability comes packaged with the Tiger Electric, where we have bridged the gap between concept and being field-ready, while keeping pace with global benchmarks on farm mechanisation technology. It is built on the proven tractor platform of Sonalika to guarantee farmer friendliness and remain easy to use as we progress towards and an emission-free greener tomorrow. Tiger Electric operation is no different than a regular tractor making it farmer friendly while reducing the fuel cost. Tiger Electric has the same global technology which is offered to European and American farmers.”

He added, “As the world is moving towards environmental friendly initiatives, electric vehicles across segments are being eagerly looked upon as alternatives to vehicles that run on fossil fuels. Sonalika’s field-ready Tiger Electric tractor is our commitment to accelerate India’s march towards a greener tomorrow and stay in line with the Government of India’s ambitious move of introducing EVs by 2030.’’

Tiger Electric offers more power that will maximize the farmer’s performance in the field without fatigue. It also assures better comfort for farmers as no heat is generated from the engine and lesser number of parts make sure that the tractor offers reduced vibration, thereby ensuring lesser product downtime and zero maintenance cost. The Tiger Electric offers a top speed of 24.93 kmph and a battery backup of 8 hours while operating with a 2 ton trolley. As an option, the company also offers a fast charging system with which the Tiger Electric can be charged in 4 hours.

The Tiger Electric is manufactured at Sonalika’s Worlds No.1 Vertically Integrated tractor manufacturing plant at Hoshiarpur in Punjab. The plant is powered by robotics and automation and rolls out a new tractor every two minutes!

Sonalika continues to create new records of excellence; surpasses one lakh domestic tractor sales and crosses the highest ever sales in just 11 months.

Commenting on achieving this extraordinary feat, Mr. Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, said,  “I feel over whelmed in sharing that we have crossed our highest ever cumulative domestic sales of 1,06,432 tractors in just 11 months (April’ 20-February ’21), registering a growth of 35.5% as compared to the same period last year. Notably, it is also the fastest ever One Lakh domestic tractor sales by any tractor brand in the Indian market. It clearly reflects on the growing trust of farmers in India and globally on Sonalika.’’

Having a formidable presence in over 130 countries across the world, Sonalika already has an access to trailblazing technologies that exists in the advanced markets and remains committed to introducing them to the Indian market in an affordable way.

Sonalika’s R&D team has been working relentlessly to develop state-of-the-art tractors and implements that capitalise on farmer’s feedback and are customized as per their respective crops and geographies.

Sonalika registered its highest ever overall January sales of 10,158 tractors; clocks stupendous 46% growth in domestic market!

New Delhi, 1^st February 2021: After starting the year on a high note, Sonalika Tractors has further intensified its journey to conquer new peaks in the year 2021. India’s fastest growing tractor manufacturer and No. 1 tractor exports brand in the country, Sonalika has ploughed, pun not intended, onto register a dominant performance and registered highest ever overall January sales of 10,158 tractors, which is well above 7,220 tractors sold in January 2020. Sonalika has also powered ahead with a significant margin to sell 8,154 tractors in the domestic market in January 2021, 46% higher than 5,585 tractors sold in January 2020.

Being a customer-centric brand, the company introduced 5 new premium tractors in 2020 that addresses farmers needs in a cost effective way. This includes Tiger, Sikander, DLX, Mahabali and Chattarpatti series in the diesel segment which were joined by India’s first field-ready electric tractor, the Sonalika Tiger Electric.

About the company:

Sonalika Tractors, one of India’s leading tractor manufactures and the No. 1 exports brand from India has established its robust presence in the domestic as well as in over 130 countries with 11 lakh plus customers. Sonalika manufactures the widest heavy duty tractor range in the 20-120 hp and 70 plus implements at its Hoshiarpur facility in Punjab that caters to the varied needs of customers across the Globe. Being a farmer-centric brand, the Government of India has chosen Sonalika as the only tractor brand to contribute to the Niti-Aayog for its inspirational project of doubling the Indian farmer’s income.

About the World’s No. 1 plant:

The Hoshiarpur plant of Sonalika is the World’s No. 1 Vertically Integrated tractor manufacturing plant that is designed to manufacture customised farm machinery as per the farmers’ crop specific applications. The facility is fully equipped to manufacture almost every element in house in making of a Tractor and is powered by robotic as well as automation.

Vertically Integrated plant means everything is under one roof.

THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

TESLA'S QUICK CHARGE WITH SPECIAL BATTERIES

The last Industrial Revolution took civilization to new heights.

It was the age of inventions. Some were brilliant and will stay with us forever. Others were also brilliant but their goodness was short lived. Their contributions were so negative and destructive that, perforce, they have to be killed

Only one invention comes to mind that has almost killed Mother Earth! 
The Internal Combustion Engine! I.C.E.

There were other inventions that changed the lifestyle of people around the world. They changed the social order and economics of the world forever.

One invention that Indians will understand and appreciate is the spinning jenny. We know it as the 'charkha'. It was Bapu's symbol of self-reliance.

The 'charkha' or spinning wheel, hand operated, was a simple device that turned wool or cotton into thread. So weaving became easier.

The spinning Jenny was mechanical and much faster than the hand operated 'charkha'

This led to the invention of power looms. Previously, the looms, were also hand operated.

What had been cottage industries moved to factories. This was a true revolution. Mass production of fabric and creating millions of jobs.

Electricity changed everything. It is here to stay forever. There seem to be no negative aspects of electricity. Well maybe, the electric chair! The electric bulb is magic. You'll never be able to live without it!

Actually, the true worth and value of electricity will be felt in this century. Electricity has always been, and will continue to be, mans most faithful servant.  More on that in a moment.

The sewing machine was a great invention. It will never lose its importance to the house wife or for mass production of garments.

Steam! An accidental discovery again changed the world of travel. The steam engine could pull a train loaded with goods or passengers over thousands of miles.

It catapulted India from the bullock cart age to the modern age.

We had post offices to deliver letters around the world. It worked exceptionally well. Along came the telegraph. Definitely the first step into electronic communications.

E-mail maybe an arranged marriage between the two!

Progress is inevitable. Facebook, WhatsApp and a host of other inventions followed. Social media it is being called. The debate for its usefulness is under way. It may have more minus points in its favour than plus points.

More on electricity. The steam engine was a game changer. It’s over. Steam engines have been replaced by electric engined trains capable of 500 kmph!

At the turn of the last century these were aircraft speeds and land speed records. Today these speeds are quite normal for passenger trains in some countries.

Electricity is the fuel of the future. And in many cases, for free. Solar charged photo voltaic cells could replace the way we have been producing electricity.

Henry Ford gave us the Model T Ford, T for Tim. He put the world on wheels. By the mid-20s there were over fifteen million Model T Fords alone on the road.

No doubt that was an amazing achievement in that era. However, the greatest invention of the time was the Assembly Line Production.  It was Henry's gift to the world of manufacturers. There can be no discussion on this subject.

Today, from paper pins to lipsticks, sanitary pads to condoms, cars, tractors, aircraft all come off the Assembly Line Production system.

Here is an example how effective this system is.

During the Second War, the American auto companies were in overdrive. Making tanks, armoured cars, submarines, anything to help with the War being fought overseas.

The biggest and best bomber, the B-24, was in great demand. It was called the Liberator and to give you an idea how huge the aircraft was, consider this, it had a crew of eleven!

Manufacturing and fitting this behemoth together was proving to be a problem for the manufacturer. The body shell had to be fitted with the wings, tail wings and fins. Then came the hydraulics, the undercarriage, the landing gear, the armaments, four engines from Pratt and Whitney. An extremely complicated and exacting job. No mistakes allowed!

Henry took up the challenge of the assembly of this aircraft.

The assembly line was one mile long from start to finish and every 63 minutes a complete, airworthy, Liberator aircraft came to life!

So the assembly line is here to stay. No negative side effects.

Unlike the Internal Combustion Engine which is a highly endangered species. In its heyday the Internal Combustion Engine was king as far as transport was concern from a single cylinder engine to two, four, six or eight and even more. They were in line or in V configuration.

However, the ultimate I.C.E. was the radial engine for aircraft.

The radial engine has been recognised as one of the greatest inventions of the last century. And in two sort years the jet engine had killed it.

The auto industry is worth U.S $2.0 trillion. This is about to change.

Britain, outlining a Ten Point U.K. Green Industrial Revolution has banned all petrol and diesel cars in the U.K. as of 2030. Manufacturers have agreed to this.

First to take a hit, the oil companies. No refuelling stations, they will be replaced by recharging stations. No more service stations or roadside mechanics. Car batteries as we know them will be a thing of the past.

Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are worth a collective U.S. $ 70 billion.

Elon Musk's Tesla Electric Car Company alone is worth U.S. $ 225 billion (a quarter of a trillion) Why? Electric cars!

No wonder he can put his own space capsule into space with a Tesla car strapped to the side! The idea was to prove that his car had an unlimited lifelong warranty. That is how long an electric motor will last. Mans most faithful servant to the rescue!

Musk also has a great sense of humour. In the glove box of the car was a copy of ‘the Lonely Planet Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy’!

So E.V.s as they are being called, Electric Vehicles will be the greatest invention of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As will be the special batteries.

Possibly, this will be the most important and longest lasting invention to come to the aid of a very sick Mother Earth!

                                    FIRST CAR FROM KARL BENZ, 1886

HIND DI CHAADAR

KHYBER RIFLES, CHAGAI FORT

THE MEMORIAL AT THE KHYBER PASS CREST THAT I STOPPED TO PHOTOGRAPH. "54 SIKHS, FRONTIER FORCE CHITRAL 1992-1923

Long before the British built the Gateway to India there was another Gateway to India. It was The Khyber Pass.

As early as 326 B.C. Alexander the Great came down The Khyber. Then came Ghori, Gazni, Nadir Shah, Khiljee, Durrani. They all came down the Khyber. They did not come to do Battle. They came to loot, plunder and rape.

There was no one to stop them. I was reading one of Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes in which he says that it is the duty of every Hindu to resist foreign invasion, no matter for what purpose it may be undertaken. He wrote this sometime in the 1940’s.  Sadly, this advice was centuries too late. So there was no one to stop the invaders.

It is important to know that the Hindus of that time were of very different bent of mind.

One of the Macedonians accompanying Alexander wrote, “She (India) let the legions thunder pass and plunged into thought again!”

This is what the ancient Indians were good at. Thinking! Sadly, not so today.

It was a remarkable thought that gave the world Zero. Einstein was awed by this discovery and said there could have been no mathematics without Zero.

Another explanation is of what we know as the Pythagoras Theorem which the Greeks had expounded in 450 B.C. This is mentioned in the Baudh vama Sulba stura in 800 B.C. in the ancient Hindu Texts, 350 years ahead of the Greeks!

Back to the Khyber. The mountain range in which the Khyber Pass is located is known as the Hindu Khush, which means the Killer of Hindus!

No one went up the Khyber! It was one way traffic!

In May 1675, a group of Kashmiri Brahmins approached the Sikh Guru Tegh Bhadur to stop the slaughter and forced conversions of Hindus to Islam. If the Emperor could convince Guru Sahib to become a Muslim, then the Brahmins will follow.

Guru Tegh Bhadur left for Agra with his followers, Bhayee Mati Das, Bhayee Sati Das and Bhayee Dyala who was all of 15 years of age.

Before leaving Anandpur Sahib, Guru Sahib nominated his nine year old son, Gobind Rai as his successor.

All his followers knew that Guru Sahib would never accept Islam and as such they would be killed. Yet they followed Him faithfully and fearlessly.

Guru Sahib was forced to witness these horrifying and gruesome executions.

Bhayee Mati Dass was sawed in half while alive. Bhayee Dyala, the youngster was boiled to death, Bhayee Sati Das was set on fire and roasted alive!

Guru Tegh Bhadur was beheaded halal style. A slow and extremely painful death. But he did not relent. He sacrificed Himself and His followers to save the Kashmiri Brahmins.

This was on 24^th of November, 1675.

His severed head was smuggled back to Anandpur Sahib where his nine year old son, Gobind Rai, cremated it.

Guru Tegh Bhadur and his three companions are the most heroic and unmatched example of Satyagrahis and martyrs the world has ever been witness to.

Guru Gobind Singh’s father was martyred. His four sons were also martyred by the Mughals.  Five of his immediate family were martyrs. This is unheard of in history.

Their entire protest was peaceful and it was to save the Hindus.

Today these very same people are being called anti-national.

I must mention that the title that the Guru Sahib has was ‘Hind di Chaadar’, the Shield of Hindustan!

Young Gobind Rai took on the mantle of his Father and became Guru Gobind.

As Guru Gobind was aware of all these atrocities he realized that he had to fight fire with fire! He wrote to the Emperor Aurangzeb a missive in Persian and in poetry form. It is referred to as the Zafarnama. So far all the opposition from the Sikh Gurus had been peaceful. Now he declared, it was time for the dove to hunt the hawk!

Guru Gobind took to arms. He created the Khalsa at a solemn ceremony in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. He transformed the simple Farmer Folk of Punjab into a family of Soldier Saints, The Khalsa Panth. The warrior was born!

Most important, as of that day every Sikh would carry the name Singh, meaning Lion.

Not one Singh has had any trouble living up to that and its reputation!

From Gobind Rai to Guru Gobind and finally Guru Gobind Singh, the tribe has increased, flourished, prospered and made a major contribution to humanity.

On one occasion Nadir Shah was on his way back to Persia. His kafla was attacked by the Sikhs who had become masters of the art of hit and run warfare. They were always a small band of seasoned horsemen and well armed. They would attack the armies of the invaders which outnumbered the Sikhs, and as quickly as they had appeared they would disappear.

Nadir Shah was enraged that anybody would have the audacity to attack him. He asked one of his Generals, who are these people and where do they live?

“Their saddle is their home and once a year they come to Amritsar to bathe in the Holy Sarovar and pray to their God!”

“Watch out for these people”, was the advice that an exasperated Nadir Shah gave to his General.

With their ‘guerre la’ tactics they were unbeatable. With their appearance, flowing beards, dark blue turbans, charging on their well trained horses they struck terror into the Islamic invaders.

It is entirely possible that they were the world’s first terrorists! They terrorised the invaders, they terrorised the Muslim Governor of Lahore who offered a reward for producing a severed head with long hair and full beard.

The Mughals enthroned in Delhi also lived in terror of the Sikhs. So did the British. The British thanked the river Satluj which was a natural boundary between the Kingdom of The Sikhs and The British Raj.

I have mentioned that for these hundreds of years the invaders came down the Khyber and took the loot back home through the Khyber. This happened continuously and repeatedly. To stop the invaders who plundered India, it was the Sikhs who once again came to the rescue of Hindustan.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh saw that the invaders had all used The Khyber Pass. The ablest General that The Maharaja had was Hari Singh Nalwa. He ordered Hari Singh to stop any further invasions into Hindustan. Hari Singh did just that. He moved up to Peshawar and built the famous Jamrud and Shagai Forts. He then built a series of smaller Forts all the way up to The Khyber.

He actually opened up the way till Kabul! Ranjit Singh had organized The Sikh Misls into a unified State. It was called the Kingdom of the Sikhs. In 1801 he proclaimed himself as Maharaja of The Kingdom. Since Sikhism preaches that all men are equal, the Maharaja never wore a crown.

Ranjit Singh came to be known as the Sher-e-Punjab, meaning The Lion of Punjab. He was just that.

He turned the tables on the invaders who had come down the Khyber Pass.

After having consolidated his territories in the plains, on one occasion Maharaja Ranjit Singh decided to spend the summer in Kabul. At 2.000 metres above sea level, Kabul has a salubrious climate.

Lahore boils in the summer heat.

To avoid a confrontation with the Maharaja, the Afghan King Zaman Shah conferred on Ranjit Singh, the title of ‘The Governor of The City of Kabul’!

It was also a time for the Maharaja to make amends for the damage and the havoc that the Islamic invaders had inflicted on India.

On one occasion, Mahmud of Ghazni had taken the Silver Doors that graced the Som Nath Temple. They were in Afghanistan and had been used on the doors of the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni.

For the first time in history, and the only time that the loot taken from the Som Nath Temple was brought back to India!

Maharaja Ranjit Singh did that!

The magnanimous Maharaja offered them to the Pandits at the Som Nath Temple.

They refused to accept the doors saying that the infidels had looked upon them! These doors are now in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

This was an amazing piece of bravery and the person who helped the Sikh Maharaja succeed was General Hari Singh Nalwa.

Who was Hari Singh Nalwa?

Hari Singh wanted to be a warrior. He joined the Khalsa Fauj at the age of 13. At age 17 he killed a tiger in hand-to-hand combat armed only with a Kirpan.

On hearing of this exceptional feat of bravery, the Maharaja allowed him to go into Battle the next year.

Hari Singh took part in 22 Battles in his lifetime. He won all 22!

In addition to the Forts that the Sikhs built, they also built Gurudwaras. The Khalsa remains loyal to his Gurus. The Forts and Gurudwaras still exist till today. The Forts stand rock steady, maintained by the Pakistan army. The Gurudwaras are in shambles.

One of the forts he built, The Shagai Fort (see photograph) today is the head quarters of the Khyber Rifles. I have a photograph of it. I could have got shot and killed on the spot. A Sardar complete with beard and turban, photographing a Pakistani Military installation!

But foolishness and bravado have their own peculiar adrenalin pumping ability!

Even till this day Hari Singh’s name is well known in what was the North West Frontier Province and today’s Pakhtunkhwa.

Legend has it that even today Mothers tell their naughty children in Pushto “CHUP SHA, HARI SINGH RAGHLAY”, MEANING STAY QUIET, HARI SINGH IS COMING!

The contribution that the Sikhs made to defend the Hindu Dharam was much appreciated. To repay the Sikhs for their courage, fortitude and determination the Hindus decided that the first born male in the family would be brought up as a Sikh.

Here is a quote which impresses the importance of the Farmer.

Once in your life you need a Doctor, a Lawyer, a Policeman or a Preacher, but three times a day you need the Farmer!

Here is another quote that highlights the importance of the Farmer. “No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much Dignity in tilling a Field as in writing a Poem”

Booker T Washington.

In closing I also quote from an Editorial in The Tribune dated 26^th of March 1931.

“Never was a Government confronted by a situation in which the path of justice was more clearly or more indisputably also the path of self interest. Never did a Government fail more signally to follow the right path”.

This could be advice written for today’s government.

A REFUELLING STATION ALONG THE ROAD IN AFGHANISTAN

THE ROAD RUNS THROUGH A FEATURELESS DESSERT. THIS MAN BUILTS HIS OWN BUS STOP. ITS ALSO A MARKER WHERE THE MAN SHOULD GET OFF. 

LOOKING DOWN FROM THE KHYBER CREST

THE KUFRI MILESTONE

 

JACK AND MYSELF IN KUFRI

Being born, brought up and educated in Simla, as it was called then, had to be a rare privilege.

Simla was the summer capital of the British Raj says Raaja Bhasin.

It was a spectacular town, built with British thoroughness. They had transplanted a little bit of Blighty onto a Himalayan Hill Top. The residential Bunglows was exact replicas of what they had back home. Buildings for the Viceroy, Commander-in-Chief, the Secretariat, the Governor’s residence were some of the most grandiose buildings in the Empire.

The administration of the town was also very British. No spitting!  The fine was Rs. 25.00! That was a labourer’s monthly wage in those days. There were public toilets conveniently situated along the roads from the outskirts of the town to the Mall Road.

Simla was neat, clean and functioned perfectly. Never a shortage of water or electricity.

And of course, that speciality exclusive to the Himalaya, the Deodar tree, Cedrus Deodara. The Whispering Deodar of this tree had medicinal properties.

I have two deodars in my garden in Chandigarh. With the slightest breeze the pine needles whistle exactly as they did in Simla. They also gave me a bag full of cones. The cones are great to start a barbeque. The aroma wafts for kilometres!

We drove upto Simla for the summer in the month of March which is also when the schools opened. The car would be garaged till we were ready to go down to the plains for the winters.

After that the only mode of transport was on foot! We had horses which my parents would ride and the children, my two sisters and myself rode in a rickshaw.

I did all my discovering of Simla and the surrounding area on foot. As I grew older and could ride a horse alone, the excursions got longer and more daring.

The horses from the farm would also move up for the summer. I took advantage of this and would ride a horse from Kalka to our house in Sanjauli.

From Sanjauli it was a beautiful ride to Wild Flower Hall, Lord Kitchner’s residence and onto Kufri. I loved that area. I have pushed a bike upto Kufri so that I could roll down the 10 kilometres at high speed!

One time I walked upto Kufri and came down on roller skates! I held a long strong bamboo pole in between my legs to use as a brake!

The area around Simla was unspoiled, sparsely populated and excruciatingly beautiful.

I got to know it like the smile on my Mother’s face!

After college I worked in Delhi. Any opportunity I got I was back in Simla to show off the magnificence of the mighty Himalaya and the beauty of my hometown to my friends from Delhi. Enclosed is a photograph when I took my friend Jack, who worked at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. Beings a Canadian he missed the snow. I took him upto Kufri to make him feel at home. As you can see we are bundled up against the cold. Do not the miss the milestone. Kufri 0! And Jack was only 192 miles from Tibet!

Recently, I came across another photograph, taken at almost the same spot, actually one mile apart.

It is summer time the convertible top of the car is down, as it the windscreen. Great feeing! That wind in the hair feeling.

The car is a pre-war Singer I know it well having driven it often. It belonged to H.H. Sunny, the Maharaja of Jind. On weekends I was his A.D.C. and ran errand for His Highness. It was one of the best made British cars at that time.

Here it is in an another Avatar. At the wheel is Lord Mountbatten and a lady in the front passenger seat.

Our future Prime minister, Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru is in the rear seat. It is an educated guess that lady Edwina is in the back seat also. A good move. Cars in those days did not have heaters!

These photographs are taken about twenty five years apart and they do tell a tale.

How things have changed! Himachal, who inherited this Paradise, have systematically destroyed the town and the surrounding hills. Today it is the world’s highest traffic jam. The Township parking lots was designed to accommodate 2.500 vehicles, today it has around 1.2 Lakh vehicles registered in Simla town.

No planned expansion of the town, no rules or regulation which has resulted in concrete buildings dotting the country side and ruining the environment.

They call it progress. 

LORD MOUNTBATTEN, LADY EDWINA AND JAWAHAR LAL NEHRU ONE MILE FROM KUFRI

MALVIKA’s PERAMBULATOR

 

BRINGING THE CARAVAN HOME

Eucalyptus was a buzz word those days. Every fool and his Chacha was busy planting eucalyptus. So was I!

We had bought a piece of land near Chandigarh and were also building a house there. I had been married only a few years and that was when my wife decided to deliver a bouncing baby!

Both of us had been living in a tent. It was the middle of a North Indian winter. No place for a baby.

On a trip to Delhi, I saw a caravan parked by the roadside. A man was washing and cleaning it. I drove over to see it. The man cleaning it was wearing Air Force overalls.

I pulled over and stuck up a conversation with the gentleman. I said I had stopped by to see this beautiful contraption.

“What are you going to do with it?’’

“I don’t know!’’ said the Squadron Leader.

“You want to sell it? I asked.

A big smile split his face and he said yes!

I drove home to the farm from Delhi with the caravan! My daughter would have a home, well, of sorts. I continued to stay in the tent.

Malvika spent the first 8 months of her baby-hood in the caravan. Warm, dry, comfortable with Mother by her side. The caravan has two bench seats and an attached toilet. We could not have asked for anything better. The house was complete and we all moved in. The caravan was a comfortable place to sit in during the day.

Malvika grew up and went to Sanawar. Then onto Windsor University in Canada.

The only one who continued to make full use of the caravan was my octogenarian mother. After her bath she would go to the caravan for her breakfast, come rain or sunshine. She spent the whole day there. After her lunch she would have her siesta in the caravan. It was only when it started to get dark that she would come indoors.

Malvika had got a job and moved to Delhi. My mother passed into the Happy Hunting Ground in the sky. The caravan just stood around. It was of great emotional value and lovely memories.

Then came Corona and everyone’s life went topsy-turvy. Malvika had to work from home. She packed her apartment in Delhi and came back to be with us.

Malvika is highly organised, she continued to work a 9-to-5 day. The caravan became her office. She moved into the garden and had it painted a bright yellow with polka dots. The interior was done up with colourful cushions.

Thanks to Malvika the caravan had a new lease on life.

AS IT LOOKS TODAY

INTERIOR IS AS COLORFUL AND COMFORTABLE

TRUE SONS OF THE SOIL

 

It happens to all of us at sometime or the other in our lives.

We accept it and let it pass without giving it a second thought.

It is the Law of Unintended Consequences. Basically, it is that the outcome of actions, mostly Governments, have effects that could not have been anticipated or unintended.

Adam Smith, an economist and Social Scientist says, “An individual, seeking only his own personal gains is led by an invisible hand to promote and end which was no part of his intention. That end being the public interest!”

This is exactly what is being played out between the Central Government and the Farmers.

The Three Laws, which the Farmers want repealed, are not anti-Farmer but affect every citizen in the country.

The Punjabi Farmer, a True Son of The Soil has a lifestyle. Farming and Fighting!

There has been a standoff where neither is willing to back off. In the latest move the Government has decided to put the Laws on hold for 18 months. Reading in between the lines, it means that the Government is now on the back foot.

For the first time, since the BJP came to power, it would seem they have bitten off more than they can chew.

The Farmers at the Singhu Border mostly from Punjab and Haryana are in a jovial fighting mood.

They have dug in, literally!

On the central median of the highways where Bougainvillea bushes grew, they have planted vegetables like cauliflower and radish which would be ready in days and they would not have to go back home to bring fresh eatables.

Said one young Farmer, “We were ready to stay here till Lohri. Then we said we will be here till Baisakhi! Now they are saying the Laws are on hold for 18 months. We are here, ready with our demands till 2024!”

This is the grit and determination that defines the Punjabi spirit. The Punjabi Farmer, a true Son of the Soil has a very unique and different lifestyle. He knows two things and does them with perfection. Farming and fighting. In between his time is devoted to merriment. He celebrates the many festivals and the births, deeds and martyrdom of his Gurus. At the slightest provocation from a dholak he breaks into a bhangra, thumping the earth with his bare feet. Mother Earth whom he worships! This is ‘Ann Daata’.

Who are these people? They were nomads belonging to the Bhatti Rajputs in Jaisalmer. In their meanderings they came North and found the Land of Five Rivers, Punj-Ab Here they had water, water and more water. In Jaisalmer they had sand, sand and more sand!

Where the Bhatti’s made their first encampment still exists till today. It is called Bhathinda. They took to agriculture and made it a very successful venture.

As the centuries passed, these farmers claimed Punjab as their home.

Along came Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. He gave them direction. Work hard, he said, be honest and ‘sarbat da bhalla’. Which means selfless service and of course Guru Ka Langar. Sikhism is the only religion that has this concept, no barriers, no colour, cast, creed or religion. Anyone is welcome to a sumptuous meal in the Guru ka Langar.

These simple guidelines have cemented the community where they think as one, act as one and have the same goal. Farm, fight, fun, frolic! Not necessarily in that order!

At about the same time the Mughal Empire was at its zenith. Aurangzeb would not tolerate any other religion. The Sikhs came to his notice and he went after them with a maniacal vengeance.

Guru Tegh Bhadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, he was referred to as ‘Hind Ki Chadar’, was beheaded publically in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. His son Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons were also mercilessly martyred. There is no other instance in the recorded history of India where a family has made such an incredible sacrifice for their country. Today they are being called anti-national!

As Guru Gobind witnessed all this and realised he had to fight fire with fire! He wrote to the Emperor Aurangzeb a missive, in poetry form. It is referred to as the Zafarnama. He declared it was time for the dove to hunt the hawk!

Guru Sahib took to arms. He created The Khalsa at a solemn ceremony in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. He transformed the simple Farmer Folk of the Punjab into a family of Soldier Saints, The Khalsa Panth. The Warrior was born!

Then came Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He saw these Farmers, fine specimens of manhood. Tall, strong, rugged and carrying weapons of sorts. A talwar a gandasa (axe) or a kirpan. He recruited them and formed the ‘Khalsa Fauz’. They were a formidable fighting force. Disciplined and fearless. They helped the Maharaja to push the boundaries of his Kingdom of the Sikhs to Tibet, Leh, Kabul and the North West Frontier.

How formidable was this fighting force?

For centuries the Islamic invaders raped, looted, plundered and sacked India. The Gazni’s, Ghori’s, Nadir Shah, Abdali, Khilji, Durrani all came down the Khyber Pass.  No one on the Indian Subcontinent could stop them. No one wind up the Khyber. That particular mountain range is called Hindu Kush, the Killer of Hindu’s.

The Khalsa Fauz under General Hari Singh Nalwa was ordered by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to stop anyone coming down the Khyber. He did just that!

The Khalsa Fauz had built up a tremendous reputation as invincible warriors.

This is borne out in a dispatch by Field Marshal Hugh Gough. He was a veteran of many battles in Africa, France, China and had commanded more General Actions than any other British Officer.

In one of the Anglo Sikh Wars, he was the Commander of the British troops. “In all my years of service and seeing action first hand,” he wrote, “I have not met a more ferocious foe!”

The Sikhs have saved India on more than one occasion. Ask the Kashmiri Pandits. Also ask the Survivors of Poonch. Today, these Sikhs are being called anti-national, terrorists and Khalistanis.

This is what the Government is facing today. They have failed to understand the Sikh psyche. When the Sikhs start a fight, they finish it.

Our leaders are small minded people, used to dealing with petty traders and a Nation of Shopkeepers, to quote Napoleon.

The Modi- Shah combines biggest mistake, they have no knowledge of history.

“Let them eat cake!” She said and lost her head! This may happen here!

I would like to end with a quote which impresses the importance of the Farmer;

Once in your life you need a Doctor, a Lawyer, a Policeman or a Preacher, but three times a day you need the Farmer!

Here is another quote that highlights the importance of the Farmer over the Ambanis and Adanis; No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem! (Booker T. Washington)

Fateh to the Farmers!

STOP PRESS; Khalsa Aid who is being summoned by the NIA for their role in providing aid to the Farmers has been nominated for The Nobel Peace Prize!

AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS

 

 DUAL AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT. A MUST

A couple of years ago I wrote about airbags in my column, Good Motoring.

Airbags have now been made mandatory for the front seats. About time! Passenger safety is of the utmost importance.

This is the column from years ago.

Husband; Darling! Come see. I have got the new car. Let’s go for a drive.

Wifey goes and gets all dressed up to go for a drive in her new car.

They get into the car, buckle up and zoom off.

Wifey is thrilled. At each red light Husband explains all the gadgets and gizmos in the car.

She scans the dashboard and with a surprised look asks, “Honey I don’t see any warning about the airbag?”

“The car only has one!”, says Husband.

She coughs chokes, splutters and snarls. “You cheap b*@#&*! Always thinking about yourself. You got an airbag. Not a thought about me. What happens in case of an accident? I’ll die! You want to kill me!”

“Take me home right away. And take the damn car back to the dealer!”

As usual there seems to be some confusion on this issue.

Two years ago the Road Transport Ministry had proposed that two airbags be mandatory on all cars. A very sensible decision!

Somehow, somewhere along the way this clause was ignored. Maybe it was thought not necessary or just got left out by mistake. Then in a meeting with the auto industry it was decided that the driver’s side airbag was mandatory. This was AIS-145 Notification and applied to cars in the M-1 category, taxis and entry level cars. Doesn’t make sense!

Tests over the years have shown, in case of a crash, unconsciously, the driver tries to save himself, regardless of who else is in the car with him. In these circumstances the driver has an airbag and nothing for the co-driver. So much for safety!

It is now being considered to bring in a clause for at least two frontal airbags.

While buying a car the Indian buyer is more interested in gadgets and gizmos. Please pay attention to safety fitments. Airbags and seatbelts save lives. Road conditions on our roads are the most dangerous in the world. You need front airbags. Side airbags should also be made mandatory if the passenger’s safety is to be ensured.

Some years ago, Toyota brought out a sedan, an intra-city sedan. It had no music system, no fancy gizmos to speak of. And yes, it had only one wiper! But it had two airbags. Cost cutting measures, but providing safety!

This was a very conscious effort to improve the passenger’s safety. No radio. Nothing to distract the driver’s attention!

Believe it or not, one of the greatest distractions in the car is the music system which has now evolved into an ‘infotainment system’. This was established 25 years or more ago. Today, the touch screens, voice command operations, GPS and other such gizmos surely take the driver’s attention off the road. Beware!

As of the 1st of April, 2021, all new cars will need to have airbags for the front two passengers. This is the Law. It is no April Fool’s joke!

‘All new cars’? What does this mean? A car manufactured after 1st of April? What about a car manufactured in March 2021 but with a single airbag?

If there are any manufacturers who have cars with a single airbag, for the driver only, they may face some problems.

It is not possible to simply fit an airbag. Certainly not in three months. The assembly line has not been geared for this procedure. Airbags are also expensive. This cost will have to be factored into the manufacturing cost and the final price of the car.

It is not a simple fitment that can be fitted after the car has been manufactured.

It leads me to believe that the person who drafted this Law had no knowledge of airbags and how they function.

A year’s notice would have been more practical for the manufacturer.

And why this working in fits and starts?

In July 2019 the Law for the driver’s airbag was passed, please note only the driver. Did the person who drafted this not know that there are two seats in front? 

It would have made so much sense, especially for the manufacturer.

While this Law was being drafted, somewhere, somehow seat belts should have been mentioned.

Since the focus was on the safety of drivers, mo’bike riders should have been included. They all come under the same umbrella. Safety on the roads, whoever it may be, driver or rider!

A notification has been passed that as of 1st June only Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS, helmets can be manufactured and sold in India.

Another very important point; we are not a well educated motoring nation. Even the well educated are indisciplined. There are still first time car owners and they will not read the owner’s manual to educate themselves.

Seat belts and airbags are two separate safety devices but must, repeat MUST be used together!

Many people are of the impression that since the car has airbags, one need not use seat belts. No! No! No! An airbag exploding in your face plus the force of the impact throwing you forward may result in a very serious injury, upto and including death!

The seat belt is a passive safety device. Once you hear the click of the lock, the seat belt is performing the function it was designed for. It holds you securely in your seat. The airbag is an active safety device. It works only in case of a frontal collision. The sensors are usually placed in the front bumper.

In case of a rear end collision, you will be thrown backwards. This is referred to as whiplash. That’s when the headrests come in handy. They prevent your head being thrown back and your neck from snapping!

Some cars have adjustable headrests. They can be removed. Ladies remove them because it messes up their hairstyle. Sardars remove them because it upsets their turbans. Better a messed up hairstyle or upset turban than a snapped neck!

This is also when the seat belt will hold you in your seat.  So, three different safety devices, three different functions!