AFOVA Newletters of Year 2001

Page 12 of 52 Books A classic is something that everybody wants to have read, and nobody wants to read. ˜˜˜˜ Mark Jwain 14. One of our members Capt DP Ramachandran has authored a book titled ‘Legion of the Brave’. This is based on his experiences as a young cavalry officer during the 13-day campaign that created a nation - Bangladesh in 1971. This is a fictional narrative. The book has been published by East West Books (Madras) Pvt Ltd. Our members may contact the author or the publishers for copies. Extracts 15. Here is an extract from a book by one of the foremost Indian writers - R K Narayan. “Hat designers have persuaded American women to carry on their heads, fantastic oddments in felt, fluff, and what not. Some wore hats which had the aesthetic finish of the lid of a marmalade can, some of the women’s hats produced the same visual impression as Christy’s felt cap of ancient times. I wonder if anyone remembers or knows about Christy’s caps. At the turn of the century. Christy’s caps, were considered in South India at any rate, as the acme of men’s fashion. Men shaved the front portion of their heads and grew a tuft at the back and tied it into a knot. The shaved portion of the head was covered with Christy’s cap, which was just half an inch or an inch high, while the tuft stuck out of the rim of the cap at the back. The ensemble was complete with a couple of gem studs on the ear lobes. With the advancing standards of civilized appearance this scheme was given up, and after losing sight of it for years in India. I noticed it now in New York - cap like Christy’s, sparkling studs on the ears, tuft on the back: and even shirts and jackets had a resemblance to the dhoti that South Indians wear. I was taken aback to see the abandoned masculine fashion of India adopted by the women of New York as the latest. Another fashion that I noticed was a flat piece resembling a castor leaf placed on the head of a stylish woman. One might find this too in India. Peasant woman working under the tropical sun, sometimes cover the top of their heads with castor leaf, which is supposed to keep the brain cool even under the hottest sun. There is every reason for the village women of India to try castor-leaf under the hot sun, but what excuse could women of New York have to imitate the fashion (with felt, velvet or whatever it might be) in the middle of the night in Broadway?” All mankind is divided into three classes; those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move. ˜ Benjamin Franklin ˜ (1706-1790, American Scientist, Publisher, Diplomat) Editorial Committee Editor Col A Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM** Chief Editor Brig VA Subramanyam, Editor Wg Cdr M E Muthu To the Elderly*****with LOVE. And To all those who desire PEACE*****with LOVE By Major general Aban naidu. PVSM. AVSM.,