AFVOA Newletters of Year 2005

Page 4 of 75 displeased at this statement, he asked the Sun God to suggest a possible groom. The Sun God suggested the Lord of the Clouds. For, he said, the Clouds generally could mask the rays of the sun. The sage then prayed for the Lord of the Clouds. As soon as he appeared, he took him to his daughter. The daughter once again decided not accept this groom. She said, " I do not want to marry a person as dark as him. Moreover, I am afraid of the thunder he produces". The sage was dejected once again and asked the Lord of Clouds for his suggestion. The Lord of Clouds commented, " Why don't you try the Lord of Wind, for he can easily blow me away". The sage then prayed for the Lord of the Wind. On the appearance of the Wind-God, he took him to his daughter. His daughter rejected the groom saying that she cannot marry such a feeble person like the Wind God who is always on the move. Dejected once again the sage asked the Wind-God as to who is superior to him. The Wind- God suggested the Lord of the Mountains which was rock solid and prevented the wind moving about easily. So the sage then went to the Mountain Lord and requested him to marry his daughter. But the daughter once again rejected the mountain lord saying that he was too cold-hearted for her to marry and requested the sage to find somebody softer. The Mountain God then mentioned that the sage may consider a mouse, because the mouse is soft and yet can easily make holes in the mountain. On seeing the mouse, the daughter jumped with joy and happily agreed to marrying a he-mouse. So the sage said, "Look at what destiny had in store for you. You started as a mouse, that in spite of changing you into a human being, your innate nature has not changed, and you continue to be like a mouse , and hence you decided to marry only another mouse in the end. So be it". He then converted her back to a she- mouse and got her married to a he-mouse. 3. What is the relevance of this tale to all of us? Please hold on. Whilst in service, one notices that there is tremendous emphasis on training. Nevertheless, the aspect of financial planning is quite neglected. Though one is constantly taught to think BIG, it is done in all matters, save in finance. Where money is concerned we think like a mouse – or more often like fleas!! Apparently, having been in uniform for many many years, one is more or less attuned to this method, and we possibly give far more importance to money, with the result that other things take a back seat. In other words, money rules over content. Thus, directions have given to reduce the length of the Newsletter. We forget that economy is not how LITTLE we spend, but how WISELY it is spent. 4. As most of our members are on the wrong side of fifty, we perforce have to use a large font, to ensure that their eyes are not strained. We have included a new column to cater for your views, which had been planned for a while. In this regard, we are making a beginning by giving you the views of Capt Gregory and Brig Kamboj. We hope that all of you will use this forum to project your views to the powers that be. Reluctantly, commencing with this issue, we shall not be including many features that we had done till now. As we normally include the source of the articles, where the articles have been sourced from the Net, instead of giving the entire article, we shall give out the site details, so that the interested ones can access the site itself. We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.