EXTRA POWER FOR DEFENSE FORCES OF INDIA

                                       SHORTAGE OF DEFENSE PERSONNEL

      A report about the shortage of armed personnel in the defense sector of India baffled me and kept me thinking. The defense minister, Mr. A. K. Anthony has stated that there are over 14, 000 vacancies of officers in the Highly Glorified Defense Sector of India. Unambiguously, The New Indian Express has reported the matter on page 10 (18th August, 2011). It is intriguing that in spite of the large unemployment in the country and with plethora of able bodied young people there are no takers for the defense jobs. However, there is a different picture that comes into your mind if you were to look at the growing aspirations of the young people in this country. For one, most youngsters have taken to that easy life where there is less monotonous routines, no rigid rules or regulations and above all where there is no real fear of death. Of course, in this century we all live in an atmosphere of great tension where the ordinary life can be as easily blown to smithereens by a well devised explosive from one or the other terror groups, yet life in the defense is altogether a different picture where men battle it out in any weather conditions all the while trying to remain alert against a sudden enemy attack or a sabotage or an ambush. Therefore, this calls for a clear distinction between the jobs in the defense sector and the one that is civilian especially so for the new recruits.

      Just have a look at the India growth story and the idea you get is that apart from the 'all cozy no responsibility' works there is plethora of private jobs for young people whatever be their qualification. At first sight there is denying the fact that these jobs are better and more lucrative than the ones at the defense. Why is it so? Just take the case of the IT sector, although the job has its ups and downs like the rest especially when a person is under undue stress or when he or she has to stay awake for several days or nights in order to finish up a project, but when it comes to pay there is however no match for it. Again, look at the other government jobs where although there may be less amenities than those offered in the defense, yet when you weigh it relatively to the stress and the tension the civilian government jobs are far ahead than those of the defense. With the pay hike in the government civilian jobs there is less likelihood for the defense sector to show up any glamor for which our youngsters would easily fall to.The biggest negative factor is the risk of injury or death and not being able to meet ones family for months and perhaps years. Small wonder that no youngsters are likely to opt for a job in defense. Then of course comes the low morale which the Indian defense sector is experiencing like its counterpart in other countries.

                                                      Lack of Charismatic Appeal

      The Indian defense faces a lack of charismatic appeal or glamor relative to other civilian jobs and this is felt more when there is better life options available with ordinary masses. Here, the other countries are not way behind. One fact comes to mind often is the way there were irritation on the part of the American forces in Iraq where many recruits were doubtful as to whether the war was justified and whether there was any need for the same. The death toll was enormous considering the fact that the American's public doesn't take it lightly at all. True, the regime of Saddam Hussein was atrocious yet on the whole the war didn't resonate well with the American defense forces and so also its allies although the former tried to keep it all hush hush. Now coming to Indian defense forces we are not all that handicapped like the defense forces of other countries as we always have greater degree of legitimacy in making our forces fight as we are defending our own territory and not the least we are fighting almost on continuous basis the terrorists on our soil.  

      Thus, it is inevitable to look at the defense sector from the point of view of both peace time and war time. In case of war time this may not be quite the case as wars have changed and most modern wars are not between nations, but with different terror groups operating from different territories. Some countries in the world today play the host to hardcore terrorists groups operating from their soil apart from the necessary training and funding for instilling violence in those countries with which they have little chance of winning in a full scale war. By carefully placing the priorities of the Versatile Indian Defense Forces both during the peace time and war times and also the way the terror wars are distinguished unlike those of war zones can the Versatile Indian Defense Force regain its fast diminishing charisma as the best sought after jobs of our country. I am no defense experts yet it is definitely a sad thing to hear that young people look elsewhere for employment or rather they go for defense jobs only as a last resort. 

                              More Appealing Emoluments and Benefits for the Defense Sector

     Unlike the other government jobs the Defense Ministry should make the defense sector jobs more appealing at least on the benefits side. One thing I have noticed among my relations in the defense sector is the hectic disciplinary schedules and less holidays. It goes without saying that unlike the civilian jobs the defense people slug it out in all weather and in all discomforts that life can provide in the Himalayas or other inhospitable terrains. Therefore, for those recruits although the daily discipline is of utmost importance they can be given periodic leave after say three months of border watch or camps at some harsh terrains. A sort of shift mechanism can be made to run such that all the trained recruits get a posting in the harsh terrain once in a while with a generous periodic leave after their busy term. If not this then something quite close can be worked out by our defense experts such that the Indian Defense Forces once more regain their previous charisma. In fact, more new recruits for such shift operation ( I don't know whether there is already one ) can give jobs to more youths. Funds can be brought in as India is in growth stage. Again, there are lots and lots of funds held in transit and due to some vague reasons have not reached our soil and the matter is still in the court. But one thing is certain the Valuable Indian Defense Sector must have a face change if it has to make itself more attractive to the general masses seeking employment. Ebullient Coast Guard Vessels and Lighthouses offers enough scope of adventures, mystery and sea faring enthusiasm for youngsters and all that is needed is to highlight their magic every now and then rather than keep everything in suppressed silence under the pretext of defense secrets. If too much of secrets are suppressed then people tend to forget them altogether.

MONEY MAKING TRAVEL IDEAS BY STAGE MANAGED HORRORS

                                                                                 Horrifying Sights
    Darkness has its own dangers and who wouldn't look an awful sight if some unknown ghastly appearance suddenly makes its appearance in some dim corner of a street or during one of those awful looking approaching wintery twilight. Worst part of such darkness or approaching darkness is the level of uncertainty associated with it that gives such sights its most horrible image and sordid tales that follow with it. Even the bravest of persons have been tempted to speculate the ominous signs of the all consuming darkness and believe it or not even they too have experienced such sights momentarily or due to a blur in their vision. Whatever be the case such sights or speculations about apparitions or call them ghosts are going to remain on this earth so long as people are inhabiting this place.

                                        Beautifying the Horror Myths

      Although this may or may not sound good and people would have their own difference of opinions yet it goes without saying that even the most updated human being would go through one or more of such experiences due to the interplay of lights or through their own subconscious. But the best of these phenomenon lies in potential of making people like us exploit them for our commercial purpose. Nay! I am not talking about the witch hunts, tattooing, drugs affects and their after affects or any other designs that by their nature would mean harm to the innocent lives, but by a selective exploitation of these ghosts tales and horrifying scenes by carefully made entertainment objects with all the hair raising fright scenes thrown in. One such an area where they can be exploited is for traveling or through holidaying on a Package Tour to World famous Horror instilling places.

         Again, as far as tattooing or witch hunts, magic, a good dose of interplay between the real and the imaginary make ups are concerned one can exploit their entertainment value and not the negative aspect of it. Unfortunately, a lot of ignorant people have fallen victims to it all over the world and their practice is still being carried out relentlessly in many of the die hard orthodox tribes. But, this is definitely not the type of entertainment this article would like to present before the future tourists or operators or entrepreneurs. The idea is to either add as a package tour to place of such historic importance as those that by virtue of their dead spirits and living horrors remain etched in the minds of the public to this day.

         The idea of such frightening and yet romantic travel in small or large parts could spice up the otherwise ritualistic travel that most travel destinations seem to have become. For those orthodox die hard travelers their best bet would be to go to Google and then type travel destinations, travel maps or travel operators or international hotels or motels and then have their booking done. But for those who would as has been earlier pointed out a little spicy travel can do them a lot of good by expecting the unrealistic. I am not saying that the places ought to so horrifying so as to snuff out the daylight out of you and your group of travelers, but they can be rather great fun if taken in little doses. Here, it is for the travelers and their agents who ought to bring out the best of such horror adventures which basically would mean that a family consisting of aged and children too can participate. Of course, there are places like the Disney Land Theme Parks, Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Mountain in US, while Europe has its own like the Disney Resort Paris (France), Siam Park (Spain), Walibi Theme Park (Belgium), Europa Park (Germany) and Legoland (Denmark). In Japan it boasts of numerous theme parks of which the most famous are the Edo Wonderland, Fuji o Highlands, Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch, Nagashima Spa Land, Space World, Tobu World Square and Tokyo Disney Sea. In India there is the Veegaland Park, Ocean Park, Ramoji Film City, Fun n Food Village, Essel World, Adventure Islands, Entertainment City, Nicco Park, Gujarat Science City and Platinum Resorts. Of course, China too has its numerous theme parks and so also the rest of Asian countries and the Middle East which if named here could make this article too long.

          Brilliant Entrepreneurship in Horror Themes Entertainment Business

      Already the world economy is struggling with recession and this is the case with almost all the developed nations. However, it has been seen that both the Chinese economy and the Indian economy are well cushioned to absorb this shock partly because of having thrown up their economies for foreign investments and partly due to the huge growing domestic markets. Entertainment is the new password to success in business as this is one area that is going to see enormous growth in the future. Quite rightly therefore the tourism and travel business is going to get yet another boost with innovative strategies being drawn up by entrepreneurs to carve a niche areas in innovative traveling.

      One such least of all exploited area is story telling traveling where a well conversant guide could bring out your interest in mystery stories and tales of horrors relevant to the places you wish to visit. If an entrepreneur is really smart then he or she can recreate such horror spots by invoking the spirits or at least give a new hue for harmless travel for group tourists to these spots. Of course, there are quite a lot of spots in the world that have not yet been exploited for such type of traveling. Imagine that you have just landed in a town and the tourist map for visitors, both foreign and domestic are given an odd route which jolts your consciousness. Upon placing a query with a booking clerk you are passed on the information that such and such place do exist and has been thrown open for tourist. Of course, this is all harmless although your nerve stands on its end and you and your group of tourists are led to the place at an inn (well kept but looking dilapidated and nightmarish) or a desolate castle, palace or structure in half in ruins, but has affordable lodging facilities such that the group of travelers can relax and then enjoy the screams and floating or walking apparitions on the ground beyond your window sill.

     Well! you might think this is all just imagination and nothing else. But to tell you the truth a little scary harmless journey or trip well taken care off by your tourist guide can bring a lot of fun which you and your friends or family can enjoy. Surely, the would be entrepreneurship in establishing a horror stay has better ideas to offer and mind you this shouldn't be too horrifying as this would drive customers away rather than bring them to watch the unfolding fun together. If things go a bit hot with all most realistic figures like Zombies, ghosts, walking skeletons, headless monsters and so on you may add a bit of laughter to lighten up the atmosphere. Care should be taken that you feel this way particularly with children and aged people around. You may perhaps classify them if need be by giving the horror enacting scenes that you would like the tourists to go through by giving A class, B class or C class depending upon the degree of horror they wish to take in.

      Sure enough there is enough money in this kind of staged fright with better backgrounds rather than some kind of theme park. A good tiny theme with a comfortable inn or place of stay can reap the new entrepreneur rich rewards with a hotline and a website to browse. Of course, you may turn into a millionaire overnight like some affiliate marketing companies promise you, but you can turn this into a real life passion where you can make your country really buzzing in living spirits or vampires making it into a distinct tourist center. Again, this may not sound like an easy course on How to Make Money, How to Make Money Online, How to Become Instant Rich, How to Become a Millionaire Overnight yet this is a niche area that has so far not exploited commercially. Come to think of it the sample above are only a passing though for there are numerous ways to concoct a horror scene or invent hair raising tales for people who come to stay at your inn or place. In Asia too you have your own witches, monsters, ghosts and they have their own local origins and sometimes very funny too. As long as horror stories are here to stay don't ever think of losing a genuine business and this added with frequent updates can really let the entrepreneur go sailing with money jingling.

TOURING AND VISITING PLACES OF FESTIVITY

     Some countries are endowed with festivals and this is mostly seen in the areas of Asiatic region than anywhere else in the world. India perhaps tops the list of the number of festivals in a year and the myriad variety of these that are seen within the country are too unbelievable or rather too exotic for tourists especially for those coming from foreign countries. True, many of these festivals have a generous sprinkling of the religious and customs based on traditions of the past, as is usually the case with festivals, yet on the whole they display a great difference in one way or the other. This might be the reason why in India and many of the Asian countries there is a lot of festival travels as well as religious travels as in many instances both are seen to be intricately connected. But for those who think that travel means simply fun or amusement for the very sake of it this kind of Festival Travel may look somewhat off the mark unlike those established and marked traveling or touring spots of interests. Well, the time of fun can be easily replicated near to your own home, say your town or at the outskirts of it with its greenery and mountainous surroundings. For touring doesn't mean simply having fun at some remote place, but to study the uniqueness of the place itself including the customs, traditions and the festivals attached to the place that actually highlights it along with others in the World Tourist Map or the Tourist Map of a Country or region. In fact, some of this type of fun can be replicated even while you visit one of your home country's National Parks or say one of the Amusement Parks catering both for children and adults.

        Then why look into festivities? The reason is that there is a lot of difference as there are differences between staged plays and the actual event taking place before ones own eyes. A festival place is a gathering quite unique to the population residing within the boundaries of that particular place and those who visit can either join into the fun event or look at the event as an opportunity to understand the traditions, customs and the culture of the people of those parts. Unlike those drab days where even the ordinary folks of a place are at their secretive best and try to drag themselves away from any queries asked of them by strangers, festivals offer enough scope for inquisitive tourists to place questions to just about anyone at any moment.Of course, I am not talking about extra conservative cultures who would look the other way than do any communicating. Yet festivities bring about the change in human disposition due to the very environment that prevails around a person or society and this is why it is surely the best bet for travelers or tourists to move about and understand the large and tiny differences that exists in societies that make them so special and worth much of a person's time and energy.

        There is one thing that all travelers visiting strange lands ought to keep in mind and that is all festivals that one come across in the brochures of different Travel Operators or Travel Depot or one that is distributed by agents of different domestic and international airlines, may not sound so sweet as depicted in them. The reason is that festivals nowadays are just about anything and everywhere no matter what place you are in. This is a good sign for all good things that are likely to come with the positive affects of globalization and possibilities of closer mingling of people of different societies to make the world a lot more smaller in space and time. Yet for an unwary traveler or tourist or simply a visitor on business visits this type of selection could turn into a nasty jolt for life. In many cases until and unless the person is well versed in the culture of the society that he or she visits, the festival names can be really a shocking experience close to a nightmare.

          So, be selective about festivals and chose them in consultation with the travel offices of the place one visits or intents to visit. A good well established tour operator or a consulting guide in travel of the Travel department or good Airline Agents can give an elaborate account of the festival and the time required and the ways to enjoy them and even help you with the selection of mode of transport and the likely expenses you might have to meet. In other words, visit or make sure that you visit only festivals that are famous within the country or state or district and are celebrated by the whole community with mass gatherings. Never try to go for festivals that are boldly written in the Travel Brochures simply for the sake of going. I am not saying that all travel brochures have an explanation of Festival times of a place. Far from it for many never ever mention it even once in their travel slips. This being the case it is better for first time travelers or visitors to make some discreet queries and make list of festivals that one would wish to celebrate along with the local communities. This also means to strike off holidays that are not proper festival time for visitors or because of the nature of the festival itself. Let me give a few examples here. Holidays like environmental day, children day or woman's day or for that matter any holiday in all likelihood marked as festive day then 'Beware'. This may sound nothing, but simply hogwash for visitors until and unless there is something special event being stage managed by a group of people or members of a society. This is what I had earlier stated that if ever you wish to travel and enjoy travel then do it with a purpose. In fact, many listed festive holidays are big and very important yet there is nothing much for a visitor to enjoy or entertain. Among the famous holidays in the list in a country like India where there are thrice as much festivals in one or the other part of the country that it becomes really very confusing for a first time visitor who must have read or seen video back at home that this country is full of colorful festivities all over.

      Hence, I repeat that all vacationing tourists must have a purpose for enjoying festivities and this is more markedly seen in the case of FESTIVAL TOURISM. Take the case of Dewali festival practiced throughout the length and breadth of India save a few states.This festival is mostly an indoor family affair and until and unless the visitor has some very close ties with one or more such families celebrating the event it will be rather not all that enjoyable for them. Again, the fireworks that go off during the night can be rather an event to be watched, but otherwise the whole thing is confined to a family matter of give and take of sweets, greetings, gifts and more sweets. Yet in some parts of India the Dewali festival may have an additional event that might be worthy of watching or enjoying as this may be done with the intention of drawing the whole of that community to celebrate the event together.Hence, selection of the festive event is very important. Never do traveling for the sake of traveling only for you may get quite bored with it if this is your second or third trips to the same place.

      Tourists visiting places as a holiday can select their interest in line with their profession or as hobby and there is a range of festivals that if done with a selective bend of mind can be really an exhilarating experience just like first timers on a trip to the Himalayas. These festivals unlike those of the religious or community flavor has more of globalized version for those with specialized tastes. For instance, there can be festivals like Dog Shows, Canine Shows, Flower Shows, Gardening Shows, Technological Shows, Art Shows and even shows like Sports Festivals,Theatre Festivals, Music Festivals, Film Festivals and the like. You may just name it and it is there within your Google system or just within the range of your internet. It needn't be confined to these only. In fact, it depends upon the creative intellects of the local people and the places of origin and the way the festivity is given an altogether new view at some far off place not anywhere near its original place. For instance, there can be myriads of such festive delights and it depends upon the mindset of the organizers as well as the inclination of the travelers to enjoy it. Gorgeous Don Bosco School Mannuthy compound is presently a host to the relic of Don Bosco that would arrive after its tour to the rest of the world. The major event is to be held at the school on 28th September, 2011 with immense publicity. The event is expected to have participants from all communities as the Rev Don Bosco was very much within the hearts of children all over the world.

       However keep it mind that you can enjoy the festivals only if you really have an interest for it. But if you feel you may try to make one of your trips a festival oriented one and then you will never regret as long as the selection is good.

        

HOW TO AVOID TRAVELING BLUES ESPECIALLY FOR LONG JOURNEYS

      I have already stated in my previous blogs that traveling or making a trip should be done with a purpose however small that purpose may be. Otherwise, we would be initially taking the plunge and then try to remain happy, but soon enough boredom and a sense of that drift would enter our minds and we would try to while away the holiday or that trip trying to think that this is the way it should be and all the time our minds would feel as if there is something missing somewhere. This "something missing somewhere" although we can never explain properly takes the spice of the whole tour and significantly alters our emotion and we are left with a feeling of slight disgust.  Hence, for those who have only a holiday in mind and nothing else, the idea that is suggested here is to get something or the other in the mind of the individual or the whole group to stay in line when they experience a slight drift. This is because the human mind tends to go drifting and feel at a loss when it is allowed to believe that the sole purpose of the journey was to kill time which would mean a few days or few weeks. For many people traveling, vacationing or touring, a trip has larger purpose than simply enjoying for the sake of enjoyment. Of course, you could argue that reveling or simply moving off to a place to enjoy a few days away from the busy chores would do the brain good. Well, the fact is that such a holiday is good for a couple of days or at the most a week after which the mind would experience a dip in happiness. Hence, for the travelers who travel individually or in groups it is worthwhile at least to add some little purpose to give the whole tour a meaning however subtle it may be. For instance, many travelers take to snapping some good photographs while some would love to jot down in their dairy about the places they visit while some others might might take down the ingredients that make up their breakfast, lunch and dinner and even those exotic dishes that they are likely to taste as fun. In fact, these travelers make discreet queries about the stuff that they eat.Then there are others who visit places to collect a few well studied souvenirs and make sure that they have some of the fine prints or photographs of the places of historic interest there.

       But why travel with a purpose at all? Hopefully, you will realize this after you make a first trip where you may not feel it all that bad. But with each repetitive trip not only to a similar place, but to places with great similarities, as most such trip tends to be, then with each trip that you plan it all boils down to the fact that you are at the most plain bored. Perhaps, this is quite analogous to the 'Law of Diminishing Returns' as is seen in economics. During travel too the best way to overcome this type of diminishing enjoyment is to add a little purpose of yours or your group's choice such that every trip has a different purpose.

       Everything is in the Human Mind

The mind of ours is a vast network of nerves and tissues and perhaps the most awesome object that we would find in our little planet. Nothing can match it in creativity or exercising choices of options through reasons, tact and emotions. Yet a dull unemployed brain is the biggest headache whether it is remaining idle during full consciousness or during a tour. It is not surprising therefore to see people going for trips with their earphones plugged to their ears listening to music or chatting away into their mobile handsets. Some would perhaps pass the time during train journeys, plane journeys or by road transports by quietly logging onto the World Wide Net with the help of their laptops or kindle. Alas, the catch here is why travel at all if you can enjoy the same moments at the cozy comforts of your home. It is okay if you feel like checking your latest call history in the mobile handsets or a few moments when you want to be alone or perhaps you are doing so for you are traveling alone or when the rest of your co-passengers have fallen asleep while sleep shuns you. Yet, when traveling in groups to see far off land or enjoy things together this can indeed become a curse. If you are sightseeing enthusiasts then say whether missing great many things on the way means nothing to you. Then why travel at all. Travel & Tour Indian Railways have become a lot to be desired too.

          Abilene Paradox

     The Abilene Paradox is referred to as group decision where each member of the group refrains from carrying out any sort of criticism or suggest something contrary to what the group oral or written objectives are thus causing no trouble to the group for the sake of keeping the group together and coherent through and through. The Abilene Paradox, not quite surprisingly, originated from a travel to Abilene by a group of travel enthusiasts and each member agreeing to the trip with a positive response thinking that the other member shouldn't feel bad. The result was that each member had a different opinion of the trip although none stated so in order to keep the coherence of the team and keeping everybody's spirit up while the result of the trip left them all disgusted, stressed and totally fed up. Here, refraining from criticizing the other members or the Travel Plan got them nowhere as each member could have easily succeeded in giving good suggestions for the group and with a little brainstorming the whole trip could have been an enjoyable one.

       This is so true of all traveling and don't blame the Travel and Tourism office due to a bad arrangement right at the start of the whole journey. Here, in this case an explicit message could be conveyed to the whole group, if of course you are not traveling alone, and this then added with a small purpose, more for fun sake, could spice up the whole travel. A small purpose (Not necessarily a business purpose or official one), could bring about the emotional coherence to the group in which you are traveling.

        Avoiding the Traveling Blues

       If one individual person thinks that he is bored with the same type of sightseeing or visits to historical monuments as some may have other idea of fun then the group tour suffers from little acknowledged fact of 'Travel Blues'. If you must converse over the mobile handset and you may have the latest of the digital devices like the Blackberry or the Nokia or the Palm Pre or whatever, well kindly be courteous enough to tell the others in the group that you will be missing them for a couple of minutes or so and not more. This means that either you make the call as strictly personal or publicize it briefly. It would liven up a hush conversation and who knows some humor may appear on their faces and then the journey becomes even more interesting. Try to avoid too much or frequent self engagement. Keep them during bed times or when the rest of the group members are taking a nap or a little rest after good trudge around the place of Tourist Importance. Sometimes, having the digital Kindle or a Samsung Galaxy Tablet can be fun if you can share your experience or jokes or some comments on a particular BLOG WRITING, News from a Freelancing Writer, Video Conversations or a movie which you and other members of the group can enjoy on your Laptop during some say arduous task of waiting at the office of Travel Agents, World's Busy Airports, Railway Platforms, Public Lounges, or even while simply waiting for the next bus or vehicle during your Safari Tour of the Tanzanian National Parks or any other exotic Wild Life Centers. Name it and you can spot these Traveling Blues at different places in spite of the fact that you are moving in groups and trying to see the best Tourist Spots of the World.

         Simply talking away the time

      Again, if there is one way to beat time then it is by gossip and sure enough this would be the best bet perhaps when there are a lot of females in the group and children. Nothing can beat small talks even while we simply kill the time we have to due to delays in flights, waiting for clearances and due to sudden changes in weather. However, this can be a surmountable task for those who are generally quiet and have a forceful contemplating mind. Here, in such cases either you add a person with necessary talent to free talk away or get those members, preferably woman, to chat away in order to lighten up the otherwise blue atmosphere. This is in way a small matter and a clever talkative fun loving person can bring about a change within the group which no sightseeing visits can provide. Of course, some people although prone to be a good conversationalist they can turn to be irritating. Hence, choose wisely and if need be get the best person do the talking and creating fun while you add a few nods and head shakes and at the most laugh and then utter a few good words in return. Children can be a great pass time during one of these Traveling Blues and can liven up the atmosphere like no adult can.

          Conclusion

     When such luck is not to be found and the Traveling companions are best of left alone you can do nothing and take it with you whether it is boredom, Traveling Blues or a good conversation. Hence, this is the area which although not quite conspicuous or seen to be important in small travels are nevertheless there in all long trips and vacations. And as suggested in this article make the best of your Holiday Tour with a little purpose so as to remain focused in little ways to avoid such Traveling Blues.