25 April 2024 The study of military history is encompassed in a broad philosophical and methodological perspective. However, its philosophical underpinnings produce several questions that must be answered to have a clear understanding of the depth of the subject. What is the philosophy of military history? What are the basic assumptions that military historians […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 46 Military History Part I: The What and The Why
April 20, 2024 
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20 April 2024 War is undoubtedly the most complex human activity, especially since its inherent characteristics of danger, friction, and chance bring about an assured uncertainty to its conduct. In war, it is difficult to accurately predict the end-state—the unknowns tend to make achieving the desired goal a difficult task. A tried and tested […]
Continue readingCompany Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section IV: End of an Innings
April 18, 2024 0 Comments
Canberra, 18 April 2024 While hastings was in Benares, the new Councillor, John Macpherson arrived in Calcutta from England. He had earlier served in Madras and had established himself as Hastings’ friend. However, Macpherson was an adventurer who was prone to making shady financial deals and was known to accumulate personal wealth. Even so, Macpherson […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 45 Making Peace with Oneself
April 13, 2024 1 Comment
13 April 2024 As the autumn of life inevitably turns to winter, it is but natural for a person to revisit past experiences. Predictably and inevitably, introspection unconsciously creeps into the reflections, a process that cannot be denied. As and when one gets a chance to have a few quiet and honest days to […]
Continue readingCompany Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section III: A Star Ascendent
April 11, 2024 0 Comments
Canberra, 11 April 2024 The trial and execution of Raja Nand Kumar turned Hastings’ official fortunes. Although the Council continued to oppose and criticise his actions, their obstructiveness was ineffective. They had lost their ability to control or even repudiate the GG’s actions. Francis tried to re-introduce Clive’s dual-government system, purely because Hastings had abolished […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 44 Taiwan – The Flashpoint? Part III: Crystal Gazing
April 5, 2024 0 Comments
05 April 2024 The 2024 elections in Taiwan exposed the emerging generational and socio-economic fault-lines in the country. There is growing demand for greater governmental accountability and more progressive economic reform to address the high-income trap leading to the unsustainable entitlements that accompany it. Solutions to these vexing challenges will need strong political will […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 43 Taiwan – The Flashpoint Part II: Emerging Challenges
April 3, 2024 0 Comments
03 April 2024 On 13th January 2024, Taiwan elected William Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to be its next President to be inaugurated in May, although the party lost its legislative majority. The 113-seat Legislative Yuan consists of an eclectic mix of 73 geographic constituency seats, three each low-land and high-land […]
Continue readingCompany Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section II: A Power struggle and An Execution
April 1, 2024 0 Comments
Manly, NSW, 2095, 1 April 2024 The administrative changes that were envisaged in the Regulating Act of 1773 were well-intentioned and a genuine attempt to establish mechanisms for fair governance in British controlled territories in India. However, the Act suffered from being worded vaguely, with the script lacking clear and precise definitions and directions, leading […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 42 Taiwan – The Flashpoint? Part I: Immediate Background
March 26, 2024 0 Comments
Canberra, 26th March 2024 Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait. It is a democracy of 23 million people, governed independently since 1949. Mainland China, officially the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) asserts that there is only ‘one China’, themselves, views Taiwan as […]
Continue readingWhispering Thoughts No 41 The Art of Saying No – Gently
March 22, 2024 1 Comment
22 March 2024 Requests for one’s time, energy and assistance—from family, friends, colleagues—are a continuous stream. They can, and do, lead to over commitment. Accepting all requests tends to make one spread too thin and do things not to the best of one’s ability. All of us have, sometime or the other, said yes […]
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Sanu Kainikara 
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