They are also humans

It is very rare that one gets to meet a fellow blogger (at least for me)

So it was a pleasant surprise when I got a mail about a month ago from Dr Hema Hirlekar which said “I keep reading your blogs and just love your amazing photos. I have written a book and the launch is on Saturday 7^th Jan. It would be really great if you could attend the function. Attaching invitation”

So I decided to attend the book release (again a first for me)

Before the book launch, there was a flute recital by the young and budding flautist Mr Azharuddin Shaikh. I enjoyed the light music. Later while reading about him I realized that he has to his credit a six foot long flute which he himself developed, probably a first in the world. 

The crowd was an elite crowd mostly from defence background. 

There were some celebrities too. I noticed Dr Mohan Agashe sitting quietly in a corner taking in everything. 

The book that Dr Hema wrote was titled “Life of an army wife”  

After the formality of the release of the book she read out some excerpts from the book. She made the reading very short, probably not very comfortable being in the limelight. As she was reading, I recollected some of the blogs that she had written a few years ago. 

I realised that signing those books was the difficult part for her as practically every one queued up for an autograph. 

Sale was brisk and I found many taking multiple copies, probably for relatives and friends 

Hema’s husband Shridhar made sure that everything went off well as per the flow chart. He even introduced me to Dr Mohan Agashe. 

The ambiance was good, with the golf course on one side. 

I found this poster mounted on the club walls. Probably an old one (going by the truck model) but very relevant even today. 

   

Made a one minute video on the book release, especially for those who could not attend it.

Later at home I started reading the book and found it interesting. Some down to earth facts from the life of a defence personnel and his family, sprinkled with some light hearted humour. I liked the simple illustrations in the book. 

The book is available on Amazon.

There is this part where she goes to the border with her husband and her child. (this is in the early seventies) From across the border two jawans came. She was apprehensive. “Were they theirs or ours? What would happen now” They came forward and saluted her husband and said “Baby ko le jaye?” (can we take the baby?) She almost turned back when her husband said “Jaroor” (sure)

She was shocked and looked at her husband who nodded and indicated that she should hand over the child to them. She was too stunned to react when the child was taken from her hand. All sorts of questions went through her mind “They are our adversaries. What if they don’t bring her back?” She voiced her opinion to which he replied “don’t be ridiculous, we are not at war. They are also humans like us” 

illustration by Dr Hema Hirlekar

I paused reading. I was comparing it with the present day situation at the borders. Indeed, they are humans like us. So what made things change in a few decades. . . . . .