Keep the Bat Straight, Always
“If
you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
- Zig Ziglar
As I padded up to open batting for my
first Inter-University cricket match, I was so elated at having achieved
something special that I forgot about the job of scoring runs. Likewise after
publishing one book, the fire within could easily get extinguished. Not
surprisingly, therefore, as ‘Indian Air Force:
The Maintenance Paradigm’ went to print, Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, the
Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies prodded me “This is only the
beginning”. “What’s the next
subject?” he asked. Little
did I know that a one off venture would end up getting extended - I had been
bitten by the CAPS’ bug!
Like all batsmen getting anxious to
get off the mark, a long wait before the first book reaching stands was
nervy. The interregnum gave me an opportunity to delve deeper into the ‘Theory
of Constraints’ and its ‘Thinking
Process’. Discussions with friends, writing small columns and interaction
with management students helped me to understand the virtue of writing
and sharing thoughts.
After 38 years with IAF, life completely
changed on retirement in 2011. Chasing targets and frequently proving worth on
every new assignment were things of the past - there was time to think. Can I
now think more clearly than before about issues unresolved in my own time as
well as about some of the current happenings in the wide arena of interest? Yes, in 2nd
innings, this time to think is invaluable.
While I have been writing for others, I realise that it’s good time to post
thoughts on my blog and share with others in a more effective way.
Late Air
Commodore Jasjit Singh had once passed on to me the mantra he had received from Marshal
of The Air Force. He said “We have made our mistakes; the current
generation is entitled to make their own - decision making lies in their domain”.
Many others may
be equally (if not more) passionate - I wish to think, analyse and convey with respect and regard to all.
Play it with a
straight bat - I will, as I have always done!
Air Mshl PV Athawale PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Former AOC-in-C Maintenance Command IAF
