The tunnels are dug in three layers, the first one is at 3m, the second one at 6m and the third layer is at 10m. They are an intricate system of interconnected tunnels over a 250 km square area that has a beautiful ventilation system to prevent axphyxiation. However, the width of the tunnels is such that only Asians can wriggle through in all fours but it is difficult for the Americans to move in them. Within the tunnels they lead to different rooms including, operations room, ammunition places, medical camp, cooking room, water point and places for relaxation.

One of the tunnels that the guide asked us to enter was the one that directly led downwards, after opening through a camouflaged hatch (something like our waste gutters) and then you were soon on all fours. As you closed the hatch, you were invisible to the enemy outside and now you could come out from a place few metres away. It had locations from where you could observe the enemy and fire at him but to him you were literally invisible. The other tunnels were straight that led down to the first two levels. Lastly, the guide asked us to venture to the third level, that was approx 10 metres down and 30 metres long. This was the most exciting part.

Only two of us (including me) along with the guide ventured in this tunnel. As we went on all our fours and started crawling down; the tunnel narrowed completely, there was no light and it was absolutely dark. I could now imagine how the Americans must have felt chasing the Vietcongs. We continued to twist and turn till we reached the deepest level of that point. It mercifully opened out into an operations room. Here we caught our breath and again started to crawl upwards. After we finally wriggled out of the tunnel did we realize the excitement we had felt going through this complicated maze. It was really an adventurous piece of our stay inVietnam.I'll recommend to all my friends to visit this beautiful country and dont be afraid to get into the 30m tunnel otherwise you would miss the best part of your stay there.

Incidentally, Vietnam is a spotlessly clean country with lovely smiling and friendly people who have pride written into their determined faces. The ladies are in the fore front in most businesses and jobs. However, watch out for the exorbitant rates that the local populace will qoute till you bargain them down to literally one fifth of the price as it is really a very cheap country in terms of sea food, accomodation, cotton and silk clothes and ceramic wares. Have I tempted you.

Hyderabad bombings were another series of senseless attacks against innocent civilians in a global war against the Americans, Israelis, Western nations and India. There is a growing feeling amongst the fanatic elements to establish an Islamic caliphate that spreads from China to Spain. Incidentally this is the message of Lashkar-e-Tayeba and Osama Bin Laden's Al Qayeda. In India, their main aim is to disturb the communal harmony that is so vital to propel India with high growth rates that it is seeing in the current years. Once the secular fabric is broken, then there would be widespread violence in the streets and the Pakistanis and the Islamist elements can loudly prophesize that Muslims cannot live safely in India.

The worst part is that all of us understand this and also why the terror organisations are doing such acts. What we are worried today is why is the Govt so helpless and imponent. Is it because they are not worried till a parliament attack takes place. Which means that the lives of innocent people have no value in our country. Or is it that it that they are so caught up in deciding whether a nuclear treaty is required or not that the fission and fusion that is taking place in our society is of no consequence to them. Why is that there is no central co-ordinating authority that links centre with state intelligence agencies. In the final analysis, is it that they are not worried because it is not their life which is at stake.

At the same time, the time has come when the majority moderate Muslims must raise their voice and protest against these dastardly acts and against the fundamentalist elements in un-equivocal terms. They have to start providing intelligence to the security agencies when ever they see unusual activity in their midst. They also have to tell the radical elements to lay off in strong terms. Not only must they not believe that their future lies with a strong and secular India's growth, but must openly start identifying themselves as Indians first above every thing else and then condemn such acts in strong language.

Incidentally, in this particular bombings, an innocent Muslim family constituting husband, wife and two small children were wiped off completely. They were not the only Muslims who died amongst the 44 killed. And it was the first time that Muslims were crying openly on TV and condemning the bombings. That is a good sign as the moderates are now sarting to protest. But did any Imam come forward openly and condemn the bombings, not one did so at least openly. Why? dont they love all Indians? Look at the media's role, they were busy showing Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan in jail and there prime time was consumed in film actors philanderous acts rather than on building support for move against terror activities. They lack not only intellectual capability, but have lost all sense of probility, sensitivity and concience. If it was a woman with less clothes dancing, they would be the first ones on the scene to take her pictures and ditto if there was a girlfriend of an actor who is visiting the jail to meet her boyfriend.

Now we must pray so that some of the unscrupulous politicians do not add any more fuel in this burning cauldrom of fire and hold the country to ransom, but request them to start taking their responsibilities more seriously. There are solutions ask the experts, ask us, for God's sake, if the Govt doesnt know what to do. But dont let our country turn into a nightmare. Is any one in India listening? Jai Hind!

60 years post independence, are we still going to differentiate our country on the basis of caste, religion, ethnic communities and gender. Look deep inside us friends, and the answer starts making one feel a wee bit uncomfortable. I recently had a Muslim gentlemen travelling with me from Pune to Hyderabad. He was lamenting on how things have changed and how Muslims are looked upon with suspicion, especially when there is a bomb blast.There is no doubt that most terror operatives have an Islamic identity, but it doesnt mean that all Muslims are fundamentalists. In fact, Islam is one of the purest religions in the world. Go a little bit deeper and ask yourself, the mass murderer of children (a pshychopath) near Delhi, which community did he belong to and the answer is he was a Hindu. So, it doesnt matter whether we belong to any one religion but what matters is what upbringing we have had and what is our true inner nature. But definitely if we make every Muslim feel vulnerable in our country, then we are surely heading for trouble. Add politics to this and you have a recipe that spells explosive consequences.

A little bit more into this outwardly secular part. If we did a census (I dont recommend it) to find how many Muslims are there in the government or at postions of authority and one would find that their numbers are really low in comparison to their percentage in the total population. Then some may say, they are mostly poor, illiterate and belong to the lower strata. If that is so, isnt it our resposibility that an emerging global power must have its population educated, otherwise you are making them prone to fundamentalist ideology and terror philosophy to survive and find glory for themselves. In fact, in Northern Jharkhand, to exist above the subsistence level, the population grows poppy. So you are making the entire youth of that area addicted to the deadliest poison that directly affects the mind. If there is a India-Pakistan match, and a Muslim player doesnt do well, doesnt that germinate a needle of suspicion in our minds that perhaps he is not so motivated.....Didnt Chak De India address this particular issue. As majority Indians should we keep our mouth shut and eyes closed since it doesnt affect us directly. But then it affects the social cohesion of our country. Can we emerge as the greatest power in the world in the coming decades, if we cant integrate our society within ourselves. We gave death sentences rightly so to a number of persons involved in the Mumbai blasts, but what have we done to those Hindu fanaticists who have mass murdered innocent minority community people. In fact slaughtered whole families. Absolutely and shamefully with total connivance of every one including us from the majority community who silently and impotently watched and did absolutely nothing.

Is it not our responsibility as citizens of this great emerging world power to make sure that every community leads a dignified life, doesnt feel threatened in their own country and that each one has an equal chance of doing economically well? Isnt human security a key component of our national security? Doesnt independence mean free from all possible forms of threat and ensuring individual security for each and every one. Aint we going to ensure that our country emerges as an integrated entity with the participation of people belonging to every caste, community and religion. If we dont do this, we are heading towards fragmentation, balkanisation and social turmoil in the near future. Is the silent majority listening on this very important day and is willing to take a pledge on this issue? Jai Hind!

After Rohit's death, I became close to three other classmates in Springdales School, Delhi. Two left for foreign shores, soon after finishing their schooling. Anil and I decided to join the Indian Air Force; essentially to lead an adventurous life with not too much of studies thrown in, that is what I thought. As luck would have it, I have not stopped studying and am presently undergoing my doctoral studies with Osmania University.

Since Anil and I were school chums, we usually stayed together in most training institutions. It was not only the rough with the smooth that we shared, but also interesting altercations that only close friends can have. One such incident was when, we drove out on a powerful mobike from the Armed Forces Medical College (Pune) gate, where we had gone to meet our school friends. Since Mad Max and Tom Cruise had left a deep impact on our driving psyche, the hard turn on the road full of gravel lifted the bike many feet up and it came to rest with a huge bang on the centre of the road. Whilst, I was sprawled in a semi conscious state, my friend Anil was busy explaining to the "ladies who would be doctors" what his mission in life was. Even when they pointed towards me and expressed their concern, he told them that such things did happen and I would soon be alright. I never really excused him for the bruises and the hurt ego.

It was many years later that he alongwith his squadron came to the same airbase that I was stationed. It was like the old days coming back again. By now, he was married and blessed with a son. Every evening after flying, we got together and lived it up. This air base is located at a rustic and remote place in West Bengal. One evening, when I was not flying, his squadron decided to catch up with some night flying. Around 8 o clock that night, I suddenly became restless and started feeling breathless. For a moment I thought I was in the initial stages of a heart attack. I got up and started wandering around aimlessly but the restless feeling just did not go away.

At that time, I got a call from another of my friend's wife. She asked me "Angad has something happenned, my husband has just gone to the Air Traffic Control tower".Without waiting any further, I quickly rushed to the airbase.There was an aircraft crash and the pilot had not survived. I knew it was Anil, God had given me enough indications earlier. In a helicopter, I went to the crash site and assisted in collecting the body pieces. I later came to know that after practicing a landing; he was again taking off, when the engine failed. Apparently, to save a village, he ejected late. The people on ground got saved, but the time the parachute opened, he was already hitting the earth at 400 km/hr.

I can tell you, men don't cry. The face remained straight throughout and the eyes were dry, so I thought. However, as I lifted the coffin, the resolve couldn't be kept. Something kept streaming down the eyes. I seemed to have disgraced the entire men folk. The same happened when his brother came to collect his belongings. Men in Blue do not die, they just fade away. I may not have the courage to meet his wife, who always was very considerate to me or his son, but his memory remains deeply etched in mind and heart.

This post too is based on real life experience. I have flown thousands of hours on Migs and I can trust my life with these aircraft. They are the safest in the world. The Indian Air Force pays special attention to its maintenance. However, mysterious are God's ways and it is certain that some things are destined to happen. I still fly these machines, whenever I get an opportunity, just to prove the point.