<p>Sometimes there are small gestures which touch the heart. A mere touch by the doctor or a seer can be healing. <br /><br /></p>.<p>These acts have an indelible impression on the minds of people.<br />Once, when Alexander the Great was advancing through the deserts, his entire army was parched but could not find any source of water. When they halted for a while to rest, one of his soldiers managed to get a helmetful of water for Alexander to quench his thirst. The king thanked the soldier, but did not drink the water. <br /><br />Instead, he stood on top of a high sand dune and announced to his army that while a soldier had kindly brought water for him, he would not touch a drop of it and would remain thirsty with his army till everyone found some source of water. And then, he poured the water down on the sands. <br /><br />This valiant sacrifice made him a revered and adored general of his army and an example for all military leaders in the future.<br /><br />Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had a unique way of winning the hearts of her visitors. When her friends visited her office, the waiter would keep the tray with refreshments on a teapoy away from the visitor (albeit stage managed?). <br /><br />Gandhi would then get up from her seat, pick up the tea and place it in front of the visitor. When the visitor would plead, “No, it’s OK. I will pick it up,” Gandhi would say, “ No. It’s OK. It gives me some exercise.”<br /><br />There is an infantry battalion on duty at Rashtrapati Bhavan always. A Dogra Battalion was deployed for a tenure when Giani Zail Singh was in the office. Once, when the President did not have his usual commitments, the Office Commanding requested him if the jawans deployed and their families could get photographed with the President, to which he readily agreed. <br /><br />As the photography session was in progress, the President noticed a look of disappointment on the face of a jawan who was on duty near Zail Singh’s living room. The President asked the jawan “Don’t you feel like getting photographed with your family along with me?” The jawan replied, “Kya karun? Mera duty hai!”<br /><br /> (What do I do? I am on duty!) <br />The kind Giani Zail Singh said, “Tumhara rifle mujhe dedo! Aur jaao tayyar hoke tumhare family ke saat aake photo utarwalo! Tab tak tumhare jagah peh main duty karunga rifle ke saath!” (Give your rifle to me. Go get ready and bring your family along to get photographed. <br /><br />Till then, I will do your duty with the rifle.) The President stood on duty with rifle till the jawan returned. This gesture by the President of India –the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces – floored everyone made then adore Zail Singh even more.<br /><br />In recent times, when the US President Barack Obama visited India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared tea for him with his own hands. <br /><br />This gesture touched the heart of the US President and his accompanying entourage. Such acts and gestures go a long way to elevate the morale of troops and people, and undoubtedly become a part of lore.</p>
<p>Sometimes there are small gestures which touch the heart. A mere touch by the doctor or a seer can be healing. <br /><br /></p>.<p>These acts have an indelible impression on the minds of people.<br />Once, when Alexander the Great was advancing through the deserts, his entire army was parched but could not find any source of water. When they halted for a while to rest, one of his soldiers managed to get a helmetful of water for Alexander to quench his thirst. The king thanked the soldier, but did not drink the water. <br /><br />Instead, he stood on top of a high sand dune and announced to his army that while a soldier had kindly brought water for him, he would not touch a drop of it and would remain thirsty with his army till everyone found some source of water. And then, he poured the water down on the sands. <br /><br />This valiant sacrifice made him a revered and adored general of his army and an example for all military leaders in the future.<br /><br />Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had a unique way of winning the hearts of her visitors. When her friends visited her office, the waiter would keep the tray with refreshments on a teapoy away from the visitor (albeit stage managed?). <br /><br />Gandhi would then get up from her seat, pick up the tea and place it in front of the visitor. When the visitor would plead, “No, it’s OK. I will pick it up,” Gandhi would say, “ No. It’s OK. It gives me some exercise.”<br /><br />There is an infantry battalion on duty at Rashtrapati Bhavan always. A Dogra Battalion was deployed for a tenure when Giani Zail Singh was in the office. Once, when the President did not have his usual commitments, the Office Commanding requested him if the jawans deployed and their families could get photographed with the President, to which he readily agreed. <br /><br />As the photography session was in progress, the President noticed a look of disappointment on the face of a jawan who was on duty near Zail Singh’s living room. The President asked the jawan “Don’t you feel like getting photographed with your family along with me?” The jawan replied, “Kya karun? Mera duty hai!”<br /><br /> (What do I do? I am on duty!) <br />The kind Giani Zail Singh said, “Tumhara rifle mujhe dedo! Aur jaao tayyar hoke tumhare family ke saat aake photo utarwalo! Tab tak tumhare jagah peh main duty karunga rifle ke saath!” (Give your rifle to me. Go get ready and bring your family along to get photographed. <br /><br />Till then, I will do your duty with the rifle.) The President stood on duty with rifle till the jawan returned. This gesture by the President of India –the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces – floored everyone made then adore Zail Singh even more.<br /><br />In recent times, when the US President Barack Obama visited India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared tea for him with his own hands. <br /><br />This gesture touched the heart of the US President and his accompanying entourage. Such acts and gestures go a long way to elevate the morale of troops and people, and undoubtedly become a part of lore.</p>
