K. Kasturirangan, a former chairman of ISRO, died on April 25, 2025. The chairman of ISRO, V. Narayanan, said that Kasturirangan “was like a family to the 20,000-odd ISRO employees.”
Bada Khana
In the Indian Army, a bada khana, a big meal, is a feast at which officers and soldiers eat together. In June 2025 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared a bada khana with soldiers at Udhampur and called it Ekta ka Utsav, a festival of unity. “We are not just soldiers, but a family,” he said.
Writing in Swarajya, Brigadier Ashish Jindal said that “partaking the soldier food and drink is still the essence of badakhana.”
One and One Make Eleven
Ek akela, do se gyarah. One is alone, two make eleven. The Rekhta dictionary explains in Hindi that two people together can do much work, and that there is great gain in joining.
A shorter form is ek aur ek gyarah hote hain, one and one make eleven.
The Squirrel’s Stripes
While Rama’s army built the bridge to Lanka, “a humble squirrel carried tiny pebbles, contributing in its own way.” Rama stroked its back, and three lines appeared on it. Amar Chitra Katha notes that the story of the lines “originated in the Ranganatha Ramayana,” a Telugu retelling of the epic.
In 2025 a statue of a squirrel was installed at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The Vocabulary of Favors
Ehsaan. A favor, a kindness, the conferring of an obligation, in the Rekhta dictionary.
Ehsaan maanna. To acknowledge a favor, to feel obliged.
Ehsaan utaarna. To return a favor.
Ehsaan-faramosh. Forgetful of favors received, ungrateful.
Loyal to Duryodhana
In the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, before the war, Krishna offers Karna a place on the side of the Pandavas. Karna refuses. “I cannot venture, O Janardana, to behave falsely towards the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra,” he says in the Ganguli translation. “I have, O Krishna, enjoyed sovereignty for thirteen years, without a thorn on my side.”
Later his mother, Kunti, makes the same request. Karna answers her: “How can I render that friendship of Dhritarashtra’s sons utterly futile?”
True to the Salt
Namak halaal, true to the salt. Namak haraam, false to the salt. The Rekhta dictionary defines namak haraam hona as to be treacherous, a traitor, one who harms his benefactor, disloyal. Namak halaal hona means to be loyal, grateful and indebted.
Two Hindi films carry the words as their titles. Namak Haraam (1973), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, starred Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. Namak Halaal (1982), directed by Prakash Mehra, starred Amitabh Bachchan.
Name, Salt, Flag
Naam, namak, nishan. Name, salt, flag. The phrase is widely cited as the honor code of the Indian soldier. The Indian site Chanakya Forum explains the three words. Naam is “to uphold India’s and his regiment’s reputation.” Namak is “to repay the debt of having eaten the salt of this piece of Earth.” Nishan is to honor the national flag “and the regiment’s flag/emblem.”
The Nurturant Task Leader
In 1980 the Indian psychologist Jai B.P. Sinha described the nurturant task leader. In Sinha’s words, such a leader “cares for his subordinates, shows affection, takes personal interest in their well-being.” A 1990 summary of the model by the researcher Ansari adds that the leader makes this care “contingent on the subordinate’s task accomplishment.”
The model describes subordinates who “depend excessively on their superiors for directions, guidance, and support,” and who prefer a personal relationship with the leader to a contractual one.
Urged On by Jambavan
In the Kishkindha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the monkey army reaches the sea. Someone must leap across to Lanka. The old Jambavan turns to Hanuman, tells him of his birth and his strength, and says: Uttishtha harishardula, langhayasva maharnavam. Rise, tiger among monkeys, leap across the great ocean. He adds that the whole monkey army wishes to see his strength.
Only then does Hanuman enlarge his body. Valmiki describes him as jambavata prachoditah, urged on by Jambavan.