The intention is that if you open my Blog in the morning, along with your 'bed tea', you may read something of interest or introspection, presented as Chota Hazry, which you can mull over, appreciate or criticise, or revert to for a more detailed reading later.
posted by LT GEN VIJAY OBEROI @ 11:45 PM
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"Chota Hazry" or Chhoti Haziri, translated as 'little breakfast', was a phrase much in vogue in the old Indian Army, but it is rarely used now.
It signified as the refreshment taken in the early morning, before or after the morning exercise. The phrase is derived from the word 'haziri' or muster and 'hazir' or present.
The phrase was originally peculiar to the Bengal Presidency. In Madras, it was called 'early tea'. Among the Dutch in Java, this meal consisted of a large cup of tea and a large piece of cheese, presented by the person (usually the orderly) who calls one in the morning.
EXAMPLE: 1866 - "There is one small meal ... it is that commonly known in India by the Hindustani name of chota haziri, and in our English colonies as 'Early Tea' ..."Waring, Tropical Resident, 172.
When I had joined the Indian Army, the phrase was still in use; I remember we had to purchase a "chota hazry set" for our morning tea and biscuit. The phrase is no longer in vogue, having been replaced by the more prosaic 'bed tea', which more often than not comes in a mug!
posted by LT GEN VIJAY OBEROI @ 11:14 PM
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Commissioned in the Maratha Light Infantry in 1961; a post-graduate in Defence Studies; and an International Fellow at The United States Army War College in USA, he was Defence Adviser at Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), DGMO and Army Commander of Training and Western Commands. He lost his right leg in the 1965 Indo-Pak Conflict. Despite this he retired as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on September 30, 2001, after being decorated with all three Distinguished Service Medals - PVSM, AVSM and VSM. He was part of a Goodwill Delegation to Pakistan, in 2003, to work for peace between India and Pakistan. He writes and speaks mostly on security-related issues and international relations. He has edited and contributed in the books ‘Army 2020’, ‘Special Forces’ and ‘Army Aviation’, published in 2004, 2006 and 2007 respectively. He has also contributed chapters to a number of books, the latest being ‘Mumbai Siege’ (2010). He was the Founder Director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi till mid November 2007. He is the Founder President of the War Wounded Foundation, set up to work towards meaningful rehabilitation of the war disabled.
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