PWG Writers Archive

Saturday, August 23, 2014

The Rescue of Mussolini by Major Skorzany: A Dare Devil Operation

What is bravery? It is an act of attempting to do the impossible. One such episode has caught my imagination. The man who carried out this act was a German Para Major named Skorzany. He was specially selected by Hitler for this act. A man of infinite courage and a dare devil, he was asked by Hitler to rescue Mussolini the Italian dictator from a mountain ski resort in Central Italy. The Italians who made Mussolini retire were aware that an attempt would be made to rescue Il Duce and so were shifting his residence every 2 months. However German Intelligence was able to pinpoint that Mussolini was held at the ski resort in Central Italy. Major Skorzany assured Hitler; he would rescue Mussolini and get him back to lead the Axis powers. In real terms Hitler was well aware that the Italians were just waiting to make peace with the Allies and would also hand over his best friend to them. Thus in September 1943 Skorzany made a daring plan to free Mussolini. It must be noted that the ski resort was only accessible by cable car and there was no road. So a decision was taken to land Gliders on the resort. The Major himself led the assault as the Gliders were airborne. It was a risky operation to land a glider on the small ground of the resort, but the German Para troopers did just that. Only one paratrooper lost his life in the landing. A master stroke was to take a senior Italian police official who on emerging from the glider shouted in Italian 'don't fire... don't fire '.This sowed confusion in the hearts of the guards who were quickly over powered and Mussolini was freed without firing a shot. Mussolini and his girl friend Clara were then whisked away by a small German light plane to Germany. It was feat without parallel in terms of audacity and bravery. Somehow this feat is not given much importance and Hollywood which has been making all sorts of war movies has conspicuously ignored this romantic saga of bravery. Maybe, because they would not like to propagate an episode of bravery from the Nazi era. But then Hollywood has never been known to be objective. The Major was involved in a few other attempts of dare delivery. One of these was his assignment to assassinate the 3 leaders Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt at Yalta. But the task was to gigantic and he gave up the plan, after it was compromised. What about the famed Major? He was arrested after the war, but escaped to Spain, where General Franco gave him refuge. He died in 1975.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

I'm So Proud JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA Childrens For Sale Classified Ads - FreeClassifieds.com

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I am an author under my pen name "Mollie Strongbloom"

I write about values in life and you can see my published works at

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I am taking a strong interest in this value.I write to over 150,000

people in over 41 countries.

I'm So Proud

When we talk about children in the world to help guide them for the future,

we try to give them every possibilities to succeed. I have com across a website,

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give them the tools needed.

http://www.12scproud.com/dogula46.html

Ever since my son was born, that I became an advocate for a child. I look

at what is on the internet to help parents find the right resources and to

teach them how to network with others. We can not stand pat, and expect

things to be just popping up to come to you. You have to take the first

step and you will benefit with all the knowledge you will find.Below is a

link that will help children from 0-14 years old, on a book that has a lot

of information to instill qualities in ones life. I am sending this,because

I value in what this company is trying to do, which is to benefit a child.

Anytime I see something that benefits anyone, I like to furnish it to my

friends. Networking is value, as we explore ways to help others.*

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Rukmani Varma the Princess who Paints Erotic figures

Background India is an ancient civilization that has been in existence from 5000 BC. During this vast span India has produced works of great art, some of which is erotic. This is so for the simple reason that eroticism is an essential part of Hindu thought. Modern Painting India has been home to great painters. One of the greatest painters was Raja Ravi Varna who is considered as the Father of Modern Indian Art. His granddaughter Rukmini Varma who was born in 1940 has carried on the legacy of art of the house of Travancore. Rukmini ‘s title is Her Highness Bharani Tirunal Rukmini Bayi Tampuran, Fourth Princess of Travancore. She hails from a dynasty that traces its lineage back to 1200 years. Childhood: Rukmini Varma Her early life was like an idyllic fairy tale. She grew up in Satelmond Palace in Trivandrum. Right from her young age art came naturally to Rukmini. She grew up as a royal princess and was given her first set of brushes and paint when she was only 6. She started painting at a young age and soon was studying and reading about the great masters of art like Rembrandt, Rubens, and Caravaggio. She also master the ancient Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kathak After 1947 After 1947 there was a churning in India as the British Empire ceased to exist. Rukmini’s parents also put her in Public schools and private tutors in the palace were dispensed with. In 1949, the State of Travancore vanished from the map forever when it was merged with Independent India, and the royal family retired from active public life. They sold the Satelmond palace and retired to Bangalore. For the next 2 decades Rukmini did not paint much as she came to terms with a new life where there were no liveried servants, royal guards, and the ritualistic ceremonies of the palace Return to Painting Rukmini returned to painting for the simple reason that she loved to paint. She painted with vigor and by 1970 she had completed her first series of oil paintings, which were exhibited in Bangalore to positive reviews. Her second exhibition in 1973 saw 34 of the 39 paintings displayed being sold in a matter of days. International Exposure In 1976, upon invitation, Rukmini embarked on her first major international exhibition at India House in London, which was opened by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India. He was impressed with her and asked she would paint a portrait of him in traditional Indian attire, wearing a turban and an achkan. She was also invited for fox hunting and picnicking with him on his country estate. However with his tragic death the promised portrait was not painted. Further success Subsequent exhibitions followed in Bonn, Cologne, and Neuenahr in Germany, along with invitations fromParis, Zurich, Madrid, and Rome. Queries for her work began to come in from collectors in Europe, America, Singapore, and the Middle East. In 1981 she had another highly successful exhibition in Bombay at theJehangir Art Gallery and at The Taj Art Gallery Her paintings of “flesh and gems” which had voluptuous nudes in mythological settings were a hit. She believed in celebration of the human, particularly female body.. Eroticism Rukmini blazed a trail in India by painting characters from Hindu Mythology in the nude. No less a man than Swami Chinmayananda advised her not to paint Hindu Mythological characters in the nude, but she distanced herself from the advice. This was the most productive phase of her career as she painted nudes from Mythology. She wrote : ‘I got fed up with all these restrictions. You couldn’t express yourself in the way you wanted. I am certain even Ravi Varma wanted to paint flesh as flesh is, without restrictions…’ Rukmini painted nudes from her ‘Pratiksha’ series was quietly sold into private collections in India and abroad, and was not exhibited anywhere so as not to provoke orthodoxy. Divorce and Further art In 1988 her youngest son died in a road accident. This had a devastating effect on her and for many years she refused to paint. In the mid-90s Rukmini picked up the brush to paint. Though she painted yet she remained almost a recluse and has refused to exhibit any paintings.. Last word For the last 18 years Rukmini is living at Bangalore. She spends her time paining and at 73 remains a beautiful woman. There was a time when even Raj Kapoor wanted her for film roles, but she declined. Her paintings have blazed a new trail and many are exhibited abroad and in India.