Happy & Prosperous Diwali

Wishing all Friends Family Followers & Readers of this Blog, a Very Happy & Prosperous Diwali!!! 

P Please have a safe and eco friendly Diwali and let the lights be stronger than sound

Are we Minorities in India?

Are literate middle class and upper middle class minorities in India? You may be amazed but that’s the fact. Don’t you think well educated, cultured responsible tax payers of the country minorities? Think Again!!! For me we are, else why do we not agree with most of the unfortunate things that happen in this country?  Be it Nano from Singur, to MNS in Maharashtra, I just cannot believe that we are so politically unsecure and power hungry that we want to divide the country in all ways from religion, to caste, to domicile and the ever green rich and the poor!!

Today’s paper though inspiring to see that India, joins the league of “Moon Mission” countries, but on the other hand, it is MNS chief, who gets bails after creating so much trouble in the name of Maharashtra and its people. I fail to understand, their political stand, beating up poor taxi wallas form UP, condemning celebrity like Mr Bachchan, criticizing "Chat Puja" and Lalu Prasad Yadav, and now bashing up people at an exam center of railway recruitment board in Maharashtra. How does it help and what is the connection of outsider (non maharashtrian) bring to the state if he wishes to select his exam centre in Mumbai or Maharashtra. 

The parliament debates “Terrorism” and its cause, effect and consequences, signs Nuke deals for a “so called” prospering country like India, but do they sit back and think about the people for whom they are doing this? Are these fanatic nomads worthy of such progress when they are out to spread terrorism in the name of state, caste creed and religion? All this at whose expense? Our Own!!

Are we moving towards the days when we have forgotten our own definition of our own country? My civic book & the constitution of India defined " India a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic Country"

Are we moving to the days when we need visa to visit other states in our own country?

Are we moving to a day when we shall not have 28 states within India, but 28 new countries in the world map?

Are we moving to a day, when we no longer clap for Sachin Tendulkar, when he plays in Kolkata or Bangalore?  Oh sorry the question of clapping will come, when we have him play for the Indian team, cos there may not be one that time!!

If you & me think the same way and echo similar sentiments, then please consider your self minorities in this country, cos the majority does not think that way!!

On the contrary, we are also responsible for being Minorities in our own country, because we are educated, socially established, have a status, pay our taxes, and apolitical in thought. We do not exercise our fundamental rights of voting. We are not bothered about what happens with our money that goes as Tax. All we do is Crib Crib & adopt!! I know this may be hurting, but if I am pointing one finger at you, four is pointing at me, cos I belong to the same class.

People can argue that if we are aware, why do not we contest and join the political band wagon, the answer is simple, “who’s gonna get into the mess”. Do you think, a middle class families parents without any political back ground, ever motivate his children to be a politician. Gandhiji and Chacha Neheru, may be icons, but it is sad to say that they remain icons in the history books.

Though we have a constitution which was made in good faith, people have construed its weak links in their own favor. I ask, if there is an age barrier to indulge in small pleasures of life and with moral policing all over (thanks to Ramados), be it the right to vote, or hold a drink, or get married, why there is no basic qualification and character required to contest an election? Why there is no entry barrier for people who wish to take up the role to rule the country. If the state secretaries need to go through such grilling procedure to qualify for IAS positions then why not the Minister or an aspiring MP or MLA?

All this leads to one Question  will this country, its people, its law and the judiciary system ever stand up to a cause and ACT  fast to protect “Brand India” and its “Reputation Risk” which gets flaunted by any and every body in the name of democracy?

Will “We” be able to ever come out of our own pleasure and stand up to fight this “political mockery” of the people, for the people & by the people?

One Up!! - India Vs Australia 2nd Test Mohali 08

India registered their thumping victory over arch rivals Australia by 320 runs to conquered Mohali!! 

This test match was one of those magical ones which went all in favor of India. Except the first session on day 1, when India was struggling for 174 for 5, the Sachin & Sourav, the good and bad boy of Indian cricket rose to the occasion to steer India out of the first session debacle. 

In this effort, Sachin made history by breaking Brain Lara's world record of 11953, and also became the 1st man in the history of cricket to cross 12000 test runs. Dada crossed his 7000 run mark the 4th Indian, in the history of Indian cricket to do so. He went on to hit his 16th century and his critics were silenced with the determination he played. 

Dhoni, the stand-in captain, who can rechristened himself as Mahendra (victory) Singh Dhoni, rose to the occasion and slammed the ball across the park to put up a good score for the mighty Aussies.  The debutant Amit Mishra, proved the selector and announced his arrival in the world of googly with a 5 wicket hall to bowl out Aussies for a mere 268 runs. 

India, registered its lead with the Daredevil duo, Sehwag & Gambhir, putting up a cracking run rate ont he board and making the Aussies run around the park. Gambhir, scored his century and with Sehwag departing, Dhoni shouldered the responsibility to keep up the pace and promoted himself to number 3 to thrash the otherwise ordinary bowling of Aussies. 

Declared the innings with 500 + runs to chase for victory, Aussies got stuck, with Bhajji's spining his webs with googlies.  Ishant took the cake on 4th day with a beauty to take away his bunny Punter for a mere 2 runs of 11 balls. Aussies were nailed to defeat in the 4th day it self with 140 for 5 on the board. Today, it was Zaheer's magical spell, which removed the tail and Mishra taking the bottom 2 to bring up his wicket tally to 7 for the test match. 

The game went to India, and coincidentally Dhoni, took away the kudos and man of the match for his formidable batting in both the innings and excellent captaincy through out the test. With 2 test as captain and victory in both, against the 2 best teams in the world, speaks a lot about this man and his Midas touch. Dhoni with a T20 world cup, Beating Ausies Down under and now with his test captaining record, its just a matter of time & formality when he shall hold the reins as countries cricket captain in all form of the game, as we shall wait to see Jumbo pulls down the curtain to his fantabulous career as a cricketer!!!

Kudos to the Indian Team & Are we close to witness the end to Aussie dominance in world cricket??? 

Sachin: God of Cricket!!

Sachin finally reaches the magical figure of 11953 runs to announce himself the King of Cricket!! Today at Mohali against our latest arch rivals Australia, Sachin breaks legendary Brian Lara’s record. It was remarkable to see Sachin achieved this in front of one of his most adorable former captain “Dada” who saw his "ChotoBabu" achieve this long due record for such close quarters that too in his final series of his career. This little master, who made started his career in 1989, has come a long way and achieved to be the highest run getter in Test Cricket crossing the legendary Brain Lara in his 152 nd Test match of his life... 

 Some of his Test Career Highlights!!

 ·        Holds an International record for most runs in test cricket

·       Has registered most centuries (39) in Test Cricket.

·       Has recorded most centuries (23) away from home.

·       Only player to aggregate 6000 runs away from home

·       Shares the Indian record for most Player of the series awards (4) for India with Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev.

·       Holds the record for most Man of the match awards (10) for India.

·       Youngest to play for India in a Test match at the age of 16 years 205 days - vs Pakistan at Karachi on Nov 15, 1989.

·       Youngest to post a hundred for India at the age of 17 years 107 days - 119 not out vs England at Manchester in August 1990.

·       Has aggregated 1000 runs in a calendar year four times - 1997, 1999, 2001 & 2002, an Indian record he shares with Sunil Gavaskar, who had also achieved the feat four times.

·       Best year in terms of run-aggregate - 1392 (ave.55.68) in 16 matches in 2002. Only Sunil Gavaskar has amassed more runs than Sachin in a calendar year for India - 1407 (ave.54.11) in 17 Tests in 1979. 

 The country, the game and the fans bow to this hugely talented and humble gentleman of International cricket for this achievement!! 

 Sachin's Centuries: 

His first century came after an year his presence in international cricket against England, and there after it was no stopping for this man who even holds the record for maximum test centuries (39) in the world.

Sachin took 19 tests to reach his first 1000 runs, but there after he paced his game and today holds the record of most test runs (12027) ever scored by any individual in the history of test cricket. 

Sachin holds the record in the shorter version of the game and he is the first man to cross 10000 ODI run in an international career is no mean feat. 

The only thing missing from this extravanagant cricketing career is a triple hundred in first class cricket, but he has achieved the same in school cricket tournament with his buddy Vinod Kambli for a record partnership of 600 plus runs. 

Personally I am not a die hard fan of Sachin, but there is no denying that he is one of my favourites. It was a pleasure watching him always, but in terms of biased affinity towards him at times was little dissapointing for me. This doesnot take away any credits from him and he aptly said "People throw stones at you and you turn them to milestones" 

Sachin is a true phenomena and a household name in Indian cricket. Playing for the country for 19 years at a stretch is an achievement by itself and that commands of all the hard work and dedication along with discipline one has to put forth to achieve this in ones life time.

 It is easy to idolize and also be jealous of the money he makes or attention he gets, but this has not come in one day, there is a thorough discipline and hard work which people like you and me cannot commit to ourselves, and that is why his son Arjun once said “My father is God” and today the entire cricketing nation considers him the “The God of Cricket”!!! 

Didi Strikes Again… Are we making West Bengal; Waste Bengal….

A SMS wishing Shubho Bijoya is doing rounds today and it goes like this…

Chaturthi te Nano gelo, 

Ashtami te Sourav,
Eke Eke Hariye geche, 

Bangla’r Shob Gourob
Aar kichu Maa na niye tui, 

tule ne shudho “Mamta” ke
Notun kore baachbo mora, 

Bachabo ei bangle ke..

Meaning, on the 4th day of Navratri we lost Nano (Tata) and on 8th day Sourav,

One by one Bengal is loosing its Garav (Pride)

Maa Durga, if you can take something, please take with you our didi “Mamta”

In new hope Bengal relives, and protect the state of Bengal.

An interesting thought, but not so interesting for Mamta Banerjee and her Krishi Bhoomi Baachao Andolan though, but this make me rethink that a State like West Bengal, which has everything from fertile land, coast, access to minerals and intellectually stimulated people, fail to progress like other states. 

It was not long back that I had been to pujo in Kolkata in 2005 and I was thrilled to see CPM government promoting industrialization in the state, with putting up motivational lines on industry and the progress attached with industry, and today after 3 years, this pujo we loose our face to one of the biggest name in global industry setter Tata on their most prestigious Tata Nano, car project for the people to make it by the people.

Looking back at Bengal and the entire Singur issue, I feel we lost it because of our attitude, on one had the attitude of being over confident where the government did not handle a project and investment of such scale effectively, without protecting all risks associated with the project. As a risk management framework says we have 3 types of risk; Risk from People Process and System, and I guess we failed miserable in managing all three efficiently. If not so, then our land acquisition process should have been effective, effective awareness of people on this project and the benefit one can expect personally and for the state would reduce the risk from people, and finally a system which could take swift decisions & actions and not keep it open for so long assuming that it will die naturally could have made Bengal a better place. 

On the other, it is people and their attitude for accepting change, led by emotional politicians who feel an opposition’s role is to oppose whether it’s for good or bad. The basic common sense of people has taken a back seat and it’s the attitude that speaks that we shall live and die like this and not progress and if given a chance will not let others progress as well!! 

Being poor in Bengal is fashionable and gives them self proclaimed right to oppose to progress of any sort, which they willingly or unwillingly tag them as “rich” who do not understand the pains of the poor. It is this difference and attitude which has led to the downfall of Bengal. 

I still remember my parents joking about Madrasee’s (invariably all south Indians in Kolkata as proclaimed as Madrasees) in Kolkata that when they come to Kolkata looking for job some 20-25 years back, they used to send 3 telegrams back home. First was “Reached Safely”, second “Got a Job” third “Send brother”. In the same light, Bengali’s who came out of Bengal who went elsewhere also sent 3 telegrams back home. One “Pouche Gechi” (Reached Safely); second was “Bhalo Lagche Naa” (not feeling well / missing home”; third was “Pherot Aaschi” (coming back). And this was absolutely true. 

Today I have been out of Bengal for more than a decade and I have seen Bengalis out of bengal prosper more than Bengalis in Bengal. All top companies executive boards and top management are represented by bongs. But the question is will these people be able to go back to Bengal and survive. The straight forward answer may be “NO”. The reason may be completely demographic or lack of competitive environment or the basic attitude of people. 

Thus going back to Singur, I feel, the loss has to be attributed to the attitude of the people in Bengal, and with Tata’s leaving; it is a big jolt to the overconfidence of the Government & people of Bengal and a reality check for Mamata, who never thought Tata’s would take such drastic measures after progressing so far; an example of lack of vision and think big attitude. 

Didi, are we turning West Bengal to Waste Bengal??? Jobab dao Jobab Chai!! 

Durga Puja - Nostalgia!!

Kolkata Pujo has always been an event by itself and specially our pujo at Lake Gardens East Association. Sadly this year I am missing it for a straight 3^rd time. Life today has become a trade off and for a person like me, who hate to trade of pujor chutti with anything else previously; is trading off with it today. Blame it on job commitment, laziness or the distance, there is actually no excuse for missing it.

Today, is Shoshti and in this afternoon, when I would have been in Kolkata, deciding what to wear and when to go to the pandal to have a glimse of Maa Durga, sit back in my Bangalore home, look out to the gloomy weather and write this nostalgic piece of revisiting Durga pujo back in Kolkata and specially our para pujo in Lakegardens. Read On..