To dearest of them all, with love

Five years is such a long time and still I remember the first time I saw you. I was late to your home (my first visit). I do not know how I actually walked the steps and reached your drawing room. Maybe my parent told me. You were reclining on the sofa, sufficiently made up and resting there. As soon as you saw me you ran into the house. you were taller than my expectation. You were and have always been thin, bordering on frail. That is when I decided that it will be a very good idea to spend rest of my with you. The informality and the grace of your movements and attitude really struck me. That was the first quality that killed me then. It was one of my many impulsive actions that I decided that this is that and I told you so as well when we went to my college. Your have always been what cynics call a "low maintainance wife". But actually that was the only thing I watched. You were very comfortable eating at a nondescript place, going to the place where I spent my most importnat four years of my life till then. The place which changed me completely. This really meant that you were different, which was not as important as the fact that you actually matched me at some plane of existence. Though at other multiple planes we are as different from each other as possible. And thankfully that was one of my decisions that I never (mostly :) ) regretted. There were troubling time, there were discords and slightly different expectations and aspirations. I tried to take care of aspirations which I thought should be long term and viable. We had terrible fights for those which we thought should be trivial things or some thing wrong. I have been moving from my roots and in a completely different environment every ten years now. I moved from my small town Udgir to the district place, Latur. I moved from LAtur to my hostel. From my hostel I moved to Wipro. From Wipro I moved to Subex. Each of the move changed my life completely. So I know that it is very difficult to change things completely and start over. For you it was even more difficult. This was because you were in the same town and same place all the time. Things never changed for you. They changed drastically with a new family to stay with in a new town. You really did splendid to cope up with all that and do more :).
And while all this was happening we have our first born almost immediately. I think one of the most important and interesting things that happened to us together. Ojas ensured that our debates and fights that occur seldom do not tear us apart the way it is doing others at this moment. But that was just the side effect. Our life has been converted from the usual and run of the mill to the extra ordinary because our son is there in it. If in last five years giving birth to him is the only thing we did, we would still come out successful for first five years. But we did many more things. Apart form the really apparent physical prosperity (if you notice our income is almost double of what it was when we got married, we own a small flat of our own and a four wheeler), I think the most important thing we have is that we can still enjoy life and be happy without all these. Being detached from all the gains actually makes us worthy to go for more. And this is where I appreciate your contributions. This makes you very unique in my eyes. If there was any body who would have matched my way of thinking by actions, it is you. That is why I love you more than a husband loves a wife OR a father loves the mother of his loved children. Without you, I would not be living the life I wanted. Without you, I would not be so balanced and so free to do the stuff I like. Without me life would not hold me and give new meanings to every day. Without you I would not have the shine of my eyes, Oju and Aaroh. Without you life will be very less interesting and boring. I am lucky to have you as my wife for last five years and for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything and I love you for so many years.

The stranger: his hiding place

This is where I first saw him: http://sweet-kandy.blogspot.com/2009/06/stranger-part-1-introductions.html

And he has this habit of disappearing for long stretches of time. Like he did, it has been almost an year now. I am sure the sand and pond were there always, I some times might even have walked over there, though I am no so sure now. Actually not so sure of any thing. But definitely the wet conspicuous green smell of the still waters and the sand squishing and squirming under my feet is some thing I seem to have felt pretty often. But I have not seen him again for a year now. I almost completely forgot that he was there in the shadows near the pond, lurking harmlessly but intently in the darkness. Scavenging on the garbage of emotions I leave behind. Feelings, good and bad, mostly bad. I again saw him yesterday. I was doing my own thing, playing volley ball not specifically well and enjoying it. I had run five miles earlier the day and spend almost the whole day lazing about with piles of work awaiting me. I especially like avoiding work the more important it is and if it is going to have a wider impact, it eggs me on even further.
So it went pretty cloudy and dark and somebody asked to switch on the flood lights. The powerful flow of sliver light shone momentarily blinded me. when I opened my eyes, I found that it was reflecting sharply on the waters of the pond. I felt almost relived to find that this place still exists, though I would definitely like to see it during the day time. Now I am almost a regular visitor here and most probably I am the only visitor, but it is not very fair on the pond's part to seem lazy, moody, dark and unnecessarily mysterious. I think it is unbecoming and slightly vain to be so. And when two entities are so near and integral to each other, won't a little more transparency and openness help? Hell, even the management books say so. I have always found them as silly as books of so many religions though. But they definitely have their own addiction and may be the lotus eater inside me likes both these exactly for the same reason.
So with the lights shining in my eyes and me now wondering on the shores of the farm, it was cue enough for him to appear in some dark corner. And he being so near to me, promptly missed this cue. Damn you, I thought, you miss your cues so regularly and effortlessly that you do not know how much more similar to me you are. Even more than you actually are and definitely even more than you actually try to show.
But his absence there was a kind of strange satisfaction and I felt relieved. This is a similar feeling I have when I run away from people who are analyzing me and approving OR disapproving of my approaches and actions. He has always thus effect on me. Without even saying a word he watches me so intently and quietly that it always looks like he is going to make some severe comment or another. I do not have any hope of him understanding my actions or the reasons for it. I am pretty sure what he is thinking. He is saying, you idiot, you could have actually avoided that. In fact you could have done so many different things and would have done these better. Should have thought different, thought better or should have thought at all. You should have been more caring and loving. Should have understood people more. Should have understood yourself more. Should have been stricter with yourself. Should have been nearer to the people you love.
But now that he is not there, I am strangely relieve. I stroll around that place for sometime, watching our of corner of my eyes of any signs of him. But other wise very tranquil and quiet and content. We should move their sometime when every thing else is done and dusted. But then I smirk at the futility of the thought. Why should I move there when it is always moving with me. It is near me and I go there. I go there despite my choice and some times more abruptly and at uncomfortable times than I like but I own it. It will the last thing I should think about moving to when I am done with every thing what ever I am doing. In fact, it is not a very good idea at all.
This was a very good and quick trip of the pond, strangely for the reason that I expected to find him there and did not. But I was sure that he was watching me from some forsaken corner and I was sure that I will see him in due course of time.

Obama In India- Part III : The Future; near and far

As put earlier, Obama has got what he wanted while giving very less and promising a lot. He came here on the back of a big set back domestically. He had to show some thing short term that he gained. The problem was dealt with properly and he gained what he started with in his mind. A new business of tens of billions of dollars and jobs for tens of thousands of American workers is the bargain he had come with. Hopefully this will ensure that he has some breathing space at home. Even this relief looks temporary. The Grand Old Party has him in a death grip now and will keep squeezing it as they want for next two years. This may make Obama more belligerent and try to do extra ordinary things to break out of the grip. We can use this more and make use to gain more from him. I think helping him in his pull out from Af-Pak is the next important thing we can do. Once he is out of Af, we can deal with Pak on a one on one basis. With out any body else's strategic interests being hurt. I think one more split Pakistan will make India more stronger. Baluchistan and other tribal areas which are now any ways partially autonomous can become an independent country and they can be our very good friends. This looks like a fantastic thought right now but can be reality and will definitely be a good thing. We can use the capital we put in by helping Obama. Right now he has got away with what he wanted but we can definitely give him and America more. This will ensure that we will get back some thing other than just empty words.

Even if these are just empty words, this is also enough coming from the leader of the most influential nation on earth. We definitely have some thing tangible at hands short term. We can put this to better use. We can use the short term advantage to get some thing long term. May be increase out influence in Sri Lanka or Nepal. Right now it looks like we are tongue tied and are not comfortable with our strength. This also some times means that others are not comfortable with our strength. Right now the Man Mohan government is too dovish for my liking. We have tied our own hands in knots. We can improve on this by being more hawkish and being more transparent. As Obama mentioned our power gives us some moral responsibilities and give us some rights as well. We should work as big brother in most of the conflicts. We need not be completely on one side always. For example, dealing with Burmese Junta and Aang San Su Ki, we should ensure that we let the Burma know that even when we are supporting them, we want slow and steady improvement in the situation. And Obama is right in this sense. This is where America has also faltered historically. They have always gone for short and mid term goals without being aware of the rights and wrongs. If we use our power considerately, we can get what we want along with making the world a better place.

The problem is that historically we have been used to the responsibilities more and not made good use of the rights and opportunities. This is a tight rope walk and the balance is very difficult to maintain. It is even more difficult to show that the balance is optimal. But this is what foreign policy is all about. Obama's visit and his promises has definitely given us a new status. We should get used to the new status, even if it is short lived. We can make it more long term by doing some thing wiht a great impact pretty quickly. We can use this to solve some domestic problem OR use it to solve some problem with our neighbors. Our mid term goal is to stop the terrorist training centers in Pak which work against us. Even the congress needs to get his done so that they have some thing spectacular to show for the next elections. Civil Nuclear deal, a permanent seat at the security council, and stopping the terrorist camps in Pak as a stretch goal can be very good as a foreign policy achievement the congress can take it to the people in the next elections.

In my opinion these can be very formidable achievements.   And these can take us further down the path of being a responsible super power.  We can use it to get some things done that we wanted.

P.S. This is how I felt while writing this: http://750words.com/entries/share/367723

Obama in India–Part 2 : There is no re course to good strategy and honesty

 

Continuing from my last post: Here’s how I felt writing this  http://750words.com/entries/share/365045

 

India and United States have always been more of unnatural enemies than natural allies. We have always been distrustful of each other. Though their a very sizable population of India who has always been in awe of the United States. Some times for these people this country is their life's destination and destiny. Even with this for the fist fifty years or some thing of Indian independence, America has always been wary of India and Indians. Despite many times acting against India’s interests, Indians have always been pro US. This is in stark contrast with the rest of the world.

Very few times we see eye to eye. Whenever there is a chance of having the same point, the prevalent situation has always been such that we could not be on the same side. Latest example being Afganistan. (Read India's Afghanistan dilemma)   However India wants to involve in Afganistan more actively, the domestic politics does not allow India to do so.

In case of Burma, I think Indian intelligence has some under handed and shady dealing with the military Junta OR has failed miserably in the policy of intervention and wants to keep its hands off the east. It again can be a tactical necessity. Similarly in Bangla Desh war and India - china war, United states has been very actively on the other side  OR a silent spectator respectively. We definitely would have liked to do more. India by leading the non Aligned Movement and being inclined to the Russians has always sowed seeds of doubt in US's mind. So successive presidents have been wary / ignorant of India or did not care much for it. where as Pakistan has always been the blue eyed boys.

 

But things have changed quite drastically in last fifteen to twenty years. India's emergence in the world economy has been slow and steady .

Indian economy does not have the explosive growth of a Japanese OR a Chinese economy. Though it is strong in its own. By not growing too fast we have avoided going bust the Japanese way. (see chart)

India has the biggest middle class who are getting away from the normal spend thrift ways of Indians and is ready to splurge its income in the way it fits good. In parallel, United States has been losing its grip and lead as an economic power house. A unipolar world economy where Us is the only strong leader and director has numbered days . US needs to sell things to countries of it has to continue being the caller of the stakes, and which country if not India with its ready made set of middle class buyers. As indian economy is growing, India's other needs in infrastructure and industries is also growing. This is where U.S. can earn its next share of pie. With the emergence of the Indian middle class, we are going to be world's consumers. US is going to do any thing to ensure that it has favorable access to this group. This can involve giving in to some long term strategic demands like Security Seat and talking down Pak.

The danger there is that most of the late presidents (from Clinton to Obama) who have had an eye on Indian middle class do not still consider India as a trusted ally. India's centrist politics is one of the reasons for it. Indian leaders' non strategic ideas and moves can be another reason for it. We rarely do any thing for long term at least when foreign policy is concerned. We are too enamored with our two enemies China and Pakistan. We could influence the world more but we get embroiled in only these two countries. Manmohan two successive terms have been trying to change that but it always comes back. We are not planned enough to ensure that we progress despite these oppositions. We have always allowed other countries to gang up against us and then we have played the martyr. The benefits given by last three presidents, Clinton-Bush-Obama have been pretty substantial. But to me , the things offered by Obama look the most superficial of them all. We can not do any thing more with a permenant seat in the security council than we can do now. Similarly, the indemnity given to US companies is a cause for concern. So most of the times there is a thought that we are getting trivial pursuits OR empty promises and we are giving away more than we are getting in the bargain. So, the qeustion is The Obama gifts, are they  Trojen Horses? to me it looks more like the right of the Lord of The Rings. It has immense power but it comes with its own problems. We would want it as dearly as we can. But the problem is that it is going to tie us and make us a slave to its power. Hope fully our leader ship will pay heed to the state of Pakistan who has latched on to the US tit for last fifty years and majorly because of this is turned into a Mandalik state of it. It can not have any strategic position in the world as it has to pay US back the favors that the US did.
Though in short term, Pak can milk the Al Queda and US presence in Afgan and earn billions of free dollars, it is always a different case when you earn your dues through long term strategy and hard work rather than being at the right place for your master.

Obama in India–Part I–Tu hi aashiqui hain

 

Today I would like to talk about Obama and his visit to India. Foreign policy and strategies being my most interesting arm chair pastimes, I think I am entitled to my opinions. And all of these opinions are hundred percent right ones. As a warning, this may be affected by my political standings which is center – left to center.
The thing that struck me (again) about India is the importance we give to authority. We were going out of our way to please Obama. This does not include the hospitality that we are famous for but it does include the giving in of every thing you have to gain some thing more. I remember there was a controversy regarding "Jan Gan Man" being targeted to Geroge Fifth and not to the people of India. Similarly there was a song sung for him "Tu hi dil hain .. Jaan bhee hain ... Tu khushi hain .. Aaasaraa bhee hain". This really jarred. Who ever has chosen this song is the one to blame. This of course does not represent our national position and is just some lowly official trying to get exceptional rating from his superior but this is how it started.
The more important things that happened were most of the times expected and some times the unexpected were mostly pleasant. First let's discuss the expected things. I think depending on the importance of the president and the hope good part of the world has pinned on him. Being the harbinger of hope and a riding knight in shining armor, we should have enough belief in him. At least we should try and allow him to fail and give him room and time to do all this. And to be sympathetic to him, I think we should go out of our way to accommodate and honor him.
So apart from two things, one where some body low screwed up and another where the prime minister took a very good decision out side of the protocol, things went more or less on the accepted lines.
The reaction of Bharatiya Janata Party was expected and it is really sad to see the depth it has sunk to. Along with their criticism on the interlocutors to Kashmir , this was once again that they have been foolish and short sighted. They definitely do not look like a party who is expecting to come to power the next time and want to keep things as they are and in continuity. I think in matters of national importance, it is always important to have all parties either signed in before hand OR they ensure that their reactions are muted enough not to reflect our country badly in front of others. BJP failed in both the counts.
Other expected thing was that Obama will speak like a merchant. I think it is important for him to take back what he has earned, especially after his debacle in senate.
So he comes in as a messiah of hope and has to talk like a businessman working in a small margin business. This meant that he has to fill in the gap with him charm. He can not give away any thing else. Giving away some diplomatic advantages to India just because he is not behaving according to the perceptions is too much to lose. The only other option he has was to turn on the charm. Which both he and his wife are really good at. So he walked the tight rope easily, did not talk about controversial issues. Came across as genuine and charming, made the points back home by being business like and by winning a number of business deals.
I think the most important things are the ones that are discussed behind closed doors. But these will be apparent only in due course. If there is a drastic change in the attitude and stands taken by India in next four to six months, we can safely assume that we have sold it to Obama and he has agreed to our steps.
It is highly unlikely that any thing will change. But if it does, it is a pleasant surprise again.

To be continued: Here is the analysis of this post of mine in 750 words:

http://750words.com/entries/share/363422

Book Review: The Lost Symbol

 

After completing the very interesting and introspective “Sea of Poppoies” last week, I was a bit skeptical while starting with the new Dan Brown novel. “The Lost Symbol” though was a riveting read. I completed this in almost record time. It was really difficult part from the book at the end of each of my reading sessions. (my reading  sessions consist of the time I spend travelling in bus to and fro the office). It gave me a sanctuary from my *other* life(home,office,wife,boss,parent,kids,team et al) as “Sea of Poppies” did OR as any other favorite book would do.

Of course there is a definite difference between”The Lost Symbol” and “The Sea Of Poppies”. Some of this is because Amitav takes me to a trip of my own unknown history. Another point is that these two are targeted towards two different demographics and have different aims in mind. The characters in “Lost Symbols” are one-dimensional. The “Good” is always “Good” and “wins” in the end. The “Bad” is just a misguided “good” (this is a twist I was suspecting quiet early in my readings BTW )and ends up finding the folly for his ways too late.

The director of CIA is made fool of by a nutcase and an old professor. The symbol in the end is a big puff and after all this it is a certified case of “much ado about nothing”.

I do not want to give the storyline here and spoil it for everybody else. I definitely recommend this as a one-time read for everybody. Dan Brown definitely plays to his gallery pretty successfully. Though it has been getting pretty repetitive  and formula from him.

The verdict: Definitely worth reading once. (If this is a borrowed book, it is even better. (I didbuy it though :())

Sea of poppies

The current state of our nation being as it i now-a-days, This particular book is really a throwback to the forgotten era which marked sprouting of a concept  of modern Indian nation.

I was really mesmerized by “The Glass House”. Another novel where the action happens across multiple continents and the backdrop is the intertwined histories of Brahmadesh and India. In the ” Sea of Poppies” though the scale is comparatively smaller, Amitav puts the same amount of efforts and research  and brings out yet another fascinating facet of Indian seamanship as well as the whole movement of indentured labor from India flowing across the then British globe.

The tale unravels slowly and takes us through a journey of Afim trade with China, fertile Gangetic planes lying waste because of the cash crop of poppies. It talks about the Laskar: the Hindustani sailors. But in the end, it is a simple story about simple people, told simply. And that is one of the reasons it leaves a mark.

I am following this with another Dan Brown novel,The Lost Symbol. Though it is as captivating and even more thrilling as this one; “Sea of poppies” will always be closer to my heart.

 

Images: Wikpedia,internet, sea of poppies site

further readings :): http://seaofpoppies.com/

Minority Apeasement

The media has been going Ga Ga over Shoaib and Sania affair. Even the Shivsena has kicked in which now a days means that the whole country is lapping it up and it has a good cheap publicity potential. While browsing through the news channels on an especially slow Sunday, I noticed one fact.

Even in Pakistan, remarriage is allowed only after the first wife agrees to it. But in India, a Muslim can marry four time (the consent of the earlier wife/wives is immaterial). Muslim male is given an extra ordinarily long rope in India. Most of it is because of their minority status. (This is my interpretation and please correct me if it is wrong).

Definitely the meaning of minority status of the vote bank definitely has a bit to do with it. But that is not the end all and be all of the point I am trying to make. So anybody who agrees just for the hackney eyed agenda of uniform civil code can switch off now.

The minority status also brings with it an inbuilt opposition to progress and change. A Muslim woman in a Muslim majority country has more chances of getting her word heard. The fight for her rights has less moral dilemmas. In a Muslim minority country like India, she has to standup for her community as well as fight for her rights. Moreover, her opponents in her community have an ace up their sleeve. They can just blame her of trying to emulate the majority. They can blame that she is bringing disrepute to their religion and values with her immoral and uncontrolled behaviour. Immoral and uncontrolled behaviour is one of the first accusation made against any woman fighting for her rights anyways throughout the history. But in this particular case, it is loaded with even more possibilities. The opressed part of minority, thus needs to stand up for her collective as well as fight against it at the same time. Which is multiple times more difficult.

So, a girl who would definitely have fought against Hijab in Pakistan/BanglaDesh/Iran fights against a law banning it in France.

A country who genuinely wants to succeed in implementing equality needs to understand this. It needs to count for it in their planning. It is just now enough to lay down a legislation to right the wrongs. It needs to do a lot of groundwork as well.

In the footsteps of a wandering monk ..

Fri Sep 13, 2002 ...
(Note the subtle (No more now:) ) reference to the program on BBC "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great", a must watch though) ..

She looks completely underfed and neglected but for the serenity on her face ..
sitting with her back erect like a ramrod she shuffles her feet just when sitting becomes unbearable with numb feet and she is really cross with herself for being so weak .. Her feminity is shown only during those instances when she raises her tenor to a surprising degree and gets a nod from the old violinist and happy for it... It is really a quaint team if there ever was one .. A mallu muchhad on the Mridingam a wiezened Tammu scratching on the violin and a motu struggling to accomodate two ghatams on his lap. A mad main stealing away the drinks offered to them and three or four disinterested onwatchers complete the scene. The stench from a nearby broken latrine gives the perfect finishing touch making life miserable if not unbearable.

But they keep on caring little abt what is going on around. Suddenly in the middle of the song she stops; looks at the Mridingam and Ghatam guys mischievously and it all break loose ...Ppl might not remember much but it was sure the Mridingam guy who starts it with two raps on the mridingam and looks at the Ghatam. Ghatam is ready with an answer. Next comes a sound that is humanly impossible from a Ghatam; just a piece of burnt mud after all; I mean goddamn it there has to be some difference between range of tones coming from leather tightly wrapped over a box and from a piece of earthenware. But surprisingly no; whatever the Mridingam throws at it; Ghatam repeats it. The attacks become more severe; the questions more direct; the smiles more mischievous almost bordering on demeaning;Mridingam is more celebrating his win than attacking. But all the advances are replied with stern resistance. Ghatam is a good fighter but he is sure retreating under the onslaught.


Mridingam thunders long thinking he has Ghatam down and out and this is the last blow and there is deadly deafening sielence for a split second.
Then Ghatam repeates the thunder; now that it has withstood the attacks it goes on the rampage with its counter attacks. The battle fluctuates madly; the flurry increases; frequecny of turn arounds increases the scene is really ecstatic. Stop,stop please otherwise it'll be impossible to breathe. Somehow suddenly one olympic ad comes to mind .. "I might be your adversary but U r not my enemy. U bring out the best in me. Without u I'm not complete; u r my brother, my competitior ..."

Fingers are not supposed to move so fast for such a long time. These sounds are not sposed to come outof Mridingam /Ghatam. The battle finally leads to a crescendo. now it is no more attack and defence. Everybody is going for others throat; like a boxer in 13th round; reeling like a drunkard; not bothering what's hit them but giving it all they've got; really hurling a sinc and a washing basins at each other ....

It gotto end sometime and it does in a flurry ... Ghatam and Mridingam exchange smiles and almost congratulate each other;; No, not so lucky; a rich tenor picks up the tune where it was left ... no siree, u can not leave something so divine just like that and I got something to add to it .... Whole stage becomes a halo; who is this ?? That frail underfed lasse .. It has suddenly became free for all and the wailing violin also joins it ... Everybody is smiling and then it comes down as it had gone up so fast it makes u dizzy ...

Some question linger, why ??? Why here ?? is the top most of them ... Why would somebody play such great music when there is nobody to listen?? Is this the land that does that ?? We won't wonder if it does .. Just 200 meters past somebody jumped into the sea to search for the truth after searching the whole country for it ...More surprising is he came back after he found that to give it to the less unprivileged .... That can be counted as one of the two most famous jumps into the sea in Indian history. One at Marselleies being almost of same importance; at least to some ppl ..
Is it Karma ?? Did they do it because they were sposed to ?? We beg to differ ...
Common sense:"Viveka" says stop;desist; get lost BUT the pleasure in it:"Ananda" says do it ("Just Do It " if u would ...). It is not done 'cos somebody is sitting in the heaven and watching over all of us but it is done because I like it ...
U were never doing it for the listeners; for the money and for the applause. U were always doing it for ur self... Ur pleasure .. Is this selfishness ?? May be ,but is is divine ... Not much different that the wandering monk ...

Anyway; "Gentlemen ; it was an honour performing with u" ... As the head musician on the Titanic says to his fello musicians ..

strength and courage on a cricket field

"Examples of raw guts and courage are many across the world of cricket over the years. The most moving and compelling story is that of an injured Bert Sutcliffe battling for New Zealand against South Africa in December 1953. Badly injured by a Neil Adcock bouncer, Sutcliffe returned from hospital with a heavily bandaged head and hit seven sixes in an unbelievable counterattack, making 80 out of 105. If Sutcliffe battled physical injury it was poignant that Bob Blair the man who partnered him in this effort had suffered even more grievously. News had just come that Blair's fiancée had been killed in a train accident. How Blair found the courage to keep his mind in a heroic tenth-wicket stand with Sutcliffe will forever be one of the most amazing stories of fortitude. Finally Blair was dismissed and then he let the tears come. As the pair walked back, arms draped over each other, weeping and emotionally drained, there was not a dry eye that day in the crowd."

from: http://blogs.cricinfo.com/inbox/archives/2010/02/courage_in_a_hard_game.php#more

Agenda for talks with Pak

पाकिस्तान बरोबर जी चर्चा (किवा चर्चा करण्यासाठी चर्चा) होणार आहे त्याचा agenda असा ठरवता येईल:

सन सन सन फट फट

किंवा हि गोष्ट नंतरच्या फेरयांसाठी राखून ठेवता येईल.

आपण त्यांच्या खेळाडूना बोलावून जो केळ्यांचा आहेर केला त्यानी तबियत खुश झाली. जर आता त्यांच्या परराष्ट्रमंत्र्यांची वेळ असेल तर किती बरे होईल.

आहे का चीदू/प्रणब/मन्नू मध्ये इतका दम?

Bad habits

Bad habits are like leeches. You do not know when they jump from the ground below or drop from the skies above and fasten onto you. Just like leeches they ensure that you are in relative comfort and are enjoying the experience.

And when something snaps and you just see a slimy bloated piece of black leather hanging onto you, your insides shudder with revulsion.

something similar happened to me. I just for fun used to look at horoscopes on and off. Especially before the exams (now calibration discussions etc). I always used to convince me that I do not believe that shit and all this is just for fun. I totally lost track when this habit turned on me and became obsessive-compulsive.

And something snapped (more on this later) and I just observed myself referring to my daily astrology multiple times a day !! I had to borrow support from them even when I am taking a decision of medium to small-medium importance. Thankfully I became aware of this habit early enough (hopefully :)).

And "All Is Well" after some withdrawal symptoms which lasted for three to four days. This whole thing was very remarkable. Myself getting into this cycle, becoming aware of it and snapping out of it with a little bit of struggle.

It really felt nice in the end.

नाच्या खान IPL वर

टाईम्स ला अचानकच पाकिस्तान बरोबर दोस्तीची उबळ अनावर झाली आहे.

अशातच IPL मालकांनी पाकी खेळाडून्चा असाच पोपट केला आणि Times Now ने प्रोग्राम नको पण anchors आवर अशी वेळ आणली. अर्नब चा परत आवाज लागला. एक वर्ष आधी हाच आपण पाकिस्तान वर हल्ला का करत नाही असे जो भेटेल त्याला विचारात होता. सगळे जन "मी नाही त्यातला" असा चेहरा करून त्याचा प्रश्न टाळायचे. आणि आता तोच परत "आपण आपल्या गरीब. बिचारया शेजार्याना असे का वागवतो" असा प्रश्न विचारतोय.

कुणी तरी आपली सुद्धा कार्यालये फोडावीत, फक्त IBN लोकामाताचीच का? आम्हीबी सुधारणावादी, आमचाबी TRP वाढवा, असा एकंदरीत सूर दिसतो.

आणि NDTV त्याना एकटेच कसे सोडणार? अशाच एका कार्यक्रमात नाच्या खान ने मुक्ताफळे उधळली. मुळ म्हणजे त्याला काय म्हणायचे आहे हे त्याला ही कळाले नसेल. ५ मिनिटांच्या clip मध्ये त्यानी स्वत:ला ३-४ दा तरी contradict केले असेल.

पाकिस्तानी सगळ्यात चांगले २०-२० खेळाडू आहेत..... माझी family पाकिस्तानहून आहे.... माझ्या संघात ५-६ पाकिस्तानी खेळाडू होते...... कुठेतरी प्रोब्लेम आहेच ... हा आमचा एकत्र घेतलेला निर्णय होता ... पण तो चुकीचा होता ... आम्ही फक्र नफ्यासाठी बांधील आहोत .... आम्ही aussies ना घेतलेच ना ..... पण आता लोक त्याना हि खेळू नाही देणार ... आता म्या काय करू .. कोठे जाऊ? .... "माय नेम इज खान" च्या सेल मध्ये या गोष्टीनी कुठे फायदा होयील का?

महेश भट नावाचा खरजूकुत्रा सदर्याच्या वरून काखा खाजवत आपली मते मांडत असता तर सोने पे सुहागा झाले असते. पण राणा-हेडेली लफड्या मुले त्याचे थोबाड सध्या बंद आहे. त्यामुळे TV न्यूज सुसह्य आहेत.

पण ते शाहरुखला पहावत नाही.हा जे काही बरळत होता ते फक्त NDTV च्या दाढीवाल्या बाबालाच कळत होते. तो मध्ये मध्ये (जेव्हा नाच्या त्याला chance देईल तेव्हा) "म्हणजे तुम्हाला म्हणायचे आहे कि आपण पाक बरोबर दोस्ती केली पाहिजे" असा सोयीस्कर निष्कर्ष काढत होता.

आणि भारतीय संपर्क माध्यमाच्या शिरपोचात आणखी एक तुरा खोवला जात होता.

Theory of everything

As the people who know me more intimately know, I have my own foolish theory of everything.
It goes something like this:All biology is chemistry.All chemistry is physics.All physics is mathematics.*

This is very crude attempt at generalization on my part.Here is one great physicist putting it correctly. And of course driving the final nails in the coffin of my theism in that process:

http://www.ted.com/talks/murray_gell_mann_on_beauty_and_truth_in_physics.html

Near the end of the talk he says:
"... They follow from the fundamental theory. They are what we call emergent properties. You do not need something more to get something more.That's what emergence means. Life can emerge from Physics and Chemistry plus a lot of accidents. The human mind can arise from neurobiology and a lot of accidents, the way a chemical bond arises out of physics and certain accidents. Doesn't diminish the importance of the subjects to know that they follow from more fundamental things plus accidents. That's the general rule, and it's critically important to realize that.You don't need something more to get something more. People keep asking me "Isn't there something more beyond what you have there?" Presumably they mean something supernatural.

Anyway there isn't.(laughter).You don't need something more to explain something more."

* This theory exist despite any particular expertise or excellence in any of these subjects on my part. We all have our theories, don't we?

Watching alone isn't always fun (and some wistful thinking)

Read this article in cricinfo and it invoked many a sentiments:

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/diffstrokes/archives/2009/08/solitary_watching_isnt_always.php#more

There have been multiple phases I have been following cricket in.

Apart from the recent past, I observed that I had never watched cricket alone. Along with the advent of 20-20, this has been one of the major reasons cricket viewing has changed drastically for me.The advantage is definitely any match that happens in England. I immensely enjoy the deep discussions as well as bantering. Cricket as well as commentary definitely takes a very different form in the place where cricket was born.

But otherwise watching cricket alone is a dredge. Here are different phases in my cricket watching career:

Early childhood, I remember my Dad regularly stuck to the radio. I still remember that cold winter Divali morning when he woke me from my slumber and told me that India had won the world cup. I had started liking the game before I actually saw it being played. The whole Divali days my dad just talked about cricket and nothing else. He was always a very big and secrete fan of Viv Richards. There is a small anecdote about his cricketing abilities. Actually I never saw him play except once.This was years after the world cup win. There was a match between students and teachers in his school. The teachers were about to lose. Just like almost everybody, my dad also had made several silly mistakes. He did not run fast enough, fielded miserably and definitely a stark different between the quality of the two. He went in to bat 6 down.He started biffing the ball all around the park. When he eventually got out (and most prob lost the match), somebody compared him to Viv Richards. I have rarely seen him happier. He kept on the cricket hat till we reached home and carried around that Richards swagger for many days :)I do not recall much about 85 champions trophy-87 world cup. I sometimes sneaked in some television when I visited my rich friends. I faintly remember watching some moments of West Indian trip to India. But both, (the moments and rich friends)were few and far between. Though I remember Gavaskar scoring his only century in one dayers in his last one day match, and we losing it to England in the semis (most probably).

This era changed to very serious and dedicated cricket viewing when my uncle, who stayed just next doors, got a color television. We all, nephews and uncles got big kick out of watching channel 9 coverage of Aussie cricket. My uncle loved cricket but loved his sleep almost equally. We used to wake him up early morning(sometimes even 2.30-3.00 A.M.). He usually used to be torn between cricket and his sleep. We used try to tilt him toward cricket. I do remember watching Sachin's debut. This was India's tour to Pakistan. Srikanth was the captain and definitely at his nadir. Akram just killed him. Most probably this was the first time I saw a human being completely dismantled on the cricket field. It was a shame that a free spirited cricketer of Chika's caliber should face such a fate.And of course everybody remembers

The quality of cricket peaked at 92 world cup and maintained through till the 96 world cup. Most probably start of the golden era of cricket viewing (my as well as for the public in general, in my opinion). 92 world cup was played during my S.S.C. examinations. I couldn't view a lot of matches completely. But South African athleticism along with breathtaking telecast took this experience to a different plain. New Zealand tactics(Martin Crow-Mark Greatbatch's attacking cricket, Srikanth and almost every team failing to play Patel's spin in first 15 overs)and it going horribly wrong, Pakistan flair helped by generous dollops of luck.Jonty Rhode's athleticism(Inzy's run out especially)are some of the things I will never forget. This left a number of unforgettable images etched on my mind. But the most I remember are not happy ones. This can be called the theme of cricket. Its tragedies are lovelier than its triumphs. Somethings I do remember most vividly. Srinath's last ball heroics which triggered a comedy of errors where Venkatpathy Raju foolishly lost us a place in the semis is one of them. The South African tragedy of 1 run of 22 balls is the biggest. But the most interesting tragedy is the personal one. I had my last exam on the same day as the finals. It was geography, I think a smaller paper. I ran out half an hour earlier, as soon as finished writing the paper.I had calculated that I will still be able to catch half and hour of cricket where England will defeat Pakistan. But it was never to be. Half way to-wards home, I saw one of the regular cricket viewers walking slowly away dejectedly. I tried to stop him, but he just motioned me away. Pakistan was winning !! I stepped inside my uncle's house just to see final few moments where Neil Feirbrother was scratching around, delaying the inevitable. England had collapsed under the pressures of last innings dramatically. A recurrent tragedy in world cups was played again.Where England reaches finals just to lose it to somebody.

The next two years were pretty quiet, spent studying for HSC, make of break exam for the life. Cricket was even a lesser footnote during those times.

96 world cup came at the right time, just after I had settled down in PICT,first time in a hostel,first time away from home. We had only one television in the canteen. We used to gatecrash into the canteen every night. Everybody used to watch the matches very quietly in the beginning. But Once Sachin (and India) started to do exceedingly better, we lost control. Our strict administrator somehow overlooked the noise we made. It was as near as it can reach to viewing the match in the stadium. We used the tin covers of utensils as musical instruments, banging them together as loudly as possible. Quarterfinals with Pakistan was the match to remember. First half belonged to the final burst from Jadeja's blade. Second half was the Sohail-Prasad incidence. From the beginning something was amiss for the semifinals. We were restless and fought with each other. Despite the first over wickets, India allowed the Lankans to build back the innings. The disintegrating Eden Garden's track destroyed India's dreams in the second innings. Most notable picture for this edition? Indulger on song, Kambli in tears, Disilva masterfully guiding the run chase. This was the first time a team won the world cup chasing.

Then I moved to Bangalore and hit the golden age of cricket viewing. Abhya-Amya-nikhya-Ravi-mugz(reluctant)-Pad-Dina-gortyaa gang were the best companions anybody could have while watching a match. Many-a-times we watched it live at Chinnaswami. I saw Sehwag's debut, Kumble's 400 th wicket and a lot many events live.On the eve of 1999 world cup we went out and bought a television. (and a refrigerator). The cricket was sometimes exhilarating but the company was always !! Lara-Tendulkar discussions were as serious as Gandhi-Nathuram discussions. Match fixing was as big a black mark as was coffin corruption.

Slowly guys moved out, getting married one by one, jumping companies, making sense of their lives and those moments kept slipping though the fingers.

Now-a-days, cricket watching life has come a full circle. We, me and my Dad are the only ones following it together. We just have switched places, he do not *get* the 20-20 and I vainly try to explain it to him. He knows very little English, but sometimes delightfully understands the strategies discussed by the commentators as if by magic. Cricket has grown more aggressive and my viewing passion has actually mellowed a lot.

The cherry on the top will be if this full circle completes. My son will be almost of the same age in 2011 as I was in 1983.I will be almost of the same age as my Dad was then. If I could just say the same words that my dad said to me that morning "Bharataane worldcup jinkalaay", and initiate him in the family tradition of cricket watching, that will be a deservedly remarkable peculiar thing for this remarkable peculiar game.

The stranger : Part 1 - Introductions

I remember vividly how and when I met him first. After that everything was so easy and simple. It was so surprising that I had not felt him before. It has been some time since I talked to him first. Now that things have completely fallen into place and he has gone back into hiding again and the feelings have become kind of blunt against the thick black wall of time, I can think about it rationally and maybe even share it with close (and not so close) people. Though after meeting him it is kind of pointless. It is not that meeting with him has changed me completely. In fact we both would prefer that we forget each other completely. Though we would definitely be comforted if we knew that we exist.

It was LakshmiPujan, actually a holiday. Though it was one of the biggest festival and we were celebrating it first time in our new home, I went to office that day. I had planned to return early but as it happens most of the times, I ended up extending my stay. Hyderabad, just like any other 2nd tier Indian city, has its own share of pollution. But it was worst that day. The smoke from crackers was hanging in the midair ominously. Strong smell of burnt sulphur was burning my nostrils but it was somehow comforting. Somehow the act of burning explosives and money and creating noise seemed to enthrall all and sundry.

For me, an inexplicable pall of gloom was hanging about, just like the sulphur cloud. I could somehow cut it with a shovel. It happens generally that comfort bores me. Moreover adventure upsets me. Neither do I have stomach for adventures. That makes me belong to a category where I sit on my couch and watch Nat Geo or discovery channel.

So on my way back, I thought of picking up some sweets for kid and family and entered a departmental store. I was looking at different sweets and there I saw him for the first time. He was looking at me steadily, he was not afraid of being spotted this time. He was standing by the side of a pond, moonlight shimmering on the still dark waters of mind, the black sand on the shore and he, just patiently standing there, looking at me.

At first I just saw his outline. He did not even try to be more conspicuous. He was just standing there, waiting for me to see him. His hands were hanging by his side, he looked the same age I was. But definitely looked frail. He was not much used to the sunlight but his gaze has adjusted to darkness. It is not easy to tell what he is wearing, or he is wearing anything at all. Can be flowing robes or can be just loincloth. Whatever he is wearing, the bones of his chest are completely visible even through all that darkness.

"What a moment you chose. Not that I am doing something life changing or something. But it is positively uncomfortable when I have handed over things over the counter and the lady across is waiting for me to pay up. I have my wallet open and my hands are rummaging through it to get the change. Can you hold on for a moment?"

"...."

He just stood there for a moment and then turned around and disappeared by the time I paid up.

The sands and the water were there. Moonlight still glimmering as it has been all the time. But he had vanished. I could not trace him for quiet sometime. But we both knew we will meet.

Batala House: 10 months later

A brave inspector laid down his life while battling the terrorists.

A storm of allegations, counterallegations, denials, vote bank politics from all the sides passed over. There were intellectuals on both sides, being used by the wily politicians. It was very sad to see the people who act as the only custodians of truth and impartiality twisting the truth to suit their agendas.

But there is one irrefutable truth. It is the fact that there has not been similar kind of bombing anywhere in India after the encounter. It means that Delhi police has really dismantled and destroyed the IM infrastructure. It will really take a lot of time for some other such module to setup and trained. The nation can take the sigh of relief by then.

And of course not forget the hero, who laid down his life in the line of duty, MC Sharma. You are still alive in our thoughts.

A strong BJP is a necessity for Indian democracy

I has been quiet some tine since the congress is firmly placed at the helm.

Still the secularists have not stopped gloating about the defeat of religious extremism. The BJP itself is torn from within and till now has not shown itself to be above the failure.

The thinkers inside BJP have already conceded that it can not come to power on a sustained basis on the Hindutva agenda. Gods and places of worship is not a sustained model. Bajpeyee knew that and concentrated more on right wing nationalism and progress. Though some pretty good work was done, it surpisingly was not enough to get them back to power.

It is really surprising that a party which continued to remain one for more than 50 years out of power can not now digest two contineous defeats. This definitely denotes that during its rise as one of the national parties who matter, it has definitely diluted its ideology. Picked up large number of floatsam hungry for power. And worse, some of the staunchest stalwarts were damaged beyond repair by one whiff of power.

Trusty cadres is something which will point to a strong party in India from now on. Rahul Gandhi looks like he is trying to build one. Left already has a good structure. BSP is one such party. But depeding on a parallel organization for its ideology and think tank is somethink unique and one of the main cause of everything that is wrong with BJP. There is a Strong thought in BJP to move away from extreme Hindutva agenda, but the dependence of the mother ship is something which is stopping them.

For the Sanghrajya to be successful, there needs to be a very good and delicate balance between the regional parties and the national parties. This balance is right now skewed in the favor of regional parties. To keep the only remaining national party on its toes, there needs to be a very strong and challenging national opposition party. BJP's growth is necessary for both our democracy as well as our Sanghrajya.

And moving away for radical Hindutwa and establish its own cadre is necessary for BJP.

Hurrah to a stronger BJP. Hurrah to a stronger democracy. Hurrah to a stronger Sangharajya.

Seven point someone

While a lot of things have been happening in life, I have been trying to improve on somethings I have kept in background.

One of them is health. I have lost double digit kilograms and now building my "lean muscles" :)

But more on that later. Some other day when I reach a milestone I have set in mind, I will gloat about it.

Today I am gloating for something else that I decided I will do. There have been many instances in last 10 years where I wanted to continue my studies and do the masters. There have been people in my room (Amya,Pady etc) who actually appeared for a number of exams (GATE etc). Studied seriously for some of them (GRE/TOEFEL) and actually got admission to US universities.

I just kept lazing around, finding different reasons to not apply for entrance exams and then more reasons for not going to those exams I applied for.

With the tremendous support (and cajoling) from my better half, I finally decided to get a masters. In all enthu I applied for BITS MS course. I have been tracking what is happening there in my another blog, which can be seen here.

The pattern of the exam is that there is a midterm closed book test with 40% of the marks and full term we have a open book exam with 60%. After the initial euphoria, I studied only for last two weeks just before each of the exams. It was pretty bad with a lot of things happening around. Work,kids,home everything was crying for my attention.

Pallavi took care of everything else. Made sure I am not disturbed. Put up with vagaries of my moods. I desperately wanted to do well, at least to justify all the pain she had gone through.

And I finally made it. Good thing is that i did not drop any subject. Better thing is that I scored more than just passing marks in each of the subject, which is a definite improvement over me during graduation :) Best thing is that I got a CGPA of 7.6.

This is just the beginning, I have three more semesters to go. But as they say, well begun is half done. Full to credit of course goes to Pallavi :)

Book Review :: Ping : A Frog In Search of new pond

Yesterday night I stayed back in the office and came across this audio book.

I have read my lifetime's share of inspirational books. This was one of such books.

Not as good as Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which is completely spiritual and who took my cheese which is management oriented, this book just tries to bring these two theories together.

I think it is worth reading once if you are not doing anything else and are feeling a bit down, such book can give temporary kick. I have lost faith that any of these can change any body's life completely.