Cricket – a new Avtaar

Cricket - A gentleman’s game has seen many avtaars in recent past. From an ever-lasting & most exhilarating beginning of One Day Internationals & Tests to avant-garde Hong-kong sixes and Twenty-twenty matches in Premier League & Cricket leagues. The game is in all forms of evolution and is slowly working as a great business proposition, or to be rightly stated as young tycoons’ game instead of gentleman’s game or the gentlemen’s game played on business lines, the metaphors can go on endlessly. If it did not matter till today about the number of spectators vying for cricket in all forms and at all places, and the amount of mullah it carried over years, for the Olympics, it certainly would matter in coming times owing to its ever-evolving Avtaars. Till recent past, it has been argued for inclusion of games like Football, Cricket etc. in Olympics which are played widely in entire world and watched over by zillions of people. Even if the proposition arises, how do Olympics authorities take cricket into consideration? Simply, by its new Business Avtaar, where this game can become an individual’s take to prove his mettle in coliseum of sports arena. This would be a format where eleven diverse individuals, that is, from different cricket playing countries would play a match for the same time duration as duration of an ODI. This would make every individual to fight for self, or more apt description would be to fight for his country. The game would involve 55 over’s match (nearly longer than 20-20 format) with each player given 5 over’s to play for. No runners involved, but every man for himself. The format would be scoring maximum points at the end of the match by scoring maximum runs out of eleven players, best fielding, taking maximum wickets, and maximum number of catches & finally for being the wicket keeper on relative grading scale(higher points for being the only wicket keeper in a match). Rest 10 players would field & bowl and the only objective would be to get each batsman out as soon as possible. As soon as one is out, one of the fielders (in predefined order before commencement as per past relative performances) would grab the armor to score maximum and exiting batsman would take the covers of the field. The wicket-keeper would be the last person to bat, but would already have few points to start with for being the only keeper in the match. The burden on cricket community would decrease all the more by having just one umpire, the 3^rd umpire watching every movement from the control room. As every player, fights for his cause, it would be a game of just & fair play with no wrong signage’s to be seen. Taking maximum wickets and scoring runs would be the biggest determining factors for overall points tally. Diverse companies, sponsors from all across the participating nations can chip in for sponsorships and tournament holdings. This would generate more revenue both for the players, companies, cricket world, with gargantuan increase in viewership and a better reach to the sport for non-cricket playing nations. It would come handy as a tournament where a number of matches are played with all players (an exhaustive list) playing league & subsequent matches as per their ranking (similar to Lawn-tennis tournaments like US Open etc) and then proceeding to tougher and testing levels.

There is exponential money riding on game of cricket, yet untapped, and unfazed. The money involved in this sport would one day incorporate this game into Olympics for sure, but can that day be the one when cricket would enter this sporting arena on basis of its viewership, demand & a platform to search the best athletes in the world?? Any prospective takers?

A Paradigm shift in thinking

Apropos to the latest incidents happening in India ranging from bomb blasts that started in Jaipur, & moved on to Bangalore, Ahmadabad and then to Delhi; to the communal rights creating an inferno in states like Orissa owing to death of Swami Laxmananda; from Raj Thackeray party playing a mockery of Indian's glorified freedom given to every individual, to non-happening of Nano project in Singur; from huge unrest amongst the farmers in land compensation in north, to havoc of conversions & re-conversions in Karnataka, Kerala; Is India on the verge of an internal blow-up? Answer: No, not really. This is the time for India and people to consolidate as a unit to combat all levels of evilness in the society. As our agencies like Intelligence Bureau etc. gear up to fight against the terrorism and its uncanny plans, rather then calling it an hour of the need, we as responsible citizens should delve into greater cooperation and brotherhood amongst each other and fight for a much larger cause like eradicating poverty, pollution, global warming, corruption etc. than fighting amongst ourselves those so called communal or holy or islamist or naxal wars. Many of us would call this option as a futile and fruitless drive, but realize the fact; it is still the next best thing to think of as no other means do work out in long run. Joining a militant group, killing innocents, causing disturbance sounds exciting but do they ignite the passion within you to fight for the cause? Ask yourself, answer lies within your soul. As Dan Brown, author of Angels & Demons quotes in his book, the most universal language in world is not the language of religion or science, but of numbers, logic & rationale, that is the language of mathematics. We must understand that Adam & Eve belonged to no religion, Jesus never taught to fight for the hatred amongst each others, and there was no bifurcation on basis of religion in one of the greatest epics ever, Mahabharata. Rather than condemning an individual (Shivraj Patil) for no timely action to uproot terrorism, it is time for us to castigate ourselves for the same. Think of it as an unfortunate person in those streets of Gaffar Market, Karol Bagh just before the blow-ups, wouldn't you ever want to save everyone out there if you knew that something terrible was about to happen? Would you really look into menial details of knowing the religion and ethnicity of an individual first before extending hand in times of grief & pain? Would you be able to judge the difference in blood and skin splattered & splintered around on seeing all brothers & sisters lying dead on the road? The answer is a clear no. Then what are we fighting for if not fighting for helping each other? We must learn that the outfits, militants only become strong when they are highly motivated to fight for their defined cause as they lack the experience of witnessing the world as they would want to see it in their vision & existence, but we have experienced for ages in different generations the world we always wanted to live in, so we don't even need an external motivation, as they do. We don't need to become radical to fight for a noble cause, but to fight!!! The whole concept lies in bringing harmony, peace and love for each other out there. 

The movie Matrix clearly explains the power of 'One', the mighty powers of Neo to fight against the programs of virtual world deceiving humans of their energy; philosophically & realistically speaking, this world is a Matrix, we need to unite as One to break its code. It is high time; the media agencies become highly proactive in spreading the word of brotherhood, camaraderie and love as a message to fight for a cause of long run on daily basis. The parties like BJP takes stricter actions to refrain their prodigies(Bajrang Dal) from rather fighting for petty things at hand to contest for elections, it should be glorifying people at time when they are not in power. Raj Thackeray who can act like a representative & responsible ambassador for entire state should set an example rather then carping on personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan who belong to no state or territory but to one state of film industry brethren. One need to realize that progress made by few people who have won accolades for the country need not unnecessarily be hampered as they are the ones who generate employment for a millions out there & give realistic-unrealistic heroic hopes to trillions out there in their own direct-indirect ways to fight for a greater cause and to fight within. Police should shun the lackadaisical image it has always carried amongst masses and proper campaigns & awareness needs to be imbibed in every facet of society. Thus we would have a safe place to live in for future.

Life with a Mallu

For all those who don’t know who a MALLU is, please do read this article, for the whole purpose is not to define who he (/she) is but to describe few attributes of the person engraved in soul with such a personality with world’s all limped modernism present externally. I had one of my friends staying with me for a period of almost 40 days. This was a time to share the same room, same set of books & notes, and almost the same hackneyed routine. But mind you, did you hear the word ‘same’ quite a number of times!!! Believe me, it’s purely a matter of coincidence, for we too were very different, not just geographically, but in respects of age, thinking, money, girls, and what not!!! The list is endless…

“Ballzzzzzz….” as would my ex-room-mate, Mr.SRK would say on hearing something nonsense, gibberish and highly calorific.

A regular conversation between me and him would lead the way as if going through a wild safari though Western Ghats destined to somebody’s home-land Kerala:-

Me:- Wassup SRK!!! Didn’t you notice the hot chic today with that sexy skirt?

SRK: - (as usual) Ballzzzz…I hope that she’s definitely a Pallakadian (a place in Kerala), for I got to marry someone like her for sure.

Me:- Hell You, do you actually think that you get those kindaa beauties in your place back home?? Get some logical/realistic rationale working for you man!!!

SRK: - I would tell you Raghav, either I’m marrying a Pallakadian in my life or a Punjabi who knows pretty well how to prepare good food.

Me:- you seem to be talking now.

Before I could continue further, he interrupts in between,

SRK: - Ballzzzzz…..

I waited thinking that he might want to say something, but that was the biggest silence I ever delved into!!!

SRK: - Raghav, you know what, one of my Surd friends told me in the past that if you see a South Indian & a snake, choose the snake over South Indian.

Me:- (thinking as to  what to make out of it with my eyes rolling in all directions, believe me, even 11 dimensions of universe were less at the moment) AAhhhhhh……….silence

After a pause,

Me:- Why do you say that yaar?

SRK: - I don’t, it was my friend who said that, you ass…

Me:- anyways…

SRK: - (certainly out of nowhere) you are one such bond with a CGPA of 3.7/4, with a great company experience to bank upon, and studying here XYZ (name changed), in such a great college...what else do you need in life man?

Me (with full sarcasm in tone):- I know I know…I’m one such unfortunate great studying with a guys like you…I should have been into something like IIMs, XLs…

SRK: - Ballzzzzz…

(Now somebody make him realize that I’m trying to justify why we all here, not why we all couldn’t make it to those great places, and this guy has just one thing to give me, in fact the pluralist form)

Me (on a serious note):- Look at you…you are the talent of tomorrow, you got the name of SRK with you, and people know you and accept you everywhere you go!!!(What was I saying even I couldn’t make head n tail of it, he was one person who imbibed within you what he possessed all along!!!)

SRK: - Ballzzzzz… Studying here, I would go places with a bowl in my hand asking for monetary help!!!

Me:- ha ha… (Don’t know if it was really funny, but did feel like one!!!)

SRK:- Raghav, management is all about studying great people like Kotler, and it would be great if we can get into a company like Texas Instruments for summers!!!

Me:- (with mouth wide open, contemplating the thought, have I been living two lives one for management n other for engineering where latter has come to the fore-ground at the moment, or is this again one of those jokes by SIR SRK which shoots over & above my understanding??) Woah, that’s awesome…that sounds a real cool proposition (somebody please come as a saviour)

Above is just an excerpt of daily musing like those that used to happen between us. Now SRK is one such guy, who would place ethics, morals, integrity, hard work, passion and money at the top level. Yes, money also occupied the same podium. Known for his wit & humor, and the immature knack of being over worried, over conscious and over what not, he is pretty famous amongst friends & esp. girls. He’s been one sincere person around and a reliable material.

Being SRK would be a lot different from being a Mallu. This individual having seen many places did learn quite a lot by adjusting amongst all sections of society, and went on to become a great friend.

Today, he puts up with another of our college friend in a hostel. His room-mate is a core Punjabi by nature, and SRK is getting accustomed to loud tunes of Punjabi folk with Gurdaas Mann topping the chart. Unknowingly, he is made listen to those Punjabi numbers he didn’t even know of as a special request by him!!! I wonder if he’s been practicing Bhangra with heavy south Indian look on his face and ondu, vondu and wannakam chants that go with the beat. No wonder, if SRK comes back to me one day, and asks one question, & that too the most important one, “What is the procedure to change the room??”

Apologies for hurting any sentiments across…all care was taken not to do so, apologies for any uninviting remark!!! All mistakes are coincidental due to incidents that happened and nothing personal in what so ever respects has been tried to bring to the fore.

 

India China, views

As one rightly said, 'absence of evidence is not evidence of absence!!!'

This wise thought rightfully applies to the policy framework of China which shows no evidence of human tyranny in most plausible & superficial manner, but exists in darkest dungeons known to all if not spoken aloud. There is no second thought to the adage that what is considered to be India's biggest strength is biggest threat to China, if not monetarily but yes in terms of long perspective envisioned growth, is respect for humanity, & that comes in form of DEMOCRACY. It would be foolish to state that democracy has been the stumbling factor for India; in fact there is no denying the fact that democracy is the most stable form of government that exists in the world today, even when it states the truth behind the saying, "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried." – By Winston Churchill.

One could very well ascertain the growth shown by China since past many years is gigantic in every sense, but that simply over-shadows the grim reality that exists below the belly. No wonder, China has not been given the status of MES (Market Economy Status) for such a long time owing to its dumping policies, resulting in ruining the growth of other countries. A foreign firm makes an investments in form of FDI, turnkey project etc. to reap the benefits/gains, but what is followed by China is sheer dismantling of the host country economy by its wrongly subservient personal interests. This results in loss of respect for individuals as human beings, no matter to which country they belong.

Olympics was un-deniably the most historic event of today's time (wonder if it is China's growth time or China's time to make a nose-dive) but with venomous smell of Tibet unrest, huge protectionism followed by government (Chinese) control, fake singing by an adorable girl for a not-so cute girl (Yang Peiy) at the opening inauguration of Beijing Olympics did spread all across the world. The training Chinese athletes undergo is so rigorous that even kids as young as 6 yrs old and with a presence all across the country end up without going to school, learn what they should be learning and lead life as human instead of sports machines. Even with promises that the government makes in reciprocation for national glory are kept in abeyance (again not known to the rest of the world).

 If one goes by the news published some years back, it is known a fact that Chinese employ a large portion of dead people's skin to produce cosmetics for growing Chinese industry and most of these products help in getting rid of early wrinkles on face. This is one of the factors why there's a high number of electrocution done year on year in china on prisoners. One can wonder to what extent China can flood itself with weirdest of implementations to see it reach where it would have never even dreamt of reaching.

Chinese government is a single party socialist republic, and Indians certainly don't need to take a lesson from them. Yes, we may not be growing at the same rate as China is, but yes, we are growing at 2^nd fastest rate in the world. And the figures just do not end here. Owing to the NSG exemption for India, one can certainly deduce the importance India has not just for US but for entire world. Indians do not end up doing business globally on a small scale, but we are on an investments spree gigantically in every nook & corner of the world with major accusations. On one hand, where we keep our promises to fight against corruption, poverty, pollution, hazards, at the same time, on other hand, we continuously strive to work hard and enrich the globe with everything it deserves. The Indian growth happens automatically. Looking at the figures, India's trade with China has grown in recent years, and China is now bound to become the 3^rd largest trading partner for India after US. We are aiming to increase bilateral trade with China to nearly $ 30bn by 2010. All this isn't a coincidence, but the wisdom of India to have an exclusive 'inclusive' growth in all respects with all sanity in mind and soul. The leaps by China may be challenging, but not long lasting, they may be daring, but not bold when it comes to human development.

The Chinese media is in total grips of the government and follows an almost self inflicted ritual of composing/writing/publishing/advertising what needs to be transpired to people in glorious sense and shun the hard realities before they reach to the public.

The Indian System, democratic in every sense, calls for a greater cause of brotherhood, respect for each other, and longevity of 3S - sustenance, survival and stability. We have had a glorious past, and a promising future, with the country proving to be the only pillar of success in today's time of oppression, depression, slump, and recession & many other ions one could think of. Natural calamities did hit us in form of tsunami, floods etc, the communal riots did break now & then, all these events do create a havoc for Indians, but not on the behest of being a democratic country. An individual with his/her precious say in government activities is not only patriotism reflection in today's modern sense ( as contrary to puppet control in Afghanistan, unrest in Zimbabwe, government control excessively in China, anarchy in Nepal till recent past, past militancy in Pakistan) but the magical mirror of blessed future in a darkness bound environment. Realizing the potential stored in over almost 90% of young India (below 63 years of age) when compared to China, India is certainly bound to grow at slower acceleration when compared to China, but reach to higher point then China in long run with better vision and consistent tenacity.

We Believe

Closing of a chapter, marks the beginning of the next,

Cohesion arises in adversity, one need to be blessed!!!

"Set the platform", what others would say,

Every day has an end, but then every day is followed by another 'promising' day!!!

Time has come, when we make an aplomb start,

With the vision of our aim striking the dart,

Wishing luck and blessings to every individual out there,

We believe, We believe this journey to not end here!!!

We believe, We believe in roads crossing again,

With baton of love switching hands without disdain,

Let's forgo all enmity, all hatred in soul,

Let's pledge together to succeed together wherever we go!!!

We believe, We believe to set the world rolling again,

Spreading happiness around, while crying in rain,

We believe, We believe in spirits of high-impetus accord,

Calling everyone to hit the right chord!!!