an eulogy to the golden generation
18 Jan 2012 12 Comments
in Cricket Tags: Anil Kumble, India, India national cricket team, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V. V. S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag
Greatness and Longevity at times co exist. When we talk of emperors, it is often the decades of their rule that comes to mind along with the frontiers conquered. Sports too throws up such emperors, some out of the blue while some in the methodical long run. We adore them. Salute them. Respect them. Idolize them. Pour accolades on them. And sometimes bestow on them the status of a demi-god. Indian cricket is in fact just that.
For an entire generation growing up, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan have been the lights of hope. The torch bearers of it. An inspiration. The messiahs of a religion called ‘Cricket’. And above all Legends.
As Indian cricket is on the process of a revamp with the some of the seniors set to give way for the young blood, I just wondered the impact the afore mentioned players have had on the populace. For me, they are a part of the Golden generation that grew leaps and bounds and eventually took the team to the numero-uno status in test matches.
I’m sure most of you would be flabbergasted to see Sourav’s name in front of Sachin’s. I know some of you won’t be able to digest it. But wait. Let me clear the air.
In 2000, Indian cricket hit an all-time low as a result of the unscrupulous match fixing allegations. Scandals struck like fours and sixes. Heroes became villains. Nation’s proud sons pleaded guilty. Everything was in disarray. And Indian cricket like an infant didn’t know what to do. All it desperately needed was a Renaissance. It needed to rise like a phoenix. It needed Change. Yes, it now needed a leader, not just a captain to script it.
It was then that Sourav, popularly known as the “Dada’ took over the reins of captaincy ( no, no.. leadership). He was wary of the challenges. He was aware of the difficulties of playing abroad. He knew the mind games that were played. He knew the tasks that needed to be accomplished. And for that he knew he needed match winners.
For almost the entire decade of the 90s, India was Sachin and vice versa. When he clicked, we won and whenever he didn’t rarely did we win. So, that perception had to be changed and Ganguly knew it. And hence played a pivotal role in grooming the likes of Sehwags, Zaheers, Yuvrajs and Bhajjis. The term TEAM INDIA was born out of his visionary. So too was ‘Men in Blue’. Suddenly, there was this feeling of oneness, an urge to challenge the best in the business and moreover the caliber to effect a makeshift in the approach of being a subdued team to a fighting unit.
This decade also saw the run machine, Sachin pile up runs and rewrite record books with a boring regularity. There was hardly a year when he didn’t break a record. This was also the time when we were treated to batsmanship of the order the world never saw. The fab-4 turned out to be the pillars of batting. Centuries were scored with utmost ease, be it the Oval, Brisbane, Bloemfontein, or Sydney. A fast SLOW bowler from Karnataka was adding wickets to his kitty at a pace quicker than some of the fast bowlers of this team. Overseas wins in Trinidad, Headingly, Johannesburg, Auckland, Perth and Durban came like jack pots. And slowly came the numero-uno status in tests.
It was a Golden phase in Indian cricket and they are part of this golden generation. As the team has hit an all time low having lost seven overseas tests in the last six months, let us show some respite and do not go overboard in making comments like “ VVS is a disgrace, throw him out.. Dravid lacks technique, sack him..”, after all it is they who changed the fortunes of Indian cricket by playing the innings of their life in that epic Calcutta test of 2001. We celebrated the victories with them. Let us now face it, the defeats. Have a head to do it.
An Indian fan moves on.. with his heroes….. an eulogy to the golden generation….
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- A battle the Golden Generation has to win (thehindu.com)
God and my belief!!!
11 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Life Tags: Atheism, Belief, belief in god, Brahmin, Communism, Existence of God, God, Karl Marx, Religion
I come from the land where people in the recent past have failed quite miserably to apprehend the terms- atheism, agnosticism, communism and rationalism. A part ( sometimes on the whole) of the misery is as a result of the brain work of the fundamentalists and opportunists. Having said so, I am not trying to make snide remarks on any of those –isms. In this piece I try to put a light on some of these –isms and the way they are perceived.
Born into a family of Brahmins( Sharmas), I may be very naïve to believe in God. Yes I do, which I do not regret. I certainly believe that there exists that external light that guides me. I do believe that there exists the script writer of my destiny. I have fear for that force and going with an early saying, has signalled the beginning of wisdom. Whenever the chips are down, it lifts me up, equips me, charges me up with what great men refer to as Self-Motivation. Yes, I believe that God exists. Its purely my belief and which I do not wish to propagate.
And that’s it. There is my point. Simple?
I don’t try to emphasize the connection of God’s existence with religions, religious books and religious buildings. Nor do I delve into which-is-the-most-proper-notion-of-God. That is exactly why I do not give credence to performing religious rituals and why I won’t hesitate in praying anywhere; be it Varanasi, Mecca, Amritsar or Vatican City. Prayer is just an event where you communicate with God and for me “Om”,” Masha-allah”, “amen” are just the analogy of a “hello” in a telephone communication. Its just me and the God. Its like a facebook chat or a Skype Call.
Religion, belief in God are the one of the most sensitive issues in the world today and utmost care must be taken to place one’s the remarks on it. It is a political weapon in some parts of the globe and a means of reprisal in the other . And those with a clear understanding of the notions find it tougher to sneak through in between. Irony!! Countries have been partitioned. Wars have broken out. Dynasties have collapsed. Fortunes of some countries changed dramatically. And we’ve also seen the rise of God-man for whom people easily fall. Irony again!!
What agitates me is the way the afore mentioned –isms are preached in the society. This piece is not meant to launch a vitriolic attack on people who believe in it.
Atheists. I respect their ideology. I have no hard feelings for them. But the annoying factor is the way Atheism is perceived by some (and I mean “some” of them and “not” all) sections of the society. If you want to call yourself an atheist, you will do yourself a world of good if you just resort to “I-don’t-believe-in-God” theory. Fabricating different versions of it, re twisting it according to one’s conveniences, dirty politics are all the trouble makers. There seems to be a wave of “Timely Atheism” ruining some parts of the world. You deem yourself an atheist publicly but back home organize massive( yet secretive) rituals. What for is this double game? Public Figure? Vote? To-fish-in-troubled-waters? Bull shit!!!!
Next up Communism and Marxism. Karl Marx’s ‘Das Kapital’ is a critique of political economy in which he urges for a change in the economic laws. He is critical of the capitalistic mode of production and provides valid explanations for that. You be your own master and script your own destiny is all what says. He never cajoles one to ‘Hate-God’( nor does he wants one to believe in it). Again Simple? That doesn’t mean communist powers are unsafe for believers in God. West Bengal. Kerala. China. Do we need to look beyond.
I’ve not seen much of rationalism. So all-is-well with it for now. You place your actions on reasons than emotions or belief is what you mean by it. It might seem sensible , at the same time you spend your lifetime delving on the reasons( Why? Why?). Aaah, what ever be it.
There it is. Uprisings, Wars, Tension on religious issues are all the products of those who are interested in adding-fuel-to-the-fire. Your belief. Keep it to yourself. Never bother if the eggs in the neighbourhood hatch or not. Respect other’s belief. All the world needs is not another dispute. Enough is enough!!!
Related articles
- I Did Not Choose to Be an Atheist (atheistrev.com)
- Theism, Atheism, and Blame (atheistethicist.blogspot.com)
five degree Salsa and wisps of smoke!!!
06 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Life, Travel diary Tags: Christmas, hill station, holiday, India, Salsa, Smoke, travelling, Wine, Yule Log
First Note- if you are on a look out for a first hand account of a Salsa dancer or an in-depth analysis of the body moves, of the twirls and Somersaults involved in a Salsa, then this piece is definitely NOT the one to glance through. For this blogger is not a connoisseur of Salsa nor is he of any other dance form for that matter. No Offense!!!!
I’ve always loved travelling. There is always the sublime excitement that clouds us before a journey. Kit Up. Get Ready. Let’s make a move? Maps ready? Snacks ready? Where’s the travel chart? What’s the first stop? The buzz before a travel is the one to be cherished.
To travel is to explore the unknown, to willfully leap into it after having given up the assured security of being at home. A short break from the menial activities of home works, office works and household chores is all it does and refreshes.
We love every moment of it. Be it excursions or expeditions, field trips or grand tours, Sunday jaunts or an odyssey, a voyage or a safari, it always keeps the excitement levels soaring.
And this winter, to embrace that joy in travelling and holidaying, we started our journey to explore the world near the Blue Mountains- Wayanad!! Breathtaking views from the mountain tops, smell of the coffee beans while strolling in scenic estates, wisps of smoke puffing out of mouth at night, jeep drive in the hilly countryside, a cup of wine all made my winter.
From the cloudy afternoon on the Christmas to the foggy morning of the 30th (on the day we bid adieu to Wayanad), my stay was enriched. We couldn’t have timed our holiday better than this. Holidaying during Christmas is a god-sent date. Our Judeo-Christian friends who had invited us for Christmas made us feel at home. Christmas puddings and cakes made our snacks. “Yule log”, the cylindrically shaped cake straight from the oven was lip-smacking. Sssssshhhh!! Yummy….. Being a non Christian, it was nice to enjoy Christmas that way. The jingles too added on to the ambience. But my most cherished moment came when we sat under the mistletoe with a cup of wine and the guitar in the background seemed the icing on the cake.
And in a short while, we set off to the countryside to witness the festival of the Adivasis(inhabitants of forests) in a Shiva Temple. Song and dance had already set in. Drumbeats were equally up to it. And their performance in that five degree weather just resembled a Salsa performer. Not exaggerating, I hadn’t seen a more graceful acrobatic show before. In the meantime, the pragmatic in me started to wonder that times have certainly changed: we have moved on from the STONE age to the ANDROID age:/ 
So, there it is. My winter was made and in what splendid way. After relishing the Wayanad magic, we were off to Calicut for a tryst with the flavours-of-India. As I slipped into the spicy Malabar chicken, “ Kit Up. Get Ready. Let’s make a move? Maps ready? Snacks ready? Where’s the travel chart? What’s the first stop? “ struck all over again. The WAIT starts for the next Holiday……………..
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- Cycling in Wayanad (sqwinkly.com)
good bye 2011….
19 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in events, Life Tags: 2011, 2012, celebrations, laughter, Life, Macau, new Year, San Marino
Time goes on. So does life. Yesterday is history for today; so is today for tomorrow. And there are only two kinds of people who live in this world- the optimists and the pessimists. They say optimists never look back in their voyage. And those who try to linger on the past are deemed a Pessimist or someone who just runs out of clues in facing life. Strange world this!! C’est la vie:/
Does laughter, tear, joy, sorrow, the parameters that defined our yesterdays become just part of our history? Doesn’t they have a part to play in redefining our lives, make us better individuals and more importantly, ensure better tomorrows?
As we look back to the 2011, the events that shaped our personalities, the experiences that tested our resolves, the laughter, tear, joy and sorrow that life threw at us, one thing fascinated me; We are not the same that we were 365 days back and we won’t be after 365 days. Because there is one aspect that I love the most. Our birthdays which is an indication that we do grow as an individual. We move on.
So, how was 2011? All I can say( with a personal stamp) that 2011 has moved on faster like any other. In fact the last new year’s party with all the booze and puff might just seem like a last night show. It is at that frenetic pace with which life has progressed.
New lives sprung to life. Few departed. New relations sprung in. Few hearts were broken. New stories were scripted. Few were turned into a biopic. New promises were made. Few were broken. New milestones were set. Few problems erupted. Some found their lives at crossroads while some had a smooth sailing. Fame and money knocked the doorsteps for some overnight while some continue to reel in this world dominated by the dollar.
There were News makers in plenty. They were thrown up from nowhere. This year marked the end of the Osama era, finally putting an end to the longest ever hide and seek game. Economies stumbled. Jobs bade adieu to the world, so too were a long list of celebrities. Sports threw up national heroes. But this was the year of the *PROTESTOR*, the middle class, often unheard, took to the streets. Yes, the sun didn’t set in some parts of the globe.
As I write this piece, numerous never-to-be-followed New year resolutions would be doing the final rounds of editing, glamourous calendar photo shoots would have been completed, Casinos and Cruise ships in Macau and San Marino(with some help from fashionTV) would be completely engrossed in preparing for the ultimate New Year Bash and yeah, the jingles too would have started.
Time to say good bye to 2011. Time to pass on the baton.
The journey continues. The mission continues. New things unfold. 2012 will begin with a massive hangover. It will rekindle hope, trust and love. Let us figure out what to do next with our lives. Here’s to the happy memories, new beginnings and a great year.
Make sweet love. Be trustful. Be sincere. Have a life. Enjoy every moment of it, who knows the dooms day might well be at a stone’s throw if the Mayans were right.
We greet you 2012… be kind to us!!!! Take us through to 2013….
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- Bye bye 2011, you were very good to me! (cyndamoore.wordpress.com)
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sehwag-the Pied Piper
13 Dec 2011 10 Comments
in Cricket Tags: 219, cricket, India, Indore, king pair, sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, sehwag, Virender Sehwag
I just love to try out weird stuffs, for I berate the things done in an old-fashioned way. Eccentricity somehow fuels me. The dare to be different carves out the *me* in me. I do not believe in dour-machine like professionalism.
Well, you can just go on with this. But the hardest part is proving it, not just believing it. The game is not over until the actions are made to do the talking. So how do you react when you see someone who has done and is doing exactly that, for not a day or two but for almost a decade. SALUTE!!!
I am talking about D-man from Delhi- Virender Sehwag!!!!!
Easily the most destructive opener the cricketing world has seen, he has defied all the laws in striking a cricket ball; his style cannot be part of any coaching manual. I would love to see a debate on “Do all the Sehwags actually need a coaching”? Why waste time on this. It’s a straight forward *NO*.
This piece has been in the drafts for quite a long time. I was patiently waiting for the right time to publish it, like a desert traveller waiting for oasis. And now, the patience seems to have bore fruits. What a time it is, as he carved out yet another master piece. A Himalayan knock of 219 at the outdoors of Indore , surpassing his role model in the process. An innings of touch and arrogance, it was a ruthless assault on the toothless Carribean attack. The delight of finding gaps which is the soul of his batting, was at its immaculate best. The way the balls caressed his willow will be one for the romantics to comment. The elegant square cuts that saw the balls go packing to the ropes was just poetry in motion.
But it wasn’t always like that. Wasn’t it. Critics had doubts in plenty. Can this one-day basher excel in test matches? His feet don’t move. He lacks technique. He is bound to struggle against the moving ball. He is a one dimensional cricketer. He doesn’t have the commitment and technique to stay longer. His perform or perish theory is bullshit. These are all what they had to say. But destiny had some other plans.
Gone were his early days in the so called ‘badlands’ of Najafgarh in Delhi amidst the shepherds and snake charmers. Around him was the gritty world, the tougher world from where he dreamt of being a Sachin Tendulkar. It was in the farmlands where he practiced the art of pounding a cricket ball. The Upper Cut, the slice, the slog sweep, the inside-out chip were all the redefined versions that he scripted. From there to the thick of things in Indian cricket, the journey has been quite a fascinating one.
A century against South Africa on debut to mark his arrival in the test arena, two breathtaking triple tons against the likes of Akhtar, Steyn and Morkel, a knock of 80 that went in vain in the world cup final of 2003, few double tons, a belligerent 195 on the opening day of Boxing day test at MCG, match saving knock of 151 against the Aussies, fastest century in only 60 balls by an Indian and now, the Indore incendiary. Add to it the famous King Pair at Birmingham, some complacent running, a shoulder which continues to be under the surgeon’s knife, sacking from the national side only because the selectors believed that he could not strike a cricket ball as good as a Wasim Jaffer or a Dinesh Karthik.
Sehwag’s approach to batting is as simple as an IIT aspirant from Kota. To go for the kill always. Be it Perth or Durban, be it against Steyn or Akhtar, be it he is on 99 or 199 or even 299. The carefree approach of not getting booed down by the situation testifies the man.
So, what is it in a Sehwag innings. Its not about his role model Sachin who tries to find a balance and later go on a brutal assault. Its not about the perfect execution of a coaching manual that Rahul Dravid beautifully presents. Its not about the lazy elegance of a VVS Laxman that quietly makes one to feel as if he were in a Ghazal. Its all about thrill-a-minute roller-coaster ride; a 100m dash that keeps your adrenalin pumping; a Russel Peters show that you cannot miss. Its all about emphasizing on the revised theory-“ Cricket must be played to delight, to entertain, to win and not plodding, blocking and playing out a tame ‘Draw’ “. Its about mocking the basics of a sport. Its about that accolade- ‘I am-once-in-a-lifetime-cricketer’.
He is an assertion that we have moved on; from the Boycott era, from the Gavaskar era( yes the days when fans were entertained by the 36* off 174 balls) to the speed driven generation. He changed the perception of opening batsmanship, from just taking the shine off the ball to literally murdering the balls to the boundaries.
He never drags us like a Dravid or a Lara in the fight in a crisis. His willow may disdainfully tell the opposition bowlers to ‘get-lost’ but always finds one among them to share his laughter. You may be a Sachin fan, a Ganguly fan, a Dhoni fan, but Virender Sehwag will retire as the most loved cricketer to have played for India. And quite fittingly is the Pied Piper.
Related articles
- Sehwag Creates World Record in ODI Cricket [Dhananjay "Jay" Parkhe] (ecademy.com)
- India’s Sehwag smashes world record 219 in one-day international (cnn.com)
- Sehwag’s double hundred, the highest score in ODI (freshnewsdaily.org)
- Sehwag, the quintessential entertainer (thehindu.com)
- VIDEO: Sehwag hits double century, beats Tendulkar’s record (3news.co.nz)
now,its the king of *BAD* times
16 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in General Tags: Cappuccinos, Deepika Padukone, India, Kingfisher, Kingfisher Airlines, Mukesh Ambani, Royal Challenge, UB, Vijay Mallya



