There was a time when Indian cricket was synonymous with a man from Haryana. He was the true son of the soil, a man who built an empire of World Cup winners and a man who ruled the club of highest Test wicket takers.
Kapil Dev was, is and always will be an Indian sports icon and a legend. No ban will ever be able to rob him of his place in Indian sporting history.
His 175 versus Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup is the stuff of legend. His 5 for 28 in the Melbourne Test in 1980/81 to set up a famous win, in spite of a severe groin injury, is one of the most courageous performances ever seen. The day he overtook Sir Richard Hadlee’s tally of 431 Test wickets, all of India and indeed the world stood up in united applause.
Since that day in February of 1994, one could say Indian cricket has dealt Kapil Dev an unfair hand. When he was accused by Manoj Prabhakar of match fixing in 2000, no one from the BCCI stood up for him. Instead, a former board president labeled him guilty without delving too much into the available proof. As a statement, he resigned as national coach saying, “(I have) nothing to say about cricket to anyone after having severed all links with the game.” Almost no one could bare to watch as Kapil Dev broke down during an interview on international television, quite clearly a shattered man. That day, even the few cynics could question the integrity of the man.
Yet, he continued to be a persona non-grata with the Indian cricketing community and the BCCI until 2002 when he was named as the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century. He described that moment as ‘his finest hour’.
Little did he know, the hour and the day marked just another chapter in the Kapil Dev vs BCCI saga. He returned very cautiously to the game, as a bowling consultant to the Indian team before their historic tour to Pakistan in 2004. Another couple of years later, he was nominated as the chairman of the National Cricket Academy. Today, even before the Haryana Hurricane could start to make changes in the NCA, he finds himself sacked.
The BCCI refuses to admit that it feels threatened by the rebel league. Meanwhile, Kapil Dev has continued to say that the Indian Cricket League is an organization that is exercising its right to conduct cricket matches across the country. Unfortunately, the BCCI has no time for some sound logic.
The BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan declared, “Every individual has the right to associate with the BCCI or any other organization. If he chooses to be part of any other organization then it is he who is leaving. If an individual chooses to associate with someone else it is his decision and we wish him luck. But he will not be a part of BCCI activities or derive any benefits from the BCCI.”
The BCCI has sent a strong message to the cricketing world: they are not afraid of posers and usurpers. It’s understandable why Dev can’t serve with both the ICL and the BCCI and he has quite clearly made his choice. Yet, one might ask what are the benefits that Kapil Dev has gotten from the cricket body since the end of his 16 year career?
Dev is no longer entitled to the Rs 35,000 (approx 900 USD) that is given as monthly pension to former Indian Test players by the BCCI. In all likelihood, he doesn’t need it. Yet, the sum was supposed to be for services rendered during his career when he was one of India’s leading cricketers. Sharad Pawar and company seem to have had a convenient lapse in memory regarding the 131 Tests and 225 ODIs he played for India. The BCCI might have forgotten Dev but it’s unlikely Indian cricket fans ever will.
When he stepped down as Indian coach in 2000, Dev had written to the BCCI, “I wish all my previous associates from the board and from the field all the best I only hope that if per chance I ever meet them, time will have washed away some of the wounds within me.” By dealing with Kapil Dev strictly, the BCCI might have made a point, but it’s also made sure those wounds will never heal.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A new age begins for Indian cricket (and the Indian fan)
There is an SMS going around India that goes something like this:
Knock Knock,
Who’s there?
Misbah
Misbah who?
Mis-bah just five runs.
It’s unkind, it’s churlish but truth be told, every single Indian cricket fan will smile, laugh and chuckle when he sees that text message. It captures perfectly the sentiment running through India right now.
To win the inaugural World Twenty20 Championships would have been achievement enough. To beat Pakistan in the final was both the icing and the cherry on top.
Along with the title and the trophy, there’s a lesson that is only just beginning to sink in. It’s proof that the future of Indian cricket is well and alive. It’s evidence that Indian cricket has the bench strength to cope come what may and doesn’t have to depend on big names to do the business time and again.
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly would have been watching very closely. What they would have seen would no doubt have pleased them. They would have seen a brand new Indian captain come to grips with his new responsibility in a far lesser time than it took them. They would have seen him rally an Indian team that took Sourav Ganguly about a couple of years to build. They would have seen a bunch of youngsters ready to play cricket to enjoy it, to live in the moment and to play without the burden of expectation.
There’s no doubt that as members of this team grow in reputation more will come to be expected of them. Each time Rohit Sharma now takes the crease we will expect a six at crucial times. Every instance that RP Singh turns at the top of his mark, we will expect a ball delivered in the ‘channel’ and perhaps a wicket in his opening spell. We will undoubtedly expect MS Dhoni to lead India to victory with some inspirational decisions every time they play in a big series.
Let’s not carried away. This team is certainly one of the greatest India has had, but by no means is it perfect. Certain players didn’t fire but others compensated for that. When Sreesanth was having a bad day, RP Singh was right on the money. When Yuvraj Singh didn’t come good, Gautam Gambhir did. While it was disappointing from an individual point of view, it didn’t matter because India kept winning. When debutant Yusuf Pathan played in the most important limited overs game India has played since 2003 instead of the established Dinesh Karthik, questions were not raised because at the end of the day, India won.
The point to understand is that even this team can lose. There are weaknesses that might become evident and may be exposed in a 50 over game. The weight of a billion hopes will bear down on this team at exactly the times when they need to be free from that kind of pressure.
Only if the fans stop themselves from burning effigies each time India crashes to a loss, can Dhoni take a bold move like giving Joginder Sharma the last over in another crucial match. Only if Robin Uthappa is assured that his house will not be attacked, can he think of what clearly needs to be done to win with eight runs to get off three balls. We must temper our passion, love, enthusiasm and hopes with the fact that this is only just a game.
Ask Lance Klussner how he wakes up every morning after taking South Africa to the brink of the 1999 World Cup final. Ask Pat Rafter how he feels after being just a couple of points away from being Wimbledon Champion. Ask Zinedine Zidane where he finds the strength to go on loving his sport after his infamous moment in World Cup 2006. Ask Misbah-ul-Haq how he feels after taking Pakistan twice to the brink of famous wins over India. They will all tell you the same thing: it’s a lesson learnt, it’s the bitter truth, but it is after all just a game.
There’s a lesson for Indian fans here as well. We must support the men in blue no matter what happens. Yet, we can’t expect a win every time they take the field. This is a team that has already taken its initial steps towards greatness, but they will reach that destination only if we let them. Along the way we can’t bring out demonstrations or attack the BCCI office. We can’t throw stones at hoardings and spew venom at our cricketers. MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and co. will find their place in history with or without the support of the Indian fans.
We have the chance to put behind us years of mistrust and a love-hate relationship. Let us remember this one night in Johannesburg when the entire nation watched with baited breath what they knew was their destiny. Let us stay firm in our resolve that no matter what, we will stand behind our men in blue. And besides those eleven men in the middle, we will be their army, one billion strong.
Knock Knock,
Who’s there?
Misbah
Misbah who?
Mis-bah just five runs.
It’s unkind, it’s churlish but truth be told, every single Indian cricket fan will smile, laugh and chuckle when he sees that text message. It captures perfectly the sentiment running through India right now.
To win the inaugural World Twenty20 Championships would have been achievement enough. To beat Pakistan in the final was both the icing and the cherry on top.
Along with the title and the trophy, there’s a lesson that is only just beginning to sink in. It’s proof that the future of Indian cricket is well and alive. It’s evidence that Indian cricket has the bench strength to cope come what may and doesn’t have to depend on big names to do the business time and again.
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly would have been watching very closely. What they would have seen would no doubt have pleased them. They would have seen a brand new Indian captain come to grips with his new responsibility in a far lesser time than it took them. They would have seen him rally an Indian team that took Sourav Ganguly about a couple of years to build. They would have seen a bunch of youngsters ready to play cricket to enjoy it, to live in the moment and to play without the burden of expectation.
There’s no doubt that as members of this team grow in reputation more will come to be expected of them. Each time Rohit Sharma now takes the crease we will expect a six at crucial times. Every instance that RP Singh turns at the top of his mark, we will expect a ball delivered in the ‘channel’ and perhaps a wicket in his opening spell. We will undoubtedly expect MS Dhoni to lead India to victory with some inspirational decisions every time they play in a big series.
Let’s not carried away. This team is certainly one of the greatest India has had, but by no means is it perfect. Certain players didn’t fire but others compensated for that. When Sreesanth was having a bad day, RP Singh was right on the money. When Yuvraj Singh didn’t come good, Gautam Gambhir did. While it was disappointing from an individual point of view, it didn’t matter because India kept winning. When debutant Yusuf Pathan played in the most important limited overs game India has played since 2003 instead of the established Dinesh Karthik, questions were not raised because at the end of the day, India won.
The point to understand is that even this team can lose. There are weaknesses that might become evident and may be exposed in a 50 over game. The weight of a billion hopes will bear down on this team at exactly the times when they need to be free from that kind of pressure.
Only if the fans stop themselves from burning effigies each time India crashes to a loss, can Dhoni take a bold move like giving Joginder Sharma the last over in another crucial match. Only if Robin Uthappa is assured that his house will not be attacked, can he think of what clearly needs to be done to win with eight runs to get off three balls. We must temper our passion, love, enthusiasm and hopes with the fact that this is only just a game.
Ask Lance Klussner how he wakes up every morning after taking South Africa to the brink of the 1999 World Cup final. Ask Pat Rafter how he feels after being just a couple of points away from being Wimbledon Champion. Ask Zinedine Zidane where he finds the strength to go on loving his sport after his infamous moment in World Cup 2006. Ask Misbah-ul-Haq how he feels after taking Pakistan twice to the brink of famous wins over India. They will all tell you the same thing: it’s a lesson learnt, it’s the bitter truth, but it is after all just a game.
There’s a lesson for Indian fans here as well. We must support the men in blue no matter what happens. Yet, we can’t expect a win every time they take the field. This is a team that has already taken its initial steps towards greatness, but they will reach that destination only if we let them. Along the way we can’t bring out demonstrations or attack the BCCI office. We can’t throw stones at hoardings and spew venom at our cricketers. MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and co. will find their place in history with or without the support of the Indian fans.
We have the chance to put behind us years of mistrust and a love-hate relationship. Let us remember this one night in Johannesburg when the entire nation watched with baited breath what they knew was their destiny. Let us stay firm in our resolve that no matter what, we will stand behind our men in blue. And besides those eleven men in the middle, we will be their army, one billion strong.
Monday, August 20, 2007
so, what's the point?
Venkaiah Naidu typifies the Indian politician. The BJP leader has sounded out his subordinates to be ready for a snap poll in case the Congress - Left alliance (otherwise known as the UPA) collapses. Nothing inherently wrong in that. We've been seeing it from the time when India became an independent country, and elected its own leaders.
Of course, since then, we've had opportunistic, greedy men pillage and ravage people's faith in the system. Today it's made us cynical to the core. Perhaps, a little too hardened as well.
So, thick skinned that when Naidu makes an irresponsible comment like the one he made in Bangalore, we think nothing of it. Saying that a government is about to collapse is a serious matter. The fact that there will be instability, discontinuation of several programmes and initiatives, derailing of policies that haven't even finished their incubation period, are all irrelevant.
The only thing that matters is that the BJP comes back in to power. He has been critical of the Congress, but hasn't suggested a way to mend things. He's said that his partymen should be ready in case there's a vacuum at the top. What happens once that vacuum is sealed, no one really knows. The sad part is that no one cares. If the BJP is in power, it will take some populist decisions, some hardline decisions to appease its allies and then continue to hoard wealth. The Congress will bitch and moan, complain and throw tantrums, yet completely ignore coming up with any truly progressive ideas.
When I was in school, I was taught that every member of Parliament has the right and privilege of being able to table a bill. I would love to meet a parliamentarian who has in his career tabled a bill that has gone on to help the poorest individuals in his constituency.
The problem is that, the opposition, instead of being a watchdog, conspires constantly to bring down the party in power. It's the Indian crab syndrome. Can you imagine what might happen if all parties agreed on an issue. Besides, most of India's citizens suffering from a combined heart flutter, it might actually contribute to some progress.
That might be the best way to ensure that we have a stable government and we have some constructive criticism rather than an air of pure, unadulterated negativity around us.
If there's credit to a plan, there's credit to a plan... But don't tell that to the Indian politician...
he's too busy trying to stop being the opposition.
Of course, since then, we've had opportunistic, greedy men pillage and ravage people's faith in the system. Today it's made us cynical to the core. Perhaps, a little too hardened as well.
So, thick skinned that when Naidu makes an irresponsible comment like the one he made in Bangalore, we think nothing of it. Saying that a government is about to collapse is a serious matter. The fact that there will be instability, discontinuation of several programmes and initiatives, derailing of policies that haven't even finished their incubation period, are all irrelevant.
The only thing that matters is that the BJP comes back in to power. He has been critical of the Congress, but hasn't suggested a way to mend things. He's said that his partymen should be ready in case there's a vacuum at the top. What happens once that vacuum is sealed, no one really knows. The sad part is that no one cares. If the BJP is in power, it will take some populist decisions, some hardline decisions to appease its allies and then continue to hoard wealth. The Congress will bitch and moan, complain and throw tantrums, yet completely ignore coming up with any truly progressive ideas.
When I was in school, I was taught that every member of Parliament has the right and privilege of being able to table a bill. I would love to meet a parliamentarian who has in his career tabled a bill that has gone on to help the poorest individuals in his constituency.
The problem is that, the opposition, instead of being a watchdog, conspires constantly to bring down the party in power. It's the Indian crab syndrome. Can you imagine what might happen if all parties agreed on an issue. Besides, most of India's citizens suffering from a combined heart flutter, it might actually contribute to some progress.
That might be the best way to ensure that we have a stable government and we have some constructive criticism rather than an air of pure, unadulterated negativity around us.
If there's credit to a plan, there's credit to a plan... But don't tell that to the Indian politician...
he's too busy trying to stop being the opposition.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
mnemonic ramblings
A memory is a cancer, or so I believed. It eats at you, slowly while you either want to forget or relive. I don't know how it got that bad sometimes. It's like the narrator in the Fight Club said, 'a scratch on your upper palate that would go away if you could only just stop licking it.' Well, I couldn't. The 'if's' and the 'why's' never quite explained themselves.
Your own people slipping through your fingers right as you realise it's too late to say anything, and moments you want to tell yourself to just stop and think. Only that chances to do that didn't really exist. To revisit is to take a scalpel and cut out a healed wound.
Things we say or do, don't remain in time, suspended or completely inanimate. I believe they're just as dynamic as our life and our chronology. We move with the times and time catches up on us eventually.
I don't ask for forgiveness like Bono asks in 'One' but I do want a salvation from everything I want not to remember. The burden isn't something I'm meant to carry. I'm not really who I seem, I'm not a victim of my persecuted dreams. A fight isn't within. It should be with forces I cannot determine. If I fight with myself, I don't get anywhere. I stay inert externally.
Internally, though I may achieve a metamorphosis, however slight. I understand that to hurt, to pain, and to die are only natural. Whether it's us, others or our memories, we can only act as we are acted upon. So, the question is: what do we then do with our time here? Surely, can't fill it with undulated thoughts of self defeat. What then is the question do I do with my memories. With my thoughts that beg me, compel me to introspect and restructure.
I want to remodel. I will rebel against all that's mine and prove myself wrong. I need to re-invent. I can rise again. I will learn from my memories, from the time that I have had and invest for the time I have now. I am time, time is me. Memories I release you, you control me no more.
Your own people slipping through your fingers right as you realise it's too late to say anything, and moments you want to tell yourself to just stop and think. Only that chances to do that didn't really exist. To revisit is to take a scalpel and cut out a healed wound.
Things we say or do, don't remain in time, suspended or completely inanimate. I believe they're just as dynamic as our life and our chronology. We move with the times and time catches up on us eventually.
I don't ask for forgiveness like Bono asks in 'One' but I do want a salvation from everything I want not to remember. The burden isn't something I'm meant to carry. I'm not really who I seem, I'm not a victim of my persecuted dreams. A fight isn't within. It should be with forces I cannot determine. If I fight with myself, I don't get anywhere. I stay inert externally.
Internally, though I may achieve a metamorphosis, however slight. I understand that to hurt, to pain, and to die are only natural. Whether it's us, others or our memories, we can only act as we are acted upon. So, the question is: what do we then do with our time here? Surely, can't fill it with undulated thoughts of self defeat. What then is the question do I do with my memories. With my thoughts that beg me, compel me to introspect and restructure.
I want to remodel. I will rebel against all that's mine and prove myself wrong. I need to re-invent. I can rise again. I will learn from my memories, from the time that I have had and invest for the time I have now. I am time, time is me. Memories I release you, you control me no more.
Monday, July 09, 2007
what's wrong with the world?
So, I've got an axe to grind. So, I'm upset. So, you don't know me, so you don't care. Well, I don't either. But I've got a point to make it, and make it I will.
Like Black Eyed Peas sang out... What's wrong with the world, yo?
I ask the same thing.
I'm torn about whether my homeland is dearer to me now that I'm away from it, or am I better off that I have the option of never having to return. The options make me angry. It's my homeland. The angst of not wanting to belong apart, I have a right to feel for my own country, my own earth, my own people.
Instead, I find myself increasingly repulsed by what I see and what I read. I'm quick to jump to conclusions but surely, my countrymen have more sanity and better judgment than that.
Apparently not. Let me illustrate.
The Gujarat BJP mock-staged the hanging of Mohammed Afzal, the prime accussed in the Parliament attack in December 2001. A team of lawyers beats up the stage Afzal, as a crowd cheered on. So, it's a plea for a prompt hanging for a controversial figure. Wrong. It's a gambit in a political battle. What till yesterday was an issue of justice, has today become a tool to gather public sentiment against a presidential candidate. Please note, that Afzal will probably never hear of this, neither will a voice be raised against the concievable violation of Afzal's fundamental rights. Instead, people gathered and cheered to watch the 'drama'. Please also note that none of us actually vote in a presidential election. In fact, the presidential election has traditionally been a fairly low key affair. It's good proof that nothing is incorruptible by the Indian political process.
We have an exploding population. The HIV virus is slowly but steadily starting to reach dangerous levels. So, what then I ask you is the best method of dealing with the problem. History has taught us education, awareness and promoting use of contraceptives helps. Obviously, our politicians slept through that class (and several others am sure).
Karnataka has banned sex ed in schools. The rather appropriate-ly named Horatti has decided that it would be against the interest of the students to learn about condoms, semen and vaginas.
Instead, he's decided that they should learn all about lathes, drills and exercise drills.
Another case in point. Hindustan Latex discovered that use of condoms was becoming boring for users. So, to spice things up a bit, it introduced a condom with a vibrator. Of course the people in the Madhya Pradesh administration, believe in having sex solely for procreation and not pleasure. As a result, there were vehement protests across the state from the administration to withdraw the product. A letter reached the PMO as well, claiming that the condom was a sex toy and hence, illegal.
Why should a group of individuals decide what I do in my bedroom? It's like telling me that I can't use a toothbrush with a vibrating function because India has a long tradition of using 'datun'. I know it's a stretch, but you get my point.
These protests happen while women get raped, while the politicians still pocket handsome amounts of kickbacks, while an entire chawl still crowds around a single tap, hoping, praying, it gives them water.
I know I'm not the only one upset. But why should we continue to even tolerate this.
I know what those of you'll sitting in India are thinking: "It's easy for you to say"
It's not really. While I was in India, I had two options. To get into the train, go to office, eat, sleep, drink (a LOT!), etc. or to get involved in what was happening around me, to be a voice challenging what I thought was wrong. I would like to think I did a good mixture of both. Today, I don't have a choice. All I can do is ask my self, what can I do? What can I say, write or contribute to that will make a difference.
How do I feed the kids on the street who don't have food for days, who're probably exploited regardless of how much money they can mooch off people.
How do I assuage the anger, the frustration of the cop who just won't take your FIR seriously, because he's got a kid to put through school and he can't do it on 5000 rupees a month.
How do I reassure a witness that he shouldn't fear the mafia and that his testimony will help bring justice when I know he'll probably be dead before he reaches the witness stand.
How do I convince a mob of people that religion is a divide that political leaders created so they'll never have to think of a winning strategy ever again.
I don't have a single answer. I don't think I ever will.
I do know my kids will never know hunger. They'll never know what it's like to be poor. I know they'll know right from wrong. I know they'll understand what it is to be secular.
What I don't know is whether I'll be ever able to tell them how proud I am of being Indian, what it is to be Indian.
I want to feed them the same rice my mother fed me. I want them to feel the same breeze I felt on my face on my first train ride on the footboard.
I just don't know if they'll be able to.
Like Black Eyed Peas sang out... What's wrong with the world, yo?
I ask the same thing.
I'm torn about whether my homeland is dearer to me now that I'm away from it, or am I better off that I have the option of never having to return. The options make me angry. It's my homeland. The angst of not wanting to belong apart, I have a right to feel for my own country, my own earth, my own people.
Instead, I find myself increasingly repulsed by what I see and what I read. I'm quick to jump to conclusions but surely, my countrymen have more sanity and better judgment than that.
Apparently not. Let me illustrate.
The Gujarat BJP mock-staged the hanging of Mohammed Afzal, the prime accussed in the Parliament attack in December 2001. A team of lawyers beats up the stage Afzal, as a crowd cheered on. So, it's a plea for a prompt hanging for a controversial figure. Wrong. It's a gambit in a political battle. What till yesterday was an issue of justice, has today become a tool to gather public sentiment against a presidential candidate. Please note, that Afzal will probably never hear of this, neither will a voice be raised against the concievable violation of Afzal's fundamental rights. Instead, people gathered and cheered to watch the 'drama'. Please also note that none of us actually vote in a presidential election. In fact, the presidential election has traditionally been a fairly low key affair. It's good proof that nothing is incorruptible by the Indian political process.
We have an exploding population. The HIV virus is slowly but steadily starting to reach dangerous levels. So, what then I ask you is the best method of dealing with the problem. History has taught us education, awareness and promoting use of contraceptives helps. Obviously, our politicians slept through that class (and several others am sure).
Karnataka has banned sex ed in schools. The rather appropriate-ly named Horatti has decided that it would be against the interest of the students to learn about condoms, semen and vaginas.
Instead, he's decided that they should learn all about lathes, drills and exercise drills.
Another case in point. Hindustan Latex discovered that use of condoms was becoming boring for users. So, to spice things up a bit, it introduced a condom with a vibrator. Of course the people in the Madhya Pradesh administration, believe in having sex solely for procreation and not pleasure. As a result, there were vehement protests across the state from the administration to withdraw the product. A letter reached the PMO as well, claiming that the condom was a sex toy and hence, illegal.
Why should a group of individuals decide what I do in my bedroom? It's like telling me that I can't use a toothbrush with a vibrating function because India has a long tradition of using 'datun'. I know it's a stretch, but you get my point.
These protests happen while women get raped, while the politicians still pocket handsome amounts of kickbacks, while an entire chawl still crowds around a single tap, hoping, praying, it gives them water.
I know I'm not the only one upset. But why should we continue to even tolerate this.
I know what those of you'll sitting in India are thinking: "It's easy for you to say"
It's not really. While I was in India, I had two options. To get into the train, go to office, eat, sleep, drink (a LOT!), etc. or to get involved in what was happening around me, to be a voice challenging what I thought was wrong. I would like to think I did a good mixture of both. Today, I don't have a choice. All I can do is ask my self, what can I do? What can I say, write or contribute to that will make a difference.
How do I feed the kids on the street who don't have food for days, who're probably exploited regardless of how much money they can mooch off people.
How do I assuage the anger, the frustration of the cop who just won't take your FIR seriously, because he's got a kid to put through school and he can't do it on 5000 rupees a month.
How do I reassure a witness that he shouldn't fear the mafia and that his testimony will help bring justice when I know he'll probably be dead before he reaches the witness stand.
How do I convince a mob of people that religion is a divide that political leaders created so they'll never have to think of a winning strategy ever again.
I don't have a single answer. I don't think I ever will.
I do know my kids will never know hunger. They'll never know what it's like to be poor. I know they'll know right from wrong. I know they'll understand what it is to be secular.
What I don't know is whether I'll be ever able to tell them how proud I am of being Indian, what it is to be Indian.
I want to feed them the same rice my mother fed me. I want them to feel the same breeze I felt on my face on my first train ride on the footboard.
I just don't know if they'll be able to.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
a place somewhat like home
So, am back. Singapore is now firmly home. Well, as firmly as a place will hold an itinerant and wanderlusting (no, there isn't such a word!) couple. But, yeah, Singapore is for now the place to rest my head. In the past month, I've been to Mumbai, then to Bangalore, to Mumbai again, Egypt, (the Nile, Abu Simbel, the pyramids and all that) Mumbai and now, Singapore again. So, been kind of on my toes. Lots of fun, lots of excitement.
And I think what's made it extremely exciting is the fact that all along Debkanya (now officially and socially known as Mrs. Vyavaharkar or if you like I'm now known as Mr. Dhar... :p) has been just as ready to jump on a tonga, or a bus or a cruise ship as I am. And I can't tell you how much joy there is, in taking a trip (even if it's just to Dharavi) with a person who travels just for the sheer joy of it. So, yes, it was a fantastic time.
Anyway, so, now responsibility will be a buzz word. What do I make of it? Well, it's a lip smacking prospect. To live up to the expectations of the people I care about, who'll be expecting me to stick to the same standards that we've seen our parents achieve. Now, how's that for a challenge. Of course, it doesn't mean that you won't catch me stumbling around, muttering something about Rahul Dravid or Bjorn Borg. But you get my drift...
Also, the word 'family' and its notion has been extended to include so many more amazing people.
Home is where the heart is. Home is now three places. Mumbai, Bangalore and Singapore. Mumbai for being the home of the Vyavaharkars, Bangalore as the home of the Dhars, and Singapore for being the first home of the Dhar-Vyavaharkar partnership.
So, we don't know where we're headed. I don't know where I'm headed, but at least there's a place to go back to every day, and whether it's Singapore or Aswan, the best part is not where it is, but who's at home. No, and I don't mean me!
And I think what's made it extremely exciting is the fact that all along Debkanya (now officially and socially known as Mrs. Vyavaharkar or if you like I'm now known as Mr. Dhar... :p) has been just as ready to jump on a tonga, or a bus or a cruise ship as I am. And I can't tell you how much joy there is, in taking a trip (even if it's just to Dharavi) with a person who travels just for the sheer joy of it. So, yes, it was a fantastic time.
Anyway, so, now responsibility will be a buzz word. What do I make of it? Well, it's a lip smacking prospect. To live up to the expectations of the people I care about, who'll be expecting me to stick to the same standards that we've seen our parents achieve. Now, how's that for a challenge. Of course, it doesn't mean that you won't catch me stumbling around, muttering something about Rahul Dravid or Bjorn Borg. But you get my drift...
Also, the word 'family' and its notion has been extended to include so many more amazing people.
Home is where the heart is. Home is now three places. Mumbai, Bangalore and Singapore. Mumbai for being the home of the Vyavaharkars, Bangalore as the home of the Dhars, and Singapore for being the first home of the Dhar-Vyavaharkar partnership.
So, we don't know where we're headed. I don't know where I'm headed, but at least there's a place to go back to every day, and whether it's Singapore or Aswan, the best part is not where it is, but who's at home. No, and I don't mean me!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
a new year is under way
Alright, took me a while to get going again, but I figured I'll just wait for the new year to post an update. So, here I am. In 2007, I'm heading into a year that's so full of promise that I'm not sure if I should sit or stand, run or jump, scream or shout (yes, yes, I know dictionar-ily they're rather similar!)
But a lot of things that are about to happen will be beyond my control. Not just the sequence of events, but even the magnitude or the subsequent reactions. I know it sounds a little controlling of me to want to know all those details, and I'm happy to hurtle along the road of unanticipated bliss, but it's just baffling and rather intriguing as to how things are about to play out. And I guess I'll just have to wait. And I'm more than happy to.
Anyway, the earthquake in Taiwan over the weekend really gave us an idea of how dependent we've become on technology. The internet in Singapore which is capable of re-uploading this page about a hundred times over in the same time that it took to say this, suffered and how. Debkanya's parent's who're visiting were delayed flying in, not because of some weather or technical issue, but due to the fact that they couldn't access the Singapore intranet for the airlines from Bangalore. And so, all bookings and seat allocations had to be done by phone. When we talk about technology having eased our life, we often forget, how complicated it's become as well. The computer is a fine invention but now all my data is stored on the computer, but something as silly as a power blackout, means I have no access to any of it. In the olden days, my mother just used a noting diary to jot everything down. She knows brevity, she knows detail and she knows prioritisation, and she didn't even need a Franklin-Covey scheduler to help her figure any of that out.
Well, that's my take anyway. I guess I am blogging here and I shouldn't exactly be panning technology, so I won't. I'll stop. Or then I could always go to the printing press.
But a lot of things that are about to happen will be beyond my control. Not just the sequence of events, but even the magnitude or the subsequent reactions. I know it sounds a little controlling of me to want to know all those details, and I'm happy to hurtle along the road of unanticipated bliss, but it's just baffling and rather intriguing as to how things are about to play out. And I guess I'll just have to wait. And I'm more than happy to.
Anyway, the earthquake in Taiwan over the weekend really gave us an idea of how dependent we've become on technology. The internet in Singapore which is capable of re-uploading this page about a hundred times over in the same time that it took to say this, suffered and how. Debkanya's parent's who're visiting were delayed flying in, not because of some weather or technical issue, but due to the fact that they couldn't access the Singapore intranet for the airlines from Bangalore. And so, all bookings and seat allocations had to be done by phone. When we talk about technology having eased our life, we often forget, how complicated it's become as well. The computer is a fine invention but now all my data is stored on the computer, but something as silly as a power blackout, means I have no access to any of it. In the olden days, my mother just used a noting diary to jot everything down. She knows brevity, she knows detail and she knows prioritisation, and she didn't even need a Franklin-Covey scheduler to help her figure any of that out.
Well, that's my take anyway. I guess I am blogging here and I shouldn't exactly be panning technology, so I won't. I'll stop. Or then I could always go to the printing press.
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