The dance of democracy

Indian democracy once again showed that people on the streets think different than those who sit in AC rooms and want to change fortunes. The Gujarat poll results are like a slap on all those who don't tire of thinking and declaring that India should be thinking the way they do because otherwise they belong on an uncivil society. This is surely a loss of crediblity for all the 'Limousine Liberals' like Javed Akhtar, Teesta Setlavad, Achyut Yagnik etc. They need to have an unbiased stance and not be selective in their causes. Infact in one of the channels, Teesta lost her cool when said she has lost crediblity due to her silence on issues like Nandigram.

This also brings to notice one serious issue and that is in India, choices are Modi, Gandhi family and Prakash Karat, all with blood on their hands. If Modi was the Nero when Gujarat burnt, Congress was actively involved in killings of the Sikhs in 84 and Communists have been spilling blood in West Bengal and Kerela for decades now. So it always will remain the best of the worst race with choices differing from state to state and class to class

For now, one has to just step back and respect the judgement of the mass majority in Gujarat.

Merchants of death

No, am not talking about Sonia's statement and the aftermath and am neither talking about Modi as enough has been written about both. This is about mockery of dead bodies in Maharashtra.

Amravati in Maharashtra is one of the worst hit areas for farmer community. The place has seen more than 500 suicides by the farmers so far. The state government has been shying away from helping them out of their woes citing bad economic conditions of the state treassury. Even the cheques given by PM bounced due to lack of funds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But now the widows have a new gift from the government. They have a 400 crore International Airport. Can a mockery ever be more ruthless?

And the airport just because our President Pratibhu "who' Patil belongs to Amravati. So the parched lands of Amravati can watch airplanes fly by while their farmers hang themselves to death.

Has Dr. Prannoy Roy (NDTV) sold his soul?

Has Dr. Prannoy Roy sold his soul or are his red chaddis showing? As torchbearer of 'truth', NDTV has been at the forefront to expose, criticise and fight against any kind of injustice. Though there have been rampant accusations about NDTV being a mouthpiece of 10, Janpath at times and of Communists at times, no one ever questioned their search for information.

But their coverage (or non-coverage) of Nandigram exposes it all. While CNN IBN has been brave, honest and direct in its criticism of West Bengal Govt with both Sagarika Ghose and Diptosh Majumdar mincing no words asking Buddhadeb to resign, NDTV has been surprisingly silent or focussing on other 'non-issues'. Maybe any other state and we would have seen Burkha Dutt and likes out there on ground zero getting the scoops but then WB is not just any other state for them.

Makes one wonder if the pressures of running a media house has finally caught up with Dr. Prannoy Roy and he is finally showing how news media is dictated terms by money and political belief.

Any difference between Buddhadeb and Modi?

As Nandigram witnesses a wave of violence, murder, loot and brutal rape, one wonders if Left has lost the moral right to oppose Narendra Modi. Both Modi and Buddhadeb now stand accused of being involved in cleansing, one under the name of religion and another under political loyalties. They both have allowed their supporters to wreck havoc and kill at will. So, does the Left have any right anymore to talk about the Gujarat riots? Also noteworthy is the silence of the so-called Human Rights activists. Except Medha Patkar, no one (Shabana, Javed Akhtar, Teesta, Mahesh Bhatt etc) have even spoke a word. And that is because they belong to the same ideological group and derive their support from the Left.

The only difference one can see between Modi and Buddhadeb is that the media and social activists will remain silent to the misdeeds of Buddhadeb and his cohorts while they will not keep silent till Modi and his cohorts are brought to the book.

The racist Indian

Burn effigies when Greg Chappell shows his middle fingers to morons. Better still, make it a national tragedy when Shilpa Shetty is 'racially abused' but when it comes to you, go ahead and abuse anyone and everyone left, right and centre..

The treatment that Aussies got during their cricket tour was pathetic. Fans would say even Aussies sledge but then they forget that Aussies win 90% of the time. Remember Chak De when they said 'Pehle apni game uchi karo phir awaaz' (raise your game before you raise your voice at the opponents)

Symonds was subjected to some pathetic behaviour for his race. And no, this does not happen anywhere else but in the city of tolerance, Mumbai. Many would defend it because Indians have been subjected to it for years. But then the moment we indulge in racism or defend it, we have lost the moral right to speak over it.

So, next time, someone apes our cricketers as Curry Eating Ass Wipers, we don't have a right to object because we are just reaping what we have sowed.

And this is not just in sports but in all forms of life, India is possibly one of the few countries where the 'N' word is still spoken and did I read somewhere than we are children of Gandhi? My whatever....

Everyone with oriental look is a 'Chinky' (including Indians from the northeast) and we are fine commenting on their eating habits, talking habits and likes..

Domestic racism is a totally different story and is a huge menace anyways.. remember ghati, bhaiya, lungi, gaanda bhai and words?

We may not like it but the sad fact is India and Indians take the lead as the accused in art of racism. And to fight it will take a lot of cleansing to do internally.

Narendra Modi - development messiah or blood sucking villian?

Was watching Narendra Modi's interview on a TV channel and coud not help but think on who the real Modi is.

One one hand he is accused of 2002 riots and the minority bashing. He was described a modern Nero by Supreme Court. In a sense, he has blood on his hands.

One another hand, one can ask, which politician does not have blood on his hands? Rajiv Gandhi has Sikh blood on his hands and similarly others too. So where does it seperate them from Modi? Modi backers point out that he is undoubtedly the most efficient CM India has seen for a while. No one can question or debate that his government has been the most efficient and non-corrupt on all fronts except the social front.

People are divided and will continue to be divided depending on which side of social divide are they on. The debate will continue and till the time debate continues, Modi will grow in strength. Only history will say who the real Modi is.

Late Night Mumbai

After a long long time, did the Wine-Party-Andaa Bhurji routine. And repeated to my friend what I tell in other cities. If you wanna see life moving at any hour, come to Mumbai. Its the only CITY in India.

After an evening plan which went awry, visited a friends Art Store in Versova, the lovely Tribal Route. Bonded over some wine and met a couple of old friends. Decided to croak oops Karaoke after that and headed to Merlins. After hours of 90% Bollywood and hardly 3-4 classics, left hungry as hell and drunk as always.

Wanted to go to the classic bheja and kaleji with pao and pulav place at Andheri W but then realised I am a vegetarian till 31st Oct. Laxmi Punjab too was closed by cops at 3 am. So found a Pav Bhaji and Pulav place on Andheri East. Ate to the stomach and tongue's delight. Went home and crashed by 4 am

The whole evening, one thing was evident, everyone was alive. There is never a dull moment in this city. For that you got Bangalores and Chennais of the world.

Was the T20 cup fixed?

Bring on the bricks but I can bet my life that the cup was fixed by the highest authorities of the game.

What makes me think so? Well, the way the cup went on and ended. Close matches but rarely any earth shattering upsets. Right from the 1st match till the last.

What do the authorities gain? Well, simple!! The game was losing its sheen in India and Pakistan, the countries with largest cricket fans. The fallout of the WC debacle was reducing fan following in these two countries resulting in loss on sponsorship and revenues for the game. So, how to get that back. Simple, just 'rehabillitate' India and Pakistan cricket and the idiots will flock again to the stadiums and make heroes out of the mortals. So the dual mission of promoting T20 and getting the revenue back in game is accomplished, Indian cricketers are heroes again and Sharad Pawar is laughing all the way.

Angry on reading this? Think I am traitor or someone who just whines? Then just wait a moment, take a deep breath and think again on what I have said above. You might find the answers

Magic or madness, it's just the spirit

Have been accussed many a times by friends out of Mumbai that I overdo my love for the Mumbai spirit but then everytime I see it grow, I am tempted to write about it.

Please show me a place in India where more than hundred thousand people assemble and wait from 2am in the morning for a procession.
Please show me a place where this mass celebrates the festival with a gutso, prays soulfully and then leave peacefully
Please show me a place where the rich and poor, able and disabled, those who travelled on a hand cart and those who reached in their swanky cars, all get together shoulder to shoulder for a celebration of life.

Yeah, that's Mumbai for me. No two hoots for your lineage or you social status. You are what you are at that moment. That's why, all seen early this morning were just devotees.

Left at 2 am for the Darshan of Lalbagh Cha Raja. Stood patiently for a few hours as the procession took long to reach. more than 4 hours to cover a kilometre. Huge garlands tied on oppsite buildings, nearly a lakh of devotees patiently waiting, people serving devotees water, cold drinks, snacks. The procession arrives and people break out in jubiliation. But no stamping, no pushing, no jostling, Madness but orderly madness. And when that passes, the crowd breaks up peacefully for their homes.. just some method in madness I call this.

So, Mumbai is still the Rockstar City of India not because of anything else but just because everyone here be it a hand cart puller or an industrialist, is a rock star in his / her attitude.

Phool for a fool

Extreme reactions on websites on Katunanidhi's remarks about Rama and Hinduism. One reader on a leading portal went as far as saying 'Wish there is another Tsunami in TN and then the entire Rama believing north belt should show their middle finger to Tamilians asking for relief'. The sentence hits you as here is a countryman wishing that his fellow countrymen face a disaster and then be shown the door. What has brought about this?

Many would say BJP's stand on Rama Sethu but there was nothing divisive about it, at the best it can be called hypocrisy. But the man who has divided the country is none other than my favourite court jester, Karunanidhi (TN seems to have some taste when it comes to politicians). Not that he has practised athiesm all his life. Remember seeing pictures of his family washing Sathya Sai Baba's feet or him doing a havan before the last assembly elections.

He should be sent a bunch of flowers everyday and told 'You are sick, get well soon'. He surely needs a visit to the asylum for his actions which will have far reaching consequences.

Running a startup - The first 3 months

Ah.. Hayagreeva Consulting just completed 3 months. Been a journey. Highs and lows one after another and so frequent they are like playing hide n seek every few hours.

Business generation has been not a problem though closing the paperwork on contracts has been a nightmare. Partners have really helped in getting us noticed. Just this morning, closed the paperwork on 2 deals. Now the third one to close. Pipeline looks good. Though it's been a nightmare convincing the prospects to put faith into a start-up.

Office space and infrastructure has not been much of a pressure because help has come from the family. Now looking for a bigger space as more people join in October.

Recruitment has been a total disappointment. Can't fathom the lack of ambition, ethics and professionalism in many of the software engineers. Taking an offer, then not joining without informing or not taking calls or using the offers to get other higher offers.... good for individual short term benefits but a let down on all other fronts. I find this behaviour worse than politicians and goons. But then, that's the way the industry works. Inspite of this, have found ahve good guys ready to put their future with a start-up and I surely won't let them down. Whoever is on board seems to enjoy the kind of work because this is where they getting to learn the best technology and work on complex projects.

Spent few sleepless nights in last 3 weeks due to the uncertainty over the project contracts. Now that it's sorted, I want to sleep well tonight to start what I call the next journey for Hayagreeva - The journey towards growth and delivery

Castro & Guevara

I was watching a show on Fidel Castro last night on the TV and how different people involved with him either love him or hate him. Just wondered who and what was the real Castro? A pathbreaking revolutionary? A stubborn idealist? A bloodsucking dictator?

Went back to my books about Castro and Guevara. They both led one of the biggest revolutions in the modern history. Then when they reached a stage where they could meet their goals, Guevara moved on to fuel other revolutions and tragically died in Bolivia later while Castro went on to rule Cuba for decades. Who was right and who was wrong in them? Had Castro too left the task of rebuilding Cuba to others, he might have been as big a hero like Guevara but then won't that be 'turning ones back'? Would they have then blamed him for not completing his work? Is he being hated by many just because he chose to stay on run his country his way in process making him a dictator. Similarily, was it not requried of Guevara to join in the contruction process too after the revolution because revolutions are not only about a regime change, they are about a change in sociol, political, economic thinking.

All said and done, one just can't wash away the impact these two have had on generations after them. The more I read about Guevara, the more I wish I was born in that era and in that place where he fired people's imaginations with his idealism.

Who is steering us?

Writing this piece under some stress and sadness. One of my person very very close to me is in hospital and critical. Was thinking about my discussions with a friend over the weekend in Bangalore, while sitting at the hospital over the night.

Is there something wrong with our generation or is it just that the winds of changes have blown so fast that we haven't been able to react to it? We might be having a relatively more prosperous and successful careers, access to finances and luxuries. But then more and more around us including me have failed miserably when it comes to personal life and relationships.

Are there any rules to engagement? While we are ready to take on the world for our careers, why are we still hesitant when it comes to breaking shackles of social norms? Why are people suffocaitng their own pleasures and happiness just because society looks down on them? Why do relationships need a name?

This and many more questions as I battle them daily.

Mumbai on the boil?

The blast verdict is out. The voices (rightly so) are heard for verdict on 92-93 blasts again. The Muslim organisations are taking out a huge protest march next week. Shiv Sena, the right wing political party has said in it's newpaper that this thing can increase communal passions. This is a kind of indirect warning. Waiting with bated breath for next week and just hoping that both the sides don't ignite communal passions for their narrow gains. Mumbai certainly cannot afford another divide.

Priya Dutt and D P Yadav - is there any difference?

One is an uneducated mafia turned MP who is using all powers and methods possible to keep his son away from the punishment for his involvement in criminal acts.

Another one is an educated MP representing a metro city like Mumbai and knows the power of media and political affiliations and uses that to get her brother out of the jail.

The question is both are abusing their powers and so how can Priya Dutt be presumed any better than D P Yadav?

Does life turn you on?

I was asked this on Monday. What turns me on the most and I said the sheer pleasure of being in the world turns me on. The highs of despair and the lows of happiness. Isn't it a turn on when life shows you the entire range of colours it has? Life surely is the best weed and I love to be high on it

World without passports and visas

Just as I was collecting my visa for Singapore trip, I was glancing through the newspaper which spoke about international terrorism. This might sound distorted to the 'nomral' ones - Terrorists don't use or need passports and visas to travel across the globe and create terror. Then why are the peace loving humanists required to carry this piece of paper?

God certainly did not stamp a visa on our ass when we were born. Then what gives a right to the establishment to decide what piece of paper I should carry. Why can't the world be without passports and visas? Why control the cultural exchange that comes when people meet each other freely.

I really want a world without passport and visa

Lal Masjid issue

One can blame General Mushharaf of many things but there is 1 thing one needs to admire him for and that he surely has more guts that most Indian leaders till date. Just as the news of the death of the radical leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi in Lal Masjid comes in, one piece of news surprised me and that was Muslim clerics from Mumbai welcoming the incident. Now, is this the sign of changing times or just an exception. Weren't these the same clerics who opposed when Indian Army laid seige to Charar-E-Sharif or Hazratbal?

It is indeed welcome if this shows that the times are changing but if it is an exception, then it raises serious doubts about them.

Spiritual or Religious

India has always been known as the place for spiritual experiences. But aren't the times changing? More and more Indians seem to be indulging in relligious symbolism and radicalism. And symbolism and radicalism never had any place in spiritualism. Spiritualism is more about connecting with one's soul while religious is about connecting with 'God'. Spirituallism rarely or never has been a cause of any conflict nationally or internationally but religion is the biggest cause of violence in the world today. In such scenario, world will look towards India for guiding them to spiritualism but then things here too seem to be changing as religion is taking the centre stage on socio-political life

Sleeping pills for Manmohan Singh?

It seems Manhmohan Singh who has slept very well after the Mumbai train blasts, Malegaon blasts, Nandigram and Singur carnage, farmer suicides in Maharashtra and other parts,, has suddenly lost sleep over the state of the parents and family of the Indian docs accused and arrested for the terror play at Glasgow.

Our dear SMS (Sardar Manmohan Singh) badly needs some sleeping pill. Or is the Madam making him lose sleep over the votebank politics?

National Joke

One thing is for sure the current generation won't miss the antics of Zail Singh or Fuckruddin Ali Ahmed by much as the current President in waiting, Pratibha Patil surely seems one who can bring us lot of laughter with her statements. She certainly is a national embarrasment and joke.

The 1st heavy showers

26/7 or not, don't I love the heavy showers. And this time luckily I was on the sea front when it started pouring cats and dogs. Throwing caution to the winds (which has resulted in a damamged mobile), just went out in the open and got wet. Can a rainy evening be complete without some Old Monk, Kebabs and some great ole weed? Had a wonderful weekend with all the above and few close friends. How much we all cried as we remembered the good ole days when we did not bother about loan repayments, heartbreaks, financial planning, professional road ahead!!! Ah nostalgia filled the heart, mind and eyes. It was wonderful meeting old friends after years.

Pratibha Hu?

Meet the new to-be-President of China ooops India.. Pratibha Hu?

After seeing Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral become PM, Pratibha Patil becoming President.. one thing is sure, there is always hope in Indian democracy if you know how to crawl when asked to kneel and which door to became a slave at.

Sethu Samudram controversy - Our classical secular system

The classical secular system is back in action. The same set of people who have huge issues when a dargah or a mosque is to be removed for development work have come with a project which affects a stretch of land believed to be Rama's bridge by Hindus.

Raam Sethu or Adam's Bridge is the stretch of land which connect India with Sri Lanka. Currently the water there cannot be used for transportation due to the stretch of land which as per Hindu beliefs was created by Lord Rama's army to march into Lanka. To reduce the time and cost of connecting the east coast with the west coast, Govt of India decided to destroy the stretch of land and allow waterway passage.

Sethusamudram Project plans for three fishery harbours and one shipping harbour. Rameshwaram will become one of the largest harbours in India at the end of this project.
The strategic advantages to India derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships). The project is expected to provide a boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu. The project will be of particular significance to Tuticorin harbour, which has the potential to transform itself into a nodal port. The State Government has announced its proposal to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and Kanyakumari.

If the project benefits India then I am sure, even Lord Rama won't mind the project. But will our political class show the same kind of single mnded devotion when it comes to removing a Non-Hindu place of worship for development? Why do they then cry hoarse over the 'alleged communalism' as they did in case of Baroda dargah removal incidents.

The issue here is not 'if religious structures should be removed for better of the people' coz the answer is a resounding yes. But the point is 'why can't we treat all religious symbols and sturctures equally and remove them for development irrespective of which religion they belong to?' And to those who think and say that Rama Sethu is a piece of mythological fantasy without a proof, I would say that the same holds true for the beliefs of other religions too as there is hardly to no proof.

Dynastic Politics

The dynasty is at work again. Rahul Gandhi badly needs a tutor in history and diplomacy if not anything else. He seems to not know about scores of Indian freedom fighters who fought for Indian Independence nor does he know about the scores of Indian soldiers who dies in 1971 war. But then princes rarely are taught the right history coz for them sun shines out of the crack of their and their ancestors asses.

Seeing the amount of mileage media is giving the Gandhis makes one wonder if Congress if going to sweep the UP polls. Never ever seen 4th ranked 'also rans' being given such media space. It's like Zimbabwe getting more coverage during the World Cup than Australia or South Africa. Just because of the last name (which too is a borrowed one) 'Gandhi'?

If being son or daughter of a national leader enough of qualification to lead the nation, then Late Harilal Gandhi (son of Mahatma Gandhi) won't have died in abject poverty in some red light area of Mumbai. It's high time the media stops repaying the Gandhi family for their 'kind acts' and 'briberies' of the past and treat te Gandhis as just another set of blood sucking politicians.

Ya Rabba

Just love this song from Salaam E Ishq. Thought it was one of the best lyrics in last few years.

Pyaar Hai Ya Saja,
Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila
Is Pyaar Mein Hon Kaise Kaise Imntihaan
Ye Pyaar Likhe Kaisi Kaisi Dastaan
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Kaisa Hai Safar Wafa Ki Manjil Ka
Na Hai Koi Hal Dilon Ki Mushkil Ka
Dhadkan Dhadkan Bikhri Ranjishein
Saansein Saansein Tooti Bandishein
Kahi To Har Lamha Honton Pe Fariyaad Hai
Kisi Ki Duniya Chaahat Mein Barbaad Hai
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar

Koi Na Sune Sisakati Aanhon Ko
Koi Na Dhare Tadapati Baahon Ko
Aadhi Aadhi Puri Khwaishein
Tooti Footi Sab Farmaaishein
Kahin Shak Hain Kahin Nafrat Ki Deewaar Hai
Kahin Jeet Mein Bhi Shamil Palpal Haar Hain
Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho Ya Rabba De De Koi Jaan Bhi Agar
Dilbar Pe Ho Na, Dilbar Pe Ho Na Koi Asar
Ho O O Pyaar Hai Ya Saja, Aai Mere Dil Bata
Tootata Kyon Nahi Dard Ka Silsila

Ho O O O Ho O O O
Na Poocho Dard Bandon Se
Hansi Kaisi Khushi Kaisi
Musibat Sar Pe Rehati Hain
Kabhi Kaisi Kabhi Kaisi
Ho O O O… Rabba, Rabba Ho O O HoRabba Ho O O, Ho O Ho Rabba

Misplaced patriotism?

The country reacts when Shilpa Shetty is allegedly 'abused racially'. It is deemed a national insult when our cricketers are called something not so nice. There are protests when some of our leaders are called names.

But no protests when farmers commit suicide. Hardly a murmur outside Nithari. And we are patriotic.... hahahahahahaha, my neighbour's balls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lagey Raho India Lagey Raho.........

Quotes revisited

I came, I saw and I conquered
I saw, she conquered and I came

Give me blood and I will give you freedom
Give me blood and I will give you 3 glucose biscuits

What Bengal thinks today, India think tomorrow
What Bengal debated and vetoed today was what India thought yesterday

To be or not to be
To bat or not to bat

Love thy neighbours
Love thy neighbours but dont leave your pants behind

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
For every action, there is more than equal criticism

Where there is smoke, there has to be fire
Where there is smoke, there has to be an auto or a cab

The Chappells Speak

I don't understand why such hue and cry over what the Chappells have spoken? Are our cricketers some holy cow that they can do no wrong? This is my take on what both the Chappells have spoken.

Greg - Yes, I do agree that he has failed as a coach and there can be no excuses about that but why is the entire country up in arms when he says that the deniors in the team are to be blamed? Is it that Indians don't indulge in team politics or is it that we are so blinded by our paper tiger heroes that we feel they are a bundle of virtues and no vices. Why is it not possible that Ganguly would have indulged in groupism and waywardness to score a point over Dravid and to have one more shot at captaincy? Why is it hard to believe that Sehwag out of his insecurity would have really played a traunt with the younger players? Same thing with other players. Do we expect our cricketers to be super human and not have common vices like greed, envy, insecurity? Or is it easier to attack Greg just because he is not an Indian?

When we take potshots at Greg, we forget that he possibly knows more about cricket than most of our heroes (except maybe Sachin and Kumble).. Don't forget that he was as astutue cricket mind and a great batsman considered at par with Gavaskar and Richards in the 70s and 80s. Do we all forget how it was Greg who helped Ganguly out of a wretched period in 2003 with tips on batting and how to face Aussies in Aussieland. And when that helped, we thought Greg was a reasonable man with his love for cricket at the right place. Now he is a devil... Interesting, isn't it?

Ian - So finally someone had the guts to say the obvious and that is - Sachin is visibly tired and needs to reduce the pressure of expectations. He seems to be playing neither for the country nor for himself (maybe for the moolahs and the ad men). And Ian said the obvious. Is Sachin the first person, Ian has been honest and blunt with? No.. Bradman, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor to name a few have been at receiving end of his blunt speech.

But we take it as a national insult and question Ian's assessment and understanding of cricket. Hahahahahaha.... Time to grow up and smell the coffee. Our heroes are human beings too and like all human beings, they will fail sometime and they too will fade away. High time, we accept that Sachin needs to really start planning his post-retirement plans. And high time, he works on it before even his ardent fans start hating him.

Playing BCCI head honcho

Though I don't yet have a protruding belly like Pawar and nor do I have had Guthka in my life and neither can I be as corrupt as the BCCI honchos, I was wondering what would I have done if I was a BCCI honcho after the WC debacle.

No overnight miracles - First things first, nothing can be changed dramatically overnight as to start with, we are not a sports nation at all. We don't ahve a sports culture. Rarely do parents encourage their kids to be sportsperson. I faced the same when I was 12. I wanted to follow cricket professionally but I was told that I had to be a nice boy, study and go abroad. So, till the time our culture does not change, we will rarely be consistent champions in any sport.

Coach - They say that the coach needs to be changed. I would agree. Not because I feel Chappell has done any wrong but just because that he now can never work in peace in India with media and public unfairly baying for his blood. So, for his better, he has to go. The question comes, who replaces him. I feel the best person to replace him would be Robin Singh. He has played international cricket till recent past and he showed a cool, intelligent cricketing mind whenever he was in the middle. Yes, he might have problem dealing with prima donnas who started playing international cricket much before Robin but then, the prima donnas need to come back to earth after this debacle. Robin can be a very good mentor for the youngsters and a good fielding coach is what India badly needs which he doubles up as.

Captain - There is no need to change the captain until and unless captaincy starts taking a toll on his batting. India needs Dravid as a batsman more. The reason I feel no new captain is that we don't have 1 single young player who has a secure permanent side in the team. Sehwag, Yuvraj etc are themselves on wrong footing right now as far as their own performances are concerned.

Youngsters - Steve Waugh was given number of chances before he became a true world beater during 1987 WC. Same thing with Andrew Flintoff. Remember how Marvan Attapattu started? A long series of blobs and low scores. So, why should India not invest more in Raina, Utthapa, Pathan, Piyush Chawla? It's time, they are given a long run without seniors breathing over their neck. Sachin and Ganguly should retire from one day cricket as they are surely not playing the next World Cup.

Prima Donnas - We need a plain talkers like Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar to break the egos of some of our 'stars' like Sehwag, Yuvi, Dhoni. They need to be brought down for their own good.

20-20 Cricket - The 20 20 cricket is here to stay and this will dictate the way 50 over game is played too. We need more participation in these games.

Pitches - This is a demand which is older than Harappa now. We need to have good, sporting wickets. Let the spectators be disappointed if they don't see 600 runs in a day but we need wickets were bowlers have an equal chance too.

Media - Ban media from stupid over-exposure. All the old cricketers who are flocking the television studios should be given alternative employment so that they don't bore us with their idiotic comments. Imagine Kirti Azad talking about discipline. My boy, if you knew what discipline was, you would have played a lot more for India. Or imagine Sanjay Manjrekar talking about quick running between the wickets. Last time I heard him say that, I fell off my chair laughing.

And for the fans, well just go and enjoy the World Cup. I loved watching Aussies bat last night. Hayden was great but I am impressed again with Clarke. Some real class this lad has.

Last few days in Bangalore

The Bangalore stint nears completion. Last few days before I head back to Mumbai. Friends have organised a send-off party over the weekend, Will be sad saying goodbye to Tarun, Eva, Sage, Rajat, Archana, Tasneem, Madhu, Lavanya, Valli and few others. But then life has to go on and I will be connected in more ways than one with these people.

Ring tones and more

Rahul Dravid - Yeh kya hua, kaise hua, kyun hua, kab hua...

Amitabh Bachchan - Mujhko dekhogey yahaan par, mujhko paogey wahaan par, paste se lekar rajmaaaaa tak.... mein hi mein huun, mein hi mein huun, doosra koi nahin

Manmohan Singh - Jo unko (10 Janpath) ho pasand wahi baat kahengey, woh din ko agar raat kahe, raat kahengey

Kalyan Singh - Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama... kahaan gaya dhoondho saajan, rasta meri kursi ka

George Bush - Ooooooooooo Osaama rey, war ka mausam aaya....

Left Front (for Cong) - I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand.....

Ads, quotes and the meanings

The Bachchan ad for UP which says UP mein dum hain, Jurm yahaan kum hain - does it mean
We are capable of more (Nitharis), this is just the tip of iceberg

Pepsi ad - Ho ha India, aaya Indiaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The tune played by the welcome band at the airport

Rahul Gandhi saying - Babri would not have been demolished if Gandhi family was at helm
We would have kept the controversy alive so we get the Muslims votes while BJP gets Hindu votes

Kalyan Singh saying Ram Mandir will be constructed at any cost
Raam karein aisa ho jaye, CM ki kursi mohe mil jayein, mein baithu, baaki bhaad mein jayein

Sharad Pawar saying we shall have 2 teams India Seniors and India Blues
India seniors will use red as colour and will be sponsored by Coke while Blues will be sponsored by Pepsi.

Sachin saying I want to play 2011 World Cup
Another 3 year brand contract is up for grabs

Celebrating the loss of Indian Cricket Team

Am I happy???????? or am I super happy??????

Well, this will be the best thing to happen to Indian Cricket. I pray for more crushing defeats in times to come. So, am I the traitor? Am I to be hanged for treachery??

To the jingoistic cricket fans for whom Indian cricket teams and 'stars' (hahahahaha... ) are more important that the game or anything else for that matter, I might sound like a mad-India hater. And it is this whole clan that I love to hate specially since the day when thse guys prayed and later celebrated Indian wins in 1999 World Cup when their prayers were needed somewhere else i.e. for the soldiers fighting the Kargil War. I started hating Indian love for circket from that day. And more these guys fell prey to crass commercialisation, more I started laughing at them.

Am I a cricket fan? Yes, a huge one at that. But the difference is my love is for the game of cricket and not blindly for Indian Cricket Team. I believe that the game is mroe beautiful and bigger than any teams and for that matter, one who wins or loses is the one who deserves it. So I will applaud whoever plays the better cricket. This will explain why I love the way Australians play cricket. Hard but fair.

Coming back to the loss. I loved the sight of people shedding their hair off. This madness suits them and they possibly don't deserve any better in life than by swayed by 'paper Gods'. Just a few good batting eprformances by the same starts and they will be the demi-gods again but for the interim period, the guys who shed their hair have to walk in tremendous heat with sun hitting their bald pates. Did I hear sadistic pleasures? Hehehe...

I just pray and hope for more defeats so that the mind numbing craze for Indian cricket team is reduced and then we can have fans who love the game irrespective of who wins and loses. Follow the game in a way that it does not sway your emotions to extremes. Why have people dying just for a game?

I am betting my money on Australia again to win the World Cup. Final should be Australia v/s WI or SL.

Sadistic pleasure??????

2 things in last couple of weeks have given me tremendous sadistic pleasure.

One is that the Left is now openly naked
The so-called upholders of social justice, the fighters for the poor, the torch bearers of fairness are now out in the open as what they always have been - blood sucking dictators.

Well, I am defintely in favour of the SEZs and when West Bengal govt decided to push for reforms, I was pleasantly surprised. But what transpired later at Nandigram is for everyone to see. The so-called rightist and capitalist govts in other parts of the country have shown much more mature and humane approach to getting the land for SEZs while the Left has used power and terror to get it. The whole episode exposes the dirty stinking real sides of the Left and boy, am I not happy at the discomfort of the Left Front and also of their puppets in different NGOs who seem to have lost the art of protesting, shouting, PILing and using media. The silence of the so-caleld Social Activists and the hypocrisy of the Left Front hopefully will tell India the truth about these publicity hounds who have been hurdles in Indian development for a long long time.

A plea to cricket fans - ENUF IS ENUF

Many would be surprised seeing this kind of post from me, considering the fact I have actively played and followed the game since my childhood. Have had opportunities and pleasure to share drinks with many of the old time cricketers including from 83 WC Team.

But offlate, cricket is pissing me off specially if India is playing. And this has nothing to do with the way team plays but it has to do with the way Indians or shall I say people from Indian sub-continent follow the game. Come on, don't colour this game dirty with your jingoism. Not necessary that the team wins everytime. I hate it when people say they are cricket fans and abuse when their team loses. Well, then you are not a cricket fan, you are just a fan of your own team and possibly you know jackshit about this game.

Now that the extreme pressure and stress has taken one life and that of the great thinker Bob Woolmer, can all so called 'cricket fans' (your father in laws balls) just stop making this game dirty by their mindless jingoism.

Why are Leftists rarely right?

Scene 1 - Workers protesting against the management of the company they working for. Some elements get violent and management has to call cops who resort to lathicharge. This results in some injury. The leftists create a ruckus as if this was the most oppresive thing that happened this side of Suez in last few decades.

Scene 2 - Farmers protesting land acquistion. Police fires at protesting mobs and couple of them die. The ruling Left Govt does not even bat an eyelid.

What is it about Leftists that they are so shamelessly hypocritical? What is it about them that they might look or sound the most compassionate groups while the fact could be they would more oppresive in their regimes. Remember Stalin, Castro...? Is there someway or someone who can call these idiots bluff?

Why I crave for Mumbai

People ask me why I love Mumbai so much while I am in Bangalore and I am always at pains explaining them why Mumbai is pecial. That's maybe coz they don't see Mumbai the way I do. To explain what's different, I have only one thing in mind and that is last weekend, when I went to Mumbai, immediately after airport, the cab stopped at a signal and people were running ro cross the road before the vehicles start again. And the sight of people running or walking briskly was so common. This is what I love about Mumbai. Be you rich or poor, be you blue collared or white collared, you have to run. There is no inertia. There is no stopping.

For me, that symbolises life coz life too never stops and same way Mumbai too never stops

'His'story

Was checking some websites to look at the places I am planning to visit in April. Came across a place in Garhwal in Uttaranchal where Duryodhana (a villian as per Hindu Mythology) is worshipped. Now that would surprise a lot of people because as per history Duryodhana is to be hated not loved.

So, the crazy mind started trekking on different tangents. What he really a villian or was he shown as villian only because he lost the battle against his cousins? Similarily in recent history, would we have been taught different things about Hitler had he won the war? Is history nothing but a 'winner's account'?

What a Holi!!!!!

Friends made my 1st and last holi in Bangalore a memorable one!! I have thank all of them for making it such a riot. Natural colour made up of turmeric and gram flour. Then alcohol and thandi (traditional holi drink) flowed as adventure lovers tried the 'bhaang'. Music, dance, laughter, endless discussions (the classic one was about cutlet and omlette) and some high voltage philosophical gibberish.

It was indeed a trip as I was smashed and stoned the next morning.

Wail n Tie day?

Just wondering if 14th Feb is Valentine's day or is it a Wail N Tie day?

If you thought that was a pathetic joke, humour me by asking me out and if you thought that was brilliant, then ask me out anyways for a good time

So here it is:

What I think of Valentines Day
hearts and roses and kisses galore....
what the heck is all that junk for
people get mushy and start acting weird
Its definitely the most annoying day of the year
this day needs to be over with the end is near
before I shove a dozen roses up cupid's rear
I'll spend the day so drunk I can't speak
and wear all black for the rest of the week
guys and gals act all sweet but soon it will fade
for all they are doing is trying to get laid
the arrow cupid shot at me must not have hit
because I think love is a bunch of shit
so theres my story.....what can say
love bites.....Screw VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Couchsurfing and it's impact on me

It would be a complete disappointment if I don't write about 1 project which has impacted me a lot in growing as a human being. It is Couchsurfing - www.couchsurfing.com.

What is it?
Well, if I put it simply, the world offlate has shrunk in geographical distances but the mental and emotional distances are far greater than they ever were. Couchsurfing is one attempt to reduce these distances and make the world a small global village. It's for people who love to travel, exchange cultures, meet people and genuinely respect and embrace other ideas. It's not just a free accomodation site for people to offer and request accomodation while they are travelling. It is neither a site to find easy dates and quick lays. It's about us and the way we want to shape up our palce in the world.

How has it impacted me?
I joined CS nearly 2 yrs ago when I was still in Mumbai. I could not host anyone as I lived in a small house with my family but I did meet people who were visiting. My first experiences were just about okay though I did meet these 2 wonderful travellers, one from Finland and another from Italy. The experience started getting better when I moved to Bangalore and I had a huge house and spare rooms. This is when I started hosting people. And then I got addicted to it. I have hosted many travellers so far and I can safely say that most of them today are close friends. Similarly I met CSers when I was in Indonesia and I am in constant interaction with them. Infact in Bangalore, I generally hang around, party, watch movies, dine with the group of CSers who are drawn from different parts of the world and it is wonderful as we all have our stories, cultures and ideas to share.

This whole experience has helped me understand myself better as a person and also understand my own culture much better than I could have otherwise understood. I got newer insights in the way this world functions. Inspite of my travels, I possibly was just a frog in a well but Couchsurfing told me there is more to the world than what I thought. Apart from the absolute joy of learning new things, it also impacted me personally when I realised that slowly my CSer friends have become my strongest support systems.

I thank Casey and all others who have started this wonderful project for it and I am determined to be an integral part of it and give something back to it whichever way I can.

Here I begin......

I don't know what adjectives can people use for me but the one adjective I use for myself is - Virtually Lazy. After months of ignoring my friends' desires to see me write on the blogs, I finally start writing.

Any inspirations for me to write? Yes to a large extent. Seeing the blog written by a friend made me kick my butt for being a lazy asshole and here I am rambling on. Now that you are here, you certainly are doomed to reading my rantings.

Life right now is a roller-coster. I am experiencing different emotions with every passing moment. Be it in my personal life or professional life. The amount of emotional changes I am going thru' can possibly outdo the climate changes London witnesses.Do I regret it? No, I don't because all the emotions are so raw that they helping me connect to myself much better than earlier.