Often, when I begin to write, I look at the things I can talk about.
The newsmakers, the trending topics, the talk of the town - it is cricket or political affairs that occupy center stage for me most of the time.
However, this time is a bit different.
Of course, there are a host of things going on in cricket and politics.
Yes, India has been doing well at the T20 World Cup.
Yes, the Supreme Court has rightly shown N Srinivasan the door and attempted a fresh, credible and clean start towards reviving the cricket fan's faith in the game and in its administration.
Yes, it's also easy to talk about the choices an Indian voter is facing in probably the most bitterly contested elections. It is worth writing about the pros and cons of each major party.
The new nadir in electoral vocabulary, the punch followed by counter punch among candidates and spokespersons from different parties - all these ingredients are good enough to create a melting pot of all the wrongs we are facing in today's times.
However, being an eternal optimist, I am in no mood to talk about such negative stuff. Not now for sure, when we do have a positive news with us.
A news that could be easily forgotten or undermined in the midst of all these other heavyweight news items.
It's the news of a lone ranger who keeps going about his job quietly and keeps churning out world-class (nah, make that world-beating) performances day after day. Year after year.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about the one and only chess prodigy from India Vishwanathan Anand.
It was only in November last year that he lost the world title to another genius called Magnus Carlsen.
While it might not seem unique to have been able to win a tournament, what makes Anand special is how he picked himself up from the disappointment of having lost comprehensively to Carlsen just a few months earlier and then come into a new tournament and fight his way back into winning it and ensuring a rematch with Carlsen for the World Champion crown for this year.
It is easy to lose this news to other eye-catching stories but make no mistake, this is a true account of how a fighter and a hero should conduct himself even when faced with not the best of times. To win the Candidates tournament and two be able to do so at his age, and so close on the heels of his loss to Carlsen (which must have sapped him of so much energy), and script an unprecedented turnaround, is truly heroic and commendable.
Vishy might still lose against Carlsen again but that is not of utmost importance.
To just be there and make such a stupendous comeback so quickly at his age requires not only talent but also great will, tenacity and unflinching self-belief.
Mind you, the Candidates tournament was also against the top players in the world, not against any rum-of-the-mill players.
Truly heroic.
Well done Vishy and more power to you for the final encounter later this year!!
For one more time, ye dil maangey (wishes...Vishy) more!! :)
