...the Indian cricket fan! For being irrationally, unflinchingly brave and hopeful in loving his team and his cricketers, despite being beaten black and blue!
Yes, while the Red & White Bravery Awards are meant for displaying mental, social and physical fortitude and valor in life, I have coined a new set of Awards - the Black and Blue Awards!
Generally, one thinks of a reason/occasion to institute an award, does so, and then selects and awards the deserving. However, in the case of the Black & Blue, it's precisely the other way round. I have got the idea of the award only after having seen, witnessed and felt the plight of the awardee and then thought/conceptualised this award with the intent of recognising the awardee - the Indian Cricket Fan.
Yes, the Indian Cricket fan, who hopes for everything nice for Indian cricket (both inside and outside the field), yet gets beaten - black and blue (hence the name for the awards) - both inside and outside the field. Despite all that, time and time again, sticks his neck (and tongue and each lung) out to root for Indian cricket.
To an always practical, heartless mind, such behavior and irrational fixation might seem twice as foolish as it is brave, but make no mistake - it is brave nevertheless!
As if crashing out of an ICC event for the umpteenth time was not bad enough, the Indian cricket fan now has to also contend with speculative journalism - only causes needless anxiety. It's the last thing you want to experience after witnessing a string of disappointing losses.
And can someone explain to me who, in the holy name of Mpumelelo Mbangwa, gets and/or quotes these "sources". Yup, the same "sources" and "insiders", who provide easy fodder to speculative, trashy journalism even by the better-known publications in business.
Only to issue a self-correction and clarification from the horse's mouth this time, about the planted story a day or two later, except the small fact that in the meantime, speculation's gained ground among all quarters quicker than a Shaun Tait delivery.
The sad part is that this is not a one-off. We have often seen such baseless stories being planted, only to then be denied later.
Yes, I have no hesitation in calling such stories entirely planted - doesn't an editor of the nation's biggest publication owe it to his readers that they get informed, responsible news instead of being the unwilling audience for speculative, irresponsible journalism. (Though I agree, there are quite a few in our midst who would not be so unwilling to lap up rumours and fuel a fire that would never have been ignited in the first place).
Hasn't our journalism also fallen prey to the tabloid cult of sensation-selling (you can sell only when you have one and if you can't have one, create one) culture?
Now, who exactly are these sources and insiders in the first place? Even if one assumes they exist and did actually say anything to that effect, isn't it the responsbility of the publication to ensure that before making it a news item, the official version is taken into account from the actual decision-makers and the power-that-be?
Yes it is done - the official spokespersons do get to air their views - only, it is a couple of days later, in reaction to the 'insider' story.
When the same thing is done two days later after putting out the story, why can't we check first up before publishing any such stuff?
If this does not smack of planted stuff, I don't know what else does for you, or ever will.
Yes, a publication ain't a charity, it is a business, it has its readerships to cater to and increase, but at this cost? At any cost?
Amidst all this, the poor Indian cricket fan is subjected to additional, needless turmoil and anxiety. It is anyway difficult hoping against still lesser hope after watching one insipid display after another.
Nevertheless, the Indian cricket fan toils on, braves on, with the wish to see Indian cricket doing well, not only in its performance, but also in its conduct and administration.
As a related note though, I don't think we should get too knee-jerk in our reactions - MSD is still the best man for the job - a couple of tactical errors can be corrected, such as choice of playing eleven (even the squad at times - Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the likes of Irfan Pathan, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha - baffling!). Besides, what irks me is his propensity to bat at 3 or higher up the order (only) when the going's good.
All such disappointments surely call for a closed-door one-on-one chat and analysis, but it surely does not deem an axe, especially when he hasn't done much else wrong.
No, an Axe-effect ain't pleasant always.
What does need an axe is the useless, rumour-mongering and groupism/lobbying that speculative stories generate. Pronto.
And hope the Indian cricket fan, doesn't need to be a brave man to love and follow Indian cricket.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
IPL: Sabse Bada Racket: Aapne kuch khareeda kya?
No? Too bad, so you are also among the losers who don't get to enjoy a slice of the pie!
It's a racket bigger than the proverbial IPL ticket...it's a murky world behind the stadium's happenings (and who knows, perhaps also influencing the stadium's happenings).
We have only just uncovered the topmost layer of the beneficiaries and the skeletons have come tumbling out. The big news, though, is still not about who has been named, but who all are yet to be named. Indeed, there are far too many vested interests on play. And as is often the case, the robbers are themselves the judges who are empowered to pronounce the verdict on their case.
From the head-honcho of the BCCI to a high-profile cabinet minister to the commissioner of the IPL itself - we've only just got started.
Highly recommend reading this wonderful, insightful article by Prem on his blog, reflecting on the under-currents running below the stream of controversies and suspicions.
As you'd realise, this is only the beginning. We're just getting started and at the time of writing, speculation is rife with the possibility of Lalit Modi being asked to quit.
I, for one, would like to know how we, as a public, react.
Do we stay immune to this and let it pass, since the culture of corruption and scandals is not second nature to us?
Or, should we ensure that as a cricketing public, we get to the bottom of things and ensure that all those who sully the good name of cricket for their vested interests are brought to book?
Shouldn't we ensure that those who are only interested in running this great game like a business and churning money for themselves are reined in?
Eventually, who knows, they might still get away. Far too many important people are involved and in power to endanger themselves, holy name of cricket and poor ol' justice be damned.
Pessimistic outlook yes, but unfortunately, I won't be surprised if nothing substantial comes out and the big fish again happen to go scot-free.
Sau mein se ninyaanve beimaan..par bus yun hi kehte rehte hain mera Bharat Mahaan...Mera Bharat Mahaan hai, aur rahega...but we must ensure that the guilty are brought to book, whoever they may be, soon....the pessimism creeps in because I can only hope for this...don't know whether/how it will actually happen...really hope for Satyamev Jayate!
It's a racket bigger than the proverbial IPL ticket...it's a murky world behind the stadium's happenings (and who knows, perhaps also influencing the stadium's happenings).
We have only just uncovered the topmost layer of the beneficiaries and the skeletons have come tumbling out. The big news, though, is still not about who has been named, but who all are yet to be named. Indeed, there are far too many vested interests on play. And as is often the case, the robbers are themselves the judges who are empowered to pronounce the verdict on their case.
From the head-honcho of the BCCI to a high-profile cabinet minister to the commissioner of the IPL itself - we've only just got started.
Highly recommend reading this wonderful, insightful article by Prem on his blog, reflecting on the under-currents running below the stream of controversies and suspicions.
As you'd realise, this is only the beginning. We're just getting started and at the time of writing, speculation is rife with the possibility of Lalit Modi being asked to quit.
I, for one, would like to know how we, as a public, react.
Do we stay immune to this and let it pass, since the culture of corruption and scandals is not second nature to us?
Or, should we ensure that as a cricketing public, we get to the bottom of things and ensure that all those who sully the good name of cricket for their vested interests are brought to book?
Shouldn't we ensure that those who are only interested in running this great game like a business and churning money for themselves are reined in?
Eventually, who knows, they might still get away. Far too many important people are involved and in power to endanger themselves, holy name of cricket and poor ol' justice be damned.
Pessimistic outlook yes, but unfortunately, I won't be surprised if nothing substantial comes out and the big fish again happen to go scot-free.
Sau mein se ninyaanve beimaan..par bus yun hi kehte rehte hain mera Bharat Mahaan...Mera Bharat Mahaan hai, aur rahega...but we must ensure that the guilty are brought to book, whoever they may be, soon....the pessimism creeps in because I can only hope for this...don't know whether/how it will actually happen...really hope for Satyamev Jayate!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
WeMen's Bill
As if we were short of enough reasons on why we desperately need honest, credible and 'good' people entering politics, March 8th, 2010 provided yet another exhibit to only make the case stronger.
Having said so, I must confess first-up that despite whatever reasons/majbooris from my side (naming which is as unimportant as it is irrelevant and still not justifiable), I have myself not yet entered politics and do not look likely to, atleast in the near future. So although I will be doing something to walk my talk in future, I have not done anything just yet except airing and sharing my ideas/concerns with friends and netizens in discussions and platforms such as blogs - so as I talk and share my ideas, concerns and thoughts, I'll actually be happy and satisfied only after I would be able to someday really walk my talk.
It's simple - if we are genuinely concerned about cleaning the mess, we have to get into the thick of things and not just talk about the consequences of the mess which are only too apparent to one and all. The point is, exactly what are we doing to solve the problem, instead of just lamenting and cursing?
So before I talk about the state-of-affairs in our country, I would like to state that I myself wish to, and will work actively towards actually doing something and not just writing/bemoaning about arey-ye-bekaar hai, wo bekaar hai. So I do plan to DO something like getting into the rot atleast sometime, some way, to clean it but surely, writing about my thoughts and sharing them as of now isn't a bad idea either.
I guess writing helps me vent my anger/frustration of the moment in a channelised way, and as I write, it also makes me more clear, objective, dispassionate and more organized about exactly how and where things stand, how strong my conviction is, and how I can plan and see any solutions ahead.
Ok, coming back to the reason for this post...the Women's Bill:
The 8th day of March every year is celebrated as International Women's Day.
The Congress - the dominant party in the government of the day, chose to mark this day as the day when it would make the women of the country empowered with 33% reservation in the country's legislatures. Why it chose to wait till only the Women's Day for the tokenism, when it could have also been done much earlier is confounding, but as they say, better late than never. Also, to give credit where it's due - atleast they did, unlike every other government of the past.
And in a rare show of solidarity, the BJP and the Left also stood on the same side of the argument, as that of the Congress. In most cases, such unanimity among these 3 main parties should be enough to quell any opposition to any legislation. However, the petty interests of our regional parties put paid to any plans of a swift acceptance for the Women's Bill.
Yes, the government could still wriggle its way out in this episode and somehow generate consensus - either coercively by stonewalling any voices of dissent or persuasively through behind-the-door discussions with those who are opposing for their own ulterior motives.
So even if we might finally get to see the bill being passed somehow sometime, the moot question is why should it come to such a state at all, in the first place?
Why should we have to endure sorry sights of MPs behaving like goons?
Why should it seem as if expecting to watch the nation's Parliament functioning professionally, gracefully and debating rationally is as easy and as likely as teaching goons to sing soulfully, melodiously and in chorus in a choir?
WHY?
The way the MPs conducted themselves has brought about another round of humiliation, shame and despondency for our democracy as it should also be, for the electorate who vote them in - though I wonder if we have any better alternatives available to choose from in the first place - which again brings us to the point that the only solution is to have good, honest, credible people taking up politics.
Politics in itself has become a synonym for everything bad, corrupt, sinister and apathetic towards the nation. Actually, it is because of the leaders we have had, the leaders we have chosen and made for ourselves and our nation. Politics is bad if we see it as a verb, and not a noun!
It is perhaps this quagmire of politics (v.) behind people, parties, and various policy decisions/indecisions that puts off most good people from entering mainstream politics.
After all, if we look at it, politics (n.) is the only way and means of how one can actively debate, influence and take decisions for the country - by being part of the legislature.
I personally think we should spell the Women's Bill the way it is called - We-Men's Bill. Because this is exactly how we, the men, have treated our women and this bill too. Seriously, this bill is so like our women - never been allowed to flower, blossom, treated as only a subject, opportunity, as only a behind-the-scenes supporting cast but not and never the protagonist, the leader, the torchbearer - and this is why and where the 'good' people need to come into politics.
For, it is atleast they, who should be able to see the reason and the merit in issues like these, whilst putting aside their egos, petty politicking, personal/party/constituency-wise interests - in that order. Yes, we can debate in the House but debate sensibly and rationally.
Debate on something like the fact that instead of blindly earmarking/reserving a fixed quota of legislative seats for women, whether we'd better off ensuring that all parties are directed to allocate atleast a certain number of election tickets for women to contest, whereby the seats would be filled through people who come by virtue of being elected through competition and merit instead of just the plain, 'reserved' category reps.
But we do not debate on such lines. Infact, we do not debate at all. And as far as lines are concerned, the lines and words that some of our esteemed MPs use, is the reason why we have a word such as 'unparliamentary language' in our lexicon.
We just know how to snatch papers, abuse each other, storm the well of the house, make the people of the country see their taxed money (most of which is used in activities such as running the Parliament) go waste, as session after session gets adjourned due to unruly behavior. All this for what fault of the common man? Is this why we pay our taxes? Is this what we deserve for being the world's largest democracy? Largest democracy shouldn't mean loudest noise and chaos.
All this drama, gross indiscipline, intolerance, and facade, just because of the insecurities and the selfish aims of a few parties and individuals who undo all the hard work, tenacity and efforts of a few good men. And yes, the good men are truly, very few - as said, that's why we need lots more good men to be around, to see India do better, in every walk of life - economically, politically, and socially.
Having said so, I must confess first-up that despite whatever reasons/majbooris from my side (naming which is as unimportant as it is irrelevant and still not justifiable), I have myself not yet entered politics and do not look likely to, atleast in the near future. So although I will be doing something to walk my talk in future, I have not done anything just yet except airing and sharing my ideas/concerns with friends and netizens in discussions and platforms such as blogs - so as I talk and share my ideas, concerns and thoughts, I'll actually be happy and satisfied only after I would be able to someday really walk my talk.
It's simple - if we are genuinely concerned about cleaning the mess, we have to get into the thick of things and not just talk about the consequences of the mess which are only too apparent to one and all. The point is, exactly what are we doing to solve the problem, instead of just lamenting and cursing?
So before I talk about the state-of-affairs in our country, I would like to state that I myself wish to, and will work actively towards actually doing something and not just writing/bemoaning about arey-ye-bekaar hai, wo bekaar hai. So I do plan to DO something like getting into the rot atleast sometime, some way, to clean it but surely, writing about my thoughts and sharing them as of now isn't a bad idea either.
I guess writing helps me vent my anger/frustration of the moment in a channelised way, and as I write, it also makes me more clear, objective, dispassionate and more organized about exactly how and where things stand, how strong my conviction is, and how I can plan and see any solutions ahead.
Ok, coming back to the reason for this post...the Women's Bill:
The 8th day of March every year is celebrated as International Women's Day.
The Congress - the dominant party in the government of the day, chose to mark this day as the day when it would make the women of the country empowered with 33% reservation in the country's legislatures. Why it chose to wait till only the Women's Day for the tokenism, when it could have also been done much earlier is confounding, but as they say, better late than never. Also, to give credit where it's due - atleast they did, unlike every other government of the past.
And in a rare show of solidarity, the BJP and the Left also stood on the same side of the argument, as that of the Congress. In most cases, such unanimity among these 3 main parties should be enough to quell any opposition to any legislation. However, the petty interests of our regional parties put paid to any plans of a swift acceptance for the Women's Bill.
Yes, the government could still wriggle its way out in this episode and somehow generate consensus - either coercively by stonewalling any voices of dissent or persuasively through behind-the-door discussions with those who are opposing for their own ulterior motives.
So even if we might finally get to see the bill being passed somehow sometime, the moot question is why should it come to such a state at all, in the first place?
Why should we have to endure sorry sights of MPs behaving like goons?
Why should it seem as if expecting to watch the nation's Parliament functioning professionally, gracefully and debating rationally is as easy and as likely as teaching goons to sing soulfully, melodiously and in chorus in a choir?
WHY?
The way the MPs conducted themselves has brought about another round of humiliation, shame and despondency for our democracy as it should also be, for the electorate who vote them in - though I wonder if we have any better alternatives available to choose from in the first place - which again brings us to the point that the only solution is to have good, honest, credible people taking up politics.
Politics in itself has become a synonym for everything bad, corrupt, sinister and apathetic towards the nation. Actually, it is because of the leaders we have had, the leaders we have chosen and made for ourselves and our nation. Politics is bad if we see it as a verb, and not a noun!
It is perhaps this quagmire of politics (v.) behind people, parties, and various policy decisions/indecisions that puts off most good people from entering mainstream politics.
After all, if we look at it, politics (n.) is the only way and means of how one can actively debate, influence and take decisions for the country - by being part of the legislature.
I personally think we should spell the Women's Bill the way it is called - We-Men's Bill. Because this is exactly how we, the men, have treated our women and this bill too. Seriously, this bill is so like our women - never been allowed to flower, blossom, treated as only a subject, opportunity, as only a behind-the-scenes supporting cast but not and never the protagonist, the leader, the torchbearer - and this is why and where the 'good' people need to come into politics.
For, it is atleast they, who should be able to see the reason and the merit in issues like these, whilst putting aside their egos, petty politicking, personal/party/constituency-wise interests - in that order. Yes, we can debate in the House but debate sensibly and rationally.
Debate on something like the fact that instead of blindly earmarking/reserving a fixed quota of legislative seats for women, whether we'd better off ensuring that all parties are directed to allocate atleast a certain number of election tickets for women to contest, whereby the seats would be filled through people who come by virtue of being elected through competition and merit instead of just the plain, 'reserved' category reps.
But we do not debate on such lines. Infact, we do not debate at all. And as far as lines are concerned, the lines and words that some of our esteemed MPs use, is the reason why we have a word such as 'unparliamentary language' in our lexicon.
We just know how to snatch papers, abuse each other, storm the well of the house, make the people of the country see their taxed money (most of which is used in activities such as running the Parliament) go waste, as session after session gets adjourned due to unruly behavior. All this for what fault of the common man? Is this why we pay our taxes? Is this what we deserve for being the world's largest democracy? Largest democracy shouldn't mean loudest noise and chaos.
All this drama, gross indiscipline, intolerance, and facade, just because of the insecurities and the selfish aims of a few parties and individuals who undo all the hard work, tenacity and efforts of a few good men. And yes, the good men are truly, very few - as said, that's why we need lots more good men to be around, to see India do better, in every walk of life - economically, politically, and socially.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Bigger Buggers - We, The People
It's pretty sad, watching the news these days.
I am apalled at the regularity with which minister after minister, bureaucrat after bureaucrat, and panelist after panelist comes on news shows, and appeals for Mumbai to stay calm, for the Mumbaikars and the Marathi Maanoos to remain in harmony, and to not be taken in by the hate-agenda of the Shiv Sena.
Isn't it so sad and shameful that we have to be told to do so?
In the course of the hate speeches that the Shiv Sena has continuously been spewing, I was struck by a thought. I wonder who exactly is it that I should hate, detest, loathe more - the Thackerays..Bal, Uddhav and Raj, for trying to incite hatred?
Or, the mob, the herd, the complete nincompoops, the ones who do not seem to be equipped with even an iota of brain - the ones who get incited by the Thackerays and their ilk?
In another instance, the Andhra sports minister has called for an IPL boycott, in the name of intensifying the Telangana stir.
Yes, ofcourse the people who incite communal/regional/parochial passions are anyway condemnable and deserve to rot alive, but what is beyond comprehension is how we as a people fail, when it comes to applying common sense and not getting swayed at the slightest pretext.
The fact that the incitement shouldn't be tolerated or even brought up/started is ofcourse acknowledged. But the bigger issue is that we need to ruminate over why and how this incitement gains even a semblance of credence in anyone's mind.
If we ever stop believing/buying into the theories and hate-propaganda that such hate-mongers patronise, would any Thackeray have the temerity to spread such schmuck around? Even if they do, with no takers, wouldn't it die down on its own?
I have a problem when people need to be told to stay in their wits, to not believe the bullshit that is being dished out. Why? For who?
Who is the bigger sinner then?
It is we, the people, who give legitimacy to such a goonda and extra-constitutional authority as a Thackeray. Pray, tell me, what business does a senior politician have, to kowtow at Matoshree to guarantee security for IPL, when his colleague and the Home Minister of the country is the man incharge for this? If there's an issue to be addressed, Mr. Pawar should suggest/speak to Mr. Home Minister and none else. If the country's Cabinet minister is not sure of the nation's security without this extra-consitutional authority's blessings, what assurance does a common man have?
The politician is a rotten creature anyway. No better than the guy who takes a poor person's kidneys and sells them off to someone else without the poor fellow's knowledge/consent. They are too busy, happily eating, actually scavenging away, from the lives and even corpses of the janta through internal bickerings, issues out of non-entities and apathy towards actual national concerns.
The politician will create his agenda from anything, get publicity through anything - good or bad be damned. It is our responsibility to ensure that we, as responsible citizens do not fall prey to their designs and we should be ashamed that we need to be told to stay in our senses and not buy the hate-agenda.
Shame on us, because it's we who are the bigger buggers.
Unless we acknowledge our faults and reach a stage where we do not need a directive to remain sane, we shall continue to give more power to such venom-spewing, invective-ridden buggers.
Here's to retaining our sanity, sense and brotherhood so that we completely obliterate the utter crap that has been going on for far too long in our midst.
I am apalled at the regularity with which minister after minister, bureaucrat after bureaucrat, and panelist after panelist comes on news shows, and appeals for Mumbai to stay calm, for the Mumbaikars and the Marathi Maanoos to remain in harmony, and to not be taken in by the hate-agenda of the Shiv Sena.
Isn't it so sad and shameful that we have to be told to do so?
In the course of the hate speeches that the Shiv Sena has continuously been spewing, I was struck by a thought. I wonder who exactly is it that I should hate, detest, loathe more - the Thackerays..Bal, Uddhav and Raj, for trying to incite hatred?
Or, the mob, the herd, the complete nincompoops, the ones who do not seem to be equipped with even an iota of brain - the ones who get incited by the Thackerays and their ilk?
In another instance, the Andhra sports minister has called for an IPL boycott, in the name of intensifying the Telangana stir.
Yes, ofcourse the people who incite communal/regional/parochial passions are anyway condemnable and deserve to rot alive, but what is beyond comprehension is how we as a people fail, when it comes to applying common sense and not getting swayed at the slightest pretext.
The fact that the incitement shouldn't be tolerated or even brought up/started is ofcourse acknowledged. But the bigger issue is that we need to ruminate over why and how this incitement gains even a semblance of credence in anyone's mind.
If we ever stop believing/buying into the theories and hate-propaganda that such hate-mongers patronise, would any Thackeray have the temerity to spread such schmuck around? Even if they do, with no takers, wouldn't it die down on its own?
I have a problem when people need to be told to stay in their wits, to not believe the bullshit that is being dished out. Why? For who?
Who is the bigger sinner then?
It is we, the people, who give legitimacy to such a goonda and extra-constitutional authority as a Thackeray. Pray, tell me, what business does a senior politician have, to kowtow at Matoshree to guarantee security for IPL, when his colleague and the Home Minister of the country is the man incharge for this? If there's an issue to be addressed, Mr. Pawar should suggest/speak to Mr. Home Minister and none else. If the country's Cabinet minister is not sure of the nation's security without this extra-consitutional authority's blessings, what assurance does a common man have?
The politician is a rotten creature anyway. No better than the guy who takes a poor person's kidneys and sells them off to someone else without the poor fellow's knowledge/consent. They are too busy, happily eating, actually scavenging away, from the lives and even corpses of the janta through internal bickerings, issues out of non-entities and apathy towards actual national concerns.
The politician will create his agenda from anything, get publicity through anything - good or bad be damned. It is our responsibility to ensure that we, as responsible citizens do not fall prey to their designs and we should be ashamed that we need to be told to stay in our senses and not buy the hate-agenda.
Shame on us, because it's we who are the bigger buggers.
Unless we acknowledge our faults and reach a stage where we do not need a directive to remain sane, we shall continue to give more power to such venom-spewing, invective-ridden buggers.
Here's to retaining our sanity, sense and brotherhood so that we completely obliterate the utter crap that has been going on for far too long in our midst.
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