Sachiiiiin, Sachiiiin!!

As we move from the era of Lara, Ponting, Dravid, and Sachin to Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli, one thing has still not gone out of fashion: the cries of Sachiiiin, Sachiiiin!!!

Fans resonate with that chant all across the world even today, invoking his name even when everyone knows he isn't on the field anymore.
Such is the legend of the man they call God.

While I am loathe to equate Sachin to Godly status, I do consider him a role model (on the cricket field) and a huge influence on how to maintain one's equanimity amidst all the temptations and adulations in the world, day in, day out.

To add a fun twist to the nostalgia, here's a humorous take on Sachin and his impact, courtesy TVF!

Dear Sachin,
We shall continue to get heroes galore.
A Kohli within, someone else ashore.

But what will never happen with anyone else except you..
Is for someone to now not know, when successful too early, who to look upto

For you are a lesson for all of us mortals-lesser
On how to remain grounded in compliments and pressure.

This is for you, Sachin - from one among millions of your fans!!

Rest In Peace...

As Indians, we have heard a lot about demonetisation, its effects/affects (as per your political leaning).

However, for me, November marks the anniversary of 26/11, more than any other world event.

The Mumbai attacks of 26/11 are well-documented, and we still await justice being done, the perpetrators being brought to book.
This, when the world has seen the rise of similar attacks in France, Brussels, along with the rise of the ISIS.
Despite all the cacophony, the international consensus has been more about being mute spectators and about doing nothing more than making perfunctory noises and condemnations, time and time again.

Yes, we have done better than before, in retaliating towards Pakistani strikes.
Yes, we have been more firm, but we still need to do a lot more.

Let us keep ensuring that we isolate Pakistan completely - both strategically, diplomatically as well as militarily with enough quid pro quo.

My thoughts go out again, to all those who lost their lives or loved ones, to the cowardly and dastardly act of terrorists.
Rest In Peace to them.

To all of us here - let us not rest in peace - till we get the culprits and make sure justice prevails.
Jai Hind!

Dear Hanu

Pyaare Hanu,

Aap jahan bhi ho, jahan bhi raho, hamesha khush rehna.

May your soul find peace, happiness, blessings, and contentedness, Hanu.

We love you Hanu.
We all do.
Always did, always will.

We are fine Hanu, just don't worry.
We don't want you to feel stuck due to us.
Yes, your void and absence will always hurt.
Yes, we will miss you all the time.

But do know Hanu, that it does not mean we want you to stay stuck with our pain.
So we are fine Hanu, and we will always remember you with joy and love only.

We will be happy in wishing and praying that you get mukti, happiness, and peace.
Just want you to know our love for you, our missing you, is not our weakness or your handicap.
It is our joy. Always was and always will be just that.
With lots and lots of love, love, and only love from all of us: Bless you, forever! :)

May you always stay protected, pampered, blessed, and loved by God and all the angels up above.
Stay in peace, stay blessed, stay happy, always!!!

So glad!!

Many (mere) condemnations ago, I had written about the predictable futility of just empty displays of restraint.

September 29, 2016 ushered in a paradigm shift from that hackneyed and impotent approach.

So glad to finally see that we have an administration that believes in making the enemy pay for his misadventures and transgressions.

So glad to finally witness a day when our armed forces were NOT on their (by-default) perpetual defensive state.
For a welcome change, they not only attacked, but did so by going for their kill, even into PoK.

So glad to finally see that when a rogue state broke the threshold of our patience, it was not followed by mere rhetoric but actions too.

So glad to see an unequivocal message from this action: you go after us, our army, and our people...we will not sit back, we will hit back.
 
To all the terrorists and their Aakaa's: You have nowhere to hide, and you know that now.


Kudos to our army, our government.
For displaying that statements work, but work when it is seen as not without muscle.

They are not meant to be dished out as platitudes or ceremonial condemnations.

So glad to see a statement from the other side, for a change!
So glad to see rogues being paid back in the same coin, in the language that they understand best.

Jai Hind, Jai Jawaan!!!