Nothing is sweet, without sugar

This might seem a delusional post but I am well and truly in my senses as I write this.
There are times when one does not like sugar, after reading or hearing about its possible disadvantages on one's health.

Yet, one cannot do without it.
There are times when we detest or avoid something just to satisfy and rationalize those thoughts in our mind.
Just to ensure that we are avoiding or sacrificing an idea, a choice, a liking - only to suit our needs.

Yes, there could be reasons to avoid sugar.
But if you truly love sugar, you would never be able to find a suitable replacement for it.
Heck, you would not want to even consider a replacement for it.

For all the talk about its disadvantages, one who loves sugar, will always love it, and will never find sweetness anywhere else, through anything else.

After all, this is what love is.
One can happily risk all its associated risks, challenges, possible side-effects, and can not avoid or resist it even after making all plans or efforts to stay away from sugar.
That's why it's love!! :)


No wonder, nothing can beat, having sugar.
No wonder, nothing is sweet, without sugar.

Hamara Neta Aisa Ho!!

A month earlier, I had posted about the qualities one wants to see in our leader - trying to figure out what all a leader should possess.

Finally, after the world's largest democratic exercise, we have a new government, and a new leader in place.
It's time to bid a 'quiet' (sic) goodbye to Dr. Manmohan Singh, and usher in the man of the moment: Narendra Damodardas Modi - India's 15th Prime Minister, and the one man who almost single-handedly spearheaded BJP to victory.

It is no mean feat that in this era of coalitions, a party has won absolute majority by itself, making its presence felt in virtually every nook and corner of the country.

Among the things that renowned British economist Jim O'Neill has said that India desperately needs, is a leader who is "good on economics".
While we have had one such distinguished economist as our leader in his immediate predecessor, what sets Modi apart from others is his decisiveness and out-of-the-box thinking.

The fact that he has won an outright victory and a decisive mandate, should serve him in good stead. This verdict allows him to implement all his ideas, vision and plans in the most uninhibited manner possible.

It might be too early to predict but his performance in these years might just catapult him from a leader to a statesman, and be counted as among the all-time best PMs / leaders that we have ever had.

He can be hard-nosed or liberal, quiet or rambunctious, risk-taking or cautious - all upto him.
The glory is his to squander.
But one thing is for certain - of all the available options the Indian electorate had - being Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Narendra Modi - it is NaMo who fits the bill of who and what India wants as of today, from its leader.

All the best Narendra Modi...hum sab unke gunn gaane wale hain..
Ab chinta kis baat ki hai....aakhir ab to achche din aane wale hain!!

Hamara Neta Kaisa Ho...

Unless you have only just migrated from Pluto, chances are that if you follow news about/on India, the last few months would have ensured that you are fully aware of the General Elections of 2014.

Yes, it is that time when the largest democracy in the world exercises its voting franchise to elect its government.
The way things have panned out, this election has seen it all - vitriolic attacks, partisan politics, comments aimed at polarizing voters (vote banks), et al.

An election is not just about electing a representative to the legislature. It is about selecting the best (or least worst) from the rest.
Who do we want to see as our leader(s)?
What qualities should that person possess?
All these are questions which every sane person should ask, instead of settling on any particular caste factor as one's selection criteria.

Now that we are at the fag end of the election process, let's hope whenever a new government is formed, we have a government that is not only stable, but also efficient.
We have a leader, who is not only capable and deserving, but also strong and dynamic.
It's about time we deserved a government and a leader who can deliver.

Here's hoping these elections get conducted successfully and peacefully, and we get a hung-free parliament with a strong, vibrant democracy in tow.
Jai Ho!

Ye Dil Vishy More!!

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!! :)