Jai Ho!

Ok, this one's gonna be an angry, frustration-venting post.
As I write this, we have already read all sorts of sad, shameful and embarrassing reports about the CommonWealth Games - about a ceiling collapse, about a boxer's broken bed, about its 'filthy' rooms with unfit and unliveable conditions, and even about a snake being found in one of the rooms. To state that all these (and other such) incidents are saddening and humiliating, is about as insightful as the analysis that when the sun is out in full force, it can mean daytime!

That the nation's honor, self-esteem and credibility has taken a beating is not only a fact, but also an understatement. The larger issue, though, is about actually getting to the root of exactly what all went wrong, so that we learn our lessons well. We must honestly ask ourselves as to why, we as a nation, have failed so miserably?

I am reasonably convinced that atleast a majority of the readers, on reading the last line, would be thinking that I am referring to the failure of Kalmadi and his Organizing Committee (OC), only. Well, while they are surely (and deservedly) the prime candidates to be put in the dock, they are not alone. I am also referring to the government, to the media, as well as to you and me. It's a failure to which all of us have contributed, in one way or the other. Lemme talk about each, one by one.

Kalmadi and his entourage:
Having been at the helm of affairs of such a historic Games and after having touted their extensive experience in handling and organizing world-class events, surely, it's not asking too much from the Organizing Committee, led by Mr. Kalmadi, to be proactive, well-prepared, and thorough in their preparations. It's the very least anyone can do.
How on earth could these guys be so immune to the consequences/pitfalls of last-minute preparations? Why, in the first place, do we always have to leave things till the eleventh hour (and 59th minute)? Especially when we know rains would play havoc with preparations in July-August (if not the unexpected, unrelenting downpours in September too).

What was the CWG administration and the management doing all this while?
When the most embarrassing pictures of filthy living conditions were presented, why did the OC Secretary-General not even bother to be man enough to look facts and failure in the eye, and accept a fault? Wasn't it even worse and insensitive of him to deflect the cause of the query and accompanying remedial measures by attributing them to 'different standards of hygiene'?!

When allegations of corruption - of those infamously rented treadmills and other equipments - were running around thick and fast, why did not the OC come up with the correct picture and present its stance, if there were no ulterior motives behind the exorbitant costs?

The Govt:
When reports about CWG irregularities, ill-preparedness and significant project delays had become public knowledge, why did the Government not crack the whip, atleast by then?!

What can we expect from our government when it is itself incompetent in doing its job? CWG is just another feather in its cap. Already, it has been immune to so much else. Grains can rot and can be eaten by rodents but are not meant to be given to the poor for free, huge unrest in the integral parts of our country has anyway become routine stuff, people getting killed brazenly and without contempt in the name of family honor, infrastructure coming apart every other day somewhere or the other due to something as expected and innocuous as rains, Maoist disturbances to deal with every now and then, people using their parochial interests even at the cost of (further) national shame, Mamta turning into more of a Wail-minister than Rail Minister as Railways hurtles from one accident to another, while she stays busy playing politics over Bengal, and Kashmir and Ayodhya being such flashpoints in our country, that we have to clamp curfews due to the insensitive nature among us. Terrible, disgusting, abhorable.
Hey, I had told you, this is gonna be one angry, vent-filled post.

More than the lack of preparation, it's the attitude of the organizers and the men-in-charge, which is worrying and distressing. Lalit Bhanot wants us to think that the stinking and disgusting state of rooms is due to a relatively different standard of hygience among foreigners, Sheila Dikshit tells us that the bridge that collapsed was not meant for athletes. So anyone's life is cheap as long as it does not become a headline-hogging news, huh? Where have our hard-earned taxes been splurged, which have officially (and only on paper) been spent on CWG preparations?

What's the solution? Either let there not be any games so that we know our priority is in the right place first. And let us ensure we spend this amount on our infrastructure, proper training, equipment, stadia, attractive packages for capable players, coaches and administrators, etc. Having said so, again it's a utopian stand, because it's too late now. An out of India hosting would only officially discredit the nation as a classic case study of poor planning and zero execution skills, along with no troubleshooting ability when faced with a crisis.

The Media:
While the media has rightly discussed threadbare the pathetic state of management and last-minute preparations at the CWG, as a responsible and fair medium, it is also obliged to present the complete picture, and not just one side of the coin.
But has the media ever also brought the good bits to light?

How many in the media have reported the other, pleasant and pride-worthy side of the Games? While no sane-minded person would ever deny that there has been great bungling and much left to be desired, I think we too, by being ONLY armchair critics, and by reporting on ONLY the wrongs and completely overlooking anything wonderful, are only being negative participants. 
Though we cannot have the authority to take to task those responsible (rather, those who have been irresponsible), we can atleast do our humble bit in making the Games a success. And it starts with respecting ourselves, in not letting go our nation's self-esteem and being proud of ourselves, wherever it is due and deserved. 
Just as we bring to light the gross mismanagements, we must also be equally keen to appreciate and take pride in some exceptionally awesome work too, that runs the risk of not being given its due. Koi bhi desh (and/or Games) perfect nahin hota, usey perfect banaya jaata hai! :)

You and Me:
But what do we, as a people, do? You and me. Yes, all of us are pained by the state of affairs. But I was thinking, isn't it easy to keep cribbing about what all is wrong, who should do what or who should have done what?
Isn't it always easy to be an armchair critic? If Kalmadi & Co. are incompetent, that's a pity on them. But do we become better than them by just pointing out what they have and could have/should have done, while still nto doing anything except cribbing? Often, we tend to solely concentrate on getting to know which person to point our finger at, put the blame, and display our angst over social networking fora or by forwarding the latest jokes on CWG.
All very well and great use of freedom of expression, but I hope all of us (including yours truly) also learn to spot, and atleast try to look at, possible solutions from there (any critical, embarrassing, unpleasant situation) onwards instead of just lamenting/fretting about it or just sending bulk jokes.
It's great to be able to find faults in others and what 'can be/could have been' and 'should be/should have been' done by others.

What have we actually DONE ourselves in contributing to the betterment of our society, and our country?

Even if we aren't in the Games Committee, isn't there so much you and me can do, to make our country better? Do our good deeds and responsible citizen's duties  have to take birth only as a direct after-effect of being bestowed with some authority or position? Isn't being a good, responsible, loving and caring citizen the responsibility and duty that should be ingrained in us? Even if others are not right, let us do our little things right. Atleast keep the slate of our conscience and our duties clean. From picking up a piece of garbage even if all others too walk right past it, to not honking unnecessarily on the roads and not jumping lights, to not ignoring an accident victim desperate for help for fear of police case/lack of time, to being a concerned citizen ready to help others, with a bomb blast/earthquake/flood relief work even when no one from our family and friends is involved - there's so much you and me can do.

If you are on FaceBook, do check out this album.
Phew - have ranted enough, but before shutting shop, I'd just like to sincerely urge all of us, including you and me, to take pride in the qualities and the great stuff we have, while also being cognizant of our shortcoming and failures and take the erring individuals to task. But while declaring the decision and punitive actions are not in our hands, what is entirely in our control as well as our duty, is to ensure we do our bit in making the Games a success, just like these volunteers. For starters, we can implement the points, Dr. Kalam has made - captured in Photos 28 - 30 of the album.

I'm sure, step by step, the world will be a better place. If nothing else, let us atleast change ourselves for the better without looking at whether our neighbors or neighbors' neighbors, or colleagues or colleagues' colleagues have changed themselves first. Let's just change ourselves, for the better, without being dependent on anyone else for approval or necessary appreciation.
Amen, and Jai Ho!

Ja deja-vu

Time was, when man could not have expected to land on the moon.

Time was, when it seemed insane to expect some kind of technology would present and connect you to anything anywhere in the world at just the 'click' of a 'mouse'.

Time was, when it was inconceivable to think that a person could talk to another person at another end of the world, without having to blow his lungs away in trying to be audible to 'such a far' distance and that too, while being mobile, on the move.

Time was, when I used to think Ravindra Jadeja could bat.
Yes.

I first saw him struggle at the World T20 in England, and I thought he was too raw at the international circuit and considering the team's form, fortunes and match situations, most of his early knocks seemed a baptism by fire.

However, many matches, heartaches, frustrations and benefits-of-doubt later, I realized he is not going anywhere. Even after enough of chances, big-match experience, and backing provided to him.
The guy has simply stagnated bigtime.

But, being an eternal optimist, I don't mean to write this piece as an obituary for him. Hope he improves and earns and commands his place back in the Indian team (he needs to some day get dropped in the first place though, to make a comeback!).
However, being a pragmatist too, I don't see him as a guy who belongs there, at the highest level, as of now. Time after time, chance after chance, every time he has fluffed any opportunity that has come his way.

Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for India, the country is too big with too many talented players around, to fill up in atleast the shoes he'd (ok....make that he 'should') have to vacate on being dropped. Certainly not with the level of his game at the moment.

With precisely 8 games to play at home before THE Cup in 2011, we really need to get our core people in the mix. The Kohlis, the Unadkats, the Saurabh Tyagis, the Pujaras - they are all there, waiting.
Question is, do we have enough time to even blood a youngster NOW? Isn't this lack of planning/vision? What are we waiting for, when we see Jadeja fail?
For that one average flash in the pan, when he can secure his place for atleast a year? He's had enough chances, just be fair to all others too. Most of all, be fair to the chances of the team.

The problem, though, is not just this.
Why does the selection committee play him, time and time again? Just because he can be used to do both bat and ball (pathetically)?
Isn't Irfan Pathan (even Yusuf Pathan) a better choice than him? Surely, the bowler in Jadeja hasn't exactly turned out to be earth-shaking material either.

Okay, he's alright (at best) at containing batsmen (that too, only on his day), and can scratch his way to a 20-odd in just under 40 deliveries. Is that good enough for an Indian No. 7 in ODI cricket, especially when he is expected to come to the crease most often during or just before the slog overs?

Rohit Sharma is another case study on what goes inside the insides of talented people who do not get to transcend from being good to at least better and wonderful, if not great.

Only goes on to show how great Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is.
To have talent and ability is one thing.
But to adapt, not relax, have the passion, enthusiasm, love and the will to always evolve and improve is another.

That's what separates the chaff from the grain. The men from the boys.
The Tendulkars from the Ravindars.

Till our players understand the merit behind having rigorous and seriously-taken nets and performance analysis sessions...
Till our selectors understand the need to ensure a non-performer (however potentially talented) does not take his spot for granted despite numerous chances...
Till the players themselves start yearning to get a feel of the pride one would get after turning a match around for India (instead of just the gift of turning up for India)....
Till we evolve together as a team...
 ...we shall keep being helpless witnesses to same results from same situations from the same players, match after match.

We would do better to learn from our mistakes and atleast not repeat the same ones again. Let's just give room to performers and performances and not on those who do not seem keen to learn or put in their best foot forward. Otherwise, we all know it will just be a case of deja-vu, yet again.

Happy Birthday Harsha!!

To the man who is to cricket commentary, what Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is to batting - Happy Birthday Harsha!

May God bless you with many more years of success, joy, and every happiness in the world - touchwood, and amen!
I can still recall, as a schoolkid growing up in the early 90s, I remember listening to Harsha's commentary for the first time on radio when India were Down Under in 1992. We didn't have a cable connection (don't remember if those matches were even telecast, except an hour-long highlights capsule of the day's play on good ol' DD)...it was at that time, that I got acquainted with this comfortable, easy on the ears, joy to hear, witty as well as knowledgeable voice that presented the game in a very simple yet insightful, and a very matter-of-fact yet thorough analysis of the game.

I remember listening to his commentary and enjoying it as much as the matches. A lot of credit for changing the quality of cricket broadcast in India goes to guys like (and primarily) Harsha. I don't recall paying half as much attention to the banal commentaries in the pre-Harsha era. Mr. Bhogle, it's you who made me sit up and enjoy listening to, observing, and studying the goings-on, the after-effects and the possible effects of anything happening in a cricket field than just a mechanical account of who bowled to him, and what happened after that delivery.

One instance specifically comes to mind:
Once, Sachin once got out to a lollypop offspinner (I guess it was MichaelVaughan) in '02.
Harsha wonderfully quipped something to the following effect:
"Oh what a shame. It was reminiscent of a soldier who survived the war when all the bullets were flying by his nose and then got run over by a bicycle in his native town."
 
Enjoy some more of his gems here!

His commentary was and continues to be a lesson in keeping things simple, enjoying the game, channelising the knowledge, passion and love for the game in the best way possible, and also being neutral and objective while doing so.
In fact, he is one of the select few commentators who are part of the most famous, most liked, most awaited, most elite and most sought-after commentators. Not to forget, that he is unarguably, THE most revered, level-headed, and enjoyable commentator in the world, atleast definitely in the list of commentators who have never represented their country.

Besides, it also doesn't hurt that the guy has an extremely pleasing and amiable persona, that totally complement his affable and down-to-earth nature, witticisms and earthy sense of humor, and last but not the least, his wonderful, endearing smile, and toothy grin.

More power to you, Harsha! Hope you continue enthralling all of us, and have a joyous, healthy, fun-filled long life ahead!! Sincere wish - Many many happy returns of the day once again...From just one of the millions of HB fans!

'Acting' against terror

Alrighty, it's that time of the year again. Every year, we 'celebrate'/'observe' days (holidays) such as Gandhi Jayanti, where most (if not all) of us do not know what/why we are doing anything - forgetting the whys behind the whats. Another regular in this list of largely ceremonial tokenisms is the Indo-Pak dialogue process.

Now, I am not at all advocating that we should never talk to Pakistan or that these efforts should not be made. However, as the wise would advise, only those who have the ability to appreciate any quality can do so. There is no point in advertising the virtues of a comb to a bald man.
If Pakistan is consistently being intransigent, unreasonable, and has already made up its mind about its agenda, there is hardly any merit in exhorting it to re-think over the facts.

The ugly spat that erupted between the foreign ministers of both countries, was far too sour and too apparent, is a case in point. Had the Pakistanis been serious about taking action on anything, they would have done so, and atleast been appreciative of the Indian statesmanship and patience, despite India handing over voluminous, incriminating evidences, dossiers, transcripts, voice samples, and confessional statements of terrorists and masterminds.

What I don't understand, though, is how and why people are dubbing St. Qureshi as the peace deal-breaker, the villain-in-chief!! C'mon guys..where was the deal in the first place? When were you ever, in your heart of hearts assured of their genuine intent in taking action against the perpetrators of 26/11 (been almost 20 months since then)??

All along, Pakistan and St. Qureshi - being the gentleman that he is, have just stayed true to their words....India wanted them to act against terror. So yes, that's precisely what they have been doing all along - ACTING (pretending to show as if they are doing something) against terror!
 
How dumb do you think people are, Mr. Qureshi? Do you think we cannot spot your bluff? Do you think the constant charade of we-need-more-evidence holds any water? Sure, it took you to tell us that courts are independent bodies and need their own time. Thanks ever so much.
But pray, tell me, how can we not see how you do not take cognizance of the substantial evidence that India provides?
This, when you allege of an Indian hand in Balochistan, without ANY evidence at all? Tails I win, heads you lose, eh?!

How dare you take up our domestic problems (in J&K) as your concern? Was I just born? For, how come I totally missed seeing your world-care nature and attitude all this while?

How dare you equate a top diplomat from our country (Home Secy no less) with the rogue, demented fanatic and terrorist being sheltered in your country? Even the most uncouth of ministers would never take their imagination against a sovereign country's diplomat to such deplorable lows. Try labeling likewise against the lowest US official, Mr. Qureshi and try getting the time of your life!

It's us, who need to understand that we should talk only when, with, and if, those at the helm of affairs in both nations are genuinely interested.
Unless that happens, we can keep having discussions about our pain points, keep submitting dossier after dossier of incriminating evidence, and keep getting asked for more from our end. My problem is not in being positive, being patient, having perseverance, having faith, and continuing talks. What I have a problem with, is in seeing all our sincere efforts, diligent diplomatic parleys being mocked at, and seen as being done by us as if we are no good to be able to have/exercise any other option.
Let our qualities not be construed as our weakness. Let our statesmanship not be seen as our sterility.

It's also important to not kid ourselves here - we are dealing with a country that is beset with problems of its own, governed by predominantly fundamentalist people, marshaled and controlled by its ever-powerful Army, and always feeding on a hate/kill India/Indians propaganda, espoused and patronised by the country's powers-that-be. After all, if it's in their interest to see Indo-Pak rivalry and jostling going on and on, why and how on earth can any kind of peace talks succeed?!

Till we get any better people, state machinery and mindsets to deal with, we'd have to continue dealing with the Qureshi's of the world. Rest assured, they will continue to ACT against terror.
Hope I am wrong - but I will be extremely surprised, if they ever happen to feel satisfied with the plethora of files containing evidences submitted from India.