The T20 debacle in the West Indies has raised a huge furore in India. I wonder what the fuss is all about. Did we really believe that this current Indian team would scale the summit in the West Indies. Are we really so naive? I don’t think that this is an unexpected or a shocking result. It was always on the card but we refused to heed the warning signals present since the last two years. After the marvellous victory in the inaugural edition of the latest fad in Cricket, we thought that Indian cricket has turned a corner and this was the beginning of a golden era as soon we were also crowned as numero uno in Test cricket. However, at the same time, a fundamental shift occurred in the thinking process of current generation of Indian cricketers because of the sudden advent of the ratmatazz of IPL and the bounties it showered on the professional cricketers. The loss at the international events didn’t pain our cricketers anymore and the work ethics became corporatized with players doling out explanations such as cricket is a job and you will have some bad and some good days! The average Indian fan was hoodwinked by this spin (Googly!) given by the smart current generation of Indian cricketers into thinking that it doesn’t not matter for India to lose as long as the IPL wins. The basic tenets of game went into an abyss of spurious money and instant fame which made modestly talented cricketers such as Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan etc into huge saleable commodities (overvalued stock commodity).
The common factor amongst all these cricketers is their abject failure at the Test level, the ultimate form of the game. Barring perhaps Harbhajan who has had a chequered history with disciplinary issues and a few sporadic match winning performances, all other current generation products have struggled at the test level. Yuvraj who has spent close to a decade at the international level but is yet to find a regular spot in the Indian test line up is a classic example of a failure to put in the hard yards to be successful at the highest level. Why? Its not that Yuvraj doesn’t have the talent, but because the returns for putting in the extra effort is not worth it. Yuvraj is symptomatic of this malaise that afflicts the Indian sports in general. Lack of world class sportsman who is revered as global champions aka Roger Federar, Football stars such as Ronaldo etc. As an ardent fan of the game of cricket and sport in general, I am heartbroken to see India surrender so meekly at the global events on a regular basis such as the hockey world cup, tennis grand slams, and football . As they say, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, the victory at the 2007 T20 world cup was a false dawn which sowed the seeds of the current crop of pathetic performers who dont believe in taking pride in representing their nation, who think losing is part of the game and value IPL contracts over India cap. The silver lining in the current storm is India's status as the top dog in Test cricket but the end is nigh even in this arena with the impending retirement of stars such as Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar, and Laxman who belonged to a generation who valued their India cap more than anything else. Recently, Dravid so aptly summed up the psyche of the current India caps " Rainas and Sharmas don’t have the hunger to play test cricket". He could not have put it more aptly and the disappointment is that these cricketers are not excelling even in their chosen format the slam bang version leave alone the test version. All will be forgotten as soon as the team will win a few meaningless ODIs in their own backyard and a few cheap victories in one of these farcical tri nation series held in a faraway Harare or a Dambulla. Here are a few questions for my fellow countrymen who should reflect and ponder and find answers for the same.
Can we produce Indian teams which are world class in the true sense who will win a test series in Australia or South Africa?
Can we dream to see an Indian squad donning the tricolor jersey in a FIFA world cup final?
Can we create Indian companies which will SHINE like a global brand such as Sony, Airbus, and Microsoft?
Can we manufacture standards of operational excellence as revered as Six Sigma?
Can my beloved nation ever be able to provide elementary education, health facilities, electricity, Law and order to thousands of villages and towns?
Suddenly, you will find answers to all the questions troubling you. All your doubts and agony will wither away and hopefully awaken you from your deep slumber!
JAI HIND
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Whiff of Nostalgia!
Two weeks in a faraway land and you start missing home, the food and its aroma’s, the surroundings and basically everything including the potholes, the toxic air! Why does it happen always? What’s the reason? Emotional fools! Sentimental buggers! These are some of the oft heard clichés that we come across when you whine about missing home. I totally disagree with this criticism and I can personally vouch for that as I have travelled a fair bit. The reason is primordial moorings of a human being attached to the environ where they grow up. Neither a penny less nor a pound more.
Before this blog turns into a forum for discussing anthropology and sociology and mankind’s moorings, let me return to the original intent – blogging my experiences in a foreign land. Well, the initial euphoria has given way to a subdued enthusiasm. From the high of jet skiing at Bentota to the longing for an Indian curry, I have seen it all in the past few weeks. Strangely enough, I have been unable to sleep for long hours with frequent breaks possibly because of change in weather and location.
The roads here are full of reconditioned Japanese vehicles and to acquire one people here pay a fortune. Our own Maruti Suzuki is extremely popular here particularly the ‘ALTO’. Indians command a fair degree of respect and admiration for the way India has progressed in the recent decade. Nobody thinks am an Indian and everybody speaks to me in Singhalese. Why? Well you have guessed it right!! Coming back to the lifestyle of the populace, apart from swanky Japo cars and a few smattering of Indian ones, Colombo has several sea side restaurants teeming with people, offering tremendous varieties of sea food and is a heaven for the foodies especially the fish lovers. You name it in and you have lobsters, crabs, Cuttle, Prawns and what not in your plate. A year back, you would not have imagined moving here esp. after dark when the war with the Tamil rebels was at its peak. The battle weary Sri Lankans have braved the war with courage and tenacity and are now enjoying the fruits of that long struggle with a spell of peace and stability. No wonder, they are out and partying. However, the police barricades and security posts are a stark reminder of the cost at which which peace comes. Wish we in India could also solve our domestic problems soon so that the entire population can enjoy the fruits of peace and stability.
This piece would be incomplete without a special word of appreciation for my wonderful and graceful hosts and it would be no exaggeration to suggest that it would be hard to find a more humble group of people anywhere else in the world. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country, fledgling but pregnant with possibilities of growth and prosperity. May god help them to achieve their rightful place under the sun!
Before this blog turns into a forum for discussing anthropology and sociology and mankind’s moorings, let me return to the original intent – blogging my experiences in a foreign land. Well, the initial euphoria has given way to a subdued enthusiasm. From the high of jet skiing at Bentota to the longing for an Indian curry, I have seen it all in the past few weeks. Strangely enough, I have been unable to sleep for long hours with frequent breaks possibly because of change in weather and location.
The roads here are full of reconditioned Japanese vehicles and to acquire one people here pay a fortune. Our own Maruti Suzuki is extremely popular here particularly the ‘ALTO’. Indians command a fair degree of respect and admiration for the way India has progressed in the recent decade. Nobody thinks am an Indian and everybody speaks to me in Singhalese. Why? Well you have guessed it right!! Coming back to the lifestyle of the populace, apart from swanky Japo cars and a few smattering of Indian ones, Colombo has several sea side restaurants teeming with people, offering tremendous varieties of sea food and is a heaven for the foodies especially the fish lovers. You name it in and you have lobsters, crabs, Cuttle, Prawns and what not in your plate. A year back, you would not have imagined moving here esp. after dark when the war with the Tamil rebels was at its peak. The battle weary Sri Lankans have braved the war with courage and tenacity and are now enjoying the fruits of that long struggle with a spell of peace and stability. No wonder, they are out and partying. However, the police barricades and security posts are a stark reminder of the cost at which which peace comes. Wish we in India could also solve our domestic problems soon so that the entire population can enjoy the fruits of peace and stability.
This piece would be incomplete without a special word of appreciation for my wonderful and graceful hosts and it would be no exaggeration to suggest that it would be hard to find a more humble group of people anywhere else in the world. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country, fledgling but pregnant with possibilities of growth and prosperity. May god help them to achieve their rightful place under the sun!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Across the Palk Strait!
The early morning wake up call was, is, and will always remain a tough proposition. However, my predicament was of my own making as I woke up early thinking I was boarding an international fight and soon realized my folly. Nonetheless, I proceeded towards the Airport in high spirit to be greeted by a bright and beautiful morning sky. Meeta’s presence was comforting and reassuring as we sped towards the airport and reached in no time. It was time to say good bye and exchange hugs & kisses, these are truly poignant moments of life and distinctly uncomfortable to most of us. With heavy heart and moist eyes we bid good bye with a promise to meet soon.
The powerful jet roared and powered us to the skies with unbelievable ease and strength. I wonder at this engineering marvel every time I am airborne and this time it was no different not withstanding that I am a shaky flyer! The flight was designated to be an International type but it turned out to be a domestic ferry till Chennai and the thoughts of enjoying chilled beer melted in the searing heat over much of the northern plains of India. My partner in crime, Mithun, incidentally too is a shaky flyer and admitted to the same when I caught him saying prayers when the jet soared vertically. We could not sleep much as the air hostesses kept distracting us with their sashays (cat walks) down the aisles dazzling us with their beauty and ofcourse the customary Lunch.
Before we could say cheese and doze off, the pilot, a Yankee of Indian origin, crackled on the radio about our impending descent into Chennai. Both of us sighed with relief as the jet touched down and swayed wildly much to our discomfort and came to a grinding halt. We dutifully bid good bye to the lovely staff on board who must be complimented for taking great care to make flying an experience worth remembering.
Chennai International departure terminal is a big disappointment and it is not worthy of a city as eminent as it is. It was already noon when we did the immigration stuff and I had terrible pangs of hunger all this while. I rushed to the food counter and ate whatever I could get hold off. The departure though was a smooth process with everything meticulously handled by the airport staff. As the time came to take up to the skies again, we both waited with nervous anticipation. I gazed around and saw completely new set of people talking in a completely different lingua and felt uncomfortable for a second just like a fish out of water. I would be away from my home for quite a bit and I would be all alone in a different land. Now, this reality started to sink- in. I was for a moment like a baby who doesn’t want to leave her mom’s lap. Realization dawned upon me that I am on a critical assignment and would do well to devoid myself of emotions as they distract one from their mission! Come on Sri Lanka take me!
The jet roared again and took up to the skies with an effortless ease and with it withered away all my anxieties as I moved into an alien airspace away from my homeland. The landing was smooth this time around and we were welcomed at the tarmac by a warm group of people. I felt goose bumps as we briskly walked towards the immigration desk. The clerk at the desk was efficient at his job and he duly stamped the visa with arrived status.
We have arrived in the beautiful country known as the “Emerald Isles”
The powerful jet roared and powered us to the skies with unbelievable ease and strength. I wonder at this engineering marvel every time I am airborne and this time it was no different not withstanding that I am a shaky flyer! The flight was designated to be an International type but it turned out to be a domestic ferry till Chennai and the thoughts of enjoying chilled beer melted in the searing heat over much of the northern plains of India. My partner in crime, Mithun, incidentally too is a shaky flyer and admitted to the same when I caught him saying prayers when the jet soared vertically. We could not sleep much as the air hostesses kept distracting us with their sashays (cat walks) down the aisles dazzling us with their beauty and ofcourse the customary Lunch.
Before we could say cheese and doze off, the pilot, a Yankee of Indian origin, crackled on the radio about our impending descent into Chennai. Both of us sighed with relief as the jet touched down and swayed wildly much to our discomfort and came to a grinding halt. We dutifully bid good bye to the lovely staff on board who must be complimented for taking great care to make flying an experience worth remembering.
Chennai International departure terminal is a big disappointment and it is not worthy of a city as eminent as it is. It was already noon when we did the immigration stuff and I had terrible pangs of hunger all this while. I rushed to the food counter and ate whatever I could get hold off. The departure though was a smooth process with everything meticulously handled by the airport staff. As the time came to take up to the skies again, we both waited with nervous anticipation. I gazed around and saw completely new set of people talking in a completely different lingua and felt uncomfortable for a second just like a fish out of water. I would be away from my home for quite a bit and I would be all alone in a different land. Now, this reality started to sink- in. I was for a moment like a baby who doesn’t want to leave her mom’s lap. Realization dawned upon me that I am on a critical assignment and would do well to devoid myself of emotions as they distract one from their mission! Come on Sri Lanka take me!
The jet roared again and took up to the skies with an effortless ease and with it withered away all my anxieties as I moved into an alien airspace away from my homeland. The landing was smooth this time around and we were welcomed at the tarmac by a warm group of people. I felt goose bumps as we briskly walked towards the immigration desk. The clerk at the desk was efficient at his job and he duly stamped the visa with arrived status.
We have arrived in the beautiful country known as the “Emerald Isles”
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