Cricket is and will probably remain one of my strongest passions, which is why the last couple of weeks has got me hooked to the Indian test series against Australia. This test series has marked the exit of 2 of India's greatest heroes.
For the record, Sourav and Kumble decided it's time to hang up.
And the game of cricket will never be the same again without the Silent Assassin aka Jumbo who goes about his job with the minimal fuss. He has been and will probably remain one of the best ambassadors of the game. He sets a true example for the likes of Gambhir who drag themselves into trouble with their child like behavior.
I have had the rare privilege of having played 3 games with Anil Kumble at the Bangalore league and that's when I realized the mark of a great sportsman. Those 3 games would remain in my memory for a long time.
And Dada, you have been my hero for the kind of leadership you have showcased. Your aggression and courage with a "tooth for tooth, nail for nail" attitude really helped take Indian cricket to greater heights. It was your perseverance with talent that prevented some greats like Viru, Bhajji, Zaki, Pathan, MSD from fading into oblivion. It shows the hallmark of a great leader, and now we know Indian cricket will pass on to safe hands.
New heroes will emerge and pepsi or coke might find a new face for their brands.......but I know for sure the game will never be the same again as the nation bids farewell to the giants of Indian cricket.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Muddle in the US
"The muddle in the US only proves that industrial nations do not necessarily have the monopoly of wisdom."
A quote from a article that I read recently.........and I am convinced !
As I type this the 700 billion USD bail out package for the US financial markets have been approved. It clearly comes across as a measure to save the economy from sinking.
Numerous questions throng my mind as I read about the crisis and how it has snowballed into such a large catastrophe. It's nothing short of greed and stupidity!
1) What were the financial watch dogs doing when the greedy firms were taking such risks to make a killing
2) Why did the numerous nobel laurets and famed economists of USA fail to predict this. Even if they predicted, did it go to deaf ears.
3) In a capitalist economy is it right to flirt with the tax payer's money to save a sinking ship.
4) If you let them sink, are the consequences severe. What's the guarantee that such a thing would not be repeated.
At the same time it's nice to see Indian markets fairly insulated from the turmoil in the US. It's probably attributed to the conservative patterns in Indian culture. Kudos Mr Reddy and Chidambaram.
A quote from a article that I read recently.........and I am convinced !
As I type this the 700 billion USD bail out package for the US financial markets have been approved. It clearly comes across as a measure to save the economy from sinking.
Numerous questions throng my mind as I read about the crisis and how it has snowballed into such a large catastrophe. It's nothing short of greed and stupidity!
1) What were the financial watch dogs doing when the greedy firms were taking such risks to make a killing
2) Why did the numerous nobel laurets and famed economists of USA fail to predict this. Even if they predicted, did it go to deaf ears.
3) In a capitalist economy is it right to flirt with the tax payer's money to save a sinking ship.
4) If you let them sink, are the consequences severe. What's the guarantee that such a thing would not be repeated.
At the same time it's nice to see Indian markets fairly insulated from the turmoil in the US. It's probably attributed to the conservative patterns in Indian culture. Kudos Mr Reddy and Chidambaram.
Actions need to speak louder than words
When Kris Srikanth took over as the chief selector for the Indian cricket team, all were looking forward to some welcome changes. I believe change is not a very bad thing coz it provides a fresh lease of life. The selectors are taking charge at a time, when their predecessors have laid a foundation for phasing out the fab four of the Indian batting line up. The first step in this direction was taken when More and Co ignored Saurav for the Irani trophy.
However when the team for the test series against Australia was announced, we saw Saurav back in the team. This shows how the system lacks direction or continuity. Another intersting observation is the exclusion of Mr Cool aka Rohit Sharma. From what most people saw of him, he seemed one of the most composed batsmen of the new era in Indian cricket.
And phew! Today as I browse the sports column on google news I see how Rohit Sharma has answered his detractors with the bat. He slammed 106 in 144 balls with 12 hits to the fence and 4 over it in the warm up game against the Aussies. He has let his bat do all the talking.
Now it's time for Mr Saurav to follow suit. If he believes he has 2 years of cricket still left in him, it's time he proved it....else he's got to hang up, before he's shown the door.
Dada, it's time to let your actions speak louder than your words.
However when the team for the test series against Australia was announced, we saw Saurav back in the team. This shows how the system lacks direction or continuity. Another intersting observation is the exclusion of Mr Cool aka Rohit Sharma. From what most people saw of him, he seemed one of the most composed batsmen of the new era in Indian cricket.
And phew! Today as I browse the sports column on google news I see how Rohit Sharma has answered his detractors with the bat. He slammed 106 in 144 balls with 12 hits to the fence and 4 over it in the warm up game against the Aussies. He has let his bat do all the talking.
Now it's time for Mr Saurav to follow suit. If he believes he has 2 years of cricket still left in him, it's time he proved it....else he's got to hang up, before he's shown the door.
Dada, it's time to let your actions speak louder than your words.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Lasting Impressions - good or bad
Recent news of bomb blasts in the country have been so disturbing. Such events have been happening in India for a while now, just that the frequency has shot up and it's time to take notice. Me and my apartment mate were discussing about the bomb blasts that rocked Delhi again couple of weeks back. As always few innocent lives were claimed and news flashed that an "unknown" terrorist outfit have claimed to have masterminded it.
Immediately my roomie remarked that we drive all Muslims out of India. I perceive this as a strong statement. I mean most of us have reached a state where we categorize an entire community on the basis of select few fanatics. Then what would we comment about the Bajrang Dal involvment in the violence on churches in Karnataka, about the attacks on missionaries in Orissa.
I personally dont belive that there's any religion that could exist in this world that would encourage people to hate each other, to take up arms against each other. But still our human mind is so good to draw perceptions so quickly. Terrorism is a mjaor issue in India and most often we find the people involved are follower's of Islam. However that doesnt make all muslims in the country terrorists. It's very important to address the issue before it snow balls into a catastrophy causing the nation to stand divided.
We were proud about the "unity in diversity" of our nation, but it's not too far away before we are going to take strong stands and leave the country divided.
Immediately my roomie remarked that we drive all Muslims out of India. I perceive this as a strong statement. I mean most of us have reached a state where we categorize an entire community on the basis of select few fanatics. Then what would we comment about the Bajrang Dal involvment in the violence on churches in Karnataka, about the attacks on missionaries in Orissa.
I personally dont belive that there's any religion that could exist in this world that would encourage people to hate each other, to take up arms against each other. But still our human mind is so good to draw perceptions so quickly. Terrorism is a mjaor issue in India and most often we find the people involved are follower's of Islam. However that doesnt make all muslims in the country terrorists. It's very important to address the issue before it snow balls into a catastrophy causing the nation to stand divided.
We were proud about the "unity in diversity" of our nation, but it's not too far away before we are going to take strong stands and leave the country divided.
Teaching the world to sell
I along with a few other friends went on a road trip during the US Labour day weekend from Colorado to Dallas and back. The trip was great with awesome views, thrilling rides and experiences. We clocked a little above 2000 miles in less than 72 hours. Rafting, visit to the caves, the sky coaster ride, all was really thrilling. It send shivers down our spine and we had our moments we would pay a fortune to frame.
The rafting trip was 10 miles in length spread across 3 hours. We had our moments like the one below.
It was impossible for us to capture this moment in a device. We had the rafting company do it for us even before we ordered for it. At the end of a rafting trip all of us are invited to a bar and this clipping was played on a giant screen. This created a buzz at the bar and people started discussing about the rafting experiences.
This kind of an experience triggers any consumers mind. It creates a desire in him to own that video and therefore he's ready to pay the quoted price without much thought. And, that's exactly what we happened, we payed 70 dollars for a CD with 30 snaps from the rafting trip. This happened not just at the rafting site, but at every ride we went on. Is there a lesson for marketers in this American way? This is incredible since you are never engaged in a price war. As a seller you have instilled the desire in the consumers mind which makes your job so easier. On a closer observation this is true to most American brands as well. They have packaged the brands so well that they have made it desirable.
Nike, Coke, McDonalds, Subway, Dominos, Pepsi,
In sharp contrast a photographer who takes your snap at say for eg:-, the Taj Mahal, will haggle over the price and come across as someone desperate to sell. The consumers mind also reacts in the negative most often since the seller is trying to force something on him.
Am I true in my observation that America has taught the world to sell !
The rafting trip was 10 miles in length spread across 3 hours. We had our moments like the one below.
It was impossible for us to capture this moment in a device. We had the rafting company do it for us even before we ordered for it. At the end of a rafting trip all of us are invited to a bar and this clipping was played on a giant screen. This created a buzz at the bar and people started discussing about the rafting experiences.
This kind of an experience triggers any consumers mind. It creates a desire in him to own that video and therefore he's ready to pay the quoted price without much thought. And, that's exactly what we happened, we payed 70 dollars for a CD with 30 snaps from the rafting trip. This happened not just at the rafting site, but at every ride we went on. Is there a lesson for marketers in this American way? This is incredible since you are never engaged in a price war. As a seller you have instilled the desire in the consumers mind which makes your job so easier. On a closer observation this is true to most American brands as well. They have packaged the brands so well that they have made it desirable.
Nike, Coke, McDonalds, Subway, Dominos, Pepsi,
In sharp contrast a photographer who takes your snap at say for eg:-, the Taj Mahal, will haggle over the price and come across as someone desperate to sell. The consumers mind also reacts in the negative most often since the seller is trying to force something on him.
Am I true in my observation that America has taught the world to sell !
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Happens only in India !
There are few things that make us uniquely Indian...........here's one of them.
It was heartening to see 25 year old Bindra grab a gold at the Beijing Olympics. It's a great achievement given the country he represents. Yeah the debate I want to open up is, what's India's contribution in his achievement. Does India deserve the laurels he's bringing to the country.
In a country of a billion people or more, we struggle to create sportsmen who can rub shoulders with the world's best. India lacks the set up required to create Olympic heroes who can go for gold. The system is skewed. The sports authority of India is a laggard unit crippled with inefficiency, lack of funds, foresight and infrastructure. The people who run it are even worse. With due respect, Mr Kalmadi who has been warming the seat of the president of the Olympic association deserves to be shown the door for poor performance. Add to it the fact that India does not have a great sporting culture. Unless you become a Sania or a Bindra or a Paes your future is bleak or unsure. As a result most parents discourage their wards from taking up sports as a profession.
Here we have Bindra who was fortunate to have the resources required to take up a sport as expensive as a shooting. All credit to him for the hard work and results he has produced. How many people in this country have this opportunity. The moment Bindra won the gold, the who's who of Indian politics jumped in to grab some eye balls.
As I researched the internet I found this
Punjab - 1 crore - home state hero
Harayana - 25 Lakh - neighboring state hero...Phew
Chandigarh - 5 Lakh - city's sporting hero, state wasnt enough
Karnataka - 10 Lakh - country's hero
Madhya Pradesh - 5 lakh - no clue why they announced.
worst of all...........
Indian railway's, rather our very own Lalu Prasad Yadav - Free AC rail travel for Bindra and a companion for life.
I am still waiting to see what rewards the other states are going to announce.
My senses tell me that a man who could afford a personal shooting range at home, travel to Germany on personal expenses for training will never travel on the Indian railways.Bindra hails from a successful business family and received a 5 star hotel as a gift from his dad.
Now when Bindra tasted success everyone wants to hand out people's hard earned taxes to Bindra as gifts. More like "Chance pe dance" as if they had a role in his success. Most of these jokers occupying prominent posts would have dismissed shooting as a casual sport had Bindra approached them for some funds to train.
I would be glad if the government spent this kind of money in cleaning up the sports establishments in the country and let the corporates handle the successful heroes.Corporates follow eye balls and today it is on Bindra, tomorrow on some one else. This way we'll be able to create more Bindra's in the country. It's time to instill some senses back in the brains of decision makers to create a strong system for sports and sportsmen to thrive. Otherwise it'll probably take another 25 years to grab the next gold at the Olympics.
Also read http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/sep/04spec.htm
in Telegraph I came across this article where the writer echoes my sentiments !
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080821/jsp/opinion/story_9718064.jsp
It was heartening to see 25 year old Bindra grab a gold at the Beijing Olympics. It's a great achievement given the country he represents. Yeah the debate I want to open up is, what's India's contribution in his achievement. Does India deserve the laurels he's bringing to the country.
In a country of a billion people or more, we struggle to create sportsmen who can rub shoulders with the world's best. India lacks the set up required to create Olympic heroes who can go for gold. The system is skewed. The sports authority of India is a laggard unit crippled with inefficiency, lack of funds, foresight and infrastructure. The people who run it are even worse. With due respect, Mr Kalmadi who has been warming the seat of the president of the Olympic association deserves to be shown the door for poor performance. Add to it the fact that India does not have a great sporting culture. Unless you become a Sania or a Bindra or a Paes your future is bleak or unsure. As a result most parents discourage their wards from taking up sports as a profession.
Here we have Bindra who was fortunate to have the resources required to take up a sport as expensive as a shooting. All credit to him for the hard work and results he has produced. How many people in this country have this opportunity. The moment Bindra won the gold, the who's who of Indian politics jumped in to grab some eye balls.
As I researched the internet I found this
Punjab - 1 crore - home state hero
Harayana - 25 Lakh - neighboring state hero...Phew
Chandigarh - 5 Lakh - city's sporting hero, state wasnt enough
Karnataka - 10 Lakh - country's hero
Madhya Pradesh - 5 lakh - no clue why they announced.
worst of all...........
Indian railway's, rather our very own Lalu Prasad Yadav - Free AC rail travel for Bindra and a companion for life.
I am still waiting to see what rewards the other states are going to announce.
My senses tell me that a man who could afford a personal shooting range at home, travel to Germany on personal expenses for training will never travel on the Indian railways.Bindra hails from a successful business family and received a 5 star hotel as a gift from his dad.
Now when Bindra tasted success everyone wants to hand out people's hard earned taxes to Bindra as gifts. More like "Chance pe dance" as if they had a role in his success. Most of these jokers occupying prominent posts would have dismissed shooting as a casual sport had Bindra approached them for some funds to train.
I would be glad if the government spent this kind of money in cleaning up the sports establishments in the country and let the corporates handle the successful heroes.Corporates follow eye balls and today it is on Bindra, tomorrow on some one else. This way we'll be able to create more Bindra's in the country. It's time to instill some senses back in the brains of decision makers to create a strong system for sports and sportsmen to thrive. Otherwise it'll probably take another 25 years to grab the next gold at the Olympics.
Also read http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/sep/04spec.htm
in Telegraph I came across this article where the writer echoes my sentiments !
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080821/jsp/opinion/story_9718064.jsp
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Know thyself !
I was inspired to write this after reading an article on rediff ! (yeah I somehow still like rediff ). The link to that article has been provided at the end of the blog.
The moment you meet someone for the first time it's common practice in our country to ask "where are you from"............that's been a tough question for me. I have had to go through this routine.
Stranger/friend: So elli, Bangaloora
me: No, I am from Palghat, Kerala
stranger/new friend : So you are a mallu.
me: No I speak tamil at home and have been in Bangalore for 9 long yrs and so I know Kannada
This has been a routine conversation each time I meet someone at Bangalore.
The fact of the matter is my roots or so called origin is Palghat, Kerala and I belong to this community commonly referred to as Palghat Iyer's, but I have never lived there. I was not even born there.My parents were not even brought up there but I still claim that I belong to Palghat. My grandparents moved out of Palghat in their teens probably. It's getting a little dizzying right now.
I had my schooling at Trivandrum, college at Bangalore and working in Bangalore/Dallas. Yet I speak a language that is not a part of any of the three places. Every region I have lived in has left an impression on me....my lifestyle, food, dress, language etc.
As the article says life has become a nomad of sorts where in constant quest for economic prospects ( job is an economic factor) people (in fact Indians) travel to wherever there's an opportunity waiting. They start living there and modifying their lifestyles to suit that place. They start drawing influences from that region and start undergoing a change. Imagine a person who has lived across 3-4 regions in his life span.
For me to trace my roots has been easy since my parents constantly remind me about the place, the culture. My food habits and customs followed at home are still authentic to Palghat.
The article also makes an interesting mention about the challenges this pose to new generation kids. They have a tough time tracing their roots.
The same question........"where are you from" might be daunting for a kid. For e.g: my niece who is 2 yrs old might have a tough time accepting the fact that she's from Palghat, forget telling others. She does not even remember India forget visiting Palghat. Imagine the challenges that she would have as a kid or my sister would have explaining it to her. My sister tells me that the little one is learning English faster than it's mother tongue !
As more and more Indians make the world a "flat" place and migrate such cases are going to increase. Will smaller communities cease to exist, will unique small cultures, customs fade away ....I don't know just yet, ASK THYSELF !!!!!!!!!
also read : http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/07guest1.htm
The moment you meet someone for the first time it's common practice in our country to ask "where are you from"............that's been a tough question for me. I have had to go through this routine.
Stranger/friend: So elli, Bangaloora
me: No, I am from Palghat, Kerala
stranger/new friend : So you are a mallu.
me: No I speak tamil at home and have been in Bangalore for 9 long yrs and so I know Kannada
This has been a routine conversation each time I meet someone at Bangalore.
The fact of the matter is my roots or so called origin is Palghat, Kerala and I belong to this community commonly referred to as Palghat Iyer's, but I have never lived there. I was not even born there.My parents were not even brought up there but I still claim that I belong to Palghat. My grandparents moved out of Palghat in their teens probably. It's getting a little dizzying right now.
I had my schooling at Trivandrum, college at Bangalore and working in Bangalore/Dallas. Yet I speak a language that is not a part of any of the three places. Every region I have lived in has left an impression on me....my lifestyle, food, dress, language etc.
As the article says life has become a nomad of sorts where in constant quest for economic prospects ( job is an economic factor) people (in fact Indians) travel to wherever there's an opportunity waiting. They start living there and modifying their lifestyles to suit that place. They start drawing influences from that region and start undergoing a change. Imagine a person who has lived across 3-4 regions in his life span.
For me to trace my roots has been easy since my parents constantly remind me about the place, the culture. My food habits and customs followed at home are still authentic to Palghat.
The article also makes an interesting mention about the challenges this pose to new generation kids. They have a tough time tracing their roots.
The same question........"where are you from" might be daunting for a kid. For e.g: my niece who is 2 yrs old might have a tough time accepting the fact that she's from Palghat, forget telling others. She does not even remember India forget visiting Palghat. Imagine the challenges that she would have as a kid or my sister would have explaining it to her. My sister tells me that the little one is learning English faster than it's mother tongue !
As more and more Indians make the world a "flat" place and migrate such cases are going to increase. Will smaller communities cease to exist, will unique small cultures, customs fade away ....I don't know just yet, ASK THYSELF !!!!!!!!!
also read : http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/07guest1.htm
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