Marine Drive

It is one of those phases in life when you get numb as a result of monotony , become slave of routine and end up being at boring best . I wanted to change this so ,i decided to get back to my first love, cycling!It never failed to enthuse and clear my clogged thought process.

So here i embarked on my 3 month old cycle , with my fancy headset on , started off around 4 am . As soon as i ventured out , was greeted by howls and incessant barkings of a pack of rowdy dogs .Quite peculiar is their behavior , during mornings they play "Jerry" , At the stroke of midnight they guard their territories like Afghan warlords and treat me like i am one English man in their Indian lands. Best way deal with them is to keep your head at one distant point and march ahead , despite their war-cries , i did the same . At a turning i took a rough census ,good god , around twenty of them .Was glad to escape their wrath.

After the unsavoury encounter ,Started cruising down the lanes , whizzing past early birds of the day, some had queer expressions when i met their eye , May be they don't understand my quest , or they would have wondered what on earth does this young man cycling for at this unearthly hour?Well, i answered them with similar queer looks.

Twisted , turned , rode with mad rage when i hit those roads which i normally would be waiting endlessly along with co-chennaittes cursing the signals and people who breach the yellow lakshman rekhas . There is some pleasure when you ride a bicycle , especially when you have the liberty to travel bothways , in a oneway, park in a noparkings, using the bell repeatedly indicating your grand arrival in every other turn and narrow alleys , But i didn't give specific attention to these pleasure giving details, which gave me immense pleasures during my school days.

The journey swallowed half-an hour and while Chennai still sleeping i entered the beach road , parked my suzuki carelessy and went towards the shore . The beach didn't look any different from 8 pm , the difference is, you can see sea of humanity sleeping on the sands at this hour ,which is normally occupied by sooth-sayers, forlorn singles , lovelorn Couples and other assorted groups in the society . It is actually bad to see those homeless people sleeping under their roofless bedrooms . But dare not ask them , during these hot hmonths ,Chennaites are put to greatest amounts of discomforts , they would do anything for a waft of fresh breeze .Considering the adjacent areas of the beach are congested , these people could be from those localities . Siphoning off with the aforesaid conclusion, i waited for Mr. Sungod to bath the sea with light.

It was around 5:30 am ,i realised that my wait is going to be wasted, for the sun hid behind the massive clouds for a long time .So, Headed home from the place which is a solace for every troubled human, the wonderful Marina bathed in morning light , faded faraway from my sight .

Reached home around 6:20 am , discounting the amount of time i spent relishing the tender coconut , it took 35 minutes to reach home and covered around 28 Kms .It was a refreshing ride and it did clear my clogged mind and am now well prepared for the adversities of life

Success after 28 years

Wow moment for the team had come at the right moment . The events preceding tthis moment, over a year and half were overwhelming. There were plenty of hurdles , expectations, hopes prayers .With those prayers ,answered , hopes fulfilled ,niggles, gently managed, team India arrived at a place where every other cricket team would dream of.

Dhoni's captaincy has been the talk of the tournament .He was always been questioned about his moves and choices , luckily , he got all of them right! He couldn't have been more categorical to his naysayers , when he explained the possible questions that might arise if the team ended up in the losing side .This shows how the captain is not overwhelmed by the triumph , but also looks into what ifs and what nots ( like 12 bmovie huh? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12B ).Dhoni the man is lauded here, a true leader. With all the passion running high , only god knows what would have happened , if the team had lost. My fullest respects to our captain .

Sachin ! is the unifying factor in the team, it was very good of the young boys to dedicate this victory to the master. Sachin couldn't have asked for more . More than the cup the dedication and respect shown by his team mates is one worthy thing none can get that easily. HE is one true god of cricket !

Now what , the the team is having a windfall from this world cup.There are some people questioning the volume of gifts being given to the players. It should be understood that, half of the present players in the team had chosen this profession during their early days of childhood just for the passion of the game rather than for earning money ,unlike the present MBAs, ( MLAs too ??) , Software engineers , bankers etc. The distinction here is very clear, it is passion vs money. If the cricketers are to be questioned for their windfalls, then the entire society is to be questioned.

1983 winners were paid some meagre amount when compared to the professions of that time, but still they played on, enthralled the spectators with their athleticism .The momentum gained then ,had now ended as one phenomenon . So here, instead of getting into this issue of why cricketers being more ,the topic should be shifted to get into the details of what takes for any sport to get to the stature and the following cricket had got in India.

People ,The Gift of Egypt

Been a while since i posted. It is a result of long paucity of thoughts, but not until the recent Egyptian revolution . This unity factor in the Egyptian uprising was mind-boggling

From Egyptian Revolution , what iminent is the fact that, any force met with opposition of a true force of democracy is bound to fizzle out. Even though plenty of other factors played in toppling the dictatorial government , like say, Military's cooperation , west's non-intervention( which otherwise would have added the unwanted "color" to this revolution ) ,what stands out is the fact that people resorted to non-violent means in achieving the unachievable. Vital facts are not at my disposal to elaborate and analyze this democratic phenomenon and that is not my intent in this post too.

It is about the intangible force that a society possesses to safeguard its interest and the 'reasonable' interests of the world. The force of unity which is largely absent in our country , gave way to many social evils , eviler than the pre-independent India. The vices of corruption, bribery,violence,continue to co- exist with the structures which are meant to correct them . This sort of existence not only fails to correct the evils but also leads to many other problems .

There are messiahs in our society who fight against the societal evils and end up on the receiving end as if they are misfit in the society , the recent Binayak Sen's case standing testimony to this .Why such a positive interventions are pillorized ? The answer is Unity or the connivance of the evil forces on the other side, the evil side !. Why the society does not want an just , safe and secure environment? doesn't it want the children to thrive in a society devoid of ills?., if yes ,then why is the cohesiveness is a big amiss ?,if a evil force can 'unite' to thwart good, why can't the so called good unite too? and why does that unison happens only during candle light marches , and debating during aftermaths of tragic events? All these questions are not new .they have been asked repeatedly only to be turned down by the same disinterested "candle-light marching , debating, all talk no action people "

The recent murder of a college girl in a broad day light gives frightening picture of what this society is evolving into, and , what is more shocking is that, no mortal came forward to give eye-witness. What are we really?

No leader , no Politician, can bring about a change for the society that doesn't want to change.

Problems are not human specific , or religion specific , or caste specifc, If a person from a particular religion is mobbed, it is not religious problem, It is a scoietal problem

With the world cup around the corner, I see advertisements flashing with, young and old charged up with 'so called patriotism' cheering for India, but ,fail to do so when the same Cricket is ridden with controversies. How long will it take to convert the same energy into this. How long will it take to protest against discrepancies in cricketing world (read IPL) .

Keeping aside cricket , taking day to day events which have serious effects on the society invites lackluster response . Candle light marches and subsequent anniversaries of bizzare events that follow, are definitely a blunt response to a very serious problem . How long the society is going to tolerant and self-centered . It was'nt the way it is during the pr-independence era. Barring a few, majority of the Indians were united in demand for independence .Why was independence was such a necessity then? How different is the free India now .I feel it(society ) is still ridden social evils , repression etc very native to the colonial era.

Egypt , a case to be referred in each and every democratic forum . A MILITARY government enjoying the support of THE west was overthrown in a matter of 18 days is no joke. optimists may argue that we Indians are tolerant race , and time will come when the tolerant Indian will turn into a torrent against the evils , but a strong disagreement to this also prevails . Disagreement because of the direction in which world is shaping in to and the increasing role of India in the Worldly affairs.

The growth and soft-power status and west's interests in India , makes the people search for their share in the increasing economic activity . There can only be less moral factor in attaining the economic goals in this set-up

I see there is no problem with various systems, Procedures and structures in India . There needs to be an "attitudinal shift" rather than a political shift. Shift from Saffron,Red,Green and an attitude that accomodates the diversity , question (with unity ) the ills ,relentless pursuit for justice.

Jai Jawan,Jai Kisan , Jai Hind

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The above post was written Pre- Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption . Was expecting something of this sort, Though were involvement of some comical elements ,(like say, unwarranted participation of Bollywood faces and why do they show their made up pretty face n every other occassion?? Phew!) ,It kind of reflects the common man's anger, but not fully . It is just a spark to ignite the ignominy of corruption and its cousins . Hope the movement moves in its destined path .

Ashtama sanee

Yes! What happens when the staunch non-believer of astrology and its associated superstitions ,encounters a series of failures . And what remedial measures are suggested for course correction ? Hmm ..Yeah! i can hear people shouting astrology!! ( defects ) .

Yes!, my earthly existence is decided by some ruddy 9 planets [(a) sad that pluto is no more , but astro-gurus still use 9 b) Why no comets , i think they are cute with a tail c) Why not the asteroids, they aren't cute though d) why not the objects of the neighbouring galaxies? )] , And their eliptical ( path is altered and given some place along the veritices and edges of a star drawn on a small book , And This shall be my life-map which shall decide my social patterns, logical reasoning , marital prospects, core competence, and brighter n darker sides . Damn! i dont understand how is that possible . No i did not go through sufficient literature in astrology , But still i cant understand this astrological propositions and predictions . But , then i decided to get into the merits of astrology.

The recent predictions say June is moment of triumph in my life, and that is when all is going to be well .

fingers crossed !

P.S . for the uninitiated http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shani

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/bertrand_piccard_s_solar_powered_adventure.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/bertrand_piccard_s_solar_powered_adventure.html

Bend it like Murali

10 and odd years back, with my narrow views, and unflinching support for nation's cricket team, i strongly disagreed each and every show of talent against our cricketers. I didn't accept Murali either, So did thousand others and prominents of the cricketing fraternity . Well, was he bogged down by those criticisms, no !or did he lose his enthusiasm.? no! no!. His focus coupled with dignity and grace is a thing to be learnt by the sportsmen of the generations to come.

800th in his final test is a fitting end to this man's illustrious career. Still ,there could be people criticizing this man, while i changed my views, and I am in full of admiration for this man, more for the way he carried himself all throught his 18 year career.There are less chances for anybody to break his record for at least say 20 years ,or more!!

Murali tussi great ho !!!!