Another memorable year archived to history…!

It's been a year of many ups and downs – a roller coaster of a ride world wide. Life has traversed almost 365 days and though at a personal level – it has been a routine, that has nothing much to write about, - things around my world of interest have seen a sea change.

In spite of the fact that I have interests in varied fields – politics, sports, music, cinema, entertainment, environment, technology and more – following sports in general has always taken up most of my time, and cricket in particular has had some phenomenal performances that I would want to record during the course of this year-end summary for my diary.

A year that I cherish for having put back on track my passion for writing, especially this blog, also will be remembered for a few sad moments too. There are quite a few things during the year that stand out; top among them would be the moment I decided to embrace vaishnavism in totality – the Samasrayanam on October 1 would, I am sure, bring more inner peace to me and my family. Growth at work place is always reckoned as recognition of the dedication and this year too saw a climb of one rung up the ladder.

Having completed 1 year at my all-new ‘Dream home’ which is also completion of 3 decades at the same address is an achievement that marks the tranquility that life brings here.

The deaths and destruction caused across the world and in India have always pained me and this year too there was a fair share of such moments - the heightened terror strikes on Mumbai – being the lowest point. Personally losing my uncle (in Chennai) gave much grief, one which my family has slowly come to terms with.

For one always aiming to lead a very simple and principled life, giving much importance to ethics and morals – the year saw many a person I am associated with, transgress the set norms, giving much heart burn – and all I could do was watch in despair – a mute spectator. I pray, the New Year would give me lesser occasions of the kind to be witness to.

For the Cricket fanatic in me, this year would be remembered for, apart from many innings, the triple hundred by Sehwag against SA at Chennai, the swashbuckling innings of my International favourites – Greame Smith, Chris Gayle, McCullum and Sangakkara and the big victories in Tests for India versus the World’s top two teams (Aus & SA) and of course for the God of them all – Sachin Tendulkar – for not just going past Brian Lara and 12000 runs but also for burying the ghost of ‘having never scored’ the “fourth innings-century-enabling India win in Tests”. Yes he shall carry on into another year the spirit of ‘many an Indian hope’, and I wish he scale many more heights in his long and illustrious career.

As I reminisce of all the people who have travelled along with me through my life of almost 4 decades and continued to be supportive in the year that is coming to an end - a special mention of the newer friends who have come along and joined as co travellers in this journey, among them a young and bubbly decade and half junior from my school.

"New Year resolutions are made to be broken", says a good techie friend of mine, so in order to subvert this notion, and to break an addiction of over 22 years, I've advanced my 'resolution' by a few days - more on this later!

My new acquisition of the year – an i10 car in May, is one of the prized possessions that will vroom along with me and my family into the New Year with the renewed hope of finding peace, prosperity and virtues to make us all good human beings…!

With the thought:

"However dark and dense the clouds may be,

Sun will shine back.

And it will shine the brightest."

I wish a very Happy New-s Year 2009

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The way We look at things

This is an interesting piece - I've saved for posterity

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be.

They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family.

When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

"Very good, Dad!"

"Did you see how poor people can be?" The father asked. "Yeah!”    "And what did you learn?"

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”.

It all depends on the way you look at things?

You can have all the material possessions, but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

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A Journalistic Shame

Muntazer al-Zaidi has violated the ethics of journalism, that prescribes a reporter must only be a medium to convey news, not become The News himself.

Independently a reporter can have his own choices and prejudices, but at a Press conference - it is imperative to be unbiased and not opinionate, I as a reader don't like to be told through news columns -This is RIGHT, This is WRONG. Give me news... I'll make my own conclusion.

Iam NO journalist NOR am I a big fan of the Americans in general or the Bush Administration in particular, but then I detest the "purported heroism" of the jingoistic reporter, who has put to shame many a seasoned journalist.

I would like to know from Journalist friends - If ever they would've felt proud doing that...! If they thought it was "A Brave act" - I'd say it was just a stupid act, and the fraternity should not empathise with him.

Reason or No Reason - It's truly in POOR TASTE...!

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Hail Sachin Tendulkar

When Sachin scored the winning run, without losing concentration..

The nation celebrated the moment, giving him a standing ovation..

Scoring the winning run to reach 103 & take India to 387, an improbable victory over England in the 1st Test at M.A.Chidambaram, Chennai. December 15, 2008

FOR someone who has scored 12413* Runs in 155 Test with 41 Hundreds and 51 fifties, and 16422 Runs in 419 ODIs with 42 Centuries and 90 fifties… This may have been just another boundary…

( * Scores As on Date)

… For me it was that one blemish (as people always referred to it) that will be wiped out...!
YES! A century in the fourth innings of a Test that led India to VICTORY …!

Salute to the Maestro – The Legend

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An Inspirational Poem

I N V I C T U S

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

- by William Ernest Henley.

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A sustained peaceful outrage

---------------- A Week After it all began ----------------

That last 7 days have been spent with an overdose of media coverage of the Mumbai terror events, however the fall out has been stupendous, there is a mass uprising sort happening here across the country. People are up against the Politicians and the bureaucratic system, where there has been no accountability - people are up against the same.

There are street meetings, public rallies, candle light vigils, slogans - on television, in print, online, blogs, articles, posts on sites, text messages, emails - there seems to be no end to the public response that is one of the most non violent, but at the same time angry, protests ever seen in recent times in India.

If there was any thing close to this, was the Anti ‘Mandal Commission’ revolt of 1990s, which was targeted at the then PM VP Singh's policies - Ironically V.P. Singh passed away, amidst all the suspense that the nation was witnessing in Mumbai, with next-to-nothing coverage in the media.

The politicians for their part, of both the ruling Congress led UPA and the Opposition - the BJP and its allies in the NDA and the Communists have tried with varied consequences to reap mileage of the Mumbai Terror events.

Even as the politicians were facing scathing attack, for their lackadaisical approach to safeguarding the lives of the citizens and the non-responsiveness to intelligence alerts (if there were actually any), comes their foot-in-mouth comments that added insult to injury.

The issue whether India may or may not attack Pakistani Terror camps may be debated across the television studios, political board-rooms, diplomatic meetings and summits, with obvious political overtones and ramifications before any conclusive decision is taken.

In a way the prospective “war” may not serve the purpose of the people who lost their lives in the Mumbai carnage, their grieving families and the millions who seethed in anger across the country.

The point that the people of India are trying to drive through the sustained peaceful outrage is – “We Want Permanent Peace”, the clichés are flying thick and fast – “Enough is enough”, “Quit India”, “Stop terrorism”, “Awakening India”, "We want actions not words" … the list is endless, but the sentiment is the same, we want :

A Peaceful India

A Nation struggling with lawlessness

The siege of Mumbai has ended finally. The nation heaves a sigh of relief, but the scars are indelible. That these are not the first scars and will not be the last either (hope I am proved wrong on this last count) is a fact that every one of us have started to live with.

60 hours later and after the loss of over 200 lives, many questions have cropped up after the sustained terror attack on Mumbai. Some unanswered questions need to be answered.

How many terrorists were there? Who was responsible? How long have they been planning - months, weeks and days before the attacks? How could they have carried so much ammunition with them? How did they have such an intimate knowledge of the terrain? Were there locals? The terrorists are said to have done extensive reconnaissance of the city. If they are Pakistanis, how did they get earlier entry to the city unnoticed? How did they come in by boat? Or did they use other routes to escape notice?
These are just a few questions, these and more will have to be answered and addressed by the Government!

But one question that rankles me to no end is: Were there locals involved?

The terrorists seem to have had extensive training and preparation, possibly on models of the places of attack and on enduring a long drawn battle with the military forces – this gets me to have an emphatic YES as an answer to the question – Were there locals? For they could not have succeeded in the suicide mission with out local ground support.

But then Why? Why would locals get involved in killing innocent countrymen? Hunger? Unemployment? Lack of opportunity? Jingoistic strife?

It could be anything – what drives these youth to get involved. I tried deliberating and found no particular answer.

We are a nation of lawlessness; I am not referring just to the governments and politicians in power, but to every single citizen who takes ample pride in breaking the law.

In NO way I am being cynical about the state of affairs when I say “the administrators of this country have for ages have been breeding corruption in all walks of life.” The corruption has percolated deeply into the very roots of society that was once known to be the most simplistic and god fearing about a century ago (we continue to be god fearing – more for the CURE than as prevention). The levels of corruption wary with need and the need grows with every opportunity. There ceases to be no reason for the want to lessen.

As the initial fear of doing wrong subsides, the pattern turns an avocation, a habit that slowly gains in momentum and turns into an addiction. An addiction that brings with it fruits of long lasting pleasures. Thus is born a way of life – that which has its foundation laid on unlawfulness.

The Society is NOW in a ROTTEN state. A state of NO return, we are witness to corruption, from simple road rules to the complex laws, the loopholes are first studied and exploited. Here laws are THE exception. Responsibility towards the nation is unheard of, towards the self is waning, and towards the society comes with a price. A price laid down by the corrupt law-makers.

Almost every individual gets into the blame game, blame the civic authorities, the government, the employers, the society at large and the recklessness of life – the basic fact is, each one of us are equally to be blamed – for we have contributed our might to the growth of the current filth.

Self introspection is the key – No amount of debates and discussions, blaming the media, the politicians, the law, the law enforcement agencies, the booming population can bring solution to this rut.

As the search for the answers continue – more seemingly gullible youth will fall prey to easy money unaware of the consequences, and even if aware – fall prey to the luster that brings with it presumptive prosperity - This malady needs a permenant cure.

A silent prayer for the innocent victims and a Salute to the scores of policemen, commandos and the unsung firemen.

Running out of patience and endurance

"... We will take the strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts. We are determined to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety and security of our citizens...."

- Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Mr. Manmohan Singh

Terrorists have again selected Mumbai as their base to spread terrorism.

It is very disgusting to see the terrorist striking the cities at will and at regular frequencies. Every time the leaders have some improbable explanation.. One thing that comes out loud and clear time and again is the exposure of the vulnerability of our intellgence system.

Hope the Prime Minister and the "Political" Administration keeps their promise to "take the strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts" - For the people of this country are fast running out of patience and endurance.

24 hrs and the gun battle still rages on in Mumbai!

More on this sooon....! Until then - Pray! The Situation comes back to normalcy.

The fun of travelling in Second Class

Train travel has always been a very exhilarating experience.

However over the years, it’s become boring mainly due to being caged in the Air conditioned compartments that give very little view of the outside world, sans the fresh air and the noisy surroundings. Travel time is spent mostly with books or sleep in state-owned rugs or the odd chat with the co-passenger.

A last minute trip gave me an opportunity to relive the growing up days. Call it ill luck or providence I was left with no choice but travel by Sleeper Class or Second Class as we always knew it.

From the moment I boarded the train, I never regretted having this chance of going Second Class, I felt earthly sitting in the train amidst the cackle of the vendors and the chatter of co passengers.

My daughter was mighty pleased with the view from the window, the refreshing breeze that cut the rocking and the crackling of the train.

The trees seemed to be disciplined in their line formation and were passing at intermittent intervals. The greenery was all encompassing.

I reveled silently in the verdancy and felt at peace gazing out of the window continuously. It was the perfect way to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of living in a choked metropolis.

The tranquility was amazing and it was intermission time with nightfall.

I woke up to the first ray of sunlight cutting through the glass window and soon continued to relish the chill in the air.

Couple of hours after dawn we reached our destination and the world soon turned concrete.


I am yearning for more of this pleasure which had nothing “second class” stamped on it.


An experience that surely reflects my way of life – Down to earth Simple…!

Nostalgic trip down memory lane...!

June 1990: I joined as a Medical representative and was posted in Chennai. My office was on the beach road behind Santhome Church and the work area was Purasawakkam, Doveton, Vepery, Vyasarpadi, MKB Nagar, Moolakadai, Kodingyur, Red Hills and Uthukottai.
Well, new to Chennai, it took me some days to get to know these places, then the people and their whims and fancies. I took a room - a single room accommodation - in what was touted as Bachelor's Paradise - Triplicane.

At 20 years, I learnt to live alone, commute on buses to office and place of work, every day eating at a new joint - breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Had quite a few friends - mostly Hindi speaking - common thread - Non Chennai Bachelors.

Apart from the weekend getaway to relatives' places in and around the far off Tambaram, my only other time pass was the beach, movies - mostly Tamil, the only Hindi movies I saw in Chennai then was Aashiqui & Naam, and the endless discovery of the lanes and by lanes of Chennai on foot.

Six months later I bid adieu to Chennai to be back permanently to Hyderabad - my home!

I carried many memories, the late night binges, the care free lifestyle, the solitary travels and travails, the road side eateries and the endless walking. I also found my caption for life during these days - An insurance company advertisement hoarding on Mount Road screamed "Life is Too Wonderful to be Spent Worrying"...! I captured that as my own for life...! Even today I believe in the borrowed adage.

18 years later: October 2008:
I am back in Chennai, for a holiday with my family. On a Sunday morning I take my cousin's bike on a drive through the lanes and by lanes of Triplicane, my room in Lal Begum street (incidentally I was one of the 1st residents of the then newly opened Mansion - see pic), the shop in Big street, the breakfast hotel on Pycrofts road, the lunch mess on Triplicane high road, the dinner joint (a small dhaba kind) on Bells road and of course to the home of a very old friend on Meeyan Sahib street. A really nostalgic trip down memory lane...!

Time flies, infrastructure develops, technology takes over, people grey...

What remain are the fond memories...!

The Chennai Diary

The Dasara Holidays for my daughter was the ideal vacation time for my family. Of all the exotic locations that I could think of, One name missing was Chennai. Well I ended up going to Chennai - more on a religious trip - rather.

Its been an exhilarating and enlightening trip, for I realised the Vaishnava in me.

Hectic - would be an understatement for the seven days passed off in a jiffy, criss crossing the city and its environs, catching up with relatives after almost a decade, and also a few friends after 18 years.

Fortunately I found the weather not too hot, sultry though. I liked the organised traffic in Chennai (surely something that's missing in Hyderabad). However the density of population leaves little to manouvre... Well I wasn't driving though.

I admired the Navaratri celebrations.. the Kolu, the fanfare, the shopping centres of Usman Road, T Nagar, Pondy Bazar... The unwavering autowallahs, the ever crowded city buses, the deft driving of the Taxis, the silent yet swift electric trains, the enchanting Marina beach, and the early to rise spirited Chennai-ites.

The highlight of the trip was the visit to Singa Perumal Koil near Chenglepet for the Samasrayanam. There is an excellent writeup and summary of Samasrayanam in this link: http://saranagathi.org/blogs/articles/samasrayanam/)

I found Chennai - A metro quite different from the other three big ones, one that is passionate about everything it does.

A salute to the Capital city... from a born tamilian who just spent six months here - almost two decades ago!

Back to Hyderabad - I feel the cooler weather - a home coming that's well - Home...! and that's where the heart is !!!

Dare Not Defy this Ban

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has promised to impose a ban on smoking in public places from October 2 this year. He says, "An act on no smoking in public places has been brought out by the Centre two-and-a-half years ago, but it remained only on paper. Now, we have made a modification in the already enforced rule, and from October 2, 2008, the modified rule will be enforced strongly across the country,"

As per the revised rules, smoking is banned in shopping malls, cinema halls, public/private work place, hotels, banquet halls, discotheques, canteen, coffee house, pubs, bars, bus stands, airport lounge, railway stations",

According to the newly notified rules, owners, proprietors, managers, supervisors or officers in-charge of public places have to ensure that “no ashtrays, matches, lighters or other things designed to facilitate smoking are provided in public places”. In case they fail to implement the ban, the authorised officer shall be liable to pay fines equivalent to the number of individual offences that take place in areas under his or her jurisdiction.

Those caught smoking in these "public places" will be fined Rs 200 and the amount is likely to be increased to Rs 1,000 in the future. Organisations, which allow employees to smoke within their building premises, will in turn have to pay Rs 5,000 per employee caught smoking.

The Exemption
Smokers' only refuge would be the road or parks. Now why this exemption - As if these places aren't all that polluted already?
Like a wag said: "Cigarette peene walon ko toh Road par la diya"

If Draconian refers to the laws created by Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offenses had heavy punishments! Then is this Ramadoss-ian?

I would love to see this law implemented in full just like the many successful Road Rules (helmets, seatbelts, Drunken driving, juvenile driving, lane discipline etc etc) / Anti Corruption Laws / law barring candidates with criminal records from contesting elections / The Dowry act / Child Labour / ... well the list may be endless and a few hundreds more of such that have been implemented strictly first by the law makers before passing it on to the common man.

I am trying NOT to be cynical or indifferent...!

I said.... I am........ Trying...!!!

People's Verdict: A Joke...!

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has presided over blast after serial blast and has seemed as clueless as the man on the street, he has helplessly watched the Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bombay, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Delhi blasts and countless other incidents.

Among his other (in) famous claim to fame is the famous quote on how if political parties are demanding the hanging of Afzal Guru for his conviction in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case then India would lose the right to ask Pakistan to pardon Sarabjit Singh.

Patil said, “People are saying that don’t hang an Indian in Pakistan, Sarabjit and then are demanding hanging of a Pakistani, Afzal Guru…this is not fair”. (Well Afzal Guru is not a Pakistani. That the Union Home Minister was not even aware of the basic facts of the case is inexcusable.)

Even as the Union Railway Minister stops short of asking for Patil's head and then does a U-turn in saying "Patil's resignation no solution to terror", we are left wondering why this unique poverty of political acumen in this nation...?
In the first place how did the learned Prime Minister INSULT the people's verdict by installing some one who was rejected by the popular vote as the country's Home Minister.

Was he not the one who was rejected by the majority in his "home" town Latur in 2004 and subsequently after being sworn in as Union Minister filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha to legitimate his appointment?
What else do you expect from the rulers of this country who are Losers in the first place and who are mute spectators in safeguarding the Nation.

Well said Lalu: "Patil's resignation no solution to terror" - For another joker will take his place and the 'Gandhi sycophants' will sings paeans to the "secular" ideology of the new recruit and his loyalty to the family...!

As you and me are left wondering - Why DO we need to Vote? For Change?

- To Hell with Change...! Who Cares two hoots...!

An Impressive "First Show"

A mammoth gathering, a glittering stage, the seven hills backdrop... well "Truly Mega" is in short the launch of "Praja Rajyam", the new political outfit launched by the famed matinee idol Chiranjeevi.

The long awaited political foray, given the clichéd dialogues that kept hinting at the political move from Indra to Tagore to Stalin, finally happened at Tirupati. The fans frenzy may have left a few thousands may be lakhs scurrying to avoid the stampede, but then it was this frenzy that has catapulted the anti-hero to the Mega status that Chiranjeevi enjoys in his 3 decades of filmdom. Even as he fumbles with his words (no more dialogues) and juggles the usage of Telugu and English words, one thing is clear... he is here to stay. Unlike the Sharath Kumars and the Vijaykanths of Tamil Nadu Chiranjeevi is a much bigger force to reckon - here in Andhra Pradesh.

The filmi start to the public meeting, the punch packed narration of his life before films, the well rehearsed speech are things the Megastar is always comfortable with. But the well scripted Agenda of the Praja Rajyam party with issues, like Telangana statehood demand, naxalism and categorisation of Scheduled Castes, being touched upon just to get the pulse of the critics and the established parties racing is commendable.

The Flag: It's a pleasant combination, with the usual message.
For some one who has been a fan of the filmstar - the Mega entry into politics - at least the entry - is nothing short of "Impressive".

Wait I am not saying I am to shift allegiance so soon

Well I would wait and watch to say more - for in true filmy style "Picture ab hi toh shuru huyi hai"

Deafening Silence

SRINAGAR AUGUST 15, 2008: At exactly 8am, CRPF hoisted the Indian Tricolour at Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar on Independence Day. At 3.45pm, Lal Chowk wore a totally different look. Hundreds of slogan-shouting protesters swarmed the area and at 4pm and planted the flags of Jamaat-e-Islami (which looks like the Pakistani flag) and the terrorist outfit, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, on top of the same tower where the Indian flag had been hoisted.

A news that should set every Indian's blood boiling...! NOT for the MOST Secular Government of India. Shudder to think if the reaction will be the same "IF" one day (hopefully not) this happens atop Red Fort in New Delhi.Every big and small politician of the United Progressive Alliance reached the roof tops of TV studios - big and small - to proclaim their displeasure at the happenings in Gujarat. NO the Laloos and the Paswans see no further above New Delhi for any publicity. No REACTIONS either from the depleted Gandhi family or the entourage of sychopants that follow them. NO acerbic comments from the big wigs of the Sangh and its affliations - the Sarkars and the Sarkar Rajs.

Leaves a bitter taste to hear this deafening silence...!

Here is a SILENT PROTEST to the official apathy.

Kashmir and minority appeasement

MY political views have always been radical, but then I don’t sympathize with the ‘leftists’!
My religious views have been very unexpressive, but then I stop short of sounding like a ‘rightist’ when I express. I hate the pseudo secular power hungry 100+ year old political party, which thrives on the poor, the illiterate voters and the born sycophants who eulogize the dumbest of their leaders to no end.

But then when reams and reams of newsprint and hours and days of news bytes go into talking for and against the citizen of this country – very clearly differentiated on religious lines, I have no reason not to express my own views on this. Firstly I don’t hate the minorities, I hate their appeasement – I hate the way they are treated as vote bank. No I am not trying to be politically correct in saying this… for I believe in the simple truth of life – Equality.
If that is so, then why do you have an Amarnath issue that needs hours and days of political debate, but no one was consulted when Haj subsidies were implemented (so I believe… was there a discussion?) What M.F Hussain does is Art and what Modi’s men speak is ‘fanatical’, NO – I don’t subscribe to the Modi way of life and thought, but aren’t these Congressmen to be blamed for the backlash, where a majority is made to look like slaves and the minority – which incidentally is basking in all the attention showered and is greedily expecting more!
I may sound ill informed, true to a large extent, but why is Kashmir always the bone of contention, what have the two countries each holding on to a share of the ‘Kashmir’ doing to make it really worth owning. What have the successive Indian governments over the past 6 decades done to alleviate the living conditions of the people of this region?
Questions that have answers – but then who want answers – as long as there are minorities – as long as they are illiterate – poverty stricken – appeased and pampered – there will be power mongers who will fill their coffers.
Kashmir and minorities are a creation of “the mother (and also the grandfather, son, daughter-in-law) of all political parties” and their personalized policies!

So for now the flavour of the season is Kashmir – that we will hear hogging the headlines and ‘Breaking News’ for long – tomorrow, and when it comes there will be another.
Its Elections time soon – Lets NOT expect anything to change!

61 years and going strong

“There cannot be a more opportune moment to recall the sacrifices of the thousands who lost their lives to secure this freedom”, thus goes in brief many a speech spoken on this day across the country from the ramparts to the backyards, from school grounds to political party offices, Independence has very little meaning in the nation’s context for the remaining part of the year sans this day.
It has not been intentional to sound cynical, but then for someone who believes to be a patriot in the true sense, for someone who feels being a responsible citizen is just a basic requirement, it is hard to digest the hypocrisy of the arm chair preachers who day-in-and-day-out thrive on passing judgement on the dos and don’ts in society and at other times don’t bat an eyelid to do break every possible rule, written and unwritten, ethical and unethical.
Enough of berating the hypocrites, who have governed our lives, lets give a saner thought to freedom. Freedom in the dictionary sense is “The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints”. Well aren’t we getting too prejudiced with the people who think for us, speak for us and also make us think and speak their language? Where has our inner sense of creativity and analytical sense gone? Can we not make our own opinion and stick to it?
This Independence Day, let’s solemnly pledge to “FREE OUR MINDS” of prejudice, contempt, lack of sensitivity towards the surroundings, towards fellow human beings and towards anything that does not belong to ‘us’. Let’s “SPEAK OUR HEARTS” rationally.
Inculcate the habit of being humane; imbibe virtue as a prerequisite to live - like the air we breathe, the water we drink or the food we eat.

Let Freedom be…! In the actual sense – not just a day to remember on I Day, but a cherished luxury that can be made memorable every day in our lives.

Jai Hind

The Golden Moment

28 long years to hear about another Gold medal in Olympics, a period during which the US of A, China, Russia, Australia and the likes picked up a few hundred Gold medals and are still counting… but then why does the entire nation go ga ga over One single Gold medal…?

A Country of 100 million needed more, but then It had to begin, the jinx needed to be broken, an individual medal was something that happened in the last 3 Games (Paes, Malleswari, Rathore), but the elusive Gold finally arrived bringing cheer to this sports starved (save cricket) nation.

Kudos Abhinav Bindra – You’ve really made us proud… A small step for Bindra – A giant leap for India – sounds clichéd?

For a Nation that breeds cynics by the second, thanks to the 24 hour news channels, such moments are to be really cherished with unabashed enthusiasm.

For a true blue sports aficionado, this is truly the defining moment – The Golden Moment of Life…!

The Z effect in venkrekZworld

After a long intermission comes this Blog which shall give momentum to my thoughts. The earlier blog, though with a fixation for cricket, was lacking in continuity for various reasons that are better ignored.

This new avatar has a conspicuous Z in my world. The Z has for long been in existence in my works albeit in a very subtle coded way.
As I begin this new innings of penning my thoughts I promise (to myself) to explore a wider range of subjects, an exploration of the various interests that govern me and my world, of course with the renewed promise of originality.

The passion for sport though cannot be forbearing; the pursuit will surely cross the realm of politics, music, world affairs, environment and more…!

Cheerz to the new beginning!!!