Kharagpur Made Man

#MSDhoni, #Kharagpur, # IndianCricket

There is something about Kharagpur that is mystic to my mind. There is  Air, Water, Soil, Railways, IIT, old markets, cycle rickshaws, ground, greenery, muggy summers, thunderstorms, cold winters, marshlands and then there is a railway station. It's just another rusty and sleepy town in the eastern Indian country landscape. This  Railway station was renowned for having the longest platform. Landing on that platform to start a career is common to batches of engineers who shaped the future of the country and world.  Vinod Gupta, Arjun Malhotra, Arun Sarin,  Suhas Patil, Sunder Pitchai, Arvind Kejriwal,  just to name a very few among scores of success stories across the sectors. On this platform, another young man started his journey and what journey was it!. Yes, you are right: M S Dhoni is the name.  The story is known to all and  Rest, as they say, is history. Ranchi takes credit but its Kharagpur which made him...

Mind over Matter

Out of all people in the world, it had to be Robin Williams a comedian. Lot has been already written about depression being the silent killer. Lot of analysis has also been made as to how comedians are most susceptible to depression.  Correctly appearances can be deceptive. People have one face for the physical world; one for virtual and third is the real one.  Nowadays its very important to have balance of mind to deal the situations in life. Modern life with its complicated ways is at its best to as questions each and every minute. So just as we spend time to maintain body, its very imperative to keep mind trained to adapt to various situations of life. Its easy said than done.

Without sounding sermonizing or without a need to repeat clichés, i have a concrete plan. Let me know if it helps

1.       Define your horizon: List down top 10 ten things you want in next 12 months. You will find that the list will have at least 4-5 things which you may like to edit and delete. Assess the list in at least 3 different times and mood. Say when you are partying hard, when something happens which you don’t like and most importantly say  between 4  to 6 am in  the morning fresh after decent rest at some scenic location. The common points in the list will be final. Now don’t worry about moving targets. That’s very important. Else there won’t be contentment. Eg last week I was at Panchgani, at a friend’s house. There i had a temptation to add an item of owning similar place.  So let this list be tight no additions or deletions once you lock it.

2.       Go after it persistently: Now that you have found your list of happiness, you need to act with steady devotion. Maybe on first day there will be disaster, but don’t give up. Be bull headed about action. Work on plan A, B and C to achieve that. Don’t let anyone else’s comments or suggestions affect your decision making though you would like to listen to all. Be aware of all things. Get on top of your schedule.  There will be one day when you will reach that horizon. And you will be very happy

3.       Don’t compare yourself with others: As Ravindranath Thakur said, ‘ekla chalo re’. Your life path has to be walked alone. Your story is unique. Be proud of it. Don’t sympathize with yourself accusing destiny or others for what you feel has gone wrong. Own up the mistake and correct it.  Be in control. Let not vices control you. Easier said than done but keep short targets.  Avoid evils of social media. Don’t get jealous of some ones vacation at exotic places. If you want that let it be in your list first. Don’t allow anyone’s new car or house  to move your target. Be responsible and honest with your own targets.  Only when an item is achieved add another item to replace. Here i won’t say be saint and its but natural for normal people to have endless list. My main point is to prioritize to avoid stress.

4.       Enjoy life’s small things which make you happy be it watching cricket match, reading book, watching movie, listening to music, trekking, playing with kids, whatever. These are constant source of happiness. Have a hobby which will bring down your stress. Dont feel guilty of spending time on these while going after your wish list.

5.       Be fit. ( this is very difficult for me to advise anyone)

6.       Be considerate of others. Sometime you get angry with people around you in family or office. You feel someone is conspiring. Some one is not treating you fairly. Someone ditches you. Some one insults you. Take a deep breath. Try to reason out why that person has done that thing or said something which you did not like. Other people are not inherently evil or stupid. They will have their reason. If in first case you can put your reasoning above them then try to converse with them politely trying to reason them out. Sometimes it may not change situation so be it. In second case if you feel it’s you who need to act in order to improve situation so act.  Point is to put you in others shoes.

7.       You are not god. There are many things you cannot control. Know this inevitable truth.

On this note have a great independence day.  Most of the 67 years have been wasted barring post liberalization boom. Story has to be rebuilt.

On that note how can i complete narrative without politics and sports?

On International side one can feel double standards especially here in India and most of the liberals in west. They are completely quiet about ISIS and other extremist holocausts. Where in self protection of Israel in Gaza has been pointed out repeatedly. World is extremely unsafe thanks to some extremist versions of truth. Same threat extends to India especially as festive seasons are round the corner. This is the time to be vigilant.

New govt has completed 3 months and has made right intentions clear though would have loved them to me more revolutionary in actions especially during budget. But intent is there and govt presence is felt which was missing. Too early to judge but efforts to protect Indians abroad in conflict zones, functioning of parliament, apparent control over prices,  focus on defence etc are notable credits. Monsoons thankfully are not that bad as predicted though some regions still have deficit. Hope for a good revival next month.

Maharashtra is gearing up for elections. Hope we see change there as well to oust the non performing and corrupt regime. LBT issue is unresolved. The opposition parties need to be careful in playing their cards. Pune saw metro announcement amidst politics. BRT, waste management, DP, BPD issues still have no solution. Roads are pathetic thanks to Monsoon. New MPS need to act now. Thankfully again dams are 90% full and water scare is postponed till 2015 without any permanent solution.

Germany won WC. I had predicted same. Most unusual was the 7-1 match. I had never seen such thing happening before that too in WC semis.  Team efforts are more important than Individual brilliance as proven. It was an end of a Spanish era. I felt player of tournament was Robben who was too electric. But as usual Dutch never crossed the line. Some day maybe...

Team England in soccer is what Team India is in cricket. Both teams full of overrated star players. But more than that issue is decline of test cricket in India which is alarming.  No batsmen had patience to build innings. Those who done better in first two tests lie Pujara, Vijay and Rahane , gave it away in next two test. Lords win was great but next two losses showed that Indian juniors are not ready for 4-5 test long series. Max is 3 tests. Board better realizes that. This is effect of IPL and T20. We still are team in transition since 2^nd April 2011. Generation shift and personnel replacement has not happened. Let’s hope last test they will find energy from somewhere to square it up. CWG game gave us smiles but competitive level was bit less. Maybe CWG have lots relevance.  Finally it was good to see some Kabbadi players getting limelight.

Monsoon magic has turned this part into heaven as had first opportunity to experience last week. Where are you heading this long weekend?

Come September

All those young at heart in 60s would definitely remember the ‘Come September ‘tune which was trademark of all Brass Bands during marriages then. For those young in 90s like us would recall its cheap imitation tune on which Madhuri danced to her glory: ‘Nazaraenin Mili Dil Dhadka’ along with stupid and constipated looking Sanjay Kapoor. The original hollywood film is a classic with some great scenes and music. We are here in September 13.

Lot of things have happened last month in personal as well as global context. 
This was time for change. Change of address is one of those changes which take its toll. Thus I am sorry for the hiatus on this space. It also brings along new hopes, new experiences and new perspective. Also the old memories of old address like some life defining events: both good and bad, fun you had, people around etc hound you. It was kind of mixed emotions really. Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain ju mukam.... woh phir nahin aate. I had entered a new address in 2003 from where I shifted to today’s new address in 2013. That year I was on steps of thirties and this year forties are just round the corner. Incidentally I celebrated 10^th birthday in new home as well in 1983 as well as twentieth in new hostel (LLR) in 1993.  Man loves number games. That’s why Sachin’s 200^th test has created storm in India and SA.

Sachin still is non committal about retirement. Cricket is on holiday but promises to return in Oct incidentally in Pune to remain nonstop till world cup 15. ODI team looks settled challenges are in tests and t20s. Leander who is of same age like sachin, and yours truly has defied age in NY. Must say its really a great achievement.  Nadal roared back. Rest all is quiet on sports front since i don’t follow club level soccer, F1 (neo elitists urban happening events). Only thing embarrassed us all was IOA battle with politicians.

On social side, daylight murder of activist Dr Dabholkar and failure of state to maintain law and order highlighted by another Nirbhaya case in Mumbai, was at epicentre. It’s really sad that Maharashtra which has great tradition of dissent, debate, modernism and reforms, stooped down to supari killing to suppress dissent. No clues on motive, and motivators, still there are guesses. But whole affair was shocking and sad.  On other side God men are on wrong side of news. But its surprising why always Hindu institutions are blamed by media or god men ridiculed. Though I m not to judge someone but it’s not just one off case. Nirbhaya verdict to hand death sentence to the rapists was welcomed by society and society really hopes to see this as an impact acting as a deterrent.

Elections 2014 are at centre stage. Modi is India’s only hope to restore the country and economy burdened by lack of policies of wrong policies by UPA govt. Advani dissented but that’s a more democratic sign of functioning than Congress. How we loved Obama Vs Hillary inside democrat party? Is that dissent, possible in Congress? Even Digvijay was shown door at CWC. Even there is a chance that high command will reinstall Kalmadi in Pune Loksabha. That will be a true disaster. But then Indian voting patterns are so scary that we cannot rule out UPA 3 despite so low public credibility, bad mouth , poor performance, corruption if you believe popular media to some extent and social media totally.  Definitely a hung house is on cards. This situation is scarier when the wily opportunists will claim their pound of flesh. I need not name them as we all know who these nationalists or socialists are?

Economy is still scary despite some minor gains on rupee front. Its more political than global issue as explained by our economist PM. Food security, land acquisition and taxation issues need to be revaluated. Need reforms, growth driven model with less subsidies. But for that we need new government. Hope 14 elections will give us this mandate. Thankfully we had good monsoon. But that has not helped eased inflation. Again thanks to some bad governance.

On world stage we have war on our hands as US aggression against Syria takes ominous position. Though Putin had his own way but as always Middle East and regions remains permanent migraine for peace loving people of world. But then world oil economy, capitalism, religion can create a heady cocktail.

Finally we welcomed Ganesha. This blog started in 08 Ganesh Festival. So this blog has lived half a decade. That is a personal landmark though it means nothing more but wish to make more impact in next 5 years.   Each of us can make an impact and I firmly believe the same. That was purpose of Nayakgiri. I pray to Lord Ganesha to give us strength to effect positive changes around us. Happy Ganesh festival to all

Three events close to heart

Finally seems like we have rains in and around Pune for which we were waiting desperately. On this beautiful Friday evening watching rains over hills behind my office between two meetings over a hot cup of tea... (Resolved to avoid kanda bhaji lets see how evening turns over)


I missed out on commenting on three events which are close to heart and related to heart literally in one of them. Let’s start with that one. Heart in this event was that of Uddhav Thakarey. Howsoever outsiders love to hate Thakarey clan; they won’t understand how much they mean to Maharashtrians especially those in Mumbai. I am not being biased or crying victim here, Maharashtra is victim of its own success. The democratic and modernist thoughts in Maharashtra are thanks to some visionary leaders like Tilak, Agarkar, Phule, Ambedkar, and yes Savarkar (thats another topic). The cooperative movement, which has now being milked by all and sundry, actually in its formative days brought prosperity, water and parity to the hinterlands. The industrial policy of state was matched by no other state. Of, course the differentiating factor was presence of Mumbai in Maharashtra. And thats where the paradox is. Mumbai is in Maharashtra but Maharashtrians are outsiders in Mumbai. And i know i will invite wrath of many who will conveniently put pan Indian spirit. Read my leaps i am Indian first, but I need my state and city to respect my local identity (which is subject of ridicule in mainstream media), i love my mother tongue and i also feel justified in limiting unrestrained, unorganized and unsustainable growth thanks to all and sundry pouring in my cities. No complains on equal opportunities but dirty politics played by ruling combination has impacted my state. Be it commercialization, irrelevance of higher education, disaster in basic rural education, non investor friendly environs, corruption, uncontrolled civic growth, lack on emphasis on infrastructure, damage on environment, casteist social structure, vote bank politics and favouritism to elite. Thus its important to get out of this twelve year rule of DF govt. And unity in opposition is key. Though i like Raj Thakaray , but always felt that personal egos don’t matter over collective evil. Though much cannot be made out of hospital visit due to heart problem of Uddhav Thakaray, but if this picture can be extended to political reality, then it can really make difference

Next event uncommented was reinstallation of King Federer at Wimbledon. I have been watching Wimbledon since that epic 80 final between ice Bjorg and hot Mac. That was classic. Bjorg retired and Mac ruled 81, 83, 84 (excluding great match in 82 when Connors won). Then came in young boom boom unseeded Becker ruling 85 and 86. In 86 we had our own Ramesh Krishnan reaching quarterfinals which i think was a great achievement than winning doubles grandslams by current players who chose to fight with each other than play tennis or just be glammer dolls (only repect paes for Olympic bronze).  Becker caught imagination and heart with his dives and power play. Pat Cash a one year wonder came into limelight in 87 just to cruelly destroy dream of Ivan Lendl who never won wimbledon. Over a turbulent period when Berlin wall was broken, cold war end and USSR dissolution, rivalry of Edberg and Becker was so intense that first weekend of July was much anticipated. I used to like Edberg so much that i had his poster on my study desk. Those were JEE, 12th days. In those days we used to get only semis and finals telecasted on DD amidst interrupting news. Unknown Stich prevailed in 91 coinciding with my surprise academic success, and then came days of satellite television when all matches were telecasted by star with Vijay Amritraj commenting. Agassi completed career slam in 92, and then came reign of King Sampras. Starting in 93, 94, 95 he did hat trick with no competition. In 96 when i got my first job there was a blip in SF against Krajichek who later won. Normal service resumed in 97,98, 99 and 00. Those we days when my professional life and personal life took roller coaster ride which settled in 00. 01 was landmark year. A youngster with headband from Basel, played match of his life against sampras and beat him. The baton was passed and era changed. Eventually that year Wimbledon was won by Goran who was famous for his service and a wild card entry. Such was the year when Riya was born! 02 was Hewitt’s year when rains prevailed. Then the reign of Federer started. This player is complete player and an artist. You just love to watch his sublime play. He set hand on trophy in 03. There was no challenge in 04, 05 , 06 when roddick failed to compete. These were great times when Indian story bloomed and sensex reached 20000. In 07 buoyed by success on clay Nadal created a threat which he materialized in that epic final in 08. That was when recession started looming for all of us thanks to subprime crisis. In 09 finally roddick delivered epic final in which Federer prevailed competing 6 titles. Then there was a drought and everyone thought Federer’s reign had ended. Nadal in 10 and thanks to incredible year Djoikovich had in 11, claimed the trophy. This year is again special especially when Euro zone crisis hit the economies, Indian story had paralysis but sure there is a hope as Federer reclaimed his no1 . Having seen wimbledon so long first time we had a local boy in final.World now has some hope. Hope is close to heart as this player is.

Last event is death of first superhero Rajesh Khanna to double up with death of legendary Dara singh. I am great fan of Rajesh Khanna be it for his music. But influence of Aanand cannot be rule out by my heart. I am sure i will rerun the movie today, amidst this weather.....