Year of Perplexity

As the Decade of the 2010s is coming to an end its the time to reflect on what we have seen and wonder what lies ahead in the 2020s. This blog existed throughout this decade if you would like to ruminate over the views over most of the events in this decade. Climate Change is an issue of concern as we faced extremes resulting in loss and devastation. Economies are sluggish as trade war has made its impact. Polarization is extreme across most civilized countries of the globe.  The Middle East keeps on burning to result in new threats of war and terror.  On the other hand, we found the enormous change in lives thanks to SMAC:   Social Media, Mobility, Cloud and Analytics. AI and Machine learning have opened up new horizons as well as created new threats.   Hope we find ourselves placed better on 31^st Dec 2029 than what we are today. Are we better than what we were on 31^st Dec 2009? I still remember ending of 80s decade (on a star-studded night camped at Rajmachi under stars with friends, 90s (located at Kasauni in the Himalayas experiencing the chill). On 31^st Dec 2009, I was in Colombo. It just seems yesterday as I today write this overlooking NYC

30 minutes

When India won a closely fought ODI series vs west indies, last of the assignments of 2019, Virat Kohli said in the post-match presentation that India dominated all the year except those fateful 30 minutes on 9th July. In those 30 mins, India lost the top four batsmen and India's weak underbelly which was not tested till that date thanks to dominant performances of the top order and wrong selection/management issues were exposed. And thus went down the dreams of million Indian fans who wanted to win ICC trophy which they sought after for eight years after that memorable Mumbai night. 

The decade of 2010 also comes to an end with team India dominating all three formats. In Tests, India is a settled unit. In Limited overs still, we struggle to find the perfect combination which we tried to find after WC2011.

To summarize 2019, the most important highlight is the emergence of the all-conquering bowling unit across all three formats.

Mughal and Google

The golden sun rays finally hit the divine atmosphere of the temple where Ram had spent his entire night with a troubled mind. The golden sun rays clearing off the mist encouraged Ram to wake up and end the dilemma churning in his mind throughout the course of the night. He stepped out of the temple. A strong breeze was mingling around him. It was as if, the breeze had the purpose of clearing the view so that Ram could see the taller core fort rising inside mountainous walls of the main fort clearly. It was a serene early morning ambiance. Clouds were drifting across the valley comprising of fields, rivers and villages spread till the distant mountains. For a moment, Ram felt he was in heaven with the Gods .This view surged a sense of belonging within In the midst of this beautiful early morning atmosphere, why is Ram’s mind restless? It was sunny outside, but it was stormy within Ram’s inner mind. Well, it was a clear decision till yesterday. But was it all about the place where he was or was it about some strange guilt lying somewhere down for no apparent logical reason. But then why was this confusion? His mind zoomed past events in his young life.

शंभर वर्षांचे राज्य

स्वातंत्र्य मिळाले . सरकारे आली , गेली व येऊ शकत नाहीत हे पण झाले . शंभर वर्षे मराठी मनावर जे राज्य चालू आहे ते मात्र अबाधित आहे आणि पुढची अनेक वर्षे राहणार हे नक्की मग मुख्यमंत्री कोणीही असो . 

Dramayana

Shirpa’s father in Saaksh episode of ‘ Varyavarchi  Varaat’  says to the judge in court :” Ravan Kidnapped Seeta , so Ram killed Ravan with help of Hanuman. Does this describe Ramayan? “. He then starts describing story of Ramayana right from Ayodhya King Dashrath, ends up with some hilarious anecdotes with modern context on Putrakameshti Yagna (Putra ka Mistake), Seeta harping on Ram to go behind golden deer (you cannot keep any women happy and away from clothes shopping be it Seeta), Manthara, Vibhishan (first person to change political party, Hanuman (to burn houses of third party).  What an amazing acting (PL did it in Varyavarchi Varaat) and writing by P L Deshpande.

 See the Saaksh episode here https://youtu.be/PPraqWW3lRU

And what a coincidence here that after doing Varyavarchi Varaat ( http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-post.html) here in Connecticut, one of the organizers of Desi around Connecticut Diwali event, Durgesh Joshi one day called me to discuss possibility of doing a play based on Ekshloki Ramayan. It’s a Sanskrit Shlok describing Ramayana in single verse.

आदौ रामतपोवनाद- िगमनं : Once Ram went to Forest

हत्वा मृगं काञ्चनं : (there) he chased and killed the Golden Deer

वैदेहीहर- ं जटायुमरणं : Meanwhile Sita (his wife) was abducted (by Ravana) and Jatayu (a bird) was killed

सुग्रीवस- म्भाषणम् : Ram spoke with Sugriva

बालीनिग- रहणं : Killed Bali (unrighteous brother of Sugriva)

समुद्रत- णं लंकापुरी दाहनं: Crossed the ocean and burnt Lanka (Ravan’s city)

पश्चाद्र- वण कुम्भकर्ण हनन: (Ram) Later killed Ravan and (his brother) Kumbhkaran

मेतद्ध- रामायणम्: This is the story of Ramayana

Then I remembered that Saaksh episode from VaryaVarchi Varaat and after discussion we agreed to develop entire story. Another Organizer Upendra Watve suggested we have a Sanskrit play based on Ramayana.  We discussed eternally and finally reached a concept where we start the play from Kaikeyi Varam( Boon granted by Dashrath to Keikeyi in Dev Danav War) and end with Raavan wadh. We would also include Sanskrit in it. Introduce multilingual action by using South Indian songs. Then we should have dance sequences to give it Firodiya kind of feel (Firodiya Trophy is Intercollege competition in Pune of performing arts intertwined with drama).  Then there was a bomb shell: We should do it with Kids. And then we should do final play on 19^th( only 20 days in hand). A final constraint was about having two practice locations: One in Rocky Hill and other South Windsor so we needed two directors.  Facing these daunting challenges, we decided to go ahead with full devotion and faith in Ram Lalla. So we began with Jai Shree Ram slogan. Lets divide my experience which I have named as Dramayana in four stages or kands just as they say in Ramayana.

Happy Diwali

These are the times that could perplex even Einstein. Everything is Relative. Success Vs Failure, Individualism Vs Collective Will, Free Market Vs Welfare Economy, Nationalism Vs Globalization, Religion Vs Atheism,  Man Vs Climate,  Dixit Vs Divekar. Even Seasons are confused. But one thing is Absolute and Unchanged: Happiness in Diwali. Be in happy state of mind this Diwali and beyond along with  close ones.  Also make others Happy this Diwali. Happy Diwali 2019……

Judgement Day

 

In a jam-packed hall, public awaits the decision. Judges raises the Gavel:

Order! Order! Order!

And the verdict is…..

It is not a court scene out of a potboiler movie, It was a new fun filled experience for me to judge a Talent show organized for Indian community in Connecticut.

This concept based on the line of America’s got talent was implemented for the first time at DesisAroundRockyhillCT group. I was invited along with Mr Prashant Soni (Music) and Ms Kamaliaka Neogi (Dance). I represented the Drama side.  Kirti and Amol More were key organizers on behalf of Desis Group and it was a well-managed well thought about event.

I had in past judged Drama contests, Art performances, Elocution. But as a combination it was a new experience. For me the key parameters were: how good the contestant presented his talent as a package? , how well he/she connected with the  audience?  And finally how good was talent itself.

I had a deep urge to act like Anu Malik on Indian Idol.  But when putting on judging parameters on the performance of judges themselves, I am sure that would have eliminated me in the first round itself.  That’s true for many judges on mainstream who maybe have been directed to do all buffoonery on stage. This does not add up ladies and gentlemen. So my advice to some judges on mainstream is: Control …(la Nana Patekar)

Happy Dussehra

Lets try to score a perfect 10 on this Vijayadashami.  As we commonly know that the best player in the team wears number 10. So lets get best. Best is the highest you can reach in each test you appear in your life. And the best part also is that you are the examiner who will grade your own self. So being best is your choice and your own judgement. Let no one else define those standards for you. So be best, be happy and cross the limits of being good or better this Dussehra, Happy Dussehra to you.