On IPL and "sportsmanship"

A lot is being said about how “fixing”  and determining match high points before hand has spoilt the game. It is quite easy for everyone, be it  an irritatingly loud, argument friendly news anchor or  the bus conductor. They talk about how wrong it is. They talk about how its destroying the country. It really is easy to just side with the tide. However just for the sake of argument I would like to play the Devil’s Advocate.
First of all it’s a game. I repeat, it’s a game. That is it. No it has not compromised security, and no it has not caused destruction of property. I believe that all those who cry about match fixing,  are just a fraction of the present massive uproar. The rest of them just bystanders being swept away by the popular opinion. I believe that this set up is exactly like a business deal. A simple contract. The viewer at any point of time can shut the TV and do something useful with his/her life. It’s like watching a show. You know there will be twists and turns. The IPL is nothing different. Of course some say about how its a sport and talk about things like sportsmanship, but seriously, how many people would actually keep watching the IPL, if it were not for the twists and turns? Our society thrives on drama and underdog upsets.  Why would Reliance continue to invest in the sport if their team keeps losing? Kingfisher has proudly stated its connection to 4-5 major teams. Did no one think there might be a slight conflict of interests over there? If you were fine with the sell out of the sport, why do you cry when you see the math?

The BCCI is an independent body. Sadly “independence” is a term our country has never really appreciated post 1947. Unless of course you include the holiday. The same goes for the institutions.  Everything works on the basis of pressure points. The media always acts as the judiciary. The judiciary  as the rebellious teenage kid of the government and the government like Big Brother.  How does all this figure in? Because deep down, everyone knows this and it sickens them. Hence they turn to sports and movies. Mix the two and you get something glossy like the IPL. So when this “sport” is marred by malpractices,  the frustration is vented on something which is a very small part of the entire picture.

The fact that there is fixing in the IPL should not be forgiven of course. Rather the IPL should be given the same treatment as any soap. It would be the perfect solution. All of us have had a wrestling addiction phase. Some of us see through the pseudo angry athletic display and wise up. The rest carry on anyway. Nothing different about the IPL. It is indeed, Sports Entertainment.

 

Logics Of Life

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it."


Firstly, yes it is a Kung-Fu Panda logic, but leaving that aside if one actually ponders on the validity of this thought, it becomes more obvious about how true it actually is.

I am a strong believer of destiny. I do believe what all we have in store for us has already been written somewhere. We however are not meant to ever know that as in that case the surprise and thrill which life has now would completely die out. If we know what the future holds would it help us? I don't think it would. We would just exist and not live.

Now,  with regard to the given topic, I think a good example for it would be trying to forget something. If you try to forget it, you only keep thinking about it. The only way to actually forget about something is to refuse to let that fact take over your life. To not let it define your existence.
Similarly I guess is the case with destiny. Now people do say you make your own destiny, but I think whatever you will do/can do/might do is already written somewhere, in a library perhaps in Greenland's caves where there is a huge record of everyone on Earth. What they will do, and how they will go on to change the world.

Why do I believe in destiny?
I would like to believe that our planet, our Universe was not born out of sheer chaos and confusion. I would like to think there is some defined purpose and logic behind everything. Now be it a 20 year old writing a blog entry at 12 AM, or maybe the fly which keeps on irritating him. It all has a purpose. It all plays a part of a bigger picture. It is not that I believe in insignificance of a single entity, quite contrary to that I believe that all that is to happen has already been written. However there are different roles all of us must essay before we can actually achieve that ultimate stage. I believe that the Universe is defined by us and not the other way round. Our lives have already been written. We now get to savour it.
Truth be told I am not really a pack of sunshine. However I do realize what a gift life is, and the fact that I have it means there has to be some greater purpose I am yet to achieve, which will be clear to me when I am ready for it. This sort of belief  can give one a lot of perseverance. It is not just blind hope. Rather should be imbibed as a belief.

In conclusion, having faith that we all have a special role, that we all are present for a higher purpose is something I believe we all  should treasure and cherish.
Cheers!

20.

Now I don't mean to sound strange or anything, but today it hit me, that its my last day as a teenager.
How did this happen, well a simple discussion about birthdays led me to realise, after today, I have to behave responsibly (*crap*). You know how some of us as kids always dreamt of growing up and being all responsible and stuff, I DID NOT!
However as one of the things that one tends to learn, is that any event or time, will occur when it has to. You cannot do anything about it. You must change according to it. It does however feel different.  imean the kid who till two days ago, was  playing on a swivelling chair has to be all responsible and mature. Not very confidence inspiring you know.I mean I get, it all this started when I was 18, but still the fact that now there is no turning back and no buffer. It gets like a battle from here. That hits.
I believe the age of 19 is like "Intro To Adulthood 101".
However from here on it gets all serious and stuck up. I'll have to be all cynical, and criticise whatever the government does, and pretend I know more about sports than the players themselves. Cry about taxes, and how inflation will be the death of this country.
Talk about a Peter Pan Problem.

The Window to a Dream.

To lie on my hammock is all I dream,
to see the stars and their pearly sheen.
To feel the cool wind on a grassy track,
to explore Narnia and the Shrieking Shack.
To follow my whims and spontaneity,
to be limited only by my imagination and creativity.


To see the tree stretch far out in the distance,
 To not face any animosity based resistance.
I strive  to reach a world ever so elusive, ever so green,
Where  ignorance is ignored, only knowledge seen.
Where one does not run after trivial pursuits,
Where everything  is appreciated for function, from science to soot..


Where work is done not for mean benefits or gains,
rather to cure the universe’s pains.
Where all life is with dignity and grace
where you get the choice to set your own pace.


An egalitarian civilization, with kinship not limited to blood,
for all my fellow beings, in a hope we trust.
To  know that this world in the present is a gift.
We must use it judiciously, without being too thrift,
for either is harmful, over or less
its better to stay out of this mess.


So I dream, of a place where the streetlights, shine as bright as life,
where the cool winter chill inspires  hope and not strife.
Where help doesn’t see profit or loss,
just and only the effect and cause.
Lend a hand to strangers and friends
so all that’s broken can be mend
Let us work for joy, and to let happiness abound,
for whatever good we do, surely will come around.

The Phoenix's Ashes

If there is anything you learn from television, movies , video games, and always life, NOTHING, and I mean absolutely nothing compares to a fresh start. I think all of us could do with one right about now. This country could really use one. The fall of 2012 was correctly called the end of humanity. In God’s own land, multiple instances of molesting a woman’s modesty, the fall of Democracy. The  almost symbolic  transition of the world’s largest “democracy” to an authoritarian,  unabashed, disgraced government.  Having our Tianmen  Square to boast about. That is what all of us saw. Though perhaps we should see this year in a different way. The crimes undoubtedly shameful did actively make the problem real.  The common man, finally realized the many instances of rape occurring in the country had reached a horrendous level. This is perhaps the nadir of our society. When no one, be it a  three year old infant is brutally assaulted and left disturbed emotionally and physically all the way to the aging. The thing is the apathy, people are finally realizing has to stop. I hope that at least. The usual comment “Iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta “ is faltering because,  everyone hopefully has had enough of it. Perhaps this is our own Jasmine Revolution. Maybe this is how it starts. With an epiphany that this country and its citizens deserve more. They deserve to be proud, and walk confidently.  They deserve a chance to LIVE, not just exist. For that they need a fighting spirit and chance. These declarations might seem pre-mature. My assumptions and hopes might be easily dashed in  the future, but I would like to believe every individual today witnessed first hand   why a Democracy is called a government of , by and( hopefully in the future) for the People.

People have talked about this being a fad like phenomena. About how it’ll just die down, and soon no one will care. So does that mean, now when we have a chance to make a difference we should be all resigned to  fate on the basis of past. As previous instances have shown there will be no success means that we shouldn’t even try? Every small action does move the wide force. Every little star that twinkles, makes up the galaxy. Every   small action due to its occurrence causes a consequence. So when a number of such actions occur I think logic dictates that they  will have a major effect. Anyway, its better than just being naysayer.

A country isn’t what defines a person. Rather the people define the country. A Democracy shows effort. So we have a choice. What do we want our country to represent? Do we want it to be a correct expression of the will of the people, or is it just better off being ruled by a plundering  political class and an apathetic, cynical body of citizens?
They say that politics will destroy this country and that there is nothing we can do about it. Well perhaps we can’t, but in the words which always send a chill through me ”we can damn well avenge it!” We need to show that its time for the change to happen, and if not then a long struggle as essential as that of our freedom lies ahead.
This is OUR country. It is embodies our hopes, faith and belief. We have left it to the mischievous  caretakers for enough time now.  We need to make it a better place. A place fit for its citizens.  A place deserving of its existence. A Democratic Country.   

Please Refrain from Celebratory Gunfire.

 

If there is anything that helps a writers block, it has to be a nose block. Funnily it makes me at least more philosophical. Like being faced with my own mortality (yes  I am a bit of a drama king). Today’s post focuses on what is one of the major pillars of our country’s diversity, festivals. Numerous author’s, have told us that India is the land of festivals. Plus we all must have memorized essays in hindi which begin with the same statement. However in the past one year I have started feeling a little disillusioned by this phenomenon. I mean yes we celebrate all our festivals with great joy and devotion, but a majority I feel do it as a farce, or just because “Mrs. Sharma next door is  planning to.” It is sad. There is no other word for it. Agreed our generation might not be the most religious, but that doesn’t mean we have any less faith. Similarly if someone chooses to celebrate a festival like Diwali by folding their hands in front of God and just saying a prayer I don’t see why it should raise any eyebrows. Bursting crackers is now a lost tradition, in fact how it came into being in the first place baffles me. I mean I am pretty sure pyrotechnics was not such a big thing when Lord Ram returned to his kingdom. Why are people more busy with following medieval traditions rather than actually  doing something spiritual and noble?

Why is it more important to have a session of cards rather than go out and do some charity work? How does it make sense to invite the neighborhood  and burst crackers rather than try to clean up a little bit. People look at festivals to be a time when they can be closer to God. Shouldn’t every day be like that? Festivals are to propagate a sense of common belief and community, so is it not better to do something  which does good for society in general? Something memorable. I mean ok, bursting crackers  makes you feel happy, who wouldn’t derive fun from being in close proximity  to deafening sounds and blinding sparks not to mention the constant risk to burns and the pollution being caused. But shouldn’t a festival be defined by something more than such juvenile activities? Like even during Holi instead of just playing mass water fight all over the country how about trying to work at shelters? During Dusshera instead of having everyone destroy a “Ravana”, how about destroying the actual evils plaguing our country like dowry deaths, female infanticide, child abuse, corruption?

Its not that I have never burst crackers, I have. It’s not like I am stopping you from bursting crackers. All I am asking you to do is, just think  how should a festival be celebrated, by loud chants, show, temporary instances of religious piety and other such facade. Or by doing something beneficial for the less fortunate/the environment or perhaps working against the poisons in our society? We always will have time for celebrations, why not try to make the world a better place to live in and pass on to our future generations? Will that not be a better testimony to our beliefs, hopes, and our religion itself? I think the brightest light we can light is in our hearts, to diminish the darkness of ignorance, and cynicism. The loudest  impression we should make in is the heart of society by restoring belief in humanity and goodness in the world (Mom’s cooking can do that too though), by striving to make sure that a festival is not defined by kiddish activities rather by the benefits it gives to society, our tribute to society, to humanity, to mankind.
Cheers to that!   

The Season of A Lifetime!

Delhi Winters.

There is something about this city in winters that connects with me the way no other season, in any place world over can.Is it the fact that I have stayed here for the longest duration? Perhaps, not really. Being an army kid you tend to realise "Home is in fact where the heart is". Perhaps its a sort of unspoken bond which gets forged over years.Why is Delhi important to me? Well, first of all I was born here. Secondly both my immediate maternal and paternal side of famly reside here but that is still is not it. My attraction to this place stems not only out of fondness for relations, but also out of something deeper, which funnily I cannot describe in words.Its in the cool temperatures of the afternoon.In the cold temperatures of late night and early morning.

In the fact that sometimes you need two layers of clothing. In the fact that you sleep by the glow of a halogen heater, slightly creaking but giving you warmth nonetheless. Snuggled under your blanket at  temporary  peace. Perhaps THAT is the thing about it! The feeling of being in your own bubble.
Other than that when I think of winters I see a montage play in my mind. Beginning with school annual day(s), progressing to exam fevers, hanging out in front of the school canteen drinking coffee  and laughing over something we called a "problem".Then growing up and travelling in the weather.Being in the airport line at a time when it is still dark, covered in your jacket  and in a semi-conscious state. The mad rush of humanity at Rajiv Chowk. Flashing images of Om Shanti Om and Delhi 6. Walking in H block while a cold gust blows in your face. The feeling of the warm sunrays being just perfect enough to make you bear the cold and proceed through the day with a crazy level of optimism.

For me its not just a season, its a time to  reminisce and reflect. A time to  call upon the fond memories that I cherish and hold always on to dearly, as with time they are the only witness to life itself and the only gossamer thread that ties you to what made you and gives you an inkling as to who you are (THE million $ question).

So why do I write this post? Basically, for the same reason that this blog started. Recording memories and thoughts and trying to give a small tribute to essentials yet ignored simplicities of life.
Cheers!Happy Winters!:)