The Great Indian Debacle

Or is it?? I must ask -- who honestly thought India was going to bring back the T20 World Cup for a second year in a row?! Sure, we were optimistic, we had high hopes, and some of us even found the time to pray that they would do so. It only takes one look at India's T20 record since the 2007 triumph to realize India's true place in the world of T20. They lost 3 of the 5 T20 internationals they played between the two World Cups, including 2 consecutive losses to New Zealand during their recent tour to the Kiwiland. In both those matches, it was India's star-studded batting line-up that fell apart, bar a face-saving innings in each match from Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh respectively. Moving on to the IPL, how many Indian players really stood out and consistently performed throughout the tournament?? It was the foreign contingent that stole the show in South Africa, and our desi boys tumbled into oblivion, with the Delhi duo of Sehwag and Gambhir leading the way.

The fall-out from the WC will go on for weeks and weeks to come, until and unless the Indian team redeems itself during its tour of the West Indies next month. Two years ago, we were heaping praises galore on MS Dhoni for his calm and innovative style of captaincy that helped us bring home the inaugural T20 WC. Now, the very same man, on the very same stage, is being crucified mercilessly for some suspect decisions, which, had they turned out successful, would have been hailed as inspired. Instead, they didn't work -- it's that simple. Yes, he took a gamble by promoting Ravindra Jadeja. It was like giving Joginder Sharma that last over against Pakistan in the final two years ago -- the difference being that move worked, this move didnt. Such decisions need to be made, and when they don't work, the captain has to take responsibility. As such, although MSD must shoulder a significant portion of the blame for India's loss, I wouldn't really play him out as the villain in the whole episode.

Nasser Hussain put it rightly: The Indians are out of this World Cup because they have been technically found out - they cannot handle short-pitched deliveries. Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma looked completely out of sorts with the ball nipping around and over their shoulder. The team failed to follow the golden rule of T20 - NO DOT BALLS, rotate the strike! Ravindra Jadeja, that was for u, in case u didnt get it! And finally, and not the least, the 10 wides that Harbhajan gave away was what I think made the difference ultimately - they were completely needless, and moreover, atrociously careless by a bowler of the class and quality of Harbhajan Singh.

Well, MSD could've looked at his own advertisements for guidance:
1. He could've used his Aircel Pocket Internet for Facebook and listened to the FB users!!
2. Or else he should've gone for PSPO - Promote Singh, Produce Onslaught! :D

Anyway, in a way, I'm glad the Indian team lost out on the T20 World Cup this time.....I want them to save the magic for 2011, the big WC, in our own country. Hopefully they can carry the momentum they have generated in the ODI arena through and be a little consistent, because I believe this is probably the best chance we shall have of winning the ODI World Cup, even more than 2003. Save the hype and hoopla for 2011 folks!!

Until the next (post i.e, not year!)..

Wazzzup...!

It's been a while since my last post (again!) so I thought I'd just stop by on my blog to say "Wazzzup people!". Nothing much, u say?? Same here guys....same here...! This is precisely why blogging is such a difficult art.....it's so frustrating to try and come up with something to write about again and again and again......I truly admire folks who post something on their blog virtually every day, sometimes every hour almost! I guess its a testament to the kind of life they lead....a life on the fast lane, an endless adventure, days filled with moments to capture and share with the world. Sometimes it makes me sit back and wonder where my life is leading me, and whether I'm on the right track. The transition from a student to a working professional seems to have made me reach new levels of laziness at home -- I just cannot remember when was the last time I stuck to a resolution I made, whether it was to start preparing for GMAT and CAT (I make a new resolution on this pretty much everyday!), or to take a course to boost my skill set, or even hitting the gym! There always seemed to be something to look forward to which made me continuously postpone my plans -- the Mahabaleshwar trip, the Goa trip, the endless movies and serials I've watched over the months, weekends hanging out with friends etc. Now, with no more major outings in the foreseeable future, and with the serials I follow wrapping up their latest season, I think it's about time I seriously get down to business and start my preparations!! Movies could be a problem, with a host of films set to hit the silver screen now that the producers' strike is over, but I'll work my way around it hopefully.

It's BAU (Business As Usual) at work....although it is indeed sad to see so many good friends leave the company in pursuit of a brighter career - Anupam (will miss all the games of TT we've played over the months, and of course all the "shots" we've shared!), Nipun (always brought out the fun element in our group and has been part of the best memories of batch 3 in the last 10 months, really sad to see you go bro!) and Liana (one of the hottest chicks in our office whose amazing wit and spontaneity will be sorely missed). I wish them all the very best in their respective careers, and a prosperous and fun-filled life ahead.

Hearty congratulations to Kavita on her wedding, and a big thank-you for having us over to share the joy! It really was a fantastic day yesterday, getting together with the guys from college and making the trip down to Satara. A lot of great moments and memories from the trip - Sanjay's "30th ko delivery hai" remark still has us roaring with laughter!! Dude, don't even attempt to take anyone's case, it will definitely backfire on you!! Seeing everyone again was indeed wonderful, and I hope we can get together every now and then and plan an outing (not just plan one, actually go for one!!). On another note, it is so weird seeing people getting married at such a young age, before they've had any time to settle into their career! I mean, if the timing of Deepika's marriage last year wasn't enough, just yesterday I came to know that one of my juniors in college got married during her Preparatory Leave for her exams, even before she had passed out of engineering! I guess that tradition of early marriages is here to stay in society for a long time.

I guess that's it for now....btw I wanted to mention that appearances on Orkut henceforth would be extremely rare....I'm full-on into Facebook now!! FB rules hands down! I urge everyone who is yet to join FB, to do so asap, and enjoy! The applications and games on FB are really awesome and blow away anything Orkut has to offer. No wonder Google is on the backfoot in the social-networking domain, and has resorted to the soon-to-launch Google Wave to win back their customers. Anyway, until the next..

That's a wrap - 4 seasons of Prison Break

It is indeed with a heavy heart that we bid adieu to Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell and the rest of the cast of the highly acclaimed TV series, Prison Break, as they wrap up the show with the end of season 4. The series has provided its fans with a truckload of thrills and entertainment, thanks to some intelligent and innovative screenplay, backed up by brilliant acting by the members of the cast. One used to wait with baited breath every week for the next new episode to air, providing a new twist in the tale, the unpredictability of the storyline captivating its viewers. As the curtains draw to a close on one of the finest TV series, I thought I'd revisit each of the 4 seasons in this post, and reminisce on some of the best moments in the series.

Season 1 begins with a bang as we get an insight into the mind of a sheer genius, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller). To put it straight, Michael Scofield is God! You cannot help but idolize him and bow down to his intellectual superiority. The plot initially hinges around his attempt to break his brother, Lincoln Burrows (a constantly brooding Dominic Purcell), out of Fox River State Penitentiary. Lincoln has been framed and wrongly convicted for the murder of the brother of the US Vice President, and is set to face the electric chair. Michael is hellbent on getting his brother out of prison and clearing his name, and to achieve this, he gets himself into prison. He has expertly tattooed the blueprints of the entire prison building in cryptic figures on his body. From then on, we are treated to a roller-coaster ride as Michael is forced to include several other inmates in his escape plan, while at the same time looking to gain the trust of the prison warden. He also befriends the prison doctor, Sarah Tancredi, whom he later falls in love with. Among the inmates, Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell, played expertly by Robert Knepper, stands out. He is my favourite character in the serial after Michael Scofield. His character is that of a dark, deranged psychopath, who constantly manipulates those around him with his classy English and weird mannerisms. Some of the best dialogues in the series are delivered by him. He, along with Michael and the rest of the gang, escape from Fox River thanks to the clever plan hatched by Scofield. The season ends with the eight escapees running for their lives from the pursuing cops and agents.

Season 2 is all about Michael and Lincoln trying to achieve justice by blackmailing the Vice President, after getting their hands on some controversial and secret evidence pointing to the fact that the Vice President's brother is actually alive. The VP (and later President), Caroline Reynolds, though, outwits Michael and gets away, leaving Michael, Lincoln, Sarah (who aided their escape) and the other surviving escapees (3 of them are gunned down) to flee for their lives. They head to Panama, which was exactly where Michael intended to go as part of his plan. Ultimately, they are forced to confront the local police, and the season ends with Michael being put into "Sona" - a notorious prison in Panama. Lincoln and Sara are meanwhile exonerated, thanks to the testimony of a former Secret Service Agent, Paul Kellerman, who used to work for the Vice President. This season saw the introduction of a worthy competitor to Scofield, to balance the field so to suppose - Alexander Mahone. A brilliant FBI agent, Mahone is at many times a step ahead of Michael, giving him a run for his money. Finally, though, Michael gets one over his arch nemesis, but they both end up in Sona, when Mahone gets arrested for drug possession after being set up by Michael. 

Roles reverse in season 3, as this time its Lincoln trying to get his brother out of prison. The prison is completely run by the inmates, with the guards keeping vigil only on the outside. Michael once again reverts to his gifted brain to find a way past the prison walls. This time, he is also forced to help break out a man named James Whistler. This is where we really begin to get a clearer perspective of the organisation known as "The Company". They want Whistler out of the prison, and blackmail Michael and Lincoln into making that happen, by kidnapping Lincoln's son LJ and Michael's love interest Sara. Sara is shown to be apparently killed by the Company's operative, Gretchen, mid-way through the season. At the end of the season, after he has broken out, Michael goes after Gretchen for revenge. 

The final season of Prison Break begins with Michael finding out that Sara is actually alive. From then on, we are subject to a huge bunch of twists and turns, as the brothers try to take down "The Company". They go after a vital Company device known as Scylla, and the entire season is hinged around this one little device as it goes from one person's hands to the other. It ends up in the hands of Michael's mother, who is revealed to be alive and heading a rival faction. I won't reveal much more than this, as I'm sure not everyone has finished watching the series. The season ends in a predictable manner, with the good guys getting what they want. The last few scenes are touching, as we are taken 4 years forward to see what each of the main characters is upto, with little references to earlier seasons thrown in. 

Prison Break has provided some of the best moments and dialogues among television serials in recent times. Season 2 was undoubtedly the best, closely matched by Season 1. Season 3 was a big disappointment, and season 4 dragged a bit, but it all worked out well enough in the end. Overall, the series was deeply engrossing; in fact, addictive! Whether it be T-Bag's little quirks (Captivity of Negativity!), Michael's uncanny ability to hatch a plan to resolve even the most dire of situations, the ending of episodes on a knife-edge leaving us flustered as we wait for a week for the next episode, etc., it all came together in a delicious cocktail of drama and excitement. We will sorely miss it, and hope Paul Scheuring and Co. come up with an exciting new series to look forward to.

Until the next...

Jai Ho indeed!!

No, this is not about an Oscar-winning movie. Rather this was the song that was played and sung outside 10, Race Course Road, New Delhi, as Congress party members and supporters celebrated yet another glorious victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. It was a historic mandate for both the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, as well as the UPA, which is set to form the next Indian government. It was a victory in the face of adversity on the national stage, as the NDA and the Third Front looked to take advantage of the twin issues of terrorism and the economic crisis to build credible campaigns. Alas, for them, the Indian voter entrusted his/her faith in the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and the mother-son Gandhi duo for the next 5 years. 

Firstly, thank God the voting took place on a weekend, as I wouldn't have wanted to miss the drama unfold for anything! At 8 am I was propped up in front of the idiot box, switching between my favourite news channels, as the numbers started to trickle in. Uttar Pradesh set the early trend, with both the UPA and the NDA posting huge gains and presenting quite a few surprises and raised eyebrows. The SP managed to catch up, but it was Mayawati's BSP who ended up as the big losers in the battle. Kerala and West Bengal posted staggering figures, as the Left was completely wiped out in both states. No real surprises in the other states, although the Congress posted some really huge gains from the last election in states like Rajasthan, helping their numbers surge higher. Ultimately, it was the Congress-led UPA that stole the show, proving most of the exit poll projections right (which the news channels proudly stated). The NDA was left with the hopeless task of introspection and the review of a pretty disastrous display at the Lok Sabha polls for a second consecutive time. 

Where did the NDA and the Third Front get it wrong, is the question on everyone's mind. Well, according to the general view of experts on major news channels, both alliances banked heavily on the anti-incumbency vote, which never turned up. Quite a fancy term that, ain't it - "anti-incumbency"? Basically they played to much on the flaws and follies of the existing government, rather than highlight their own achievements and vision with much more vigour. Calling Dr. Manmohan Singh a "weak PM" was never going to work, as the results emphatically show. To an extent, it could be true that the electorate was left with no alternative -- apart from the Congress and the BJP, all other parties concentrated on regional issues rather than pushing forward their national agenda. Regionalism seems to be the core issue that political parties need to address while forming alliances and fighting elections, and a change at the centre can now come about only if either of two scenarios occur - (a) If a third party emerges on the national stage as a strong contender, which is highly unlikely in the current political environment, or (b) If the Congress-led UPA government messes up really badly on key issues, in which case the NDA and the rest of the opposition will be at their throats. Either way, the average voter is left with little choice on the national front, forcing him/her to look at the smaller picture i.e which candidate/party would be beneficial for his/her constituency. 

Anyway, at the moment, it's time for Manmohan, Rahul and Sonia to take centre-stage yet again. Will Rahul Gandhi be offered a post in the cabinet? And more importantly, if he is, would he be willing to accept it? If he does, this would definitely be viewed as his first step in the direction of the arguably the biggest job in India. All the best to him and the UPA, deliver us on our faith in you, and make the nation proud!!

Until the next...

P.S: On a side note, like the NDA, I, as a Liverpool fan, congratulate Manchester United and all their supporters, and humbly accept defeat in the race for the Premier League crown :(

Goa Ahoy!!

GOA BABY!!! That was the mantra for the whole of last week, leading up to the big weekend down in Calangute. Thurday started way too early for me, as I walked into office at 5.45 am, a record which I challenge anyone in Batch 3 to break!! In 3 hours, I was done with work, and picked up my bags to leave just as my manager walked in! Quite a sight that, I must say….anyway, I drove back home, and then went on to exercise my franchise and vote for the first time in a Lok Sabha Election. It really does feel good to know that you have made a contribution to the progress of the nation, however insignificant it may be. I totally second Mr. L.K Advani’s opinion that voting should be made compulsory in the country. Anyway, chuck that, this is about Goa!! So here I was, all packed and ready, waiting at Vashi for our Volvo sleeper with the rest of our gang in it. Bus arrives….Suyash and Manan step out….Suyash straight away says (jokingly), “Dude, tu mara….none of the guys are gonna pay you for the bus ticket!!”. I wondered, whoa, was the bus so bad?? My question was answered as I stepped inside. Each berth had two people lying on them, all cramped up and struggling to even move a muscle! Poor Mark, the 6”2’ tall guy couldn’t even straighten his legs properly. You shouldn’t have drank so much Complan in your childhood, bro! ;)

We somehow survived the 12-hour ordeal in the bus, and reached Mapusa at 10 am Friday morning. After another 20-minute ride, we entered our resort in Calangute. A quick shower and breakfast, and we were all refreshed, ready to hit the magnificent beaches of North Goa. We hired an open-top Gypsy – seemingly the best way to travel around Goa, and first headed to Calangute beach, the nearest to our resort. Karey and I were nominated as drivers for the whole trip…..hard luck Su, but if u drank, u weren’t gonna drive! As we enter Calangute beach, we were suddenly surrounded by a bunch of overly enthusiastic men going, “Sir, watersports..”, “Sir, parasailing..best rate”, “Sir, water-scooter…aapko chalane milega”, etc etc…..they had already begun to get on our nerves, and we ultimately succeeded in evading them. The beach was beautiful, the sand fine and bathed in a silvery tinge. Hordes of families, couples and friends were milling around, sunbathing, enjoying the (not-so-cold actually) water, heading out for watersports. We decided to relax and grab a few drinks at a beachside shack after getting our feet wet. For lunch, we drove to Baga beach and dined at Britto’s, which was heaven for two things in particular – “sightseeing” and cheesecakes!! Also, Furhad began his Prawn-fest here…..man that guy becomes hungry too quickly!! Baga is pretty similar to Calangute, so we decided not to spend too much time there, and returned to our resort to rest for a while. In the evening, we set off to catch the sunset (or as Su puts it, “sun ka go-down”!) at Anjuna beach, but all we found there was a bunch of rocks!! So we went to Vagator instead, where Nipun desperately attempted to record the sounds of the sea waves, warding off our efforts to interrupt the recording time and again. In the end, he succeeded, but only by first running as far away from us as physically possible, and then recording!

We shot some pool for an hour, before having dinner in a food court in central Calangute. Furhad had some more prawns, and vowed never to have them again during the trip!! Yeah right!!!! We spent the rest of the night enjoying a few games of poker and Bluff in our resort room. As the clock went past midnight, none of us were sleepy at all, so we went out on a midnight drive around Calangute, passing through some of the hot and happening areas (read: clubbing zones) in town. Life really begins here only after midnight, as the parties stretch well into the wee hours of the next morning. We actually got stuck in a jam on a narrow road near one of the clubs for 45 minutes!! After that, we decided we’d had enough, and quietly returned to our resort!

It was a “fine” Saturday morning as we set off towards Colva beach in South Goa (WHY??!!). I’ll get to why it was such a “fine” day a little later on, but first, about Colva beach. It took us about an hour and a half to get there, with a few stoppages in between. The beach, known for its white sands, was surprisingly less crowded, considering it is one of the more well-known beaches in Goa and probably the only place worth visiting in South Goa. Watersports were shockingly expensive, with a difference of almost Rs. 1000 between Calangute and here. No wonder there were hardly any people around! Anyway, we once again trudged along to a shack for lunch and drinks. Furhad, needless to say, had some kind of Prawns. As he had requested us to do the previous day if he ate prawns again, we each gave him a whack on the head everytime he had a piece of prawn!! Another memorable aspect of that afternoon was a little black puppy nestling under our table, and Nipun playing around with it. The mutt ultimately got so annoyed, it snatched Suyash’s slipper and ran away! Hilarious stuff!! Su managed to recover his slipper eventually, but the entire episode had us in splits..!!

We returned back to our resort after a round of shopping, getting ready for what we thought would be quite an enjoyable 1-hour sundown cruise from Panaji. Very high expectations, as it turned out. Boy, that was one lame cruise and a sheer waste of 150 bucks!!! Make that 200; 50 extra for entering the disco, which, to our dismay, turned out to be completely empty!! Apart from a DJ having ambitious hopes of proving himself in front of a considerable crowd, I guess!!! And to add insult to injury, we passed by the Casino Royale and the Caravela in all their glory, two awesome cruises that were a tad out of our budget, but we desperately wanted to get onto earlier. Anyway, I’d like to consider that a forgotten chapter in this trip. Never will mention it again.

We returned in a dazed state to our resort, and sought to bury our woes by catching a bit of IPL action before dinner. We revisited Britto’s for a late dinner at almost midnight (ours was the last order they took). We played some more cards later that night, this time a game of DONKEY. This was the game where a little quirk by Manan had us roaring with laughter for almost 15 minutes continuously!! In a nutshell, the objective of this game is to make one complete set of 3 cards (all hearts, or all spades etc.), and then secretively put down your cards. When one person puts down his cards, others immediately need to follow suit, and the last person to do so loses and is labelled ‘D’. After D comes O, and so on, until someone reaches ‘D-O-N-K-E-Y’. Anyway, MS was continuously holding his cards low in an attempt to sell a dummy and get someone to put down their cards, for which we were constantly berating him. Finally, at one point, he held his cards so low, he dropped one of them, which he immediately picked up. Meanwhile, Mark had actually completed a set and put down his cards, and everyone followed suit. Manan, thinking he had sold a dummy, kept the cards in his hands and shouted “Maine nahi rakha! Maine nahi rakha!!”…..Loolllllzzzzzz…..ROTFLMAO!!!!

About the “fine” day bit, well, we were stopped by the cops 4 times that day!!! Once ‘cos Karey wasn’t wearing his seatbelt (it was impossible to wear it actually ‘cos it was stuck like glue to the side of the car!), and three other times ‘cos we had hired a private vehicle, which, though unofficially permitted in Goa, isn’t exactly legal. We had to talk our way out of trouble on all 4 occasions! Anyway, chuck that….not something I wanna comment on or something I’m particularly proud of. Sunday was watersports day. We went to Calangute for some parasailing and a ride on a water-scooter (I decided only to go parasailing….Nips, Furhad, Karey n Manan rode the scooter as well). Parasailing was an awesome experience, though kind of short. It really was like a joyride – completely relaxing and at peace high in the air! Lunch at another restaurant by the beach (Furhad’s last prawns meal for the trip!), and we returned to pack up and check out of our resort. We had a quick photo session, and set off for Mapusa to begin our bus journey back to Mumbai. The bus for the return leg was fabulous, a multi-axle Volvo B9R – the lap of luxury! It was sooooo comfortable, in stark contrast to the bus we came to Goa in! We reached Mumbai, early the next morning, thus concluding a really memorable and cherished trip! 

Bitter-sweet symphony - the Final Year Industrial Visit

It was exactly a year ago on this day that I departed on a 10-day trip that not only produced some of my most cherished experiences, but also moments that have taught me valuable lessons about life, people and reality. This was, of course, an Industrial Visit to Delhi and Dehradun during my Final Year of Engineering. As one of the main organizers of the trip, the 3 months leading up to the trip and the trip itself constitute the most turbulent period of my life thus far without a shadow of any doubt. Although it was a trip that all of us (us => EXTC Batch of 2008) thoroughly enjoyed, it is indeed unfortunate that this was a trip that I will always remember for the stressful times I faced in dealing with my college authorities, rather than for the amazing fun that we all had during the trip.

Acting as mediators between my classmates and the department/college management, my colleagues in the “organizing committee” (if one could call it that) and I were forced to make radical decisions due to circumstances that surrounded the trip. Whether it was the “unavailability” of faculty members to accompany us for the trip, the eventual postponement of the trip from March to April 2008, the endless exchange of mails and telephone calls with companies convincing them to allow us to visit their facilities, or the haggling over the individual monetary contribution for the trip, my colleagues and I were constantly on our toes, dodging road block after road block in order to make the trip possible and a success. The final straw, though, was dealt by our college management, with just a few days to go before we departed for Delhi. I would rather not divulge any details here, but the situation that they left us with nearly reduced me to tears. It may sound like an exaggeration, but I honestly felt I was betrayed by the higher powers in the college at that point! What they had asked us to do was unthinkable, and downright inconsiderate, yet we were left with no choice. Relaying this news to my classmates was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life. Though they were outraged, and rightly so, they agreed to co-operate and go ahead with the trip. It was indeed a testimony to our resolute will and determination to make the trip a grand success, which eventually, I am glad to say, we did!

All right, now that I've finally got that off my chest, time for some of my favourite memories from the trip. The train journey was typical, with a large number of people waking up in the morning with toothpaste and what not on their face! People were distinctly baffled by my ability to sleep peacefully with the light on right in front of me shining in my face!! The highlight of the visit to our first company on Day 2 of the trip was not the presentation, or the tour of their facilities, but in fact all of us pouncing on the cold drinks and cookies in the cafeteria as soon as they were offered to us. We didn't really get an opportunity to have lunch, and so we savoured anything and everything we could get our hands on at the time!! Later that night, on the terrace of the place where we were staying, we went on to play probably the best and most hilarious game of musical chairs I have ever played in my life! Kudos to the likes of our HOD and Roshan for livening the game up!! That night was a seriously awesome night!

The next day saw a trip to Gurgaon, and then on to the Railway Museum, Connaught Place and a late evening stop at India Gate....took some really cool snaps there, with the India Gate lit up in all her glory. Day 4 was tourist day, as we went around catching the sights and sounds of New Delhi, including the magnificent Akshardham temple, a ride in the Metro, Jantar Mantar and the Memorials of some of our great leaders. How can one forget the VVVVVIP treatment vetted out to a certain Ms. (soon to be Mrs.) Kavita Shinde!! So much so that some onlookers at places like Akshardham actually turned their heads around to have a look, thinking some Bollywood actress had arrived!

We left for Dehradun by bus early on Day 5. Here I must mention one thing before anything else......if you ever want to travel in and around Delhi, don't travel by bus even if ur life depended on it!! The strict rules prevalent there force the buses to travel at an agonizingly slow pace, and this applies to the tourist buses plying from Delhi to other cities as well. Thus, a journey which normally should not have taken more than 8 hours, took well over 10 hours eventually. It didn't help matters that we had no choice but to proceed straight to our first company in Dehradun without getting a chance to freshen up and have a proper lunch. As a result, during the presentation, one could literally count on their hands the number of people awake! But a quick trip to a nearby spring named Sahastradhara refreshed us all. Two more company visits, a stop at Malsi Deer Park (with no deer in sight) and a walk around the central market comprised the itinerary for Day 6.

We embarked on yet another frustratingly slow journey from Dehradun to Delhi early morning on Day 7, stopping over for a quick dip in the holy river of Ganges at Haridwar on the way. A detour to the Fr. Agnel Balbhavan in Greater Noida provided us the most satisfying and heartwarming experience of the entire trip. Home to a number of young orphans, we had a memorable time interacting and playing with the little children, who were clearly thrilled and excited with our presence there. Later that night, we left Delhi for home-sweet-home, Mumbai. The best part of the return journey was a marathon 8-hour game of Business. We played the game like it has never been played before, with partnerships, deals being made, loans from one team to another with mutually decided terms and conditions and what not. I am pretty sure we had created some kind of a record there for the game!

Looking back on the trip, I would just like to say one thing - a big THANK YOU and a thumbs up to my entire class for firstly, for their support and co-operation in making the trip possible, and secondly, making it as awesome as it turned out to be!

Until the next...

The Brawn Identity!

The expectation and excitement surrounding the build-up to the start of the 2009 Formula 1 season was clearly palpable among motorsport fanatics. The anticipation of the start of the first race in Melbourne, Australia was higher than ever, with everyone keen to see what influence all the new technical regulations introduced would have on the race itself. But the one thing that dominated all the fervency was the introduction of a new team that took all the testing and pre-race practice sessions by storm : Brawn GP.

The story of the evolution of Brawn GP is the stuff dreams are made of. After Honda pulled out of F1 in December 2008, thanks to the global economic crisis, drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello sat at home without a job and staring at a bleak future. All the remaining teams had confirmed their rosters for the 2009 season, and times could not have been tougher for the Englishman and the Brazilian. With less than a month to go for the start of the new season, ex-team boss Ross Brawn decided to revive the Honda team, thus buying the team and starting afresh. With a new name, a new Mercedes engine and new technical regulations to comply with, Brawn GP were faced with an enormous task. While all the other teams had extensive testing on their cars for months together, Brawn GP had just about 20 days to put together a competent, efficient package with emphasis on reliability. They had one advantage though - a genius at the helm named Ross Brawn.

Being one of the architects of the run of success and dominance that Ferrari have achieved over the past decade, Ross Brawn is one of the most brilliant and technically gifted team bosses there is in the sport. With some fine tweaks in aerodynamics and clever thinking (including an innovative yet controversial interpretation of the new diffuser rule), Brawn GP set Albert Park on fire. They dominated qualifying, with Button and Barrichello finishing 1-2 and sitting proudly on top of the pack.

The race started perfectly for Button as he sped away, but not so well for Barrichello, as a slow start bumped him down to 7th place. The Australian GP though lived up to its reputation of having innumerable twists and turns, and the Brawn GP team finished the race as they started it: a class above the rest. Ferrari had a disastrous race, with both drivers retiring. Lewis Hamilton saved the day for Mclaren, finishing an impressive 3rd after starting 15th on the grid. Toyota and Williams looked very impressive as well.

Perhaps the title should actually have been "The Brawn Supremacy"!! All in all, this promises to be as open a season as ever in F1, with the big question being: Can Brawn GP continue to live the dream, and remain consistent throughout the season? And more importantly: Can the trailing pack keep up with them and step it up a notch?? Well, there's only one way to find out...

Until the next..

P.S: I actually wanted to list out all the new, innovative changes introduced this season in F1: the much-applauded return to slick tyres, the new KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) electronic boost system similar to the one used in A1 GP, modified aerodynamics etc. It'll take up a whole new post, but instead I'll just provide the link, it's a must read for all F1 lovers:

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692/

Merseyside in delirium!

27 days since my last post....that's long enough, it's about time something was done to prevent the inactivity creeping in again into this blog! And the timing could not be more perfect. Let's get into it straight away, shall we?

I'd like to begin on a subtle note........ahem.............wooooooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

All right, all right....now I shall really keep it subtle. Nothing gives a Liverpool fan more pleasure than to rub it into a Manchester United fan with subtlety, given that we don't really get to do it too often!! But the events that transpired at Old Trafford, Manchester in the afternoon of 14 March, 2009, allowed Liverpool supporters all around the world to earn their bragging rights, and emphatically so, may I add. Watching Liverpool deliver a 4-1 drubbing to Manchester United, inflicting upon them their worst home defeat in 17 years, was a pleasure and a joy to watch. More than the scoreline, it was the sublime performance by the Reds, led by an inspirational skipper in Steven Gerrard and a stellar performance by El Nino, that was a breathtaking treat. Together, they achieved what no other Premier League team has been able to achieve this season, and for many seasons prior as well -- not just outplay them on their home turf, but to force them into shooting themselves in the foot time and again.

Here's a goal-by-goal account of the match:

MU 1-0 Liverpool

Tevez through ball to Ji-Sung Park...here come's Reina.....Park falls over him....wtf!! Penalty?!! U kidding me?? He just fell over Reina....Pepe pulled out of it....this is ludicrous! Shit...! Here's @%#!!@ Ronaldo....miss it for God's sake....Reina save....no....dammit! Not again....plzz...not again...not like last yr!!!

MU 1-1 Liverpool

Skrtel long ball into the United half....oh Vidic misses it....Torres in behind....he steals it! Go el Nino....he scores!!! Tooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeesssss! 1-1! Cmon u Reds!!! Rip them apart like u said u wud!!! Wat a mistake from Vidic.....brother, u gonna be crucified!

MU 1-2 Liverpool

Torres to Gerrard.....bursts into the box ala Istanbul 2005.....Evra bring him down...!....surely a penalty?? Yeeesssss! Cmooooooonnnn! Stevie G from the spot.....puts it away!! Liverpool lead!! Awesome stuff!! Reds on top of their game!!!!

MU 1-3 Liverpool

Kuyt knockdown to Gerrard....spins away from Vidic.....he's in on goal....Vidic pulls him down....wat?? hey thats a red card....send him off ref...!.....yeeeesss, he's off!....Vidic's horrow show comes to a premature end.....man, what a shocking game he's had! Free-kick...hmm Aurelio should have a crack at this....he does....whoa, its in!!! OH FREAK!!!! Wat a kick!!!! 3-1!!!!!!!!Unbelievable!!! This is a dream...!! 3-1 at Old Trafford, Red Devils being pummeled at home! This is insane!! I'm gonna lose my voice today I think!! Hell, who cares, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Cmon Liverpool!!!! More...more please....crush them!! (ManU fans: Vidic, u $#@@#!!*.....**** off...!)

MU 1-4 Liverpool

Long ball again.....here's...Dossena (??!)....whoa, lob over van der Sar, what a finish!!! Dossena......oh man....even he's getting in on the act!! United done and dusted!!!! This is madness now, United what on earth have u done to urselves??!! This is utter humiliation.....shame on u guyz....shame on u!!

It was a spineless, gutless and wretched performance from a United side who are supposedly tipped to win the quintuple this season!! Yeah, right, good luck with that! But, one thing is for sure, Liverpool's dominance over 2 premier European sides in 5 days -- 4-0 against Real Madrid followed by 4-1 against Manchester United -- justifies their ranking by UEFA as the no. 1 team in Europe. And with the gap to the top of the BPL reduced to 4 points, hopefully Liverpool will lift their first Premier League trophy this season. All hail the Reds!! YNWA!!!!

Until the next...

The Talibanisation of modern India

As you may have read in one of my earlier posts (a long, long, loooong time back!), one of my favourite things to look forward to is a Sunday morning, sitting with a cup of freshly brewed South Indian filter coffee in one hand, and The Times of India in the other. I always am eager to read the editorial section in the Sunday edition of TOI, where the thoughts of some of the best experts in finance, politics, business, sports and entertainment are presented. This past Sunday, a very thought-provoking article that was published caught my eye. It was based on the new wave of social extremism that seems to have swept through our country in recent times. All of a sudden, fights over religious differences, political blame-games, and even regionalism, seem to have taken a backseat. Apparently, a group of self-righteous people, mainly looking to gain some political ground, have taken it upon themselves to "cleanse" our society of its sins. They hold themselves above the law, above the prevailing social structure, and above humanity itself. They have been grossly brainwashed and misled on the nuances of our value system, ethics and culture which our country can proudly boast of. The author of the article, whose name currently escapes my mind, calls this the "Talibanisation of India".

Having read a substantial amount recently in Khaled Hosseini's books ("The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns") about the disturbing tales of the horrors that Afghans have faced in the last 40-odd years, I cannot help but compare the social system that the Taliban tried to bring into Afghanistan, and what the social radicals are trying to do in India right now. Innocent young women, whose only "crime" was to walk in and out of a club in Mangalore, were abused and beaten up in full public view. Couples sitting in parks etc. have been harrassed and further beaten, and, on Valentine's day, even forcibly married off! Even a policeman, who we trust with our lives, indulges in some couple-clobbering, dragging them away to a police station, only to find that there is no law under which he could book them. Even a brother-sister pair were taken for a couple and beaten up. All romantic alliances are seen as mortal sins which must be punished severely, that too physically. A taste of the Taliban, anyone?? The only difference seems to be that the Taliban roamed around in red Toyota jeeps carrying Kalashnikovs, while here the fundamentalists run around on the road (at the most commandeer a red Toyota Innova....sorry but I had to put that in!), and use anything they can lay their hands on as a weapon. It indeed is a shocking revelation, which should simultaneously serve as a wake-up call as well.

This is not about standing up in defiance against these extreme elements, but about facing the broader consequences of the issue, and getting that into everyone's head. I'm not saying that going to a pub, having drinks, smoking cigarettes, doping etc. should be completely permitted in society. In fact, I'm all for stricter implementation of stringent laws on the latter two at least. But its time both sides of society buck up and realize their responsibilities - be it as a friend, a brother/sister, a son/daughter, a father/mother, or simply as an adult and as a citizen of this great nation. We should be mature enough to understand what is right and what is wrong, what's good for us and what isn't. And for those who cannot come around to understanding and making those decisions, we need to ensure that the law is above all else, and more importantly, that the law is implemented correctly, logically and effectively. This may be a democracy, but no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. No one has the right to impose their own will on others. Yet, at the same time, no one has the right to hurt and disregard the sentiments of their fellow citizens, whether they make sense or not, which is something we need to be a little extra-careful about.

Until the next...

A few tears say a thousand words..

One may say that a defining hallmark of a true sportsman is his ability to acknowledge, after a defeat, the fact that he has been beaten by a better man. At the finals of the 2009 Australian Open Men's Singles Championship, Roger Federer did just that through the use of a few tears. It seemed as if the round of applause and cheering that the crowd provided as he stepped up to speak after receiving the runners-up shield had overwhelmed him, but deeply, he may have realized that all that support was now starting to stem out of empathy rather than appreciation. He would have realized that, for the second successive Grand Slam final against his nemesis Rafael Nadal, he threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, yet failed to even cause a dent in the Spaniard's machinery. Rafa slowly but steadily absorbed everything the Swiss ace launched at him, and then demonstrated the magical capabilities that enabled him to dethrone the then king of Wimbledon. He also showed that his record against Fedex was no fluke; that he, indeed, was the better player. Armed with a fierce forehand and a bundle of energy, Nadal ran Roger ragged, picking him apart at will. He displayed absolutely no signs of the tiredness that everyone predicted he would experience, coming on the back of a 5+ hour marathon against compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the semis less than 48 hours earlier. When the dust had finally settled, Rafa stood tall, knowing that he had yet again mastered his fiercest rival, physically as well as mentally.

Having said this, I would definitely be rooting for Federer to overcome the odds in Paris, come May. He has a massive challenge ahead of him now, and the horror of the final at Roland Garros a year earlier would definitely be playing on his mind. But a win at Paris this year would surely cement his place in history as arguably the greatest player the sport has ever seen. One thing is for sure, he would be much more determined than ever this year at the French Open.....the feud is now slowly developing into a battle for personal pride more than for Championships in the case of R-Fed.

South of the equator, the downfall of another champion(s) was witnessed - Ricky Ponting and his (not so) merry men. The Aussie cricket team has endured a horrific last 6 months, slumping from defeat after defeat. It all started with their tour of India, when the men in blue shocked the cricketing world with the ease with which they dispatched the Aussie brigade 2-0 in the test series. Returning to their homeland stunned and disheartened, they restored some pride with a test series win against neighbours New Zealand, although they did flatter to deceive in the process. On came the South Africans, riding high on a wave of successes earlier in the year. The Proteas came into the series with a dismal test record in Australia, but they capitalised on the poor form of the home side to deliver a 2-1 thumping to them in the test series and a 4-1 mauling in the ODI series, in the process becoming the no. 1 ODI side in the world. Cricket fans all over the world stared dumbfounded at the petty joke that the Australian side had been reduced to. Sure, everyone expected the absence of the likes of McGrath, Warne, Lee and Gilchrist to have a major impact on the quality of the side, but nobody would even in their wildest dreams would have imagined 6 months ago that the Aussies would capitulate as tamely as they did. Even today, I sit here writing this after watching them get beaten by a rookie New Zealand ODI team, after being bowled out for a paltry 181.

It really is sad to see so many champions around the world falling one by one, although some may look at it positively and say it does wonders for the game - nobody likes to see a sport dominated by one person or one team. A little healthy competition never hurts!! And hey, I'm not really complaining.......as long as the trend continues and we witness the demise of yet another champion side - this time in football - namely, Manchester United!!! ;)

Until the next...

P.S : 11.30 pm.....late addition to the post :

Toooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!! Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!! Liverpool 2 -0 Chelsea!!!! El Nino is up and running again, Red Devils beware!!! Cmon u Reds!! YNWA!!!

All dazed and disoriented..!

And no, that's not because of a hangover from a heavy night of drinking (I think people who know me know that there's no way that is possible for a guy like me!), but it feels the same nonetheless!! The reason?? Four simple words - CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA!!

Firstly, Mr. Nikhil Advani, what the f were u thinking??! That Indian movie-goers are dumb?? Or that we're Chinese, and that all those Chinese stunts would earn you a pat on the back?? Please do not attempt to insult our intelligence ever again in the future, sir, for you have already committed that mortal sin with this 2 hr 45 min of worthless rubbish! And just because Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon won Oscars inspite of its over-exaggerated action with the Chinese actors flying from point A to point B, doesn't mean CC2C will be subject to rapturous applause for the same reasons. Allow me to present you with a comparative study -- Tom & Jerry, with Tom falling off buildings and being kicked through the air, is funny. Wile E. Coyote falling off a cliff thanks to the Road runner, is funny. Mithun da kicking Akshay Kumar in the backside, sending him flying through the Delhi skyline, unlike most other airlines nowadays due to fog, IS NOT FUNNY!! It is in fact really, really SAD! It is sad to see that this is what Indian cinema has come down to, that people like Akshay Kumar have stooped so low and are making fools of themselves. Then there's that scene on a pier where "Sidhu" puts his foot against the chest of one of the bad guys, and then does some bizarre move that even I couldn't comprehend, but the next thing we see is all the villains launched into the air, wooden boards flying around, winds swirling and the water in the sea rising as if a Tsunami is about to hit!! I've seen plenty of movies where one is required to leave one's brains at home and proceed to the cinema hall, and have appreciated quite a few such movies as well. CC2C, however, is a movie which, after watching, even a man lying on a surgery table with his brain in a jar next to him, would feel like banging his head against the nearest accessible wall, or any other hard object for that matter. It defies logic, gravity, law of conservation of energy, law of conservation of mass, law of conservation of charge, psychology, philosophy....everything!! (Suyash...go ahead...call me a nerd!! ). The acting is nothing to write home about either, although I did read in a review somewhere, "We have reached a point where it is no longer possible to use Deepika Padukone and acting in the same sentence"!! Very true, at least going by her last 2 movies, Bachna Ae Haseeno and CC2C! Overall, this movie is a dud. Yet, it wouldn't be surprising to see this movie gross over Rs. 100 crore, thanks to the loyal fans of Akki.

Anyway, I need to watch a decent movie now in order to compensate for this madness. Hopefully Slumdog Millionaire won't disappoint. Until the next...

2008 - A musical recap

Firstly, at the outset, let me complete the required formality and wish the reader of these words a very Happy New Year! It's commonplace for bloggers at such times to look back at the year gone by and put down their thoughts. They may either describe their life over the last 316224000 seconds, or give their perspective of world events in the said time period. Well, I have always, on my blog, ventured to do something different and unconventional (at least for me!).

I got an idea while watching VH1 on the first day of the New Year. They were showing the hit Billy Joel number "We didn't start the fire". For those of you who are musically ignorant, this song is unique - in that its lyrics chronicle the most significant events and personalities of the 20th century (actually during Billy Joel's lifetime up till that point, from 1949 to 1989). So, before you move further on in this post, I suggest you get your hands on this song, and more importantly, go through the lyrics. Anyway, so watching the video gave me an idea for this post. I decided to write my own little song, sung to the same tune, chronicling the events of 2008. So here it is:

(to be sung to the tune of "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel):

Economic disarray, Fuel prices in a sway,
goin' up, comin' down, where are they headed now?
Merrill Lynch, Lehmann, fallin' over in a spin,
Losses and bailouts, is it gonna end and how?

Air fares on the rise, Ozzie cricket's sad demise,
IPL, ICL, cricket lovers in a spell
Writers strike, sitcom strife, entertainment going bust,
Iron Man, Dark Knight, Why so serious??

CHORUS:
2008 is over
There were twists n turns, there were chills n burns,
2009's upon us
Gotta live our life yeah, gotta make it brighter

Medvedev, Sarkozy, Musharraf and Zardari,
McCain-Palin bow out, Barack creates history
Indo-US nuke deal, UPA back on its feet,
Israel, Palestine, Hamas and the Gaza strip

Kosovo becomes free, South Ossetia under siege,
Democracy in Nepal, Fidel steps aside for Raul
Man Utd win the double, Liverpool now top the table,
Barcelona, Inter Milan, looking unstoppable.

CHORUS

Terrorists, militants, brainwashed imbeciles,
chaos and mass destruction, taking lives at their own will
Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kabul, Islamabad,
Last straw was Mumbai, how many more now have to die??!

Nadal downs Federer, Lewis has a glorious year,
Bindra gets his name in gold, Phelps swims to 8 and lo!
Bush ducks for cover twice, Nano stops 'cos Mamta cries,
Recession, destruction, c'mon people get it right!!

CHORUS

Somali piracy, NSG we salute thee,
Chandrayaan on the moon, Iphone debuts with a boom,
Khan wars to the fore, movie-goers still want more,
Aamir pips SRK, Sallu just gets blown away

Coldplay, Linkin Park, Big Bang with a spark,
G8 nations deliver, things just have to get better!!

2008 is over
There were twists and turns, there were chills and burns
2009's upon us
When the chips are down, keep fighting on and on and on.....

CHORUS

END

Suggestions for a title anyone???
Oh and by the way, this was my first ever attempt at something like this - never even written a poem in my life, forget a song! So appreciate your comments :)

Until the next...have a great year ahead everyone!