Made a committed effort to give England a winning start to the one day series. Went to Kotla early in the morning, wore the shirt I was wearing on the last day of the Wankhede test, took vikas along with me. We did the best we could, bundled out India for 203 and then created a great partnership between Pieterson and Freddy..but just when we started to relax the English guys gave it away.
Tomorrow also I will not be able to do much as I will be going to Mumbai to see Ayush's concert. The entire load now rests on Vikas's tiny shoulders. God give him strength!
Mar 30, 2006
Mar 29, 2006
A test for my cynicism
Last weekend we went to Punjab for a long weekend. There were seven and half of us - me, my parents, uncle, aunt, vikas, meetu and sanika. Left here on friday afternoon, stayed the night at Vikas's didi's house in Jalandhar, went to Amritsar and Wagah border the next day, stayed again in Jalandhar on Saturday night and then started for delhi on Sunday afternoon, reaching at 12 in the night.
It was a good trip and I was really impressed with Punjab. One cant help but admire their capacity for hard work and their enterpreneurship as well as for their verve in life. Punjabi philosophy is 'earn 10, spend 100, then plan on earning 1000, spend 10000' and so on. Yes..they are flashy, showy, shallow and sometimes overtly aggressive and interfering. But they are also genuinely friendly, straightforward and helpful.
My feelings of appreciation and hope were further enhanced on visiting the Golden Temple. It was wonderfully maintained, spotlessly clean, devoid of any religious 'middle men', devotees looked as if they had come because of some inner urge, not at the orders of some dictatorial relative or to wheedle a favor before a business deal or medical operation. I started wondering..'will this be my first positive post on my blog'? When all of a sudden...
People started running in huge numbers to a particular corner of the temple compound. Kids were brushed aside, old ladies shoved and the granth sahib was left to the dogs. IT WAS SALMAN KHAN!! With his brother and other family, come to match the collective strenghts of the 10 gurus against the Rajasthan High Court. Girls were screaming, jumping up and down, guys were surging towards the front to catch a glimpse of their God and it was chaos. I was relieved. Ultimately, my cynicism triumphed.
But wait!! There's still Didi (vikas's elder sister). She is the Principal of Cambridge School in Jalandhar. The school has to be seen to be believed. And Didi says she has been able to implement only 50% of her ideas. I beleive that when she has her own school it will be the best in India. That apart, she is a fantastic person. My parents and uncles were blown away by her hospitality and friendliness. I have known her about 9 years now, and I can never remember a time when she wasn't positive, optimistic and full of laughter.
My cynicism takes a beating when it comes to people like didi. But i will make it up somewhere else.
It was a good trip and I was really impressed with Punjab. One cant help but admire their capacity for hard work and their enterpreneurship as well as for their verve in life. Punjabi philosophy is 'earn 10, spend 100, then plan on earning 1000, spend 10000' and so on. Yes..they are flashy, showy, shallow and sometimes overtly aggressive and interfering. But they are also genuinely friendly, straightforward and helpful.
My feelings of appreciation and hope were further enhanced on visiting the Golden Temple. It was wonderfully maintained, spotlessly clean, devoid of any religious 'middle men', devotees looked as if they had come because of some inner urge, not at the orders of some dictatorial relative or to wheedle a favor before a business deal or medical operation. I started wondering..'will this be my first positive post on my blog'? When all of a sudden...
People started running in huge numbers to a particular corner of the temple compound. Kids were brushed aside, old ladies shoved and the granth sahib was left to the dogs. IT WAS SALMAN KHAN!! With his brother and other family, come to match the collective strenghts of the 10 gurus against the Rajasthan High Court. Girls were screaming, jumping up and down, guys were surging towards the front to catch a glimpse of their God and it was chaos. I was relieved. Ultimately, my cynicism triumphed.
But wait!! There's still Didi (vikas's elder sister). She is the Principal of Cambridge School in Jalandhar. The school has to be seen to be believed. And Didi says she has been able to implement only 50% of her ideas. I beleive that when she has her own school it will be the best in India. That apart, she is a fantastic person. My parents and uncles were blown away by her hospitality and friendliness. I have known her about 9 years now, and I can never remember a time when she wasn't positive, optimistic and full of laughter.
My cynicism takes a beating when it comes to people like didi. But i will make it up somewhere else.
Mar 27, 2006
Another short story
Every one heaved a sigh of relief when Air Force One taxied to a stop at the Andrews tarmac. It had been a nerve-wracking month. The first visit by the Prez in war-torn Iraq, a President committed to creating history, driven by a genuine urge to do something worthwhile for global peace, an entire world holding their collective breaths, walking on a razor edge where even the tiniest incident could trigger cataclysmic consequences.
No one knew it better than Special Agent Scanlon, in charge of the president’s security detail. ‘The devil is always in details’, was what he swore by, and the security measures taken for the past month were close to ridiculous. Daily life was totally disrupted for 15 days in an already chaotic Baghdad, and the public grumblings had started to become menacingly violent. Iraq’s capital was virtually turned into a fortress with security forces taking up positions at vantage points and American helicopters hovered constantly over the route the presidential convoy was to wind its way from the airport to the meeting venue. The entire neighborhood surrounding the meeting venue had been cordoned off and residents forcefully evacuated to temporary shelters.
Human rights organizations had pitched in, calling for protection of the basic rights of the Iraqi people and there were growing support for these voices within the Senate itself.
‘Yes, it had been tough in the end’, Scanlon thought. But now, as the president’s envoy entered the White house gate amid thousands of screaming, flag waving loyalists, he thought he would receive some accolades as to how he had handled the toughest security detail in the history of mankind.
‘Great job Scanlon’, the Man said, giving the crowds a final wave before going inside. ‘Maybe you should take a month off and be with the wife’.
‘Yes sir, you should also retire for the night sir. Its been a long week sir’.
‘ I think I will do just that. Thanks again and good night’.
As he entered the bedroom the President thought about what he has achieved. It was the crowning achievement of an illustrious life and he was perhaps the proudest man in the world at that moment. Looking at the sleeping First Lady he thought ‘if I can achieve what I did this week, perhaps I can even make my marriage work’. He reached for her and she turned away, just like it had been for the last 5 years of their marriage. ‘Not now Bill. Good night’.
‘Some things never change’, he thought with a rueful shake of his head and shut his eyes. ‘Iran is the next problem and I just have to find a way’, were his last coherent thought as sleep started to envelop him in her soothing grasp.
A pale hand holding a sharpened Black Berol Beauty pencil streaked down through the dark and plunged itself down his throat. And the last thing he heard choking on his blood was his wife whisper, ‘that’s for Monica you bastard’.
No one knew it better than Special Agent Scanlon, in charge of the president’s security detail. ‘The devil is always in details’, was what he swore by, and the security measures taken for the past month were close to ridiculous. Daily life was totally disrupted for 15 days in an already chaotic Baghdad, and the public grumblings had started to become menacingly violent. Iraq’s capital was virtually turned into a fortress with security forces taking up positions at vantage points and American helicopters hovered constantly over the route the presidential convoy was to wind its way from the airport to the meeting venue. The entire neighborhood surrounding the meeting venue had been cordoned off and residents forcefully evacuated to temporary shelters.
Human rights organizations had pitched in, calling for protection of the basic rights of the Iraqi people and there were growing support for these voices within the Senate itself.
‘Yes, it had been tough in the end’, Scanlon thought. But now, as the president’s envoy entered the White house gate amid thousands of screaming, flag waving loyalists, he thought he would receive some accolades as to how he had handled the toughest security detail in the history of mankind.
‘Great job Scanlon’, the Man said, giving the crowds a final wave before going inside. ‘Maybe you should take a month off and be with the wife’.
‘Yes sir, you should also retire for the night sir. Its been a long week sir’.
‘ I think I will do just that. Thanks again and good night’.
As he entered the bedroom the President thought about what he has achieved. It was the crowning achievement of an illustrious life and he was perhaps the proudest man in the world at that moment. Looking at the sleeping First Lady he thought ‘if I can achieve what I did this week, perhaps I can even make my marriage work’. He reached for her and she turned away, just like it had been for the last 5 years of their marriage. ‘Not now Bill. Good night’.
‘Some things never change’, he thought with a rueful shake of his head and shut his eyes. ‘Iran is the next problem and I just have to find a way’, were his last coherent thought as sleep started to envelop him in her soothing grasp.
A pale hand holding a sharpened Black Berol Beauty pencil streaked down through the dark and plunged itself down his throat. And the last thing he heard choking on his blood was his wife whisper, ‘that’s for Monica you bastard’.
Mar 23, 2006
Last drunken thoughts of my life
That's because from today I am quitting drinking for 3 months, and after that resume as a social drinker. So, no more of sending SMS-es to myself at 11 PM to remind myself about what to write about in the blog the morning after..taaliyan, taaliyan..
Here goes:
SHIT!! last nite's messages got deleted..damn it!
Here goes:
SHIT!! last nite's messages got deleted..damn it!
Mar 22, 2006
Kolkata Food Guide (SLURP!!!)
Must haves next time you are there
Kabiraji Cutlet from Regent (S N Banerjee Road)
Moghlai Parota from Anadi Cabin (S N Banerjee Road)
Kosha Mangsho from Golbari (Shyambazar)
Phulkopir Singara from Mrityunjoy (Lansdowne)
Double Egg Chicken Roll from Kusum / Park Steet)(Campari @ Gariahat & Nizam is a close contender!)
Chicken Rezala from Shabbir (off C R Avenue)
Steak at Oly pub (with old monk!!)
Ujjala's Chanachur ( no comparison anywhere)
Telebhaja from Putiram (College Street)
Daab Chigri from Kewpies (Elgin Lane)
Chicken Cutlet from Baked & Fried/Mukherjee Sweets (Ballygunge Place)
Bijoli Grill's Fish Roll
Mochar Chop Dhoka from Apanjan (Sadananda Road)
Boudir's Lebu Cha (Deshapriya Park)
Kochuri & Tarkari from Tasty Corner (Mandeville Gardens)
Phuchka/Churmur/ Dahi Phuchka from Bilas or Boudi (Southern Avenue)
Chicken Cutlet near Samur (Bhowanipur)
Mishti Doi & Rosogolla from Mithai (Beckbagan)
Sandesh (all types) from Balaram (Bhowanipur) (Naram pak & Ice cream sandesh)
Pantua from Bancharam
Indrani from Ganguram
Rabri from Chittaranhan
Darbesh from Sen Mahasay
Amriti from Bhim Nag/Ganguram, Maniktala (Jalebis are no match)
Skyroom's Prawn Cocktail & Mixed Grill & Baked
Alaska or Blue Fox's Lobster Thermidor -
Mandarin Fish from Waldorf
Chello Kabab from Peter Cat
Chicken balls from Tyangra
Kabiraji Cutlet from Regent (S N Banerjee Road)
Moghlai Parota from Anadi Cabin (S N Banerjee Road)
Kosha Mangsho from Golbari (Shyambazar)
Phulkopir Singara from Mrityunjoy (Lansdowne)
Double Egg Chicken Roll from Kusum / Park Steet)(Campari @ Gariahat & Nizam is a close contender!)
Chicken Rezala from Shabbir (off C R Avenue)
Steak at Oly pub (with old monk!!)
Ujjala's Chanachur ( no comparison anywhere)
Telebhaja from Putiram (College Street)
Daab Chigri from Kewpies (Elgin Lane)
Chicken Cutlet from Baked & Fried/Mukherjee Sweets (Ballygunge Place)
Bijoli Grill's Fish Roll
Mochar Chop Dhoka from Apanjan (Sadananda Road)
Boudir's Lebu Cha (Deshapriya Park)
Kochuri & Tarkari from Tasty Corner (Mandeville Gardens)
Phuchka/Churmur/ Dahi Phuchka from Bilas or Boudi (Southern Avenue)
Chicken Cutlet near Samur (Bhowanipur)
Mishti Doi & Rosogolla from Mithai (Beckbagan)
Sandesh (all types) from Balaram (Bhowanipur) (Naram pak & Ice cream sandesh)
Pantua from Bancharam
Indrani from Ganguram
Rabri from Chittaranhan
Darbesh from Sen Mahasay
Amriti from Bhim Nag/Ganguram, Maniktala (Jalebis are no match)
Skyroom's Prawn Cocktail & Mixed Grill & Baked
Alaska or Blue Fox's Lobster Thermidor -
Mandarin Fish from Waldorf
Chello Kabab from Peter Cat
Chicken balls from Tyangra
Last night's drunken thoughts
"Its a hell of a thing killing a man"
Watched 'Unforgiven' again. What a movie! Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman together..need I say more? For those of you martians who havent seen it, go and buy the the DVD right now.
Dev Benegal
Director of Split Wide Open and English August, this guy is now making a movie on Ramanujan. Who said Indian cinema is all about Bollywood?
Garden Shot
CNN featured a 'breaking news' (hate this term..my son once asked me why news is always breaking on tv) about a old man who was arrested for shooting a teenage tresspasser on his garden. While he was being portrayed as a nazi fanatic, my thoughts were has anyone bothered to know if he was being persecuted by the neighborhood kids? Having seen the gora teenage brats first hand, I have seen how they treat elderly and lonely people. Wish my father had a gun.
Rajdeep Sardesai
I would like to meet that arsehole outside his studio. Inside, the fucker gets away with anything. He doesn't let anyone speak, cuts off people midway and when in trouble resorts to a commercial break. Did you know that even the so called 'live' talk shows are edited prior to screening? That's why these dickheads always emerge as the winners in any debate. Kabhi milna saale koi andhere gully main..
Detox
The last 5 years of drinking without a break has finally taken a toll. Liver test has shown some pretty bad results. Decided to resort to medication to quit alcohol. Soumyadeep (my school pal and consultant physician) gave me a routine that scared the shit out of me. It seems that the withdrawal symptoms are so severe that one has to be kept under tranquilisers for 5 days till the effect wears off. The medication to reduce the urge starts after that. There go my good intentions straight out of the window. Cheers.
Watched 'Unforgiven' again. What a movie! Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman together..need I say more? For those of you martians who havent seen it, go and buy the the DVD right now.
Dev Benegal
Director of Split Wide Open and English August, this guy is now making a movie on Ramanujan. Who said Indian cinema is all about Bollywood?
Garden Shot
CNN featured a 'breaking news' (hate this term..my son once asked me why news is always breaking on tv) about a old man who was arrested for shooting a teenage tresspasser on his garden. While he was being portrayed as a nazi fanatic, my thoughts were has anyone bothered to know if he was being persecuted by the neighborhood kids? Having seen the gora teenage brats first hand, I have seen how they treat elderly and lonely people. Wish my father had a gun.
Rajdeep Sardesai
I would like to meet that arsehole outside his studio. Inside, the fucker gets away with anything. He doesn't let anyone speak, cuts off people midway and when in trouble resorts to a commercial break. Did you know that even the so called 'live' talk shows are edited prior to screening? That's why these dickheads always emerge as the winners in any debate. Kabhi milna saale koi andhere gully main..
Detox
The last 5 years of drinking without a break has finally taken a toll. Liver test has shown some pretty bad results. Decided to resort to medication to quit alcohol. Soumyadeep (my school pal and consultant physician) gave me a routine that scared the shit out of me. It seems that the withdrawal symptoms are so severe that one has to be kept under tranquilisers for 5 days till the effect wears off. The medication to reduce the urge starts after that. There go my good intentions straight out of the window. Cheers.
Mar 21, 2006
Mar 16, 2006
Odes to a wife (any wife..)
Classic rock is 'classic' not just because of the music but because of the incredible lyrics. No other musical genre has captured the angst of our confused generation better than these guys. So forget those long hairs, drug busts and sexual orgies - these guys were the true philosophers of the previous century.
Here are few samples on the greatest lines on relationships (mostly bad - my fav topic of course)..if u like them i can start on other topics.
'You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
It's too late to fight
It's too late to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right'
Billy Joel (rest of the song)
'I don't care if you never come home
I don't mind if you just
Keep on rowin'away on a distant sea
Cuz I don't love you and you don't love me'
Clapton (rest of the song)
'You analyze me, tend to despise me
You laugh when I stumble and fall
There may come a day when I’ll dance on your grave
Unable to dance I’ll still crawl across it
You must really consider the circus
It just might be your kind of zoo
I can’t think of a place that’s more perfect
For a person as perfect as you'
Dead (rest of the song)
'Hey hey, what can I do
I got a woman, she won't be true
Lord, hear what I say
I got a woman wanna ball all day'
Led Zepp (rest of the song)
'My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things
You're still the same old girl you used to be'
Eagles (rest of the song)
Want more??
Here are few samples on the greatest lines on relationships (mostly bad - my fav topic of course)..if u like them i can start on other topics.
'You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
It's too late to fight
It's too late to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right'
Billy Joel (rest of the song)
'I don't care if you never come home
I don't mind if you just
Keep on rowin'away on a distant sea
Cuz I don't love you and you don't love me'
Clapton (rest of the song)
'You analyze me, tend to despise me
You laugh when I stumble and fall
There may come a day when I’ll dance on your grave
Unable to dance I’ll still crawl across it
You must really consider the circus
It just might be your kind of zoo
I can’t think of a place that’s more perfect
For a person as perfect as you'
Dead (rest of the song)
'Hey hey, what can I do
I got a woman, she won't be true
Lord, hear what I say
I got a woman wanna ball all day'
Led Zepp (rest of the song)
'My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things
You're still the same old girl you used to be'
Eagles (rest of the song)
Want more??
Mar 13, 2006
A day with Swaminarayan
No..he is not my golf coach or tennis partner. He, in fact, was a 18th century saint, whose temple we visited this weekend. The place is Akshardham, in Delhi and its a must see for whoever visits Delhi.
The 'story' of Swaminaryan is a riveting one. Born to a poor brahmin family in the 1700's, he got bored of performing small time miracles and left home at the age of 12. From Ayodhya he started a trek that took him 7 yrs - going north towards the upper reaches of the himalayas in the month of october (wearing a small dhoti), crossing mount trishul, manosarovar, then down to nepal , assam, sunderbans, orrissa, down the east coast to madurai, kannyakumari, up the west coast thru maharashtra finally ending in gujrat.
Its a great story..and if you are interested you can look here for the rest..but obviously i dont believe 80% of it. But..thats not the point.
The point is that the temple in Delhi is a magnificient achievement. If you visited the link above you will see why. Its fantastically done up and beautifully maintained and the best thing is that they have managed to create a theme park revolving around religion. They havent commercialised it, but at the same time they have managed to package it in such a way that it can rivet any person of any class, age or religious inclination.
And the best part is along with the greatness of swaminarayan, the place tries to remind you about the greatness of the indian past, starting from the vedic ages to the mid 16th century, and tries to make you feel proud of your heritage. Quite inspiring really. Next time you are here, check it out.
The 'story' of Swaminaryan is a riveting one. Born to a poor brahmin family in the 1700's, he got bored of performing small time miracles and left home at the age of 12. From Ayodhya he started a trek that took him 7 yrs - going north towards the upper reaches of the himalayas in the month of october (wearing a small dhoti), crossing mount trishul, manosarovar, then down to nepal , assam, sunderbans, orrissa, down the east coast to madurai, kannyakumari, up the west coast thru maharashtra finally ending in gujrat.
Its a great story..and if you are interested you can look here for the rest..but obviously i dont believe 80% of it. But..thats not the point.
The point is that the temple in Delhi is a magnificient achievement. If you visited the link above you will see why. Its fantastically done up and beautifully maintained and the best thing is that they have managed to create a theme park revolving around religion. They havent commercialised it, but at the same time they have managed to package it in such a way that it can rivet any person of any class, age or religious inclination.
And the best part is along with the greatness of swaminarayan, the place tries to remind you about the greatness of the indian past, starting from the vedic ages to the mid 16th century, and tries to make you feel proud of your heritage. Quite inspiring really. Next time you are here, check it out.
Mar 7, 2006
Emptiness
emptiness - yawning, screaming void
swallows you
embraces you
soothes you
till it becomes your only friend
relief..and peace..forever
emptiness - rely on him
never changes, shocks, disappoints
always there, waiting, confident that you would come
dive into its black hole
oblivion..and peace..forever
emptiness - each day the same
numbing, drugging sameness
dragging, clawing, sliding, hurtling
one end, one ending
death..and peace forever
swallows you
embraces you
soothes you
till it becomes your only friend
relief..and peace..forever
emptiness - rely on him
never changes, shocks, disappoints
always there, waiting, confident that you would come
dive into its black hole
oblivion..and peace..forever
emptiness - each day the same
numbing, drugging sameness
dragging, clawing, sliding, hurtling
one end, one ending
death..and peace forever
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