Is cricket really shadowing other sports in India?

I recently read a blog post by someone who believes that other sports in India aren't getting the same recognition and appreciation despite various sports person achieving great heights in their field of sport.

I, for one, am fed of these comparisons where people think that Indian cricket got this reputation and fan following over night. Indian Cricket team also has struggled similarly like most of the sports around India and probably more than a few sports too.

Indian team won their first test match at home in 1952 and 1967 overseas in New Zealand. Indian team was not a great test match team till they started competing and winning since Ganguly lead the team. Before that India was a less than an average test match side. Though, they were great at home but never outside of their own turf.

Yes, India was good One Day side and they proved their metal for the first time with 1983 world cup win. But that was not it, Indian team retained the great form and won the Prudential Cup, involving all the test playing nations in the year 1985. These victories out side of India was responsible for creating the buzz among the people at home.

Decline in India's performance in Hockey at this particular time also lead to the growth of Cricket's popularity. This was also the time when cricket started attracting glamour and investors started pouring money in to the sport. The balance then started to shift towards Cricket and lack of success in other sports was a major contributor.

From then on, Indian cricket team hasn't been out of the picture. They have been consistent across ODI's, however, test cricket still requires a lot of improvement.

And we as Indians have accepted all who have risen to glory in their own field of sport. Saina Nehwal to Gopichand, Peas - Bhupati to Sania, Vijendar - Sangram - Yogeshwar Dutt - Sushil Kumar, Deepika Kumari et.al.

Its not that we don't appericiate efforts sports person make in other fields but they would have to struggle a lot and really a lot, if they want to compare themselves to the status of Cricket in India.

Rise of the Challengers - Bangladesh

As the umpire adjudged Mustafizur LBW, it marked an Indian win and also concluded the India vs Bangladesh ODI series. Though, the win was a saving grace for the Indian team, however, it being the high point of the 3 ODI match series wasn't something which fans back at home were execting.

There's no doubt that Bangla team has learned a few new tricks. They have produced some exceptional performances against one of the best teams in the world, especially, on their home turf. They have "Bangla-washed" New Zealand and Pakistan in ODI series in past few year, latter came just a few months back.Underestimating this Bangla team is a mistake which team India, Pakistan and England has recently committed and have paid the price.

The zeal and grit displayed by Musrafe Murtaza and Co. proves that the team is ready to graduate from newcomer to the challenger. My favorite player from the Bangla team has been Mushfiqur Rahim, who stood tall against the best of the attacks in the world to take his team home. Watching him slogging one of the best off spinners around, Saeed Ajmal, through mid wicket was nothing less than a treat.And that's not just it, his quiver is full of shots to play all around the ground. Another player which has come up in the ranks in this year has been Taskin Ahmed. Taskin is a gem of a fast bowler. He can bowl above 140 kmph without sweating, hits the deck hard and has been the only bowler to extract extra bounce from the pitch in this Indo Bangla series. Mustafizur is the find of this series. His accuracy and change of pace was impeccable and the best of Indian batsmen couldn't find a way through. He finished the series with 13 wickets and entering the record books subsequently. However, I still rate Taskin as a better bowler than Mustafizur. Bangla pace attack shows great hopes with both these youngsters in their rank, lead by seniors players like the captain Murtaza and Rubel Hossain.

Moving from Bangla's fast bowling to their spin bowling, which is lead by the ace all rounder and current number one, Shakib Al Hasan. He is the first Bangla produce who has proved himself in all different conditions and rightfully earned the title of being their best player. He leads the attach with Nassir Hossain and any occasional spinner in the team. He accuracy with the ball is the flawless.

Now, the batting of the Bangla team. The roar is lead by the fearless Tamin Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar. Sarkar being counted among the players like Gayle and Baz to have the best boundary percentage in their careers in recent year can display their ruthless aggression against any opponent. Batting line then feature the experience of Mushfiqur and Shakib whom the middle order depends. But the lower middle has Shabbir Hosain who makes sure than even with 4-5 wickets down, Bangladesh doesn't go out without a fight. Shabbir has produced a few innings in this short career which have proved crucial in Bangla wins.

I skipped but didn't forget to mention the star of the world cup for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah Riyad. Scoring two centuries on the trot doesn't happen to players every week. He plays at the most crucial position of a cricket team, No. 3. I would like him to play at the same position for many years to come.

The best aspect of this current gritty Bangla team is average age. This team has the perfect mixture of young and restless energy measured and controlled by perfect amount of experience.

I hope to see great cricket from the Bangla Tigers in the coming years.

src: ap2tsroundup.com

It's Here

The father of all the matches is here. Yea, India plays Pakistan in the Semi Final of the 10th Cricket World Cup. As an Indian, I'm so excited that i can't even sleep. It feels exactly like the day before picnic in school. I used to be so excited that i would always have the nightmare of missing my school bus. But, thank god, that never happened and hoping this time too, the nightmare won't come true.

Another reason which makes this particular game so important and much awaited for me is that I'll be watching this game with all of my colleagues at work. My firm has decided to arrange an big projector so that all of us can gather and enjoy the game. I haven't seen a match with this many people sitting in the same room. Though i have seen a match at the stadium but this will be completely different. This time I'm neither carrying any banners nor i'll be painting my face.

Well, that's the update for the day or till next time.

The Contenders - New Zealand

The Black cap/ Kiwis have never been rated as the world champions but they have proved to be the dark horse of the cricketing world, time and again. Who can forget their thumping win over India in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy. The Kiwis may be underrated but can never be taken as a soft target. I always felt that Kiwis have been missing a superstar from their team. Whenever, the black caps won, it was always a team effort. But now, it has changed. Ross Taylor is their biggest superstar in the current line up and capable of winning games single handedly.

Batting

Captain Ross Taylor

I think the Kiwis should be most relaxed about their batting other then their inconstancy. They have Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder and Brandon McCullum, the most explosive batters of the world, who can tear any bowling line up in to pieces. Then, Jamie How and Kane Williamson, the new recruits, would play a crucial role in the Kiwis world cup campaign as they are the one who would be required to solidate and build innings. Martin Guptill will also be an important player in their line up as his experience and power, could at any point of time in match, can change gears of black caps innings.
Scott Styris and Jacob Oram both provide strength to Kiwi’s batting and bowling. Both are immensely talented and experienced who have seen the up’s and down’s of the many innings and have pulled their side. Something similar would be expected from both of them this time too.

Bowling

James Franklin

NZ side is full of bowlers who can stand up and deliver in the batting department. Kyle Mills and James Franklin both are more than handy with batting. However, bowling will be a concern for the Kiwis. Kyle Mills will be the pick of the bowlers in the fast bowling department because he bowls really good slower bowls which would be very helpful on Sub continental flat pitches. James Franklin is the new allrounder they have now. His performance with bat in India and then, at home against Pakistan was better than many of the batsman in the Kiwi side.
Tim Southee is another bowler I like in their line up. He may not have the experience but he puts a lot of effort and hard work in his bowling and that’s what count many a times. Then, the Kiwi side is blessed with Daniel Vettori, possibly one of the best spinners playing this world cup. He has done well in the sub continent and his kind of experience can raise the Kiwi team to a different level. Nathan McCullum, the off spinner of the side and another all rounder, who could bring that extra spinner option and as Jeetan patel not being picked, Nathan McCullum would be important for the team composition.
Hamish Bennett also made the cut and also the last minute call went to Luke Woodcock too.

Fielding

Brendon McCullam

The kiwi’s have always been a good fielding side. Nathan McCullum, Taylor, Guptill and Kane Williamson are the better ones in the side and will be responsible for motivating others too.

Kiwi’s haven’t been in the best of forms recently. They lost all of their ODI’s in Bangladeshs to the Bangla Tigers and then another win less tour of India. But they managed to perform well against Pakistan in their home series. But, the records will be written from scratch at this world cup.
My three picks from this Kiwi side are Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and James Franklin.


Daniel Vettori,
Hamish Bennett,
James Franklin,
Martin Guptill,
Jamie How,
Brendon McCullum,
Nathan McCullum,
Kyle Mills,
Jacob Oram,
Jesse Ryder,
Tim Southee,
Scott Styris,
Ross Taylor,
Kane Williamson,
Luke Woodcock

Image Source: - topnews.in (Special Thanks)

Crook - Real Issues, Filmy Story

Hey All,

First thing first.......... I'm at home now and enjoying the life here. It's proving to be a great vacation till now and fingers are crossed for ahead.

It's been a long time since i saw a movie in theater. The last movie i saw was "Knight and Day". Yea, this was the only movie i saw in theater in past one n half year. So, i had planned about watching a movie as soon as i come back home and so i did. I went to watch "Crook" today.

Crook comes from one of the most famous banners of India, The Bhatt Camp. Bhatt's have given some of the best of Indian movies of all time. Zakham being my personal favorite. They also work around the real issues in India or affecting Indians like they made a movie based on the flood that hit Mumbai about 4-5 years back. So this time too they went in to do something different.

Crook had made a lot of buzz around because of it's music. The movies has songs like "Challa" and "Mere Bina" which are already hits. Then, Emraan Hasmi is also very popular among the youth. So, i was expecting a good movie again from Bhatt Camp.

Cast

Emraan Hasmi, said to be the "Serial Kisser" of Indian movie fraternity. I like Emraan as an actor. He has done some really good movies. I especially liked him in his debut movie. He is also a product of NSD (National School of Drama)  which is supposed to be one of the best and many Indian great actors have been there like Nassir-ud-din Shah to name one.

Neha Sharma makes her debut with this movie. This is her first movie so went in with no opinion of her.

Arjan Bajwa, this is his second movie that i saw. Actually, i didn't even know that he was part of this movie till i saw him on screen. I also believe that the movie wasn't promoted well. I had good opinion of Arjan as an actor from his last movie. He was really good in the movie but his character wasn't one of the prominent characters of the movie and he had lesser footage.

Mohit Suri, has made some different kind of movies and which proved to be successful too. I think Murder was this most successful which also starred Emraan Hasmi, i we can deduct that Emraan hasmi has been kind of his lucky mascot and that's why we see them working together pretty frequently.

Plot

An Indian guy (Jai/Suraj) is shifted to Australia forcefully by his foster father, so that Jai can move away from the net of the bad people/mafia to which he was getting trapped.

Jai moves to Australia with a new name Suraj without any criminal records. He starts working for a guy as a cabbie. As suggested by his friend, he tries to not get into any illegal shit and also to get a PR (permanent residency) in Australia. As he starts spending his new life in Australia, he finds the Aussies being racist to Indian and beating them just because of their color. But he wants to stay away from the issue saying “that it’s not his war”. Eventually, he also falls in love with a girl who is working on getting Indians and Aussies to work together and to learn each others culture to kill the Racism issue. Even though Suraj tries hard of not getting involved but he does get into the shit.

How does he lands into the mess? What all he does to get out of it? Does he succeed in his plans? And many other questions are answered in the end.

Good Things

Music was certainly the high point of the movie. I liked the romantic moments in the movie which were really good. I loved the new comer/Debutant Neha Sharma in the movie. She was convincing in the character she portrayed. She looked innocent, cute, beautiful and sexy in different frames of the movie.

Emraan Hashmi has been a good performer and pulls a great performance in this character too. Same with Arjan Bajwa, who have really impressed me even though, this is just his second movie.

Bad Things

The script and the story line felt pretty weak. Would have loved the movie way more if only they had tried giving it a realistic touch. Discrimination on the base of color or nationality is a part of almost every nation which makes it such a great base for a movie but you do have to live up to the mark. The movie did try to chase a good topic but with a very filmy kind of attempt.

5/10 for me.

Whose Resources are these?

This post has been published by me as a team member of The Wordsworth Legions for the “Super 5″ round of Bloggers Premier League (BPL) – The first ever unique, elite team blogging event of blog world. To catch the BPL action and also be part of future editions and other contests, visit and register at Cafe GingerChai

I have read and heard many discussions about Naxalism, well many enough to form atleast an opinion. But I don’t know why, in the case of Naxalism i’m not able to choose a side. I can’t decide who is right and who is not? Who is the victim?

So, when I chose to write under this category, I thought why not get my confusion cleared. I’ll just break it for you and you can help me pick a side.

I’m breaking the whole issue in three groups; tell me which one would you not support?

The People

By “People”, here, i’m referring to the people who are living in the states or the districts affected by Naxalites. People who are living under the poverty line, who struggle to earn their bread. The People who are stuck between Indian government and Naxalites. People who are being killed in the war. People who live in states like Jharkhand or Chhattisgarh who are rich in minerals and ores, Indian economy depend on them a lot, but why are they still poor. They have lived their whole life in the same state …….why aren’t they getting anything out of the resources which is from their state. Maximum of the steel which is been extracted from Jharkhand is exported to Japan, other North Eastern Asian Countries, Gulf Countries at a high rate but what are these people getting from it. These people are still at the same level, under poverty line. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were broken away from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, respectively, because the government was not able to concentrate on the uplifting and development of the tribes and people across many districts. But, making new states didn’t help, the new government took the advantage too and exploited the resources. People like Madhu Koda, who became billionaire, just being the CM of Jharkhand. He brought big companies to Jharkhand……..gave them the land to work on and made good money out of the deal. What did the “People” get from the deals?

Government took their land from them at prices which just a fraction of what government sold the big companies to. Big companies came and uprooted the jungles of Jharkhand. Jharkhand was a state were rare tribes used to live……but with the depletion of Jungles……these people are suffering to find a safe place to live.

Mittals have been allotted a space for their plant which will affect the Kulada jungle, Sainsera jungle, Regare jungle, Lappa jungle, Kabaspur junble, Nagda jungle, etc. This may bring jobs and financial support for the locals but this will destroy the ecology, dry the water level and pollute the surrounding

So do you support them???

Naxalites

 

Naxalites are people who rose from the PEOPLE above. These are the people who said, we won’t let these big companies and government exploit us. These people picked up arms to fight for the families and for their rights. If their government is making money out of selling their land or resources from their mother land…….then they should have the first right in the profit too. Though, these people have been misled by extremists but i won’t blame them much. These are the consequences of government plans for the welfare of THE PEOPLE which never got executed. By killing 76 CRPF men, then blowing the bus which killed 80 people including children and ladies, they have proved that they are not stopping at anything and if they need to kill THE PEOPLE to prove their point, they won’t hesitate even a bit. Naxalites are now active in 20 states across India with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal being the worst affected.

One part of me do agree with these people to, i mean you should fight for your basic rights, though I don’t agree with killing people but this was something similar India independence fighter did who are now called martyr, may be one day …..the people who we are calling Naxalites will also be called by some similar names.

Recently, Author Arundhati Roy said she supports the Naxal’s reasons to fight, and doesn’t mind being sent to jail for feeling this.

So do you support them?

Indian Government

Operation Green Hunt

What does Indian Government think of this? Well, during one of the discussion I heard on the same topic, the official said that India is a democratic country and the resources belong to the whole nation and not just to a particular state. I agree with this ……….it’s a valid point. If we agree to the policy that every state should have the first right on the resources than the dependent states can be easily exploited by other. This is how you work with different countries not within a country. Agreeing to this will support people like Bal Thakre’s and Raj Thakre’s “Mumbai for Mumbaikers” ideology.

But, one part of me doesn’t support government on this issue. Well, they are people who are exploiting the people there too. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, I believe are the richest state in accordance to their mineral ores but also they are the poorest of states. First, when they were part of big states like Bihar and Madhya Pardesh, they were ignored by the government and now when they are independent states…….government is exploiting them.

So do you support them?

I have always thought of me as confused person who always get confused after seeing the two sides of the coin. So, really need to you suggestion to come up with a clear opinion. I mean all three groups can’t be right, right?

So, I’ll just repeat the question for all you people once more.

Whose resources are these?

The People, Naxalites or the Government (Nation). 

Pictures from :- http://naxalwar.files.wordpress.com/ and  http://subalternexpression.wordpress.com/

To read posts by other members of the Wordsworth Legion in the Super 5 Round, see here: Shilpa, Smitha, Lazy Pineapple, Tavish, Kshitij, Parth and Pujitha.

Love and Indian Society

This post has been published by me as a team member of The Wordsworth Legions for the “Super 6″ round of Bloggers Premier League (BPL) – The first ever unique, elite team blogging event of blog world. To catch the BPL action and also be part of future editions and other contests, visit and register at Cafe GingerChai

As they say, “If you haven’t been there, you can’t feel it”. The first time I realized this saying when I was sitting at my home on a Sunday morning, with my family watching 26^th Jan celebration, when we felt tremors. We rushed out, entered home after an hour to know that more than 12,000 people died and I didn’t feel a thing. Though, I was sad about it but never felt what those people who went through it felt like. Same thing, I define my society rather Indian Society, the people living around me. People, whom I see everyday, people I know, people for whom I feel bad for when something bad happens to them or at least you know where they live.

So, I’m restricting this Indian Society to what I have seen and felt.

Under this topic, I’m describing two incidents which have affected my perception towards love, again in my Indian society.

The First Real Story

The girl was from a Gujar family and the guy was a Gadhwali (Uttrakhand). Both of them were from different strata of society. The Gujjar family never approved their love because love is not something which happens, in their society or culture, before marriage.

The Gujjar family, comprising of Father, Mother and a son, threatened the guy to leave their girl but the guy never listened. I guy was young, hot blooded and in love, so he kept seeing the girl. One day, when I was in class tenth, my mom woke me much before my school time. She told me, “C-1 mein murder ho gaya hai……..” I was shocked and scared. I went out saw the police jeeps standing outside the girl’s home. Later, the same evening, I heard the whole story. The parents invited the guy to their home, tempting him to talk about their future. The guy came in and then he was brutally murdered by the mother, father and son. The guy sliced into 6 different pieces with a sickle.

The Other Real Story

One day, I heard this from my mom when I came back from my college. Mom told that a woman, who lived in the next colony of ours, committed suicide. According to the police and what was reported by newspapers, the women, a widow, whose lost her husband with in a couple of months of their marriage, was in love with some person from her office. But, her in-law’s family never approved the relationship. They created so much of mental pressure on her that she couldn’t take more of it.

Both the incidents happened in my colony or at a distance that I can feel what happened inside those homes, with people I have met or talked with, with people I celebrated my festivals with and people with whom I shared sweets on Holi or Dipavali. I have never seen a successful love story in my life, may be that’s why I don’t believe in love. You want your love to succeed then fall for a girl who is of same status as of your families, is from the same religion, is at least 2 years younger than you and there are many more conditions. I believe what I see. I have seen this and that’s why I believe it. You have heard of Honor killings, well you just heard it…..I have felt it in my society, my INDIAN SOCIETY.

To read posts by other members of the Wordsworth Legion in the Super 6 Round, see here: Shilpa, Smitha, Lazy Pineapple, Tavish, Kshitij, Rahul and Pujitha.

Earth Hour - Reminder

Hi All,

This is a reminded of the Earth Hour about which you may have already read on "THE WAY IT IS"(what's this?). This is the name of my blog.......how can you ask this question.

Today, 27th March is the Earth Hour Day when all the people participating will be turning off all the electronic appliances around them and the lights, from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, to show there awareness about Global Warming.

Actually, everybody know about Earth Hour by the date. Recently, Abhishek Bachan(Actor) and Sheila Dixit (Chief Minister Of Delhi)launched the Indian campaign of Earth Hour 2010 for India in Delhi. As the brand Ambassador of the campaign in India Abhishek Bachan lit a "Candle of Hope" to spread the awareness around India.

I hope you all people will join the for spreading the awareness around the neighborhood.

What you got to do.


3 Steps to Roll In

1. Join Earth Hour
2. Show Your Support.
3. Spread The Word

Orkut Buyukkokten

Orkut Buyukkokten's(35) Birthday Today, i know you have never heard of this name earlier, but you have seen his work that's why they say, that you should know about things you are using even though if it doesn't matter to you.

So who is Orkut Buyukkokten???? By a simple guess, you must have reconginzed that this guy is somewhere related to Orkut.com. Yea, you people are correct that he is related to Orkut.com but that won't be the perfect way of describing it. Orkut Buyukkokten is a Turkish software engineer who developed the social networking service Orkut. He completed his graduation from Bilkent University in Ankara, and then his  Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University. Buyukkokten  started working with Google in the year 2002 and is now one of their top employees.

About Orkut, i mean Orkut.com, which is the third largest social networking site online, is the most preferred social networking site in India. It took over India by the year 2004 and reached hundreds and thousands of Indian users in just 2 years. Still Orkut rocks in India. After India, Brazil is the second country according to users/population ratio. Then there is Pakistan and China. Though, China has one local social networking site in their native language but still Orkut has a big market share their.

One thing got me confused here was ...............even Orkut is so widely used in the two largest populated countries of the world......still it's number third.......May be wikipedia has not updated their information.(I was trying to pull off a joke, in case you didn't get it or didn't laught)

Any ways.....being a Orkut fan and Orkut user(How stupid of me to tell that.....isn't that obvious being an Indian with internet connection), this is my way if showing gratitude to this guy Orkut Buyukkokten,who certainly made changes to my life.

So girls, leave you Orkut Id here.....!!!!!! and i'll see you there.

Till then.........all of you ....

Keep \,,,/


 Ohhhhh.....Sorry....to the girls.....i left one important information.......Orkut Buyukkokten is gay .....So as you found it out.....all the rich and eligible men are either gay or married.....why don't you leave your Orkut profile ID........we can talk rite........

 Orkut Buyukkokten with is BF

Indian Republic Day - 60th

We'll be celebrating out 60th Republic day tomorrow - 26th Jan. India created history by coming the largest democratic nation on 26th January 1950. I read a blog post from one of my fellow and fav blogger, who wrote about how Republic Day means just a holiday, a day to eat out, watch movies or meeting relative or friends.

As, i always try to stand a different stand on everything, though i may be on the wrong side.

Kumoan Regiment


My whole family is into government services and have always encouraged me too. Leaving the new generation of my, earlier pedigree were all into government jobs, may it be holding the offices or in army.I have 4 relatives working for DRDO as Scientists. I don't have direct cousins or relative in or serving Indian Army. But, we do have a soldiers in our pedigree.

I belong to the Kumaon region of Uttrankhand, where there are many young boys go for the Indian Army. I remember when i used to go home, families with their sons in the Army always had to tell something about their sons and i always loved to enjoy those stories.

At my teen's, i also tried to get into the Indian Army. Gave exams but was never so bright to be picked up. But i did get my chance. It was the last semester of my graduation, when the representatives of Indian Army came into my college for offering UEC, which was an entry to the Indian Armed Forces. I did clear the prelim's - The GDs and the Interview. Then, after one month, i received a letter from them asking me to come to Bhopal Cant. Area for another testing round, clearing which will get me into the Army. It was the last hurdle, i was excited but after 5 days of work out, i was dropped or sent home. I felt bad and was thinking about it while coming back to Delhi from Bhopal.

This was the closest i came to being a Army Men.

This Republic day would like to congratulate everybody cause we are the part of democracy and we are somehow responsible for it to complete the glorious 60 years of pride. I'm expecting everyone to do anything especial but just take a moment to appreciate the effort of the people because of whom we are what we are and we are where we are.

Thanks for being here. JAI HIND.

\,,,/

Bodyline Series (1932-1933)

Bodyline Series played between 2nd December 1932- 28th Feb 1933 played between cricket teams of England and Australia in Australia. If you refer to any cricket Guru or pundit, then you'll know that this is one of the most remembered cricket series ever played. You can call it the "Most Notorious" series of all time.

Hunter and Pray

High Points of the series was the BODYLINE strategy, which was invented by  the English Captain Douglas Jardine(in pic) with the captain of an English Country Team Nottinghamshire, Arther Curr with his fast bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. This strategy was especially tailor made to get rid of Don Bradman(in pic) as soon as possible because Don Bradman was always a threat to the English team and was majorly responsible for holding England from winning against Australia. Don Bradman made a whooping 974 runs in the previous 5 match series of 1930 in England with an average of 139.14 which still is a record to be broken. Jardine knew how dangerous can Bradman be again to his team and he wanted to win the series at any cost this time. Though, the strategy was successful and England won the series 4-1 but Don Bradman still made lot of runs at an average of 56.

The Rebel/ Protagonist

Iftekhar Ali Khan, well you should remember him by his name but if you don't know him then he was the great father of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, another Indian Cricketing legend. I.A Khan was selected in the English team to play against Australia in the bodyline series. He made a century on Debut - 102. But, when he came across the bodyline strategy put up by his captain Douglas Jardine, he refused to take field or participate cause he thought it was not in the spirit of the game. He was dropped of the team after the test match and never played in the series in the team again.

Douglas Jardine said "I see His Highness is a conscientious objector." 

Towards the end of the tour, Pataudi commented, "I am told he has his(Douglas Jardine) good points. In three months I have yet to see them." 

Bodyline Strategy

So, now what Bodyline Strategy was????

Bodyline Strategy was when a bowler bowls short pitched delivery aiming towards the body, between rig cage and head to be specific, trying to make batsman play or loop the ball in the air on leg side and hoping that one the fielders will catch it. This tactic was considered by many to be intimidatory and physically threatening.

Although, there wasn't any serious injuries from the series but it brought a ill feeling between the teams which led to diplomatic controversies. This strategy was treated to be bad for the spirit of cricket and many laws in the coming years were made to avoid such practice again in future.

"OK, which of you bastards called Larwood a bastard instead of this bastard."
Richardson on opening the dressing-room door to face Jardine demanding an apology after he overheard one of the Australians sledging Larwood. Ref- Cricinfo

 You can find more infamous quotes of the series from the same link.

Some of the picture's i found.

Though, the series was notorious but the high points would be the passion and killer instinct with which English players played the game and haven't seen the same in years till now.

On Christmas Eve

Hey All,

Merry no the Merriest Christmas to you all. As you all know, India is a secular country and we welcome all kind of different religion. That's why whatever festival or occasion it is, it is celebrated here. Also, as you know, I live in Bengaluru or Banglore(know better as). Bengaluru is a Metropolitan city and also called the technology hub of India as most of the world's biggest companies have their India bases here. Also once Obama used the phrase that he wants the job in US to not be Banglored which now means outsourced now. I'm not praising but wanted to tell that all different kinds of people live in this part of the world. You find all religions and respective religious festivals are celebrated.

I'm not a Christan and sadly i don't even have a Christan friend and i'm not talking about you all blogger friends. I know you people are all my friends....... :)

I live alone in the city. There are like 3-4 people i know here with whom i can go out.......but out of those 4, three flew home cause of the vacation and the only one left has examz onn. So, i can't really go out, unless i want to go alone. Though i have a planned a shopping spree for Christmas ,for me not for others.

Yea, i stayed home on Christmas eve. People say loners do that only but in my defense, i don't have friends here second i saw the match between India and Sri Lanka which India Won.

Anyways, enough of sob sob......you all enjoy your Christmas and pray i can too.......


Merry Christmas ....... hoo hoo hoooooooooo

Also, if you want to track SANTA then check this.

Surrogacy In India

Hi All,

I read this incident in the newspaper and then also saw a report in the prime time news today. Surrogate Mother's and surrogate laws in India are obsolete. The news is that there is a German couple who came to India and signed a contract with the surrogate mother in India in accordance to the Indian Law of Surrogacy or something else they call it. By which, after the birth of the child, the child is adopted by the father and mother.

The Case

As the twins have been born, all kind of issues are rising now. First, the couple who signed the contract are not together now, means divorced. The twins won't get a German citizenship cause its not the German couple's children naturally. Then, cause the children are born in India and has a Indian mother so they are Indian Citizen. But because of whatever the conditions where there in the contract, the babies aren't granted the Indian Citizenship too. Father wants to adopt the kids but Indian law doesn't let a single father adopt a child. This is a pretty complicated case but i'm thinking about the babies, to be precise, the disowned children. People who have disowned the child and people who want the child but can't have the child legally.

Similar Case A Year And Some Months Back (Baby Manjhi)

A Japnesse couple came to India for a surrogate mother. They did get one. But before the child was born, the couple got divorced. The mother who gave birth to the girl child, also disowned her. Now, when the father applied for the adoption, he couldn't get it because Indian Law won't let a single father adopt a kid. Then the mother in law of the father came in to save the girl. One of the sad thing was, the girl was left alone for more than 10 days in the hospital without anyone from both side. It took months to legally get the girl to Japan.

Finding surrogate mothers in India is really easy and cheap. By whatever i have searched about it, i got figures like $12,000 to $30,000 they charge to be the surrogate mother. Women rent their womb for people who can't conceive a child. Looking at it from one angle, makes it one of the biggest favor it can be for anyone. But of the other side........now its developing like some business. With no such rules or laws for the this surrogate process, people are doing anything they want.

At the end, i find it pretty disappointing. The only thing i would suggest to make some new laws for it so that the new born babies don't suffer by the consequences like being disowned.

Anger All Around India

India is a big nation. By big, i mean its the 6-7 largest country, landscape wise. This makes it really difficult to run a nation like this big. Yes, we all are different. People in India say, "in India the taste of water changes every 4 miles and language changes in every 2 miles". This is to show the diversity in India. Some say this diversity is good, it is one the unique feature about India that we are so together and united even after so much of differences. But the same thing is also bad. Being a big democratic country and trying to satisfy or atleast meet every-bodies requirement isn't a easy job. And if even one is left out, anger and hatred is induced in the heart's of people. The width strains against the failing hate.

I don't think there is even a single state, out of the 28 we have, which can be described as perfect living conditions.

Hatred is all over India. Northern India is majorly affected by the terrorist activities across the border, blame it Pakistan, Taliban or any major Terrorist Community like Al Quaida or L-e-T. But those people are responsible for the agitation in Northern India.....especially Kashmir and Punjab. Some time, i feel till what time we'll fight for the question "Who own's Kashmir?" because obviously, we can't afford the causalities happening cause of it. I know, soilders are trained to die for their country but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything saving those lives.




Central or Middle India is affected by its own internal crimes. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are the worst place to live, if you'll ask me. The crime rate, abduction's, contract killing, land Mafia, communal fights, killing of girl fœtus, rapes etc. You name it, they have it. I have lived in Uttar Pradesh and i know how bad it can be espcially be.





Eastern India is majorly affected by the naxalites. They aren't hurting local residents. Their fight is against the government who have deprived them from their fundamental Rights. They sabotage the government property and abducting government officials. They do have arms and always protect their living area by planting land mines around the area. They have killed many police personals and government perosnals too. They aren't affecting the people directly but the effect is there cause everybody is part of the same democracy.


Western India is all about religious riots. India's worst communal riots broke out here. It was an obvious religious riots between the Muslim's and Hindu's where many Muslim's were killed. One of the prime suspect of the riots was the current Chief Minister of the state. One of the fact about that planned riots was it was planned over a month. Hindu's did a census in the nearby area to count the number of Muslim families living by them and then on the day, it was massacre. People were burnt alive.



Southern India is driven more by discrimination. People in the Southern part of India are different culture wise. I mean even people of same religious belief living in North and South India will have differences and a lot of them. Also, you can say monetarily states here are in better situation. However, government scams and forgery is prominent here.

See, if you were thinking India is the best country in the world, well its not. But, still urge the people to come up and help me and yourself for the best of our community and country.

Jai Hind

Kerela Wedding

Hi All,

Hey, if you people are thinking why i wasn't dropping by your blogs, well the simplest reason and the truth is "I was out of town attending a wedding". The place is exactly 7 hour drive from my place.

So, i left Friday nite and reached there early morning on Saturday. I'm one of the worst travelers you'll ever see. No, i don't puke all the way but i can't sleep while traveling. Yea, i slept some one hour that night and was so tired yesterday morning that i didn't even leave my hotel room for traveling around and to see the place.

I like wandering around new places. I think this is the best way of exploring the place around you and to know the people around. But this day, because of no sleep, i didn't get the chance to leave my room.

Ok, then was the wedding. Now, wedding in Southern part of India is way to different. Yes, the basic are very similar because we all are from same religion but the way they do it and we do it in Northern India was so contrasting. The dresses, ceremonies and food (i was waiting the whole day for that part) all were different. Regarding food, North Indian wedding's rarely have non-veg dishes, but here, we had like everything and because kerela is coastal area, we had some of the best sea food of my life(P.S. - I haven't eaten sea food a lot. I can count the number of times i have).

And because this was the first South Indian wedding i was attending and didn't knew what to wear and that's why i was dressed so different from the others. I was looking so different from the herd that everyone would have easily guessed i'm not from South India.

Then after the wedding was over, i needed to come back and travel the same day because i have job and needed to get by monday.

So, i traveled again. Reached home on sunday morning. Slept again till late evening. Yea, as i mentioned in my last post about my friend(Nikhil Nandan Singh) who celebrated his brithday on the 23rd of October, he suggested us this nice Muslim restaurent near by, where we ate today night. I must say Muslim restaurents have such good non-veg food that when ever i want to for non-veg, i hunt for a Muslim restaurent.

We ate Mutton Biryani and Dry mutton. Pics from there too.

I know you all had great weekend.....and people not from India....i know its still Sunday there. So all you enjoy the weekend.
\,,,/

Happy Diwali

Hey everybody, its Diwali today. One of India's most celebrated festivals. The day has different significance for different religions in India. Everybody and every religion India celebrates Diwali for different reasons. What are the reasons? you must be thinking about that.........and want me to explain............but no i won't do that..........cause i have somebody really especial who talk the talk about Diwali on behalf of me.

Presenting Mr. Barack Obama . In case, you don't know him. He is president of America or United States of America and also recently won the Nobel prize for peace. No more please listen to him.




My plans for Diwali

Well, since i'm born, 1987, today is the first Diwali i'm not celebrating with family. I'm away from my family and friends. Well, i actually i have some friends here also but nonetheless, i'm not so glad to not make to my home city for the festival.

I've bought tickets to a amazing match between Delhi DareDevils V/S Banglore Royal Chalangers and another one between Cape Cobra's and Victorian BushRangers. I'm expecting it to be a great match and my favorite team is playing The Delhi DareDevils. They represent my home town team.

Then what other things we do, Hindu's, on Diwali. Its a festivals of getting everyone together for me other than the real significance. When i used to be at home, i would go out and give sweets(mithai) to all my neighbour's and by all i mean all, atleast 15-20 of them. Then, we also give out sweets to all the relatives me can reach and obviously we aren't the only one doing this, whole of India does this. That's why these days there's a lots of sweetness in the air.

We also light up Diya's,"lamps" you may call them. This is to kill the darkness in the night signifiying removing darkness acorss the world. We also bust crackers, a lot of crackers. But this year, i'm not buying crackers because i believe there will be a lot of fireworks in the Stadium during the matches.

I know not many of my readers are from India, but still i would like to tell, if you people know any Indian's around, go celebrate this festival with them because you'll enjoy it too. For foodie's, go to Indian resturants to find exclusive Diwali sweets.
DO POST whatever you did for Diwali. I'll also post the pics from the match.

Uniting The Indian Youth

Mera India Bridge the Gap

India has always been looked up as the country full of different colors and cultures. People come here all around the world for a true experience of their life, however what they read and have seen about India isn’t what exactly what they find. I read this blog entry by a lady who was from America and was visiting India to see its true colors. Her post did tell that India is a beautiful place to live in; however India didn’t turn out to be what she was expecting. She felt bad after watching the slums around Mumbai Airport. She wrote “Mumbai (or Bombay according to her) was one of the cities she was waiting for long to see and roam around, however what she saw there made her feel that she would have taken a guide who would have shown her the only the good places around.” The slums, poverty, illiteracy and other different things she saw which shattered the image what she carried from her home. She especially mentioned that she didn’t regret coming to India and was quite content to come back, however next time she’ll go to the recommended places only so that the picture she weaved about India remains the same.

And it’s not only about people visiting India and the same with people living in India. I lived and was brought up in a neighborhood where people are well educated. They represent different strata of our society. I didn’t believe our society still had issues like Dowry, preferring the boy child etc until I saw that happening around me. If, I ever hear anything about these issues on news channels or read it in newspaper, I always thought what kind of people are they? And always felt like, it doesn’t matter to me. When I used to hear news where people were dying because of poverty or hunger, questions were raised in my mind. Can it be true? People can die because of poverty. I could easily feel the chill in my stomach after reading that news.

Yes, every country has its issues like it’s been said earlier in an Indian movie “No country in the world is perfect, their people make it perfect.” India too have its issues however we need to work together to eradicate them. Nothing is going to happen on its own. We, THE PEOPLE, have to work for it.

Yes, India has pledged to achieve some important milestones by 2015, which will be for the best of the people. Following are the goals India has pledged and I'm supporting this cause. This is the first time, I think, I’m doing something substantial for the country and I’m kind of feeling proud of it right now. There are many, however, I’m raising a few issues in this post.

* Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

There are still people dying around different states of India because they can’t afford a meal. This season because of late monsoon and less rain, many districts around Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were called Drought affected. At this point of time, when the technology has advanced so much, we are still facing the issues like Drought’s. Yes, I know that this is a problem which can’t be fixed in a day and also I don’t know how the system works but when there are people dying because of it, then I feel it doesn’t matter how you do it?

Suggestions: - To workaround issues like poverty and hunger, the elected representatives needs to play the biggest part. They need to make policies so that people can earn money. Start different projects around the states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan which I believe are states that are require special attention regarding this issue. Government officials, Educationists, Health personnel comes are the second most important people because they need to carry out and execute the plans and policies in the correct manner so that maximum people get the benefit. Celebrities and Youth can play a vital role too. They can attract funds from the whole country to help the needy. Thus every strata of the society need to contribute to cause may it be media, corporate leaders, NGO’s etc.

* Achieve universal primary education

Really really important. We need to achieve universal primary education if we want to grow as a country. Providing free primary education around India was a great step by our government. One thing I can say about the education policy of India is that I’m content with what different things Indian government has done to bring kids to school. I liked their approach Mid-day meals, Aanganbadi’s, admissions into private school, cheap education in government schools. This is one issue I think we are progressing pretty well.

Suggestions: - The only suggestion I would like to make is to reach the masses with what different free facilities government is providing. People need to be told that government is trying to help them however they have to send their child to the school. Celebrities, youth, NGO’s, Government officials, Government officials, Educationists, Health personnel all play pivotal role in uproot illiteracy.

* Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment by eliminating gender disparity in schools

We always boast about women reaching and working at different places and post which were always said to be a men’s place. And then we feel that the there is gender equality because some women have made it big. But still we have to make changes so that women don’t have to struggle to get what are their fundamental rights. We should feel that if some women have been successful in their respective field so we are not gender biased. We need to make changes, so the male ego doesn’t come in between of any woman’s success.

Suggestions: - Gender biasing is all a state of mind; even the educated people do the same. We need to change the mentality of the society. We need to reach the schools and start it at the basic level. Spreading awareness among the kids. Celebrities, NGO’s can play a major role in this cause.

* Reduce the child mortality rate

Yes, people are still relying to local, unhygienic ways to delivering a child. Also being no hospital close to the villages, the delivery of child becomes a major issue. Also we need to educate people to get their child antibiotic injection so that their kids can be safe from different lethal diseases like hepatitis, polio etc. We have been very successful in uprooting POLIO out of our country. A successful campaign by the government of distributing the POLIO vaccine free came really handy. NGO, Celebrities and the youth helped a lot for this cause. However, still POLIO is not the only disease we need to uproot. There are many more.

Suggestions: - Doing similar thing done to eradicate the polio issue to uproot the other diseases too. Celebrities, government, NGO’s, Media, health personals, Educationists, government officials and youth all can help to this cause.

* Reduce the maternal mortality rate

Many women die in India while giving birth to a new life. The reasons for this, people still stick to their local and homely procedures of delivering a child and not going into a hospital to deliver a child. Delivering a child in unhygienic condition is fatal to both- the mother and the child. However, lack of knowledge leads to this kind of decisions.

Suggestions: - Celebrities and Media can help to take the awareness to the masses. NGO’s and Youth of India can reach the masses and educate them about the security of delivering in a hospital. Government officials can make policies so that people who can’t afford expensive treatment can be helped. Health personals play the pivotal role here. The entire government employed doctors should work in villages for atleast 2-3 years.

* Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

India is one of the leading countries where maximum people die of HIV/AIDS. Awareness is what required throughout the society. Government have done many things like educating people about the causes and reasons, free condoms, awareness through radio and television and reaching people too. Celebrities came up in support of uprooting AIDS from the country. NGO’s did their bit by reaching the villages and the individual. Government is trying hard to fight against the different diseases by providing the free vaccines and free treatments too. However, the plans are not been executed well enough.

Suggestions: - The whole system should be transparent. People should know why the help given by the government isn’t reaching them? Also the government official, health personals and elected representatives are important while executing the government’s plan. Celebrities and media need to spread the awareness regarding the reasons and causes.

* Ensure environment sustainability

Saving the environment should also be on top of our list. The whole world is suffering from major environment changes like global warming, ozone layer and global meltdown. I believe the people who can be responsible for these are educated and aware of what their actions is leading the world into however they still don’t work against it. Many developed countries are over using their resources and creating a lot of waste.

Suggestions: - People should be made aware of what affects their action will make to the world. We need to make a healthy world for our coming generation. Banning plastic bags and limiting the industrial waste which damages the environment. Government should take some serious and strong measures against the causes before it’s too late.

* Develop global partnership for development

Development isn’t just a word; it includes a lot of things like employment, sound education system, healthy society, healthy economy etc. As no country in world can be independent, everybody is dependent on someone else for some resource. That’s why a global partnership is what required to make India grow and develop as a nation.

Suggestions: - Celebrities can make important contribution towards this cause. They represent India globally and Government can take help of their popularity to spread awareness about INDIA across the world. Media is also equally important.

One last thing I hope is that we just don’t write about it, we should also work for it.

Jai Hind.