28 December, 2008

Beyond Cricket

It is a world renowned fact that Cricket at any level unites Tambram Mamas across Chennai. The Triplicane tribe are walking Encyclopedias of statistics when it comes to even league cricket. An ICF all rounder of the 80's would still find a mention on discussions and debates on why India never had a quality all rounder after Kapil Dev.

But beyond cricket, there is another topic that makes them jump up and participate. Fondly referred to as 'Avan'(him), the Indian Railways plays an integral part in building acquaintances between unrelated Mamas in social gatherings like Nichayadarthams (engagement), weddings, naming ceremonies and the likes.

"Avan adichindu vandhutaan" is the biggest accolade a train gets for catching up after running late for most parts of the journey.
"Avan routa maathitaan" means the train's route has been changed. This is an all time favourite with Mamas as they would get travel tips for the next occasion.

Increased Tatkal seats, inclusion of middle berth in the sides are all developments which have caught the frenzy of the enlightened generation of late.

It is high time that Lalu va takes cognisance of the innumerable Advisors he could have for his Ministry and duly take their suggestions going forward.

11 October, 2008

BCCI's next big plans

Lalit Modi was pleasantly surprised when he woke up last Friday morning, as the entire world was reeling in a state of shock.
As he was skimming through ET and sipping his morning chai, he was thrilled to find out that Iceland had gone bankrupt.
Here is a country which was so close to the Mecca of Cricket that could be acquired with the brimming coffers of the Board of Cricket Control in India.
His 'Dil ki Awaaz' started to yell louder than ever before. No fight over stadiums but a full country all for himself and his ambitions to make cricket the most profitable business ever.
Since English players are hesitant to join the Indian Premier League, he hoped no such resitance would be felt once Iceland Premier League starts.
If the weather turns too chilly he can make T-20 cricket a two day event. That could bring in double the crowds for a single match.
He could build stadiums at will as there would be no farmers protesting against mass land acquisitions.
If he can hold 20-20 in Iceland's local time of 8 PM, then Indians who would have just completed watching the local IPL can gear up for the Icelandic edition. Higher sustained TRPs will do no harm. So what if it affects next day's productivity at work.
Just imagine, if South Africa or Australia could go bankrupt next, a country in southern hemisphere can provide summer all round the year for cricket!

30 September, 2008

The PM has a total sense of responsibility....

Well Manmohan Singh is a real lucky man. He is probably one of the few highly paid Public Servants in India reporting to foreign bosses.
He has an Italian to report into on what is going in the agreement with the US, and reports to the French Prime Minister on what happens within India in Karnataka and Orrisa.
If only we the people knew that our Prime Minister is responsible to explain the state of the nation to the Eurpean Union andnot to us, we would rather enrol ourselves for the ballot process in France.
The same Prime Minister who told the Opposition not to politicise Price rise, and told the nation to be united and not create tension on account of blasts that killed hunderds of fellow Indians is now explaining to the EU head as to what is happening to the Christians in the country.

On the flip side his is also an uneviable post. He is accountable to the western world for attacks on the Church. He is accountable to the Arab nations for any atrocities committed on the Muslims. Well, an attack on Hindus is just a cowardly act which they are supposed to be resilient to and not create an uproar against.
He should not be faulted though. Had the Hindu Kings of the past gone ahead on an acquisition and convrsion spree when they could afford to there could be some Hindu nations as well, which Mr Singh would have preferred to report to... because he is not reporting to the electorate that pushed him to where he is today.

Recently came to hear that Ram Leela in New Delhi are to close down by 10 or 11 at night pwing to security issues. Hope the same rule applied for Ramzan in Bangalore. Well giving an equal right to Hindus is unsecular in a country where Indian Muslim League is a secular party whereas BJP is not.

I have nothing against followers of other religions, but without any help from the Britishers, the current top brass of poilticians have indeed mastered the act of divide and rule.

17 June, 2008

Country Drub

His reach was limited to the Hoardings along the main roads in South Indian cities. Then he would eavesdrop though his wide hat into our compounds through countless brochures.
Then his endearing photos were featured in sponsored columns with newspapers. He would feature with the best of the worst tinsel town glam girls.
Thankfully, he has exercised abundant caution and managed to keep his cheer away from innocent Gabbar Singh fearing children, and refrained from featuring himself
In the prime time advertisements in national news channels.
The Swayambu King of Leisure and Pleasure, Y Rajeev Reddy is now omni present.
For some weird reason, he thinks that he is the Best Brand Ambassador for his enterprise, ala Virgin’s Richard Branson.
The self styled Black Boot to Black Hat attire with his thumbs up in the air is a trademark of this Recreation Czar.
But alas, he doesn’t stop there. If any of you have been lucky enough to get a copy of the brochure that talks about adventure holidays, you would find amidst the now familiar two parents two kid family, atop an elephant, a cute middle aged homosapien with a mulberry worm mush and a Bermudas to hat brown clad attire smiling gleefully with the thumbs up pose intact.
Is he some two amusement park or something? Has no one told him that his image on all his printed ads is perhaps a deal breaker and not a deal clincher.
Once I dared to quench my curiosity and arranged for a meeting with one of the sales executives of the Club, and he offered me one plot free with a lifetime membership. He studied my silence for a couple of minutes, and went to add that I could also get one more complimentary plot to the complimentary plot if I sign up for membership on the same day! With these kind of offers on display,
I tend to ask myself as to Y? Rajeev Reddy thrusts his image on us at every single opportunity. Watch out for the Clown in Sheikh Dress and diving down in a parachute!! Hilarious boss!

24 May, 2008

Breaking News! Its a Vaaman 'Exclusive'!

That's precisely one word that carries no exclusivity in News Channels!
Amitabh Bachchan catches cold in Mumbai!
Vengsarkar picks out Dravid for exclusion as he is a soft target!
Father kills daughter over Extra Marital Affair!
Scarlett Raped and Murdered after being Drugged!
Fantastic! My IQ seems to soaring exponentilly over the last few months!
Extra Marital Affairs, Cricket Selections, Gory Gory Blood Scenes after Bomb Blasts..
Price rise, persistent followup on national security issues, Impact of Reservations, Implementation of Govt Plans are issues not worth dabbling about for thse bunch of exclusive news channels...
Forget all this, why is that all inspiring stories on a village underprivileged, an idli vendor's
son making it to the IIM and subsequently stating a catering chain find mention as snippets at the very end of each news magazine.
Are all our lives ebing with unlimited joys that we yearn for such depressing and irrelevent news in prime time news? Can we have a more Pan India coverage that brings Good news across the nation and cheer us all and help us keep our Heads high?