Facts n Fiction

Finally the back-to-back cricketing extravaganza is over, I mean the 20-20 championships. No, I did not take any interest in the IPL, neither did I savour ICC T-20 world cup. However, I did watch some cricket last night – only the last few deliveries when Afridi hit a boom-boom six and a four to bring the match tally to run-a-ball. I was quite sure that Pakistan would win the finals and hence channelled away to some other entertainment stuff. A while later when surfing through the channels, I noticed on a news channel that Pakistan had won the ICC T-20 world cup. The triumph was celebrated with much delight, and most importantly the satisfaction was something to watch for. The Pakistan team, the spectators, were in a euphoric mood, especially the fans on street of Pakistan, who had forgotten all evil that had happened and was happening in their country, they had to kiss many frogs before they met the prince – it was such a moment yesterday. I was feeling somewhat happy too at their win...

Lately I have been reading about the racial abuse that has been going on in Australia with our Indians. I know you must have been following that news item too. As much as it must have angered you, it enraged me equally; I was completely out of my limits. How can they do this to us? Who do they think they are? A fair skin has no right to claim supremacy over a dark skin, certainly not. Going through news on various channels only annoyed me further. I switched of the television and couched back to clear off those slides from the ridges of my brain. However, the shadows would rarely vanish. I sulked and sank more into those thoughts of racism, hatred, and intolerance. Soon I developed a feeling that it is not only about Australia, but events of hatred happen all over the world, sometimes even we (Indians) do it. Hold on! It is not a blind accusation, I have seen it happen. Before that let us look at some dictionary meanings of the word ‘ racism ’, it means ‘ racial discrimination ’ or ...

(Sahir Redij & His First Painting) Look at that! My nephew, Sahir’s first painting (his mother has proudly framed it). Isn’t that great for a two-and-half year old kid? Yes, he might have just filled in the colours in the already sketched octopus, but look at the colour sense, look at the accuracy – very rarely has the colour gone out of the lines, and that’s what makes me flaunt his art here on my blog.

Sachin Tendulkar…where are you? Kuthe ahes tu re baba? Naah…..Naah, I am not talking about the IPL season, I am not all that crazy, I don’t like the IPL kinda cricket, I am not the 20-20 types, cricket is royal for me, and Wasim Akram is the only cricketer I ever loved, admired, and aped. After the recent election results (where UPA had a sweeping majority), I thought of browsing websites of some parties. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s website was one of it. I had visited their website, www.manase.org , just a month ago, and I was surprised about one revelation. Before that, let me also admit that I am a proud Mumbaikar and a Marathi person, and I have loved the way MNS has designed its website – truly prolific. However, there is one little regret! When browsing through MNS website pages, I bumped into a page where it listed all great artists and sportsmen of our Maharashtra. Though I am not a great fan of the little master, Sachin Tendulkar (sorry Gavaskar Sir! for stealing that title f...

I am immensely happy today, for the stunner that happened at our prime stock markets – trading and investing is my religion. I was deeply pleasured on Saturday after the UPA’s clean sweep at the elections, much expected, and the gestures only catapulted today, raising even my happiness to upper circuits. I had a smile on my face whole of this morning and the feeling was like that of a student who had just topped the state in board exams – a merit ranker. I am also delighted that my predictions about the election results and the market openings have seen an optimistic outcome. Many argued with me about the UPA coming to power, I looked dumb when I had no answers to some questions why UPA and not NDA. Yet, a gut feeling paid off well. I don’t want to be a BJPwadi and hence I am a Congresswadi , and also maybe because it comes from my father – a staunch congressman that he is. In my earlier blog, I had mentioned that I would prefer a UPA government for economic growth and stability over ...

Mr. Munnabhai Dutt is on a verbal rampage and I am surprised that neither the Congress nor the BJP is even attempting to exploit on this opportunity to make it a national debate. Sanjay Dutt has repeatedly, since last couple of days, tried to communalise things during the election heat. He is trying to woo the Muslim votes and use it for the benefit of Samajwadi Party. ‘When there were too many Muslims, the police caught up 5-10 Hindus and locked them up,’ is something that Sanjay Dutt said during his speeches. What kind of a message you are giving, Mr. Dutt? You being now a political figure, it becomes your duty that you help people instil their confidence in the legal and security system of this country, and not preach otherwise – I know I am wasting my time, but this bloody gussa does not go when every other day some or the other politician (wannabes and deep rooted) exploits democracy, molesting their right to speech. I am just scribbling away with an aching heart, mindless brain...

Pundi was a happy small fish in the little pond surrounded by green slippery banks. The lush bustling trees around, often offered shade to the pond, thus providing a cool cosy environment to Pundi and his friends. Pundi played around merrily with his friends in the pond and at times took to some serious swimming lessons on his own and then teaching his friends. He could never master any though, yet he knew how a fish was supposed to know about swimming. His thirst to innovate and experiment always kept him restless. Even with his eyes closed, something went on his mind continuously. He dreamt of swimming the big seas, large oceans, and at times even flying; his friends laughed at this. You could drop Pundi anywhere in the pond and he would skilfully swim his way out, so adapted he was to his pond. He was happy about his skills in that little world, but at times the thoughts of learning new swimming styles and facing the tides disheartened him. Poor me! He thought. He often had roller c...