Captaincy is not all about victory. Captaincy is not all about technical skills. Captaincy is not all about information. Yes, you need all of those positive mix. But, more importantly, leadership and man management takes the front foot.
Dhoni has taken the right step in the captaincy mode. If success is the measure, then there is enough proof of his leadership skills; ICC Twenty20 World cup, Commonwealth Bank series victory in Australia and his three-out-of-three test match wins against South Africa and Australia. But, I am not going to discuss about that here. I am going to draw attention to simple gestures from Dhoni that would have touched many hearts including mine.
Apt Farewell to Sourav Ganguly
During the final moments of the Nagpur test against Australia, Dhoni invited Ganguly to take over the captaincy for some time. It was an extraordinary gesture from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. With Ganguly playing his final test match, how proud he would have felt. Can any one else give a better farewell to a wonderful player and a radical captain himself?
Suitable Reward for an Achiever
Another moment that happened just after India’s victory in the second test match against Australia. India has just completed a resounding win against the World Champions. It is a great moment of achievement for the team as they played absolutely attacking cricket throughout the match. Everybody rushed to grab a stump as a souvenir. Ganguly, a centurion in the first innings and playing his last test series, could not get one for himself. Dhoni gave Ganguly the stump he had taken for himself.
Recognize Budding Talents
One more significant moment came during the presentation ceremony of Commonwealth Bank Series 2008. India has just outplayed Australia in the finals and defeated them 2-0 in the best of three finals. Dhoni invited Piyush Chawla, the youngest in the Indian team, to hold the trophy when the team assembled on the podium to pose with the CB Series trophy. How proud Chawla would have been?
It is very hard to believe that Dhoni made his debut just less than four years ago. These moments might be forgotten down the years. But, Sourav Ganguly and Piyush Chawla will remember those precious little moments for ages. After all, captaincy is not all about you being in the limelight yourself. It seems Dhoni has understood that clearly. Well done Dhoni.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Life begins at 40
After a long wait, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his 40th test century to put
Thursday, November 6, 2008
‘We can have a Dalit PM one day’
Mumbai: Thousands of miles away from the US, Mumbai cardiologist Rohidas Waghmare celebrated Barack Obama’s victory. For the Dalit doctor as for millions of others who have had to suffer oppression, the fact that a Black man has made it to the highest office in America is “a sign of hope”.
Waghmare grew up in an illiterate cobbler’s family in Udgir village in Latur district, amid taunts and discrimination. “I was once slapped by an upper caste grocer when I brought him water. I, an untouchable, had dared to touch his pitcher. Another time, a woman yelled at me for filling water from the community well,’’ he says. “After I became a doctor, both of them visited with folded hands and begged for my services. I treated them for free.’’
Academic and writer Arjun Dangle who co-founded the Dalit Panthers in 1972, says a Black man in the White House is a victory for democracy. “The Dalit Panther movement was inspired by the Black Panther movement (which was started in the US in 1966),’’ says Arun Kamble, former head of Mumbai University’s Marathi department and president of Dalit Panthers. He has written a book on his experiences as a Dalit called Aandolan Ke Din. “In my village in Sangli, whenever a Dalit child participated in an elocution contest and did a good job, upper-caste villagers would say that if a Dalit gave such a good speech now, later on in life he will end up harming us.’’
Obama’s victory brings home the lack of strong Dalit leaders since Babasaheb Ambedkar. “At a time when Dalits are increasingly migrating from villages to cities in search of a better life, there needs to be a unified Dalit leadership,’’ says Dangle. “One day, we can have a Dalit Prime Minister,’’ says Kamble.
Source - The Times of India - 6 Nov 2008
Waghmare grew up in an illiterate cobbler’s family in Udgir village in Latur district, amid taunts and discrimination. “I was once slapped by an upper caste grocer when I brought him water. I, an untouchable, had dared to touch his pitcher. Another time, a woman yelled at me for filling water from the community well,’’ he says. “After I became a doctor, both of them visited with folded hands and begged for my services. I treated them for free.’’
Academic and writer Arjun Dangle who co-founded the Dalit Panthers in 1972, says a Black man in the White House is a victory for democracy. “The Dalit Panther movement was inspired by the Black Panther movement (which was started in the US in 1966),’’ says Arun Kamble, former head of Mumbai University’s Marathi department and president of Dalit Panthers. He has written a book on his experiences as a Dalit called Aandolan Ke Din. “In my village in Sangli, whenever a Dalit child participated in an elocution contest and did a good job, upper-caste villagers would say that if a Dalit gave such a good speech now, later on in life he will end up harming us.’’
Obama’s victory brings home the lack of strong Dalit leaders since Babasaheb Ambedkar. “At a time when Dalits are increasingly migrating from villages to cities in search of a better life, there needs to be a unified Dalit leadership,’’ says Dangle. “One day, we can have a Dalit Prime Minister,’’ says Kamble.
Source - The Times of India - 6 Nov 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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