Three cheers to India

Three cheers to India for winning a superb Test. All that it took place was only a surprise. That Sachin Tendulkar hit the winning runs, bringing up his hundred in the process. It was a perfect and classic manner in which to end a Test whose preparations were blighted not by rain, or poor form, or injuries, but by terror.

Marathi Baana

Got a chance to watch Marathi Baana, a cultural orchestra by Mr. Ashok Hande of Chaurang Group on 13^th December 2008 at Savitribai Phule Kalamandir, Dombivli. It is one of the best live performances I have ever seen. Every thing seems to be perfect in terms of production, lights, execution. A team of around 125 people perform with sheer perfection and coordination. It’s a fast track show and always keeps you interested in the show.

But what show! Superb! The costumes, props, attention to detail are excellent. The stage has over 30 men and women dancing in perfect sync with not a step out of place. Looking from a physical point of view, these young boys and girls are extremely fit and flexible. Energy levels remain high through each performance and the artists seem to enjoy every moment of it. The 'bharud' and dance depicting the 'Ambabai' is par excellence. The tribal dance and the 'lavani' got a loud call for a 'ONCE MORE'. Lighting is used imaginatively and the musicians (about 15 of them) stayed on stage all throughout.

The whole show is written, conceived and directed and anchored by Mr Ashok Hande. Full marks to the concept, execution and direction. But at times Mr Hande does get to you. He does have a team of awesome singers, yet it is he who takes over most of the time. And the only other thing that put me off was the barb directed at outsiders who come into Maharashtra... Mr Hande who made the comment directed the audience, really doesn't mind the outsiders money, when they come to see his other shows - the hindi film songs shows - Awaaz ki Duniya etc.

The play was all about our Maharashtian culture. It is not the story about the history of Maharashtra. But it is the try to bring people into Maharashtrian culture again, who are on the verge of forgetting everything about it. The people who are living in the culture of Shopping mall can show this play to their children whom they cannot make aware about the festivals and what the Marathi culture is.

It is overall a great show, and myself and my wife Hemangi, left the theatre with only one resolution, that we will see Marathi Baana as many times as possible.

Happy Birthday

Here’s a Birthday greeting
Especially to show
How much you mean
Although you surely must know
That without a doubt
There’s no-one nicer than you
Or anyone dearer

Happy Birthday

Please appreciate "HER"

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry her with these facts as well.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are; Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities; Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply

Because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important, relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

But not many guys understand this......

Please appreciate "HER"

Kutte ki Kahani

Ek din ek kutta jungle main raasta kho gaya. Tabhi usane dekha ek sher uskii taraf aa raha hai. Kutte ki saans sookh gayi. "Aaj to kaam tamaam mera!" usne socha. Phir usne saamane kuchh sookhi haddiyan padi dekhi. Woh aate hue sher ki taraf peeth kar ke baith gaya aur ek sookhi hadii ko choosane laga aur zor zor se bolne laga, "wah! Sher ko khaane ka maza hi kuchh aur hai. Ek aur mil jaaye to poori daawat ho jayegi!" Aur usne zor se dakaar mara. Is bar sher sakate mein aa gayaa. Usne socha "ye kutta to sher ka shikar karta hai! Jaan bacha kara bhago!" Aur sher wahan se champat ho gaya.

Ped par baitha ek Bandar yeh sab tamasha dekh raha tha. Usne socha yeh mauka achha hai sher ko sari kahani bata deta hoon - sher se dosti ho jayegi aur usase zindagi bhar ke liye jaan ka khatra dur ho jayega. Woh phataphat sher ke pichhe bhaga. Kutte ne Bandar ko jaate hue dekh liya aur samajh gaya ki koi locha hai. Udhar Bandar ne sher ko sab bata diya ki kaise kutte ne use bewakoof banaya hai. Sher zor se dahada, "chal mere sath abhi uski leela kahatam karta hu" aur Bandar ko apani peeth par baitha kar sher kutte ki taraf lapka.

Kutte ne sher ko aate dekha to ek bar phir uskii taraf peeth karke baith gaya aur zor zor se bolne laga, "Is Bandar ko bheje ek ghanta ho gaya saala ek sher phaans kar nahi la sakta!"

A Letter to Mr. Raj Thackeray

Mr. Raj Thackeray!

Mumbai can smile again today, as all terrorists were gunned down and Hotel Trident Oberoi, Nariman House and Hotel Taj have been cleared. People of Mumbai, who have been living in panic and terror since Wednesday night, now can relax and get back to work.

I don’t where you were for the past 3/4 days, but I can assure you that you can come out of your hiding now and roam freely on the street of Mumbai. No, Mr. Thackeray, the credit does not go to you or MNS, who always talked about the pride of Marathi Manoos. MNS did not save Mumbai, it were our Army and NSG Commandos, who rescued Mumbai from these terrorists. If I am not wrong, Major S. Unnikrishnan (Originally from Bangalore and Officer from Bihar Regiment) and Commando Gajendra Singh (Dehradun) were not Marathi Manoos, still they sacrificed their lives for the safety of Mumbai.

Mr. Raj Thackeray, if you still believe that Mumbai was saved by any Marathi Manoos, think again. The Army and NSG Commandos were not Marathi Manoos only. They were from Bihar, UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, North East and all other parts of India. Still they fought for the people of Maharashtra, as they consider themselves as INDIANS.

Our braveheart martyrs Hemant Karkare (originally from Madhya Pradesh, but had chosen Maharashtra as his ‘Karma Bhoomi’), Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar did not consider themselves ‘Marathi Manoos’. They laid down their lives for the safety of Indians and Foreigners.

Mr. Raj, Isn’t it high time we abandon regionalism and join hands together to work for national integration and fight the biggest menace - terrorism together. They can’t break us if we are united. There is no ‘Marathi Manoos’ or ‘North Indian Bhaiya’, Mr. Raj Thackeray. We all are Indians and let’s pledge our support to the national cause. Mr. Thackeray, Will you stop now??? I hope the good sense prevails now.

Jai Hind!

Source - http://shashidharkumar.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/12/04/A-Letter-to-Mr-Raj-Thackeray.html

Worth a Read............

Where are you?????

Sons of the Marathi soil, are you on holiday abroad or not keeping well these days? Or is it because the election dates in Maharashtra are yet not announced? You are not scared of terrorist gunfire and bullets, or are you? Are any of the above reasons responsible for your disappearance?

We saw you both, traveling under heavy police escort as your men went on damaging Mumbai property in the recent past. But when Mumbai saw one of its worst attacks by militants, you were deeply missed. Even your so called sainiks, who are known to jump to public property to damage, were absolutely absent.

India has lost a lot in these three days. Mumbai's was once again cut into pieces. We desperately need leaders with a strong spinal column.

At least shed a tear for the cops, who put country before self, and lost their lives fighting back the militant attack, or are you looking on their name tag's to check if they were "Marathi Manoos"???

Show of solidarity at Gateway of India

A week after Mumbai was struck by coordinated terror attacks, in an unprecedented display of solidarity, thousands of residents gathered at the Gateway of India on Wednesday to take out an Anti-terror rally. Citizens from all over Mumbai gathered around the Taj to support and fight back against the terror at the Gateway of India on Wednesday to take out an anti-terror rally demanding action against terrorists.

The Gateway of India is a stone's throw away from heritage Taj hotel, one of the locations hit by the audacious attacks.

People carrying candles and placards in memory of the victims reached the Gateway, some of them in processions via Dadabhai Naoroji Road and paid tributes to those who had fallen to the terrorists' bullets and grenades, including brave heart policemen and NSG commandos.

People were seen shouting slogans against politicians, blaming them for the state of affairs in the country.

"I feel that politicians should be made answerable for their actions, or like in this case, inactions which are causing the country dearly," Ram Varma, a resident of suburban Bandra was quoted as saying.

Tens of thousands of people across the country poured into the streets and held candle-light vigils and peace marches on Wednesday evening in a spontaneous show of solidarity with residents of terror-ravaged Mumbai which saw an unprecedented turnout at Gateway of India voicing their anger against the politicians.

Shouting slogans, people gathered in Jantar Mantar in Delhi, near Cubbon park in Bangalore, War Memorial in Secunderabad and at the Maidan and College street in Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai as Mumbai emerged from the pall of shock and grief that hung over the city since the 26/11 attacks that claimed 181 lives.

Posters and placards vividly captured the anger and concern as young and old, women and children thronged the iconic red sandstone Gateway to India opposite the Taj Mahal hotel which along with Trident-Oberoi bore the brunt of last Wednesday's terror attacks.

"Enough of terrorism", "Let us kill terrorism Halla Boll!", "Politicians get out" and "We want actions not words" were some of the messages conveyed in banners and placards.

"We have never seen such a show of solidarity for a single cause at the Gateway of India," said Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar, as white candles were lit around a wreath of red roses laid on the cobbled plaza of the harbourfront structure.

As dusk fell, the Taj Mahal was fully lit with roads packed with people right from Colaba police station till the Gateway and Regal.

In other metros too, anger was the all pervasive emotion. In Kolkata, a Pakistani flag was burnt by protestors who condemned Islamabad's "hand" in the terror attack. "Enough is enough," said a placard in Bangalore

"Terrorism has no religion. People should unite in the fight against terror," said Sandeep Mishra, an engineer at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Show_of_solidarity_at_Gateway_of_India/articleshow/3788910.cms

Lets Work Together

Mumbai is no stranger to terrorist strikes, but there can be little doubt that this latest assault was qualitatively different. The implication
that we may have seen the debut of a new model of terrorism is one that should concern not just India but the global community. As, indeed, it seems to have done given that US, UK and Israeli investigative teams have flown to India with France and Australia
looking to follow suit. Of all the lessons they and our new home minister may take from Mumbai, two are of prime importance the vulnerability of any city to such an attack and the importance of securing extended coastlines.

A lack of infrastructure and poor communication may have hampered the initial response to the attack but these endemic issues should not obscure the larger picture, that this could have happened in New York or London. 9/11 was the first and likely last of its kind. Such high-profile operations are difficult to carry out in the face of security measures implemented since then. What the Mumbai attack has demonstrated is the viability of a new, leaner model. There are fewer moving parts, lower logistical requirements and less chance of detection by security forces. All it needs is a handful of men with automatic weapons who subscribe to an extremist creed. This tactical viability married to the strategic purpose of exposing vulnerability is a lethal combination.

Porous coasts are another crucial issue. As seen, captured vessels with appropriate identification and small boats with weak radar profiles can exploit holes in coastal defence. Navy deployment can combat this only partially; it must maintain readiness for operations in other theatres, leaving the onus on coast guard forces. In countries such as India and a number of European nations with extensive coastlines, this creates a serious vulnerability.

A new threat demands a new response. India has made a good start with the expansion of National Security Guard forces and the creation of a rapid response unit within the Maharashtra police as well as the beefing up of a third layer of coastal defence, marine police, all long overdue. But perhaps the most potent measure would be broad-based cooperation among the intelligence systems of various countries. India-US intelligence cooperation is already at an unprecedented level. The aftermath of the Mumbai attack provides an opportunity to further enhance it and add countries such as Israel to the framework.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/EDITORIAL_COMMENT__Lets_Work_Together/articleshow/3785266.cms

People at risk but hundreds of crores to protect netas

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: While they seem unable to protect ordinary people from terrorist attacks, politicians, cutting across party lines, spend

hundreds of crores of tax-payers' money to protect themselves. Some of them may be at genuine risk, but there are numerous politicians who surround themselves with gun-toting commandos to flaunt their `status' and end up harassing ordinary people by blocking traffic and pushing vehicles off the road.

Over Rs 250 crore is spent on VIP protection — including VIPs like Deve Gowda, Amar Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan, Sajjan Kumar, B L Joshi, R L Bhatia, Sharad Yadav, Rameshwar Thakur, E Ahmad, Murli Manohar Joshi, Brij Bhushan Sharan and Pramod Tiwari. Most of these worthies are said to be facing little real risk. It's also questionable whether lakhs of rupees should be spent on the protection of some others, like Sajjan Kumar, who have murder cases against them.

The explosion of VIP security has led to a ridiculous situation in which commandos meant for anti-terror operations have been diverted to protect politicians. The NSG, set up in 1984 for anti-hijack and anti-terror operations, has two wings--the Special Action Group (SAG), comprising army personnel on deputation, and the Special Rangers Group (SRG), comprising personnel from the ITBP, CISF, CRPF, BSF and SSB. More than half of SRG has been diverted to VIP security.

This is in addition to the Special Protection Group (SPG) that is exclusively meant for providing security to the PM, former PMs and members of the Gandhi family. Interestingly, the SPG budget for 2008-09 is Rs 180 crore, up from Rs 117 crore the previous year, while the 2008-09 budget for NSG, which is meant to protect over a billion people from terror, is Rs 158 crore, down from Rs 159 crore crore the previous year.

It's not only the SPG and NSG that protect our netas. In addition to them, every state diverts a sizeable number of policemen for VIP security. In Delhi, where the number of self-important politicians is highest, as many as 14,200 policemen have been deployed on round-the-clock VIP security duty.

VIP security is broken up into five levels — SPG for those at the top of the heap, followed by the Z-plus, Z, Y and X categories. Z-plus security is provided by NSG `black cats' consisting of six personal security officers, two head constables, 12 constables, one escort and one pilot vehicle. Thirty politicians like L K Advani, Mayawati, Narendra Modi, Jayalalithaa, Murli Manohar Joshi, Amar Singh and Paswan are provided this cover.

The pyramid gets wider at the lower level of security — 68 VIPs get Z category protection, 243 get Y category and 81 X category. Of course, all of them get to flash red lights on their cars and flaunt their status, generally viewed as a nuisance by the aam admi . So intrusive is their security that the Delhi high court was recently provoked into saying, ``Politicians are not national assets that need to be protected.''

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/People_at_risk_but_hundreds_of_crores_to_protect_netas/articleshow/3786239.cms

The Indian Cricket Team Captain.

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.

Life begins at 40

After a long wait, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his 40th test century to put India on an authority against Australia on the Day 1 of fourth and final test match in Nagpur. There is an old English Saying - Life Begins at 40. Is this master blaster going to make that true.

‘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

The New Sultan