Remembering Dadagiri !! One Year Over !

 

Define leader and leadership. It was one of the questions in my external exam paper of Organizational Behavior. I thought for few minutes and then wrote, "a leader is someone who has that natural instinct, the fire in the belly or the passion with which he can drive his team towards the untouched heights of success and to achieve its goals. When i thought of a real life example, the name which popped up was "Sourav Chandidas Ganguly" !! The best leader Indian cricket team ever had.

What exactly comes to your mind when you hear this name??Aggression, Thrill, Passion, Excitement or An eye for an eye!!!There would be numerous thoughts which will hit the interiors of your brain because his cricketing career was filled with so much of masala that all the news channels couldn't stop talking about him even when he was out of the Indian side. He ruled the Indian cricket from 2000 to 2005.He did whatever he wanted to make a brilliant side. The likes of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Harbhajan, Zaheer and initially Dhoni as well, all were nurtured under him. He was more kind of a transformational leader who believed working on people rather than tasks. He gave a totally new look to the Indian team. A Team which was not scared of Pakistani fast bowlers, which could win test matches on foreign soil and which could give the Australians the taste of their own medicine (sledging). He took over the captaincy after the match-fixing exposes in 2000, started winning Test matches away, and put together a splendid streak that took them all the way to the World Cup final in 2003.

Besides being one of India’s all time greatest Test & ODI Captains, he is the best left handed batsman India has ever produced, the lord of off side or in Rahul Dravid's words " On the off side first there is god and then there is Saurav".He has given exceptional batting performances on many occasions for India. Just to tell you few facts, he is the fastest to make 6000,7000,8000 and 9000 runs in ODIs. He is the first Indian player to score century against Australia in Australia(who says he is scared of bouncy pitches?).The only player to win 4 consecutive man of the match awards in ODIs. Highest ODI runs scorer in the world (in a calendar year) in 1997, 1999, 2000. The best part is that he has played many match winning knocks, 18 of his 22 ODI centuries have been in winning causes.

 

But in spite of all this track record, dada had to fight out a place in his own team .So what went wrong?? He was out of form, just a rough patch for any cricketer, but for dada, it meant losing out captaincy, infamous Dada - Chappell spat and no place in the squad. This was bound to happen, because whoever reaches the zenith leaves behind many people who just wait for a single opportunity to grab his leg and pull him down. The truth is, that in order to make a fearless team and the attitude of working on his own terms, Sourav interfered a lot in selection matters, which most of the selectors never liked, because these things had rarely happened in Indian cricket before. Sourav snatched the power from selectors and backed players according to his own instinct. Also his loss of personal form coincided with India's insipid ODI performances. And in 2005, when selectors got the chance, they made no mistake in ensuring that he never gets back to that position. Everyone was more interested in showing their affection to the new coach Greg Chappell who repeatedly gave irresponsible comments against Sourav. 

In just few days, the best ever captain became a person who wanted to divide the team into groups to enjoy more time in Indian team. What rubbish!! He was left all alone by his own teammates. No one was with him when he was thrown out of team, when he was out of form, everybody mainly media was in total opposition and most of the senior cricketers were suggesting him to take retirement. I remember Bishen Singh bedi saying that “Sourav should retire, some might call it unfortunate, but what other option does he have?”So this was the gift which Indian cricket was giving to his most admirable captain, a death in exile. And this was not new, this has happened with most of our legendry cricketers but none of them could thought of writing a comeback script unlike Dada. Arjuna Ranatunga was quoted saying” Nobody can take away his (Dada’s) record or the esteem in which he is held worldwide. India must learn to respect its heroes lest they look like pirates, who can only destroy a legacy.”As said in cricket that if you want to hang out there in the middle, you need to show a lot of character, and that what Dada had in plenty. Overcoming all the mental trauma, stress, frustration, Sourav pulled up his socks and started practicing and playing state level cricket. He had this belief that one day he will get back to the team even if every second person had other opinions. He stayed alive in such an extreme darkness of sadness with the hope of a ray of light that could help him re-born from ashes like a phoenix. 

That ray of light came when he was recalled by selectors for SA series in Jan 2007 after India’s dismal performance in Champions trophy. Dada, as always, pounced on the opportunity like royal Bengal tiger and made the most out of it.He hit a superb knock of 85 in the first test and saved India from losing the test. He emerged as the highest run-getter for India in the series. The Prince made a brilliant comeback in one-dayers also with an explosive match winning 98 off 110 balls against WI. And then it was no looking back. He changed the most impossible looking thing to the best ever comeback by any player in the History of Indian cricket. No one can match up to his will power with which he reached back to the glory and position that he once enjoyed. He became the highest run getter in the world in combine One-day and Test in 2007 with 2346 runs. After SA series he continued his fine run in England, where he finished as the second highest scorer in Tests and then went on to slam back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan at home, the second of which was a glorious 239 in Bangalore. What more could, a diehard fan of dada like me, had ask for!! He brought the smiles back to his millions of fans and also added many to his fan list after his fairytale comeback.
 

But then, his life can’t run smoothly as smooth as his cover drives. Nothing was constant from him, the only constant thing about him is that his career has always been in transition and almost as unpredictable as the game of cricket. He was surprisingly omitted from India's ODI squad for the CB Series in Australia and was out of one day side. Selectors blamed that on to his poor fielding. I guess that they wanted a 36 yr old legend to go back and learn fielding, which in his whole career he was never good at. Come on man, India has never produced any Jonty Rhodes. India has good fielder but we can’t say they are a brilliant fielding side.
 

Anyways, after a poor Test series in Sri Lanka, (in which all other batsmen also failed) there were reports of Dada considering retirement but he was given a lifeline in the Tests against Australia at home. Two days before the first Test, he said the series would be his last. He knew that this was the time to hang his shoes. He showed that he is the Maharaja, the Prince of Kolkata, so it was him and only him who could have decided the right time to step down. He retired from International cricket exactly a year back. For some it was retirement of another legend but for me it is an end of an era. 

I would say his contribution to the world of cricket can never be forgotten, he still remains the Maharaja, as he was always!!

Pichhle Saat Dino Mein !!

Try to read the below lines slowly..

Hello Everyone!! I said Hel-lo-Every-One !!

Are You having a Gooooooood Tiiiiiiime !!! :)

Oh!! so you might think what has happened to this guy, why is he shouting like this??Is it?So by above line can you make out that am shouting ?? Nah ??Ah well !! It was just an attempt to copy Farhan Akhtar in "Rock On" singing "Meri laundry ka ik bill ik aadhi padhi novel".So here's the best example of a super careless guy who kept losing so many things in just 7 days and was so happy about it that he made a rock song out of it !!So why not we try it out?? I guess sometimes even we become a bit careless and lose few things, and keep cribbing about the fact that we have lost something, Rather we should note down whatever we have lost and try to write a song on it..Sounds kool ?? rite..Let me tell you it’s really simple , say something like this –

"Meri marketing ki book , mere blazer ka woh hook,

Na Na - Na Na Na Na Na - Na Na Na

mere laptop ka charger , McD se laya ek burger,

Na Na - Na Na Na Na Na - Na Na Na

me - re room ki saari keys , me - ra amul butter cheese

pichle 7 dino mein maine khoya

kabhi khud pe hasa main aur kabhi khud pe Roya !! "

Whoppie !! so i guess it's come good !!Just try out this at your end as well and see if you can discover a great lyricst in you.Before writing just tell yourself“ Oh Man !! its way too easy for me I can pull it off in a matter of seconds.It will work wonders for you.And whatever you pen down, don’t forget to write here and share with me!!Enjoy Have fun .. bbye !!

Happy Independence day !!

Happy Independence day to you all!!

So as India turned 62 today, we all pray that it remains unharmed from the tensions building up all over the globe, the terrorist attacks, the bombings,nuclear wars etc and need not mention; the Flu!! I was just going through my diary and found one old composition, written around 4 yrs back, related to growing terrorism in the country.Today on I-day, I would like to share this with you. This is highly inspired by the way Mr. Gulzaar writes, I wanted to copy his style but am not sure whether i have succeeded in doing so..Pls read and find out !!

अधूरे ख्वाब !

उस रात मुझे नींद बहुत अच्छी आयी
कुछ अरमानो और कुछ ख्वाबों के साथ सोया
सोच रहा था , कितना खुशनसीब हूँ मैं
जो इस ज़िन्दगी में,मैंने सब है पाया, कुछ न खोया !!
कुछ अरमान थे मेरे कि अब हर जगह हो खुशहाली
मन में न हो कोई नफरत , कोई दिल न हो प्यार से खाली
इतना प्यार हो कि सुकून हर दिल में भर जाए
यह प्यार आँखों में आंसू बनके उमड़ आये
क्यूंकि यह आँखें कब से ग़म के आंसू बहा रहीं हैं
अब इन आँखों में भी तोह ख़ुशी की बहार आये
और इस बहार में इतनी हो ताक़त
कि यह नफरत के पतझड़ को अपनी भुजाओं में जकड जाये !!

इक ख्वाब देखा सुनहरे कल का
जिसमें एक भी अंश न हो बीते पल का
क्यूंकि बीते पल को ही तोह ग़म का लम्हा कहा है
जिसमें कभी आंसू तोह कभी लहू बहा है
किसी कि नादानी में किसी के प्रतिशोध में
कभी सरहद के इस पार , कभी उस पार
बहती रही है सदा, यह लहू की धार !!

अब तो बस येहीं चाहूं मैं कि कोई दामन लहू से लाल न हो
लाल हो !! तो हो रंगों से , गुलाल से
बिछड़े पंछी भी लौट के आयें अपनी डाल से
और बनाये मिलकर इक प्यारा सा घोंसला
नफरत को मिटा के प्रेम को बढ़ने का दें हौसला !!

इस तरह प्यार अगर पनपेगा
गोरी कलाई में चूड़ी बनके खनकेगा
तो कितनी खुश होगी यह दुनिया
यह दुआ है मेरी बस फैले खुशियाँ ही खुशियाँ !!

अचानक आँख खुली तो देखा सवेरा हो चुका था
चाँद भी रौशनी में खो चुका था
अँधेरा अपनी गहराइयों को समेट के कुछ देर पहले सो चुका था !

फिर कुछ सुना ! जैसे कोई रोया हो
लगा शायद आज फिर किसी ने कुछ खोया हो
पता चला कि बीती रात सरहद पर कुछ गोलियां थी चली
कुछ ख्वाब दफनायें गए कुछ अरमान मार डाले
और इस तरह सुबह कि लाली पे ग़म की बदरा छा गयी!
यह ख्वाब वहीँ थे जो मैंने देखे थे
हाय!! इन्हें पूरा होने से पहले ही मौत आ गयी !!

इसी बात का तो रोना है दोस्तों
कुछ पता नहीं इस हार जीत के खेल में किसने किसको मारा
कोई न कोई जीता तो ज़रूर लेकिन इस जंग में हमेशा इंसान ही हारा !!

Swine Wave Blowing Strong !!!

Finally !!! All institutions in Pune were shut down today for at least a week. I heard ppl saying that swine flu has come as a blessing in disguise as they were getting one whole week off that too in a tightly scheduled MBA programme.The scene at the campus was worth a watch. Euphoria all around!!!

I could easily relate that happines to one which everyone got when in the last over Sreesanth took an easy catch of Misbah in the finals of 1st T20 world cup.The news of holidays was no less than winning a T20 world cup especially when the dreaded swine wave was strengthening its dominance day by day. Soon students started booking tickets for their hometown, everyone just wanted to go home whether by flight, train, bus or cab ,anything, i guess my Japanese friends in college would even have thought of using cycles. The Campus gate had become a replica of a waiting room at the station where everyone was standing with their bags packed waiting for bus or the cabs which they had booked. 

The happiest guy on earth at that time was the tours & travel agent, I bet he wouldn't have generated such a big amount even during diwali vacations.It was good to see everyone happy and going home but i was also a bit upset as we all were separating from each other for a looooong period of one week.Hmm..I hope this crisis ends soon ,situation comes back on track and everyone gets back to college so that we can resume all the masti maza. Till then, will try writing anything other than this Swine flu topic.. take care!!

Swine Wave !!

So what happened today?? I entered the hostel and was about to unlock my room, suddenly I saw few guys with their faces covered with handkerchief looking as if they had joined some terrorist outfit. They were running from one room to another murmuring some words. Out of curiosity i asked them what the brouhaha all about was.

"SWINE FLU” were the words which i heard next.Yess!! I had heard in news that Swine Flu had hit US badly and there were cases reported in India as well, but never ever thought that it will reach at my doorstep one day. So today all other guys were discussing about the Flu and how few of the students got affected due to this, may be true or even rumour, but one thing is for sure, it has forced us to think, to react and to panic!!

So what is the solution?? Should we run away to some other place?? Many are thinking on the same lines, but will that really solve the problem? If that would have been the case then all those who ran from US and came back to India wouldn't have been tested positive for Swine Flu and this disease wouldn’t have spread from country to country. So is it that now we want it to spread from one city to another???

The answer is definitely a BIG "NO”. So what to do ?? I guess we should try to know more about this disease, gain some knowledge and know what precaution needs to be taken.

So I checked some sites and got this info that Swine flu has a window period too. The virus manifests itself in the patient only three days after the infection sets in. Any tests before that will read negative. Hence, two tests with a gap of three days are imperative. Apart from symptoms like cold and fever, the kind of cough the patient has is also important in diagnosing the flu.

At our side, we should get ourselves checked if we find some Flu like symptoms such as cold, running nose, fever, body ache, loose motions.Hmm... So whatever may be the reason, pls stay calm, don't panic, follow the right procedure and try to help others.

Stay safe and enjoy life!!!

Hone Lagi Hai Sehar !!

Finally got some time to write this blog.. Very busy due to the hectic schedule of college..or I must say sometimes we ourselves make it so hectic with so many meetings and tt games..But usually in few boring lectures i get time to do my favt time pass -- writing. So am just putting here one of my recent composition , check it out .. It's titled as "Hone lagi hai sehar" !!

 Gham ke saaye chhatne lage hain ,

 Bichhde yaar milne lage hain ,

 Tu bhi kahin se aawaaz de mujhe

 Ki ab hone lagi hai sehar !!

 Bura waqt kahin jaa raha hai,

 Andhera mujhse maat kha raha hai,

 Suraj ki kirnein dikhne lagi hain,

 Ki ab hone lagi hai sehar !!

 Roshni bikhar rahi chaaro ore hai,

 Isse bandhi jeevan ki dore hai

 Yeh dore khushiyon se bandhne lagi hai,

 Ki ab hone lagi hai sehar !!

 Manzil ko paane ki khwahish ho rahi hai,

 Gham aur khushi ki aazmaaish ho rahi hai,

 Zindagi phir se muskurane lagi hai ,

 Ki ab hone lagi hai sehar !!

Bas itna hi !!! will come back soon with some more ..

Till then .. enjoy ..have fun!!

Shifting gears of life !!

29th May 2009 .. The day will go down in my memory lane as one of the toughest days of its kind. As i said goodbye to my first Organization, especially to the friends with whom i made great associations, to jump into a world of future entrepreneur. I have put here few lines which i have written for my dear friends whom i will miss a lot !!

"Life is an endless journey which keeps on changing with every phase ,

leaving everything behind we have to move on with the memory of golden days ,

As very rightly said that change is always refreshing ,

am moving up on the educational ladder owing to your blessing ,

with a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow with nothing to say much ,

I wish you all the luck in life take care and keep in touch.."

Miss u all.. God bless !!