Sachin Tendulkar & A Billion

April 22, 1998: 6:45 PM

A 16-year old school kid is sitting on stairs, with a worried look on his face. Seeing this restless kid, his aunt questioned him “Are you thinking about your tenth grade results? Before he can reply, she continued, you’ll come out with flying colors in your board exams!

“No, I ‘m worried if Sachin can get us to the finals of the Coca-Cola cup or not” – replies the kid in a cracking voice.

What happened in the next three hours or what happened in the finals of that tournament were history and no cricketing lover or for that matter no Australian will ever dare to forget the two storms they witnessed. One came from the deserts in Sharjah and the other from “MRF” bat.

Jan 31, 1999

It was too close and yet too far. Chasing 271 runs vs. Akram’s team, hampered by a bad back, Sachin took us too close to winning. It was too close for someone who didn’t show up for the presentation to receive the “Man of the Match” because he was shattered.  He scored one hundred and thirty six runs. India lost to Pakistan by 17 runs in Chennai test match.

May 23, 1999

Having lost to Zimbabwe by three runs in the group stage in the absence of Sachin, India got almost knocked off from the group stage.

Sachin returned from his father’s funeral a day before our encounter with Kenya to save us from an early exit in group stage. He scored a hundred and forty painful runs in that match.

There were many matches after that, where he ripped apart the bowlers of the opposition team  and won matches for India. The pressure kept on mounting day by day and he kept on delivering what was expected out of him. Sure, he failed in crucial matches but no one should dare to point fingers at him, considering his contribution to a cricket crazy nation. A nation that celebrate victory and mourns each and every defeat.

Mourning was at the peak when India got kicked off in the first round of the 2007 World Cup, which was rated as the worst performance in India's cricketing history. Effigies were burnt, houses were stoned, respect was lost and everyone felt that they just got betrayed by 11 men in blue. What went in that dressing room, and what went between the then coach and the team members was something we wanted to forget, but I/We couldn't.

"Spare a thought of what we've been through" was the very first comment Sachin made two days later. This comment made my mouth shut!!

He hinted at the beginning of the 2007 WC that he is eying to play 2011 as well. We waited for four years to see it happen. Four years was a long wait!! Team has made some serious progress in the last four years. Things have changed, wounds were healed, hopes resurfaced and we are here to see a fairy tale on April 2, 2011.

Whenever I talk about Cricket with a close friend of mine, the conversation has to end with this comment "Dude All I want to see Sachin taking guard in Wankhede Stadium in WC'11 Final". There were probably 1000 such conversations between us and we just had one more when India defeated Pakistan on March 30 in Semi Final.

Now the dream has come true. Sachin will take guard this Saturday.

"What's the population of India" - questions a colleague if mine in a lighter vein. I replied..

"It's a billion and one of them goes by the name Sachin Tendulkar" - the first part of it is something I'm not proud of, but the rest I sure am!!

- By someone who scored 71% (flying colors) in 10th grade board exams and who feels "Life is worth living to see Sachin in action in Final of WC 2011.

Hit & Misses

In late 90's, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi were caught by media when they were having a fun time together in Santa Cruz beach, California. It created a huge sensation in the States back then. A week later, pictures from the beach were published in Indian Newspaper Deccan Chronicle. The snapshots were so colorful that I couldn't take my eyes off from Steffi for about 5 minutes, only to see my aunt standing right next to me to offer a cup of coffee. We both will never forget that disgusted look she gave, for the rest of our lives. But in my defense, Steffi Graft is not only beautiful but also has a very good sense of humor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYxlKbe0WZY&feature=related

It is imperative that you know all of your relatives, relatives friends, family friends, neighbors, neighbors relatives, because there is a high probability that you"ll be asked the obvious question at a wedding by a 40 year old lady 

"have you recognized me son?

"Of course I do aunt". 

Oh yeah!! Then tell me how are we related?!

A hopeless smile and a retard response "gurthuravatlee aunty!" It couldn't get more embarrassing with a grown up beautiful daughter of her standing in front of you!!

It was not uncommon for a group of teenage guys to follow a girl after school hours on the way back home. Scooty was a huge hit among girls and they always beat a poor guy's two wheelers (bicycles). Chasing them was always futile until Indian Railways suddenly wanted to improvise with a newly laid track. But what was not common is to find the same scooty parked in front of your house. The girl happens to be your sister's friend who stopped by to return a book!! Needless to say it is equally important to maintain a list of your sister's friends.

A bride's brother has a lot of things to take care of, before the marriage. In a list of things to do, he has to pull  up some time to look for the most beautiful girl at the event. He will then bribe a friend of his/photographer to draw the attention of his camera on her. The next task was to dig into the details of this girl and see if there is a way in to approach her. A wedding album of no less than 500 pics and 2 CD's will then pop up in less than two weeks. A conversation will then be initiated by the elderly to recognize the unknown faces at the wedding. Wisdom could shatter you at times, when you realize through your grandmother that the girl in the picture was a distant relative of yours who happens to be your "sister"?!$ REALLY!!

A die hard Madhuri Dixit fan will go for the extremes to watch the first show of "Dil Tho Pagal Hain". It was always hard to get the tickets on first day without the assistance of female party. Mission was accomplished when I managed to convince a mom standing with her daughter in queue, to get three tickets for me by lying that my parents are on the way to theater.  Ten minutes later, my two friends joined me. Innocent  looks carry weight. I didn't feel sorry back then and I don't feel sorry now.

Never assume anything!! Do not pluck the hair band of a girl standing in front of you and your parents at a bus stop, assuming that she is your sister. Believe you me things could have been worse for a 12-year old kid. Thanks to her kind nature - She just yelled back at my 19-year old cousin, (standing next to me )"eraa !! picha picha gaa unda!!"

Why the hell on earth does a bride's sister puts extra make up on her face and looks overdressed than the bride's?! It is so tempting for someone who haven't met the bride for 7 years, to go directly to her sister and wishes her to have a wonderful married life!! What's more funny is to knew that this mistaken identity is going to happen and let it happen with a bunch of friends staring at this girl's face!! - Priceless look!! No matter how smart this guy is - he was the dumbest ass that night!!

- By someone who feels this blog sucks!!

Untitled

A teacher walks into a classroom of 40-odd students. Since it was the beginning of academic year and there were new admissions, she asks the students to introduce themselves to the rest of the class. Understandably they were nervous to take up this assignment. She ordered "pin drop silence" as a student stood up and answered the "three common introductory" questions  - Name, Rank and Parents occupation..!?.  Couple of months later, two students were involved in a fight and were caught by this teacher. She inquired what went wrong that resulted in a fight, both came up with their own version of the story as expected from 10 - year olds. She ordered the first kid to get his father to come and meet her the very next day. The second one was told the same but was asked to see her at his leisure!  One works as a high command in police department, the other was a carpenter.
- Social living and its importance was not written in books back then, but they were still taught!

"Galli cricket" was played regularly irrespective of the quota of homework that was given. Gathering six kids at the neighborhood was always impossible. We were always successful in pulling up four kids. A mother of two just moved into the neighborhood and raised our vision of having what we always hoped for. Mothers play a key role in choosing your childhood friends and you got to stick with them for the rest of your life! Two of us went to her house to get her approval to have her kids play with us. She asked us two questions - "Meeru evaru (caste) ? - Class lo meeku ee ranks vasthayi?" - We never had six in our group. Couple of years later, they got transferred again and we were asked by her to help them move.
- We chose when to discriminate!

Ragging was always fun and healthy at my college. Unfortunately it wasn't the same for my friends in other colleges. Ragging session doesn't always begin with - which department are you from? - They wanted to know your last name! A friend of mine who went to VRS was asked this same question in his first year of Engineering. He was smart - his parents are from different castes. He managed to fool for two full years by switching his last name considering who posed that question. Some still prefer to be addressed by their family name.You could be good friends with someone outside your caste, but your friendship will not earn you an invitation to your friend's marriage. Drop the idea of marrying someone.
- Memories are short lived - My foot! - Educated arrogance!

I was oblivious to "The Right to Refuse Service" until I was educated by someone. To get a value meal Cheeseburger you need to have $5- $7. But to get it from a colored neighborhood you also need to be "special" enough to get one. Disclosing race/color and origin can still be done voluntarily while filling out a "Charity Fund Application!!".
- Lets face it - We dont belong here!

This may be out of context here but have a look at this scene from "Invictus" - directed by Clint Eastwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOpdWWzlzug

- By someone who had to answer "meedi ee kulam?" and who is biased! and not surprised to learn that India is carrying its first caste census in 80 years!

Tom, Dick and Harry

"Paapa kehte badaa naam karega, beta hamara aisa kaam karegaa" - a song from Qayamat se Qayamat tak in late 80's inspired quite a few teenagers back then. The common path after secondary school was to get enrolled into either Math, Physics/Chemistry or Biology, Physics/Chemistry no matter how badly you stunk in board exams. Any subtle deviation of this path would result in some serious insults from neighbors, relatives, family and friends (in that order - mind you)

For majority of these students things became worse in +2 to cope up with Probability, Thermodynamics and organic chemistry (Who the hell cares if ester reacts with ammonia to give amide!). It was a herculean task for some to maintain their 3-year secret love which was originated at 7th grade. End result - first break-up!! Coeducation in +2 was never entertained  by parents. Come on folks we took good care of your daughter until 10th..Can't you trust us for two more years!?

Every Tom, Dick and Harry had only one thing to go after - "Engineering". After two years and numerous weekend tests, results of the so called entrance test were published. It was darn hard to pretend that the results shook both parties (student and parents - coz deep down they both know it was pretty obvious). What follows next - couple of months of silence and grief, as if someone has passed away!

Heated arguments at dinner about the likelihood of wasting yet an other year - just so to prove second time isn't the charm (surprise - same old five-digit rank!). Then comes financial analysis and the obvious judgment "lets buy engineering". The stage was set for a worthy dumb student to get exposed to Engineering Drawing and C Programming.

"In order to present the exact size and shape of the object, the lines are drawn perpendicular to the plane of the paper from various angles of the object giving the image on the paper - called Orthographic Projections" - instant reaction - What the ****!! Some were fascinated by English Vocabulary with words like "Obnoxious" , some were eager to find out the energy released in an exothermic reaction, some skipped classes for no reason, some ran through the bushes to avoid ragging, some kept aside the shame and begged for money from friends just so to catch the morning show of Mallika Sherawat's "Murder", some managed to flirt with  other engineering college students, some became an expert in alcoholic sciences, some spent a fortune in buying each and every Engineering textbook from bookstores, some even called the publishers to find out the availability of latest edition of "Strength of Materials by Ramamrutham". *SOMEONE was just so glad that he is friends with all these people!!

Backlogs, break-ups, sudden marriages, surprise external results, GATE, English Proficiency tests and Campus Interviews kept us occupied.  How long are you planning to stay there?? - was the most ridiculous question by a VO at the consulate - look into the I-20 you"ll find the answer. What are your strengths and weaknesses? asks an MNC engineer in a Campus Interview - that is contingent upon your screening process!! We've managed to fool each and every one of them just so to work 70 hours/week  in MNC at Hi-Tech City, to knock each and every single Engineering department door in a University Campus for funding, to walk for 2 miles in 1 foot covered snow in search of a off-campus job, to get mobbed for $ 25 in front of his  own appartment..

Irrespective of the paths that were chosen to be called as an Engineer and considering all the sacrifices that were made for over a period of 10 years - Every Tom, Dick and Harry now deserves the luxury of leading a happily ever after life!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA5jMs1TzhE

- By *SOMEONE who was not inspired by " Papa kehte hain" song and someone who knew Tom, Dick & Harry.

A day in Seventh grade

All students were required to gather in school assembly by 8:45 every morning. No excuses were entertained unless there was something in writing by parents. The shortest kid will be standing first in the line staring at the fat old principal, wetting his pants, thinking he may be asked to read the headlines of daily newspaper. A 6-foot tall 10th grade student will laugh his ass off at this juncture. What follows after- is a 10-minute pledge (lie) which begins with "India is my country and all Indians are my ---- and -----". Consensus we choose our relations. Even a deaf guy can hear there is a vocal incoherence from the 1st and 2nd line of the pledge.

For some unknown reason every school has four beautiful girls with mesmerizing voice from 7th grade to 10th, only one from each grade. They take extreme pride while singing a missionary prayer as if they were given an opportunity of a life-time that usually lasts for 6 minutes/day.However it gives immense pleasure to talk to these angels, though the conversation usually begins with "hello akka" and ends with "ok akka".

All students disperse to their respective classes with one only thing in mind, a due math homework. "The mind stays fresh early in the morning and algebra can supplement that at zero hour" - How dumb was this ideology?

After exposing to X's and Y's and "hence proved", the class favorite teacher arrives with English Non-detailed book and introduces to Tom Sawyer's gang. Universal fact - Red saree is pleasing with a bunch of gold coated keys trying to hang on to the saree.

A 15-minute attempt during the recess not to talk in our mother tongue just so to avoid a 25 paisa fine to a class leader (wearing a red-color badge), who has nothing else to do than score 148 marks out of 150 in every single unit test. Unbeknown to all - the missing two marks are from languages (It's probably against the school rules to award out of out in languages).

A life cycle of a butterfly awaits after the recess in Natural Science class. Madam Rose dictates the notes and after successively failing for 40 odd minutes copying from the friend's book, I now have 20 misspelled words per page.

Fourth period was probably the longest - staring at a friend (the only one in class who has a watch - worth 30 Rs/-) how much longer will this fast lasts. He signals - 20-10-5-thumbs up and the first time it sounds good to listen the school bell ringing.

How difficult was it to drop a spoon in lunch basket - was a common question to my mom every other day. The missing spoon in the basket is an insult to use my right hand to eat yogurt rice. Thou shall not eat with bare hands in front of other kids - 12th commandment.

Post lunch - Third unit test results in Physics - 17/25 - with remarks "could do better"- If I only I had nerve to say to back then " Yeah - I can see that & So could you"

And then the huge discrimination within the class - 10 students will take their "Special English/Special Hindi - books out of their bags and leaves the rest of the class with a smile which I can never forget. Not sure what makes them feel so special, some jerks who cant speak, read or write in their mother tongue!

I had my share when Telugu teacher taught us that "Chakrapani - chakram paani andu kala vaadu - bahuvrihi samasam" and the entire class looked at me.. That's right my proudest moment!!

Moral science was giving least importance as it carries no weight in exams. A 45-minute physical training class and we all used to play the game of multiples of 7 (Say Bus - at 7,14,21,28...).Four of us intentionally lose just so we can play cricket with our seniors and help then continue their play by getting them the ball every-time it was out of their reach. How pathetic!

After a long day at school I now face the questionnaire from my mom - Homework icchaara? followed by me asking - "emi tiffin chesavu" - mom - "lunch tinnava? - Spoon pettava?? - One hour lo daddy vastharu!

One hour later - I opened my lunch box to finish the untouched left over yogurt rice with my bare hand!!

Written by someone who stood 29th in his 7th grade out of 35 students.

First Post - In love with Arjun's character

From the first encounter with his half brother through the last frame where Arjun smiles his heart out realizing what he just left or what he just gained- the journey of this six year old kid in Udaan is nothing but heart-touching.

The tenderness coupled with desperation for affection is reflected in every scene he enacted.

“Yee meraa bisthar hain” – the possessiveness of an object followed by submissiveness are the first signs of the upbringing by his father or more so the lack of mother’s love.

A quick reflex when his father orders to get his brother’s ass into his car, he runs to Rohan and utters the line “Sir bhulaa raha hain” – The first time he realizes that “Sir” can be also be referred as “Papa”. Angry look from his father results in another three stair voyage to let his brother know that “Sir gussa ho raha hain”

The way he greets his Uncle at the door – “Pranaam Chaacha” is adorable. His longing for love and concern about his brother could be felt, as he shares his first secret about his father “Sir ne aapko daanta ? humko hameesha daant the hain..nai tho maarthe hain”

Arjun insulting Rohan after the race is truly GRACEFUL.

How much a six year old kid can hold in his heart was answered in the hospital scene, when Arjun turns his face away to ignore the question “kal kya huaa tha?”

“Chandu ki cycle” brings the smile on his face which was long due…

My favorite scene in the movie that lasts for 8 seconds where Arjun’s life is headed and his helplessness is brilliantly captured from 5:20 to 5:28 in this link.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc_oh9_yq0c&feature=related

Finally he gets to hear those words from Rohan “hum jahaan jaayenge, tum humare saath aaoogey” priceless look that conveys - he now has someone that will keep him happy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBWQnPoCze0&feature=related