20-20(2)

Even as I continue to be a critic of 20-20 format, its heartening nevertheless to see the Indian Cricket team win the T20 worldcup.

20-20

With the inauguration of the new 20-20 cricket world cup, the ICC wants to get more advertisement for cricket and promote cricket globally. Its a good ploy to bring in more countries, more people and thereby more money into the game. However, for traditional cricket lovers like me who loves the 5 day version, 20-20 is a sham. Cricket in my opinion is a game that gives equal opportunities for both batsmen and bowlers and this is true only in a 5 day match with a true cricketing pitch. 20-20, however, is tailor made to suit the batsmen. I am afraid cricket might lose some good quality players - bowlers and batsmen inclusive, with special emphasis on bowlers. Good bowlers might even become an extinct species.

6th anniversary of 11th Sept attack on US

With so many terror attacks taking place in India on an almost daily basis, one would wonder as to why I am blogging on the terror attack in US 6 years back. Well, terror attacks are terror attacks, and people suffer and die wherever they take place. However, there is something special in 11th Sept attack. First, it was the first time in history that someone had dared to attack the US homeland. And second, it has completely changed the perspective with which terror attacks are viewed around the world since then. And it is about this "someone who dared" that I am blogging.

When the attack took place, US detective and security agencies blamed it on Osama Bin Laden. What was shocking to see was the reluctance of many people to accept that it was Bin Laden and his Al-Qeada network that commited this dastardly act. Al-Qaeda in the beginning was mum - and did not take the responsibility of the attack. And around the world( inclusive of India), mullahas and many Muslims blamed the US for "falsely" implicating a "true Muslim" like Bin Laden. Possibly there never has been a more cunning terrorist than Bin Laden till now. All that he wants is the sympathy of Muslim population around the world and a clash between Muslims & the West.With time fades the memory of the people and with time, Bin Laden has come clean. He now totally accepts the 11th sept attacks. Wonder where those mullahs are - why there is no condemnation now ? It nevertheless shows the way Muslims see Bin Laden. He is not seen as one who is going out of the teachings of peace & brotherhood of Quran. Worse, he is viewed as a Muslim brother who has gone a bit astray.

It would be a great service rendered by the Mullahs to the Muslim community if Bin Laden is castigated out of the Muslim society.

Or is it that Quran never teaches peace, I wonder ? If Bin Laden is to be believed, it only asks all Muslims to go all out(& kill,murder...) against those who are not Islamic followers. And if the so called moderates do not have counter-argument, then one is forced to accept what Bin Laden says vis-a-vis what Quran says( or rather his take on it).

60th year of independence and Hall of shame

On the eve of 60th year of Indian independence, it is the Parliament House that stands tall as the Hall of Shame for the country. And it is the shame for the country because of the people it houses ( indian lawmakers)

When I was in my primary school, we used to make a lot of noise in the class when our teacher was not around. She would then come back and say, "Stop this noise! This is not a fish-market". Probably "Parliament" suits better as of today!

Mob and the terror

A thief snatches a jewel from a lady's neck and tries to escape, but is caught by the people. Soon a mob gathers and gives instant justice - hammers the thief black and blue. While the prevailing judicial system in India is too slow and inefficient, its quite natural that the citizens take it upon themselves to give the fastest justice possible. And therefore, this, in my opinion is not at all reprehensible. However, one does has to acknowledge the fact the mobocracy can sometimes be "crazy" and can be dangerous. One never knows how a mob can chage opinions and might indulge in meting out "injustice" what it otherwise believes to be just. The solution to get rid of mobocracy is to improve the police and the judicial system, thereby earning the trust of the citizens.

A lot has been written and debated about the Hyderabad bomb blasts. Very soon the life in the old city is going to be normal ( "How brave they are ! They have defeated the terrorists' motives" ) and all is forgotten until the next couple of bombs explode. It is in no way an indication of bravery - rather, a sad pointer to our indifferent attitude - not to care about people. The terrorists are very often not caught at all.(Worse, not even traced !). Many administrators have been asking for an explicit Anti-Terror Law to fight these maggots whose only intention is to take the country to 6th century. And the erstwhile NDA Govt, did introduce POTA(after joint session) which was widely criticised as "Draconion". The problem was never in the POTA itself - it was with the administrators who were invoking it on mob violence. The requirement is to have the law (Dismissing it as "Draconion" ( I dont know who was Draco ) only gives fillip to grubs) and change our attitude. Once again it comes back to have a better police , better political and judicial system.

Hoo ( or Ooo?) eat ease ?

I was listening to the Morning "Breakfast" show in the FM channel "Radio City" yesterday. Radio City have a new RJ( that's relatively new, possibly a few months) named A-ViVahh ( As she pronunces it). Unfortunatlely, to spoil the morning, she was substituting for Vasanthi(who likes to shout "Goood Morning Bangalore - this is Vasantheeee with you" with her pleasant voice).This Aviva girl is possibly the crappiest RJ around in Bangalore. There are more than 6 FM channels now and it sucks to hear to this A-ViVahh. Her voice sounds more like sheep ( aaahhh- aaah) and to add to that fakes accent. And a competition going in the morning show "Who it is" is rather cried out by her as "Hoo( may be Ooo) eat ease". I actually began wondering if I have forgotten English when I heard it.

flag and the hypocrite

In India, we are too much ill-fashioned about our national flag, making one wonder at times, as to what is the flag meant to be after all ?? True, we had to make great sacrifices just to get the right to hoist our flag. But does that mean we cannot hoist it wherever one feels like ? Taking it to sport stadiums is showing disrespect to it ? And wearing a flag-shirt is the pinnacleo of anti-nationalism!

Indians only seem to love their flag( which is only but a symbol) and not the country that the flag symbolises.

Streets of our major cities are too polluted. If one is go around the city, his/her clothes are sure to turn black due to the soot/carbon. If it rains, its sure to stink and the cloth becomes weak/crumble in a few days due to the exposure to acid rain.

And therefore I won't be too surprised if these flag-hypocrites cry against hoisting of the tri-colour atop the buildings located in city-centres. The flag might lose its sheen or get soaked in acid after all !!