Be One

Human nature being what it is, drawn to sugar like an ant trail we are always at getting keyed up when someone famous or around who is having all the joy and success, fame and name or good and great things heard and said about them. A weird but fortunate thing indeed. At different phases of life- scientists, sportsmen, statesmen and celebrities. C’mon we all have had that one forever poster on the wall in the room so that it is the first thing we see when we wake up in the morning and gazed at him/her like there is nobody else in the world, a scientist for that eureka moment you thought even you can run with some day, a cricketer for the way he just held the bat before hitting that boundary, a leader for whatever he believed and said and did. Inspiration is like fresh air around, good to breathe.

On a more personal level- a teacher who gave that extra push, a friend who has always been there no matter what, the mother or father for the way they just love us unconditionally, well we relate and connect to all of them and how can one forget those social gatherings where all the elders have this one common question to ask every kid around after the dance, song and reciting sessions “So whom do you want to be like when you grow up?” Frankly I would be at sixes and sevens with that one particular question back then and even now. 

In my experience I remember one in a group of boys I met in some school during a health checkup camp few years ago, the teachers had a tough time getting all of them from the playground because cricket was keeping them busy and a compromise with that, nah! He was quite restless, continuously looking at the wall clock and worrying if his PT period was getting over. After examining his chest and running nose which he kept on rubbing with the back of his hand and the collar crease I ordered “Say aaah” to have a look at his throat. He looked intently at my stethoscope and the torch in my hand and asked “Dactar Akka, injection elri?” [ read where is the injection? ]. And just a minute before that I was thinking of making this smart chap stand still by mentioning that one formidable medical apparatus.

“You don’t need one right now” I answered. He seemed to smile hearing that. There was something about him, some sort of energy, he couldn’t keep his feet together in one place at one time. He observed everything and everyone around him. I was sure he would have already formulated an opinion about the bunch of white coats who had utilized his quality cricket time, he was batting by the way. Examining his eyes, teeth and nails tempted for a conversation I ended up asking him the same old question with all the curiosity in this world, “So what do you want to do or whom do you want to be like when you grow up?”  and phat came the reply “I want to be myself.”

Look at his grin, yes the one right in focus !

He ran back to the ground before I was done with filling his yellow medical card, and there he was one of my role models running, falling, fighting, shouting and hitting boundaries. Most importantly doing what he loved doing the most, being himself. 

As long as we do not have any sort of contempt for learning; each person, thing or a situation around has something to teach us. You don’t need a hero on the big screen, a scientist with an invention or a leader with a following. Think on an introspecting plane and you realize at times we ourselves are our own role models. I know it sounds too vague or maybe proud but unless we are aware of this, there is no getting better or being happier than what or how we were a minute ago. This little young man taught me that, to live and most importantly enjoy all your moments. Now isn't he a man of honour? :-)

“If you cannot find a good role model, be one”

-Gale Ann Hurd-

PS:  
This post is as a part of Celebrating Men Who Make A Difference! 
I am writing about #MyRoleModel as a part of the activity by Gillette India in association with BlogAdda.com

-R.

'The Wall' Stands Tall

Picture Courtesy

"I have failed at times, but I will never stop trying...I leave with sadness but also with pride"

"Come watch, Dravid is playing" is what my folks told me all these years and today I realize I shall not be hearing this anymore. It is all the more difficult for people like me who are used to watching this game only because of him. Someone has rightly said “It is always sad when someone leaves home, unless they are simply going around the corner and will return in a few minutes with ice-cream sandwiches.” That is exactly what I am feeling.

As a matter of fact he is all that I know about cricket and I wouldn't be wrong if I say that in my dictionary he is synonymous to the game, and shall always stay so. I do not know much of his catches, centuries or any other records. Cricket to me is as alien as desert to penguins. But whatever cricket that I know today I owe it to this one dependable, and after today I have scary second thoughts about my interest in cricket.

If cricket was really a gentleman's game, we do not have to look up to anyone else but this man. He is among those few men who have always played and lived cricket with dignity. For many genuine reasons other than the game I have always ‘admired’ Dravid. One simple and sensible reason is ’for the person he naturally is’ His persistence and his patience was always evident on the field and scoreboard. We always knew the match shall not be lost if not won, for Rahul was there at the crease which meant the match shall not end any sooner!

The wall always stood tall, and continues to if not on the field but as a living legend of the game. As I type these lines here I see an old visual of him on the television saying "You mess with India, you mess with me" with a wink. Respect.

-R.

Diya Na Ghuma Ke!

Dear Team India,

ECSTASY is the word.Thank you for giving us this once in a life time feeling.We owe you this moment of pride,a moment for which we have been eagerly waiting for the past twenty eight years.The intensity of joy and hunger in our captain's eyes when he hit the winning shot said it all.We are immensely happy not only for our win,but also for the strength and confidence with which you played till the end and showed us that you are going to make this world cup only ours this time.And for every other match that you have played despite the immense pressure from your fans and countrymen with all your courage and magic else.

The critics are now silenced,the bats and balls have done the speaking.You have bled blue on the field and proved that you deserve to be nowhere else but on the top.You have met our expectations way beyond our faith in you.Kudos to your efforts and spirit.And to this one man for breathing cricket all his life and making us breathe-'Bows Down'.You have everything and everyone conquered!

"I couldn't have asked for anything more than this.Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life."-Sachin Tendulkar

A billion people together shared this amount of patriotism never before.This is a dream come true for each of us Indians on this globe.And we are surely going to tell"We lived during the time when Dhoni and his men lifted the world cup!" for years to come.The fireworks are now in the sky for you.The world is now talking about you.The nation is now celebrating because of you.This win is for history and we are grateful to you for making us a part of it.It is now time to shout aloud from the top“We have won and this is the beginning,for we have now arrived".Loud and clear!

What a match!!!Speechless!!!Diya na ghuma ke?Jiyo khiladi wahe wahe!:-)

Yours cricketingly forever,

Bleeding Blue Indians.

PS1:Picture courtesy-ESPNcricinfo
PS2:I am too happy to sleep tonight;-)

-R.

For Our Men Who Bleed Blue

Currently if there is anything that is giving all of us a high, it is the match that we are eagerly waiting for on this coming Wednesday between India and Pakistan.Arch rivals is what the two teams are considered, no wonder our excitement has crossed a hundred peaks well before the game.For a detailed revision of our records do visit India vs Pakistan

All roads[and skies!]are now leading to Mohali.Every other channel on television is with an expert panel  twenty four seven opining on the match.While they discuss and dissect each player’s performance, the field on the day is made to appear nothing smaller than a battleground.Well it always has been when it is ‘India Vs Pakistan’!I could not stop giggling when I found a news channel airing a picture of our captain with armour on like a warrior and blowing a conch, now what war are we looking forward to huh?

With tickets not reaching the common man, bookies and bettors having a time of their life and our dear Prime Minister inviting his counterpart to watch the game there is a lot for us to raise our brows and think about.Cricket is a sport and one team definitely wins which means the other has to lose,so how far can it go and help us to promote peace?On a tiny and friendly note it can definitely help us bond but it can never solve our hundred other issues.The political interests of both nations are very diverse and huge to be handled by the spirit of the game, but a small gesture from any side is worth it.Kudos to Mr.Singh for that.

Our players are in form,there is madness in the air and fans are thronging towards the stadium.If you notice apart from our national days, cricket is the only thing that reflects our deep hidden patriotism.When cricket frenzy people like us watch a match of this magnitude, each run and wicket is remembered.No little mistake is forgiven.Palpitations, goosebumps and nail biting moments are for sure.The loudness of the cheer when a batsmen hits a boundary is inversely proportional to the pin drop silence when he succumbs to a ball, very contrasting and intriguing reactions indeed.We criticize our players more than we applaud them, don't we?With brewing expectations around, a victory is easy to accept and praise but when it comes to loss there is always a mass nervous breakdown,sigh!

For a player a game is bigger than what it appears to us.Despite each failure and fame, they have worked hard for where and what they are both individually and as a team, all of them.They play for a pleasure of representing their country on a colossal scale of responsibility.While they are doing so, lets appreciate them for that.And as Indians we expect our team to give their best,but natural.Predictions and statistics apart, when India and Pakistan play we know it is lot more than cricket.The match enters history.With cricket turning into a game of the Asians in this tournament, lets pray and hope that our men make the cup all ‘Indian’ like how twenty eight years ago these heroes made it happen.

"Wishing our team runs, wickets, wit, will and a win! For you and we deserve it and have waited long, really long, come on make and bring this moment again..."

"De ghuma ke...de ghuma ke...jiyo khiladi wahe wahe..."

-R. 

The Cup,Please!

Talks about cricket usually turns me dull and morbid for unknown reasons.Maybe it is due to my lack of insight and interest in the game.I know I should not be showing my displeasure towards our team and the sport,being an INDIAN I definitely want us to win!Everyone is eager to know whether we will hold the cup this time or not.Let us wait,watch and hope for the best!Since my rhymes sound pretty fair,here is my good luck poem for our team.Cricket or else,we Indians rock don’t we?‘Come-What-May-We-Are-Just-Us-FOREVER ‘ is our spirit.A cheers to that one!

A test of time to prove this land's mettle now has come
Millions here are wishing you luck just more than some
On the field in all mayhem are many milestones to cross
Let the shared dream of winning this cup go for no toss


Play the game well O' gentlemen and make us all proud
We will watch you all along and cheer from heart aloud
In the throngs of a stadium,living rooms and every gully
Hope no goof ups are made with your folly,silly or sully


Crazy about this sport is every man in the world thicket
Standing high on the pitch are our stars in every wicket
Bowl and bat,sweep a four,hit a six!‘But’ never get out
For you are one team only ours to flaunt and talk about


Live up to every broiling hype on print and the idiot box
Beware of the battlers not any less and pull up your socks
Show them the way back home with all your gallant guile
Pat your back and say this toil and sweat was worthwhile


The ones who can make it is you,our idols great in light
Centuries and ducks all will roll through while you fight
So keep the score boards ticking always,happy in count
Rest aside,we are with you catching a faith in surmount


Write these turning days of triumph in pages of history
If you strive and deserve not any far is a desired victory
Fate shall not be a mighty umpire when you are around
Make glory on the crease,bring all magic to the ground!

PS:

Happy world cup match watching to you people,fingers and toes crossed;-)  

Ride Back My Way

Waves of silence break and I hear the school bell ring

Up in the air flies my heart on the old yellow swing

Down the slide I run again behind the dandelion wisp

Hands I wish some for a clap with rhymes silly to lisp

Wheels two to take me along and show that every road

The sky that was my roof and the earth my only abode

Friends whom I left to catch in all the hide and seek

Happiness long ago that did stay seven days a week

Every thing that met the eyes turned a bat or a ball

Bruises of pride that always followed a fight or fall

Games always meant more than to please or play

Wish these perfect little gifts ride back my way

-R.

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Waka Waka eh eh...

It’s in the air…in the air…annnnnnnnnnnd…catch it!
Eeeks…not the cricket ka catch…the football fever…which most of us already have.


Tsamina mina… Waka waka eh eh…Tsamina mina eh eh...This time for Africa!

And before I continue...

Disclaimer: The author does not hate football and she is no fan either, sorry if her ill knowledge brushes more than three quarters of the worlds hearts.This article is solely out of the effects which the game is right now causing in and around her life, both good and bad funny.She hereby requests the reader to read and kick it away as lightly as possible.

Some questions have popped out of my very curious mind, I have had my share of inescapable encounters during this season, and some things have made me laugh along with the game.I am feeling feverish too!!!

Firstly I do not have any favorite team or player,I happen to know a few names because I get to hear and read about them,frankly some names are beyond my capability of pronunciations.All that I know is that there is the ball behind which all the guys run around to make the goal and then far alone in his den is a guy called the goal keeper ,whose prime duty is not to let this happen,and finally whichever team makes the higher number of goals wins the game.Sounds simple.My apologies,I choose not to know more.

Evenings are usually spent these days at home watching the matches and my ears have the pleasure of hearing the strange and loud bee hum like noise from the stadium, courtesy brother. Many of the crowd’s favourites are not faring well, but then the game is the IT thing happening .And when it is goal time wherever and whatever each one of us is doing all of us rush in front of the television and screech “GOAAAAAAAL” irrespective of the player or the team and he especially at the top of his voice.

Last week he was on a beat around the town searching for a jersey of his favorite team,but before he reached the place where he could get it,that some shop had run out of stock,Paapa kid came back home dejected and disappointed.It was hard to see his face with a smile lost.

The mother is also not far behind,I know she is a cricket fanatic,Kapil Dev being her all time favourite and now her love for football is coming to light,seeing these guys play ”This?This?This is football?Gone are the days of Pele and Maradona!” she remarks and makes her trademark head scratch and walks in back to the kitchen.A happy factor for her this time is her favourite, the lady Shakira with her swirls and swings singing” Waka waka eh eh”, what if we do not make it to the list of teams playing for the cup, we definitely have a signature dance step to our credit, the best greet gesture of the world.Take pride Indians, little things also make us happy.

A three year old girl lives in the opposite apartment who comes knocking at the door sometimes to play with me and guess what I had in store a few days back.She came like always and asked me to put this song on the laptop and there she was ready with folded hands telling”Akka akka, Wakka wakka”.I was too surprised to deny her partnership offer and then we both just swayed along.

There is an another video of the animals playing football.The lions,elephants,giraffe,ostrich,stags,bulls,meerkats,hippos, tortoise and many more.The enjoyment with which they play,very impressive. A lot of work and patience would have gone behind capturing and making those scenes. The monkey does make an expressive referee ;)

So as long as this fever lasts, I will be watching every match possible and singing everyday... 

"Tsamina mina… Waka waka eh eh…Tsamina mina eh eh...This time for Africa!"


-Raksha