Whatever happened to Gilly? Without doubt, one of the most exciting cricketers of the generation has been Adam Gilchrist. Every innings of substance that he's played has been a highlight. He's been a match-winner - a devastating batsman, a good leader (conquered the Australian "last frontier" in India), a very fair though opinionated cricketer and, compared to his team mates, has a good reputation off the field.

But recently, something has gone wrong with his batting - since the England Ashes tour, runs have been very hard to come by, with only one innings of note in the Test arena against a very un-motivated World XI. Most columnists point out that Andrew Flintoff's around the wicket line has done him in and exposed a chink in his armor, something which every team is trying to exploit.

I don't agree that after playing 70 tests, with a stupendous record of bowlers-career-wrecking, someone suddenly thought - 'Oh, wait a minute, maybe no one thought of bowling out-swingers to Gilchrist around the wicket!!' and tasted success. Atleast I hope that is not the case, or Flintoff can, maybe, claim his first major casualty in the art that Gilchrist has mastered ever since he made his debut. I think (and hope) that this is just a temporary loss of form, though that is precisely what all his cricketing rivals fear.  ¶ 1:38 PM 2 comments

  Calling China, can you hear me? I have a friend who is in China... I had mailed the link of my blog to him and he count not read it!! Not because of any language problem, he is an Indian who can read and comprehend Hindi and English fairly well. He also has access to internet... so that is not a constraint. The reason for his inability to read the blog - China has blocked access to most blog sites, to further its political objective of suppressing free speech and expression of thought. The following link leads to an informative article about Chinas policies: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10749. The article also alleges that China was helped by US based organizations like Cisco Systems in its censorship program.

For each step that China takes forward emphasizing economic progress, it takes, or atleast tries to take, two steps backward in human or political progress. Wherever its political system encounters opposition, it crushes it - it does it politically wherever there is international focus - as it is trying now to combat pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong (http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5280837) - else it does it through brute force - as it did to protesters in Dongzhou (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/international/asia/17china.html?th&emc=th, http://www.economist.com/World/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5310240) recently.

I cannot imagine myself being stopped from writing this blog. This is my opinion and I would damn well like to express it. For all its failings, India gives me this liberty and I think India is richer for that.

Delving into the topic a bit, whenever there is a public or political debate between people with different motivations, political or regional or religious backgrounds which delays decision making, some of my friends and acquaintances turn around and say - "You know, we should be like China! No argument, just execution". I disagree. It is this debate, particularly this public debate ("the noise of democracy" cliche), which applies a check and balance to the entire process. This debate makes decision making stronger. It might delay things but when things get done, there is usually a consensus and the progress made is usually stronger and not easily reversible by subsequent political upheavals.

However, China has achieved substantial economic progress through its system, however flawed. The numbers show that - and it is difficult to argue with such impressive numbers. However, there are umpteen examples of countries that have done it the other way and succeeded. The United States, England, countries of mainland Europe, Australia have all managed economic progress while fiercely protecting freedom of expression and other individual freedoms. And more importantly, they have proven that their progress is lasting and sustainable, a area where China still has a lot to prove.

I believe India needs to hold these democracies as its 'ideals', if it is achieve sustainable growth and if the people of India are to be truly empowered.  ¶ 2:15 PM 2 comments

  Gods Debris - By Scott Adams I recently read a e-book written by Scott Adams of Dilbert fame. I expected a funny, light book; but it turned out to be one of the most profound and different books I've read in my life. Definitely worth a read. I have posted the link on the Downloads section in the sidebar.

It is a free e-book download.  ¶ 11:11 AM 2 comments

  From Fanoos to Angkor Vat... All those who have seen the wonderful French movie 'Chocolat', and have felt the wanderlust felt by Vianne Rocher, the heroine of the movie enacted by Juliette Binoche, know how I feel today.

The following quote from the movie, for me, sums up the feeling -

"Storyteller: But still the clever north wind was not satisfied. It spoke to Vianne of towns yet to be visited, friends in need yet to be discovered, battles yet to be fought"

The breeze of a slightly different orientation, the south-east one, in Chennai today is imparting similar ideas, feelings, emotions and desires to me. I knew that I've always had this wanderlust, this desire to just go out there - to explore - to travel over wind-swept plateaus and wooded hills, to meet new people whose languages I do not understand or about whom I have only read in the books. I want to, as some advertisement puts it, 'reclaim my independence'.

On normal days, this feeling is muted and drowned out by the cacophony of 'routine'. But today is different, today, a oddly-named hurricane, 'Fanoos' has brought a beautiful, slightly rainy, slightly cold breeze to usually-hot-and-humid Chennai. The breeze and the drizzle have done their historic role, of weathering the parched dust covering of daily routine and have exposed the human, with feelings and desires, within. My only desire right now is to go home from my mundane office, to grab some basic necessities, to gas up my old Hyundai and just go... anywhere, without knowing where, to follow the road just because the road is "there".

While Vianne, in 'Chocolat' manages to conquer her wanderlust and manages to settle down in the lovely French town, I have yet not managed to find an anti-dote to mine... and perhaps I do not want to...  ¶ 12:28 PM 1 comments

  Purity in Randomness: Cyrus Broacha in Mid-day Hi all,

Stumbled upon this article written by Cyrus Broacha for the Mid Day online edition. Hes epitomizes randomness - as you can see in the article :), Probably one of the funniest pieces of text I have seen in my life:

http://www.mid-day.com/columns/cyrus/2002/August/29082.htm

Saddam Bombay! By: Cyrus Broacha August 16, 2002

We all know Saddam Hussein, a man hated by the Kurds, the Shias, may be even the Iraqi people. A man who hates everything western and American, except I believe the odd cheeseburger with extra fries, low in burger, heavy in cheese.

However, very few know that Saddam has a paramour in India who he’s constantly in touch with, figuratively of course.

This 62-year-old lady who lives near the writer and doesn't read a word of Arabic has been unwittingly a part of this one way correspondence for 17 years. Recently, through a quirk of fate, Saddam's latest letter landed in my hands. Although it was written in Arabic I knew it was from him as photographs accompanied the letter.

One photo was of Saddam reading to the blind, a second was the blind reading to Saddam, a third had Saddam in a leotards doing aerobics, another was supposed to be a picture of his latest oil painting Night Watch with Rembrandt's signature badly scribbled over, then there were Saddam at the beach, Saddam playing cricket wearing only his pads, Saddam looking contemplative at a Saturday night execution.

Captivated by the visuals I got the letter translated 'a long process' Arabic to French, French to Bhojpuri, Bhojpuri to Hindi via Urdu and finally Hindi to English. This is basically how it translates.

To my Jewel of the desert, my eye of the camel, my Arabian pony's behind, I Saddam, Supreme leader of the only truly democratic country in the world, the people's choice, the voice of hope, the personification of compassion and humanity, salute you.

Lajwantiben, as I'm writing to you, I am both excited and perplexed. Let me tell you, O spice loaded on a camel's hump, why. After 27 years of flying, and this includes a 10-year war with Iran, as well as skirmishes all over Iraq including a holiday to Kuwait, I can proudly tell you I've obtained enough frequent flier points to allow me to finally visit you and fly almost all the way back. (I have enough points to reach Cairo, after which I can walk home, which is good for me, too many cheeseburgers you know).

Imagine my excitement when I got my last frequent flier points update. I mean, I've been thinking about you night and day, twice a week, for quite a few years now. Immediately I dashed off a letter to my friend Jaswant in your foreign affairs department, hoping he would help me with all the formalities as well as get me a tourist discount at what was once called the Prince of Wales Museum. So named I believe because whales used to swim all the way to your gateway in the early days though now I believe they have been driven off by very large women.

However imagine my puzzlement, when Jaswant wrote curtly back asking me to re-write to Yashwant. What does he mean? Did I misspell his name? Is Hindi like Swedish, a language where J actually means Y and Y actually means J? Anyhow, I did as I was bid and rewrote my request to Yashwant, addressed once again to the foreign affairs department. Once again I got a curt reply saying Yashwant no longer works here.

What is all this? How could Yashwant whose alias is Jaswant, a thing only known to Indians and Swedes, lose his job overnight?

I then wrote to the most powerful man in India, my darling cactus with one less thorn, Mr Jagmohan Dalmia, head of the BCCI. His reply was even more perplexing. He kept referring to me as a whining English Captain, who complains about everything and who unnecessarily hits Parthiv Patel on the back of his head and, worst of all, he addressed his reply to Mr Hussein, not giving me my full title which takes a good half page of paper in any language.

Oh date of my palm, who is Parthiv Patel, why would I hit him on the head and imagine thinking I'm English? In fact the only English word I know is 'cheeseburger'. To be completely honest I know two English words - 'two' and 'cheeseburger'.

Finally I was advised to write to a leading Indian actor. His reply made me double my medication - he wanted a signing amount for reading my letter.

Exasperated, I called up your tourist board but the answering machine kept saying I'm in 'Qatar'. When I screamed I was in Iraq, it just repeated it's earlier message about me being in Qatar. What the hell is happening, surely if I call up I know where I'm calling from. In fact I'm so pained by this harassment, that I’m contemplating taking my case to the UN.

In the meantime, my droppings from a dove, I clutch the frequent flier points close to what's left of my heart, order two cheeseburgers and think of you.

Your leading paramour,Hussein His Excellency, King of the desert, Father of my nation, leader of the free world, Supremest Commandante, Shree Saddam Hussein.

I still can't figure out if this is an authentic letter, but as for Lajwanti, last heard she's been on indefinite vacation.  ¶ 8:12 PM 0 comments