Money unifies siblings

Don't be misguided by the headlines, its a neat journalism trick to attract your attention towards my post. Yes people, yet again I'm talking about two of the closest siblings of subcontinent cricket - India and Pakistan and something I noticed while catching up with the highlights of the Asia Cup match played yesterday.
















Firstly, the match was an absolute batsmen's game, both sides batted beautifully and fielded shabbily. At times, I felt both teams hadn't gotten over their match with the minnows and were tired during fielding. Special commendation to the bowler's for not being tardy while bowling. Though, India was better on the day with a little bit of help from luck; we all know "Luck favours the brave" and our MIB were brave today. Sehwag back in form and Raina priming at the right time. Dhoni, Yuvi and Sharma left only to do the formalities. Dhoni was impressive with hitting the winning runs as a sixer. Highlights were a lot of fun to watch because I just felt like there were only 6's and 4's hit in the game. So, now that I've recapped the game; I must return to the main point of my post. I noticed something very peculiar while watching the highlights - at the National Stadium in Karachi, the venue of the match, most of the sponsorship boards belonged to Indian companies.

As I watched Pakistani and Indian batsmen hit the bowlers around the park, I noticed that most of the sponsorship boards belonged to Indian companies. It made me realise that economic ties are quiet penetrated, whatever the political climate may be, and in a way is one of the unifying bonds for us siblings - India and Pakistan (the other factors being - music, hindi movies and theatre). I was reminded of the scene from the Sunny Deol movie Gadar, where Sunny is reminded of the ongoing trade relations between the two countries post independence and partition. As I was reminiscing about the movie, I was brought back to the present by a superb six hit by Sehwag. Looking at those sponsorship boards, I was re-assured that some day, the attempts by the forces outside the family will be defeated forever and both us siblings will live and prosper in peace. For that is what both of us want and need, if we are to prosper.

Also - my second blog - Drishtikon. All credit to Bhai for coining the name. See, if you like it.

Murgi par hamla top (Canon) se

Yes, ladies and gentlemen our dearest MIB (Men In Blue) crushed Hong Kong with a 256 run victory. I remember the days when 256 was a competitive target, but in modern day cricket with the likes of Tendulkar, Dhoni, Yuvraj any target below 300 doesn't seem un-achievable. I'm happier because India has defeated Hong Kong by a much bigger margin than Pakistan did just the other day. Cricket isn't my favourite sport, but just like all my fellow Indians its pretty much a religion for me. I believe in "A picture is worth 1000 words" and thus, I suppose the pictures above speak for themselves.

Yet again, Hong Kong lost its match and this time the demons it faced was India - being an Indian, I shouldn't be calling my own team demons, but while writing I like to be objective just like the forefathers of modern Indian journalism. Anyways, not digressing, today one of the weakest teams of the sub-continent (Hong Kong) lost to the current strongest team in the subcontinent (India). Though, I was impressed as they were able to hold fort till 118. India won by 256 runs, it used be a good total a little while back and then Tendulkar, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Jayasurya and Kaluwitharana happened and the game changed forever.

Just before the explosive Sri Lankan invasion into modern cricket 256 was considered a good total. And, then the explosive invasion of playing big shots before the 15 overs finish happened and the game was never the same. Started by Jayasurya and Kaluwitharana, the trend reached Indian shores through Sachin and later the mantle passed onto to Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj and Dhoni. And I must these gentlemen have made the forefathers of this discovery very proud. The tradition was also passed onto our sub-continent sibling Pakistan and we had the emergence of Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi as dangerous Pakistani batsmen who should be dismissed early in the game, if the opposition wants to be in the vicinity of victory. And since we can all rememember, the cricketing world has always compared us siblings with each other. The audience is also part of this world.

Thus, as a member of the audience group I can't abstain from indulging into comparison. This time I'm happy and I hope it also serves as a morale booster for our players. We have defeated Hong Kong, the same team Pakistan defeated a few days back by a far greater margin than Pakistan. I don't know about team, but it surely peps up my morale and confidence in the strength of our team. They are good players individually, but even better as a team. India is, in my opinion, the strongest contender for the Asia Cup. I'm not saying this because I'm an Indian, but basing my opinion on the current trends and statistics of the current team compositions for the Asia Cup. India has the most successful track record right now. The only thing they need to be careful about is complacency. Our dearest MIB have a tendency to get complacent when on a song. I hope they have learned to hold their rhythm and continue to be in sync. You must think cricket is my favourite sport, after all I write so passionately about it. Well, my friends, you are mistaken.

Cricket isn't my favourite sport - its my religion, just like all my fellow Indians. My favourite sports are Tennis and Football (or US calls it "Soccer") - with more love towards Tennis. I love tennis the most, so much that I would fore go a cricket match for a tennis match. Don't be mistaken, I'm a passionate about cricket just as I am to follow Hinduism. I don't know worship the cricketers, though I always wish them the best and hope that my favourites Mohd Kaif and Irfan Pathan become the permanent members of the team. And yes, Sachin is a demigod for me when it comes to cricket - always always always a pleasure and treat to watch him.

What's the big Deal?

Yes, I want to ask this question in the context of homosexuality. What's the big deal with homosexuality? This question started troubling my mind long time back and watching the news about a whole gathering of Same Sex Marriage in California all day long yesterday and today...I've decided to put my thoughts into writing.

I ask again..What's the big deal? Why was it so hyped? Why can't we look at them as normal people who aren't attracted to an opposite sex? Why do we have to treat them differently?

There are also human beings like us, (male & female) with all physical characteristics similar to us. Yes, there is classification based on sexual orientation. This classification shouldn't mean that they are treated as abnormal or different. Its human tendency to classify so as to be able to understand and relate objects to each other. Classification shouldn't translate into different behaviour towards different groups of people. Another time, I feel the need to ask this question is at "Gay Pride Parade".

Again, what's the big deal? Why don't we have a "Heterosexual Pride Parade" also? Why do they have to turned into these different set of people, just like Native Indians of US are forced to live in reservations. The same is applicable to all people classified under LGBT. Why are they marginalised? Why do people not treat them eqaully as a heterosexual? Why are they thought of as diseased?

Why can't we have a society where all types of people interact and live peacefully with each other without feeling any kind of hate or ill-feeling towards other people just because they aren't the same as them? Whatever happened to nurturing diversity and "Variety is spice of life"?

With diversity and variety come different ideas and ways of thinking about the same topic, thus helping the society to grow as a whole.

It is, thus, my humble request that if we want to grow as a society we must stop the use of reservation in every form. Reservation only impairs the growth of human beings and society.

Update Blog - Done!!

Is blogging or as I call it "Updating Blog", a job. This question has been bothering me, so much because of the repeated inquiry about the currentness of my blog from my friends. Yeah I said that I feel like writing on my blog about certain things, it doesn't imply - right away. Though, I think, my friends are now finally successful in their endeavor because I'm actually writing on my blog. Kudos to all of you. But, I'm not going to let you guys have the pleasure to get your names on the credit role - JTB :-) :-).

I know some of you, might tell me, "Oh you have so much ego that we can't say anything to you." Well, if you think that, you are completely mistaken and hopefully none of you would think that way. And even if you do, please feel free to feel anyway you want - I don't care. People who know me well enough are the ones I don't feel like saying anything to and I know that they will understand what I want to say. If you are super-confused with everything written in the paragraph, don't exercise your brain too much because its obviously not meant for you.

So, I'm still on the circuit but not as frequent as other guys. I've been busy with other things but I'm alive and still kicking and playing in this world.

And if anyone feels I've been insensitive in this post towards them - feel free to say and write your thoughts. But, I'm not apologetic for anything on this post.