learning by playing

Odds were against them. Predictions were negative. And hopes, low. But, they proved their might. From the ashes, they rose again like a phoenix.

The Indian cricket team brought the test to a draw unexpectedly today.

Cricket and politics are the two driving forces of the country. Both of them ride on the back of billions of aspirations. And, with the cricket team spinning a triumph tale, it is high time that politics take a cue from their success mantra.

•United we stand, divided we fall. The success streak of Team India testifies this statement. With most of the political alliances breaking off and internal disputes creating drifts within the party, the lesson of team spirit should come handy.

•A leader does not dictate, he inspires. Under the captaincy of a good team leader, each player could contribute to the best of his abilities. So is true for a political leader. Knowing the pulse of the crowd, he should be able to motivate them and keep them bounded.

•The indomitable combination of experience and youthful energy gives an edge to the team. May the vigour of the young and wisdom of the old come together in the Indian political arena too.

However, the learning is not one sided. Even the politicians have lessons to teach the cricketers. And, that is the never- say- die- spirit. Be it any number of criminal cases, sentences, party disputes or old age, our politicians NEVER say die.

Be it a no- confidence motion or a follow on, one will cling on.

How zz thaaaaaat?

seasons in politics

Come rain or shine, our political parties never shy away from their ‘work’.

They are like seasons, who never fail to come. And, when they do, they make us sweat, they make us wet and they make us shiver.

I have always thought that our political parties bear a striking resemblance to the three seasons.

The prickly BJP Summer, for us, is mangoes, ice creams, lassis and vacations. BJP had its own sunny days when it had leaders like Vajpayee.But, along with the Alphonsos and Cornettos comes the chubhti, jalti garmi, loo, pasina and load sheddings. Their aggression is as strong as the heat and their lack of unity as irritating as the power failures. Their religious ideologies are like the death blows of the loo.

The floody Third Front Monsoon is a respite from the exhaustive summers. So they said about the Third Front.Since the front is formed of ‘weird’ combinations, the probability of thunderous outpours is more. (The thunders are sure to be loud. Thanks to Mayawati.)But, it seems the mushy romantic season will turn into a muddy disaster. The downpour can happen anytime. And make sure you don’t get struck by the lightning.
Rain rain go away
Never show your face again!!!

The icy Congress Apples are healthy and cherries are bright. So are Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. Also, the moderate ideology of Congress is as cosy as the warmth of the pleasant winter sunshine. But, the other ‘leaders’ of the party might get a frostbite as the Gandhi family never makes way for others. The hazy vision of the leadership reminds you of the chilly foggy mornings.

The awaited spring
“If winter comes can spring be far behind.” May Shelley’s words come true. What India needs today is a party as productive as spring. Let it bring the optimism, vigour and brightness the season stands for.

letter to mantriji

Mantriji,
Parliament,
New Delhi.

Dear Mantriji,
I am a garib aadmi, saab. I have come to the city to earn some paisa. But, now I am in aspataal. Daactor saab said that I have broken my bones. I had fallen in an open manhole. And here, I lie on a bench waiting for the sister to give me my dawaai. Everyone is very good, but a little busy. Isliye, noone has come to attend me.

That day when I fell into the hole, I had to go for a job. So I thought of starting the day with a dubki in the Yamuna. I parted the lump of poly bags and garlands in the water to take a dip. But when I came up, there was a kele ka chilka on my head.

I knew that the day was going to be bad.So I was very careful on the streets as I started.

I had a narrow escape in the beginning, when a huge blue colour bus came towards me raging like a pagal saand. May be it was trying to chase the red light.In this confusion, I jumped sidewards; but, surprisingly I did not land on the earth. I felt like I was pulled down into the pataal lok.

Next when I opened my eyes, I found myself in this aspataal.

Na Yamuna gandi hoti, na mere sar pe chilka girta, nahi meri taang tootti.Mere saath jo hua so hua. Lekin, ab aap hi sochiye. If everyday poor fellows like me keep breaking their legs, what will happen of India? Everyone will be go blind, deaf or lame. Now, everything is in your hands. Please clean the Yamuna to save our country.
(P.S. If you get time, also close the hole and do ask the bull driver not to go crazy.)

Love,
Common man

Every one has an Obama in him/ her

How many times have you preferred to go out for a movie than vote?

How frequently has the thought of standing in a long queue under the burning sun prevnted us from voting?

How often has the ‘one-vote-won't-count’ attitude stopped us from going to the poll booth?

Every vote counts. We should not belittle ourselves. And neither the influence of our presence to run the system. Each individual is an agent of change.

Obama is every common man.

His strength was his conviction in his own self. He too started off as a community organizer. His first step was small and full of challenges. But that did not deter him from taking it. He recognised the power of the individual. He had faith in himself.

And for India to change this conviction has to be imbibed into us. Each of us has an Obama hidden in us. All we need is to discover him.

Redefining Holi

Caste. Religion. Gender.

In the forthcoming elections, let us render these words meaningless. It’s time we come together to crush petty, narrow-minded, selfish vote-bank politics.

Holi is here. Let’s celebrate the festival of colours together. Let it not matter what religion you belong to or what your caste is and certainly not what your gender is. Going out in the streets together and painting your neighbourhood bright will send the signal to those twisted-minded politicians that this time around, their selfish propaganda is not going to work.

This time, India is going to vote for its future, instead of being lured by petty propagandas. This Holi, let’s make the collective unity of the Indian masses clear to the politicians.

Happy Holi!

What if it were true?

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining with its full glory.

Children were heading for school.From a distance, one could hear the teachers giving lessons.
Teacher: Let’s revise. A for ?
Amrita: Abduction
Teacher: Very good. B for ?
Saurav: Bomb-blasts
Teacher: Good good. C for ?
Anwesh: C for corruption
Teacher: Well done…

It was election time. Parties were in search for suitable candidates. I picked up a party pamphlet of the Indian Bhrashtachar Party (IBP). It read:
Eligibility: Education- Paanchvi-fail
Extra-curricular- Boxing, eve-teasing, kidnapping
Aim: To make our country the No. 1 in crime and corruption
Age: No bar
Minimum Qualification: Must have been jailed at least twice preferably on murder charges

Afraid, I got up from my sleep. Oh, that was only a nightmare!
What if this turns into a reality?

Let’s take a pledge to vote for the right candidate. Even one vote has the power to change the fate of the nation. To build a prosperous and peaceful country, we need educated and clean politicians. Leaders who are capable of running the country responsibly.

Do we need Gandhi's spectacles to Lead India?

He needed a kick from the British to bring out the sleeping leader in him.
At the age of 24, he led the Satyagraha Movement in South Africa against Apartheid.
How many of us at 24 have voted even once?
For Gandhi it was one kick. For us it has been numerous. Sadly, we have not yet woken up from our slumber.
How many more kicks do we need?
Men & women, young & old, rich & poor, black & white attended his sabhas. They made his dreams their own. He dreamt of a country without corruption, without poverty, without illiteracy.
Have we dared to dream?
60 years have passed. Our country is still fighting corruption, poverty and illiteracy. Terrorism, communalism and crime are growing alarmingly. Gandhi took the initiative to change the system.
When will we take the initiative?

Yes, we need Gandhi’s spectacles. To clear our vision. To envision an India free of vices. A country that is looked at with admiration and respect and not as a land of snake charmers.

How many miles must a man walk down,

before we can call him a man.
How many times must a canon-ball fly,

before they are forever banned.
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.

Aren't we all.... the same?

And Timmy ‘pooped’. Right in the middle of the park. I went ahead, glad my dog won’t mess the house. Chalta-hai.

I honked at the biker but the bloody traffic light went red. I went ahead. I was late for office. Some kharcha-paani to the cops is any day better than losing a day’s salary.

A movie with my friends is hhhmmmm. But without an advance ticket it is grrrrrrrrrr. I went ahead. What’s the big deal? I can get them in black.

Skimming the newspapers with my dad, I saw the blown up election campaigns. I went ahead and turned the page. “Politicians are all same old shameless, money-minded and corrupt fellows!”

But then aren't we all.... the same?

If yes, it’s time we made amends. Remember the school wala rhyme:

Little drops of water and tiny bits of sand

Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land. 

Let’s shed our complacency. And take an oath to become responsible citizens of our nation.

Its only we who can bring an attitude change within our nation.