Jeetam Jeetam....(we won...)

A fantastic end to the long pending and biggest controversy in Cricket. Today morning, the judge ment to the Bhajji-Symonds racism row came to an END. Just yesterday, after the end of the Adelaide test, BCCI had announced that if Harbhajan Singh was not freed of the Racism charges, India would withdraw from the upcoming Triangular one-day series.

This definitely must have sent shivers through a lot of people. To name few – ICC, the sponsors and the advertisers in the series and the Australian cricket board. India withdrawing from the series would mean, a huge financial loss to all these listed above. In no case ICC would have let this happened.

Now the ICC was in a fix, if it let Bhajji go scot free, it would mean that, BCCI is stronger (which is true) and ICC had scrummed to BCCI force. It also could not charge Bhajji under the racism act, that would mean going against BCCI (hehehehe) and losing a lot of money. Again favoring Australia, ICC would attract new charges of racism towards itself, which again ICC would not like to have.

So what does ICC do?? ICC appoints a smart New Zealander as a neutral judge. In the hearing, Symonds, actually forgets, what Bhajji said to him. Bhajji sticks to the fact that just abused Symonds on Symonds provocation, but nothing Racist about it. Now the Judge’s Verdict is…

Bajji Cleared of the Racism charges! He still is found guilty of abusing a fellow player on the cricket ground, hence attracts a fine of 50% of his match fees.
That’s all!! Tats all that was the outcome of probably the biggest controversy in Cricket  that was an extremely well planned decision. Now everyone got what they wanted

ICC: ICC still pressed charges on Bhajji, so it showed that it still had the authority, but at the same time, made sure it pleased BCCI by dropping the racism charges. What it saved was a lot of money and little bit of credibility what was left to them

Australian cricket board: Saved a lot of money, izzat to waise bhi bachi nahi :P

Bhajji: Happiest man! Who knows what he said to Symonds? He got to say whatever he wanted to Symonds and also got away with it. For that he became a Hero. Probably face of NEW INDIA (as mentioned in one of the Indian Daily)

BCCI: Any ways, they had nothing to loose, they got to flex their muscles, they showed who the boss is. They got what they wanted. They created a HUGE good will in India and in the cricket players, which is going to help them in upcoming IPL. Also they showed that, Indian Subcontinent teams are not going to take shit from Australia anymore
Promoters, sponsors, Broadcasters: Very very Happy ppl, finally the series is not going to be called off, so they still get the money.

Me: very Happy, India won, expecting a great series ahead!!!

"Oops we did it again..." - Aus Cricket team

“Nonsense...utter Nonsense” these were the words Sunil Gavaskar described it on the live television and NO other non-abusive words would have described it better. Today India witnessed yet another BLACK day in Cricket.

Today ended the second test match of the India-Aus series. India lost this test match by about 120 runs. This kind of result is not new to India and definitely not to Australia, who equalled their own record of winning 16 tests in a row. Then what was so special about the match. Well, the special thing about this match was that, the match was not lost because India didn't play well, or not because Aus played better, it was because, the Umpires decided that India lose this match.

As many as 8 decisions were incorrect, most against India. The Umpires of the match were Benson and our dear Bucknor. India faced the worst opposition attach of its all time, but from Umpires. Very dishonest game play by Australia was aided by utter crap Umpiring.

I am not going to enumerate all the wrong decisions by the umpires or sad and untrue appeals by Australians, as you can find that on any news website or tv channel. But would definitely condemn the way cricket was played today.

I would, but, applaud Ricky Ponting for one thing, he stands to his beliefs. He took a catch of Dhoni and Grounded it! Then he appeals for the wicket. Thankfully ( i guess the Umpires were not pay attention, Dhoni was NOT out, and they didn't give him out!!!) umpires didn't give it away. But the post match press conference, when asked by a Indian reporter, on why he appealed for a grounded catch, he accused of challenging his integrity of the match and he still thinks he took that catch right. Well, i think there are not TV in Australia for him to see the reply, guess we should send him one from India as Gift.

To add to all this utter shit, Bajji is charged of pelting out racist comments to Andrew symonds. And it turns out, Bajji called him “Monkey”...hehehehe.....is it really racist?? I thought we all evolved out of Monkey! Sad part is, when the match referee held the hearing, it turned out that none of the umpires had heard anyone saying anything to anyone. Proctor believed Symonds and Hayden on the fact the bajji said that to Symonds (read “monkey”) and banned Bajji of 3 test matches. How can a neutral referee take word of one player against another of opposing team??

I strongly feel, India should walk out of the test series, as well as the forth coming Triangular series with Australia and Srilanka. I definitely think that if India walks out of the onday series, SriLanka would also support the team. Its not the first time that a visiting team has been cornered by Australian team Pakistan, SriLanka and WI have faced similar problems.

Just imagine, the day when India walk off the oneday series and then SriLanka also follows the suit, imagine the losses incurred by the Australian cricket board. Imagine the losses to the sponsors of the series, Imagine the loss to the ICC!!! All India has to do is walk out of the series. That will serve the Aussies a lesson, that will make them realize,they will always not get everything the way they want it.

Whole of India is in a wave of rage against the Aussies and give a 100% support to the team. I would be extremely happy to hear this from Anil Kumble “We understand the fact that Australia desperately need to win the series. And we are really moved by their commitment towards it. I take his occasion to walk off the series and donate this Cup to Ricky and the team. Have fun guys, we declare you winners!!!”

Shame on the Australian team, all their records are worth nothing if they do not know what sportsmanship is....!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL....

wish you all a very great new year ahead. May you get all the happiess in life and may all your wishes come true.

Saare Jahan se Accha, Hindosatan Hamara...

Every August 15^th, makes us proud. Proud of being Indian, proud of our forefathers who fought for freedom, proud of what India is today! Most of us have been lucky that we were born in free India. The Quit India movement, the non cooperation movement, the uprising of 1857 have always been chapters in our history books.

15^th August had always been special for me. During school days, the schedule would be very tight! Get up early in the morning, go to school. Whole school would be gathered in the parade ground. Since I was part of the school band, we would be wearing our band uniforms, sparkling white shirts and trousers. The flag hoisting would happen before 8 am in morning and after that the parade! After the parade there would speech from the guest of the day, generally ex-service men. They would tell us their stories of war and how one should love our country, a very patriotic speech. We used to be so charged up with the experience, that we would decide then and there and decide that all of us would be joining the Armed forces and serve our motherland.

As the years passed, things changed. A typical 15ht August started with getting up early (that’s just before 8am) and watches the flag hoisting at the red fort in Delhi. See the small parade that happened on the day and then the prime minister’s speech. This has been the routine for many 15^th August’s till two years back. The 15^th August 2006 and 2007 had been different. This was the first time so far that I had been out of the country on this day.

Celebrating 15^th August is a very different experience outside our country. That’s really when you come to know what freedom means. Its just another day in the country you live in, you wont find Tiranga hoisted anywhere, you wont find school kids with Indian flags in their hands. Here I was, on 15^th August 2007, 60 years later, working in Great Britain, the same country, which we declared independence from.

This day, I really gave it a thought. So many things have changed. 60 years before, When British left India, they left a country a very poor and dependent country. A country with abundant natural resource, but still dependent on every thing on to others. The picture is very different now. Now it’s a new country, a country with lot of young people who want to make a difference. A country that has a confidence, which it was lacking for last so many years. A confidence that we can be a super power, a will to compete with rest of the world. Now India is not just some third world country full of people, its biggest quality human resource destination, its biggest market for goods all over the world. No other country now can ignore India or take it for granted. Today we are working shoulder to shoulder with the people of developed countries in their own country and probably earning more than them.

Most might say we are still lacking and we should have progressed more than what we have, 60 years of Independence, I think the future was never as brighter. We are one country with most promising future. Though Information technology was what started shining, today, almost every industry is shining and growing at tremendous pace. With a promise like this and people who are set to prove it to the world, India is out there to conquer the world, conquer it like never before. This conquest is not with arms or bloodshed, but with economy and good will.

World, look out for us, Here we come!!

I AM IN 10th, OPEN FOR ADVICES!

Just a few days back, I read it in newspapers that the SSC results declared. Generally when at home, mom would tell whose who expecting results for SSC that year. But for last couple of years, since staying out of home, declaration of SSC results just another news in the newspaper.

Picked up the news paper and one news attracted my attention. ‘Maharashtra SSC board results to be declared today’. This news today was just news for me, but it meant whole world to me 10 years back. This very day, ten years back, I was expecting my result. I can clearly remember that day. There was suspense and tension in the air that day. Almost everybody I know had appeared for the exam. It was projected as if the most important day of my life. I am still validating the fact whether it was or not.

That day and the year before that just flashed in front of my eyes that day. What a year! One of the fastest years I would say. When I was in 9 grade itself the mania started. A long lost aunt or cousin would ask “kitvit re tu ata? (Which standard you are in?)” and when I would tell them the answer the next sentence would be…’so ready for 10^th next year??’ I so wished so day “was there going to be standard 9.5 if I were not ready for 10^th next year?” Soon I came to know, this was just the beginning.

Someone has said, ‘life is an examination’ and it’s kinda true. But the SSC exam is the one which is very very different. At least in my case, and I guess for most of us, was first big exam, but it was bigger and more important for all the people related to me.

This exam has always been very important to the people who didn’t appear for it. For example, parents and all the relatives of the person who was appearing for the exam. When you are in 10^th, suddenly everyone related to you, your aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends parents, doodhwala bhaiya, local grocer… everyone suddenly become experts in education. You would start getting advices from all direction, for everything in your life, and not just regarding studies. I think you have it written on your face “I AM IN 10^th, OPEN FOR ADVICES”

The most common among the advices are “study early in the morning, its good for you” and this then generally get appended with, ‘there is a study done in Romeria (god knows where this is) that morning is the right time to study” or “its written in our Vedas”. Then there were mothers of the fellow ‘SSCions’ who would not be satisfied by troubling their own wards so they would advice on your study schedule and everything in your life. Someone had told me “you will have to improve your handwriting, (till here it was bearable, but then came the clincher), look how my son writes, learn to write like him, this will make a good impression on the moderator” and loads and loads of other advices.

These advices start raining when the exam date approaches. It starts with “write your roll number correctly on the exam sheet”, “make sure you sit at the right place” and it can go all the way to “go the xxx temple before you go for the exam”. The last few days before exams are just about taking advices from everyone you know. Even your younger sibling gives you advice.

Then these advices are so much of a headache, and you actually start hating those ppl who gave you all these advices. But 10 years down the line, when I look at them, I understand, each one of those people did just wanted me to be successful in that exam and in turn in my life.

I was given countless advices; most of them were quite obvious, some where weird, and some where laughable. But there was one advice which I still remember; it was from my Dad’s Uncle. He had sent me a postcard via snail mail. Amongst all other things, the line I remember was, ‘This is first important exam in your life, don’t be scared or be bogged down by it. There will a lot of exams more important in your life, and God forbid your result is not as per your expectations, don’t be scared or worried, this is not end of the world.’

Don’t you think, this is the very thing we wanted to listen from at least one of our well wishers before going for that SSC exam?

Spidey the 3rd

The much awaited movie, Spider man 3 is all set to release today in India (please forgive my ignorance, if today happens to be an International release).
Me and my friends have already booked tickets for today's show earlier this week. So all set to watch the movie.

After two grand spider man movies, I am definitely eager to watch the third one. To get into the "mood", I have been in preparation for this movie for quite sometime now.

To start with I downloaded a Spidey Skin for my new phone. I am not using that skin on the phone is a different issue. The skin was really bad, neither could I see spider man there nor my phone icons, so chucked it in the first hour of downloading it.
The other thing I did was to put a nice High Rez wallpaper, courtesy Angel, on my office PC. Well this wallpaper is not like the mobile phone skin I downloaded. The wallpaper is really nice, with a BIG spider symbol (which is on spider man's Chest) at the center of the desktop. Really nice wallpaper! I know what Angel would be thinking while reading the blog...'akhir wallpaper kisne dhunda!!' Thanks for that wallpaper Angel!
I have also read the review of this movie on our Office Bulletin board. I wont tell what was there in the review, you can read it yourself on the net.

So all set to watch the movie tonight. This reminds me of another event, for which I had prepared so much for :) "The Cricket World Cup"
Even then I had put Sachin's wallpaper on the desktop, the big thing was we bought a TV specifically to see the WC. But the way the event unfolded was not too favorable to us. India played the worst with the possibly the best team, and Australia marched all the way to get WC again for the third time. This was arguably the most Boring WC.

Anyway, lets leave past to past. Let me not get disheartened by comparing the two, and wait and watch. Its just 4 hours from now that I will be in the theater, all loaded with Pop corn to watch.... Spiderman 3

Dont Hate Windows!

I have been a Linux user for quite some time now. I don’t call myself a Linux freak or even a Linux pro, but yes I like Linux. I have frequented to many Linux forums or to the different Linux help sites or magazines.

One thing I have observed is that most the Linux Users or Linux lovers are in variably Windows haters. And believe me; I have seen Windows haters to the core. I don’t know why this happens, once people start using Linux they just start hating windows more and more. To be frank, when I started using Linux, I too joined this group of people who hate windows. But later on I realized, I don’t need to hate windows to love Linux! Why not use both the OS and take good from both?

Most of the people in the World still use windows. In case of India, majority of people still don’t know there exists any other OS apart from Windows (best part is, most of them think windows is free ;))

UNIX was there long before windows came, then why did UNIX was get a similar response as Windows? Why didn’t people plan to use UNIX for theirs PC? Well there are many reasons, but one of then is definitely GUI! Accept it, windows gives you a fantastic GUI.

I have tried thinking, is there anything in GUI I think which I think is missing in Windows? I did give it an honest thought and apart from tweaking the current features, there was nothing which came to my mind which I thought is obviously included in the GUI. Mr. Gates did invest a lot in developing a really user friendly GUI. Guess we should really give it to MS for giving us a really nice GUI.

Apart from GUI, the ease of package installations, ease of PC software maintenance, and most importantly, the ease of installing the OS at the first place!!

Here I am not comparing Windows with Linux or any other OS; all I am trying to say is Don’t just Hate Windows because you love Linux.

Don’t forget, by allowing dual boot, Its Linux way of saying “Love Linux, but Don’t Hate windows”