Rahul The Wall

It was September 16, 2011, when Indian Cricket followers and entire cricket community had witnessed a historical moment in Cricket when The Wall was playing his last ever ODI against England. I did not liked the way he got out, looking at his records of not getting bowled out much of the time but, if I compare, Bradman got out at zero in his final innings against Rahul getting half century in last ODI, I take it.

I am a great admire of Rahul and the way he has shaped his cricket career. He started as a great test player but, he always lacked a luck to be in top stories. I exactly remember the Lords test when Dada and he were playing for the first time and Saurav made his maiden test century and Dravid missing out merely by 5 runs. But, the consistency which Rahul has shown is unparallel. I have always liked batsman like Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, Praveen Amre and all those who depend on technicality for their batting but, Dravid was the most successful of the all. The reason may be his Strong determination ignoring all the criticism.

There was a time when Dravid was unwanted part of ODI team but, he managed to fine tune his batting style and his attitude to match ODI temperament. Moreover, he worked upon his Keeping skills to be an inevitable part of Indian ODI squad. I feel sorry for him for not being a part of the world cup winning team (I may be partial when writing this but, he could have been a part of that team). He has shown the world that if you keep your basics correct you can perform well in any form of cricket. For example, his three sixes in the last T20 match were awesome. Something which was mix of the technique with slog. Though the strokes were similar in style like Yusuf Pathan hitting it over boundary the style statement of Rahul made it more technical.

I always had a quarrel with one of my friends at Rajkot (Vishal Kothari) about Sachin and Dravid. (Though personally I feel there is no comparison. Both of them have their own way of playing. I am also a fan of Sachin but any blind follower of Sachin must admit that Consistency wise there is no match of Dravid). I admit that Sachin is the greatest player produced by India in the world of Cricket and I do not want to show Dravid superior than Sachin. But, personally I have always put Dravid ahead of any cricketer. I admit that Dravid does not have any attractive stroke play but he has classical drives to disturb any bowler in the world, I admit that he can not hit big sixes but, his capacity to play in gaps makes him a better player. His ability to stick to the wicket in Test cricket and score the runs was his greatest strength. You will rarely watch him getting out for a rash shot which you may find with any other cricketer.

I happened to read the article written by Dipak Solia (Editor of Aah Jindgi) in Divya Bhaskar about Sachin and Dravid. I was always the fan of Mr. Soliya's writing and by writing this article he has really made a special place in my mind. He describes Sachin as China and Rahul as India. He says that Sachin like China have attractive stork play but Dravid like India progresses slowly but steadily. He has critically written plus and minus of both great player and he has put in extra effort to make sure that he has never compared them. He says Sachin is No. 1 but Dravid is No.2  with a minor difference. A great article a must read for both Sachin's and Rahul's fan.

Rahul had a great life as a cricketer, he has a great cricketing mind and was a great slip fielder. I have always tried to incorporate his style in my batting (with a great failure) and I consider my self lucky to watch him playing cricket. Apart from being a good cricketer you can feel that Rahul is a great human being. You would never find any cricketer giving adverse remarks on him. I wish him best of his life and would be keen to see him playing the test cricket.

Good by Rahul.

Jan Lokpal Bill

Lokpal bill has been the topic of discussion from last few months. Many people are in dilemma whether to support Anna or not? However, why I am writing this is because I was listening to the Loksabha Session today evening and I was amazed by the comments made by some ministers like Shri Kapil Sibbal and Shri Chindambaram. No I am not against Congress or UPA government but, I would like to say something about the comments made by our honorable ministers [See I am talking the language of Loksabha]

1. Shri Kapil Sibbal said that, the protest done by Anna Hazzare is unconstitutional and the people of India will show the results in 2014. If they are really listening to the people of India can’t they see the outburst of every citizen who is coming out in support of the movement started by Anna. They must not forget that they are sitting in Loksabha because of these people only and hence, they have no right to say that something which is being done is unconstitutional. If they feel so just ignore what is happening and continue with what they have decided. He said that it is the right of the minister of the parliament to protest this movement with the hunger strike, if it is so, they are most welcome and we will see how many people are supporting Mr. Sibbal.
2. Mr. Chidambaram on the other hand justified the arrest of Anna stating some rules 107 and 153, saying that it is anticipatory detention to avoid the violence of section 144 (act of disturbing the peace) but, it is the step made by government (he claimed that it was the police of Delhi who have taken the decision and he was informed later) which lead to the disturbance in each and every corner of the nation. Who is to be blamed or arrested for the same? He quoted Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru stating that if hunger strike is the yardstick for such demand the one who can fast for longer days has the control in his hand has right to draft any bills or law. I am afraid Mr. Chidambaram I do not know in which context Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru had stated the statement but, you are quoting it in very wrong context. Gandhiji also took the road of fasting and when it came to make his point he always resorted to it. The Indian public is not totally senseless when it is supporting a person for his fast. If you want to test you can ask anybody to fast and check how many Indians are supporting the cause.
3. UPA had very tactfully and diplomatically tackled the issue Mr. Pranab Mukherjee talked about the modus operandi before clearing the bill. He said we invited CM of all the states to comment on the bill drafted by the committee, UPA had written letters to all party and after that only they have arrived at the bill. Well, each and every citizen knows the political person that they would never give their opinion on paper. They will always talk but nothing to be put up on record so that when it comes to differ they can do it very easily. UPA also knows this and they have picked up the right weapon to fight with political parties by asking them to provide written suggestions.

I am really unaware of the factual decision but my common sense says that whatever is going on Anna is not using any diplomatic way. He is making his points very clear and there are so many clean people supporting him. Against whom all the politicians are just playing with the words. I listened to some body saying in an TV interview that so many people are physically supporting the movement but, many are not able to support due to one or other reasons and supporting the movement mentally. I am also supporting the movement and hope that our great politicians would come to reality and leave the diplomacy behind and will agree to draft the lokpal bill which is effective. The bill that will not create another law which can be manipulated by many and can be implemented on the wish of the lawyer.

[ I am not the professional writer as well as reporter so I have written what I could understand from the talks on Loksabha session. If I have misinterpreted anybody it is purely unintentional]

Bhrastachar and Lokpal bill

Anna Hazzare, "The little old man with a great courage" has really took the government by surprise when he started his mission for Lokpal Bill. But the question is what would happen if the bill gets implemented ? Will corruption would seize ? I think corruption is flowing in our blood. May be a very strong statement but those who disagree may have to answer the following questions. If the answers to all of them is No you can be surely say that you are non corrupt person. Unfortunately I am not.

1. Have you ever bought some items without bill just to avoid the extra money to be paid as a tax?
2. Have you ever told the traffic police  "Bhai samji le ne"?
3. Have you ever bought the rail ticket or may be air line ticket through an agent?
4. Have you obtain your driving license through an agent?
5. Have you given something as a "token of love" to the police man for the passport inquiry ?
6. Have you ever claimed  any allowance which you have not spend?
7. Have you declared the entire portion of your income for the income tax ?
8. Have you or your child has obtain the admission on donation seat or have you given one time donation to any school?

My intension here is to highlight the corruption which we are supporting without knowing that this is also one type of corruption. Do not classify your above deeds as practical deeds. Understand that they also fall in the category of corruption.

One thing is certain that it will require a huge moral strength to say No to anything of the above the next time you come across but give a little try. If you can not execute the same at least next time when you observe some body not following the "practicality" support him/her and do not just say he/she is not "practical".

Non Striking End

Well, since the entire country is still not out of the hangover of the great world coup victory by MSD and co., the word Non striking end is not an alien.  It refers to the batsman standing on the other side of striking end. Why the title of the blog is so? The reason is that it reflects my nature. I have never been an initiator (though people around me may like to differ) but the fact is I have always waited for the things to happen on the other side and then have given my best response. The title has been inspired by the title of a book (may be written by Mr. Harsha Bhogle). I take very long time in executing the things. Just for an instance I thought of creating a blog may be two three years back but, I just kept on delaying it and in the mean time my friends have started sharing their ideas through this medium. Some of them are, Late Kartik Kaka, Parag, Ishan (Micky), Bhushan. I have commented on their blogs very regularly but some how failed to start my own blog. I thank all of them as they have acted as Catalyst for me and here I am writing my first blog.

I would try to express my feelings on the current topics and some other topics which I always wanted to share with all. So be ready for some fun, some hathodas, some serious talks and some lateral ideas. Be honest enough to comment.