India had vanquished the mighty Australia 2-0 in a four Test series with the other two ending in draw. Both the winning Tests had been captained by M.S. Dhoni, the first win at Mohali and then the last Test at Nagpur.
Media and pundits had written so much about Dhoni’s captaincy skills, motivatory abilities and winning strategies. He is developing into a solid cricketer and a quick thinking captain.
With the services of three of the fabulous four still available and with such wealth of talent in the country to assist him, Dhoni can rest assured. Here is all the best to him!
This blog is about the level headedness displayed by Dhoni in the last Test. In the last day of the Test (India was winning then), he went to Sourav Ganguly and tossed the ball to him and requested him to captain the side for one last time. The legendary Benagl Tiger, being in the last hour of the game, had already switched off and was amply surprised by the act of humaneness by Dhoni. It was indeed an appropriate gesture by Dhoni. Sourav had lead India with aplomb and had created a distinct identity for India in the annals of world cricket. Remembering that and paying tribute to him at the very last stages of his career in a befitting but innovative manner, Dhoni had won the heart of many.
The second instance was he inviting an already retired former captain Anil Kumble to join him in receiving the Border - Gavaskar trophy from the legendary former cricketing captains Alan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, in the award ceremony at the end of the Test. Anil having retired already, there was no need for Dhoni to have done that. But the goodness in Dhoni found a way of expressing his appreciation of Anil Kumble’s services to India by giving him the recognition due to him in front of spectators, media and officials, had won him everyone’s hearty appreciation.
Both the acts, a normal person would not have done. It is a human tendency to be selfish, particularly at winning moments. Normally the winner would like to take it all. Here is a lad who thinks otherwise. It requires real attitude to do that. The attitude of gratitude! Only people with such attitude can rise above petty thinking to do what Dhoni had done. It is indeed good for the country and the game of Cricket to have a leader like him
India can smile, for its cricket is in safe hands. This man will lead the country to the greatest of heights. He had begun well as a captain in twenty- twenty. He is doing well and in time to come, he could take India to super status, a status that was enjoyed by Australia in the immediate past.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, you had endeared yourself to the country and everyone attached to the game, across the world. You kept the spirit of competitiveness and humility together.
India salutes the levelheaded Dhoni!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
REMINISCENCE OF AN UNRECIPROCATED ACT OF KINDNESS
She was always seen in a white saree, mostly with the pallav covering her head, like a true Kerala Muslim lady of those days (four decades back), quite unlike the ones with borrowed fundamentalism displayed today. She was the lady of the house of a rich aristocratic Muslim household in our village with huge land and properties.
Never had I seen sadness in her face, for I had seen her so many times, even when she lost her very dear grandson who was 2 years old. The face always showed equanimity, never indifference. It was a sweet, positive, fair face. It always showed a concern for others but never with an an emotional shadow. Her face and her attire had a sense of calmness around them; more for the benefit of the people around her, for it calmed them beyond reasons.
For a long duration of time, we were dependant on her. We called her “Umma” that's what Muslim children in our village addressed their mothers. She was indeed an eternal mother, Umma or Amma, whatever one called.
The complete supply of rice, coconut and firewood for our home came from her side, at a cost, of course. But it always used to be substantially lower than the market price. Every week practically one of us brothers would reach her house. We traveled not through the main route, but we criss-crossed through properties of others. Those properties were not boundary-walled but had small shrubs planted at the boundary to make one understand the extent to which one's property existed. Her house had two components, the modern terraced one in the front and the old tharavadu (ancestral) house in the back. Surely, the two were interconnected. The action was always at the rear, the tharavadu house. The kitchen was there, so was the dining area. The house was full of servant maids, all of them Muslim women from nearby poor families. They came in the morning and left by dusk. They ate at least two meals there. Most of them carried food home for their children. Umma allowed it and she never forbade them, for she knew of the many hungry, innocent small boys and girls, waiting for their mother to return home by the sunset, to devour the rich tasty & fried delicacies that their mother made for Umma's family. It was a daily affair.
I would reach the thalam - open verandah at the rear - that the tharavad had, and would stand their for a while. Soon one of the servants would announce me to Umma “ lo, the teacher's son is here'. Umma will ask the servant to bring my basket in. Minutes later the servant would come back to us with the basket full of rice that was cultivated in Umma’s paddy filed. The rice amounted to 10 KG. Most of the time, I would say 'coconut too'. She will go back and come with 6 coconuts. I would put the coconut too in the basket, take the basket on the head and walk back home. We always bought on credit. My mother would meet Umma every month and settle the bills. Umma never kept the accounts and she always went by the statement reported by my mother. Never had she questioned the statement of my mother.
On the rear of the house, they had a compound wall. Outside it, there was the big guava tree always full of ripe big fruits. Many times, when I came out of the thalam and beyond the wall, I would stop; keep the basket aside and climb the guava tree to pluck the fruits. At times, through her window, Umma could see me but she would not say anything and that equanimous face never frightened me. I would pluck sufficient fruits, jump down, take the basket on the head walk back home, criss – crossing through the same properties, biting and chewing the guava fruit all along.
For considerably long time, we were the beneficiaries of Umma's kindness. She always encouraged us to study and helpfully never increased the price of rice, coconut and firewood that she supplied to us, though at the market outside, the prices had soared multifold. However, never did she make our family feel that we were under her benevolence (actually we were). I consider it as a Godly trait. In many ways, it was to be: in the white saree she wore, in the equanimity in her face, in the positivity that she emanated, the calmness she made us feel in ourselves, the help she rendered was truly God like. Though time went by (almost four decades now), I am fully convinced that she truly was a manifestation or Avatar born to help families in hardship, such as mine.
We did not get the opportunity to reciprocate the kindness that she had bestowed on us. She never expected it. Umma never needed it either.
Viewed from the constricted religious perspective of today's world, it may look strange to have a relationship as explained above, between a Muslim aristocratic family and an average middle class Hindu household. True help rendered without any expectation in return. A silent delivery of help and a dutiful acceptance of the same. In time to come, rarely will one find such relationships existing, due to the narrow-minded selfishness of people and due to intra-community pressures. But having gone through such a long-term experience and understanding it’s significance in these changed times, gratitude for this saintly person overflows within me, making me everlastingly indebted.
Also, I earn to see the world to go back in time to give away such wonderful examples of give and take.
I doubt if it will happen again, ever !
Never had I seen sadness in her face, for I had seen her so many times, even when she lost her very dear grandson who was 2 years old. The face always showed equanimity, never indifference. It was a sweet, positive, fair face. It always showed a concern for others but never with an an emotional shadow. Her face and her attire had a sense of calmness around them; more for the benefit of the people around her, for it calmed them beyond reasons.
For a long duration of time, we were dependant on her. We called her “Umma” that's what Muslim children in our village addressed their mothers. She was indeed an eternal mother, Umma or Amma, whatever one called.
The complete supply of rice, coconut and firewood for our home came from her side, at a cost, of course. But it always used to be substantially lower than the market price. Every week practically one of us brothers would reach her house. We traveled not through the main route, but we criss-crossed through properties of others. Those properties were not boundary-walled but had small shrubs planted at the boundary to make one understand the extent to which one's property existed. Her house had two components, the modern terraced one in the front and the old tharavadu (ancestral) house in the back. Surely, the two were interconnected. The action was always at the rear, the tharavadu house. The kitchen was there, so was the dining area. The house was full of servant maids, all of them Muslim women from nearby poor families. They came in the morning and left by dusk. They ate at least two meals there. Most of them carried food home for their children. Umma allowed it and she never forbade them, for she knew of the many hungry, innocent small boys and girls, waiting for their mother to return home by the sunset, to devour the rich tasty & fried delicacies that their mother made for Umma's family. It was a daily affair.
I would reach the thalam - open verandah at the rear - that the tharavad had, and would stand their for a while. Soon one of the servants would announce me to Umma “ lo, the teacher's son is here'. Umma will ask the servant to bring my basket in. Minutes later the servant would come back to us with the basket full of rice that was cultivated in Umma’s paddy filed. The rice amounted to 10 KG. Most of the time, I would say 'coconut too'. She will go back and come with 6 coconuts. I would put the coconut too in the basket, take the basket on the head and walk back home. We always bought on credit. My mother would meet Umma every month and settle the bills. Umma never kept the accounts and she always went by the statement reported by my mother. Never had she questioned the statement of my mother.
On the rear of the house, they had a compound wall. Outside it, there was the big guava tree always full of ripe big fruits. Many times, when I came out of the thalam and beyond the wall, I would stop; keep the basket aside and climb the guava tree to pluck the fruits. At times, through her window, Umma could see me but she would not say anything and that equanimous face never frightened me. I would pluck sufficient fruits, jump down, take the basket on the head walk back home, criss – crossing through the same properties, biting and chewing the guava fruit all along.
For considerably long time, we were the beneficiaries of Umma's kindness. She always encouraged us to study and helpfully never increased the price of rice, coconut and firewood that she supplied to us, though at the market outside, the prices had soared multifold. However, never did she make our family feel that we were under her benevolence (actually we were). I consider it as a Godly trait. In many ways, it was to be: in the white saree she wore, in the equanimity in her face, in the positivity that she emanated, the calmness she made us feel in ourselves, the help she rendered was truly God like. Though time went by (almost four decades now), I am fully convinced that she truly was a manifestation or Avatar born to help families in hardship, such as mine.
We did not get the opportunity to reciprocate the kindness that she had bestowed on us. She never expected it. Umma never needed it either.
Viewed from the constricted religious perspective of today's world, it may look strange to have a relationship as explained above, between a Muslim aristocratic family and an average middle class Hindu household. True help rendered without any expectation in return. A silent delivery of help and a dutiful acceptance of the same. In time to come, rarely will one find such relationships existing, due to the narrow-minded selfishness of people and due to intra-community pressures. But having gone through such a long-term experience and understanding it’s significance in these changed times, gratitude for this saintly person overflows within me, making me everlastingly indebted.
Also, I earn to see the world to go back in time to give away such wonderful examples of give and take.
I doubt if it will happen again, ever !
Friday, November 7, 2008
BARACK OBAMA – THE MAKING OF A LEADER
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: that all men are created equal " In 1963, Martin Luther King spoke of his dream for the benefit of his black and colored brethren in America.
Though it took long (many thought it would never happen), the dream has come good. By February next year the caravan of African American Barack Hussein Obama will hit Pennsylvania Avenue at Washington to stake the claim for the president-ship of America and occupy the White House, the single most seat of power and supremacy in the entire world.
May be then, we could call the presidential house: ‘Black house’, why not?
47 year old President Elect Barack Obama is a classic case of hybridism and diversity. His father was a Kenyan Muslim who later became an atheist. His mother Ann Dunham’s lineage comes from Native American, English and German ancestry. It looks as if Ann Dunham had a penchant for Muslims, as both her husbands (African Barack Obama Sr. & Asian Lolo Soetoro) were Muslims. Barack Obama’s step dad was of royal Indonesian ancestry and a Muslim by faith. His half sister Maya who is settled in Hawaii, is a Buddhist married to Canadian Chinese whose roots are in Malaysia. His half brothers and sisters through his father are living in Kenya, China, and England & America. His stepmother Jael (his dad’s fourth and last wife) lived long years in South Korea before reaching US to settle down. The list of the diversity is endless. The moot point is that it can happen only in the melting pot called United States of America, nowhere else. Only in US today can a migrant or his generation next aspires to become the head of the State. Rest of the world hasn’t grown up to reach that maturity yet. It wasn’t far when the king makers in US decided to have only a Protestant Christian, that too only white to have the right to sit on the gaddi. Indeed profound changes are happening in US.
Changes in the US are harbinger to the changes that would happen to the world. Today USA is indeed in a bad shape. It is standing against the wall and has its hands up. Rest of the countries of the world is truly focused on the developments in America, because the fate of all other countries is directly linked to the fate of America. George Bush had truly messed up the country economically and politically. Its foreign affairs smacks of authoritarianism and muscle power and lack finesse that is expected of a large mature democracy. No one can envy Obama. As the 44th President of US, he is going to inherit a country with an economy that is completely in shambles.
A lawyer by qualification, Barack Obama taught part time in the Chicago University Law School for about twelve years. He also worked in a Law firm. While teaching, he also became the State Senator of Illinois. At the appropriate time, he contested to the US Senate, representing Illinois and had the rare distinction to be a black Senator that too relatively younger. As a senator he was fresher and an inexperienced one. In the Democratic convention in 2004, the then Presidential candidate John Kerry gave him the podium to address and the speech endeared him to the party and people. The presidential aspirations of Barack Obama took shape then and he never needed to look back. The road ahead was rough and tough. He needed to ward of the great efforts of the determined Senator, Hilary Clinton (with full assistance from her former US president husband) to become the Democrat’s presidential nominee. The widely accepted and heavily decorated John McCain and his glamorous running mate Sarah Palin tried their best to beat him down with a negative campaign and he did not wither. And he won with a thumping majority to be the President of United State of America, beginning 2009.
If you trace back the life and times of Obama, you will realize that he had been preparing for the position all through his life. All his decisions in life and career were taken with a consideration of this aspect. He never wanted to be controversial. He also ensured not to carry the burden of the past. He did not want any skeleton in his cupboard. Because of this, many times, his associates saw a reluctant Obama when serious extreme issues were taken up. It looked like he would want to join the issue but he will bite his tongue. While he led people, student and his followers to debate, he never took an extreme position in any of the issues. Though he empathized with the poor, the minorities and the down trodden, he has never taken a tough stand as having done by Martin Luther King Jr. Therefore it needs to be seen how effective would Obama be when serious issues related to minorities, hunger and health reach his table for decisions. Or, wanting to be goody goody, will he stay at the middle path?
Obama knew that in America, it is possible for person of his background to aspire to be the president. He convinced himself and the American public that he could lead the change that America desperately needs. He mastered his oratory skills. His books, writings and speeches were very motivatory. He never coveted extreme cushy jobs and positions. He let go many opportunities that came in his direction to raise his living style. Within his means, he lived a decent life. And he bided his time. All through, you will notice that he had perfect sense of timing in his life and career. And then people say he was lucky too (?!).
Most of the religions speak of avatars or God’s representatives happening on mother earth from time to time, to mitigate her problems. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son Jesus to it to redeem it at its time of need. It is expected that he may come again. Bhagwan Krishna had taken many avatars from time to time to redress the world’s challenges (Sambhavami yuge yuge). Prophet Mohammed Nabi led his brethren and consolidated the framework of Islam religion. Bhagwan Buddha, Varhdhamana Mahavira, Guru Gobind singh…. the list is long and plenty.
I am not trying to portray Barack Obama as an avatar. But it needs an avatar to bring America back to its glory. There is a genuine, warm and concerned human being lurking inside him. He could bring it out to be the world most compassionate leader. Or, he could continue the synthetic image that he had created for himself to traverse the road to presidency. It is up to Obama. Time will tell whether he became an avatar or he ended up being an also ran!
Though it took long (many thought it would never happen), the dream has come good. By February next year the caravan of African American Barack Hussein Obama will hit Pennsylvania Avenue at Washington to stake the claim for the president-ship of America and occupy the White House, the single most seat of power and supremacy in the entire world.
May be then, we could call the presidential house: ‘Black house’, why not?
47 year old President Elect Barack Obama is a classic case of hybridism and diversity. His father was a Kenyan Muslim who later became an atheist. His mother Ann Dunham’s lineage comes from Native American, English and German ancestry. It looks as if Ann Dunham had a penchant for Muslims, as both her husbands (African Barack Obama Sr. & Asian Lolo Soetoro) were Muslims. Barack Obama’s step dad was of royal Indonesian ancestry and a Muslim by faith. His half sister Maya who is settled in Hawaii, is a Buddhist married to Canadian Chinese whose roots are in Malaysia. His half brothers and sisters through his father are living in Kenya, China, and England & America. His stepmother Jael (his dad’s fourth and last wife) lived long years in South Korea before reaching US to settle down. The list of the diversity is endless. The moot point is that it can happen only in the melting pot called United States of America, nowhere else. Only in US today can a migrant or his generation next aspires to become the head of the State. Rest of the world hasn’t grown up to reach that maturity yet. It wasn’t far when the king makers in US decided to have only a Protestant Christian, that too only white to have the right to sit on the gaddi. Indeed profound changes are happening in US.
Changes in the US are harbinger to the changes that would happen to the world. Today USA is indeed in a bad shape. It is standing against the wall and has its hands up. Rest of the countries of the world is truly focused on the developments in America, because the fate of all other countries is directly linked to the fate of America. George Bush had truly messed up the country economically and politically. Its foreign affairs smacks of authoritarianism and muscle power and lack finesse that is expected of a large mature democracy. No one can envy Obama. As the 44th President of US, he is going to inherit a country with an economy that is completely in shambles.
A lawyer by qualification, Barack Obama taught part time in the Chicago University Law School for about twelve years. He also worked in a Law firm. While teaching, he also became the State Senator of Illinois. At the appropriate time, he contested to the US Senate, representing Illinois and had the rare distinction to be a black Senator that too relatively younger. As a senator he was fresher and an inexperienced one. In the Democratic convention in 2004, the then Presidential candidate John Kerry gave him the podium to address and the speech endeared him to the party and people. The presidential aspirations of Barack Obama took shape then and he never needed to look back. The road ahead was rough and tough. He needed to ward of the great efforts of the determined Senator, Hilary Clinton (with full assistance from her former US president husband) to become the Democrat’s presidential nominee. The widely accepted and heavily decorated John McCain and his glamorous running mate Sarah Palin tried their best to beat him down with a negative campaign and he did not wither. And he won with a thumping majority to be the President of United State of America, beginning 2009.
If you trace back the life and times of Obama, you will realize that he had been preparing for the position all through his life. All his decisions in life and career were taken with a consideration of this aspect. He never wanted to be controversial. He also ensured not to carry the burden of the past. He did not want any skeleton in his cupboard. Because of this, many times, his associates saw a reluctant Obama when serious extreme issues were taken up. It looked like he would want to join the issue but he will bite his tongue. While he led people, student and his followers to debate, he never took an extreme position in any of the issues. Though he empathized with the poor, the minorities and the down trodden, he has never taken a tough stand as having done by Martin Luther King Jr. Therefore it needs to be seen how effective would Obama be when serious issues related to minorities, hunger and health reach his table for decisions. Or, wanting to be goody goody, will he stay at the middle path?
Obama knew that in America, it is possible for person of his background to aspire to be the president. He convinced himself and the American public that he could lead the change that America desperately needs. He mastered his oratory skills. His books, writings and speeches were very motivatory. He never coveted extreme cushy jobs and positions. He let go many opportunities that came in his direction to raise his living style. Within his means, he lived a decent life. And he bided his time. All through, you will notice that he had perfect sense of timing in his life and career. And then people say he was lucky too (?!).
Most of the religions speak of avatars or God’s representatives happening on mother earth from time to time, to mitigate her problems. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son Jesus to it to redeem it at its time of need. It is expected that he may come again. Bhagwan Krishna had taken many avatars from time to time to redress the world’s challenges (Sambhavami yuge yuge). Prophet Mohammed Nabi led his brethren and consolidated the framework of Islam religion. Bhagwan Buddha, Varhdhamana Mahavira, Guru Gobind singh…. the list is long and plenty.
I am not trying to portray Barack Obama as an avatar. But it needs an avatar to bring America back to its glory. There is a genuine, warm and concerned human being lurking inside him. He could bring it out to be the world most compassionate leader. Or, he could continue the synthetic image that he had created for himself to traverse the road to presidency. It is up to Obama. Time will tell whether he became an avatar or he ended up being an also ran!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
