King's Speech

If you haven't watched the movie "King's Speech" which won four oscars, please do so whenever you get a chance. The movie is about a head of state, who would go to any length to prove worthy to his subjects expectation. He is not a prime minister and could have chosen to live a comfortable life without much caring what people would think about him. He was not supposedly accountable for day to day affairs, and it was upto to him to decide whether to overcome the disabilities he had or to live happily with disabilities ignoring sentiments of masses. The story revolves around his disabilities. At the beginning of a war, he was supposed to address the nation. People think he is a source of strength to them and he decides that he cannot afford to make people lose faith in him.
And surely, he does everything possible to rise in the public eyes and in the eyes of his family.
Watching the movie, I was sad and upset on the kings and queens we have, in a supposedly democratic country, which give a damn to stand truthful in the public esteem and hardly care about the people's expectation from them.

..... to be continued...

John Barry's compositions are forever

Nancy Sinatra's rendering of that song made you shut yourself in a dark room and lose yourself in the trails of menace and sentiments. That was the magic of music from James Bond films. Thanks to John Barry, the composer of those Bond songs.
John Barry, died at the age of 77 yesterday etching in time a score that echoes diamonds are forever. Though it was Monty Norman who composed the Original bond themes, the one that was used in main and end titles. Barry, was the one who arranged it, and later gave it all kinds of variations one could imagine.
-- just for knowledge.. not getting rhythm today.. will write more tomorrow.

Arab revolt and anonymity of the protagonist

What had started in Tunisia, is not over yet. Tunisia, a beautiful tourist place in North Africa is in headlines these days, not for its natural beauty but for the revolution going there. The contagious street protests spread to Algeria and Morocco (on Tunisia's west) and to Egypt and Libya (on Tunisia's east). Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarrak are gone, and Gaddafi hasn't gone still, but looks weakened. The popular discontent against political power structures shows no sign of abating. The protest has spread in gulf and tension is started in Pakistan too.
Social uprising and resultant overthrown of government are not new. The first and probably the most decisive revolution was started in early seventies in Gdansk, a city in Poland. the man who started it all, Walesa won Noble prize in year 1983 and became the president of poland in 1990.
What characterizes the current Arab ferment is the clear absence of the identifiable leader. There are thousands of people out at Tahrir square fighting against current government. But there is not a single person making speech or governing the complete mass of people as well as revolution. Neither Gaddari, Mubarrak nor Ali has been able to identify whom to take into control to stop this revolution. But, even without a leader, this revolution seems to be making a decisive impact.

What a game!! India v/s England world cup 2011

In the end it was a fair end result. I cannot say that MS Dhoni team India deserved to win. Despite the very very special knock by Sachin tendulkar, the deady third spell by Zahir Khan and despite scoring mammoth 338. At present, we do not look to defend any total. But the good news is that our weekness is exposed in a non- knock out matches. they can still be rectified.
To begin with let's give england their due.
At first I would admire england team for their brilliant display of cricket. Andrew Straus is playing like a dream. 338 or any other target looked chase able, the way he was batting. England being the second best after India is improving with every game.
I believe MS Dhoni lacks guts and imagination. he should think and learn from the past matches that India has played in this world cup. Our bowling attack is an area of my first concern. Look at Australia, how they had guts to go for three fast bowlers to balance their side. I am not saying that choosing Piyush Chawla for the 49th over was the wrong dscision. He was the only specialized bowler at that time. I believe that R Ashwin is a bowler on which Dhoni can trust more. He is a kind of bowler that batmen find difficult to get away. Even Munaf patel, who is doing exceeding well and good with old ball, can replace Ashwin after 10 overs.
Suresh Raina is a kind of player that we should take into playing 11. He can be devastating at time and is a good part time bowler as well. Though on sunday he did not glow up to the mark in field.
That means, we have to choose between Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan. Virat is his best form of his life. Pathan, I am not sure. However, we need a player who can go against bowlers like lee, anderson and can bowl 8-10 odd overs. And I dont see Virat has this capability.
Look at Pakistan, they are improving with each game under the captaincy of Shahid Afradi. They are my one of the favorites in ICC cup 2011. I can India, Srilanka, Pakistan, and Australia as teams to qualify for next round. Although Srilank lost against Bangladesh but that is because they were playing without Malinga.

Budget 2011

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee involved Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Indra in his budget message. But more than the rain god, he should have chanted one more name: "Jai bolo spectrum maharaj ki". It was 3G spectrum which helped Pranab Mukherjee to desist from attempting to raise resources from higher taxation. In fact, this also allowed tax exemption limit to raise from 1.6L to 1.8L. This helped to buoy the stock market which would have otherwise tanked given poor sentiments before the budget.
The bonanza from the 3G spectrum sales has not only enabled Pranab keep his promise of lowering the rates, more importantly buttress his image as a good economic administrator.
Otherwise, of course the budget really does not have anything major. Those who listened to the speech of TV would have noticed that the energy in the voice was missing. The expectations from the budget were more that what it was presented. Pranab Mukherjee started the budget with a long speech on future projects and developments with major focus on states like West Bengal, Tamil, Kerala. Anyone could make from the speech that primary focus was on 2014 elections. A lot of being talked to improve the agriculture/firm conditions in India but nothing has done so far. The green revolution concept which should be implemented ages ago was discussed in this budget 2011.

Break ke baad: Sachine and India: Tales of two growth stories

1990s was the time when Indian economy started to rise. It was the time of VCRs, walkman, Maruti 800. The camera needed a roll film, there was only one Bachchan, Air india was making money and NRI uncle was treated as VIPs. It was also an era of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
If Manmohan Singh broke the shackles of Indian economy, the same happened on the cricket field through the bulky bat of 5 foot 5 batsman with a squeaky voice and the most vicious on drive ever. Tendulkar, with his middle-class upbringing reached where one man had gone before.
As economy began its majestic rise, the nation saw hope in this genuis from indian cricket capital. Finally we had a player who went after the impossible. If gavaskar was the man who staved off defeat, sachin was the podigy who always eyed victory. Cowed down for several years finally we had a player who gave the opposition a taste their own medicine. It was time for India to hit back, whether in business or on cricket pitch and we did, with aplomb.

love

The heart wants what it wants
It ignores the pain of old haunts
Even with the pain it seeks still
For someone to love and help it heal

Oh foolish heart, can't you see
True love may not be meant for thee
I wrap you in ice to make you cold
And still you look for someone to hold

The heart ignores the deep wounds
Always reaching for love too soon
Nevermind the scars it will bear
Only wanting its love to share

Oh you fickle heart please refrain
My mind can only take so much pain
I build up the wall so high
but you knock it down with just a sigh

The heart has learned to forgive
Longing only to love and live
Forgetting the hurt in its past
Always searching for a love that will last

Oh poor broken little heart
Can't you see you are falling apart?
I can't deny you the happiness you seek
To be gained only by a love that is deep

So go forth, sweet heart
Find the love you sought from the start
I remove the wall of ice and stone
And I hope you can find us a home