Sachin Tendulkar – A Blazing Start And A Carnival Finish

Sachin Tendulkar – A Blazing Start And A Carnival Finish

At the start of his career, the `man` in him conquered the `boy` who was bleeding from his nose, and almost two-and-a-half decades later, Sachin left the field with millions of fans bleeding in their hearts and holding on to their tears.

Few sportspersons, if any, in the world would have been handed a script that Sachin Tendulakr received. It all started twenty four years ago in Pakistan, where he suffered an almost career damaging blow on his nose as a tender sixteen-year-old. However, the `man` in him conquered the `boy` who was bleeding from his nose, and almost two-and-a-half decades later, Sachin left the field with millions of fans bleeding in their hearts and holding on to their tears.

Every brick of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 16, 2013, would have recorded for posterity the emotional words that Sachin uttered during his farewell speech. The speech too was delivered with the same passion, precision and spontaneity as the runs that flowed from his bat. Communication skills and Public Speaking trainers from around the world would have noted and stored the speech as part of their training architecture.

In my lifetime I have seen extraordinary cricketers from around the world come and go – Gavaskar, Richards, Imran, Botham, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee – to just name a few. But cannot remember any one of them being given such a sendoff by a nation. It was as if Sachin was to be the last of the legends to serenade the cricket field. It almost seemed like the country wanted to celebrate his achievements by creating a carnival atmosphere which would last in their memories for at least another twenty five years, whereby they can continue to retain the Sachin magic deep within them and cherish his `guiding` presence in their lives.

Of course, Sachin benefited from the media exposure which retiring legends before him did not have an advantage of. Yet, to see an entire country being consumed by as routine an event as sporting retirement was incredible to say the least. It is unfathomable that such a gala finish to a career can be achieved simply through human orchestrations. You can surely influence but a few hearts through marketing gimmicks, but such a spontaneous outpouring of emotions for a man whose role modeling abilities are incomparable can be manifested only through divine will. That Sachin is Destiny's Child was always known, and substantially proven in the last few weeks of his colossal career.

To top it all, the government, under fire on many issues, for a change got a Thumbs Up from the entire nation by its timing of the Bharat Ratna announcement. If at all there was any missing link in his career – the statistics are mind boggling: 200 tests, 450+ ODIs, 100 international hundreds, over 30,000 international runs – the Bharat Ratna fulfilled it. If at any moment in the last few weeks Sachin felt really sad at moving out of the game that he so dearly loves, the Bharat Ratna announcement would have put those feelings to rest, as nothing at all in our country gets bigger than this in terms of recognition.

The fact that Sachin redefined the benchmarks set for individual excellence in the game of cricket, and in the process created and sustained mass frenzy for such a long period of time -- even though there was a period when a fickle minded nation questioned his abilities post the 2007 World Cup disaster – is itself a wonder and testimony to the vast reservoir of Genius as well as Resilience that lies within him.

As this blog is intended as a celebration of his career, I have refrained from deriving the various lessons that Sachin's batsmanship and cricketing genius offer to far lesser mortals like us. I surely intend to share my perspectives from that angle another day. But suffice it to say that every bit of what Sachin achieved and the manner in which he achieved them has long standing lessons not just for our country but humanity.

It is said – and rightly so – that no individual is ever greater than the game. Sachin was the only one who came close to upsetting that theory. But thankfully – and I say thankfully because the Universal Principles of life cannot be tampered with or tweaked around – Sachin left the game, to my mind, as a Supreme Mortal, and not as God, by elevating the human cricketing excellence consciousness to a level none before him had ever done.

The game for a while will feel a deep void as another aspirant inherits the hallowed Number 4 position in test matches, but the game has a way of eeking out geniuses from the masses, and surely another Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will present himself to the world. Hopefully, this time too, it will happen in India.

For the moment, for one more time, Thank You Sachin. We Will Miss Your Presence On The Cricket Field!

Gavaskar And Tendulkar

Gavaskar And Tendulkar

What Gavaskar left behind in terms of cricketing excellence, Sachin simply expanded and reinvented. While Gavaskar was a product of the pre-economic liberalisation era, Tendulkar arrived at the cusp of a new dawn in the socio-economic-political context of India.

As Sachin Tendulkar's epic career draws to a close, it is worthwhile reflecting on what the legacies of the sporting superstar before him Sunil Gavaskar and his mean to Indian cricket. An immediate point of course is that both for long carried the vast expectations of the nation – of course Sachin had to shoulder a MUCH LARGER share – and for a substantial part of their careers were seen as lone warhorses of their teams.

When Gavaskar retired, many asked, `who next?` A couple of years into his retirement, and a young Sachin Tendulkar, whom you could easily have mistaken as a spectator trespassing on to the cricket field if you were a cricket novice, strode on to the ground with appropriate cricket gear but at an `inappropriate` age to take on the might of bowlers like Waqar Younis and Imran Khan. Over close to a quarter century, Sachin fulfilled both promise and expectations, which is incredible to say the least.

What Gavaskar left behind in terms of cricketing excellence, Sachin simply expanded and reinvented. While Gavaskar was a product of the pre-economic liberalisation era, Tendulkar arrived at the cusp of a new dawn in the socio-economic-political context of India. While Gavaskar had already shown many cricketers the way forward in terms of leading a post-retirement life, Sachin simply grabbed at the opportunities a liberalised India threw at him through the sheer weight of his performances. If Gavaskar associated with brands, Tendulkar bacame a brand himself.

Gavaskar fundamentally brought pride to the Indian psyche, which Tendulkar elevated and internalised at a level which few could match. Gavaskar's legacy lay in the way he positioned India to the world not only through his cricketing exploits, but also by the way he projected his pride of being an Indian. Gavaskar carried the self belief torch as an ambassador of `self doubting` Indians by simply putting up the runs at a pace which was appropriate for the times and on his own terms. But just around the time he hung his boots to become the `Voice of India`, in which role too for over two decades now he has kept the Indian pride at a high, the country needed a role model who could represent the very new and virbrant India that was being shaped.

Sachin in a way simply snatched the baton from Gavaskar, as there was hardly any time to pass it on as such, and created a colossus which the world will forever cherish and also look back and wonder. If Gavaskar in a way pioneered the Indian craze for records by creating one milestone after the other – Sachin redefined `records` and continuously kept setting new benchmarks. He ultimately reached a peak of a hundred international 100s, which is astounding for the human mind to comprehend, even after it has been achieved.

In this respect too, Gavaskar showed the way, as he was the first ever to score 10,000 runs in test match cricket. While many great players later joined the 10,000 club, he set the world's second best cricketing benchmark after the Don's batting average. To term the achievements of these two gentlemen as simply `Excellent` would be a huge understatement, and a reflection of the limitations of a language to fully comprehend the saga of such accomplishments.

While Tendulkar cannot exactly be termed as a protege of Gavaskar, but he imbibed the technique and balance of the original Little Master. Tendulkar in a way answered the imaginations of cricket connoisseurs who fantasised about a player who could have the balance of Gavaskar, the audacity of Richards and the all round ability of a Sobers. Incredibly, as if to say, nature bestows you with what you ask for, all three legends of their craft, found expression in one man – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Though Sachin cannot be termed as an all rounder like Sobers, he carried all-round ability, and could turn the ball square apart from hitting perfectly good balls square.

The inter-connection between Gavaskar and Tendulkar also has infinite worth in terms of their comparison with Don Bradman. While in terms of batting exploits, both could never come even remotely close to the average the Don had at the end of his career, there were other benchmarks set by the Don to be breached. While Gavaskar was the first to go past the Don in terms of number of test centuries, Sachin became the all time highest test century maker, and incredibly even attained the magical figure of 50 centuries. The Don felt Sachin played like him, a tribute lesser mortals can only dream of getting.

In terms of poignant test match batting too, they both played their epic innings in a losing cause against arch rivals Pakistan. While Gavaskar played his last test match innings on a very difficult pitch against Pakistan at Bangalore, in which he scored 96, Tendulkar scored a memorable 100 in Chennai. While the Bangalore test handed Pakistan a historic series win in India, the Chennai loss created a pain which was as close to the one inflicted by Javed Miandad when he hit Chetan Sharma for a last ball six in the 1986 one day tournament final at Sharjah.

Both Gavaskar and Tendulkar in their careers were also part of World Cup winning teams. Interestingly, India won a World Cup title long, long after Gavaskar had retired. It took a Tendulkar to break the jinx after India won the 1983 World Cup. It is significant to note the change in context that while the 1983 team `shocked` the nation by winning the world cup, the 2011 team would have `shocked` if it had not won the title. So, while Gavaskar and his teammates in 1983 engineered the beginning of a cricketing revolution in the country, Sachin and his teammates elevated the craze and cash associated with cricket to dizzying levels.

As the Sun sets on Sachin's career, it can be said that he perhaps fulfilled the unfulfilled potential of Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, who, people of my generation will recollect, had started emerging as a powerful one day batsman too towards the end of his career. Tendulkar went on to become the world's best one day batsman, and probably simply built on an idea that Gavaskar had embraced towards the fag end of his career.

There is also a geographical synergy of course. Both lived and played in Mumbai and for Mumbai, and rose to become cricketing icons of the nation.

Who is going to take their legacies forward now? The script is still being written. So, we will wait and watch.

The Magic Of The `Normal`

The Magic Of The `Normal`

The purpose of life is also to wonder at the magic of living normally. Humans struggle to not struggle, but this behaviour is far removed from nature's effortless bestowing of abundance which suggests struggle is just a misunderstanding and not a real fate.

Life is vast and imperceivable. Therefore, reflecting on the various aspects and dynamics of life can be a full time activity. Yet, at the end of it all you may have just scratched the surface and discovered very little of the incomprehensible creativity it presents.

But a vast number of people go about life so normally, simply trying to stitch the daily pieces of their life together, wondering more at the struggles of their chores than wonder at the beauty and expansiveness of living. There are so many things in our life we take for granted, as if it was the limited human mind that actually constructed and planted the vast life architecture.

The Oceans, the Mountains, the Jungles, the Plants, and Nature as a whole have not been conceived by the human mind. They for aeons have been `mute but alert` witnesses to the vagaries as well as the creativity of creation. Human behaviour however, conditioned by both explicable as well as inexplicable forces, has been less fascinated by the magic of creation and more overwhelmed by the pressures of doing and surviving.

I for one however find it fascinating that in the human sphere where so much thought is put into living, a large part of what we `do` has also evolved naturally without human effort. Our physical growth, our rhythmic breathing which keeps us alive, our comprehension abilities and so much more happen without our conscious intervention. The very fact that we go through life `normally` without having to manufacture ourselves consciously every single day fascinates me no end.

The physical body, with which we spend the maximum time in our life, is a gargantuan divine idea, which is beyond human mental and emotional comprehension. Our life is inconceivable without relating our consciousness to the body, and yet we know very little of what goes inside every second. It appears as if God created a gross human body to challenge the human mind and spirit to transcend its malleability and connect to the subtle, invisible force which actually manifests the body as `energy-matter`, and realize that, not at the end, but at the beginning itself, it was always a matter of energy and energy alone.

It is so normal to be philosophical, but within the dimensions of philosophy lies this amazing architectural core of the life force which generates, sustains and expands the concept of life. It is so normal to eat everyday, and digest effortlessly everyday, but it is worth reflecting that we have no clue how the whole process of digestion happens without our conscious alignment of processes.

It is indeed `magical` that we think we do, when actually we hardly have any control over the force of our living, and even dying. Perhaps, within that `ego` lies a deep rooted belief that we are the creators and therefore, it is a natural way of expressing ourselves unconsciously regarding processes about which we lack conscious awareness.

It is a wonder too that I can express myself in this blog by framing words and sentence structures which are complex and perhaps even essential. After all, writing a blog is so normal, but it is not uncommon for me to feel fascinated by what I have written when I re-read some of my stuff later, wondering how the words could have flown out of my intellectual reservoirs in such pointed ways.

Life, death and whatever lies in between and after are truly normal, but what is not normal is our response to the abundance that life bestows on us every single minute of our lives. Life is truly magical. It carries in its bosom the possibility of impossibility, suspense of certainty and creativity of the yet unfinished creative agenda of God. It does not appear to me God is done and dusted with his creation program. He has just let loose his ideas on both the world as well as on human beings, who he has bestowed with the maximum comprehension ability and connectivity to his designs.

The purpose of life is also to wonder at the magic of living normally. Humans struggle to not struggle, but this behaviour is far removed from nature's effortless bestowing of abundance which suggests struggle is just a misunderstanding and not a real fate.

So, let us all revel in the world of wonderment even as we go through the process of life in a so called normal way. 

Confessions Of A Bathroom Singer

Confessions Of A Bathroom Singer

In a way, the bathroom symbolises celebration, a celebration of temporary liberation from the mundane yet intensely responsibility-driven world. My first reaction to marking this celebration is to break into one of my favourite Hindi film numbers, with the accompanying sound of the running water, the bucket and the mug which serve as a loyal orchestra band.

The bathroom in our lives provides just the right context as well as space for expression of liberation. The moment we stand face to face with our `stripped morality`, we experience a sense of deja vu to which only the objects surrounding us stand as mute witnesses. This has been going on ever since we started taking bath on our own behind shut doors. Paradoxically, the shut door opens up a peculiarly free personality which lets go off the moment the clothes are allowed to let go from the body.

Every person on the planet must be having his or her own way of celebrating a brief solo existence on a daily basis inside the bathroom. Away from the glaring and expectant eyes of people, one feels connected to oneself through every dynamic that constitutes a human being – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. In the outer world – I mean in the one that dominates outside the bathroom -- so many things about us get covered under the man-made clothing of relationships and society's behavioural prescriptions. But the bathroom, while technically is just a knob away, presents an unique `so near yet so far` paradigm, for nobody would dare violate the norms prescribed for people who are not part of the bathroom drama.

In a way, the bathroom symbolises celebration, a celebration of temporary liberation from the mundane yet intensely responsibility-driven world. My first reaction to marking this celebration is to break into one of my favourite Hindi film numbers, with the accompanying sound of the running water, the bucket and the mug which serve as a loyal orchestra band. For years now, I have been a confirmed bathroom singer, never quite seriously considering extending my musical talents to the professional world of singing, perhaps because the liberating feeling that comes with straining your vocal chords in the company of an intangible orchestra band would get snatched away amidst the cacophony of human competition.

Over the years, my entry into the bathroom has held greater significance than just a personal cleansing activity. It has also served as an announcement to folks around my living area that I am very much present amidst my fellow mortals, besides of course providing them with unsolicited free entertainment (yes, some might interpret it as a highly avoidable intrusion into their domain of `chaotic peace`).

I have always treated the bathroom as a recording studio, and therefore sing with gusto, fervour and sometimes, melancholic melody, in the hope that some intense music lover or film producer will get captivated and elevate my sole standing (or should I say soul standing) from the bathroom to the larger stage where people can rejoice in the new found talent baked for years inside four resilient walls. The bathroom walls for so long have stood as appreciative listeners (after all, as they say, walls too have ears), never daring to give me feedback, perhaps because they too were celebrating the feeling of liberation that resonated from within my intensely rehearsed vocal chords. So, maybe it is divine will that is preventing me from coming within the zone of film producers, as then I would get exposed to the prying eyes and acidic hearts of so called competitors. Sure, as you can see, I have an exaggerated opinion of my singing talent and make no effort to hide the narcissistic admiration.

All in all, the bathroom for me offers the best solution to both pent-up expression as well as aggression, as all you need to do when you are down in life is to open the bathroom door, shut it behind you, and drown your worries in the most divine of creations – Mr Water.

To Sir With Love – A Tribute To Asghar Ali Engineer

To Sir With Love – A Tribute To Asghar Ali Engineer

His death is a great loss to various sections of society – academia, social reform and the budding bunch of intellectuals, who are trying to decipher the current state of the world and the direction it is headed in. In a world dominated by materialistic desires, where everything is a simplistic transactional process, Sir will be sorely missed for the vibrant thought leadership he provided to society.

Yesterday was a solemn day, as I felt the `missing presence` of Sir in his office. By Sir I mean the great scholar, intellectual and reformist Asghar Ali Engineer who passed away in May. I told his son Irfan that I could feel Sir was still around.

I first met Sir in 1993 during his lecture at Mumbai University. I approached him for a job as I had done my post graduation in Politics and he was running a social research organisation. I got the job as a research assistant and he thus became my first employer. I worked with him closely for a year and a half and then moved on to explore my life ahead as a journalist.

Twenty years later too I can feel the impact of his personality on my life, especially in the writing space. He authored an incredible 70 books in his lifetime and I was witness to his voracious reading and writing abilities. It was a proud moment for me when he at short notice agreed to launch my first book `The 20 20 20 20 Formula For Success` on June 19, 2011 at Mumbai University's Kalina campus.

Besides the gift of language and of the gab too, he carried an almost superhuman sense of courage and conviction. All his life he stood up fearlessly for what he believed in, travelled the world to get his message across and worked real hard. His autobiography `A Living Faith` is a must-read for those looking for establishing a firm purpose in life. The book brings alive the joy of purpose, sufferings, toil and concern for developing a just society like only a man obsessed with his mission can. Sir was a giant in his field and commanded the respect of people from all walks of life.

His contribution to my life I realise now is immense, as somewhere I was inspired by him to intellectualise, analyse and write. Though I hardly met him a few times since I moved out of his organisation in mid 1995, his influence stayed with me as I wandered through careers and companies in an attempt to discover my personal purpose.

It is rare indeed to be closely associated with people of Sir's stature. He transmitted inexhaustible energy and was truly an extraordinary human being. When he spoke, people listened. When he wrote, people `listened`, for his writings communicated with the reader, and when he read, he was a genuine student of knowledge and perspective.

His death is a great loss to various sections of society – academia, social reform and the budding bunch of intellectuals, who are trying to decipher the current state of the world and the direction it is headed in. In a world dominated by materialistic desires, where everything is a simplistic transactional process, Sir will be sorely missed for the vibrant thought leadership he provided to society.

There will hardly be anybody else like Sir. He died the way he lived – FIGHTING. Thank You Sir. This world will miss you, ALWAYS.               

Dubai – Paradise On A Desert

Dubai – Paradise On A Desert

Dubai, to my mind, is not just about the power of money. It is more about the power of thought.
It was incredible to know that this `artificial` city was built upon the ruthless natural expanse
of a desert.

There have been few moments more exciting in my life than boarding an international flight after over 30 years. It was a moment I had waited for for decades and in the last few years the urge to get my passport stamped was irresistible. For the last couple of years, Dubai as a destination was playing hide-and-seek with me. But finally, early morning on May 27, 2013, when the Air Arabia flight taxied itself on to the runway and took off to Dubai, I was well and truly on my way to fulfilling my desire to visit a foreign country after over three decades.

Dubai is just a three hour flight from Mumbai and probably takes lesser time than getting to Kolkata. So, I wondered how different would the country be from India. After all, Indians' presence in Dubai is all pervasive. But a close friend assured me Dubai would give a truly international feel as compared to even some of the developed countries. He was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! The five days I spent in Dubai will remain one of the most momentous in my life.

The lush green pastures, clean roads, tall buildings -- which seem like they have simply been planted after being manufactured in a factory -- and the all encompassing discipline are not just fascinating, but awe inspiring. It was incredible to know that this `artificial` city was built upon the ruthless natural expanse of a desert. The only signs you get that underneath your feet is a desert is when you notice some sand being strewn on the sides as your traverse the length and breadth of Dubai.

While it was not surprising to notice clean roads and disciplined traffic, as after all we have been fed on these images on television and in foreign films, the creative architecture and the automated functioning of the city were mind blowing. Even the much hyped Dubai Mall did not catch my fancy, as we are now used to some outstanding malls in India too, till I noticed the aquarium. It is a must-watch in Dubai.

But what will surely blow your mind off is the visit to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, whose entrance is from the Dubai Mall. Incredibly in under 60 seconds, the elevator took us to the 124^th floor and the view from the top cannot be expressed in words. The tower, due to its sheer height, makes itself visible from various corners of Dubai. Burj Khalifa is a place you must visit before you die, not only for absorbing its beauty and complex architecture, but also for elevating your understanding about what thinking BIG is all about. I always prided myself on being a person who thinks big, till I visited Burj Khalifa that is and realised just how small human thinking actually is.

Dubai, to my mind, is not just about the power of money. It is more about the power of thought. The creators of Dubai simply seem to be gifted with the ability to think beyond the collective elevated thinking of the human race. First they constructed a modern city on a desert, and then erected signature towers which serenade the Dubai skyline like a symphony of rhythmic notes.

The journey of constructing and reconstructing Dubai is not over for sure. The country has more surprises to offer, and I for one look forward to visiting it again.

My Father KK

My Father KK

We will always remember him for his 3 Ss --
Straightforwardness, Simplicity and Soft spoken approach.

We all lose a few loved ones to death in our lifetime. I too have. The most painful of course was the death of my best and childhood friend Sachin – with whom I grew up – in the year 2006. But the most defining has to be the passing away of your parent, because of whom we inherit this world.

The past week has been flooded with memories of my father Mr KK Subramanian, who passed away on April 18. He was a soft spoken and hard working individual who passed on simple but very essential behavioural prescriptions to both his sons. “Never tell a lie,” he would say. So simple, yet in the context of today's world it seems like a re-discovered truth.

Having studied in the Tamil medium in school, I always found his English impeccable. He developed it over time and served as an inspiration to us brothers to pick up nuances of the English language. He had a wonderful music sense too and was very fond of carnatic music. I too love singing and have a talent to spot similarity of ragas when listening to different songs. Some effect of the genes I suppose.

When I reflect on my father's personality, one thing stands out – his simplicity and loyalty. He was not the one to invite any kind of complexity into his life – his sons are filling that gap of course. Like an individual bred on typical middle class values, he served one government organisation for 30 years and built his career accordingly. He wanted both his sons to emulate this approach, but we were made of different mettle and continue to experiment with our careers even twenty years after we started working. Like many fathers in our country, I am sure he was not amused with this `current generation` style of living.

One of the aspects I feel my father missed out on developing was his creative side. He used to make sketches occasionally and I found him to be very good at that. Maybe somewhere he was trapped into the focused way of living and not giving vent to his creative potential, which might have required sacrificing the beaten path a little.

While he went through the normal struggles and frustrations of life, he was blessed that he could travel the world. In his lifetime, he visited some amazing places like Rome, Geneva London, Hong Kong, and Osaka, besides having put in a professional stint in Africa. Having worked for Air India for three decades, he loved being air borne and taking us all too.

In the last few years, my father suffered a lot with his health and his last few months were immensely painful. In death, he found deliverance from both suffering and bondage. April 18 however would forever remain a solemn day in our life.

We will always remember my father for his 3 Ss -- Straightforwardness, Simplicity and Soft spoken approach. My brother and I are grateful for whatever he did for us. Though he may not have always agreed with our ways, till his last breath he stood by us.

Thank You Appa. May You Remain In Eternal Bliss. Will Miss You Always! 

The Politics Of Politics

The Politics Of Politics

The incessant debate on governance is a good sign for a country which is a role
model for democracy in the world. But for political parties, the intent
on development will face its biggest test at the hustings in 2014.

It's in the air, elections I mean. While India goes to the polls in 2014, Pakistan is bracing itself up for May 2013, when the country will undergo a test which will tell the world whether it is going march forward with its fractured democratic setup or return to dictatorial ways. These indeed are interesting times in the sub-continent.

The buildup to the 2014 elections in India is extremely significant, as the country has seen tumultuous times in this ongoing UPA term, which retained its bastion in 2009. In this term, corruption scandals have tumbled out of the cupboards with alarming regularity, inflation has shot through the roof, citizens have regularly taken to the streets to demonstrate against one or the other injustice, and the aam aadmi has been actively voicing his discomfort with things that obstruct his harmonious day-to-day living.

The Indian voter has always been unpredictable. He has this uncanny ability to upset political parties' and poll pundits' calculations. But I suspect that what differentiates the 2014 elections from the ones before is the build-up. The voter is now more aware and more informed due to social media and television. There is already a buzz for political personalities who should inherit the prime ministerial throne in Delhi. While India culturally has been personality-centric, where people believe one individual can ameliorate them from their sufferings, the Narendra Modi V/s Rahul Gandhi debate is acquiring more of a presidential form than that of stuff seen in a typical parliamentary democracy. Nitish Kumar too, on the back of his success in Bihar, is highlighting his credibility as a politician of substance.

A significant aspect of the 2014 elections is the Indian demography itself – the size of the country's youth population, with more than 65% of its populace being below the age of 35 (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_India).

It is also significant that the youth of our country have been far more vociferous on national issues than any other young generation in the past. They are likely to have a major impact on the 2014 election results. But in terms of the options in front of the populace, nothing really seems to have changed fundamentally. It is still Congress versus the BJP, with both parties unlikely to get an absolute mandate. The politics of politics in terms of forging coalitions based on convenience is likely to continue as a buildup to the 2014 elections.

In terms of political maturity of a nation, India is still looking for a credible opposition whose agenda is simply not to come to power, but to participate in the larger development of the nation. The word development has been the most frequently used in political circles of late. The incessant debate on governance is a good sign for a country which is a role model for democracy in the world. But for political parties, the intent on development will face its biggest test at the hustings in 2014.

As for the two principal parties, strategically, the challenges are huge. While the Congress has a humungous task to explain to the nation its misconducts on various fronts, the BJP seems to be ripped by internal schisms. The regional parties are all on their guard to lap up any opportunity to get closer to the power centre in Delhi.

All in all, the nation seems to be gearing up slowly but surely towards an IPL like contest at the hustings. The prospects of a single winner-takes-all appears bleak. The era of fragile but inevitable coalitions is likely to continue. The nation awaits, but not with bated breath, not yet!

Reiki – My Life, My Purpose

Reiki – My Life, My Purpose

It pains me a lot when I see people suffering from poor health and the financial burden it imposes. If everyone learns Reiki, they can at least take some control of their health and life. The system is easy, effortless and non-invasive, and more importantly, takes just a day to learn. 

Two spiritual incidents changed my life forever – the day I met my Guruji in Pune in 1989 and the day I learnt Reiki in 1993. Take these two days out of my life, and I wonder where I would have been and what I would have been doing. It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher comes. But I can say from personal experience that whether the student is ready or not is not decided by the student, that is known only to the Guru.

It is said that we are the masters of our own destiny. But when I look back at my life, I can only say that I have been plain lucky. I neither planned to have a Guru nor to learn Reiki. In fact, when I got to know about Reiki from my master, that was the first time I had even heard about it. Without my Guru's blessings/diksha and Reiki, I don't even know what I would have done with my life. Maybe, my karmic equations were stacked in my favour, and therefore I received so much spiritual abundance in my life. My head bows in gratitude in front of the divine for bestowing its blessings on me.

My life is divided into two parts – the years before 1989 and the years after, with 1993, the year I learnt Reiki, being another landmark one. Pre-1989, I led a life of lack – in health, in mind and in heart. But once I started meditating and practicing Reiki, my life underwent an unimaginable change. Now, I cannot imagine life without doing my regular meditation and practice and teaching of Reiki. The journey over the past 24 years has been incredible. I have changed from the core. I have developed myself way beyond my own imagination. I couldn't have planned the transformation, and it just seems like a continuous process of evolution.

I have come to realise two things in life: one, a life without a spiritual base is no life at all, and two, we are mere mediums in the hands of the divine, we are not the doers. I believe I am a medium to spread Reiki and help people take care of themselves, so that through the divine energy, they can not only be healthy, but also feel connected always to their real self.

Reiki, which means Universal Life Energy in Japanese, is probably one of the simplest meditation and healing techniques, which helps people feel energised physically, and relax mentally and emotionally within minutes. The great purpose of my life, besides the other things I dabble in, is to spread Reiki far, wide and deep. So far, I have just managed to scratch the tip of the iceberg. It pains me a lot when I see people suffering from poor health and the financial burden that imposes. If everyone learnt Reiki, they can at least take some control of their health and life. The system is easy, effortless and non-invasive, and more importantly, takes just a day to learn.

To know more about what is Reiki, you can watch my video on youtube (link given above).

Also, if you want to learn Reiki, mail to lifetransformation69@gmail.com.

May the divine energy provide you with health, healing, happiness and prosperity – ALWAYS.

Cricket And The Art Of Adaptability

Cricket And The Art Of Adaptability

When co-related with the game of life, people in our country, in the face of rapid technological innovations, are facing challenges of adaptability never experienced before. It is visible in all departments of life – in professional areas, in parenting, in relationships. 

Few days back I finished reading this masterpiece of a book `TheWinning Way` by Anita Bhogle and Harsha Bhogle. The book essentially draws management lessons from sport, with cricket of course forming a major part of it. The authors touch upon various aspects with great incisiveness as well as in an interesting manner. A must read!

We are a cricket crazy country, with the mood and performance of our cricket team determining the happiness quotient of the nation. Nothing perhaps best captures the intrinsic nature of our countrymen better than the behaviours that get reflected post a significant victory or defeat of our cricketers. The emotional volatility that the nation goes through in a matter of weeks, or sometimes even minutes, depending on the performances on the cricket field, presents an interesting facet about our people and life here. A much questioned cricketer can in a matter of just an innings or a bowling performance raise his value stakes to a level which is both illogical and irrational. The reverse also happens with equal speed, where yesterday's hero could find himself at the wrong end of a stick for one poor performance. Why this happens is a queer phenomenon and will reserve its analysis for another day.

But beyond the thrills of a victory or the morose feelings of a defeat lies one of cricket's greatest lessons on life and management – and that is adaptability. This presents a scientific side to both the sport as well as life. India, after having climbed to the No. 1 spot in test cricket came crashing down, losing back-to-back test series – whitewashed actually -- in both England and Australia, primarily because they could not adapt to the different conditions that prevail there in terms of pitch, nature of bounce, swing, etc. Sometime back when England toured India, they upfront got a taste of conditions here as they lost the first test quite badly, but bounced back to win the series because they remarkably adapted to conditions here. Australia, who are currently touring India, too are struggling to adapt to the conditions here.

While cricket as a sport offers many lessons, adaptability is at the heart of it. Players who built a reputation by performing in certain conditions tend to lose it all as soon as they are faced with challenges in an unfamiliar territory. The greatness of players like Tendulkar, or Dravid, or Ricky Ponting, or Jacque Kallis lies in their ability to adapt to different conditions by modifying their temperament, game and technique. This applies to great bowlers too like Glen McGrath, Dale Steyn, Anil Kumble, and Zaheer Khan, whose ability to bowl differently in different conditions to produce the desired results for their team brought them richly deserved laurels.

Adaptability requires two critical elements: an ability to rise above the mere fruits of talent and be ready to reinvent oneself from time to time. Never has reinvention been more critical than in the last few years with the burst of 20-20 cricket, as cricketers now have to constantly juggle between not just different conditions, but also different formats.

When co-related with the game of life, people in our country, in the face of rapid technological innovations, are facing challenges of adaptability never experienced before. It is visible in all departments of life – in professional areas, in parenting, in relationships. The world in the last twenty years has incredibly changed, and India, in the post-liberalisation period, looks and behaves as if it has had a DNA transplant. Both success and failure are shortlived. The threat of redundancy and challenges to existing skillsets are incredibly intimidating. A world, driven by information and knowledge, is challenging yesterday's paradigms and questioning established cultures like never before.

The living-on-the-edge syndrome now has a new partner in `walking on your toes`, for the moment you feel it's time to settle down, conditions change unrecognizably. The rewards of talent too are fast paced, making the reasons for today's success irrelevant in the march forward, thereby calling for immediate reinvention and re-adaptability. This can be seen in the surfeit of success stories that get created constantly through reality shows, only for many of the participants to disappear into oblivion.

But amidst the constantly changing context of life, one thing has not changed, and that is, success, still comes and stays with those who are in it for the long haul, and are not carried away by the glamour of instantaneous achievements. Just as in cricket, where the true worth of a cricketer is still measured by his performances in test matches, life will always shower the highest reward to those who are ready play the game of life like a test match, but imbue it with the spirit of the 50 and 20-20 formats.

So, always be in anything for the long term, for success may or may not be as grand as a multi-storey building, but it is for sure a multi-storey journey. Contexts may change, but this fundamental truth will never change.  

You Don't Need To Know Music To Appreciate Music

You Don't Need To Know Music To Appreciate Music

Hi Friends. This is the link to my article on music in eambalam website. Ambalam is a Chennai-based organization which promotes carnatic music and dance forms. I was invited as a guest writer to share my thoughts on music. Just cut-paste the link to your browser. Looking forward to your comments.

http://www.eambalam.org/samaagamaa/featuredarticles.php

I Am Experiencing Labour Pain

I Am Experiencing Labour Pain

While women experience physical labour pain at the time of delivering a baby, anybody with an intense desire to create something out of just but a wishful of ideas also experiences labour pain of a different kind, which lasts much longer and causes at times incomprehendible pangs.

 It was a bit of a bad day today. I behaved like a bad boy, picking up a fight with an associate and sending a sarcastic SMS to a friend. Generally felt low and spoilt my own mood. But as the day naturally started to fade, giving way to the night, I felt I was experiencing pangs of a journey which always promised excitement, but was never going to be easy.

These are what I call as labour pangs, born out of a desire to manifest an aspect of creation which is deeply entrenched in my mind, heart and consciousness. While women experience physical labour pain at the time of delivering a baby, anybody with an intense desire to create something out of just but a wishful of ideas also experiences labour pain of a different kind, which lasts much longer and causes at times incomprehendible pangs. This kind of labour pain is not reserved just for the one sex, it entraps anyone who is undertaking a conscious journey of giving expression to an imagery which is purely his or her own.
Over the last three-and-a-half years, I have been intensely engaged in recreating myself as well as trying to create an institution which will cater to the holistic learning needs of humanity. Accompanying this grand vision is a not-so-grand but critical endeavour of surviving mentally, physically, emotionally and financially till such time the grand idea finds a right context and time for delivery into a larger space in the world, and then keeps growing from thereon. I wonder whether the time has now come for me to give expression to my grand vision in a manner which goes beyond my own self and starts taking baby steps towards encompassing a larger mass of people into its fold.

The restless energies within are urging me to take the next big step towards growing my vision and adding fuel to the idea of establishing a legacy-creating institution. It has been a courageous journey so far, but perhaps the time has now come to move beyond courage and into a deeper and more substantial context, a context which, for someone brought up on strong middle class values, is as intimidating as a vast, stretched out desert.

Even as I exist in the world outside, the world within is perhaps making a clarion call to begin to move into the future in a more substantive way. The calling perhaps is to make the year 2013 count, and mark it out as a year which will lay the foundation for the construction of a grand life and an even grander institution.

The journey, in a way, has already taken a certain toll, yet it has just started to shake the foundation within me to erect a profoundly elevated life. My labour pain is very similar to the physical one, where the mother is relieved to have delivered the baby, but knows this is really only the beginning.

Quite simply, my journey has just started, and what lies ahead is very exciting, but the challenge has grown just a bit bigger. Time to move on with an even greater sense of purpose and vigour.  

 

Thirteen Books You Should Read In 2013

Thirteen Books You Should Read In 2013
Happy Reading And Happy New Year!

Books have been my constant companion for many years now. There are some outstanding books in my library which have left an indelible impression on my mind and heart. Just as physical exercise is essential for the body, reading as a habit is essential for the mind. As life is best led with a holistic attitude, here is a list of thirteen books from various genres that I recommend for this year:

1. Autobiography Of A Yogi – By Paramahamsa Yogananda
2. Living With The Himalayan Masters – By Swami Rama
3. The Story Of My Experiments With Truth – By MK Gandhi
4. How To Win Friends And Influence People – By Dale Carnegie
5. Think And Grow Rich – By Napoleon Hill
6. Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind – By T Harv Eker
7. Rich Dad, Poor Dad – By Robert Kiyosaki
8. Cashflow Quadrant – By Robert Kiyosaki
9. How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling – By Frank Bettger
10. What Got You Here Won't Get You There – By Marshall Goldsmith
11. Freedom At Midnight – By Dominique Lapierre And Larry Collins
12. The Present – By Spencer Johnson
13. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People – By Stephen Covey

All the books have been selected from the perspective of developing oneself. They provide incredible perspectives and ideas. They are not just books, but treasure troves of knowledge, a heritage which will guide humanity towards fulfillment for generations to come. Hope you will lay your hands on them and soak in their essence.

Happy Reading And Happy New Year!

PS: And here's one more, from your's truly -- Honey, I Love Money, Success And You! -- By Hariharan Iyer And Samuel Talari.