New Days [Nivea]

Did you see the latest Nivea ad?

And now the original song used in this ad.

The song lyrics are here.

Huu haa India …

Around two months back, when Pepsi started its new advertisement campaign, they would not have thought that it will die so quickly and cheaply…! The “Blue Billion Express” crashed before it could change from first gear to the second.

One of the surprised packages of that ad was Saurav Ganguly. He gave that ad an emotional touch and attacked the emotionally weak Indians. Soon, everyone started running that race and was trying his/her best to win it and become the biggest emotional fool!

All those who were not able to think of any role for him in our Cricket Team till few months back, started visualizing him in the captain’s role once again. The race did not end there. They started aiming for other players who are still part of the current Indian Cricket Team.

Let me put the first disclaimer here: I am not writing this to discuss if Saurav is good or bad. Actually I used to like his batting, captaincy and his passion for the game.

After yesterday’s loss to South Africa, Indians got agitated even more. Everyone, right from the former cricket players to our respected (?) members of parliament, voiced their opinion against the poor performance of our team.

Few MPs demanded resignation from the coach. Few of them suggested dissolving BCCI.

I want to ask these same MPs about the work they do in their constituencies. I want to question them about the huge amount of corruption that is part of our system. I want to ask them about the lack of progress in developing even the simplest of infrastructure. There are many more such questions for which I demand an answer from them. In short I want to question them about their own poor performance!!!

If I am not wrong, some time back, these same members had declared that BCCI is not a government body and the team does not represent India. BCCI is just like any other private sports club present in the country. For that reason, they had asked the players to stop using national flag image on their helmets and shirts.

In this context, I think MPs do not have any right to question the performance of this Cricket Team. Before questioning the performance of this team, which is just like any other private sports club, they are answerable for the dismal performance that Indians showcase in the Olympic Games. If they can’t do anything to improve standard of sports, other than Cricket, in India, then they have no right to question performance of the players of The Richest Club in Indian.

All the weak hearted folks, stop reading here only.

Now I want to ask questions to the old timers: When was the performance of Indian Cricket Team good? We did win the World Cup in 1983, but that was one of those moments where we happen to perform a bit and the opponents failed to perform at all.

I am not trying to putdown the Magnificent Efforts of our Cricket Heroes, but I don’t see any time period when Indian Cricket Team had consistent performance? Then why do you question the performance of this team?

What are we trying to prove by reacting this way?

I think, we all Indians have to think about our reactions now. It is high time to keep aside the emotional feelings and think in constructive way. If this cricket team is not performing up to the mark then stop following their game and instead start following some other sport. Make your kid play and excel in some different sport. Cricket is not the only sport. If you are so upset with Cricket, try some trick and win at least one Gold Medal in the next Olympics.

Guys, grow up! Show some maturity and stop finding flaws in one team when we have so many other sports to excel in! Why can’t the same blue billion express cheer for our Olympic Players? If you have any point to prove against this Cricket Team, then put the same amount of energy in nurturing some other sport and make all the Indians Proud.

And the moment we start seeing success in other sports, the journey of real “Blue Billion Express” will start and then will be the right time to say …

“Huuuuuu Haaaaa Indiaaaa! Jinklaaaaa India!!!”

That's my story too!

This is just amazing!

Garfield

So what was your dream?

In India, we celebrate 14^th November as “Children’s Day”. It was fun to interact with few of my kido friends today. Talk to these kids and you will discover many new things. Sometimes that gives me a new perspective of life.

But it’s a challenge to solve their problems. Especially when they seem to be trivial today, but for their age, they are BIG problems. That age is different. We all have experienced these phases in life. And sometimes it’s nice to remember those good old days!

Around four years back, during one of those leisurely evenings, I was chatting with my kido friends. While we were doing time-pass, one more friend joined the session.

During our conversation, my friend casually asked the kids about their career dreams. And the answers we got were pretty interesting. One of them wanted to be surgeon, one wanted to be model, one wanted to be computer engineer etc. etc. Looking at their age, we were amazed by these answers.

And so, I asked my friend about his dream career as a kid. The answer I got was very funny. He told me that as a child, he always wanted to be a “rickshaw driver”. The reason being, the opportunity they get to roam around in city and they get paid for that. And in reality, that time, he was working as a specialist doctor in one of the reputed hospitals here and currently he is finishing his “Super Specialty” studies in “blood related diseases”.

As a child, even I had a crazy dream. I wanted to be a “bus conductor”. The reason was very simple. It was his money-filled bag and the interesting tour around city and no studies, which was attracting me to that profession.

We both had a good laugh after remembering and sharing these dreams. In today’s context, may be they looked stupid dreams. But then, those were real innocent dreams.

So what was your dream?

As sweet as they can be!

Thanks to my parents for preparing this small garden. See some of the photos. They both are really very sweet. I mean, parents and flowers :-)

Fowers (1)

PS: Thanks Samir for the camera.

November Rain!

That is one of my favorite songs by my favorite rock group, “Guns N Roses”. Few developments that took place recently gave me another angle to look at this song.

Since November 1^st, Pune and many parts of India are experiencing untimely rains. That’s November rain!

Many places witnessed hailstorms. Farmers were the most affected lot! Once again, they got hit by sudden changes in weather and a large quantity of crops got reduces to nothing. Let’s pray to god for these poor farmers’ wellbeing.

I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes life take sharp turns on bouncy road. Dreams come down crashing before you get to know what is happening. You hardly get any time or hint to take control of the situation and almost all the equation change!!! And generally, confidence is one of the first casualties!

Life is strange. When you least expect, you get hit hard and then it no longer remain the same!

And it’s hard to hold a candle
In cold November rain.

Still, like bhai always say, “Hope is the last thing that dies”, one has to carryon, learning from such experiences.

One of my professors, prof. Gandhi, once told me one statement that he read somewhere, “Just as happiness do not last long, so do sorrows”.

That makes me believe that, things always happen for good with brief commercial breaks of bad times. That’s god’s way of marketing happiness!

Nothing lasts forever
Even cold November rain!

Lets’ hope all the events, even if they are making future look bleak, will ultimately translate into something good! Aamin!!!