The Anniversary of Nam

Today is the 41st Anniversary of the end of Nam (the slang used for Vietnam War in America). It was an embarrassing quagmire for Americans and literally so, as their soldiers recruited via draft, could never adapt to the muddy paddy fields of Vietnam. Guerrilla warfare waged by a motivated enemy on their home turf, equally lack of motivation from the Americans, who being creatures of comfort were simply misfit for long, arduous combat in the insect infested jungles of Vietnam.

The War ended with the famous air evacuation of the last remnants of Americans from Saigon. China and Russia who backed North Vietnam, didn't learn anything. China, soon attacked Vietnam in 1978 and was forced to beat a hasty retreat by their war rugged rivals. The experienced Vietnamese gave them a bloody nose. The pugnacious Chinese intruders, being shrewed and pragmatic, realizes this and backed out before any further humiliation.

But the then Soviet Union's ego drove them into the Afghanistan misadventure, bringing yet another Superpower to its knees (it's rumored that Breznev, drunk with Vodka ordered soldiers to move into the land locked country). They got stuck into a quagmire and during Breznev's funeral approached Zia to broker with US. The shrewed Pakistani dictator knew which side the wind was blowing, so decided to keep quite and milk America further. It's ripple effects is still felt today, a la the tremors often felt in that  earthquake prone zone.

It would be foolish to see America's beating retreat in Nam in terms of victory of communism over Capitalism. Soon Communism slowly started to fizzle out. China shunned it and got stuck with the habit of getting rich. Soviet Union went broke, both in economics and political terms.

Capitalism in spite of its shortcomings thrived, mainly due to innovation and competition associated with it. Vietnam have long adopted free market economy, their leaders baking bread with their once enemy Americans. Cuba, is getting closer to Uncle Sam as Obama went to Havana to embrace it's old rival.

As April rolls over to May, the 1st day of the month is celebrated as Labor Day in most parts of the world. On this day, the communist nations during their haydays used to showcase their military prowess. Only country which now calls itself communist is North Korea. It is more like the Kim family's (hermit) Kingdom. Their buffoon leader and his father before him are champion womanizers and consumer of luxury capitalist goods when their commoners starve.

World has seen many changes, as the commies and their promised land has gone to the dogs (it's not a coincidence that the young Kim, their present dictator is rumored to have fed his uncle to the dogs). While rest of the world have moved ahead, Communism in India is now limited to a few parasite intelgencia who shop in London but pretend that  Moscow as paradise, with a liberal dosage of freebies at the expense of tax player's money. As they age, hope they carry their failed age old policy to grave along with them.

Botham, Ashes and Botham's Ashes

Often I wonder which cricketer has tormented the Australians the most. Is it Larwood ? Vivian Richards ? Michael Holding ? No. No one has ever troubled  the Aussies more than "Beefy" Ian Botham - being a perennial fly in their rival's ointment throughout his career.

Botham was a highly gifted and maverick cricketer, with his fair share of  controversies too. From deliberately running out Boycott (a young rising star Botham was prodded to do so at the behest of his teammates, as he was least likely to face retribution) - to smoking Marijuana, breaking the bed while bedding Miss Barbados in middle of a Carribean tour, crossing mountains a la Hannibal on an Elephant, calling the English selectors "Gin soaked Doddlers". The list is endless.

In the 1978-79 tour Down Under against a Australian team depleted by Kerry Packers, Botham played a crucial role in England's 5-1 series win. Despite their rout, the star Aussie bowler Rodney Hogg got 41 wickets against the Pommies.

That series saw Botham and Hogg engaged in a friendly duel, challenging themselves to take each other's wickets. No sure who won, but looking at the scorecards of the 6 match test series will tell you that both dismissed each other quite a few number of times. In the same series Botham reportedly   spent one night in a night club, but next day he was back on pitch looking as fresh from the oven.

Just a year later, the English toured Australia yet again, with the hosts bolstered by the return of their star players like Chappell and Lillee from the Packers series. Australia white washed England 3-0, but Botham carved his niche by scoring a century and taking 20 odd wickets with a 10 wicket haul in a test, not bad at all for a player from a losing squad in a 3 test series.

The best performance of Botham in an Ashes series was yet to come. In 1981, Kim Hughes led Australians to a 6 test series in England. Entering the 3rd test at Headenly, Leads, the Aussies had already taken a 1-0 lead, with Lillee and Alderman wrecking havoc in the English batting line up.

After being dropped from the Captaincy, Beefy was replaced by Brearly, an average batsman with a career average of 22+, an idiosyncratic psychoanalyst (known to scribble down his dreams on a piece of paper next to his bed), but a man with outstanding leadership quality, a great motivator, regarded as one of the brainiest captains in the cricket's history. No doubt, he brought the best out of the English players, especially Botham who the captain knew was down due to his poor performance and removal from the Captaincy - but not done yet.

Free from the baggage of caltaincy and nothing to lose Botham arrived at the creese with England reeling at 7 for 137 in the 2nd innings, with a target of 300+ to avoid follow on. What followed was a merciless annihilation of the Australian bowlers with Botham scoring an unbeaten 149. Defending a meagre lead of 140 sometimes, the English snatched an improbable victory by 30 odd runs, with Bob Willis taking 8/43.

With series squared, a resurgent England team powered by Botham who scored another century with multiple 5 wicket spells to guide the Pommies to a 3-1 win. 1981 was clearly Botham's Ashes.

In the subsequent 1982-83 Ashes held Down Under, Australia won the series at 2-1. As usual Botham played his role in the only English victory, by taking the crucial last wicket of Jeff Thompson, snatching a narrow 3 run in Melbourne. Beefy yet kept his reputation as the thorn on the Aussies flesh.

The 1985 return Ashes tour to England ended in the host's favor, with Botham contributing more with ball than bat, claiming about 30 wickets.

The English returned to Australia in 1986 and won the series handsomely. There was this bowler Simon Davis, who just the year before, kept the Indian hard hitter Kris Srikkanth at bay by his tight bowling. Botham destroyed that myth by hitting him for 24 runs in an over, kind of rare those days, virtually sealing Davis' s career. (Allan Lamb did the same to Bruce Reid in that series). Both Davis and Reid didn't last long after the series.

Botham kept on hunting the Aussies, culminating one last time in their crucial game in 1992 World Cup, last time the English team went to a Cup final. His all rounder performance of 4 wickets for 30 runs, followed by a swashbuckling 53 was instrumental in preventing Australia from reaching the semifinals. This is the saga of Botham, Ashes and Botham's Ashes - will forever be etched in the annals of cricketing history.

Salman wins Gold in Olympics - A midsummer day dream

On a long, hot afternoon I drifted into a  Midsummer day dream. Salman Khan accompanies Indian Olympics squad to Rio. Going for the gold, our star Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt is pitted in the final against a burly Russian.

The superior Russian is gaining ground and Yogeshwar's defeat is imminent. When about to floor his opponent, the Russian passes a derogatory comment to him. It is overheard by Salman Khan who was sitting close to the podium.

Suddenly our Bollywood star starts taking off his clothes in slow motion, flexing his mighty muscles, divulging his biceps and 6 pack. Now stripped himself to his underwear, he jumps to the arena. Yogeshwar makes way for Salman to continue his fight.

As the jingoist music, something like MAA TUJHE SALAMI (Hail Motherland) plays in the background, Salman Khan, our multifaceted world class Sportsman, every ready to step in as the savior, takes a closer look at his opponent. They circle around each other, with our hero gazing at his opponent, while slapping his thunder thighs.

After losing initial rounds to the Russian, Salman was about to be floored. As he peeps at the crowd trough the wrapping arms of his adversary, out of nowhere appears his cheering girlfriend (can't be his wife, as Salman's marriage is another midsummer's dream).

The jingoist song gets louder, as a resurgent Salman, enthralled by patriotic music as well as the musings of his lady love, gathers strength of 100 lions and floors his much favored opponent. The crowd goes berserk in applause. Salman proudly walks to the podium to be garlanded in gold medal.

Yogeshwar Dutt, who vehemently protested Salman's appointment as Goodwill Ambassador, walks towards our medal winning actor, profusely repenting his earlier criticism of the benevolent star's appointment. Our ever forgiving screen hero forgives Yogeswar as his younger brother in real life, wiping off tears from the eyes of the later.

Soon after winning the first non-shooting gold for India in Olympics, Salman Khan returns back to shooting - on the set and poor blackbucks. He is also gifted a brand new Porsche, with license to mow.

Please forgive me for watching too many Bollywood movies. Such dreams, like Sah Rukh leading to a Hockey Gold and Farhan Akhtar roaring past Usain Bolt for the first ever track gold, are rare. So if you are going to make these stupendous blockbusters, please don't forget this poor scriptwriter.

Dhyan Chand

No prelude to Olympics would be complete without a mention of Dhyan
Chand, our hockey legend and a genius. There is not an iota of doubt about it. His stick work and dribbling skills made many see a magician in him.

He was the one who guided team India to 3 successive Olympics golds in 1928, 1932 and in 1936 Olympics in Berlin - where the Fuehrer Hitler, impressed by the legends wizardry offered Dhyan Chand a German citizenship, which the later politely refused.

No wonder he was described as the Wizard of Hockey. He will forever be our BHARAT RATNA (Jewel of India) irrespective of him getting the award. Like his last name (surname) CHAND, which means moon he will be unique among the stars.

Before independence India hardly had any worthy of an opponent in hockey. The first one to challenge India's monopoly in Hockey was its newly formed neighbor Pakistan, who was carved out from it. A good number of players migrated to Pakistan after partition. Most of them who earlier used to play for undivided India came from Lahore which was considered as the hockey capital of pre-partition India.

Soon India started struggling against its neighbor who finally broke India's monopoly by winning Hockey Gold in Rome, 1960. India however came back to win Hockey Gold in Tokyo, 1964.

It was not until 1970s the other hockey powerhouses like Australia, West Germany, Holland and Spain arrived on scene. India won the last Hockey World Cup under the leadership of Ajit Pal Singh in 1975 and have been in decline ever since.

The last Gold came in 1980, Moscow Olympics which was boycotted by the hockey powerhouses Pakistan, Australia, West Germany and Netherlands. We have been waiting for an Olympics medal ever since.

The top 3 forces in Olympics now, Australia, Germany and Netherlands are likely to share the medals. For, India reaching the semifinals is the best case scenario. CHUK DE INDIA- time to resuscitate the past glory.

Long distance running in Olympics

Long distance running in Olympics has long been mostly dominated by the North Africans - especially from Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco. They have left their mark in long distance races of 5000 meter, 10000 meter, 3000 meter Steeplechase and of course the Marathon.

Two notable African Athletes who come to my mind are Miruts Yifter of Ethiopia and the Moroccan Said Aouita. Yifter from the impoverished nation of Ethiopia won a Bronze in 1972. He missed 1976 in Montreal as Ethiopia... boycotted the Olympics.

Miruts dazzled in 1980 Olympics by taking 2 golds in 5000 and 10000 events, when he was at least 36 year old (there was dispute about his actual age, some say he was close to 40 at that time).
Said Aouita won the 5000m Gold in 1984, LA. He came into 1988 games in Seoul as an overwhelming favorite. For some strange reason he switched to the middle distance running (Africans are not so good in Middle distance) and managed to win a bronze in 800m.

Not to mention, several Kenyans have won laurels in long distance running, which includes the 26 mile plus Marathon. So what's the secret sauce behind the success of North Africans in long distance running.

These slim, lanky athletes with long limbs are uniquely gifted with long distance running abilities. Many attribute this to their genes inherited from their forefathers, who negotiated in the hostile terrains surrounding the high altitudes in the vicinity of Mount Kilimanjaro, their in built stamina and endurance passed to the next generation. As usual, Africans are expected to hold the fort of long distance running - their forte.

Swimming and Gymnastics in Olympics

Two events contribute most medals in Olympics - Swimming and Gymnastics. Those who dominate them usually see the highest number of golds, silvers and bronzes glittering on their neck.

The erstwhile Soviet Union dominated Gymnastics for a long time. Americans are to swimming as fish is to water, earning the bulk of Olympics medals in that event. So also the erstwhile East Germany who dominated the female swimming events - especially in 1976, Montreal, pushing USA to 3rd place in the total medal tally by virtue of the impressive performance of their female swimmers.

So why Swimming is so important to the medal tally ? It has 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m events in different permutations and combinations of Freestyle, Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke for individual, relay, medley relay, for both males and females. And that's a lot of medals.

Gymnastics has floor exercises, parallel bars, horizontal bars, pommel horse for both individuals and teams, male and female. While team sports like Soccer, Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball etc can fetch only one gold, Swimming and Gymnastics bring plenty.

America, followed by Australia have done constantly well in aquatics. Europeans, especially Germans had their share of flash in the pool too. From Mark Spitz in 1972, Matt Biondi in 1988 to Michael Phelps, America has dominated male swimming for eons. The East German girls Cornelia Ender and Barbara Krause dominated the pool in 1976 and 1980 games respectively for East Germany.

In Gymnastics, USSR and Romania dominated for a long time, with the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scoring a perfect 10 for the first time in history in 1976 at Montreal. Alexander Dityatin from Soviet Union soon followed in 1980 by being the first male gymnast to score a perfect 10.

After the success of Nadia Comaneci, USA managed to orchestrate the defection of her coach, the legendary Bela Karolyi, by luring him with a hefty fee. The move worked well, resulting in Mary Lou Retton winning gold medal in 1984 LA Olympics. The event was the harbinger of further success of America in Gymnastics. It never looked back since.

1984 also marked the entrance of the Chinese into the Olympics. Slowly, they improvised and became a force to reckon with in Gymnastics. Soon the medals in this event was pretty much shared between US, Russia, China, Japan and Korea.

This year is unique - as India will have its first ever entrant in this event in the form of Dipa Karmakar. It's a long way to go for India in this sports, but qualification of this young girl is a step in the right direction. Good luck India and way to go Dipa.

Can Obama Prevent Brexit?

Obama is arriving in UK to convince Britain against Brexit - the planned vote in Britain to exist from EU. He is pitted against the likes of former cricketer Ian Botham who are campaigning for Brexit.
Will Obama succeed in his mission ? We don't know. But what we know, that historically no one has ever had more influence on Britain than its former colony United States.

During World War II, facing incessant Nazi bombing, British PM Churchill was desperate to get America on board to a fledgling Allies. As a part of his please America diplomacy, he famously said "We are common people separated by a common language (English)."

He managed to convince Roosevelt, but the American Congress refused to budge. US economy was booming as they profiteered from the war. They won't get involved until Japan caught them napping in Pearl harbor. A sleeping Giant was awakened and we know the rest is history.

Germany lost the war, but Britain lost its status as world power. By 1997 it was quite apparent, as the otherwise suave and mild mannered Indian PM I.K. Gujral, rejected Britain by branding it "a third rate world power" - when the later showed interest in mediating in Kashmir issue. In Odia there is saying "KARPURA UDIJAICHI, KHALI KANA PADICHI" - the smell of camphor is gone, only cloth remains. Gone are those glory days of Britain, only the stench of fame remains.

However the special relationship between "the common people, separated by common language" continued. As a drowning man desperately clutches to the straw, Britain tried to regain its old fame by piggybacking on old flame America. As a drowning man clutches to the straw, it tried to stay afloat in World political arena by hanging on to Uncle Sam's tail. As we call in Odia, LANGUDA DHARI CHALIBA or in Hindi PUCHH PAKADKE CHAKANA (both meaning to get on tailgating mode).

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan took a simultaneous right turn - driving their respective  economy from doldrums and destroying the myth of socialism. Maggie, followed by John Major, showed
some semblance of independence by not blindly towing the American line.

But Tony Blair started acting like a CHAMCHA (obsequious follower) of his American counterpart George W Bush. It was a common sight of Blair bending obsequiously in front of Bush, making the gesture hand washing under an imaginary faucet. He reminded me of RAM BHAKT HANUMAN (the famous obedient devotee of Ram, who blindly followed the diktat of his Lord).

Now after a long time, Britain has the glorious opportunity to regain its lost glory by staying independent of USA, vis-a-vis it's upcoming decision on Brexit. We are going to find soon.

The legend of PETA GARAM

During our childhood days in Odisha, a dry cough had a medical term ascribed to it - called PETA GARAM (warmth of the  belly). No one really knew what exactly it means, but it was suppose to be the symptom of many diseases, especially related to cold and allergies.

The term PETA is more famously associated with the acronym for "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals". But here, the treatments for PETA GARAM is associated to a species of mammal called humans, ethically treating the outer belly as a prevention which is any day better than cure.

The cause of a lingering dry cough is always blamed on that elusive PETA GARAM. In case of fever, especially during the summer, it is advised to take a bath with sprinkling less water on head, but a liberal flashing of mugs of cooler water on belly (PETA) to prevent it from going hot (GARAM). If your Pee resembles Mustard oil in color and viscosity, it's the symptom of legendary PETA GARAM.

Shower and ablution those days were a combination of water, bucket and mugs, the fad of toilet paper was still elitist. The concept of toilet paper was as alien as aliens were to me. Toilet and paper were two separate entity, juxtaposing them was strictly fantasy.

Brahmins were expected to take shower in a semi naked state to prevent their PAITA from getting MAARA. And it should involve pouring mugs of water on your belly to keep it in cool and forming a barrage against disease.

It's not uncommon for folks to come out of bathroom with drenched and dipping cloth, a la male version of Mandakini, of Raj Kapoor's "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" fame. In summer such an experience was pleasant. In winter one needs to shiver for minutes before changing to dry clothing.

In our college hostel, there would be a beeline in front of the standing showers when the municipality supply water comes running at noon. The line used to be longer during the winter months as the running water was relatively warmer than the stored one.

The first couple of mugs of water would be poured over the body with a burst of latest Bollywood hit song at top of his voice. That would instantly kill the fear of cold water. The BESURA (tone and beat less) song continues as mugs of water are flashed on the belly to prevent PETA GARAM. The song slowly dies down, as the next person on line keeps knocking on the door, a terse reminder to wrap up with soaked GAMUCHA and tip toe back to your room.

Not sure if those preventing measures against PETA GARAM really prevented us from common ailments - as prevention is always better than cure. Now I am sure, it is just another name for dehydration, by drinking plenty of water one is better off than flashing liters of cool water on the torso.

The quest for power - Why Billlionaire Trump wants to be POTUS

Why the business tycoon Donald Trump toils hard in quest of a job which pays a salary of $400,000 per annum, paltry when compared to the head of a $9 billion empire which he heads currently.  (It's another matter his cherished new job comes with the White House, a Presidential Resort at Camp David, Marine One Chopper, a $1.5 Limousine called "The Beast" and of course Air Force One to fly around the globe).

The answer is simple. It's the hunger game for power to occupy what is arguably the most powerful position on earth - the President of United States. Power is the biggest aphrodisiac. Everything else is secondary. Since prehistoric times, children have killed parents, siblings have butchered each other, myriad stories rife with betrayals, just for thing - to seat on the seat of power.

"TAKHT YA TAKHTA" - there used to be a saying during the Mughal period, which means "Crown or Coffin". It aptly described the fratricidal wars fought for the prized Kingship which knew no Kinship. In the end one ended up with Crown, the rest rested in graves.

Fundamentally hardly anything has changed over time. In the world where winner take all, the loser lands up in the pitiful, political grave. Does anyone remembers Michael Dukakis, Bob Dole or Al Gore, the later who was so near yet so far ? It's a cruel world. History is always partial to the winners, with the losers destined to its dustbins.

Kobe Bryant Retires

The game of Basketball has come a long way since it was invented by James Naismith. Like Football and Baseball it's as American as Apple Pie. NBA, which is arguably class apart from the basketball played elsewhere in the world and is one of the most watched events in America.

And one of the most recent watched star player was Kobe Bryant of LA Lakers. He may not be as famous as the legendary Michael Jordan or Kareem Abdul Jabber (who born as Lewis Alcinder followed the path of Muhammad Ali and changed his name to Kareem Jabber). But he carved his niche in NBA, taking his team LA Lakers to its heights.

Though I am no Basketball aficionado, I did not fail to notice Kobe's tryst with controversies - like the accusation of sexual assault which haunted him about a decade ago. Now with announcement of his retirement, he carries a past with him and a future to motivate many to join the star studded NBA, which along with Sprint Track and Field sports in US, is domain by African Americans.

RIP (Relax in Peace) Kobe Bryant. NBA and Lakers will never be same without you.

Unprecedented heat wave in Bhubaneswar

The unprecedented heat wave in Bhubaneswar with no immediate respite on sight, can be attributed to couple of reasons.

First, a rapid, reckless urbanization and deforestation. The lush greenery and water bodies crisscrossing the city have been replaced by high rise buildings, with little or no plantations or surrounding water bodies to replace them. Rourkela, only the other hand, deserves kudos for still retaining in its greenery.

Second, an inept and corrupt authority. Nero fiddled when Rome burned, the authority not only slept when the city grew, they became ludicrously corrupt, with no immediate respite in sight.

Reminds me another summer day in Odisha couple of years back, when the temperature topped 45 degree Centigrade  (115 F). Around noon, when I stepped out of home, it felt like as if some one opened the door of an oven on my face. I rode a Scooty to the local gas
station (locally called petrol pump ) to fill up the gas tank. The ride was a rude reminder of nature's constant blowing of a hair dryer on my face.

Job done, the pump attendant was about to hand me over the changes when his mobile phone rang. He took the call and went on "TIKE PIAJA AU RASUNA DEI BHAJIBU (Saute fry using onion and garlic)". A customer can afford to wait getting fried waiting for change in 45 degree plus 80% humidity heat, but onion garlic stir fry can hardly wait.

After grabbing the change without bothering about counting, I rushed back home for a shower to cool down. Before I could switch on the motor to fill up our overhead water the electricity went poof.

For 4 hour no power ;
No toilet no shower.

Felt like a fish out of water, lying supine on hot bed getting barbecued. It's 5 PM, still no sign of electricity. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over me I am a great grill. Another couple of hours I could have become a SUKHUA or dried fish, an Odia delicacy.

Only positive news from back home - the electricity hasn't played truant so far. Otherwise, those already feeling like fish out of water, will soon turn to SUKHUA  (dry fish), an Odia delicacy.

So much for the tag of smartest of the "Smart City". Heat wave is not a recent phenomena. Yet due to the woeful unpreparedness of the authorities, it was was a disaster waiting to happen. Damn history can't just stop repeating itself.

An advice to the NIT Srinagar students

Here is a piece of unsolicited advice to the NIT, Srinagar students from an ex NITian - in the context of the ongoing agitations by the students, after they were allegedly beaten by the local police.

Most of the students enter the institute as teenagers with adrenaline rushing through their body and fickle minds, which is ruled more by emotions than logic. Many of us have done things then which we regret later and wish to go back on a time machine to get it undone.

In NIT, Rourkela we had our issues with local law enforcement authorities and Lathi charged (a remnant of British time crowd control procedure, when the police lashes the public with thick sticks, like they are dealing with marauding cattles).

But NIT Srinagar is not like any other NIT of India. Instead of Lathi, you might face bullets from the hostile locals who hardly consider themselves a part of India and clearly see those from the Mainland as outsiders.

Though the battle hardened Indian security forces are doing a tremendous job, no security ever is full proof. No parents would like to see their dreams die down early with their kids, for factors beyond their comprehension, though well within apprehension.

Remember - NIT is not JNU. It is an elite institute, a class of its own, only next to IITs (I would say to 25% of NITians are no less than IIT graduates) where a selected few are selected by elimination process through an  entrance examination.

You won't find any 28 year Kanhaiya Kumar in NIT aiming for a platform to further his political career. For many of you from the coveted institute, your career doesn't end after NIT getting into a job. Many go for higher studies in Ivy League Schools, do MBA in premier institutes (in facts no less than 50% of most IIMs and Xaviers are Engineers). Some get into Civil Services too and much more.

Agree, Kashmir is an integral part of India. But it is not another normal state, with Article 370 tied to it. Srinagar is not your normal NIT locations of Rourkela, Allahabad or Trichy, where thousands of soldiers are needed to maintain law and order.

It might sound patriotic and fashionable to shout "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" (Long live Mother India). But wish raising such slogans would solve the volatile issue of Kashmir, which is a political issue of complex dimension, not a fluid dynamics equation which can be solved in minutes.

It which needs a political solution. So, it's better for you guys and girls to go back to study tables and prepare for your futures. Let the politicians struggle with the Kashmiri issue, when you follow your academics and get out of it in 4 years to further your dreams.

World Hypocricy against reverse racism

I wrote a blog earlier about the elephant eating (no pun, he actually feasted on an elephant on his 90th birthday), nonagenarian African dictator Robert Mugabe, who did everything to take his country Zimbabwe into an abyss of elephantine proportion. The country's economy is in shambles. It's said that you have to carry a sac of Zimbabwean Dollar to buy a bag of grocery in that nation.

 

Mugabe practiced what we can call is reverse racism, driving away the white minority, who were mostly farmers and formed the backbone of their economy and cricket. Imagine if he would have been White and drove away the black minority in that nation. Zimbabwe would faced severe sanctions, in the same boat as South Africa during the heydays of Apartheid, banned from all international sporting events.

 

In that context, the hypocrisy of the African Union and rest of the world about Mugabe can't be ignored. They're conspicuously silent when Mugabe practices reverse racism. India once backed Nelson Mandela, supporting him tooth and nail during the heydays of apartheid, eventually bestowing him with our highest Civilian Award BHATAT RATNA (The Jewel of India).

What was Mandela's reciprocity to India's magnanimous overture of giving its highest honor, rarely given to someone outside India - he wanted to mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, knowing fully well India's sensitivity towards outside mediation in Kashmir. Go figure. It's one example (could be many more), those who help at their time of crisis leave no stones unturned when it comes to hurt us.

The sas saga of Zimbabwean cricket

Zimbabwe, previously known as Southern Rhodesia, qualified for the first time in 1983 World Cup held in England. They arrived at the scene with a bang. Captained by Duncan Fletcher, they upset Australia, a regular Test playing nation with quite a bit of cricketing history behind them.

It was not the first time, a regular Test playing nation, was defeated by a team qualifying for World Cup by playing a ICC tournament. It happened earlier in 1979, whe Sri Lanka, then a non Test playing nation, humiliated India.

But unlike 1979, when India was not  regarded as a decent One Day side and Sri Lanka were not new to the World Cup, this victory in 1983 by Zimbabwe was  considered a major upset - for Australia was the connoisure of One Day cricket, regularly playing in Benson & Hedges triangular one day series at home. Zimbabwe was a tyro, the new kid in the block, with virtually zero exposure against any quality team.

The new bloke almost repeated its feat, against another side whom the skipper of their just vanquished opponent, Kim Hughes declared as the "Dark Horse" prior to the tournament. They were Kapil's Devils with the famous tag of 40 -1 outsiders, least expected to win the Cup.

No sooner than the match started, Zimbabwean bowlers Dawson and Kevin Curran ran through India's top order like a hot knife through a slab of butter, with the score reading 5 down for 17, glittering that fine morning on the  scoreboard at Tunbridge Wells, a sleepy small English town.

At that point, for some strange reason their captain Duncan Fletcher, took off their marauding  bowler duo from the attack - a decision he would regret later, for one more wicket by their bowlers on rampage would have unsettled Indian batsmen, forever sealing India's dream and Kim's prediction.

When Dawson and Curran returned back later, a well set Kapil made a mincemeat of their bowling, rushing towards his record knock of 175 not put, setting up a respectable total to defend. India won the match, continuing its campaign further and later ending up winning the Cup.

India won the match, but the minnows Zimbabwe won the hearts, especially impressing all by their acrobatic fielding and spirited batting and bowling, announcing their arrival into the World Cricket scene.

Four years later in 1987, the World Cup was held in the Indian subcontinent for the first time. Led by a spirited score chase from Dave Houghton, their moustached, chain smoking, beer guzzling wicketkeeper, Zimbabwe almost defeated the Kiwis in a group game. It took Martin Crowe to take the catch of the tournament (adjudged the best catch in that World Cup) to grab Houghton's wicket and prevent an improbable Zimbabwean win.

Zimbabwe continued its impressive form, eventually earning its test cap. Not sure when exactly their downslide began, but most likely, it was political turmoil inside their nation which took its toll over its cricket.

Their elephant eating (no pun, he actually feasted on an elephant on his 90th birthday), nonagerian dictator Robert Mugabe did everything to take  Zimbabwe into an abyss of elephantine proportion, the game being a collateral damage. He practised reverse racism, driving away the white minority, who were mostly farmers and formed the backbone of their cricket.

Imagine if he would have been White and drove away the black minority in that nation. Zimbabwe would faced severe sanctions, in the same boat as South Africa during the heydays of Apartheid, banned from all international sporting events.

It's said that you have to carry a sac of Zimbabwean Dollar to buy a bag of grocery in that nation, where Cricket took a backseat as it was ravaged by severe recession. Yes, Zimbabwe continues to play Test cricket. Yes, they still play in World Cups. Yes, they have their odd successes. But the rising and shining team, which could have followed the footsteps of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, never rose any further and woefully stagnated. It is the sad saga of a resurgent team, who deserved a lot better.

Violence in NIT, Srinagar after India's defeat T20 World Cup

Just read a news about NIT, Srinagar - there was clash amongst the students after India's defeat in T20 semifinals. The environment inside the Engineering College Campus resembled a room filled with it flammable gas. All it needed to light a match stick, in form of celebration of a section of students, post India's defeat.

The Valley's antipathy towards India snd sympathy for Pakistan is not something new. During my college days in REC (now NIT) there was unprecedented violence over in Srinagar. Those students from Odisha, (tagging those on my friend list Ashutosh Mallick Dave Patnaik Asis Kumar Swain ) who used to study in Srinagar REC (as NIT was known then) were shifted to ours, as their institute was closed due to prolonged disturbances. They narrated many  interesting and harrowing stories. (One of them, Ashutosh Mallick, was taunted frequently SALIM MALIK TO MUSALMAN HAI, TU KAISE HINDU BAN GAYA, "Salim Malik is Muslim, how come you are Hindu",  ascribing to his last name ).

The students from the Srinagar Valley were mostly Muslims, who kept to themselves and were completely segregated from their Hindu and Sikh counterparts from Mainland India. Except perfunctory interactions of exchanging academic notes and greetings on Eid and Diwali, there were hardly any interactions between them. Pakistan was seen as the Promised Land, the land of freedom and opportunity. When  Zia Ul Haq died that fateful day in August, 1988 the mostly Muslims Kashmiris felt bereaved while the rest rejoiced in silence.

Nothing reflected the mental partition and the hiatus based on faith than cricket. The rooms of the Kashmiri Muslims adorned the pictures of Imran, Akram, Miandad and Salim Malik. In their common room, during Indo-Pak cricket encounters they used to sit segregated, with Kashmir Muslims cheering for Pakistan. Only Indian players who ever got an occasional cheer from the predominantly Muslim Kashmir students were Azharuddin and Arshad Ayub.

Unfortunately for the students from Mainland, India used to lose often to their traditional rivals. Their hapless supporters had to bear the brunt of taunts from the Pakistani supporters from Srinagar. It's no surprise for a politician from the Valley to sympathize with Pakistan, for he has correctly assessed the pulse of the locals.

I am sure this will ring a bell to my friends who studied in that institute a quarter of century ago. History never fails to repeat itself.

The Silly Campaign to ban buying Chinese goods

On social media, there is a campaign to ban buying Chinese goods in India, subsequent to the former's role in preventing from declaring Azhar Masood, the master brain behind terror attacks on Indian soil, an international terrorist. It goes as follows.....

"Please Boycott Chinese  goods permanently as China has voted against India in United Nation on the question of terrorism and has supported Pakistan openly. I am going to do it in National interest. You may also join. Blah blah .."

It's not my intention to put a spanner in their movement, IF it really helps in making a substantial difference to teach the Chinese a lesson - but India's share in Chinese exports is a mere 2 %, vis a vis, America's 20%, Western Europe's 15% and even Japan's 5%, a country which raped and ransacked China a little more than half a century ago.

The Chinese know how to do business. If they sensed any tangible impact on their economy by an Indian boycott of their goods, they could have been more prudent and easily dropped a small fry Azhar Masood like a hot potato. It wouldn't have been a big deal for them to do so.

Having said that - the best way to deal with the shrewed and recalcitrant Chinese is to built our own economy. We have a great potential to compete with them by becoming the economic hub of export. The Vietnamese and the Cambodians are already doing it - so why not us ?

But with such a chaotic democracy, it is easier said than done. To be an economic bullwork against the Bull in China Shop will take a while. The call for boycott of Chinese goods would be akin to take away a bucket of water from an ocean, or throwing a toothpick inside a volcano  - which would hardly make a dent. Till then, we have to bear this. Unfortunately.

Kukkad Khande Joge Ho

The legendary writer Khushwant Singh was once visiting Hong Kong, close to the heels of the humiliating defeat suffered by India at the hands of the  Chinese on the aftermath of their surprise attack on our Eastern front, in October' 1962.

As the eminent writer on an journalist assignment was walking on the street, a Sardar called him from behind, uttering  "SARDARJEE (As Sikhs are addressed in reverence). DESH SE AYE HO (have you come from our country ) ? TUMNE TO NAAK BHADDA DITTA (you cut our nose - meaning you have shamed us) ".

He continued further - "CHINIYAAN NE TO TUMHARI BH***ND MAARLI (the Chinese have screwed your bottom). KUKKAD KHAANDE JOGE HO (You are now only good at eating chicken - poking at the penchant of the Punjabi towards eating chicken. The pun was, you are good for nothing, chicken eating folks, who don't know how to fight).

The Sardar of Hong Kong went on - "I used to boast before my Chinese wife about our great martial tradition of Sikhs. Now she is poking fun at me". Point taken, the Chinese beat us left and right in that war, catching us unware, following the age old military adage, "surprise is the main element of war".

But no surprise here, when we fast forward to 2016, as history repeated itself. The Chinese successfully vetoed in United Nation, preventing the spineless agency from declaring Azhar Masood, the master brain behind terror attacks on Indian soil (spineless because the world's biggest and bloated Bureaucracy is utterly inefficient and helpless against the veto power wielding members, who use it, time and again with impunity to further their strategic aim).

Needless to say Pakistan had the last laugh, with the Chinese doing their bit to keep India on check. As far as India is concerned - it best can be described by my thoughts when I was eating chicken last night, that KUKKAD KHANDE JOGE HO (We, are good for nothing, good at eating Chicken). In addition, I have the additional skill of cooking chicken too, that's the best we can do.

Not a whole lot of water has flown in the SABARMATI since the last bonhomie between Eleven Xinping (as Xi Xinping, the Chinese President was called on Indian media) and our PM Modi, on a swing on the bank of the river. Things have taken a swing since, as THANDI HAWA (cool wind) on the river bank has turned into GARAM HAWA (hot wind) down the road - close to the advent of Indian Summer.

It again proved that the Chinese give a damn to our security concerns - the efforts of our North Block foreign affairs officials not withstanding. SABARMATI KE SANTH TUMNE KAR DIYA KAMAL  (Oh the sage of Sabarmatiyou have done wonders for us) !!!