St. Patrick's Day 2016

Today St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over across America. My son is excited about going to his school wearing a green outfit, the characteristic color of the Irish. Quite a sizable number of Americans wear green this day. At our Cafeteria Irish specials - Corn Beef, Parsnip potatoes and Braised Cabbage are served to celebrate the occasion.

St. Patrick is the name of a Patron Saint of Ireland, a small Island off the north west coast of England. The Irish Americans migrated in droves to the "New land", as America was called then, to escape the religious prosecution in their Island nation. Many fled the famous Potato famine in the eighteenth century, shipping themselves in their "Westward ho" towards America for food and future.

They came in sizable numbers and  carved their niche in their adopted land. Now they are pretty much spread over USA. though majority of them live in the New England area.

On backs of cars I have seen stickers proclaiming "FBI - Full Blooded Irish". Hats off to them and their contributions to US of A. Prominent amongst them I believe, is Hillary Clinton who is of Irish origin. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

The Trump juggernaut chugging ahead

I love following politics, especially the American politics which has all the exuberance and excitement associated with it - the arguments over policies, the clash of ideas, the gruelling screening of the candidates through endless debates and countless town hall meetings. But I had never seen anything close to the current campaign.

The election year of 2008 was special in its own way. In the fag end of a faltering and frustrating Bush era, amist a collapsing economy, the charismatic Barack Obama was solicitating the electorates with his sales pitch of "Hope  and Change we can believe in".

Desperate to regain his fast sinking poll numbers, his opponent the maverick John McCain took a calculated risk by nominating a lesser known Governor from Alaska as his running mate - Sarah Palin. The lady's sudden arrival at the national political scene had an electrifying effect, soon catching the imagination of American public. It helped McCain to surge temporarily, pulling from behind to take a slight lead over Obama.

To a friend of mine, a highly paid brilliant techie who drove a swanky SUV but a typical MUNDA (an Odia term depicting a stubborn guy) - she was an Angel from heaven, a Star born with a magic wand to tackle the issues of contemporary America. He felt Sarah Palin had all it takes to take the country out of doldrums at a time Dow Jones numbers was collapsing like a pack of cards. The reason he gave - look at her speech, her energy. Her body language tells me she can fix our problem just like that.

It's another matter that Sarah Palin not only didn't know the answers to the issues - often she didn't understand the questions. It was dangerous for such a person to be a breath away from the most powerful position on surface of earth (if the President stops breathing for some reason, the VP takes over). But emotions override logic, my good friend's MUNDAGIRI (stubborness) barely waned.

Eventuality it was the turn of another  fresh face, Barrack Obama to win that election. But it vindicated one thing - America's fascination towards a new face. Trump is a product of that, though this time it's different. The phenomena called Donald Trump has trumped all logic and everybody. Love him or hate him, can't ignore him - for he has changed the entire dynamics of the Presidential politics this year.

Unlike Sarah Palin who fizzled out too soon, Trump phoenix keeps on rising from ash when every pundit thinks he is done, dusted. Like a Helium filled balloon he keeps on climbing. The Trump juggernaut is chugging ahead, with no sign to stop.

Politics is a game of mind. It is an art to plant the seeds of doubt in the minds of electorates regarding your opponents, by defining him before he defines himself to the voters. Trump has successfully done this to his opponents. He defined Jeb Bush as "someone low on energy". Politics is a matter of perception, with this definition he made look Jeb Bush who spoke with long monologues on debates, look drab and boring, with his $150 million chest not withstanding.

Trump's branding of Rubio as diminutive from top to bottom worked against Rubio both literally and figuratively. Verbal punches flew between them, but Trump was the one who came out as winner, as he was able to connect to audience to perceive Rubio the way he wanted them to.

Trump has won the battle not the war.  Fighting republican opponents and the presumed Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton will not be the same thing. It's high time for him to tone down his rhetorics, if he really has a shot at winning his cherished dream. Otherwise, barring some major terror strike on American soil, a catastrophic economic slump and Hillary Clinton caught in the web of a major scandal - America will see its first Woman President.

In the meantime I have seen a few posts on social media, proclaiming Trump as the harbinger of death to American democracy. With due respect to their knowledge about American politics - little knowledge drawn from couple of websites to substantiate such views can be a dangerous.

Such remarks are widely off the mark. One swallow doesn't make a summer, a judgement based upon a few websites  is not the gospel - can be extremely  flawed. Reports of scuffles at Trump rallies doesn't suggest an imminent collapse of American political system. Such premonitions are highly premature and preposterous.

US is a matured democracy. This is not 1968 campaign season when Martin Luther King and the Democratic front runner Robert Kennedy, the charismatic brother of JFK were assassinated during the peak primary season. It was also marres by violent anti-Vietnam war and Civil right protests. Nor American democracy collapsed in 1972 when there was virtually a riot at the Democratic convention.

America has traveled through those tumultuous times and will survive for times to come. I am not saying this as a clairvoyant or astrologer, but because its fundamentals are pretty strong. Only a house with a strong foundation is expected to withstanding rough weather, and I am sure America will.

Vijay Malya fled to England

Vijay Malya, an Indian businessman with a colorful persona as colorful as his Kingfisher Calendars, is accused of fleeing India as a loan defaulter. As the weather is heating up in the dusty plains of India with his moneylenders giving him a hot chase, he is now cooling his heels in the salubrious, cooler climes of England.

The Kingfisher bird, a la his famously failed airlines, flew across the seven seas to his safety net, from the net and the clutch of his clients and money owners. It rings a bell about the not so long ago sentencing of several Business Czars in China. China's President Xi Xinping is cracking whip on their corrupt underbelly, which includes but not limited to Businessmen. He is now using his influence, persuading foreign countries to send back those who fled with their ill gotten wealth.

Most of the perpetrators flew abroad, the list of countries include the closer Singapore to farther United States. Some of these fugitives have surrendered. A few still remain at large, being harder nut to crack - for they have fled to US, Canada and Australia with whom China has no extradition treaty.

Yet China has been able to press America to get some concession in the form of them agreeing to cooperate by deciding to repatriate some, with the condition that the cases being handled as per American law and value (it's just a standard rider from the Americans. No sooner than those Chinese guys are sent back to China, as some already are, Gulag rather than American value will be awaiting them).

If fraudulent practises are epidemic in India, it's rampant in China which is known to hang folks convicted of such charges. I don't think they fled overnight without the knowledge and connivance of the Chinese authority, especially in a nation where one may not able to fart privately without the government sniffing at you.

Yet, setting up an example by bringing a few fugitives back to homeland has it's effect, acting as a great deterrent, accusations of political vendetta or  agenda not withstanding. When the bull is in China shop, they take it by horn. There will be damages, but minimized and exemplary to the rest. Hope the neighbors of the Middle Kingdom, sharing their border and a history of 3000 years follow the suit.

Women's Franchise in America

Since mid 1800s, women in America had been fighting for their right to vote. One of the primary proponents and fighters of their cherished dream was Susan B. Anthony. Many in contemporary America of early 20th century argued against giving women any political rights. The common reason given - Male are made to bring home bacon and women belonged to home.

Reasons given against Women's Suffrage could be as silly as - Women if allowed to vote would argue with their husbands (It's another matter, arguably in 21st century the voting wives have still not relinquished their hobby of arguing with their hubbies).

Like many turning points in history, sheer fate rather than anything revolutionary, in the form cataclysmic World War I accelerated the path towards women's voting rights. At the height of the War the Europeans were busy in destroying their  industries and infrastructure. America a late entrant into the war, did what they do best, doing big business by using the hungry Europe as a market for their products. Job demand in US sore up, bringing women out of home, to the job market.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson said "We have made women partners in this war. Shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering, sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of right ?"

In 1919, Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women right to vote. But 1920, enough states in United States ratified it into law. After ages of suffering, began the Age of Woman Suffrage in America. Nearly a century later, Hillary Clinton could be the first Woman President of the United States.

Making of the likes of Kanhaiya Kumar

The sudden rise and rise of the likes of AK (Arvind Kejriwal) to KK (Kanhaiya Kumar) in our polity is not a new phenomena. We the people of India, by our opinionated discussion and debate on the media, social or otherwise, knowingly or inadvertently, are champions in catapulting such folks into the limelight, handing them a political career on a silver platter.

 

No wonder I can smell a Congress rat behind all this. If one connects the dots, s(h)ame can be ascribed to the caste based agitations recently held in Gujarat, Andhra and Haryana, where the party and casteism is still a formidable force. Used to long years in power and sucking the blood of the nation like leeches, providing an ecosystem created for with their Cronies, which has a long list of beneficiaries that includes but certainly not limited to pliant bureaucrats, crony capitalists and petty DALAALs (middle layer beneficiaries), who benefited immensely from the vulture culture cemented by Congress. These parasites now restless, are back in business with a bang.

 

Something conspicuous hasn't escaped my notice - the overwhelming majority of the intelligentsia, the supporters of BJP and its right wing policies are upper caste Hindus. The backwards, lower castes and the minorities at large are suspicious at them. They still look for Congies, Commies and their Cronies for succor and as their savior. Congress is very apt at playing these political games - no wonder they along with Commies (in Bengal, though the Communist top brass are mostly upper caste Hindus) enjoyed long stints of power.

 

Coming back to Kanhaiya Kumar, a note of caution to him. A balloon which rises too fast, can fizzle out too soon. Public memory can be too short, they along with the media will move something fresh and saleworthy rather than newsworthy.

 

Kanhaiya Jee, this is not 1966 when selling poverty was fashionable in the era of bank nationalization. Now poverty is far from the epidemic proportion it was once half a century ago when India had to sustain of PL-180 grain sacs as manna dew from West and Communism, a concept now way past its expiry date, was sold as the panacea for poverty.

 

Disagreeing with Capitalism which is not free from lacunae and has its own shortcomings is perfectly fine, so also espousing freedom of speech and fighting for the downtrodden. But banking on a proven failed ideology to fight poverty is not fresh, rather sounds as stale an idea, as a stale Roti (bread) is rejected even by the stray dogs these days.

 

So rather than raising empty Communist slogans in swanky JNU or Jadavpur, relinquish your Jhola (shoulder strapped bags mostly made from cotton) and please work among the poorest of the poor in Bastar or Bankura. Service to the poor is service to God. Media can make you the star for a day or month, but to sustain such stardom you need to go way above and beyond petty rhetoric and histrionics.

RIP Martin Crowe

A gifted batsman and a natural player, he earned accolades from no other than the legendary Imran Khan, a fastidious cricketer whose rare appreciation includes Vivian Richards and Inzamam Ul Haq.

Martin Crowe arrived on the cricket scene in mid 1980s, as a shadow of his better known elder brother Jeff. Soon the younger Crowe proved to be a prolific and dependable player, a utility bowler and excellent fielder, who could single handedly turn the table on his opponents,  turning out to be a world class player, earning accolades from seasoned cricketers of the time.

The 1992 World Cup could have been a befitting tribute to this great player. The favorite Kiwis were knocked out of the World Cup in the Semi final at their home ground Auckland, by a resurgent Pakistan. Martin Crowe who missed that match due to injury, could only helplessly watch in agony as Inzamam, another player who shared with him similar  eloquence from Imran. The Pakistani batsman ended the Kiwi's dream run, played a swashbuckling knock of 32 ball 60, to knock the Kiwis out of the World Cup.

Martin Crowe's career was constantly plagued by injury. The gifted batsman who was a dangerous proposition to the Kiwis opponents, was frequently sidelined for failed fitness, until he finally retired in mid 90s. His international  cricket career lasted little more than a decade.

Post retirement, he was active as a player and coach until cancer got the better of him. RIP, braveheart.

India's prospect at Rio Olympics

Winter has given way to Spring. Before we bat our eyelids, summer will be knocking our doors. This year is unique, a leap year and the year of the Olympics. Sports lovers all across the globe will be looking forward to what is arguably the greatest Sporting event on earth in Rio, Brazil.

The country known famously for Samba and Soccer and the city known for jamboree, are getting ready to host this Mega event, as thousands of athletes from all over the world, including India will congregate for "Citius, Altius, Fortius" at the Olympics village.

As expected, the prospects India doesn't look very bright. An odd gold medal and at best 10 medals in total for a nation of 1.25 billions and amongst top 10 nations in GDP is far from a matter of pride.
It seems we have taken the motto set by Baron De Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics - "Participation is more important than winning medals", a little too seriously. So don't chase a mirage and expect any Bollywood style magic, with some undue expectation of last minute miracles, when a medal in this age of competitive sports, needs months and years of preparation, at world class level.

If history is an indication, our past performance augurs anything but hope. The first medal we won outside Hockey was a bronze by Wrestler K.D. Yadav in 1952, followed by the next in Tennis after 44 years in 1996, again a bronze medal.

In Hockey the last time we won a medal was in the depleted 1980 Moscow Olympics, thanks to the overwhelming favorites Australia, West Germany, Pakistan and Netherland being part of the US led boycott. Milkha Singh in 1960 and P T Usha in 1984 missed the bronze by a whisker, though I give more credit to Milkha as the 1984 Olympics was boycotted by the Soviet Block.

Post Y2K (year 2000), we had our odd successes, winning our first ever Gold and Silver medals beyond hockey in shooting. Came trickling in a few bronzes in the form of Wrestling and Boxing, thanks to our state of Haryana. But that's it, hardly any  justice to a nation of our size and stature.

Indian Sports management should take notice about the minnows North Korea  who manage to win more gold medals than us - a nation where the overwhelming majority of the population  live in abject poverty and suffer from chronic malnutrition. An average Indian  eats better and lives better than an average North Korean. Yet they train better and with hungry stomach have  have much more appetite for winning medals. (Their performance on sporting arena is no fluke, shouldn't be pooh-poohed as the effect of performance enhancing drugs and threats of being sent to Gulag).

On the other hand there is simply no excuse to our performance, or rather lack of it, vindicating us as hardly a sporting nation in spite of our 1.25 teeming billion. Our sports system needs a complete revamp, before it can yield some concrete results. Here are a few simple suggestions.

First of all, kick the Netas and their crooked, crony officials out from our sports governing bodies. They already have done irreparable damage, as if 70 years of wastage is not long enough. Sportsmanship is simply not their forte, not in this age of competitive sports,  especially to be left alone in the hands of  those not known for professionalism.

Secondly, create world class sports infrastructure and develop sports at the grass root level. China sowed such seeds in 70s and now reaping the benefits. If we sow it today, down the road we could see some tangible outcome.

Third, look beyond cricket. Popularize soccer, hockey, swimming, track and field and so on. Like crop rotation does wonders to fertility and different mental activities for mind, multiple sports helps us to be more sportive. All these are no rocket science. Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand do well in Olympics, apart from playing cricket.

With that said, if and when this happens, my generation may not be there to see that day. With unaccomlished dream, I am destined to be a haunted BRAHMA RAKHYASA, hunting for its victims ( Per legend in Odisa, if a Brahmin dies with
unfulfilled desires, he is cursed to roam as a burly, demonic champion of Ghosts and Ghouls, feared as BRAHMA RAKHYASA among others. He  supposedly lives on a huge Banyan tree on the outskirts, bossing over the neighborhood. Such a fate awaits me).