Gavaskar : 60, not out

On July 10, last, the cricket loving people of the world celebrated 60^th birth day of legendary Padmbhushan Sunil Manohar Gavaskar who has been the strongest childhood images for a generation. It was amazing to watch him, frozen in his stance, having left the ball alone, bat pointing down the pitch, holding the stare of a glaring fast bowler. When Sunil Gavaskar started his career, India was lacking even a slow medium pacer for practice session. The feat of Gavaskar is unique in its nature as he achieved it by always facing the new balls delivered by the fastest bowlers of the world of their time – John Snow, Bob Willis, Ian Bothom of England, Holding, Marshall, Roberts, Garner of west Indies, Lilly, Thompson of Australia, Imran, Sarfaraj of Pakistan and Richard Hadlee of New Zealand in the very beginning of all the innings of his record studded career as the finest opening batsman, the world has ever produced. He always replied the speed and bounce of the fiery bowlers with his technique on all the fast wickets of the world. He loved to use his bat for his protection rather than wearing a helmet. His performance and achievements are as high as the crown of mother India – the great Himalayas.

Before Gavaskar took the rein of Indian batting in his strong hands, we were used to hear the story of defeats only by any cricket playing country. Who can forget his debut Test series in West Indies where the world watched a lad making centuries and double centuries in a row enabling his team to clinch the series from the mighty jaw of great Garry Sobers. The record of run scored by a new comer in his debut series is still unbeaten. The borne genius scored 650 plus in series with an average of 200 plus. India started tasting victory on foreign soil due to toil of unparallel Gavaskar. Before him it was a dream only. It will never go beyond the memory of cricket lovers, the most memorable day of Indian cricket, the 28^th day of December 1983, when the Little master Gavaskar, the history man of the world cricket, flicked Winston Davis of his toes to square leg for his 30^th Test hundred eclipsing the three-decade-old record of 29 centuries by Sir Don Bradman of Australia. It was a day, indeed, for every Indian to raise his head with pride and happiness. He was the first to break the 10,000 run barrier also.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulakar remembers Gavaskar on his 60^th birthday with his tributes, “ I am always in awe of him. I wanted to make the most of my good fortune in being privy to the wisdom of Sunil Gavaskar. When our coaches told us to follow a particular routine and we asked why, the reply was Sunil Gavaskar did this. He was the ultimate example, and to our coaches and to us, if he did something, then we had to do it as well. That’s also one of his great contributions to Indian cricket. Whichever way you may look at it, he is an institution. When he retired, for our generation, 34 Test hundreds was the ultimate ambition. For me, he still is and will continue to remain my hero.”

As a cricketer, he is well known to every body. But in his second innings after retirement, he has set up many milestones also as commentator, writer, administrator and advisor. The recipient of Padmabhushan award and the honour of Sheriff of Mumbai, Sunil Gavaskar has been inducted in the ICC hall of fame. The Border-Gavaskar trophy has been instituted in his honour.

It is the right time to confer Bharat Ratna to this one of the greatest sons of mother India, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar for his sky touching achievements and contributions to world cricket in general and Indian cricket in particular in the auspicious year of his 60^th birth day. Let us hope, government of India will think over in this direction.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED

The motive behind setting up enquiry commission is not truth finding. The real motive behind is dumping the burning issues in a deep freezer beyond the memories of common people and the other motive is to provide re-employment to a retired judge of ruling party’s choice. Three commissions have been constituted so far to inquire the mysterious death of Netaji’s Subhash Chandra Bose, one Jain commission for Rajiv gandhi’s Assasination case, three for Godhra-riots, Shah commission for access of emergency with no line of action till date. Reports of numerous enquiry commissions are lying in the shelves of different ministries. Liberhan commission was set up to inquire how Babri masjid was demolished. Justice M.S.Liberhan took 17 years in finding facts which are known to every citizen of India. Justice delayed is justice denied. Had the Allahabad High court made it reserved judgment public on ownership of contentious 2.77 acres in the temple town before demolition of the mosque, the accident could have been avoided. A lot of public money was spent on controlling riots and useless Liberhan commission thereafter. But who cares for tax payers’ money. A good chunk of it is always consumed by government machineries in the form of scams, scandals, security of VIPs, foreign tours, MP/MLA funds and enquiry commissions.

माँ

धरती अत्यन्त सहिष्णु है,

पर कभी-कभी विफरती है -

भूकंप कराकर देती दंड,

ज्वालामुखी धधकती है.

आकाश की सीमा नापे कौन,

अनन्त, अनादि और विशाल,

जीवन देता खुश होने पर,

क्रुध्द होकर बनता महाकाल.

तू अतुलनीय है माँ मेरी,

देव, देवियाँ और धरती,

आकाश, मेघ, पर्वत, सरिता,

तेरी तुलना में क्या गिनती.

न कभी कुमाता हो सकती,

मैं हो जाऊँ चाहे कठोर,

यह सारी सृष्टि एक ओर,

ऐ माँ मेरी तू एक ओर.

अपराध किये मैंने ढेरों,

पर आशीर्वाद दिये तूने,

क्रिया-प्रतिक्रिया नियमों को,

झूठा ही सिध्द किया तूने.

कच्ची मिट्टी सी सोंधी है,

तू प्राणदायी शीतल पवन,

जलते दीये सी रोशन है,

ऐ माँ तुझे शत-शत नमन.

पिता

वह तुम्हारा पिता ही है जिसने --

तुम्हें अपनी बाहों में उठाकर हृदय से लगाया था,

जब तुम इस पृथ्वी पर आये थे;

उँगली पकड़ाकर चलना सिखाया था,

जब तुम लड़खड़ाये थे.

वही है वह, जो सदा तुम्हें प्रोत्साहित करता है,

तुम्हारे सारे सद्प्रयासों को दिल से सराहता है,

कोई भी लक्ष्य जब तुम पाते हो,

खुश होता है वह, मन्द-मन्द मुस्काता है.

बाल-मन - जब कोई झटका लगता है, उदास हो जाते हो,

उन क्षणों में तुम्हें मुस्कुराने की प्रेरणा देता है,

गालों पर लुढ़क आये अश्रुकणों को पोंछ,

पेट में गुदगुदी लगा हँसा देता है.

तुम्हारी कभी खत्म न होनेवाली शंकायें,

उससे बात करते ही दूर भाग जाती हैं,

तुम्हारे तरह-तरह के प्रश्न --

धैर्यपूर्वक सुनता है, समाधान निकालता है, मार्गदर्शन करता है,

आगे बढ़ने की हिम्मत अनायास आ जाती है.

कभी सोचा है --

तुम्हारी छोटी उपलब्धि पर भी,

उसकी आँखें क्यों चमक जाती हैं,

आगे तुम बढ़ते हो, गर्व से उसकी छाती,

क्यों चौड़ी हो जाती है !

बार-बार माँ की तरह

सीने से नहीं लगाता है,

वात्सल्य, स्नेह और मधुर भाव,

कोशिश कर छुपाता है.

समय के प्रवाह में,

जब स्वयं पिता बन जाओगे,

बनावटी कठोरता का राज,

खुद ही समझ जाओगे.

फ़ादर्स डे (२१.०६.०९) के अवसर पर रचित

Mera Bharat Mahan

Three incidents of last fortnight have revealed the fact that corruption has got deep roots in our system and society. Justice Nirmal Yadav of Punjab and Haryana High Court has been recommended removal from services by Chief Justice of India on the charge established beyond doubt that she received money, mobile, land, whiskey and more from a private individual. Last week CBI exercised raids on 250 places of the country at a time and found 67 officers possessing moveable and immoveable properties worth many crores, gathered by unfair means. FIRs in black and white were lodged against corrupt officers by CBI. Illustrated daily from Delhi, The Hindustan Times in its exclusive report (June,12,2009 ) has unveiled the embezzlement in Chief Minister Relief Fund. The money received by donations for Punjab Chief Minister Relief Fund to help victims of calamities like flood, fire and serious accidents was disbursed as Diwali handouts, staff honorarium, grants for foreign tours, press clubs, bar associations, sangeet sammelan, medical treatment of MLAs. Money was also loaned to individuals and clubs. Successive Punjab governments did nothing despite repeated objections from auditors. The Prime Minister Relief Fund is also not an exception. Who can forget historic Bofors scandal by Rajiv Gandhi, Fodder scam by Laloo Yadav, Four crore kick back received in the gallery of Loksabha by Shibu Soren and crores and crores in cash found lying beneath the mattress of Sukhram. Nearly 300 crorepatis are representing poor people of socialist democratic India in newly formed Loksabha.

Recently an International agency – Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, in its report has adjudged our bureaucracy as the worst among countries of Asia. Politicians after sincere efforts of many years have secured top ranking in corruption with bureaucrats as runner up, the report says. It is in astonishing.

During natural calamity caused by unprecedented flood of river Koshi, last year in Bihar, people preferred to go to the camps of RSS, Baba Ramdev and Asha Ram Bapoo for relief. Only 40% of electorates turned to exercise their right to franchise in recently concluded Loksabha polls. This clearly shows the apathy of the people for the prevailing system. It is not a good sign for the health of our democracy and MERA BHARAT MAHAN.

Our Men in Blue capable of retaining T20 crown

Our men in blue are quite capable of retaining the world twenty20 title. Last time Team India was not a favorite team. No one had expected the world title as the majority of team-members were inexperienced and the captain was also in learning stage. Now the scenario is completely changed. All the members of Team India have got good experience of T20 International matches. Except NZ, they have registered convincing victories over all the cricket playing giants. At present they are fully charged. Team India has good combination of bowling attack in both varieties - spin and pace. Harbhajan Singh is one of the best spinners of the world. Pragyan Ojha has developed a wonderful skill of spin bowling for T-20 matches. All cricket pundits have watched him in action in the second edition of IPL and in recent world cup tournament under progress. The critics are amazed with his miraculous performance. He is almost unplayable to most of the batsmen. We have two very good fast bowlers – Ishant Sharma and Zahir Khan. Ishant Sharma is always capable of breaking any settled partnership by his accurate slightly out of off stump fast delivery, where Zahir picking up early wickets with the help of his swinging yorker in his first spell with shining new ball. Yuvraj, Yusuf and Irfan are best all rounders.They have developed expertise in T-20 version especially. We have got good varieties in our attack as such.
The batting of our men in blue is also very impressive and has got a good depth. Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma may be considered as the best successful opening pair of the world. Dhoni and Raina can exploit any bowling attack and accelerate the run rate with desired velocity, any time. Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan are above all. Their stay only for five avers at the batting crease may keep the opponents five million kilometers away from victory. Our tail in the form of Irfan, Harbhajan and Zahir is also reliable. Their eyes always remain on boundaries for hitting consecutive fours and sixes. Team has got good combination of offense and defense. Fielding of young blue men is also of world class. It is a balance team in all respects. In addition, Team India is lucky enough to have cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its captain whose intelligent moves on ground keep everyone remembering the moves of great Vishwanathan Anand on chess board. Had Virendra Sehwag been fit and part of blue men squad, the victory would have been beyond doubt. Though nothing can be predicted for T-20 matches, yet keeping in view the established talents and capabilities of our men in blue, one can confidently say that Team India will come off with flying colours. A cent percent commitment and a favour of luck, a little bit, are however required all the time
BEST OF LUCK – MEN IN BLUE!

HEY RAAM

What happened to our system! In the country of Vikramaditya, the devil of corruption is taking the shape of lady monster SURSA . Ruling parties are busy in celebrating their unexpected victory and oppositions, in introspections. Judiciary has also started tasting apples with Adams. During tenure of late P Narasimha Rao as Prime Minister, an impeachment was processed in Parliament against sitting judge of Supreme Court, Mr. Cho Ramaswamy for his involvement in corruption and malpractices. He anyhow managed the blessings of the then PM and escaped narrowly. The proposal was turned down as it could not muster support of two third of MPs. Now Chief Justice of India has once again recommended the removal of a judge, Justice Nirmal yadav of Punjab & Haryana High Court on the charges established beyond doubt that she received money, mobile, land, whiskey and more from a private individual. Here also the Union Government is not allowing prosecution. If someone expects some fair deal from politicians, he may be called a day dreamer. Politicians after sincere efforts of many years have secured top ranking in corruption with bureaucrats as runner up in a recent survey report published by an independent international agency. Now judiciary is unveiled. Birds of the same feather flock together. Who will save this country?

HEY RAAM!