Once you cross this field, beyond the bridge is your destination said the man working in the field. Thanking him we were walking briskly to witness the finals of the football tournament in the neighbouring village. Come on we don't have time to pick up that mango. The match is just about to start.
It was one of the most awaited moment in recent days. Everyone in the village was talking about it. We were all discussing strategies to defeat the neighbouring team. It was a rivalry that had a long history and today was the moment for the players to leave their mark. It was an exhilarating experience to be there.
Just as the match was about to begin, we could see a familiar face appearing from far away. The man we saw in the field was running towards the ground.He was gasping for air. There was an urgency in his voice. We heard that a few children had fallen sick and needed to be transferred to the hospital in the nearby town immediately. Everyone was shocked.
The rival team groups had now merged into a single group. The ground was empty within minutes. Opponents were now working together to help transfer the sick to the hospital. People were calming down the parents. It was truly a remarkable moment in the history of the two villages.
Today we just stand up in silence for one minute to console the one who is not amongst us. Even bomb blasts at a stadium don't stop a game from being played.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Stroll
It was noon and I was walking towards home. I was looking for a way to quench my thirst when I saw a fruit vendor selling tender coconuts. Immediately I started walking towards him.
He was sitting beneath a huge mango tree on a little home made seat. Behind the tree was a small house surrounded by a hedge. His elderly mother was sitting in the verandah cleaning rice. There was a little tailor shop where his wife was sewing. Two kids were playing in the verandah with their grandfather.
As I reached near the tree I could see that the vendor had cleaned up the area surrounding the tree and sprinkled water on it. I could here a prayer song playing softly on the small radio kept under his seat. On a wooden table he had arranged different kinds of fruits in an organized manner. Coconuts were kept on a sack by the side of the table.
I asked him for some coconut water. With a well sharpened knife he cut the top portion of the coconut, put a straw in it and gave it to me. While I was drinking the sweet coconut water in the shade of the tree it was refreshing to observe the serene scene.
He was sitting beneath a huge mango tree on a little home made seat. Behind the tree was a small house surrounded by a hedge. His elderly mother was sitting in the verandah cleaning rice. There was a little tailor shop where his wife was sewing. Two kids were playing in the verandah with their grandfather.
As I reached near the tree I could see that the vendor had cleaned up the area surrounding the tree and sprinkled water on it. I could here a prayer song playing softly on the small radio kept under his seat. On a wooden table he had arranged different kinds of fruits in an organized manner. Coconuts were kept on a sack by the side of the table.
I asked him for some coconut water. With a well sharpened knife he cut the top portion of the coconut, put a straw in it and gave it to me. While I was drinking the sweet coconut water in the shade of the tree it was refreshing to observe the serene scene.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Scorecard
It was truly a nail biting finish at the Eden Garden’s. I was reading an article that was describing the last few moments of the game in a ball by ball manner when I realized something. No, not that the team was assured of the numero uno spot for the year. Nor the fact that the team was assured a large sum of money.
I was looking at the score card. Four players had scored a century each. Three bowlers had performed very well in the match. What struck me was that these players belong to different parts of the country (North, South, East, West and Central). They believe in different faiths. They were brought up in different backgrounds. Yet they had come together and played as a splendid unit to chalk out one of the biggest wins.
In the current turbulent times when the country is being divided on so many trivial issues, our cricket team has set a great example of unity in diversity.
I was looking at the score card. Four players had scored a century each. Three bowlers had performed very well in the match. What struck me was that these players belong to different parts of the country (North, South, East, West and Central). They believe in different faiths. They were brought up in different backgrounds. Yet they had come together and played as a splendid unit to chalk out one of the biggest wins.
In the current turbulent times when the country is being divided on so many trivial issues, our cricket team has set a great example of unity in diversity.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Respect
As we stepped into the college we were greeted by a humble person in mid 60's. After the initial greetings we were served tea and biscuits. We then began introducing ourselves. He was the final person to speak.
He had achieved a lot over the years winning several awards and recognitions. Then at the age of 58 or so he had decided to leave all that glory and had come to the college with one passion in mind, betterment of the younger generation. As we introduced the concept we were trying to implement he was immediately able to visualize it and thus was able to provide some great suggestions we had not seen at all.
Amidst our conversation he gave us an interesting perspective. He said he always respects and supports a decision made by person around him. It does not matter if the decision is not completely right but the person has put in thought behind it and he respects that.
Those simple words got me thinking for a long time. Many a times we have a tendency to be absolutely critical of the entire work and the person who did it just because 1% of it was not done in the right way. Before we speak in disrespectful manner we should first realize that the person did 99% of the work in the right way.
Students call him Pitambare sir. He is the Dean Training and placement officer at Sinhagad college of Engineering. He is also known by a nickname "naukri.com".
He had achieved a lot over the years winning several awards and recognitions. Then at the age of 58 or so he had decided to leave all that glory and had come to the college with one passion in mind, betterment of the younger generation. As we introduced the concept we were trying to implement he was immediately able to visualize it and thus was able to provide some great suggestions we had not seen at all.
Amidst our conversation he gave us an interesting perspective. He said he always respects and supports a decision made by person around him. It does not matter if the decision is not completely right but the person has put in thought behind it and he respects that.
Those simple words got me thinking for a long time. Many a times we have a tendency to be absolutely critical of the entire work and the person who did it just because 1% of it was not done in the right way. Before we speak in disrespectful manner we should first realize that the person did 99% of the work in the right way.
Students call him Pitambare sir. He is the Dean Training and placement officer at Sinhagad college of Engineering. He is also known by a nickname "naukri.com".
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Star
The sun had set and in no time it was dark. We were still trying our best to find the lost cricket ball in the bushes. Why did he have to hit the ball so hard at this hour? A few of us were complaining. After much struggle we were still not able to find it. Finally we decided to come back early in the morning to continue our search.
Five of us were then strolling towards home. Look at the moon one among us said. Look at the beautiful crescent shape added another. Yes and do you see that star asked a boy who was elder to us. Yes we can see the star, we said. You will have to wait for some time for that star to enter into the crescent. You will then see the crescent and star symbol in the sky. Wow! we said.
For the next hour we were patiently waiting for the star to move and enter into the crescent as is shown in all the pictures. When that did not happen we wished for the moon to move towards the star. After a while some one had come looking out for us and we had left for home.
For another year or so we would look at the moon and any star nearby and wished for either the star or the moon to move before we realized we had been tricked.
Five of us were then strolling towards home. Look at the moon one among us said. Look at the beautiful crescent shape added another. Yes and do you see that star asked a boy who was elder to us. Yes we can see the star, we said. You will have to wait for some time for that star to enter into the crescent. You will then see the crescent and star symbol in the sky. Wow! we said.
For the next hour we were patiently waiting for the star to move and enter into the crescent as is shown in all the pictures. When that did not happen we wished for the moon to move towards the star. After a while some one had come looking out for us and we had left for home.
For another year or so we would look at the moon and any star nearby and wished for either the star or the moon to move before we realized we had been tricked.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Coin
I met them exactly after one year. Just as before we were engrossed disucssing various errands we had undertaken in the last one year. While I was engrossed mostly with work and re-creation they had come to realize the limitations of old age and were learning to adjust to this new adventure. Yet our conversation's always had something for me to learn.
They had reached the bank 15 minutes before the closing time. They had verified that the bag of coins contained exactly 100 dollars. Although the bank agent was wrapping up her work for the day, she greeted them with a smiling face. They handed the bag to the agent and asked for a 100 dollar note in exchange. She verified the amount and was about to give the 100 dollar note when she noticed something. She took out a peculiar looking one dollar coin.
Are you new to this place? she asked. Yes we are. Look at this coin carefully said the agent. It is made of silver. Ah! yes we never noticed it. Only a few thousand coins of these type were minted a few years ago on the occasion of president's birth anniversary. The cost of this coin in the market will be about 50 dollars. I don't know how much a numismatist will offer you. Here is the 100 dollar note and here is your special coin. Keep it safely.
They were wonder struck with the honesty the bank agent had shown.
They had reached the bank 15 minutes before the closing time. They had verified that the bag of coins contained exactly 100 dollars. Although the bank agent was wrapping up her work for the day, she greeted them with a smiling face. They handed the bag to the agent and asked for a 100 dollar note in exchange. She verified the amount and was about to give the 100 dollar note when she noticed something. She took out a peculiar looking one dollar coin.
Are you new to this place? she asked. Yes we are. Look at this coin carefully said the agent. It is made of silver. Ah! yes we never noticed it. Only a few thousand coins of these type were minted a few years ago on the occasion of president's birth anniversary. The cost of this coin in the market will be about 50 dollars. I don't know how much a numismatist will offer you. Here is the 100 dollar note and here is your special coin. Keep it safely.
They were wonder struck with the honesty the bank agent had shown.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Tip
Today I saw a unique collection. A collection of excellent emails spanning 10+ years. For about an hour or more I was reading through the stories, jokes, optical illusions, puzzles, historical events, speeches etc. Among all of them one story really stood out.
The story begins with a young child walking into an ice cream shop. He asked the attendant for the cost of the popular chocolate ice cream. 10 Rupees said the attendant expecting the child to walk out of the shop due to lack of money. What is the cost of the ice cream next to the chocolate one asked the child? That costs Rupees 8 said the attendant in an irritated voice. The child silently bought this ice cream and ate it happily. When the time came to pay, the child paid Rupees 8 and then kept a tip of Rupees 2 to the attendant. The attendant accepted the Rupee 2 note with a teary eye. That was the end of the story.
There are a certain set of etiquettes followed by the customer and the attendant. Similarly there are a set of etiquettes followed by author, director, producer and actor. It is really sad to see some of the leading stars and well educated people being involved in a fight over a petty film called "Three idiots". Or should I call it "Four idiots" (Author, Actor, Director and Producer who forgot the real message they were trying to spread across with the book and the film).
The story begins with a young child walking into an ice cream shop. He asked the attendant for the cost of the popular chocolate ice cream. 10 Rupees said the attendant expecting the child to walk out of the shop due to lack of money. What is the cost of the ice cream next to the chocolate one asked the child? That costs Rupees 8 said the attendant in an irritated voice. The child silently bought this ice cream and ate it happily. When the time came to pay, the child paid Rupees 8 and then kept a tip of Rupees 2 to the attendant. The attendant accepted the Rupee 2 note with a teary eye. That was the end of the story.
There are a certain set of etiquettes followed by the customer and the attendant. Similarly there are a set of etiquettes followed by author, director, producer and actor. It is really sad to see some of the leading stars and well educated people being involved in a fight over a petty film called "Three idiots". Or should I call it "Four idiots" (Author, Actor, Director and Producer who forgot the real message they were trying to spread across with the book and the film).
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Pack
It was the eve of a festive occasion. Everybody in the house was busy attending to the relatives who were visiting us. Four of us, two in sixth and two in seventh standard, were climbing the steps in stealth mode. Our errand was to open a huge glass container kept near a window on the first floor and taste the liquid inside. The liquid happened to be a crystal clear form of liquor.
We had reached the first floor without anybody noticing us. Carefully we opened the lid of the container. Two of us tilted the glass container and poured the liquor into another smaller container. Just as we were about to finish one of us cried "No! we have poured some of it on the floor."
The floor was made of long wooden planks bolted on top of thick wooden beams. We could see the ground floor through the crevices between the wooden planks. The liquid was seeping through the cracks onto the ground floor. Drops of liquor were now falling right amongst the elders who were seated in the same room discussing matters concerning the village.
We could first hear them whisper and then talk aloud. What's that smell? That's liquor. Is anybody drunk here? Come on none of us drink. Hey something is leaking on the first floor and it smells like liquor.
And then we were facing them. Why did you open the liquor container? What were you guys up to? If this is how you behave at this age then what are you guys going to do when you grow up? We stood there silently.
We had reached the first floor without anybody noticing us. Carefully we opened the lid of the container. Two of us tilted the glass container and poured the liquor into another smaller container. Just as we were about to finish one of us cried "No! we have poured some of it on the floor."
The floor was made of long wooden planks bolted on top of thick wooden beams. We could see the ground floor through the crevices between the wooden planks. The liquid was seeping through the cracks onto the ground floor. Drops of liquor were now falling right amongst the elders who were seated in the same room discussing matters concerning the village.
We could first hear them whisper and then talk aloud. What's that smell? That's liquor. Is anybody drunk here? Come on none of us drink. Hey something is leaking on the first floor and it smells like liquor.
And then we were facing them. Why did you open the liquor container? What were you guys up to? If this is how you behave at this age then what are you guys going to do when you grow up? We stood there silently.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
26/11
Over the past one year the horrific incident of 26/11 has been analyzed at length in various dimensions by every one, the media, political leaders, military strategists and even by the common man (like me) over the lunch and dinner table.
Today the memoirs of that incident bring forth several mixed thoughts:
- Lazy bums in the intelligence agencies and the government who did nothing to stop the terror attack.
- A brave media who covered the incident.
- A foolish media who became the eyes of the terrorists.
- Those little battles people might have fought inside the Taj to fend off the terrorists. Nobody knows about them.
- Families who lost their dear ones in the incident.
- The supreme sacrifice of Sandeep Unnikrishnan. "Do not come up. I will handle them" were his last words.
- The way our commandos fought the terrorists.
- Commandos traveling in BEST bus.
- Exemplary help provided at the site of the incident by people regardless of religion and caste.
- Doctors who might have saved dozens of lives.
- The ousting of the then home minister.
- The rise of the new home minister.
- No such incidents in the last one year.
- Headely being captured.
- Voices to hang Kasab.
- Heightened security. Alert security agencies.
- Finally India did not forget about the loss of lives on that fateful day.
Yet among all this analysis there is a fundamental question that needs an answer.
Every man wants to live a simple, happy and a good life. A small paycheck, some food and a simple family is enough to please him. As a child nobody has an aim to become a terrorist. Then why do some men like "Kasab" become the blood thristy terrorists?
- Is it a career choice?
- Is it their economic condition that forces them to get brainwashed?
- Is it their basic instinct?
- Is it their economic condition?
- Is it lack of education?
- Is it exploitation?
The solution to the problem of terrorism lies in answering these questions and quickly acting on them. We can at least prevent the creation of terrorists within.
Lets take some time today to think about all those who were affected on that apocalyptic day. Salutes to everyone who make our lives safe.
Today the memoirs of that incident bring forth several mixed thoughts:
- Lazy bums in the intelligence agencies and the government who did nothing to stop the terror attack.
- A brave media who covered the incident.
- A foolish media who became the eyes of the terrorists.
- Those little battles people might have fought inside the Taj to fend off the terrorists. Nobody knows about them.
- Families who lost their dear ones in the incident.
- The supreme sacrifice of Sandeep Unnikrishnan. "Do not come up. I will handle them" were his last words.
- The way our commandos fought the terrorists.
- Commandos traveling in BEST bus.
- Exemplary help provided at the site of the incident by people regardless of religion and caste.
- Doctors who might have saved dozens of lives.
- The ousting of the then home minister.
- The rise of the new home minister.
- No such incidents in the last one year.
- Headely being captured.
- Voices to hang Kasab.
- Heightened security. Alert security agencies.
- Finally India did not forget about the loss of lives on that fateful day.
Yet among all this analysis there is a fundamental question that needs an answer.
Every man wants to live a simple, happy and a good life. A small paycheck, some food and a simple family is enough to please him. As a child nobody has an aim to become a terrorist. Then why do some men like "Kasab" become the blood thristy terrorists?
- Is it a career choice?
- Is it their economic condition that forces them to get brainwashed?
- Is it their basic instinct?
- Is it their economic condition?
- Is it lack of education?
- Is it exploitation?
The solution to the problem of terrorism lies in answering these questions and quickly acting on them. We can at least prevent the creation of terrorists within.
Lets take some time today to think about all those who were affected on that apocalyptic day. Salutes to everyone who make our lives safe.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Race
Winning is all that matters, thundered our table tennis coach. For the next few days we were trying to win every single thing we did. Being the first to get into the school bus, quarreling to sit on a particular sit in the school bus, crowding at the classroom door to be the first to go out of class, fighting to be the first to drink the tap water after playing and competing for every little thing that happened throughout the day. Everything had become a race that we wanted to win 'at any cost' and 'in any way possible'.
It was afternoon. We had practiced hard that day and it was time to go home. It took about three minutes to walk from the sports club to the bus stop. I was walking leisurely towards the bus stop when I heard footsteps behind me. I should be the first at the bus stop I thought. Nobody should overtake me. Winning is all that matters. I started walking faster. I could still hear the footsteps. No that cannot be. I increased my pace again but I could still hear them. More faster I thought and then I had won.
I turned around to look at the face of my opponent. He looked tired, extremely tired. He was much more taller than I was. How nice, I had beaten someone older. But why was he so much tired? And then my eyes fell on his legs. He had a false leg. Why had I not turned around before? The race had meant everything to him and nothing to me :(.
That day I realised that winning is not all that matters. Not all races are meant to be won. The manner in which you win a race also matters.
Note:
It was really a coincidence. I was in the process of writing the above incident when I had a chat with a friend on a similar incident that happened to him recently. He might share it with everyone in the comments section.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)