tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286650962024-02-19T02:38:42.673+00:00“পশ্চিমের জানালা দিয়ে...” Through the window of the west...I write whatever I think...
U may like it, may hate it or completely differ with my perspective...Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-47059607630094695092013-01-13T00:05:00.001+00:002013-01-13T00:09:07.961+00:00The boy turns 150…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">The boy turns 150…</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqLl3ao7FORVbRfbGWweJolNrIy6B6ZBh0slYIw9TjcMTmwzsuvR-871c3KYuvcONNgycZMbSDUmh9K2N-7pKtdI1l1z0ncKQYFGgn1txHpthZ_Rr0g0B9n2QuKnBCfLbZM1jPg/s1600/Vovekananda-+Blog-721593.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5832718152174421634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqLl3ao7FORVbRfbGWweJolNrIy6B6ZBh0slYIw9TjcMTmwzsuvR-871c3KYuvcONNgycZMbSDUmh9K2N-7pKtdI1l1z0ncKQYFGgn1txHpthZ_Rr0g0B9n2QuKnBCfLbZM1jPg/s1600/Vovekananda-+Blog-721593.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't remember when the first time he was introduced to me. I was very little, but was mesmerised by his antics. Though we were quite opposite, I had developed a liking of him. I was a typical good boy, very shy and not much adventurous. He was just the opposite. Very naughty- always did something or the other, got into troubles, challenged all the conventions- in short very dynamic. I used to get very thrilled thinking how exciting his life might have been. I started admiring him and secretly wanted his life. Once I had asked my mom, "why do you scold me for being naughty, while every one goes ga-ga over Byle's naughtiness?"* Mom said, "Because he was very good at studies too". I was left speechless, "Well… In that case, er.. um…" </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today is his birthday. 12<sup>th</sup> January. Had he been alive, he would have been 150 years today. Though, I never had the opportunity to meet Narendranath Dutta, who would later be known as Swami Vivekananda, he was an integral part of my growing up. By the time I was 10, I had read a bit more about him, beyond the coloured pages of Amar Chitra Katha or <i>"Shishuder Vivekananda"</i> (Vivekananda for Children). He had said, "Never give up on your dreams. You have all power you need, just be conscious of it and bring it out." Really!!! I was not convinced- but it gave me some reassurance. Luckily, I was in a school that also believed in his ideology. So, double influence of both school and home made sure I take Vivekananda as my ideal at quite early age. I won a district level quiz competition on Swami Vivekananda, organised during his 125<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary. I was also an automatic choice as speaker during an inter class celebration on Swamiji. Very soon one of his posters cut out occupied a prominent place next to my studying place. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started reading <a href="http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda">the complete works of Swami Vivekananda</a>, when I was in class XI. I could see a new side of his personality. A youth of 25 years- moving from one place to another, meeting people- understanding their life at the same time keeping his quest for truth and god in focus. Soon he realised that talking about religion to half naked, hungry countrymen is not only a waste of time but also rude and inhuman. The letters that he wrote during those days had etched some permanent marks on my thought process. "Those who are educated at the expense of poor and downtrodden but never bother to look back at them are traitors, not worthy of being called as educated". My neo-socialist mind could not agree more. He had laid a new principle of religion- <i>"<a href="" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="" name="OLE_LINK1">Atmano Moksharthe, jagat hitaya cha</a>"</i> (For one's own salvation, and for the welfare of the world). This was essentially an echo of what his guru Ramakrishna Paramahansa had said, <i>"Tui sala keetanu keet, Jeeve daya karar tui ke? Korbi to Shiva gyane- Jeeve seva"</i> (Who the bugger are you to be kind to people? You are nothing more than an insect, If you really can- serve people as god). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I went to University, his letters were one of the best guiding force behind me. Whenever in doubt some or the other letter of his would throw some light on the problem. His life, writing, speeches had such positive energy, I would feel recharged, reassured and see hope at every disappointment, doubt and hopelessness. "But, my dear boy, no great things were ever done without great labour", "I promise, whoever would read this letter, would get my energy- I can feel it". He himself had faced Himalayan difficulties before and after his now <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUzKoIt5aM">famous speech at parliament of religion at Chicago.</a> He had thought of giving up, but had bounced back. His letters during those days capture the tension of 30 something's mind and make him relatable and human. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vivekananda has always been with me. Pre-school, University, first job, moving abroad- he never left me. At every success and difficulty- he still stands by me- gives me a reason to stay positive, believe in myself and most importantly stay focused on people- <i>Atmano Moksharthe, jagat hitaya cha</i>. Today at his 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary I can say only one thing- "Thank you". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">(Note: Not related, but can't resist sharing this incident. When I was seeing Alpa, one of our senior managers, Mukul Lahiri on hearing this, had said, <i>"Ore baba, Vivekananda je dekhchhi Devanand hoye gechhe"</i> (Vivekananda has turned into Devanand (Bollywood actor)). See, Vivekananda had not left me during romancing as well </span><span lang="EN-GB">J</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">* Byle- was Narendranath Dutta/ Vivekananda's pet name at home.</span></div>
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Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-74210781052720439542012-04-14T12:06:00.001+01:002012-04-14T12:06:52.956+01:00শুভ নববর্ষ<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74F9lU_6z6CSBlgK4UVFR6VzB388xq2hwjb0eVVy39dKR4Emg4zoQxfeFFlbYL1wNRG8qXNYeqZC0o6ppcizDtcm2bY8jMmQfEcixx8Dz__0arLQSQAwgbmspCBuBAYijbxJLqA/s1600/Nababorsho+1419-712957.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74F9lU_6z6CSBlgK4UVFR6VzB388xq2hwjb0eVVy39dKR4Emg4zoQxfeFFlbYL1wNRG8qXNYeqZC0o6ppcizDtcm2bY8jMmQfEcixx8Dz__0arLQSQAwgbmspCBuBAYijbxJLqA/s320/Nababorsho+1419-712957.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731211288264669410" /></a></p><div><font size="6">বাঙালি আজ আর ঘরের কোনে মুখ লুকিয়ে নেই | ঐতিঝ্য আর সংস্কৃতির সমজদার হলেও বাঙালি আর পুরনো কে আঁকড়ে ধরে থাকেনা | আজকের বাঙালি জানে, ঘরের স্বাচ্ছন্দের চোরাবালিতে ডুবে যাওয়ার থেকে বাইরের অস্বস্তি জয় করার আনন্দ ঢের বেশি | আত্মতৃপ্তির চোখের ঠুলি সরিয়ে বাস্তবের মোকাবিলায় প্রস্তুত আমরা | দেশে বিদেশে, ঘরে বাইরে, আজ বাঙালি নতুন চ্যালেঞ্জ নিতে আর ভিত নয় | নতুন যুগের নতুন বাঙালিদের শুভেচ্ছা জানিয়ে শুরু করছি নতুন বছর | নতুন বছর সবার খুব ভালো কাটুক | স্বল্পমেয়াদী লোকসানের চিন্তা কে দুরে সরিয়ে দীর্ঘমেয়াদী সাফল্যের উদ্দেশ্যে যাত্রা শুরু করুক বাঙালি | </font></div> <div><font size="6">শুভ নববর্ষ |</font></div> <div><font size="6">অল্পা ও অভিজিত </font></div> <div><font size="6"><br> </font></div> Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-36371434762732620622011-08-27T11:01:00.001+01:002011-08-27T11:01:07.559+01:00Lokpal movement: Some questions and what do I think are the answers<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1DuWVxS6aamZHJMUNWGy83ocDFCtbufNbMR8BOZORqIE9b7xNeYMsuxN4r-naC7oXA_1Pj3u9GJXJn2lPNuCduD1ob7cW3M-f290we505OO95wik1P_ONmnWn3KE2512zAjD4g/s1600/Anna3-767560.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1DuWVxS6aamZHJMUNWGy83ocDFCtbufNbMR8BOZORqIE9b7xNeYMsuxN4r-naC7oXA_1Pj3u9GJXJn2lPNuCduD1ob7cW3M-f290we505OO95wik1P_ONmnWn3KE2512zAjD4g/s320/Anna3-767560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645473667161537138" /></a></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Never before on Independence Day had a government felt as uncomfortable as it did on 15<sup>th</sup> Aug this year. And no- it was not an external force who they were worried about but its own people. Certain Anna Hazare has captured the nation's imagination and people were more than eager to listen to what he said than what Prime Minister had to declare. And to be fair to people, we have not heard much from him in recent months either. The country was rocked by corruption of huge magnitude one after another. It was attacked twice by terrorists across the border; still India did not hear a forceful voice from the top. And whenever he spoke, it lacked empathy, vigour, inspiration or sense of urgency. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">Why has this movement caught public imagination? </font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">India has moved miles in recent years. It is now a poised to become a global force. And this surge is led by normal people. Unlike China, government here did not do much or lead this movement. Only thing that they have done is to slow the progress by red tapes. Can India afford to enter into the big league with its 3<sup>rd</sup> class administrative system? The answer is NO. Therefore, it is natural that people would revolt against it. Frustrations from all these years stuffed inside had to explode and it has happened. </font></font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">What right do people have to raise voice? After all they are the one who pays bribe.</font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Most people do not like corruption, they do not voluntary enter into this. The system forces them. Many Indians go abroad and work there. Have we heard many instances where in they tried to bribe a police officer, jumped red light or indulged into any corrupt activity? It is a proof of the fact that people are not corrupt but the system is...</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">But people like to take shortcuts. That's the inherent nature of Indians. How would Lokpal help in that? A law is not effective unless people follow them.</font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">If people do not go by the rules, it is the duty of fellow citizens to find and complain to Lokpal that Mr. X has violated the law and Officer Y has not taken action...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lokpal would take action then. That's how discipline can be brought into the society. If section of Lokpal does not act, they should also be trailed. A separate body might be required to keep a watchful eye on them. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">It is not practical to prosecute or investigate 39 lakh central government employees or 2 crore state government employees. Lokpal would be overloaded. </font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">There are two parts of the argument. (1) if we consider all 2 crores or majority of them are in corrupt practices, then it is an admission of a very serious issue and only strengthen the case of a very strong lokpal. (2) even if large part of bureaucracy are corrupt, the moment some of them would start getting punished, it would act as a deterrent and automatically the volume of corruption would reduce, therefore, large number would not remain an issue any more. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">This movement is against parliamentary democracy and the method is not right. It is like blackmail. </font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">We can either wait for the right methodology to be framed or fight back with whatever we have now. When the house is on fire, we don't wait to find a right methodology; we just put the fire off - by whatever way.</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Lokpal is not the answer to everything. But- we have to start from some place. We have good laws- but enforcing authorities are flawed. They have all been taken over by corrupt people</font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">I think govt should be happy that it is going on a peaceful and non-violent way. There is huge frustration amongst people against corruption. Anna Hazare is just channelising it to make an effective body to tackle the issue. If govt doesn't realise that- the frustration can and definitely would at some point, come out violently and that would be neither good for the country nor for the democracy. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">There are so many issues, illiteracy, people dying of poverty, low quality standard of life, poor infrastructure farmers committing suicides...etc… Why are not you taking these up?</font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">I agree there are 100s of pressing issues. And the combination of all of them is so huge that we think the situation is hopeless. And we think- nothing can be changed. We say, "is desh ka kuchh nahi ho sakta"... </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">BUT- we need to start something. If we do not act at all- it is not going to improve. Anna Hazare has started it. I believe this is not the end of it- once people realise that things can be changed and they need not be accept or get punished for their honesty, things would start rolling for better. When we attempt to solve a puzzle, the moment one piece falls in place, others start looking brighter. In a complex knot when you take one strand out, suddenly all others start looking simpler. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">This movement should start after all the people become honest.</font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">If we wait for 100% people to become honest in a dishonest and polluted environment, then the wait can be eternal. And by that time, corrupt people would take away everything and there would be nothing to protect (Already 50% of GDP is claimed to be stashed as black money in foreign banks). To take a leaf out of a popular movie (Life in a Metro)- We can not wait for all traffic signals to turn green before we take our cars out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#3333ff">If people are not happy about the government and MPs, why did they vote for them? They should take part in democratic process more actively and not criticize. </font></font></font></b></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Do we have an option while voting? Till the time EC starts "none of the above" option- I am either forced to vote one of the crooks or abstain. In either way, we lose and corrupts win. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Moreover many people vote for the party and not for individual. Why do political parties give tickets to corrupt people? I have voted in all possibilities. Do I still feel empowered? Have my aspirations been met by government? I guess not. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Would end this post with this dialogue from Rang de Basanti. <b><i>"Zindagi jine ke do tarekke hote hain..ek jo ho raha hai hone do..bardasht karte jao..aur dusra ..Zimedaari uthao use badlne ki !!"</i></b></font></font></p> Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-29463702969224398762011-08-20T18:51:00.001+01:002011-08-20T18:51:08.319+01:00100 years on- still equally relevant: Bidhir bnadhon katbe tumi<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aGELMa8MgoHl2kZQpMwa4NbU1OghMB3IZChjMB3j5_VhSvS5J5e1qaAtTqOcl8oJu6k5tAVJada2qELrmVpTcVTIRNcBHHg5r_fXIktiNwz0b2BGHpGTh4KSXsS0UWdyW6bU0w/s1600/rabindranath-tagore-manuscript-768320.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aGELMa8MgoHl2kZQpMwa4NbU1OghMB3IZChjMB3j5_VhSvS5J5e1qaAtTqOcl8oJu6k5tAVJada2qELrmVpTcVTIRNcBHHg5r_fXIktiNwz0b2BGHpGTh4KSXsS0UWdyW6bU0w/s320/rabindranath-tagore-manuscript-768320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642997190697796338" /></a></p><div class="gmail_quote"><span> <div><strong><u>Rabindranath Tagore had written this addressing the foreign rulers. Still so relevant-<br></u></strong><br>You can overturn the destiny, are you so powerful?<br>So powerful!!<br>You think in arrogance, you can make and break us<br> <span>So arrogant you are!!<br><br>You think you can always drag us behind <br>Keep us down<br>But you don't have such force<br>Can't withstand such surge<br><br>How much ever you surround with rules<br>Even the weak have force<br> However big you might be<br>Not greater than god<br><br>By suffocating us<br>You would also not be able to survive.<br>When your baggage becomes too heavy<br>Your boat would capsize.</span></div></span></div><br> Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-27492136714958214212011-05-28T09:57:00.042+01:002011-05-28T14:59:38.087+01:00Top 10 IPL 4 moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">IPL 4 is drawing toward the end. As CSK and RCB is preparing for the last match of this IPL, I thought of 10 interesting aspects (Not in any order) of this edition. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"></span><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">1) Aa gayle mujhe maar</span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUIHfuspKN8rfJH3nhmZbwdD7ZdE2LxyViSi1ZseMudFgBHNdcIw52AiFeTpHauMS4fYiVmh-6sN9X4_DCo84wkefjFf97tOTpbJNYedDAue6Ti4mH5I3tanfBmFJ4PdR35GSoQ/s1600/Chris_Gayle%252C_Royal_Challengers_Bangalore_v_Kings_XI_Punjab%252C_IPL_2011%252C_Bangalore%252C_May_6%252C_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUIHfuspKN8rfJH3nhmZbwdD7ZdE2LxyViSi1ZseMudFgBHNdcIw52AiFeTpHauMS4fYiVmh-6sN9X4_DCo84wkefjFf97tOTpbJNYedDAue6Ti4mH5I3tanfBmFJ4PdR35GSoQ/s200/Chris_Gayle%252C_Royal_Challengers_Bangalore_v_Kings_XI_Punjab%252C_IPL_2011%252C_Bangalore%252C_May_6%252C_2011.jpg" t8="true" width="147px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">Chis Gayle remained unsold at the auction. Though speculation was KKR would retain him- he had no takers. Calypso King must have taken huge offence on that. When he was ultimately called in as a replacement for RCB, he did not see cricket balls… he saw SRK's butt and hit that the hardest. In no time- he snatched the orange cap. Resurgence of Gayle and his super hitting was the main highlight of IPL4. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">2) Khe Khe Aar… Khe Khe Aar</span></u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.todaybreakingnews.com/?p=1289"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">IPL matches in Eden</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"> gardens and only 20k people watching it!!! Yes- SRK made it happen. With Dada out of the equation and only Manoj Tiwari being the sole representative of local cricketing community- Kolkatans gave IPL a royal miss. Sensing the mood SRK started bring in expensive cheerleaders. There was </span><a href="http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/sports/ipl/celebs-ipl-2011/photo/8194375/Celebs-IPL-2011.jpg"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">Hritik</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">- who till the other year was </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPignp9o18"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">dancing for Mumbai Indians</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">. Then there were Sanjay Kapoor, Karan Johar. But the real entertainer was Piggy Chops. Though she did not know name of any single cricketers, we loved her heavily accented chanting (</span><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/ipl-s-big-5-bollywood-moments/198762"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">khe khe aar … khe khe aar</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"> [video]).</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bi1aq7wbwog-5fvlIsbfKadGqQmzA27PCgQEsiP2f7-nmubRorbFUabZvkWZMGp6vKs42CvG8T1oNw4EHFsShv6YflKlKx1aCCdGBBDUy_rnGajXx-C-WlqMvzgTzjFgv2lEig/s1600/Celebs-IPL-2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Bi1aq7wbwog-5fvlIsbfKadGqQmzA27PCgQEsiP2f7-nmubRorbFUabZvkWZMGp6vKs42CvG8T1oNw4EHFsShv6YflKlKx1aCCdGBBDUy_rnGajXx-C-WlqMvzgTzjFgv2lEig/s200/Celebs-IPL-2011.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ct55E4fhulaWV4U1CqOxGZmnuSQ4stagY_iySFb7HIPmHdSTWKv2ym5wMtGj-onbN9llP0IBmDtwVduBAZWhTjGViE-SfIaC7SGKJMQDQGsMuODZHFXcwvohoC8KGdPZq6bZKw/s1600/Shahrukh_Khan_Priyanka_Chopra_ipl_2011_kkr_kolkata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ct55E4fhulaWV4U1CqOxGZmnuSQ4stagY_iySFb7HIPmHdSTWKv2ym5wMtGj-onbN9llP0IBmDtwVduBAZWhTjGViE-SfIaC7SGKJMQDQGsMuODZHFXcwvohoC8KGdPZq6bZKw/s200/Shahrukh_Khan_Priyanka_Chopra_ipl_2011_kkr_kolkata.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">3) Paul Valthaty </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">Who? Paul what? That was the first response to Paul Valthaty's cyclonic century. He appeared from nowhere- made some big runs, took wickets and then went hiding again. Discovery of Valthaty (and to some extent Raidyu) would not have been possible without IPL. Hope to see more of him in future in a real blue shirt. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">4) Never say Never</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA87iRZKyoAVkRFTwXsSoBibFv9uzxfigcnxMA-wdvbP-8g9gyKstEGSCi2zpTNLInu6_B_P6IbBXU0VMpGLpjA6QmQHqA08XYNNW3Qk1lLHQih_gwYrl-IeDBU9-RJ2aWVXejQ/s1600/10-pune-warriors-sourav-ganguly-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA87iRZKyoAVkRFTwXsSoBibFv9uzxfigcnxMA-wdvbP-8g9gyKstEGSCi2zpTNLInu6_B_P6IbBXU0VMpGLpjA6QmQHqA08XYNNW3Qk1lLHQih_gwYrl-IeDBU9-RJ2aWVXejQ/s200/10-pune-warriors-sourav-ganguly-600.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">His 30 ball 30 might not have set the stage on fire, but it showed if you want something badly- it happens. Yes- talking about the eternal comeback man Saurav Ganguly. He was dumped and humiliated in the auction. Even his most optimistic supporters wrote his </span><a href="http://avijit-das.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-i-consider-saurav-ganguly-as.html"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">obituary</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">. Kochi tried to take him on board afterwards and was stopped by RCB, MI and RR. (some say on behest of SRK). We saw him in stands with common supporters watching matches. But that was another shrewd move which was followed by his donning cap for Pune warriors. Yes- at the end, he managed to paint tar on the face of his distracters (read SRK)… Yes- bande mein hai dum…</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">5) Blank fire</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">We waited and waited for them to perform. To set the stage on fire. At the end that did not happen at all. Big disappointments of the year: Irfan Pathan, Kieron Pollard, Bret Lee, Eoin Morgan, Mark Boucher, Brendon McCullum, Sreesath, Tilakratne Dilshan, Murli, Graeme Smith, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuff Pathan, Jesse Ryder…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">6) Gambhir question</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">He played 15 matches with his shoulder injury just to earn his 11 crores. Yes that is a lot of money- but is it more than leading the Indian cricket team? Well… I don't see him as Dhoni's successor any more. And his mouthful to younger players of the team during the matches pointed how inferior he is compared to captain cool dude as a leader. To add more spice, the allegation of using </span><a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/gautam-yuvraj-and-the-loss-credibility/796234/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial Narrow;">banned substances</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"> would haunt him for a while I suspect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">7) Bharatiya cheerleading </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_a1UlmPIRaa8hJWRSa7rpXwj6lKxYNUlQarkortOP6jMTDz0K1_iGS1f747FjfNGc3mSsgiR9aWiSqR4bIQMO1_GZrJlToMbRpWhGTMgYLGPppsJcUheYWf4-6xn0lBaPFEiKw/s1600/8007520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_a1UlmPIRaa8hJWRSa7rpXwj6lKxYNUlQarkortOP6jMTDz0K1_iGS1f747FjfNGc3mSsgiR9aWiSqR4bIQMO1_GZrJlToMbRpWhGTMgYLGPppsJcUheYWf4-6xn0lBaPFEiKw/s200/8007520.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUmu4ejJbbML4A2d46kXvzPmq6xrsXkUfoDbiK4DBFdRKU7F6Bh1PY-t2oGu23hqSBjHIFo7koccoHV0nIybJcVegN3HpLX_7Tq-r3cnrPkH-LwgqeOq2OrRcGiZvAclOvwFVqQ/s1600/4fe2aa49-bb4f-4894-9a73-778cfa840428HiRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUmu4ejJbbML4A2d46kXvzPmq6xrsXkUfoDbiK4DBFdRKU7F6Bh1PY-t2oGu23hqSBjHIFo7koccoHV0nIybJcVegN3HpLX_7Tq-r3cnrPkH-LwgqeOq2OrRcGiZvAclOvwFVqQ/s200/4fe2aa49-bb4f-4894-9a73-778cfa840428HiRes.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">Cheerleading in Indian style? Yes- Pune showcased it. All their cheerleaders were in traditional and classical Indian attire and danced to classical tunes. Apparently Tanusree Shankar choreographed them. Though some youngsters would have preferred run of the mill foreign stuff- to me it was one of the highlights. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-3tyClCJubmqfQs8mcmgUOqITm2pHl5kEpcsKt5937YNbxS4kz6MWWRkq4lCduWeDa6IOVb8mdZC6WTxLZRry4I-OelpIUA2jenETEwp_2RCNGGHc_vNxUNhXVSuXjCZz_VFeQ/s1600/a5988a82-885f-4192-bffe-1937b88b033aHiRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-3tyClCJubmqfQs8mcmgUOqITm2pHl5kEpcsKt5937YNbxS4kz6MWWRkq4lCduWeDa6IOVb8mdZC6WTxLZRry4I-OelpIUA2jenETEwp_2RCNGGHc_vNxUNhXVSuXjCZz_VFeQ/s200/a5988a82-885f-4192-bffe-1937b88b033aHiRes.jpg" t8="true" width="183px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">8) Lolaylty never dies</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">KKR had to defend 21 runs in their last over against MI to qualify as no 2 team. It would have also meant fast lane to the final and qualification for champions league. But Lakshmipathy Balaji did the unthinkable, conceding 23 runs including a huge six of the last ball. Chennai all of a sudden were no 2 team. Yes- their investment on Balaji for last three years has ultimately resulted in some dividend.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"></span><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">9) Sidhu aur Dipu ki amar kahani</span></u></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0KkcbfR2CXoj-a69PIvNOBmY_szzBtgemq85XEXePcfMXmeCjCyUWeLoR2Au6mN8SBPWf3CgL8Mn6JoKRYBV8G-kOjnFXADJw8wryn-HV4RSTTZKmDZmlKm1jdmg140Rrrnc6g/s1600/deepika_malya_kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0KkcbfR2CXoj-a69PIvNOBmY_szzBtgemq85XEXePcfMXmeCjCyUWeLoR2Au6mN8SBPWf3CgL8Mn6JoKRYBV8G-kOjnFXADJw8wryn-HV4RSTTZKmDZmlKm1jdmg140Rrrnc6g/s320/deepika_malya_kiss.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">Vijay Malya replaced Katrina Kaif with Deepika Padukone as team's glam girl… Guess it was a right move. A picture is worth a thousand words </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Arial Narrow'; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">10) Shane Warne</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">He apparently played his last cricket match. And ended in a winning note. No doubt he was the most colourful cricketer ever. Not only a master strategist on field but he was equally great off the field too. His calling names of Rajastan cricket board secretary might have costed him some money- but was entertaining no doubt. And watching Liz Hurley getting bedazzled was a treat beyond question. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDtk-a1-xPfawdgE6HUcBXYY7ADKgCgVQN5NMNbNGbXYAC1xEjLttUBgWqTSDtcWYKjs3cyqZ_b9Fhb-PDAyPiA-FwNpFuMF53Bb12BqPdZmktNIPE1UHi9VFZb-tp0WFgNPWQ/s1600/Shane-Warne1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDtk-a1-xPfawdgE6HUcBXYY7ADKgCgVQN5NMNbNGbXYAC1xEjLttUBgWqTSDtcWYKjs3cyqZ_b9Fhb-PDAyPiA-FwNpFuMF53Bb12BqPdZmktNIPE1UHi9VFZb-tp0WFgNPWQ/s200/Shane-Warne1.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrkaHSsqmgl16wAcECGVzdfpQAddCU55kz_kpb34HD_qjcYXCNfA748W9BcjDYoMN6e6GNN9ZP6vp2i9-0P_ishFMTSCU_s9TZXWk7tzCCmCW33m6M_OJrgswjH_55PXnNujw6g/s1600/shane-warne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrkaHSsqmgl16wAcECGVzdfpQAddCU55kz_kpb34HD_qjcYXCNfA748W9BcjDYoMN6e6GNN9ZP6vp2i9-0P_ishFMTSCU_s9TZXWk7tzCCmCW33m6M_OJrgswjH_55PXnNujw6g/s200/shane-warne.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></div><img height="73px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrkaHSsqmgl16wAcECGVzdfpQAddCU55kz_kpb34HD_qjcYXCNfA748W9BcjDYoMN6e6GNN9ZP6vp2i9-0P_ishFMTSCU_s9TZXWk7tzCCmCW33m6M_OJrgswjH_55PXnNujw6g/s200/shane-warne.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 595px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 311px; visibility: hidden;" width="96px" /></div>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-66108190849841480472011-05-20T12:49:00.004+01:002011-05-21T03:10:37.562+01:00Manipulation, Paying heavy price and mass suicide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><img src="http://www.topnews.in/law/files/Mamata-Banerjee_14.jpg" /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">If</span></strong> someone lacks ability, success comes at a cost. However, it does not mean that the individual has to bear it on his/ her own. At times relatives take care of it, at time friends and at times it is shouldered by unsuspecting unknown people known as mass. In the later case the feeling is the sweetest. Today, when Mamata Banerjee takes her oath as chief minister of west Bengal, she must be feeling the same sweet sensation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Do</span></strong> any one still remembers Swapan Chakraborty? An ordiney man- who got stuck between stone and crude bomb pelting crusaders and demonic state police in 1992. Mamata quickly played a few popular tricks to politicise the killing. Swapan's wife got a job in Manjusha and slowly went out of public attention and memory. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;">Same goes with 13 nameless youth, who were sacrificed to get anti govt sentiment rolling on July 21 1993. Yes that was the day Mamata had called for a march into Writers building to get power by force in French revolution style. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Time</span></strong> and again she played the same politics of killing and trying to gather momentary public support. However, soon she realised that this trick would not give her the mileage she is looking for. She needed something big. Something so huge that lakhs of people pay price for her rise to the zenith. Nandigram and Singur gave the same opportunity to her. She was very good in realising that Bengalies had a super inertia. They would do anything to resist the change. That was precisely the reason of CPM clinging to power, despite not delivering anything significant from 1977-2001. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong>She</strong> was quick to understand that CM Buddhadeb's attempts to change to work culture, his attempts to bring in Industry would only make the Bengalis feel uneasy. She fanned air to that sentiment. Thousands of people in Nandigram and Singur paid the price. What could have been a prosperous industrial hub was turned into a land of lost opportunity. Bengalis took a sigh of relief. They were not robbed off the opportunity to moan and complain… to discuss in length that how all other states conspire against us… So status quo continued… Intelligently Mamata very quickly named the status quo as "Paribartan" (Change). Top notch comedy indeed. Bengalis thought- whoa… what an idea!!! If I need not actually change but get the claim of a change- that is like getting a free lunch. Or what the corporate try to do- get "new" claim from the same old product. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Very</span></strong> soon people started talking about punishing CPM for doing nothing- when actually they had started doing something meaningful. It is like Keshto kaku beating up Bhombol<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for a mischief he had done 10 years ago. Though Bhombol is a changed and refined person now, doing meaningful work- Kesto kaku would still punish him- because he failed to do that 10 years ago. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;">By now Mamata had started seeing her dream come true. The whole state of Bengal was ready to pay the price for Mamata's hunger for power. And they did the same in two phases in 2009 and 2011. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong>May</strong> be years from now, this moment would not be rejoiced and pages of analysis would be done on how Bengalis committed another suicide. May be it would be too late then. May be our roots of inertia would be so deep that even if we want- we would not be able to move at all. May be I am wrong- May be Mamata would do a fantastic job. But at this moment all I see is another 7-8 years of stagnation and slide backwards. Pray to god that I am wrong in my prediction… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The</span> price has been paid – for one lady's ambition by a suicide prone community.</strong></span> </span></div></div></div>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-76680690604284330622011-04-14T21:58:00.001+01:002011-04-14T21:58:56.958+01:00শুভ নববর্ষ<div><font size="4"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2914168450_e9a7fa3da6.jpg"></font></div> <div><font size="4">বাঙালি কি সত্যি পাল্টে গেছে? ফেসবুক আর টুইটারের ঝড়ে কি বাঙালি ভুলে গেছে তার স্বকীয়তা? জিন্স আর স্কার্ট কি হারিয়ে দিয়েছে সাবেকি পোশাক আশাক? বাংলা তো আজ পরিবর্তন নিয়ে তর্কে ব্যস্ত. তৃনমূল না উন্নত বামফ্রন্ট? এরই মাঝে নতুন বছর আবার উঁকি মারছে তার নতুন সম্ভাবনার ডালি সাজিয়ে. মনে করিয়ে দিচ্ছে ঐতিঝ্য আর স্বকীয়তা. না বাঙালি আজো স্বপ্ন দেখা ছাড়েনি. শত উত্তান পতনেও আছে বাঙালিয়ানার গর্ব. আজো অন্যাএর বিরুদ্ধে গর্জে ওঠা. ত়া সে সৌরভ এর ওপর শাহরুখের রাজনীতি হোক বা রিজানুরের আত্মহতায়. অমর্ত্য থেকে প্রানব - বাঙালির দাদাগিরিতে কোনো কমতি হয়নি. নতুন বছরে আমাদের আধিপত্য আরো বারুক - এই শুভেচ্ছা সকলকে. ১৪১৮ হোক আরো মায়াবী আর আরো উজ্জল. <br> অল্পা ও অভিজিত</font> </div> Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-31404598513692196182011-01-09T22:38:00.006+00:002011-01-09T22:55:45.130+00:00Why I consider Saurav Ganguly as inspirational figure?<p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>B</strong>ack in 1995, during a post dinner chit-chat at S-14 (one of the hostel room) some one had asked me- who is your favourite cricketer? My instant answer was, "Saurav Ganguly". By that time his international career was confined to a solitary one-day match and three runs scored back in 1992. Later that year he made a sensational come back with back to back centuries in England. Almost got branded as "test player" by think tank, made to bat at no 8, even after Srinath in one ODI. Got dropped in Sahara cup only to come back year after that with such a dominance that Pakistan saw him as their terminator and we found our new leader. A leader who was not afraid to stare at the eyes of the opponent, a leader who shook off the docile image of the nation and announced that we have arrived in the world scene.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g6jRN9MXtHjZ8sH8gTIxcjIVKkX6lZc87EZ4Ikn1ZdQ2YV0BQSdReTmkEAB-h7C6IzJ1v4yuSinXA4We0D33ddK0tuBVxCtOwYIQio_t4jGzA_aH6qMCsTJYf1os5n5orBHVJA/s1600/SG-713276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560319270468639810" style="WIDTH: 585px; HEIGHT: 220px" height="140" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g6jRN9MXtHjZ8sH8gTIxcjIVKkX6lZc87EZ4Ikn1ZdQ2YV0BQSdReTmkEAB-h7C6IzJ1v4yuSinXA4We0D33ddK0tuBVxCtOwYIQio_t4jGzA_aH6qMCsTJYf1os5n5orBHVJA/s320/SG-713276.JPG" width="414" border="0" /></a></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>I</strong> find him as an inspirational leader. Like all great leaders he delivered stupendous result through his team. He spotted great talents. Gave them comfort and support to perform at the top level, showed confidence in their abilities, planned their growth, supported them through thick and thin, believed in them and tried to make sure that they are successful. He was ruthless with indiscipline (Nayan Mongia episode) and respectful to the super talented (Sachin Tendulkar). He led building of the new Indian cricket. These seem to be a copy book example of a successful remarkable corporate leadership. Lots to learn from him. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>A</strong>nother aspect which I find remarkable is his self confidence and commitment. I had read an article in Anandabazar Patrika quite a few months after he was dropped for the 2<sup>nd</sup> time by Chapel. He was down and out by then. Spot light had shifted to some where else. People, even die-hard fans had also resigned to the fact that he had seen his last. He was alone and ignored. At time- he used to practise for hours in Eden Gardens. At times with state or club players or at times all alone. He had taken all the criticism on his running between the wicket and fitness on chin. Even after the dark- he would keep on training and running. He prepared for that one last chance… kept his head down, played the same shot thousands of times… kept himself motivated… told himself that if he gets one chance, he has to make big out of it. He believed in himself and kept focus. Eventually he got a chance and the rest is history.</span> </span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFkJNlvtqYs?fs=1&hl=en_GB"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFkJNlvtqYs?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="192"></embed></object></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-: AR-SAfont-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">People often see his comeback and praise him on his determination. I look at the grinding he had undergone to make that comeback. Look at his self confidence and strength of mind. This is an example for all of us- to believe in our ability and keep practicing for that one chance that might come our way… <strong>Saurav’s achievements can’t be measured in terms of his personal records. His success lies in the team that he had groomed and developed, his success lies in the inspiration he had provided to the lacs of Indians to come out of mediocrity and make it big in their respective fields.</strong></span></span></span>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-66300837970825564852010-09-26T00:10:00.003+01:002010-09-26T00:35:38.609+01:00Commonwealth games- Goals ahead for the betrayed nation….<span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">Loads of dirt is being thrown around for the commonwealth games. It is not only about the dirty toilets and filthy condition of the games village, it is also about the cheap talk done by officials. "</span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/top-stories/Day-after-India-tells-Bhanot-Whats-filthy-for-Fennell-is-filthy-for-us/articleshow/6610004.cms"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;color:#800080;">What is clean to me and you is not clean to them</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">", Lalit Bhanot had put the hygiene standard of the nation next to the drains at Kanpur. This is a complete failure on behalf of organising committee. They not only did a very poor planning of events, but also kept fooling the people. Widespread </span><a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/corruption-wins-at-commonwealth-games/127709-5-23.html"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;color:#800080;">corruption</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;"> only adds icing to this cake. Government of India can not shy away from its responsibilities too. They have singlehandedly tarnished India's image at the world stage beyond repair at short term at least. All of them have collectively betrayed us. Betrayed the nation… betrayed our belief and pride. </span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520994557196068434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 339px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqBrTx5DUlevt7RKPzSqSGc4Y2fLoBP7NdXfp_-KErx9M_KzTyYsF_f8JlbRLI2f-9QiZ0o6ANPHnnz1-g05fcsCehj1tYFotlf9w_XJ0oTG9h39DMr2l2EdUAPGYZc04Ji814g/s400/cwg.JPG" border="0" /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">We all feared inside or suspected that something like this is coming. When I went to India last time, the games were less than 300 days away. I could sense with my very limited knowledge of construction and building that it is going to be a massive task. Still we kept on hoping and praying. Unfortunately Shiela Dixit, Delhi chief minister, did the same. Instead of taking hard action, she kept on praying that some magic would happen to salvage the game. My personal experience shows that whenever some one relies on luck and hope for something to happen correctly, rather than strong action, it often happen otherwise. To make her a laughing stock, after the foot over bridge was collapsed, Dixit said, "</span><a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2020960,00.html?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;color:#800080;">It was not for athletes, it was for common people</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">". As if common people are there for her to get killed by accidents. Such a shame….</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">I still believe, India might still pull through a great game. Make it partial success atleast. As a nation, we have been practicing the "Last minute" stuff for a while. And, truly speaking, we have the flexibility, self belief and capability to make apparently impossible tasks a success. Talking from a FMCG product development perspective, I have seen instances where in eight colour printed laminate got developed, printed and delivered in less than a week (Standard lead time- 30-45 days). I have seen complex multi cavity mould getting into commercial production in a month (standard time 4 months). I have seen presentations written and delivered in conferences within 3-4 hours. Yes, I believe, we can still do it- if we get serious, if we take it as a matter of our pride, if we take it as if our existence and reputation would depend on this event. </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;"></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">Looking ahead, even if the event is not a success, it is not the end of the road for India. Yes, our Olympic dream might get ( I think has already got) a severe threat. Yes, we would face uncomfortable questions at global stage. Yes, stereotypical west would snub us for many more years to come. But we would claw back. We would have to work even harder. We have to put even more effort. As a nation, we have to run that extra mile or two, which would slowly but steadily erase this stigma. This disaster has thrown us a new challenge, a new task, more uphill and more difficult- but achievable by entrepreneural citizens of out nation. </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;"></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;">Government by its inaction and bureaucracy has negated large part of the equity we had developed over the years. We can not to anything about it at this stage. Only options are to get over the setback, take learnings and move ahead. Let the fight back start now. Let the fight back start with ensuring a great game of sports during 3<sup>rd</sup>-14<sup>th</sup> Oct. Indian army would re-build the fallen bridge within 3 days. Let rest of the nation follow their footstep and rebuild the image of the nation in the shortest time possible. Life at times is more thrilling than the final overs of a T20 match. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:130%;"></span></p>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-70446858480694607562010-05-02T13:44:00.003+01:002010-05-02T13:48:52.511+01:00শুভ নববর্ষ<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zn8aOohpeBMEW5gIvm4SfgJGkNgUKxwqydVnzGDaRHp6kJKfCoNdQPmY5DNrwqa8FxdFtY6Gjgzi7BJIQxv2cKABR9DuzCUcWxOCK9htM3UIfN3EIToWkRH5qrzIfAW0Jia3tw/s1600/Nababarsha-754577.jpg"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">শুভ নববর্ষের অভিনন্দন</span></strong></a></p><div class="gmail_quote"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দেখতে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দেখতে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">কতই</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">না</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পাল্টে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">গেল</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বাঙালি</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ধুতি</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">এলো</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">জিন্স</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">উত্তম</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">কুমার</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সৌরভ</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">গাঙ্গুলি</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পিঠে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পুলির</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বদলে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পিজ্জা</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পটাটো</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">চিপস</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">মাইক্রো</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">চিপস</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">রবীন্দ্র</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সংগীতের</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সঙ্গে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">চায়ের</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">আড্ডা</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ভুলে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ব্যান্ড</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">চ্যাটিং</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">আর</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ফেসবুক</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">পাড়ার</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ঠেক</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ডিস্কোঠেক</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দুর্গাপুর</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সিঙ্গুর</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ইস্টবেঙ্গল</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">-</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">মোহনবাগান</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">থেকে</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">নাইট</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">রাইডার্স</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">গতকালের</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">অপসংস্কৃতিই</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">আজকের</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ফাশ্যন</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বাবাও</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">তো</span><span lang="BN"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">আজকাল</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ইমেল</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">লিখছেন</span> <span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">নিয়মিত</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zn8aOohpeBMEW5gIvm4SfgJGkNgUKxwqydVnzGDaRHp6kJKfCoNdQPmY5DNrwqa8FxdFtY6Gjgzi7BJIQxv2cKABR9DuzCUcWxOCK9htM3UIfN3EIToWkRH5qrzIfAW0Jia3tw/s1600/Nababarsha-754577.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466652646011936626" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Zn8aOohpeBMEW5gIvm4SfgJGkNgUKxwqydVnzGDaRHp6kJKfCoNdQPmY5DNrwqa8FxdFtY6Gjgzi7BJIQxv2cKABR9DuzCUcWxOCK9htM3UIfN3EIToWkRH5qrzIfAW0Jia3tw/s320/Nababarsha-754577.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">তবে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">এত</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">রদবলের</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">মাঝেও</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">রয়ে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">গেছে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">অনেক</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">কিছু</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সেই</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">স্বপ্ন</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">-</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> '</span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সকল</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দেশের</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সেরা</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">'</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">,</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সপ্তসিন্ধু</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ডিঙ্গায়</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">চড়ে</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বাঙালির</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বিশ্বজয়</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">...</span></span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></strong><span style="WIDTH: 0.73%"></span></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">হয়ত</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সে</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দিন</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">আর</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">বেশি</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দুরে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">নয়</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সেই</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">নতুন</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ভবিষ্যতের</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">দিকে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">তাকিয়ে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">সকলকে</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">জানাই</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">শুভ</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">নববর্ষের</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">অভিনন্দন</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;">.</span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;color:#3399ff;">১৪১৭</span><span style="color:#3399ff;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;color:#3399ff;">সবার</span><span style="color:#3399ff;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;color:#3399ff;">ভালো</span><span style="color:#3399ff;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;color:#3399ff;">কাটুক</span><span style="font-family:Vrinda;color:#3399ff;">.</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">- </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">অল্পা</span><span lang="BN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">ও</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family:Vrinda;">অভিজিত</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /></div>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-42407847228328801462010-03-11T18:47:00.003+00:002010-03-11T19:35:44.235+00:00Revolution of a different kind<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">Revolution of a different kind</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447460677677815586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZig_l_r4tlorrGYlI9_NluYFOtj3IkMEJPg_F7nK4Mc-KYphTwx674-qajIHCux0NzfJwPNNPVreO7Lb5NI_02wmQTXQNHNsIpyTxtk2r7BQvO6Ll2dNxiX_BuW9hbV2U6xN0Q/s400/womenbill1.jpg" border="0" /> <p><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;"></span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recently something revolutionary happened in India. Something that was never though of. Something- no other country in the world has been able to implement. Something- which once again proved that India is thinking about day after tomorrow. If you have not got it yet- I am talking about women reservation bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha this week.<br /><br />Cut to 1999. We were in 3rd Semester of IIP. It was the time when junior batch representatives would take over as hostel president and secretary from our batch. There used to be an election. However- since the seniors were more in number- it was kind of academic. Whatever collectively senior students used to decide, would have happened. On the eve of the election, I proposed let a girl be Hostel secretary this time. And my my… it was opposed with all vehemence. “A girl? Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Do you have any special feeling? Etc etc”<br />Except a few of us, every one opposed it. People who claimed to be progressive opposed, people who had girlfriends thought it was a bad idea, people who used to talk about progressive thoughts said girls are not competent. Every one opposed it. I had thought- I would be able to get it through by a strategic supports from some sections. My friends would definitely understand my logic. Girls in the hostel would support and I would be personally influence a few opposers. Surprisingly- I was wrong. Apart from Kousik Saha most of others took it as if ut was a personal humiliation and a challenge to their masculinity. Even some of the girls were also tentative. “How can a girl face IIP management?”<br />At the end- I had to give up. What followed was also bitter. But it had opened my eyes on how we still doubted ability and competence of women.<br /><br />Cut to present- The bill has been passed. From next election onwards- 33% of our law makers would be women. I am sure they would focus much more on development and wellbeing of the neglected half of the country. Once this fairer half starts standing tall, overall progress of India as a nation would definitely get huge acceleration. To echo what Swami Vivekananda had said 100 years back- India would only raise when women power would get completely developed. A bird can only fly only when both the wings are equally strong.<br />Yes- we are at the brink of that flight. The journey, which had stared in 18th century by Raja Ram Mohan Roy through abolishing of “Sati”, which got strengthened by Ishwar Chandra Vidysagar’s “widow re-marriage” and “women education” movement, has gained optimum momentum. While anticipating the grand flight with all excitement- I am happy to forget the temporary setback, which I had 11 years back, on my attempt to empowering women. </span></p>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-17937278569960815002009-06-19T23:26:00.007+01:002009-06-19T23:34:51.949+01:00Mahi to Monster... Monster to Mahan cricketer???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryQs5gfJUsd_KGATOooKz6oggvAT018Mm5cJZXb9E1mYWs4QMV9oanzrFCbkxSvO5Ny83Qe6GgVh3-X_dU_JvyWn8rmUF-O6Ihz3OQNSw2oIkTBgduR2HHgVqC-0GDCfiNuCDAQ/s1600-h/MDS1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349169190183492850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 469px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 385px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryQs5gfJUsd_KGATOooKz6oggvAT018Mm5cJZXb9E1mYWs4QMV9oanzrFCbkxSvO5Ny83Qe6GgVh3-X_dU_JvyWn8rmUF-O6Ihz3OQNSw2oIkTBgduR2HHgVqC-0GDCfiNuCDAQ/s400/MDS1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Life has come to a full circle for Mahendra… I mean Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricket captain. Even since his dramatic debut to Indian team he has only seen things going from good to better. And like most of the mortal beings, success has made him wary of loosing it. He lost touch with his fearless mind. Flawless instinctive decisions gave way to overcautious mistakes. “Captain Cool Dude” became rude hot headed arrogant. Like the eternal story of Bengali crabs, Indian media tried to pull him down. And once, he was disarmed by the pathetic losses, knives came out. He had experimented with Yoginder sharma during last world cup. It paid off and he became Captain courageous. Suresh Raina did magic with balls during the death in IPL T20, Dhoni became master strategist. But the moment gambles started going the other way, his historical win at New Zeeland, just the other day were forgotten like a bad dream. Media pained a “monster” out of “Mahi”.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349169540992021538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 477px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F7qDFpcp6DgCIar1sxuHIDYOpJukdcvvFb6BTJkOGJnnBnHI7T-0Rx1r2jFtOmG8bbHn332xshRmbRRSmoyaE8s3LaPyX6_Y9LYmKu1S2O8cTw9VY6Nl1qZs8Z1_q4mLlGIJZg/s400/MSD2.jpg" border="0" />Now, would be the real test for him. It would be interesting to see how he comes out of this mess. He had opened too many front, had taken fight against too many… selectors, celebrities, team mates, media, ex cricketers… His personal form is down in dumps… his confidence is shaken. It is very easy to slide to obliteration, get caught into this web of failure or run towards resigning to fate. However, if he has the essence of true greatness, he would fight back. We have seen similar turn around from Saurav Ganguli in the past and I am quite sure Dhoni is also capable of one.<br /><br />Few hours before India got out of world T20, during the national anthem- the camera had focused on Dhoni, there were a sense of pride in his posture and a drop of tear at the corner of his eye. That gave me a feeling- Dhoni is not going to take it lying low. He would again stand up from the ashes like a phoenix… We would be waiting for that moment Mahi…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-87720989662880725852009-06-10T23:31:00.006+01:002012-09-21T14:54:38.793+01:00Saas bahu Aur Saazish…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And you thought it happens only in Saas Bahu serials…<br />
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Yes I am talking about the latest S***M*** <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQVVq5WNkNvs7G9TuDHv47WYiqRTweWb0EcCUXXuGtJoSKRp38lWMPIV8EJsm7uFJIC_mzzy8YoupA4G_hJMuu7x57guqav6La3BArQnUtdhvWnPJAxxKCriPowgHzN25LtVsxw/s1600-h/Margo_ParkAvenue7.jpg"></a>drama. I had never heard of her before she was arrested. Initially I thought this as another page 3 masala. However since every press report hinted about “family conspiracy”, thought of doing a small internet search on what is this drama all about… and OMG… this is even more chatpata than any serial running on TV. Here goes the story….<br />
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A***a, heir of then famous M*** group was engaged with P***B***. Now- who is P***? She is the elder daughter of a very influential (and rich) Pali hill resident. All were going well till they came to know that P***’s sister is having an affair with A***a. Yes, this younger B***t girl is S***l. Her family quickly disowned her so did A***a’s family. A***a got married to some one else but only to get divorced after a while. Soon after that ; A***a got married. S***l was never welcome in the M***l family, she was too modern and used to eat non-veg . However, she managed to do things her way and A***a preferred to follow his wife than his other family members.<br />
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After senior M***l died, A***a got all his properties. However, his mother made a police complain stating that A***a and S***l are ill treating her and are trying to capture houses illegally. To make matter more complicated, A***s’s elder sister did a sex change and claimed that since she/ he is the eldest son, property should be assigned to her/ him. A***a however, won the battle in court. Meanwhile S***l became head of M***l L***y and tied up with V***e for their franchise in India. She also had became quite famous page 3 celebrity. Meanwhile M***l textile business sank and factories got shut. Workers claim that they have not yet got the compensation promised to them.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFF6oZbVIQcpwWLIbZtmIzRVBpeElOuoevpVFB8q4fKIPBlj2LjXeVk53xBhgN2pOyxXFL8JB-ZuZrcel_iL0wpz8FtMfCFvgV392MNtA23AUT4jYPOkB-nSspmloT4bQpyJZS8Q/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"></a><br />
Next we hear about M***s when A***a complained to police about theft of family jewellery worth crores. However his mother informed that the jewellery was with her and she would hand them over to A***a and s***l. Well after all these, I didn’t feel remotely surprised to hear the speculation that M***l family members only tipped off Customs about the jewellery S***l was carrying.<br />
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Now what happed to P***m? While S***l was busy in trying out latest fashion, throwing parties and fighting domestic battle with in-laws, P***m got married to one Mr. S***f after a relationship of four years. <br />
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He incidentally had two children aged 9 & 11 at the time of marrying P***m. Yes the children were from his first marriage. The marriage which ended in a divorce before his tying knot with P***m…. Huff… confused!!!! and you thought such complications only happen in TV soaps????<br />
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(Source of all information in this article is internet news articles and blogs… author is not responsible if any of the information is not authentic)</div>
Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-3473881191491216672009-05-16T23:25:00.001+01:002009-05-16T23:42:08.419+01:00<div></div><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Change & Suicidal Bengali</span></strong> </p><p align="left"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336555574008553154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGs27Z492ZC1bJC7ntGExkiAFEI51TbRj3LKnFbMC4503JjF7HSk9CYAYgOpESzY4THawa7YHCpBONDJX2qcXqna4tsjPx-jAuJdtyWASROQ_HW7ecaZGKm8E-ljNn8Gzl_aTUw/s400/Mamata.jpg" border="0" /><br />I checked with dad, “How many seats do you think Mamata would get this time around?”<br /><br />“They are saying it would be 50-50 this time. 21 seats each for CPM & Mamata”<br /><br />Indrajit, a CPM sympathiser, said- Max to max 16 for TMC + Congress. While Drupad, a Mamata & kabir Suman die hard fan did not comment- but kept pleading in Orkut for voting for them…<br /><br />At the end, the bell for the end of CPM has ringed. They are confined only to 9 seats (15 including CPI, FB & RSP). With assembly elections just two years away, knowing the Bengali Sentiment, End of CPM is all but certain. Only one person can save them and that is Mamata, by doing another self injuring blunder.<br /><br />But how does it stack up for Bengal as a whole? Not good at all according to me.<br />Firstly- CMP in order to win back people, would not push Industrialization at all for next two years. Secondly- TMC, if voted to power, would not talk about it since this very anti-industry stance would see them home.<br />Lastly- With all other states pushing rapid industrialization, we would have no takers after 6-7 years. (I am sure Bihar would get the special status soon and most probably start attracting more industries than any other state in eastern India).<br /><br />I am convinced that Industrialization is the only answer Bengal has to all the problems of unemployment, development and work culture. I have pointed this out in all my previous posts on similar subject. With Industry shying away, we would miss the tide Buddhadev tried to bring in and mess with the state.<br /><br />But why committing this hara-kiri? The answer lies in N C Chaudhuri’s comment- Bengalis are suicidal. We love to live in the past, want to relish the glory of yester years while keeping a blind eye to the present realities. For long, we have been romanticizing - how others are envy of us and how they want to pull us down. We want to continue that. Even slightest hint of a temporary hardship for a better future, makes us nervous. We don’t mind turning into group of self destructing souls.<br /><br />The main slogan for TMC in this election was for Change…<br /><br /><strong>Ironically results show what we have pushed away is exactly that… CHANGE… The inner change</strong>.Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-21274091913552827242009-05-16T22:49:00.001+01:002009-05-16T22:51:18.825+01:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Form Many to one</span></strong> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336542524153658498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 82px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFjmS_Gz98l0nky8xOoix5rYQvvL7XZPFwOvvNllkBSmc54xBE5BEjIAQZFo2uV7Z8SAMTUTJU2_QjpOGy8ysva9q0VvQM6EQlXZNjNcgLOADsUq6CkmTuZ8tDF3ikYW5khhf4A/s400/LS4.jpg" border="0" /><br />When I switched on the TV it was almost 6-30… About 11 am in India. The first words I hear was, “This is a setback for BJP & NDA”… I knew the significance of those words among the speculation of a hung parliament… For the rest of the day, the same message was replayed and retold by several personalities and several different ways… Yes, verdict on the general election 2009 was out. People had (almost) decisively accepted Congress and UPA as the choice for running the country for next five years.<br /><br />When I look at the result, more than the loss of BJP & CPM, what strikes me is the annihilation or diminishing importance of the fringe players. SP, BSP, RLD, INLD, RJD, LP, TDP, NCP all had suffered embarrassment to the core. Ram Vilas Paswan, who once had a record for the winning margin, was grasping for words while commenting on his loss. Lalu Prasad was never seen during the day to comment on his party’s shameful performance. He is the lone MP and that too after loosing from one constituency.<br /><br />Now that is a story to follow. Are the days of fragmentation getting over? Are the nuisance makers on their way out? Would this lead to a consolidation among politicians along well defined ideological line? Too early to speculate on that. However, emergence of Congress as a power in UP & Bengal (I consider TMC as a congress only- as all the leaders are old congressmen) & partial polarization of votes across two major axis is a good sign now doubt.<br /><br />One more observation. Arun Jetly and Prakash Karat, while accepting defeat, were graceful in their speeches. Mayawati & Jayalalitha were not. These ladies had the blame every one but themselves. There were no congratulatory words towards the winning combination, no mention of self introspection. A sigh of relief … these nuisance would be out of business… at least for a while… “Jai Ho” to a stable central government.<br /><br />PS- News channels in UK (BBC & Sky) treated election in India as low priority news. It came much later news on a local politician being caught for a misappropriation of a few thousand pounds got more importance. BBC’s 96 second coverage made sure that a fat ugly looking congress supporter, making funny moves gets to British households… So predictable from BBC…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-31120608581026966022008-09-15T18:57:00.002+01:002008-09-15T19:02:51.666+01:00<strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;">A Saturday and A Wednesday</span></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246309292706592802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yn1EnXV4Jzm8E2ptWFBeElp1n_uRWhAAZ1uwuJZVvYeTdgxIZUpj03H_mMTgCApZy0K1HHjHj1Wqc4zn-AxaWcSWOBeiHZLqMYV8szyiilCcwr8T9rOABefoKZsNoQqTwYOxRw/s320/13.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fanatic phone call from baba “Where are you?” I was surprised. “What happened?”<br /><br />I was told that there has been a serial Bomb blast in Delhi. Five blasts in three places including Karol Bag, a place where I was about to go that evening but had changed the plan at the last moment. “Sinners (papi) like you would not die that easily” Sandeep da grinned after listening to this.<br />But what about those, who had been there??? They were less papi, I guess. Life of commoners has no value now a days. A blast or two, here and there, seven days of TV footage, politicians and intellectuals screaming at the top of their voice and go back to normalcy till the next blast is an acceptable cycle. I guess the terrorists enjoy the TV shows a lot. For them, it is like replaying the same old comedy movie. Blasts after a few weeks and the show begins again…<br /><br />The time has come to put an end to the show NOW…<br /><br />A movie named “A Wednesday” had hit the theaters a few days back, unnoticed mostly. It had dealt with this problem and one probable solution. Don’t spare even a single miscreant. VAPORIZE them. No need for trial and waste public money. To hell with Human rights for those who do not care for human life. A few of executions here and there would be enough to inject fear to these cowards. Cowards that’s what they are. Or else they would not have attacked helpless, name less, commoners who only wanted to had a peaceful Saturday.<br /><br /><strong>Time has come… to put and end…<br /></strong>India has long be run by spineless creatures… people who scrap laws like TADA, who fight against Supreme Court order of banning SIMI, who equates Sarabjit and Afzal, who spends more time in changing suits rather than standing by the bereaved.<br /><br /><strong>Time has come… to do “A Wednesday”…</strong></span>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-48091199484286090862008-09-06T16:56:00.002+01:002008-09-06T17:17:49.697+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha7sVgi3ik-UVLhFyjx5YJe49oDUoD2pc8wkhQ-TjiUnQw8bMYrpWH1VH7TDQqsw7XduJxbtPCnnLe73eQQRrzrlLBep8RsQ6E0DZvkRxwxeNyLVa7mRE4MtqUJCoY3E5pLHSig/s1600-h/_44993476_44814412.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242943114640381362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhha7sVgi3ik-UVLhFyjx5YJe49oDUoD2pc8wkhQ-TjiUnQw8bMYrpWH1VH7TDQqsw7XduJxbtPCnnLe73eQQRrzrlLBep8RsQ6E0DZvkRxwxeNyLVa7mRE4MtqUJCoY3E5pLHSig/s320/_44993476_44814412.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Indian Turnaround- Nuclear Deal Approved</span></strong> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytKKn9f5IumHpPuudc_T0m8svpxy0oLt-uuRrSh-1ooroKJ54swk7RnJjTKa3OyUvjwMLwq82Y23F-JC8qofW_6_J4tdgUEW9ZEy7yPZwz4w4QpiPbgT3sIp6lWbJ2wvfBMkAGg/s1600-h/_44813481_manmohansinghafriocafp226.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Turnarounds are always admirable. It not only sets fire to the imaginations, but also set a benchmark for others to follow. The basic principle for turnaround is relentless efforts, believing in oneself and the ability to make it at the end. We have seen quite a few turnarounds in the recent past. As for example- Amitabh Bachchan’s return with KBC, Saurav Ganguly’s comeback at Lords and again at South Africa, Coming back of Indian Railways into black from red etc…<br /><br />However, one turn around that is really amazing and much more mammoth is Indians emergence as a Super Power in reckoning from the brink of isolation. Just about 124 months back, with the Pokhran blast, India risked to be isolated from the rest of the world. But with the guts to challenge the world, almost seamless finance and foreign policies across two governments and unmatchable effort from the young resurgent talent pool, India announced arrival at world stage. With NSG announcing and accepting India as a responsible Nuclear state, we have done the unthinkable.<br /><br />Credit goes to each and every Indian and the way they believed in their own capability. This newfound self confidence and high self esteem would see India surging past all other nations in next 124 months… We are at the mid way now. From Isolation to Acceptance. Next step is from Acceptance to Leading.<br />We are coming :)</div></div>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-57565482554180312782008-09-06T11:44:00.002+01:002008-09-06T17:34:25.904+01:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Suicidal Bengali</span><br /></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242947086295415362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 430px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="169" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MFnibcBvFtZS88E2UFaDwYcfXhCZ_szrfeXFZdAMBaPZw_SbV74MbHqtdOrxJ91xmLb4AhMawG3Xpu1xBkjcYTTy8J-HNqY0WTD5KuIzFP25sW4EYuAmke2zJcJyDWM8u7mU8Q/s320/untitled1.jpg" width="364" border="0" /><br />Nirad C Chaudhuri had once commented “Suicidal Bengali” (Atmaghati Bangali).<br /><br />As a youngster, I did not like that at all… I had thought that He was unjustifiably too harsh on the community. I had thought, he is one of those who does not care about the heritage, culture and the potential Bengalis had. I hated him. This was in 1988.<br /><br />However, today, after 20 years, I have started believing his word more than ever. Only Bengalis can snatch disaster from the lap of prosperity and happiness. Consider the Singur fiasco that Mamata Banerjee and her mindless gang is doing as of now. Almost unthinkable is about to happen. After investing more than 15k Cr, TATAs are all set to pull out of the prestigious Nano project. This project was so important for the economy of the state. This could have turned the fortunes around of the state. Not only it would have generated HUGE employment opportunities, but also transformed the landscape in and around Singur.<br /><br />But NO… Mamata almost single handedly has put a halt to the project. It is called snatching doom from almost a winning position. Only Bengalis can do this… yes… This is called Suicide… Atmahatya…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-67941062067012078952008-01-23T15:24:00.000+00:002008-01-23T15:27:24.671+00:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Some Tagore Songs</strong></span><br /><br />"tobu mone rekho, jodi jol ase ankhipatejodi puratono prem dhaka pore jaay, nobo premo jaagetobu mone rekho"<br /><br />Do remember me, even if that thought moist your eyes…even if old memories fade away to newer ones... do remember me…<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />"Ei kothati mone rekho, tomader ei hansi khelay .... ami je gaan geyechhilemjirno pata jhorar belaay..shukno ghase, shunnyo bone, aponmone onadore obohelaayei kothati mone rekho”<br /><br />do remember that I sang for you when you were happy…If some day you wander among dry falling leaves, yellow grasses and barren forest… unaccompanied and neglected… do remember that I sang for you…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-64038081859212206312007-05-30T10:15:00.000+01:002007-05-30T10:22:57.161+01:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">All About Air Conditioners<br /></span></strong><br /><strong>When Should I buy an AC?<br /></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;">In winter you get them for a lesser rate. However, effective warrantee gets reduced. Also new upgraded models generally come out in summer. So as per me the best time is April- May.<br /></span><br /><strong>What are the type of AC? Which one should I buy?<br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">For use in normal household there are two choices 1) Window AC 2) split AC. Cooling capacity is not dependent of the type of AC you buy. Split AC s are more stylish and often less noisy. But window ACs are cheaper. My suggestion would be go with window AC. If you don't have window at correct places, consider split AC.<br /></span><br /><br /><strong>I get confused by the technical terms. What are the key parameters</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Cooling capacity is expressed in terms of BTUs and Tons. The explanations are as follows- A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a common unit used for measuring heat output, equal to the amount of energy required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. One ton equals 12,000 BTUs/hour-a term derived from the amount of energy required to melt 1 ton of ice in a day.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of how efficient a particular air conditioning unit is. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit and the less it will cost each year to run. Typical EER is between 8-11<br /></span> <br /><strong>What cooling capacity would be okay for me?<br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Don’t go by what sales man or company websites say. I have checked several articles and have developed a simple worksheet. (Check the calculation page). Normally for a Room size of 150 sqF, 1 Tn should be sufficient. It also depends on the insulation, other appliances, no of people staying in the room etc.<br /></span><br /><br /><strong>What if I buy a oversized or undersized AC?</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">An undersized unit won't cool adequately in extremely hot weather</span>.<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">An oversized air conditioner would also adversely affect your comfort. The compressor unit would switch on and off too often (every 3 min), without running long enough to dehumidify the room properly or cool the space uniformly. And it will consume more energy than necessary. Further Higher BTU ACs consume more electricity. I have read that an undersize AC is better than an oversized one. Unfortunately in India most of us have oversized AC and we get matching electricity bills.<br /></span><br /><strong>What are the aspects, I should look for in an AC?</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">First calculate the capacity you need (0.6 Ton- 1.5 Ton or more)<br />High EER, low power consumption<br />Don’t go for a local made. Go for a branded one. Make sure that the AC has rotary compressor.<br />The AC should have a wide range 18 deg- 30 deg<br />It should be digitally controlled (you can set them more accurately for lesser billing)<br />Be sure that your air conditioner comes with at least a one-year warranty that covers labor and parts on the entire unit. Warranty on compressor is normally 5 years.<br />Variable Fan speed setting<br />Filter is removable from the front side. If you don't clean the filter, cooling efficiency would come down.<br />Sleep mode or energy saver mode- These would help to cut energy usage by 25%</span><br /><strong><br />What are the aspects I should keep in mind while installation?</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">AC should be preferably placed in the middle of the room.<br />Direct Sunlight on ACs should be avoided. (If you have a choice- don’t install on the west side)<br />Seal the room properly for more efficient cooling.<br /></span><br /><strong>Which brands are the best?</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">It is said that Hitachi and carrier are the best. But they are expensive too. I have done a comparison for 1 Ton Ac and the same can be seen in the "comparison" worksheet.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#339999;">Information compiled by Avijit Das, Plot- 67, Sec-32, Gurgaon- 122001, Ph- 0124-4125114, e mail avi0826@gmail.com<br /></span>Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-43487181414909594592007-04-07T12:49:00.000+01:002007-04-07T12:51:45.479+01:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Nandigram- take on another take</span></strong><br /><br />Anirban has posted a reply to my blog on Nandigram. And when it is Anirban, it has to be something more than ordinary. As expected he has put a new angle to the entire issue, without going into haven is going to fall mode. Also Anirban has considered a larger picture, not only confining to Nandigram. He has considered all SEZs in a whole.<br /><br />If I pick up the concerns and put them to perspective they are like this<br />1) With food scarecity looming large as threat, converting agricultural land would mean aggravating the problem<br />2) SEZs should happen only at non agricultural land, if infrastructure needs to be developed there, wait till that happens.<br /><br />I have different view on both these issues.<br />I would start with the second point. Anirban is partially correct when he says necessity of converting non-agricultural land to industrial lands. However, it is like chicken and egg story. If we wait till infrastructure be developed before we leap into industrialization, it would be too late and may not even take place. Also if I consider a state like west Bengal, where most of the land it fertile agricultural land, this solution is simply not practical. If an atmosphere of Industrialization is not created, infrastructural development would not take place. So if need be, fertile land has to be used for creating a positive environment. Once industry starts settling in, parallely, development plans for non agricultural areas to be taken up. Otherwise business houses would move into other places and the chance of reviving state’s economy would remain unmoved.<br /><br />On the other point of food scarcity, I find the concern misplaced. With industrialization settling in, people would have more and more money to invest into newer technologies of cultivation, which would increase productivity manifold. I read in an article about agricultural advancement in South Asia that in countries like Vietnam & Indonesia, they can produce more than double food grain than us from the same area of farmland. It is like upgrading manufacturing facility to produce more from the same factory. If we really consider agriculture is an industry, we have to start thinking it like one.<br /><br />Lots of negativity, concerns and fear of unknown would try to bog our mind. But we need to break free from all these deterrents, sacrifice short term comfort for that long term gain, which we are aspiring for since last so many years!!!Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-6682739180859893782007-03-20T08:37:00.000+00:002007-03-20T08:41:35.591+00:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Change or stay in Nandigram!!!</span></strong><br /><br />I came across a picture in the Times of India, where in some of the farmers are celebrating over Government’s announcement that chemical SEZ would not happen in Nandigram…Why are they happy? They are happy because they need not change and would be able to maintain the status quo.<br /><br />Most of us don’t welcome change. We think whatever is happening is the best and we would be doing this forever. But the world is dynamic. Things would definitely not remain the same. We may not change but others will. And very soon we would find ourselves out dated and obsolete. Then we would complain and point fingers at others for our misery. We would say, central government was partial towards other states. We would say, Industry is biased against us. We would say no one like us and there is a antipathy against us… so on and so forth…<br /><br />This phenomenon has been nicely captured by a small story “who moved my cheese” by Spenser Johnson. Here is the synopsis of the beautiful story…<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Who Moved My Cheese! features four characters; two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two little people, miniature humans in essence, "Hem" and "Haw", live in a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans paired off, travel the lengthy corridor looking for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor in "Cheese Station C". Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese slowly becoming arrogant in the process.<br /><br />One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left; they, however, are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands "who moved my cheese?". Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both head home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, nixes the proposal.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese, blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again knocks down the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C, the humans remain without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw begins laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.<br /><br />Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall and, after thinking about it, begins his journey. Still with worry, perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search, Haw finds some scattered cheese and continues his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a let down, an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's new mindset allows him to again enjoy life; he has even begun to smile again and is realizing "when you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.<br /><br />Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese to his friend's dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Still going deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall, hopeful that his friend will be aided by them in his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N. Abundant with cheese, some varieties strange to him, he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. Pondering a return to his old friend, Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Change Happens<br /></span></strong>They Keep Moving The Cheese<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Anticipate Change</span></strong><br />Get Ready For The Cheese To Move<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Monitor Change<br /></span></strong>Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Adapt To Change Quickly<br /></span></strong>The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Change</strong></span><br />Move With The Cheese<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Enjoy Change!<br /></span></strong>Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again<br /></span></strong>They Keep Moving The Cheese.<br /><span style="color:#9999ff;">Cautious from past experience, Haw inspects Cheese Station N daily and explores different parts of the maze to prevent complacency from setting in. After hearing movement in the maze one day, Haw realizes someone is approaching the station. Unsure, Haw hopes that it is his friend Hem who has found the way.<br /></span></span><br />*******************************************************************************<br />These four characters represent four types of people.<br />1) Who anticipate the change and changes themselves along with the change<br />2) Who sees the change happening and then change themselves to suit new scenario<br />3) Who gets affected by the change and then learn how to change themselves thru series of experimentations.<br />4) Who never changes and expect things to get back to the original shape and wait for them to happen.<br />We Bengalis are definitely not in stage 1 & 2 and have missed the bus. Now some of us are in stage 3 and are willing to change. But unfortunately many of us are in stage 4 and can not see the inevitable. With this kind of attitude, we would only move backwards with respect to others and would keep wondering why this was happen only with us…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-29354186760843925612007-03-16T08:58:00.000+00:002007-03-16T09:00:52.568+00:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Singur & Nandigram<br />Can govt be blamed for forcibility acquiring land???<br /></strong></span><br />Acquiring land and evicting people... If it is with good intention, is fine. At times lack of broader vision and lack of ability to see beyond the boundaries restrict people from having a long term perspective & understanding the brighter days ahead. But ultimately they are the one who would get benefited. Their sons and daughters would go to school and one day would come back as the manager of the plant, built on their erstwhile farm land.<br /><br />I would again give the old example- given a chance, your kid would never like to go to the school. But you know, which is good for her, you can see beyond that playful day and opportunities ahead, which your kid can not... do u budge under her demands or send her forcibly to school...<br />Answer is obvious...<br /><br />Political parties and so called intellectuals have ruined our ability think beyond boundaries and have turned ourselves into a "kup munduk"...<br />It is time to break free... and <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">think free</span></strong>...<br /><br />We shouldn’t get moved by what Mamata Banerjee, Sadhan Pane, Kshiti Goswami, Biman Bose, Anandabazar, Kabir Suman say... open eyes and think ourselves...<br />Want to march toward the light? or complain about the darkness, like we have been doing till date, <strong><span style="color:#000099;">forever</span></strong> !!!Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-68815989183565342802007-03-15T12:23:00.000+00:002007-03-16T09:33:18.236+00:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Jai baba Tunganath...</span></strong><br /><br />“Oh my god, I am no where near…” that was the expression I had after taking a bent, on the way to Tungnath temple. By that time I had already dragged myself for a little more than an hour on a slope which was almost at a constant 35-40˚ angle. The scenic beauty was stupendous, I must say unmatchable. I had earlier seen Bhutan … but the beauty here was much different. Snow clad mountain on the backdrop, pale green valley on the other side. The sun was there but the sting was missing. The path was partially covered by snow, specially at the points where the sun failed to send its heat and light… I stood for a while. Chilled air was nibbling my face like small poisonous insects. Looked back, no one could be seen till the farthest and deepest, except Suga. Suga joined me from behind aprox 15 minutes back. I looked at him. A sense of frustration, I thought, had started creeping into his enthusiastic smile. “Want some water?”, I shouted. Suga stretched his hand. I took one of the two bottles, which I had kept inside the pockets of my orange GSK jacket, and handed over to him.<br /><br />Two bottles, would not these add to the weight? Is the though came to mind aprox one and half hours back. But it is a Lord Shiva temple, should I go without some water? I should also offer some sweets … Thinking that I hid one extra chocolate inside the inner pocket of my jacket. “Jai Bhole”, some one cried while we started for the trekking, which was supposed to be only 3-4 km. “This is the highest Shiva shine in the world”, Ravi, the co-ordinator had exclaimed while settling do’s and don’t’s for us.<br />I started modestly after a dozen of people at least. “You look sleepy!” Sumeet and Navneet observed.<br />“Yes I am”, I replied, “I don’t know how to complete this, only 10 meters behind me, and I am tired already.” Two ladies giggled and agreed with me that they were in very similar state as of mine. I crossed them and found Sitanath going at the full speed almost with the leading instructor. I dozed a few others before I could catch up with him, “What’s up buddy?”. We chatted on irrelevant subjects for a while before I started accelerating. Sitanath was keeping pace with me. “Avi da”, Sitanath asked, “after all these activities, do you still have the stamina for the trekking?”. “I don’t,” I smiled, “But, I have the confidence”.<br /><br />Very soon I found myself alone as Sitanath had settled for a brief rest. The person who was showing us the way was walking at least 50 m behind me. “I am doing good!” I praised myself. With a smile glued to my face, I stepped up the acceleration. “Should be at the top within 45-50 mins” was the thought running in my head. 20-25 minutes on, I was totally secluded. Even the person who was showing the way could not be seen. “I hope the group is not going to abandon the treck” was the predominant thought I was having in mind. I kept taking bigger and longer strides. 45 minutes… No sign of the hill top. I was hoping to see the goal after the tricky bent, which had almost, took my breath away. I am sweating like I used to do in Mumbai local trains. Though of taking off the jacket and tying it to the waist. But the stupid water bottles… I started cursing my decision to carry an extra bottle. Looked down again. Some one in orange jacket is coming pass the bent I had crossed. It was Suga. I thanked god. At least some one is there. Scare of being all alone was gone in a jiffy. I took a moment to appreciate the greens around & waited for Suga to catch me.<br /><br />“What time is it?” Suga enquired.<br />“2-45”, I checked my mobile phone.<br />“I think, we would reach there by 3-00. 3-15”<br />I agreed. At least the prospect of the journey getting ended delighted me like anything. “We should take small targets. I did the same during this year marathon run and it succeeded”.<br />“That’s exactly what we should do”, Suga supported, “take one step at a time”.<br /><br />But each step was turning to be more tedious with passing second. Slope was turning out to be steeper. Even taking one step was getting tiring. Slowly a patch of snow here and a patch there changed to continuous layer of glowing white. Only the pathway was clear. I had never thought that that I would be in such a surrounding. I thought it was too good to be true. Snow was soft in most of the places. As I was stepping on them, my feet was sinking in by couple of inches at least. A nice feeling. I took some into my hands and tried to make a ball out of them, I had seen them in movies. But the ice was too loose, it would not form, my hand was also freezing, I had great faith on my ability to withstand cold weather and never thought a pair of gloves could be useful when did the packing before the tour. Took out my mobile phone and clicked a few shots aimed here and there. I could see a sharp bent a couple of 100 meters ahead. Nothing could be seen ahead of that. “Suga” I commented, “after that bent,I think we would be able to see the temple or the pick”. Suga agreed.<br /><br />“Oh my god, I am no where near…” that was the expression I had after taking that bent. I had already dragged myself for a little more than an hour by then and felt betrayed by the mountains. “Is this a trick?” I told to myself. Even if I could see the destination, I could plan accordingly. Both of us were tired. I offered the water bottle to Suga with a stretched arm.<br />“The scenery is unmatchable”, we agreed. We could see the major portion of Kedar and badri peak. There were a few other peaks also… I don’t know their name… Completely white. I wished, if I could bring my family& parents to see them. Since that seemed to be a remote possibility, decided to capture them in camara for the time being.<br />“We would have missed a lot, if we did not come” both of us observed while waving and shouting at a group, we could locate fur bellow. I don’t know if they could hear us, but felt happy and concerned at the same time. Happy because, I was among the first one to see the beauty. Happy because, I was leading the team. Happy because, a sense of adventure and excitement of exploring the unexplored ran thru my spinal chord. And concerned because if the entire team would be able to come up to share this scene, if they would be able to climb fast enough so that we can start climbing down before it gets dark.<br />Suga also shared similar feeling. We decided to disembark by 4-00- 4-30. We reach there or not. Otherwise once the darkness settle down, it may get risky. We could get a sense of that risk at the places where the snow was getting solidified and harder. I managed to get a few small slips. But could control myself. The deep valley at one side was like a death trap. A little lapse of concentration, and it could be all over. Suddenly this thought creped in to my mind, “If I fall down and die… “. I pooh-poohed the thought and continued moving ahead and looking up if a glimpse of the temple or the peak is seen.<br /><br />“Avijit, is that the temple?”<br />“Ya, I think I can see a flag”. To my horror, the flag that I could see was at 60 ˚ angle and almost further similar vertical height that we had scaled by then. No temple can be seen, neither the peak. It was a tiny cloth, which was moving and could be seen over the ridge of the hill further up. Suddenly for a moment a thought of giving up came to my mind. “It would be too tedious” I thought. And even if I could reach there would it be possible to climb down before the sun sets. What about others who are behind us? Would they be able to complete?<br />However, the moment I thought about other team members, my thought process shifted to the opposite. I am moving at the front. No one had directed me to do so, but I had decided to come ahead. I have taken the responsibility of leading the tem to the top. If I climb down at this stage, it would be demoralizing for the entire team. Unlikely that any one would come defying our view point that the peak is too far and doesn’t look feasible for climbing. The team would fail to achieve what is has set its goal to. This would spill over to other area including work. In turn I would be responsible for the failure of the team. Am I such a weak person? Can I let it happen? Never… Whatever happens, whatever time it takes, whatever toll it takes on my stamina and health, I would go the destination and then rest. Even if it gets dark before I reach there, I would not stop. It is a mater of honor and self pride. It is a matter of not letting the team down. It is a mater of taking the challenge head on.<br />“Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached” – Upanishad.<br /><br />I remembered god and thanked him for putting me at this situation, which brought the fire out of me. I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to challenge my limits. I thanked him for keeping me alive to see the magnificent creation of his. I looked around and found myself as a tiny object in the back drop of huge mountains, whose existence is so insignificant to the nature in absolute terms. I realized how foolish it is to get bothered about our ego and wants. What are we in the whole universe? I once again thanked god for making me realize this plain truth.<br /><br />A small temple came on the way. Devi temple. I rang the bell there and took her blessings so that I could reach the destination. The air had become thin by then. We were getting tired easily. Frequest breaks and rests has became very frequent rests by then. I could see the temple gate. It is no more an unknown destination. Another 500 meters and I would be there. I started speeding up, making my way by firmly putting my foot on the snow. I don’t want any miss at this stage.<br /><br />I cant believe myself. It is 3-40 and I am standing in front of the gate of the Tungnath temple. I opened my shoes, went inside. Layer of snow every where. Within seconds my socks got wet. My body heat is melting the ice. A pleasing sense of satisfaction and achievement swept my mind. I quickly went to the gate of the main temple. It was closed due to winter. I offered the five star bar that I was carrying to the lord. Offered him some water. And then broke into chanting, “Murth maheshwaram, ujjwala bhashkaram…”<br />Suga was observing different side of the temples and how far other have reached. I quickly took rounds of the place and found a pyramid shaped stone at one corner. It was plin and slippery and no ice was on the top of that. I went pass its top and found most spell bounding landscape. With the Sun behind me, part of the hill was shiny. Part was dim and covered in fog. It was so silent. Even the noise of air blowing, which I had heard on my entire journey to top was missing. The valley was so deep that one step further or a slip on the slope, I would be lost forever in the Himalayas. A strange sensation of chill climbing up my bones. I took half a step forward. Took out the camera once again and shoot some pictures. The settled for a brief meditation. Within minutes heard other team members joining in.<br /><br />Very soon the place was full of sound. Subu, Sumeet, Navneet, Vikas, Shreya, Navdeep, Panam, Sukhdev, Situn, Amita, Hemang all started pouring in, Rahul surprised me the most. Congratulations all around. Pictures getting clicked. Happiness and smiles all around. “Yes! We have done it”.<br /><br />4-30, we started coming down from the top. Heart full of self belief and confidence. We met small groups on the way, still fully charged to reach the summit.<br /><br />What learnings we can get out of this…<br /><br />We risked our life to achieve that we thought is a mater of pride to us. Under difficult situation, people motivated each other and together achieved the goal. How many times we risk ourselves or our reputation or comfort to do things at work place or life? We hardy do…<br />Why? If we can risk our life for a silly thing like climbing a mountain, why can’t we take even a minimal risk to do a wonderful job. Ultimately the taste of success and satisfaction that we had got was sweeter because of the additional effort that we had taken. Why can’t we take a little bit extra effort to improve conditions in our life and work?<br /><br />Let’s do that…Avijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28665096.post-8783041800633493532007-03-15T12:17:00.000+00:002007-03-16T09:31:48.255+00:00<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">About Singur & Nandigram</span></strong><br /><br />Grow up guys...look beyond the greens of West Bengal... check what has happened to other states during industrialization. U need to have industry for economic progress. Either take a short term approach and be happy for today or take a long term approach and suffer for the day for a better tomorrow. Either keep cultivating the same land for ages and let your children and grand children do the same... or think differently, use the money u get as compensation in some meaningful way to lead a better life.<br />You may ask who is the Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya to decide which is good and which is not???At times when your kids are acting funny and you know what is good for them, you dont hesitate to force... as long as you are convinced that it would do good to them... no harm in trying that. And I am convinced that industrialization is the right way for progression and development... like it or not.<br />World is moving ahead, if you dont shake up your bones, prepare to get extinct. It is the attitude which is the problem... not nandi gram or singur. tomorrow when investment stops flowing, remaining industry including IT pulls out, govt fund drys, dont point finger to others... learn a tricks or two on how to cultivate half an acre of land to feed a family of nine. All the bestAvijit Dashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13581206372479668004noreply@blogger.com0