The reality “spurt”

Once in a while, nowadays more often than not, I kind of question myself, mainly on the terms of “what is it that I am actually doing with my life”. A few moments where I do a self-analysis, when I think how lucky I am, when I think about the majority who are much more unfortunate than me, when I curse myself for not acting in spite of knowing these, for being the most selfish a person could be by knowingly ignoring the rest of the world.

On one fine Sunday, when I was immersed in such thoughts, I decided to put these thoughts into action, one way or another. I wanted the world to be a better place, a place where the first thought of a parent when they get to know the gender of the baby is not dowry, a world where child marriage and child exploitation is unheard of, a world where parents do not act because “chaar log kya kahenge”. I wanted the world to be a place where love, logic and reason would triumph over anything else. More than anything else, I wanted to make sure that these do not end up as random thoughts, but rather invoke an action.

And that is when I formulated a plan which would cater my needs (read: selfish) and satisfy the “human” in me. It was basically to move to a rural/backward area in India with the aim of helping others. I wanted to be a teacher, as that had been my “dream-profession” after I failed to qualify the Medical Entrance. I wanted to help the poor kids, and engage in night-education educating the adults. I wanted the people there to know that there is a huge world outside theirs; I wanted them to know the basics of science so that they could overcome the illogical aspects of religion. I wanted them to know what freedom actually means, so that they could make well thought of decisions. I wanted to tell them that females should be treated the same way men are treated, and that caste system is evil. I badly wanted to uplift them through education and awareness.

A new reality had dawned on me, and I was trying to think and sort out all the queries and (all possible) roadblocks that I would have faced. That was when I heard the washing machine alarm, reminding me to transfer my clothes to the dryer. “Damn it, Now I have to take the clothes from the machine and put in the dryer one by one! I just can’t imagine why these people make it so hard, and why they cannot make a machine which does both, and possibly even iron the clothes”. And then, I had the “second” reality "spurt" in a span of ten minutes or so. Erasing all my thoughts, I transferred the clothes to the dryer. And, everything is back to “normal” again.

Terrorism and Cricket.

Sporting and cultural isolation played a crucial role in bringing down apartheid in South Africa. South Africa was barred from 1964/68 Olympics, many great players including the likes of Don Bradman refused to play there, and no counties (except Margaret Thatcher’s England) toured there.

In today’s context, India follows the same “cut sporting tie” policy with at-least two nations. “Obviously” Pakistan, and now Sri Lanka. Recently, Jayalalitha declared that she would not allow Sri Lankan players to play in Tamil Nadu unless the Indian government acts tough towards the Sri Lankan government/Sinhalese reduces the atrocities committed towards Tamils.

It is unfair to compare the two policies – the one adopted towards South Africa, and the one adopted towards Sri Lanka/Pakistan because of many reasons. South Africa was a sports crazy nation, and isolation from sports will naturally trigger emotion and policy change there. South African players also practiced apartheid. There were many instances where the players openly spoke asserting their “superiority” against the so-called “black”.  Also, United Nations was not really capable of bringing significant restrictions/bans at that time, as it was only in its budding stage then. 

On the other hand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as we all know, are not countries where the foreign policy is controlled by the sports ministry. No decision will be taken by the Sri Lankan government just because a state in India barred its players from playing there. Especially, when they have faced more serious bans, tougher ones, and are on the verge of an UN isolation resolution. More than anything, it is unfair to treat the players the way they are treated now. It is silly to think that Jayawardane and co. practice racism when their greatest and most loved player- Muralitharan is from the “opposite” race.

Immediately after Jayalalitha's declaration, the IPL committee barred Sri Lankans from playing in Tamil Nadu. The decision could have gone 2 ways – remove Chennai from the venue list, or bar Sri Lankans from playing there. The IPL committee went with the easier and financially viable option. For them, it is just a matter of business and money. Shifting venue at the last moment would involve lots of trouble, and cost. Moreover, Chennai is one place where the venue is always full. So, why take all the trouble just to end up losing money? It is this decision that will definitely have larger, long-term repercussions. The decision when you end up choosing wrong over right, bending all sorts of laws, twisting the truth based on materialistic factors like ease and money will definitely stand as a motivator for many. After all, negativity is easily imparted.

In fact, the story ends up like we are the ones practicing racism. By refusing players of a particular country to play in one place, we are the ones encouraging a difference. There was a time when sports brought people together, not anymore, now it is a sheer device for promoting nationalism and jingoism.

a moment of elation...

For most of the day, I was thinking of the Federer match, the one that he was going to play against Raonic today evening. I was reading up the Australian Open reports, the previews and watching some videos, and what not.

Meanwhile, I had opened and kept another browser window, with the C.A results website. Kunju had written her CA exams, and was expecting her results today. She said the exams were really tough, and had started studying for writing it again in May. None of us had any hope, as she was pretty sure that she would not clear it this time.

To be frank, I have to admit that I was thinking more about the Federer match rather than her results, may be because we all were pretty sure about her not clearing the exams, or may be because the result declaration was 3 hours away. And, then, I got a call from amma, before she said anything, from her voice itself, I was sure that Kunju had cleared atleast one of her group. “aval pass aayachu” was what amma told, and there I sat numb, I could not say or feel anything. I wanted to get up, and tell Kirti, but I was unable to.

I refreshed my browser, but I could not see the result as it needed a pin number in addition to the roll number. I did not even say I am going to cut the call to amma, I instantly cut, and called Kunju, but her phone was unavailable. Meanwhile, I got up and told Kirti that Kunju cleared her exams. She also came to my seat, and we tried calling Kunju again, and finally after a few rounds, the call got connected. And then, it was one of her colleague who attended the call, telling she is talking with her boss. When I was about to cut the call, she came and I talked to her, and without congratulating, I asked the pin number. I wanted to confirm the result first.

She told the pin number, and I was able to look at the result. Yes, she had passed, cleared both the groups, and from now on, she is a C.A. I wanted to believe it, but I was unable to. It was so big an achievement. I knew many who had to wait years to complete the degree, and here, Kunju had done it, within an year. I congratulated her, Kirti also did, and we called amma and talked a bit. I needed time to believe it, to enjoy it, to take it in completely, to make sure that I was not in a dream chasing a wild goose.

And yes, I am happy, after a very very long time, I was joyful. I was just a bit sad that I could not share the moment together with my family. Just a bit sad that I was not there with them when the results were out. But, I guess that comes as a part of the package called life. Just moments earlier, I was wondering about the number of sets in the Federer match, when now, all of it seemed immaterial. Her efforts paid off, and I have to congratulate her for standing tall despite all her shortcomings and the obstacles she faced in this tough journey. And yet again, she has made me a proud brother.

sometimes I wonder...

random post #1:

1) When I go to a shop to buy something, many a times the shopkeeper says, the actual price is X, but to you, I will give it at a discounted price of Y.
Wow, thank you for the discount. Now, can you tell me how you know me for giving me such a big discount?

2) During my college days, I used to go for the movies, first day first show, and it was always crowded with long queues. I try to enter the queue in the middle, and people shout, “STAND IN THE QUEUE”.
I AM “trying to stand in” the queue, just that I am trying to enter the queue from the middle, not the back.

3) You are not sure of something in your work, and you ask your colleague. They clear your doubt, however it is always pre/proceeded by “I am not really sure if this is correct”, or “As far as I remember” or “I think it is because of”…
I asked you the doubt because of these reasons, because I was not sure, because I remember only so much, or because that is what I think it is. Could you not just take a few minutes, and give me a sure reply?

4) There is acute shortage of power (current) in the villages; cities have more than a few hours power cut. And cricket, a game which can be played in broad day light, has to be played as a day-night game with huge flood lights.

5) Pitch report for a football match, if there was one: “The ground looks great, and is fully covered with grass. The ball will roll on from one foot to another, but the midfielders will have a tough time trying to hit the right areas. However, defenders will have a great time as they usually know the opposite team player’s right area to hit. There is a little bit moisture in the ground, which will make the job easier for the forwards as they can dive comfortably. Above all, there seems to be a bit of fog, limiting the visibility of referees, thus making their job easier.”

6) When you travel in a flight, you are allowed a laptop bag (around 5kg) with your carry bag (7kg), but you are not allowed to carry a 8kg carry bag alone.

പത്രവും ടി.വി'യും

Its been a long time since I wrote something in Malayalam. Anyways, it is about Malayalam news and channels, so better to write in Malayalam.

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