Hera Pheri unlimited

Saw the verdict on Ruchika Case and Heri Pheri (1976) yesterday. While it may still be true in 2009 that `Durbaar mein uparwale ke undher nahin par deri hai', it is certainly true that `Durbaar mein neechewale ke andher bhi hai, deri bhi hai!'. Not a surprise that few victims take law in their hands, unlike in the developed world where legal system manages to cater to the most.

But what can be expected in a land where even men like Kasab are seen to be making the mockery of law and it takes years to hang the assassins of Mr Gandhi. Where does it leave the common man! No wonder, angry man Amitabh of 70s and 80s was a cult figure. If it is still a pleasure to watch his movies, it is because things have changed very little in terms of justice to the common man, even though we may be living a dream in terms of materialistic gains. (More)

The two debates

Two magnificent debates are currently raging in the country. On right to divorce, and right to live. Both deals with the freedom of choice and dignity of life. There are strong divisions on both, and both will have a bearing on the quality of our lives. Court's judgement will also decide if we are indeed moving into t...he 21st century, or continue to live in the middle of the 20th!

First divorce. Every one knows how marriages happen in India. Mostly conditioned with very little room to know each other. So, invariably, there are very good chances of many marriages falling flat on the face with partners being forced to live and bear with each other.

Even in love marriages, the way love happens in India!, odds are usually staked against really knowing each other. So a remedy should be easy divorce, with or without mutual consent! Especially so in cases where both the partners are earning.

Children's rights are important, but children may suffer more in marriages that have gone horribly wrong. Condition for mutual consent may only prolong mutual agony, especially in cases where both partners can take care of themselves. People waiting for 5, 10 years to get divorce is really not on, certainly not in conformity with our modern lifestyle.

The second most important debate relates to euthanasia. Possibly, it can be allowed on experimental basis for next ten years, and reviewed thereafter. But, in a poor country like India, there is also a very good chance of children emotionally blackmailing their ailing parents into ending their lives prematurely. So, some amount of safeguard is needed here. Ideally, only young people, with no hope of recovery, should be allowed to avail of this. Euthanasia should be a strict no-no for anyone over 50.

It's realy good that society is debating these issues today. But only a pragmatic approach on these twin issues can take India forward.

THE OLDEST DEBATe

Give a few months old child something he cherishes. Then try and take it back. You will be met with such high decibel cries that you will dare not take what the toddler thinks belongs to her/him.

The tendency does not change a bit as one grows. Tendency to grab anything, and I dare say, at any cost becomes integral to the existence of most of us. Hence I beg to disagree with Ramesh Kumar.

I beg to differ with Ramesh when he says that human being are basically good and circumstances make them bad. In fact, human being are born with a strong streak of possessiveness and self-preservation. Either circumstances make them feel the importance of sharing their goodies, or they remain the way they are, or even become worse! In fact, it's a four-way process 1) unfavourable circumstances keep them bad 2) they remain bad despite favourable circumstances 3) favourable Circumstances turn them good 4) they turn good in spite of unfavourable circumstances.

If you look carefully and scrutinise lives of people around, you will see almost all the cases fall under one or the other category. It's a struggle which either ends in succumbing to circumstances and retaining one's evil streak, or, in stray cases, becoming good despite circumstances.

We love the kids for their innocence. They deserve it. But we fail to see their greed. Most people, I am no exception, tend to fuel this greed, to make them a success story at any cost. In the process, we tend to do away what is good in them and, inadvertently, help them in consolidating their evil streak.

If human being was basically good, we would not have promoted sports like boxing, loved reality shows with streaks of hatred, and eulogised people like Alexander whose armies, to fulfil his whims and ambition, destroyed many a civilisations.

The fact is, life is a constant struggle to become good. But most of us take an easier way out. We tend to remain bad, and pin the blame on the circumstances. Nothing wrong with that. That is humane after all!

Humanity readies for self-destruction

If humanity has an `inadvertent’ death wish, it’s symbolized best in a piece of news by Reuters, tucked away in inside pages of most papers. The summit, says figures compiled by host Denmark, will produce 46,200 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to the annual output of over half a million Ethiopians! 5,700 tonnes will be created by the Summit, and a further 40,500 by attendees flights to Copenhagen!

So, going by how the conference is proceeding, it may end up adding more to the destruction of environment, than eliminating some of the negative factors. Fights over money, development, and perceived discrimination may be destroying our only hope of saving life on this planet.

Not so long ago, I was watching a programme on how Oxygen appeared in the atmosphere on FOX history channel. Well, it took a few billion years for earthlings to be ready to inhale the life-saver. But, going by the trend and inaction, it may take less than 300 to 400 years of development (starting with Industrial revolution) to destroy our very existence. Estimates vary on when this will happen, but no body is in doubt that it eventually will.

Still. I can sense a total inability, and willingness, to learn. Though some damage to environment may have been permanent, there is even reservation on tackling what all can be tackled. Looks like, there is a very strong death wish. The only pity is that this attitude may also end up in snuffing out the lives of all other species, who are not really responsible for this imminent collective suicide.

What a statement!

There are times when statistics takes a backseat, especially, when there is too much of it, and sentiments are back to the centrestage. So more than the runs scored, some statements become more important by the time you sit down and analyse a game after witnessing an array of mind-boggling performances. Hence, it is a pity that Sehwag’s most important statement of the day did not get a mention in most Indian newspapers. The statement, which tells so eloquently about the simplicity of the man, as well as his respect for the class shown by the opposition.

Pioneer was the only paper (out of four which I get), which had highlighted Sehwag’s statement, the kind of which no cricketer in history may have uttered during any presentation. “I was not tense at all because I was supporting Sri Lanka” says Sehwag about the final stages of the match. ``I have this superstition that whenever I support India, we lose. So I was supporting Sri Lanka here and was never tense.’’ Possibly, the statement was as much about superstition, as about acknowledging the brilliance of Lanka. It also shows the simplicity and frank approach towards the game of a man, who may one day be rated on par with the best in history, if not already. Remember, Sehwag once said about the difference between Tendulkar and himself as something relating to the bank account!

I am sure people love this kind of approach. They want some kind of honesty and `coming straight out of heart’ speeches. After seeing Sri Lanka’s bold approach, I am sure many Indians would have not felt bad had the visitors won.

I, for sure, was supporting Lanka too during the end phases of the match. I am glad there was at least one Indian in the playing XI, who was supporting my team on that day, even though for reasons of superstition!

A Lesson of Mohali

Some things are blessings in disguise. India giving away 17 runs off wides at Mohali was one such blessing. But for these extra runs, a world record chase would never have been possible, and the victory, certainly, not so sweet!

But in most matches such blessings can easily become a curse. Our calculations show that 16 more runs were added in 7th and 8th balls of such overs.

India, in all, gave away 33 runs off wides, and the extra deliveries. The massive 6 off the 7th ball of the final over was a fitting tribute to India's indiscipline. In a perfect case scenario, that is with no wides, Sri Lanka would have ended at 173 in their 20 overs, and not 206 in 23! The first 7 overs saw 14 runs off wide deliveries alone. And 8 runs off additional 9 balls meant 83/1 in 7 overs had 22 runs courtesy wrong line.

Of course, bowlers are likely to be more relaxed in a 50 over format and one can expect better control over line. That will be of utmost important as batsmen can't always be expected to repeat the performance of Mohali. No team in the world can afford to give so many runs free, and expect its winning momentum to continue. Even if it is India at home!

THE INTERVIEW THAT I MISSED

It was a blazing knock played in body-numbing cold of January 2001, by an India discard. I was stationed with the TWI crew at Mohali, and brief was to somehow get exclusive interviews of Yuvraj Singh and RS Sodhi. The match, which witnessed a superb 150+ by Virender Sehwag, was a crucial Duleep Trophy encounter between North and West Zones.

Critical encounter it was, as India-Australia series was just about a month away. Big names like Zaheer, Rathore, Yuvraj, RS Sodhi, Dinesh Mongia were either trying to cement, or bag a place in the Indian squad. They looked too focused to pay any attention to TWI crew, and the situation was looking grim in terms of getting these two interviews. Of course, that nobody wanted any controversy did not help the matters.

Meanwhile, Sehwag was looking a forlorn figure. For this match, he was to come at 5th or 6th down and that was certainly not an ideal position to score big and impress the Indian selectors.

But, as the fate would have it, it turned out to be Sehwag's day. A brilliant 150+ at over run-a-ball saved North the blushes. It was a knock which even Ganguly mentioned in a later interview to TWI (a few days before the Australia series started but even he forgot Sehwag's name and used the word `Delhi batsman').

Soon after that knock, I was tempted to interview Sehwag instead of Yuvraj or Sodhi, but refrained from doing so as I felt it might not be carried. After all, it was a 1st class match and nobody felt Sehwag had a realistic chance of getting into the Indian team against Australia. I certainly did not want to interview Sehwag, and then disappoint him by not carrying it in the programme on DD.

On the last day of the match. I managed both Sodhi and Yuvraj and did not regret not interviewing Sehwag. Though, in the hindsight, I believe that I missed the most important exclusive interview of my career, which was there for the taking.

Of course, a month after Sourav's interview, Sehwag was drafted into the Indian team for Bangalore ODI against Australia. He scored 50 and bagged three wickets. The `Delhi batsman' was reborn and there was no looking back after that.

SHOULD TIGER BE LEFT ALONE?

More than a decade ago, Karishma, then 18 or 19, featured in a song `sexy, sexy, sexy mujhe log boolein (people call me sexy, sexy, sexy). After a massive public outcry, words were later changed to `fancy, fancy, fancy muzhe log bolein'. Karishma cited her age in her defence. `I am just a teen,' said an anguished Karishma.

Well wishers asked media to leave her alone as `she was still gaining in maturity'. However, some analysts in media pointed out, and rightly so, that if she was mature enough to command lakhs of rupee, she was mature enough to face the music after taking such a `bold step on celluloid'.

Coming to Tiger's case, thanks to his excellent rapport with media and clean image, not to talk of near perfect golf, he managed to earn billions. Mind it. it was as much image as it was skill. In history, players like Agassi and Kournikova were still earning in millions in endorsements even when they were not winning tournaments. Just because of certain kind of image they portrayed.
Now Tiger thrived on the image of a gentleman, a family man, a dream friend to have. He earned the love and respect of billions as they perceived him to be a true gentleman.

Mind it, any lesser man would have fallen to the kind of temptations that he had. Most certainly, I would have faced with hundreds of such opportunities on offer every month. That's why, he was the man one could not cease to adore.

Now that he has shown that he is no different, he is getting the treatment he deserves. He could have stalled it by coming out clean within first 24, 48, 72 hours. He chose not to. He underestimated the damage his indiscretions will cause. Media is perfectly justified in hyping up the story. Tiger's version is still not there!

Honey, it's all about money!

At a restaurant in Sydney, Jane was stunned to see a blonde rushing to her table, kissing her husband, saying a few words into his ear, and then rushing out with the same speed. What’s this and who’s she? The Angry wife demanded to know. Quickly judging that there was no way out, Peter replied, honestly, `she is my mistress’

Wife slapped him hard, and asked for divorce. `Sure’, said Peter, but cautioned her that `there will be no more vacations in Switzerland, no more shopping in Paris, and no beach house in Rio’

Just as Peter was about to finish, another woman appeared, reached out to another table, and kissed Joe, a family friend seated nearby.

Who is she? Jane asked Peter. `She is Joe’s mistress’, said Peter. `Well, ours is better’ said Jane and sat down again for a quiet dinner.

SO POSSIBLY, TIGER'S MARRIAGE WILL SURVIVE TOO! THERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH MONEY AT STAKE, FOR TIGER, FOR WIFE, FOR SPONSORS, FOR ADVERTISERS. THE INDICATIONS ARE ALREADY THERE.

Well, PGA tour is losing 50% of viewership, and brands like NIKE are possibly losing their biggest brand ambassador. Will they sit silently, and watch! Impossible! All the pressure will be on Tiger and his wife to somehow kiss and make up. It's not just Tiger's money and prestige which is at stake. Some Institutions are at a big risk of witnessing massive erosion in their credibility, and value

It is naive to even think that Tiger will be allowed to be away from golf from more than three-four months. Possibly, the temporary sabbatical will just be an attempt to show that the patch up is a sincere attempt to genuinely forgive and forget. In the end, you will get a mellowed down Tiger who continues to be as good at golf as he was before his wife clubbed him; a wife who may sulk occasionally but will accept the dark reality of the past and move on.

Fans will accept that Tiger is a human after all. NIKE will get its brand back, slightly less valuable but still eminently sellable. The only persons, who will not have a selfish motive in seeing the patch-up, will be couple's two children. They would have welcomed the patch up, if it happens which it should, even if Tiger was not so rich and not so famous!

Not the tiger we know!

It was the winter of 2001. And Tiger was standing just 2 feet away from us. His 2nd shot from fareway had landed little outside the green, just where we had our camera crew stationed. I could sense the increasing heartbeat of the Chinese ladies at Missions Hills as tiger truged his way to the spot, a little disapointed but eager to make amends with a birdie.

A picture of poise, Tiger did manage a birdie from a very difficult position (it was a 25-30 foot putt). His female legion of fans clapped loudly, but the only thing which stopped the ladies assembled there from whistling was that they were knowledgable about the game, and the decorum. Tiger just took of his cap, and gave an innocent smile. That was all!

At that time (and, as we know now, for 8 more years) Tiger had the reputation of being a formidable rival, but gentleman to the core. A man who was most likely to bow down on his knees to kiss the hand of the ladies and, like old time knights, ask them for a dance.

He was indeed a role model. The top sportsman of the world (there was no roger federer then) who could have beaten the likes of Shane Warne hollow in his game, if he wanted to. Unfortunately, over the years, Tiger's resistance seems to have melted. The numbers of affairs tumnbling out of the closet are a clear pointer to his indiscretions.

But more than his affairs, what stinks about this whole episode is that the man tried to use money to ensure that his marriage remains intact. Attempts to bribe his wife to remain his wife must be a most pathetic attempt. Possibly, he could have saved his marriage had he tried to come clean as soon as the first reports had appeared. Celebrities can't always resist temptations, but at least they can behave like gentlemen.