Mind Speaks – Playing in the mind

Posted on September 22, 2007 Updated on June 6, 2015

Playing in the mind

Watching Yuvraj Singh’s game in the match against New Zeland on 14th September 2007, I was thinking whether his relocation from Punjab to Delhi made him a docile person or not. Within 2 days, on 16th September he proved my temporary assumptions wrong and justified my faith in the belief that many time we win matches in the mindset we keep. Those 6 sixes which Yuvraj hit of England Bowler Stuart Broad were all against quality bowling from one of the best in the game today. Broad and England captain Paul Collinwood did not have any clue where to bowl and what to do. Yuvraj is a player of class, style, aggression and power in his shots. With added advantage of his height, it is always a beauty to watch him play his shots when he is focussed. It was one such day and it was obvious that Yuvraj Sing’s pride was hurt when he was hit for 30 runs in one of the matches in England which finished recently and he was nurturing his revenge and playing and practising his shots in his mind all these days. Stuart Broad happened to be the unfortunate victim to taste and transform this practise session in to a reality.

It is not only in cricket this form of preparation, calculation and background work happens. It happens in all management field. Practising the art of visualising the scenarios and improvising our action and reaction time to any particular events that happens or can happen in life, will make a person ready to respond to any eventualities in day to day life. Even in case of death, after a certain age according to me, there should be some level of preparedness to be done, so that those close ones should never be wandering and wondering of our activities and shortfalls. In reality, I know and have heard of a visionary who carried a special note of instructions, some money along with some other contact details in his handbag, in case something unfortunate happen to him somewhere. At all stages, there should be a Plan A, and Plan B, and Plan C, and if all goes wrong a special plan X, which is filled with pure common sense.

Being a Tabala enthusiast myself, I remember attending a post-performance gathering some 12 years ago by the legend Tabala player Ustad Zakir Hussain. When asked by reporters about how many hours he practise every day and how he finds time to practise even during his hectic jet setting life style, Ustad Zakir Hussain answered, by taking a small box lying down on his table, and said, “I practise all the time, every time and everywhere”. His hands were tapping on the box gently and he continued, “I play in my mind and find the rhythm composition and the placement variation within, for each of the special notes I play and I continuously practise and improvise them whenever I get an opportunity, even if it is by playing on a piece of wood or tissue box. I create a feel and then when I get to sit for real practise or performance, the natural variations will come automatically”. This was a spark of an idea for someone like me who was listening to each of the letters he spoke.

I never had an opportunity to learn Tabala till then. However, during my schooling days, my parents were kind enough to send me to a master to learn mridangam, which I used to play during the school college days initially out of force or for getting points in the arts festival for my team, and which later on developed as an interest. After college, I never got a chance to continue this form of creative talent. Additionally, there was no such venue here in the Middle East where they used mridangam for any musical events. I was stuck and after getting inspired by Ustad’s speech, I went and bought a set of Tabala and started practising on it. The nature of my job and its long hours, non-availability of an exponent to teach the intricate complexities of this form of performing art, made things much difficult in the initial days However, I did not leave the ambition there. I started listening to songs and music much more carefully, and whenever opportunity knocked, I met people who played the instrument, got to know the hand and finger placement, the initial basics required to play with a flow. Rest everything happened in the mind while driving around listening to music during my hectic life schedule. In a year or two, I was playing well and even for long hours of music for satsangs.

This again, I was able to do it, because I was given a chance by my loving parents to learn a musical instrument when I was young and thus creating an unknown (at that time) flare for an extra curricular talent in me, which became a useful tool later on in the life as a stress reliever.

How many of us have the time or patience or kindness to pass on the same to our children? Recently, I was remembering those formative days when my friend send me an invitation for his daughters dance performance. Participation in any such team events will give children a feel of what he/she can expect in different situations and will give him sufficient boldness and courage to face realities of life and opt for Plan A, B or C according to the situation. It will be his/her initial step in life to realise how team building and team work and the value of these two in day to day life. It is our duty to create an opportunity for our children to grow along and progress in all fields of life. Let it be music, performing art, or in the playground playing cricket, hockey or soccer, a child has to have multiple talents other than education from the school books and TV/Internet media which he/she is exposed to much more than we anticipate.

Coming back to Twenty20 cricket, I am very happy to see Indian team on a winning note and equally or more happy to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s inspiring captaincy during the 1st half when India was batting against South Africa and 2nd half of the match, when South Africa were batted. He lead from the front with determination and scored valuable runs. However, it was his move to give the wicket keeping gloves to Dinesh Karthik that made the big difference that finally ended the team on a winning note. How many of us get to get someone like Dinesh Karthik, to delegate and give a very important role to play with success as he did for Dhoni by effecting many dismissals on the field? Although, there were many extras, I felt the Indian Bowlers did an excellent job, especially R P Singh, Harbhajan and Sreesanth. R P Singh was clinically critical in the win against South Africa today. If the Indian team continue their focus and determination and game plan in the same way they played till now, I am sure, they will play well against Australia, who seems to be lost in thoughts of the Twenty20 scheme of things even though happened to win convincingly against Sri Lanka today.

So, the D-day has come and we are playing semi-finals of an important World Cup match today. I really do not want to promote cricket, but this shorter version is getting in to my scheme of things, as do many others, because of the simple reason that the match gets over just the same time as that of a football match, and there is excitement and surprise factor plenty in store. Being sensitively attached to Sreesanth and his intelligence and willingness to listen (happy to see him coming out of the Sreesanth Syndrome), I sincerely wish him to bowl just 24 unbelievable/un-playable balls of his life today. As do RP Singh and Irfan Pathan. If these 3 main bowlers hits form, line, length and accuracy, we will have a match in hand against Australia. After his game with Srilanka, in which they beat the Sri Lankans convincingly, Rickey Ponting mentioned that they still have not come to terms with this form of cricket. He is not playing today and it is an added advantage and it is up to us to capitalise this golden opportunity. Go with plenty of Fevicol in hands and hold on to all the catches that comes to us, and whenever required, remove the same glue and throw at the wickets the same way we break the glasses of our public transport, Indian team will win. My team for today will be as follows:
Virendar Shewag, Gautam Ghambir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, RP Singh and Harbhajan Singh. I leave out Joginder Sharma, who although bowled well was unlucky with wickets on both occasions he played and prefer India keeps Karthik in the playing eleven, where, if required Shewag, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj can give a go at the stumps. My option if we win the toss is – we bowl first. In a few hours we will know what happens. Good to see that.

All the FM stations and regional TV channels here are playing the song Chak De India repeatedly, so much so that even my Arabic and French colleagues know the lines in full. After all, it is champion teams win matches that count. Today is one such day and we all wish Team India to win. Keep going and let the flag fly high.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Ramesh Menon
22092007

TAX STRUCTURE IN INDIA…

Posted on September 20, 2007

TAX STRUCTURE IN INDIA…

1) Qus. : What are you doing?
Ans.: Business.
Tax: PAY PROFESSIONAL TAX!

2) Qus. : What are you doing in Business?
Ans.: Selling the Goods.
Tax: PAY SALES TAX!!

3) Qus. : From where are you getting Goods?
Ans.: From other State/Abroad
Tax: PAY CENTRAL SALES TAX, CUSTOM DUTY & OCTROI!

4) Qus. : What are you getting in Selling Goods?
Ans.: Profit.
Tax: PAY INCOME TAX!

5) Qus. : Where you Manufacturing the Goods?
Ans.: Factory.
Tax: PAY EXCISE DUTY!

6) Qus. : Do you have Office / Warehouse/ Factory?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY MUNICIPAL & FIRE TAX!

7) Qus. : Do you have Staff?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY STAFF PROFESSIONAL TAX!

8) Qus. : Doing business in Millions?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY TURNOVER TAX!

9) Qus. : Are you taking out over 25,000 Cash from Bank?
Ans.: Yes, for Salary.
Tax: PAY CASH HANDLING TAX!

10) Qus. : Where are you taking your client for Lunch & Dinner?
Ans.: Hotel
Tax: PAY FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

11) Qus. : Are you going Out of Station for Business?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY FRINGE BENEFIT TAX!

12) Qus. : Have you taken or given any Service/s?
Ans.: Yes
Tax : PAY SERVICE TAX!

13) Qus. : How come you got such a Big Amount?
Ans.: Gift on birthday.
Tax: PAY GIFT TAX!

14) Qus. : Do you have any Wealth?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY WEALTH TAX!

15) Qus. : To reduce Tension, for entertainment, where are you going?
Ans.: Cinema or Resort.
Tax: PAY ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

16) Qus. : Have you purchased House?
Ans.: Yes
Tax : PAY STAMP DUTY & REGISTRATION FEE !

17) Qus. : How you Travel?
Ans.: Bus
Tax: PAY SURCHARGE!

18) Qus. : Any Additional Tax?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY EDUCATIONAL, ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL & SURCHARGE ON ALL THE CENTRAL GOVT.’s TAX !!!

19) Qus. : Delayed any time Paying Any Tax?
Ans.: Yes
Tax: PAY INTEREST & PENALTY!

Mind Speaks – Life without Ctrl C and Ctrl V and Story telling

Posted on September 16, 2007

Life without Ctrl C and Ctrl V

The other day, I was reading an article on Research written by Mr. C.S.V. Ratnam, Director of IMI, New Delhi. In his article, he was mentioning that Indian Business School doesn’t seem to make even a feeble attempt to prioritise research. A parallel swim search on the www ocean on a different subject about leading Professional and business schools in India confirmed his statement. Many times we see excessive dependence on usage of Ctrl C and Ctrl V keys of the computer while preparing reports. It is ok to a certain extent. However, blind copying without even reading or proof checking ends up in disasters. This trend will reduce the creative and innovative aspect of knowledge delivery.

Story telling
I am surprised by another fact. There are people out there who think commonly about topics of current relevance. Yesterday, I was writing about passing on the old stories to our younger generations. And today, I get to read about a group of professionals – Kahani Inc – based in canada who are producing animation films based on old stories passed on by generations.

At the same time, I happened to read about Geeta Ramanujam of Bangalore. Geeta has run the Kathalaya Trust for ten years, to promote ‘positive national change through cultural literacy’. She holds workshops in schools, colleges and institutions across India and the world. She has swapped stories with a Cherokee Indian grandmother in Tennessee and with an old Xhosa bard in Africa. You could mail her at geetastory@gmail.com if you want to hear her.

Twenty20 Cricket

The way each match is being played and finished, the Twenty20 form of cricket will soon be the in-thing among the cricketing world. It is proving once again that for this form, we need players who has aggressive mindset without which they will not be able to deliver what they are required to. One player whom I feel sorry in this series is our Yuvraj Singh who has not shown so far fire in his eyes and power in his shots, resulting in less runs for him when he bats and more runs for his opposition when he bowls. Daniel Vettori clearly played a Captain’s knock by bowling well to take 4 key wickets for New Zealand. I hope we still have chances to get through to the semifinals if we play aggressive and infantry cricket with killer instinct.

The best thing so far seen is that all the players and viewers are enjoying it.

Crossword Puzzling

Almost every day, I work the crossword puzzle in one of the daily news. Some days, I find that the puzzle seems to solve itself quickly without any effort. Other days, I struggle with each and every answer. More often that not, I will get a few of the clues correct and when I return later, the answers to the very clues that eluded me before seem to present themselves. Once I get one answer completed, often it provides me with the letters that I need to solve the other clues.

I have found that life is a lot like crossword puzzles. Just as the puzzle themes vary each day, so do my “life’s” crossword puzzles. I have also found that the ease in solving some of my life’s puzzles also varies. It seems that the more problematic a life issue is for me, the more difficult it is to understand and solve for the clues. It is though I have to re-read the clue many times before I can understand what is being asked.

Perhaps I have difficulty with these puzzles because I am unwilling to set aside preconceived ideas of what the answers should be. Or I unconsciously distort the question so that the answer will completely elude me. Fortunately, with the paper puzzle, I only have to wait until the next day to get the missing words and, with them, a better understanding of the questions. Unfortunately, the solutions to life’s puzzles don’t come the next day, or even as quickly as I would like.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have dictionary with the possible solutions to life’s puzzles like the dictionary for crossword puzzles? It would be great to be able to look up a clue and the possible solutions. I could select one, see if it “fits” and fill in another blank space in my life. For example, what if I could look up the solutions for “impatience?” Perhaps it would include suggestions like, “to everything there is a time and season.” For those days when I don’t seem to have a clue as to why I am so scattered in my thinking, perhaps the solutions would include, “where the focus flows the energy goes.”

Perhaps that may be another one of my life goals, to think of developing a dictionary to help with the daily crossword puzzle. In the meantime, I will continue to use a pencil and eraser to rub out my mistakes and enter the correct responses.

I would like to end today’s note with the affirmation that “Everyday I will voluntarily tackle the crossword puzzle of my life with the intent to answer all of the clues.”
God Bless and Have a puzzle-less week ahead.

Ramesh Menon
16092007

Mind speaks – Lack of agression = Indian Cricket & Chak De Indian Hockey

Posted on September 9, 2007 Updated on June 6, 2015

We dream of several things, plan and work on them and at times unknown hands come and play unexpected things, which turn the life upside down. We get bogged down by the event, and then never comes out of it and continues with the empathy and trauma associated with it for the rest of the life.

Lack of aggression = Indian cricket

Welcome to read through the Mind Speaking column from Team 1 news. This is what happened for the Indian Cricket Team at the Lord’s cricket ground yesterday. If you have read through my previous posting before the match, I had cautioned about 12 pairs of safe hands for the Indian team. Strangely, when all the 11 pairs of hands of the Indian team members worked safely in favour of the team, the most crucial pair – of the Umpire, worked against the team. Not once, but twice. It was more than enough for the team, and they never came out of it. One over of the match where Yuvraj Singh was playing was enough to project the mentality of the team, there was no power in his shots, no ambition and no aggressiveness. From nowhere, they created a cricketing icon of Dimitri Masceranhas, who walked away with 3 wickets and minimum runs against him. It’s a shame that we didn’t play aggressive cricket. I didn’t sit to see the match in full. I am sure many others. No wonder, Shasi Tharoor wrote in his weekly write up with the Times news column that he wasted five valuable days of his life watching the final test India played against England.

Callous journalism and Teaching Profession

It was really shocking to read the news report about a teacher Mrs. Uma Khurana arrested in Delhi for molesting girl students is all cooked up and fabricated in order to get a break through for an upcoming journalism student. This is hugely deplorable for all from the journalist community and also from the teaching. Teaching is a noble profession, and those who take up teaching does it with due diligence and respect for the profession. Except for some, who takes undue advantage by prompting students to join for tuition or take extra money from them for the same. These are all one off cases. But, when we compare the actual scenario happening in the Teaching profession, we will realise the bigger gap between Teaching and other profession. If we take up the Professional educational colleges and the remunerations earned by Teaching staff there and that of the start up salary offered to a student passing out by them from Industry leaders who come for campus recruitment, we will realise the financial disparity that is being followed these days. If we get a little deeper, we will then realise what is offered to the Professors and Teachers who are supposed to bring out the future generation. This situation happens not only in India but here in the Middle East as well, where a teacher’s salary is almost the same as that of a house maid. No wonder, children now show scant respect towards their teachers who are at mercy and think many times to raise their fingers against those mischievous ones.

The above story also raises a question or two about the speed with which the communication media operates these days. There is no time for a second level authenticity checking or many ignores it in the rush to spread hot news.

As usual, I know we all like to not respond and close our eyes to realities as long as it doesn’t affect us.

Chak De Indian Hockey

Whether it is Chak De effect or not, Indian Hockey is doing extremely well. I congratulate the Indian Hockey Team on their victory in Asia Cup Hockey tournament. I wish Indian Cricket team members also get to play 15 minutes of hockey during their training session, they will realise what it means to be staying fit in sports. Here is the latest from the Hockey field:

Chennai: Goals rained as hosts India on Sunday thrashed Asian Games champions Korea 7-2 to win the Asia Cup final here. Defending champions India on Sunday retained the BSNL Asia Cup, defeating Asian Games hockey champions 7-2 in the final in Chennai.

India led 3-1 at the lemon break. India’s scorers were Prabhjot Singh (3), Rajpal Singh, Shivendra Singh, SV Sunil and Roshan Minz. Oh Dae Keun and Jang Jong Hyun pulled back one each for the losers.

God bless and have a great week ahead.

Ramesh Menon
09092007

1.5 crore house waiting for you and Team India’s day out

Posted on September 7, 2007

1.5 crore house waiting for you
I have always tried to promote sports other than cricket whenever there is an opportunity. Now, there is one and any one of you can take it. It’s just simple, win an Olympic Gold medal for India. However, the offer is extended only to players from Kerala and this house is given by Trinity Builders.

I am sure other state governments will follow Kerala Government’s initiative, which will encourage our non-cricket sports person to perform better.

RIL buys GAPCO to flag off its African safari
Reliance Industries (RIL) has agreed to buy a clutch of fuel stations and storage facilities in one of the fastest growing regions in Africa, in an attempt to build a complete business chain from refineries to fuel stations in overseas markets.

Team India’s day out

Saturday, 8th September 2007 is going to be a special day for Indian Cricket. It is a day of opportunity to create history. India is going to play England on this day for the 7th and final one day match the Lord’s Cricket ground in England. Considered to be the most privileged ground, it is the dream of all cricket lovers to come and watch a game here. So, you can imagine the state of mind of the players who dream of playing here and create history here. The Indian team, after their sensational 6th match victory should be on a high moral.

Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar are in good form. The opening combination should not be changed. It is a great occasion for Sachin to end this match with a good score, a century within less number of balls is a wish from every Indian Cricket fan. Let us see, whether he break the jinx of the saying that Sachin cannot come up matching winning performance. Ganguly, has just to continue his aggressive form, with a little more effort and concentration on singles and running between the wickets. Ganguly will also have a role to play as a time bowler in the middle overs.part

Gautam Gambhir has a big opportunity if he gets play at no. 3. It will help him to cement his place in the team.

The player to watch tomorrow will be Yuvaraj Singh. Knowing his aggression and mindset, tomorrow he will be waiting for his opportunity to settle scores with Dimitri Masceranhas. When Robin Uthappa hit the winning run, Yuvraj came running to the ground in relief and joy, of what he had to undergo in the last over the England innings where Masceranhas scored 30 runs from his over. So, I am eagerly waiting to see the biggest six of this series from Yuvraj as revenge from him. He is one player who plays shots with power and elegance, and tomorrow is an opportunity for him to prove that he is a player of class who can shoulder responsibilities for India.

Rahul Dravid is in good form, but has not come with a classic innings so far. He has shown that he can score quickly. Field placing and bowling changes at the right time and bowlers performance and luck factor supporting him, we may see him smiling tomorrow.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is another player who will have a great role in this match. His keeping has improved and we all are waiting for his hitting.
Ajith Agarkar may get his final opportunity of playing for Team India in England. If he gets it, it has to be the match of his life with his swinging bowls. We have not seen his sharpness in bowling during this series except once or twice and tomorrow is a big day for him if he is selected to play.

Zahir Khan has been bowling throughout the series and before. The responsibilities have started taking a toll on him and we hope he stays in good shape tomorrow and get quick wickets in the initial overs itself.

Ramesh Powar is one player whom I like to watch any number of matches. He is bold and courageous and really deceives the opposition batsmen.

Piyush Chowla is another favourite to play a big role in tomorrows match. He has done well against the top class English players like Kevin Peterson and Alastair Cook. He will definitely have more to them tomorrow.

Last but not the least, Robin Uthappa will be the player the entire English Team will be looking forward to play with. By now, through modern technology, they might have already seen, analysed and devised plans on his batting and fielding style. He has set the finals for India and if continues his courage, confidence and cool head tomorrow, we will be able to see a great game. Uthappa playing with either Dhoni or Yuvraj, we will have more than fireworks on the field.

Sreesanth is one player whom I look forward to in case they decide against Agarkar. He has the pace, seam and swing and we home, he will get a chance and will play a great game leaving aside his Sreesanth Syndrome. The way he has been playing recently, I feel he has realised his mistakes and now has great focus on the ground and what is happening or going through the mind of opposition players.

If India wins the toss, I hope Rahul Dravid will opt to field first and allow England to bowl as they have not shown good temperament to set a target. With good bowling from our bowlers, we should restrict England within 275 runs. In case India bat first, more than the openers, the middle order batmsen has to play their innings well and score runs.

As of now, it is advantage India due to their current bowling and batting form. We all pray that Indian team gets 12 safe pair of hands today in the field (11 players and Umpire – whose decisions are crucial. It is going to be a close game.

Ramesh Menon
07092007

Smile smile smile, One more time, It’s a bright Bright BRIGHT sunshine day

Posted on September 4, 2007 Updated on June 6, 2015

It is not an easy job to write something readable keeping the curiosity and continuity elements. It is equally or more not easy to capture the attention of genuine readers and casual readers and passive browsers. You all know it well as I have tested it too well. Welcome once again to read through a weekly round up from Team 1.

Onam

Traditional Onam Sadhya

The week gone by was one of celebration and festivity for all Malayalis. Onam 2007 was celebrated with fervour and festivity. Looking at the various functions held here during the past few days, I felt, people show more unity when they are out of their own home state. At one such function held here at a labour camp which I participated, the Onam Sadhya served was very sumptuous. The elaborate varieties of dishes prepared by the bachelors included the traditional Sarkara upperi (banana chips fried and then coated with mix of jiggery syrup and dried ginger). It brought a lot of memories. Gone are the good old Onam days where children wake up early in the morning and pluck flowers and arrange beautiful flower arrangements (pookalam). Gone are the days where the eldest member from the family (karanavar) gift all the others with new set of clothes. Gone are the days when after a sumptuous meal, men and women play traditional games. Gone are the days of Kummatti and Pulikkali. Now everything is packaged. Children does not really know the meaning and value of Onam. For that matter, even the adults are glued on to the TV set watching various programmes. It is an admitted reality that in search of modernisation, we all tend to forget our tradition and culture. For that matter this is the case with every tradition now. We do not have time to pass on the much needed knowledge transfer of our cultural and traditional values, which our ancestors, with patience and wisdom passed on to us. It’s time to wake up.

Attitude

Thinking about this reminded me of some new found attitudes. I would wish to bring on here display of two such incidents which I had to witness in the past one month. One was an incident at a highway coffee shop, where I found a well dressed gentleman with an expensive T-Shirt, shouting loudly at the restaurant waiter for taking time to serve him. The counter was full with at least 6 to 7 customers in front, all asking for various items at the same time and due to which the waiter was finding it difficult as he was the only one around. Our friend, well dressed and projecting an intellectual and knowledgeable look started fuming around and finally got himself out of control to the extent that he abused the poor guy even racially. Every one around was watching and no reactions. You know what was written at the back of his T-Shirt. In bold and colourful letter a graffiti saying “NO FEAR”. May be he was trying to promote his attitude with this poor worker.

Another case, I had to watch with astonishment, happened at the Delhi airport. Near the conveyor belt, while waiting for the baggage to arrive, I found two well dressed and highly placed government employees, on their way back from a foreign tour – obviously government sponsored and intended to learn and study the developments abroad – fighting out to grab a trolley, which was the only one available at that point. They forgot all what they have seen, learnt, and wanted to introduce from their tour and returned back to their village level in their language usage. Here too, everyone was silent spectators. None to comment, none to control or react. Here again, there was a group of school children on their educational tour to learn India and it’s culture was there as spectators witnessing their first on hand Indian experience, straight out from their airplane. As I wrote earlier and as I repeatedly write here and will write again, we all react or respond only when something is pointed towards us or affecting us. All other happenings are to be silently watched.
Movie reviews

A few more things happened during the week passed by. Two of them are about contemporary movies – Chak De (in Hindi) and Arabikadha (in Malayalam). Both movies were released here in the Gulf and doing well. Both touched sensitive subjects in different ways.

Chak de (Do well) In Chak De was Sharukh Khan with a group of talented young actors visualising the life of the captain of Indian Hockey Team after he hit a crucial penalty during a world cup finals out of the goal post. Labelled cheater and detractor, he and his family was isolated from the society and he goes in to a retreat. The resurrection in to the national level after a period of seven years as the coach of the women’s hockey team, which no one really believed will reach to any higher stage of the game was his for take. With a bunch of young girls with different attitudes, personality and regional politics, Sharukh as the Coach, portrayed his character very well. All the girls enacted their roles superbly and other supporting actors too played their part to perfection making this movie worth watching. There are several reviews written about it already, praising the management theories embedded in the story line. However, I would like to touch the emotional part of it. Where Sharukh as the team captain who did not manage the winning stroke, and accusations, pointed fingers, criticism from all corners and insults to him and his family. With no real friends or supporters he decides to leave his village watched by all including children. Even during the period as coach of the national team for women, he was not spared of insult by his own wards and how he controls his emotions clearly depicts the toughness of life when one really experiences how the clock stands still in his/her life. The determination and dedication to come out of this and come up, was portrayed excellently by the actor. All the actors did justice to what was expected of them. However, the photography and camera work could have been raised to a higher level, especially during the match sequence, where although the director was trying to project a fast paced and nail biting game, the camera did not catch up with his intentions. Overall, a very good movie, worth watching with family, especially children.

Arabikadha (Stories from the Arabian land) was a movie conceived for a longer time and finally happened. Intended to touch the intricacies of life of expatriate workers in the Arabian gulf, especially UAE, the story revolves around a hard core communist party worker Mukundan (enacted by veteran actor Sreenivasan) who had to leave his native village due to political problems. Forced and foxed to come to the gulf in the pretext of cementing the party roots among the labour force working here, he lands straight in to the harsh realities of a middle class, moderately educated expat’s life where one has no experienced job or language skills to acquire a proper job. Cheated first by his own party comrades (to come to gulf whereby his associate utilises the opportunity to join with the industrialist and become a minister), and then by his own roommate and all those whom he come across, because of his straight forward nature, Mukundan, bump into a Chinese lady who makes her living by selling pirated cds. With Russian and Chinese idealism, Mukundan thinks that this is his girl for life and goes out of his way to help her during her difficulties and the movie takes twists and turns and finally comes up with a good ending. The short sequences of treacheries happening in financial dealings and job front was very well conveyed. For many this may be a reminiscence of what happened to them or what they went through at some stage of their stay here in the Gulf. Although Sreenivasan did his role well, the story and screenplay could have been done much better with more meaningful role to the three dronacharyas of Radio revolution in the UAE, namely Mr.Albert Alex, Mr. K P K Vengara and Mr. Moideen Koya. The amount of selfless service and reward less hours these three veterans have put in, because of which the Radio industry in UAE and Gulf all over, in particular the FM movements progressed is worth mentioning here. At least the producer and director made an effort to remember them and cast them in small roles shows their unavoidable importance among the middle class work force, whom they connect between each of the small corners of their native villages and the GULF through various regional programmes. It could have been nicer to have seen some of their memories enacted rather than casting so many lifeless characters to fill the volume. The new actor, Mr. Abdulla, who played the role of the restaurant owner, out performed everyone. Through this performance malayalam movie world has one more talented performer to do meaningful roles. Although a small cameo role,Mr.Satheesh Menon also did his part well and hope it will give him the long awaited break he is looking for in the silver screen. Hope some of the Bollywood or Kollywood Directors gets to see this movie and extend offers in fitting roles to him as many movies are being produced in Dubai these days. The movie also projected the way politicians uses the gulf countries to do their back door dealings. The camera work failed many times, especially when Jayasurya driving a car was quite visible that he was on top of a car parked on a recovery pick up. Arabikadha, on the whole did not achieve the finer points what originally it was intended to portray.

I think both Chak De and Arabikadha are now available on DVDs with English language translations and worth watching.

Indian Football

India for the first time in the history of Nehru Cup Football won the trophy beating Syria (1-0) with a superb goal from striker Pradeep. Labelled as a tournament with mediocre teams, Indian players did very well to display excellent football throughout the tournament. For the first time the team had players who were able to produce outstanding long range shots and passes, due to which the team played unstoppable football and won the trophy. However, Football is not Cricket and except some initial few line coverage in the front page of newspapers, neither the team or the players got any mentioning or coverage for what they achieved. So, forget about the rewards and receptions. I don’t think the entire football team got rewards that a C grade Indian cricketer gets for one match he plays. Even if continuously losses in matches, we worship cricket and create criketing gods after each and every series.

Sports Miscellaneous – Indian Hockey & Sania Mirza
Whether it is due to the Chak de movie influence or due to some other cosmic influence, Indian Hockey is having an excellent run in the ongoing Asia Cup Hockey matches being held at Hong Kong. Let us hope they keep continuing the momentum and wins the Asia Cup Trophy and prove that India can do well in sports other than Cricket.
Sania Mirza is on her winning ways these days. The superb form has taken several places up in the ranking. However, the extreme demand required to keep one fit in level of sports is taking toll on her and showed in her 3rd exit at the US Open. Pairing with Mahesh Bhupathi, she is still in contention for a World Title for India. Let’s hope for an impossible to happen.

Cricket

A weekly round up without any mention about Cricket will be unpardonable. The ongoing series between India and England is getting into a tight situation with England leading 3-2 currently. A win in the match tomorrow will level the series and makes it even more interesting. However, it is to be seen how we will get there. With fielders dropping all the catches, and the batsmen yet to learn to run the singles, and bowlers performance not guaranteed, it is a tough task ahead. Again, questions are in plenty as to the resource usage – players like Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma not being given a chance to play and remained within the dressing room. Promising bowlers like Sreesanth were not even given a chance and how can they improve and prove until and unless they get to play? The formation of Indian Cricket League and the chain reactions associated going on in the other cricketing countries because of players joining ICL is another fun aspects we get to see during the coming days. The 20-20 World Cup is also round the corner. So, once again, it is eat cricket, breath cricket and hell with cricket (of course only if India losses).

Abu Dhabi Taxi situation

Since the schools started after the summer holidays, The taxi users in Abu Dhabi are experiencing severe shortage of taxis. The situation remains the same today also, there are several people waiting on the road. A look at any taxi stops, you will find several men and women on their way to office waiting for taxis and the expressions on their face, reminds of a goalkeeper waiting for a penalty shoot, or a rugby player getting ready for a home run. I strongly feel that your newspaper is not giving the right coverage about problems of commuters here in Abu Dhabi (although I admit, when compared to those in Dubai and Sharjah – this is very minor). However, this requires attention as this can be solved very easily – 1st by placing a Q system and barriers in the Taxi waiting area and 2nd by introducing a Circular Bus route in the Abu Dhabi with more bus frequencies.

I am trying my small bit of effort to influence and convince the authorities to introduce either one of these suggestions. How far the media supports me and authorities listen to me, will wait and watch. Both ways, we do not want our work force to get training on the road to become an expert goalkeeper or rugby/football player early in the morning on their way to work.

Teacher’s Day

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
– William Arthur Ward

September 5 is Teacher’s Day in “India”. It is the birthday of second President of India and teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5 September, his birthday. In reply, Dr. Radhakrishnan said, “Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as “Teachers Day”.

This is not a holiday in India. It is considered a “celebration” day, where teachers and students report to school as usual but the usual activities and classes are replaced by activities of celebration, thanking and remembrance. At some schools on this day, the responsibility of teaching is taken up by the senior students as an appreciation for their teachers. The idea is to let teachers sit back just for a day and let the students have a glimpse into the life of a teacher. It is an occasion when a token or appreciation in the form of presents are given to teachers by students to show their love and respect.

Traditionally, people in India have given tremendous respect and honor to teachers and hold teachers in high esteem. An old Indian saying (usually taught to children), ranks teacher in the third place, even before God: “‘Maata, Pitha, Guru, Daivam'”, meaning Mother, Father and Teacher is God.

There is a difference between the spiritual teacher and a material teacher. For spiritual teacher, who causes to remove all the illusions from the mind of his disciple and makes him feel the precence of God, there is another saying in the form of a couplet (doha), which goes, “Guru Govind doou khare kake lagon paai? Balihari guru aap ki Govind deeo batai,” Meaning “I am in a fix whom to salute first: the teacher or the God. I shall choose the teacher as he is the one who is instrumental in me knowing the God”. Further, a central piece in Hindu scripture reads “Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwaraha – Gurussaakshaath param brahma tasmai shree gurave namaha,” which translates as “The Guru (Teacher) is the Lord Brahma (the Creator), the Guru is the Lord Vishnu (the Preserver), the Guru is the Lord Shiva (the Destroyer). The Guru is the Supreme Brahman (Ultimate Reality) visible to our eyes. To that Guru we offer our salutations”

There were always some confusions between a spiritual teacher to a material teacher. But these two are not at the same level and one must make sure that how to treat them individually.

And this is what an eminent educationalist and well respected Teacher Mrs. Abha Sahgal, Principal of Delhi Private School Sharjah had to say this morning: “A perfect school is a happy school, where there is no prejudice and no petty rivalries”. It is our duty to develop the student during his formative years to be a good citizen who stands apart in the crowd and who know his right and his duty towards his family and the society.

Pranams, best wishes and greetings to all Teachers and Gurus whose feet I touches before initiating any thing small or big.

89.1 Radio 4 FM

I get to listen to the radio only for a few minutes in the morning while driving to office. This is a disadvantage I have over my friends in Dubai, who, because of heavy traffic get to enjoy at least one hour of radio time while driving to work and one hour plus while driving back. During these few minutes, I switch on to one of my favorite radio channel, i.e. 89.1 Radio 4 FM and listen to DJs Charu and Siddharth. What a bunch of Positive minded people!. Continue your efforts and keep every one positive in your own way. You are doing a great job, as all others at 89.1 through out the day. But the initial start is of great importancde and no wonder the theme song – “Smile, smile, smile, One more time, It’s a bright Bright BRIGHT sunshine day”.

Passing it to you and wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

God Bless,

Ramesh Menon
05092007

World this week – my perceptions and similar views

Posted on August 23, 2007

I haven’t had enough time during the last couple of days to complete the newsletter. As usual, an interesting topic is getting ready this time too. Meanwhile, I did manage to read through many topics during my reading time. Surprisingly I found a few among them worthy to pass on here. They were carrying similar messages to what I wrote in the recent special editions of our Team 1 newsletter.

Indian Cricket and state of mind
One such article was a write up by Mr. Shashi Tharoor in the Times of India. Cricket has a big fan following in the sub-continent with almost about 60% of TV viewers watching cricket (the nearest contender in other sports activities is soccer with 15% and Hockey and Tennis in the range of 14% viewership). So no wonder he decided to write something on it.

It was written just after the defeat of India in the ongoing Cricket Series with England. His temptation to see, in Indian cricket, metaphors for larger issues in our national life (secularism and diversity, for instance) is often irresistible. He warns us that this is one to which he has succumbed in the past — even while being conscious that one should always be wary of making too much of anything that transpires on that theatre of the fleeting, the sports field.

Here again, Indian pace bowler Sreesanth is coming into picture. In January, in one of his write up’s Mr. Tharoor wrote about Sreesanth’s reaction to the South African paceman’s attempt to intimidate him — encapsulated, He hopefully argued then, all that is different about the new India: courage, assertiveness, a refusal to be cowed, a willingness to take risks and ultimately the confidence to stand up to the best that the outside world can flung at us — well beyond the cricket field.

He now realises that he spoke too soon. He adds on that he has just spent the better part of five days watching India’s cricketing leaders sell themselves, and the country, short at the Oval. After piling up a lead of 319 in the first innings, Rahul Dravid declined to enforce the follow-on against a demoralised and all-but-beaten England team. Dravid, a man he used to respect, sought to justify this pusillanimous decision by claiming his bowlers were tired.

This, despite the pace bowlers having had a good night’s rest before the end of the England first innings, and having bowled barely 20 overs each in the previous day. He has infor from reliable sources that our bowlers were in fact raring to go: the disgraceful decision was not theirs but was sought to be pinned on them. There is only word for that, and it is not a pretty one.

The logic of the decision, according to its defenders, was simple: one-up in the series, India wanted to eliminate the slightest chance of losing. But there were barely two days left, and a gigantic lead: while nothing is impossible in cricket, a defeat was next to inconceivable. England had their backs to the wall: they had shown no capacity to bat through two days. They would have had to make 500 in record time to set us a target, and then bowl us out in two sessions, to win.

This would have called for such an abject performance by India with both bat and ball, against the run of play in the entire series, as to be improbable: even in a fantasy scenario for England, the best likely outcome for them would have been a draw.

But by batting again, India completely undermined itself. The drooping shoulders of the English team received a perceptible lift: then, when Indian wickets clattered, the formerly demoralised Englishmen were energised. Instead of having to bat through two days to save the Test, their batsmen only needed to survive a bit over one day. The decision also signalled to the opposition that the Indian team leadership did not have enough faith in its own bowlers to bowl the English out a second time, and in its own batsmen to chase a possible 100-run target in the fourth innings.

When you have so little faith in yourself, why should your opponents fear you? Dravid’s decision emboldened his opponents; they played in their second innings like men who had just learned that they did not need to respect their adversaries.

If this self-inflicted belittling was shameful enough, even sadder than all this was the complete lack of the will to win. The Indian captain knew, of course, that not enforcing the follow-on made a draw the most likely outcome, and he didn’t mind. As long as we can win the series 1-0, Dravid and his ilk must have told themselves, what is the need to try to win 2-0? This was exactly the sort of thinking that had abased India in the bad old days, when India routinely played out meaningless draws out of fear of defeat. By being afraid of losing, we helped our opponents not to lose.

The gutlessness of the decision was sought to be defended as one that could only be appreciated on the field of battle. “If I was sitting in an armchair,” Dravid said, “I too might have disagreed with the decision.” (By that logic every actor can reject every theatre critic’s view of his performance.) But many experienced cricketers I spoke to at the time saw it for what it was. Dravid’s own embarrassing innings of 12 off 96 balls, the slowest dozen runs ever made in the history of Test cricket, was emblematic of the problem.

The cricketer Steve James described it as a “pedestrian innings” which “portrayed a man full of fret and fear”. England, he added, “can thank the Indian captain’s timidity”.

When he wrote about what Sreesanth’s attitude betokened, I stressed that it didn’t matter that India lost that Test series, because my point was not about cricket. It was about a state of mind — a state of mind that will also change the Indian state.

What Sreesanth demonstrated in Johannesburg was an attitude that has transformed the younger generation into a breed apart from its parents’. It is the attitude of an India that can hold its nerve and flex its sinews, an India whose self-confidence is rooted in the sober certitude of self-knowledge, an India that says to the future, “come on; I am not afraid of you.”

Dravid demonstrated, haplessly, that the dead hand of the older India still clings on — an India that is afraid to take risks for fear of failure, an India without the courage of self-belief, an India that is all too willing to settle for 1-0 than go for 2-0. This is the India that did a deal with the Kandahar hijackers rather than the India that threw out the intruders of Kargil. We have the capacity to be, in any field of national endeavour, both kinds of country. But I have no doubt that the attitude I saw on the fourth day of the Oval Test is unworthy of what the real India is shaping up to be.

Mr. Tharoor ends up his note with the above feelings.

I take it up from there a little more, with my favorite character on the cricket field – Sreesanth. Although I did stop watching cricket in full because of the excellent performance record of our team, I did watch a few overs during the 3rd Test. I was delighted to see Sreesanth back in action, and he was a completely changed bowler this time around. The Sreesanth Syndrome (of doing all his routine prayers/rituals before he takes his run up or even while doing the running) was not there. He was a man of concentration and focus. Yes, and the results showed too. Eventhough he was unlucky with the wickets, he came out with excellent match figures. Many times, he was coming out with superb and unplayable balls.

This shows determination, dedication and preparation and the hardwork associated with all these three. You can never come out as a winner, if you don’t do any of these. One needs to be continuosly updated and prepared with his own skills and also aware of his own weaknesses and take appropriate remedial measures at the right time. Then only he can utilise the golden opportunity he has or when suddenly he is given a chance. That time, it is only he and his capabilities and the way he handles things matters. Of course, God’s grace and blessings are important all the time to achieve success. I wish we have many gutsy players like him, who has the guts to stand up and walk against opposition players with guts in mind and fury on eyes. Then only we will win. It is just the same way, you throw a stone at a stray dog, if it mourns and runs away, you know it is him at the receiving end, and the same time, if it barks, turn around and come running at you, you know it is your turn.

Cruise tourism set to make waves
Another interesting news item which came across was about the new policy which the Indian Government likely to introduce, which proposes service tax waiver and easier visa norms for cruise travellers (visa on arrival facilities). This is really a great news to bring in more tourists and revenue to the country.

Change your thinking to change your life

Albert Ellis, who recently passed away at 93, was one of the best known and most influential psychotherapists of the post-Freudian era. He could outperform the zaniest of Zen monks with his colourful use of expletive and sing-along ditties involving audiences packed into $10-a-ticket seminars. Like Eastern Masters whacking their lazy or stupid acolytes, Ellis too had a confrontational style: “Neurosis,” he was fond of saying, “is just a high-class word for whining.” Stop moaning, he urged his patients: get off your backside and deal with it.

In the ’fifties, Ellis’s rational emotive method of behaviour therapy challenged the far more ponderous psychoanalytical technique of Sigmund Freud, just as the Zen school of sudden enlightenment defied the older, slower mirror-polishing techniques of meditation. While Freud insisted on excavating childhood experience to go to roots of neurosis, Ellis believed that the key to happiness lay in “forgetting your Godawful past”.

His basic message — everyone has capacity for “crooked thinking” or skewed assumptions that lead to neuroses — is remarkably similar to the psycho-dynamic insights of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. What, for example, Patanjali calls vikalpa, viparya and mithya-jnana, would be equivalent to the destructive semantics of the self that Ellis uncovered with his ‘correct-your-thinking’ approach to mental health.

Following the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus, whom he liked to quote, Ellis believed that in order to change your life, you have to change your thinking. And like Marcus Aurelius, the student of Epictetus, Ellis thought that our suffering is due not so much to the events in our lives, but to the way we interpret them. This echoes one of the great axioms of yoga — manah eva manushyana karana bandha mokshayo — mind alone is responsible for human bondage as well as liberation.

He also taught unconditional self acceptance (USA), which translates into “you always accept you no matter what you do.”

The same courtesy is extended to ‘unconditional other acceptance’, that is, “Nobody is evil, even if they do evil things” and ‘unconditional life acceptance’: “You always accept things, no matter how they are”.

These accord well with the samatvam (same in pain or gain) philosophy of enlightenment of the Bhagwad Gita: Don’t get stuck in the mud of the past, rise above it like a lotus.

World this week through the lines of Cartoonist’s around

Posted on August 22, 2007 Updated on June 6, 2015