Private rights Vs. Public welfare

As India and China barge into the future and become topics of discussion in bien-pensant circles, it pits two ideologies against each other. No, I'm not talking about Capitalism and Communism. China, Post-Deng Xiaoping has abandoned the road of communism and switched to the freeway of capitalism and can now probably claim to be as capitalistic as the US. The Chinese comrades wave the red flag even as they eat a McDonald's burger.The battle of the ideologies I'm referring to is the conflict between Private rights and Public welfare.

India being essentially a democracy almost always errs on the side of preserving private rights i.e safeguarding the interest of the individual. Take Narmada bachao andolan for example. The coming of the dam will benefit lakhs of farmers in the dry bed of saurashtra at the cost of a few thousand villagers who lose their villages as a result of the dam. In this case the government has tacitly sided the andolan protesters and has stalled the construction of the dam. This is a classic instance of the government going out of its way to safeguard private rights at the cost of public welfare.

A plethora of such instances can be found in India. It could be the building of the Bangalore International airport where it took 20 years for the government to acquire land or the reluctance of the finance ministry in doing away with costly/uneconomic food and fertilizer subsidies, India always tries to put the individual's rights above anything else.

Contrast this with China. The Three gorges dam being constructed across the mighty Yangtze river will ease the annual flooding of the catchment area as well as provide essential power to the ever-hungry Chinese economy ,but it would come at a cost - a huge displacement of over 3 million villagers. But China IS willing to bear this cost knowing fully well the huge benefits the dam will bring. This attitude is demonstrated in almost all government policy which in turn lead to better roads, better water, better road/air connectivity and a huge amount of social welfare in general as decisions are taken without hesitation and considering only public welfare in mind.In effect China abandons individual rights in favor of social welfare.

I'm not trying to justify one over the other since China's human rights record is as dismal as our infrastructure. But instead we could take the undoubted positives present in the Chinese system and compromise to an acceptable level individual rights when it necessitates public welfare. In a perfect world public welfare will happen in unison with preservation of individual rights, but alas our's is a very imperfect world.

Fantastic Five : Top Speeches

Words are wonderful creatures. They move people, they create history and they break the boundaries of space and time. In this edition of fantastic five I’m going to list out my top five speeches of all time. So here goes:

1. "A Tryst with Destiny..." - Nehru

Probably the greatest speech of Nehru's life. A very apt speech on the eve of the birth of a nation. Post-colonialism started with this speech, so did Indian democracy. A speech that gave voice to the extraordinary civilizational ethos of this country. The speech was a testament to Nehru's exemplary hold on the English language and his feel of the country's nerves. There were some poetic touches too - 'tryst with destiny'and 'the midnight hour' bringing out the poet in him. The first sentence is the best one:

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance".

It sounded as if Nehru had waited all his life to utter these words. No wonder they inspire millions of Indians even today.

2. "...of the people, by the people, for the people..." - Abraham Lincoln
Another great world leader, another great speech. This speech by Lincoln impresses me with its simplicity and the way in which it defined democracy. In an age when feudalism was rampant and democracies far and few between, this was indeed a path breaking speech. It gave words to a then vague concept called democracy and advocated it to all the countries of the world. A time when America was ravaged by civil war and the republic faced disintegration this speech united all Americans and heralded the birth of a super-power.


3. "Friends, Romans , Countrymen..." - William Shakespeare/Mark Anthony

A masterpiece by the master himself - William Shakespeare. Based as it was on a historical event, I’m not very sure if Mark Anthony himself said anything to the effect which Shakespeare packed in this speech. However this speech attributed to Mark Anthony is one of the best pieces of political rhetoric ever. It starts off with one of the most famous of Shakespearean words - "Friends, Romans, Countrymen..." which instantly gets your attention and it continues with a wonderful flow of words, so typical of Shakespeare.


4. "...the light has gone out of our lives..." - Nehru

Nehru is back in the list again. This time with one of the most heartfelt eulogies ever. It was evident that Gandhi and Nehru had a father-son relationship as far as politics was concerned, and this great speech highlighted the pain he felt on his loss. He gave words to the grief of millions of Indians who had lost their Mahatma and at the same time consoled them. It also holds a mirror to Nehru's unique ability in finding the right words for the right occasion. A truly remarkable speech.

5. "I have a dream..." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Even after Lincoln's emancipation declaration a 100 years earlier, the discrimination of the black people in what was a predominantly white country continued. It needed another 100 years and a great leader and his assassination to put an end to it for good. This great speech delivered by King coincidentally on the steps of the Lincoln memorial was a turning point in the civil rights movement in America. The speech makes repeated references to the word 'dream' which is a quintessential American word (heard of the 'American dream' before). In doing so King touched the hearts of millions of Americans and laid the path for the eventual emancipation of the black people in America. No wonder it was voted the best American speech of the 20th century!!!

The Indian Left takes a 'Right' turn

The Indian left has baffled me for a long time. They do not possess any of the qualities ascribed to a left wing organization. They do not stand behind the poor people, neither do they worry about the working class masses nor stand to promote liberal ideas. In fact the Indian left has all the traits of a proper right wing conservative organization - parochialism, narrow minded bigotry and an irrational mindset. Karl Marx will indeed be twirling in his grave at the sight of the Indian left.

As their recent threat to the government on the 'operationalization' of the Indo-US nuclear deal showed, they are not even interested in the good of the nation. The Indo-US nuclear deal attempts to unshackle India's growth potential by providing it new avenues of energy generation. The deal will also officially end India's isolation from the International nuclear community thereby allow India to join a select band of countries which posses the power to head the world order in the 21st century. Simply put it is a blank cheque footed at India's door which would eventually free it from the morass of Third worldliness.

Alas, our good comrades in the left neither see nor hear reason and are hell-bent on keeping India bound against the cobwebs of history. The left's opposition is devoid of any reason and can only be seen as its attempts to embarrass the Indian government - and hence India - in front of the world community. This also generates lot of doubt as to the true allegiance of the Left - Is it pro-India or pro-China? Simply because the non-implementation of the deal will please the Chinese as much as any one as historically China has always tried to reign in India's ambitions.

Well if the current trend of events continue and if the Indian Left is allowed to take a 'Right' turn and derail the Nuclear deal then it will be a national tragedy. A tragedy for which the left will have to give an explanation to future generations of Indians.

Fantastic Five : Top Cricket Innings

Ever since I started following Cricket - probably from the 1992 world cup - there have been several great innings that I have viewed and admired. Some have even been inspirational. In this post I try to list out five of the greatest innings that I have seen and the reasons they impressed me. So here goes:

1. The Bridgetown Heist (Brian Lara 153NO Vs Aus , Bridgetown, Barbados, 1999)

Quite simply the greatest chasing innings played in cricket history. Period. In a series where Brian Lara reeled off gem after gem of great innings, this was the pièce de résistance. West Indies chasing a daunting 309 were struggling at 90/5, enter Brian Charles Lara and the rest as they say is history. The most nerve raking part was at the end when Lara managed to eek out 60 odd runs batting with Ambrose and Walsh - a task as diffucult as squeezing water out of stone. The unforgetteble picture one has in mind of the innings is that of a visibly relieved and overjoyed Lara celebrating after cracking the winning runs through cover. Truly an innings for the ages.

2. Miracle at Eden (VVS Laxman 281 vs Aus, Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 2001)

It can only be a miracle. How else can you explain ,India beating australia after being 1-0 down in the series and 275 adrift in the second test and being asked to follow on by a rampaging Aussie juggernaut. The innings that made the miracle possible was the spectacular 281 by Laxman. In a test match scripted in the heavens the innings was the highlight. The innings was probably more mental than monumental. Such was the radiance of the innings that it left the aussies blind and India duly wrapped up the series in the next test match at Chennai.

3. The Messiah Returns (Brian Lara 213 Vs Aus, Kingston, Jamaica, 1999)

The innings that started the revival of Lara's career. An analysis of the innings should go beyond the dry statistic and focus on the context in which it was played. West Indies had just been walloped 5-0 by South Africa, the Aussies had skittled them for 54 in the first test and Lara himself was going through a tough time with the bat and on top of that was on a two test probation as captain. This was the stage on which Lara staged one of the great returns of all time and by the end of his innings Lara turned from a pariah to the messiah.

4. Awesome in Adelaide (Rahul Dravid 223 Vs Aus, Adelaide, 2003)

No other innings showed the 'coming of age' of Indian Cricket on foreign soil as much as this one. Being whipped around for 500+ in the first innings and being 80/4 while batting would have been enough for indian teams of the past to collapse and yeild ground. But not this side. The fight back was led by Dravid and Laxman bringing memories of Calcutta flooding back again. The moment I remember about the innings is the way he brought up his hundred - a hooked six over fine leg. A moment you would least expect from Dravid!!!.

5. Will and Grace (VVS Laxman 167 Vs Aus, Sydney, 2000)

On what was a most depressing tour for Indian fans down under, the only spark was provided by the scintillating maiden hundred by VVS Laxman. For shear stroke play against fast bowling that was one of the most brilliant innings I had ever seen. Pulling, Cutting , driving it had everything one could ask for. In a sense it was the coming of age of Laxman who showed both will and grace as a batsman, one who would go on to script many more memorable knocks.

The Brown man's Burden

The great imperialist Rudyard Kipling exhorted the 'virtues' of colonialism and called it the 'White man's burden'. The phrase was later used to justify the policy as a noble enterprise aimed at benefiting the world as a whole. In reality it was nothing but an arrogant euphemism coined by a greedy, power hungry, cavalier colonist.

More than a century later the wheels of time have turned full circle and the phrase looks like it needs a bit of modification. Going by the events of the past decade especially in the world business the phrase 'Brown man's burden' seems rather appropriate. What with all the Indian companies going on an acquisition spree of oversees companies. Be it the high-profile and sometimes hostile Mittal acquisition of Arcelor or the Tata-Corus deal or more recent Tata bid for jaguar and land-rover, the Indian companies have come of age and are bursting out of the national boundary and into the international playground of business.

The recent surge in the number of Indian born CEOs is also a pointer in this direction. Some of the biggest foreign business houses - ranging from UK to the US - feel a need for an able and efficient leader. A requirement the Indian born business leaders are able to fulfill with great aplomb.

But this 'Browning' of International business is not without its pangs. The recent Tata bids for Jaguar and Orient hotels have also brought out age old prejudices to the fore. May be its sub-conscious in nature but there is a mild element of racism which stops some of the international business establishments from accepting an Indian connection. This is downright foolish and can hurt their long term growth and they need to understand that if an Indian company taking over makes sound business sense then so be it, they should not - and need not - hanker based on obsolete ancient prejudices. In the long run these same business houses will reap the benefits of having an Indian connection.

The advent of Globalization over the past 25 years has created a level playing field for all involved and hence provided erstwhile marginalized countries like India a chance to show their prowess. That is exactly what is happening and will continue to happen in the coming days and the world will be better off adjusting to the changed condition.

Oh No...Not again!!!

As yet another blast rips through India - this time ripping through the Rajdhani express - one is left with a sinking feeling of helplessness. Indian cities have become sitting ducks looking invitingly at 'cavaliar' terrorists who want to try their hand at inflicting destruction.

Will this state of events ever stop? How many more lives need to be lost before this descrepency is corrected.India has always been a beacon of peace and harmony. But being peaceful is one thing and being utterly open to attack is totally another and sadly we are at the latter stage.

America for all its belligerance and war-mongering has been atleast successful in one thing : protecting its civillian population from terrorist attacks. The fact that there has not been a single terrorist attack of note in the US post 9/11 is a testiment to this fact. Infact the under-fire Bush administration can claim this to be one of its successes over its 7 year term.

Forget the US, is there any state in the world that is hell-bent on protecting its civilians than Israel. A Jewish country surrounded by Arab land and not to mention the land dispute, is a recipie for terrorist attacks. But the way the little country has warded off terrorists is an example for countries like us. Yes, Israel does use some devious means to kill the terrorists but atleast they can argue that their civilians are safe. A great example of Israel's iron resolve was the way they went after the 'Black September' terrorist group who killed israelli athletes at the Munich Olympics. They literally hunted them down.

India should also follow a policy of zero tollerance when it comes to going after terrorists and should leave no stone unturned in protecting innocent citizens. Lest we forget, the terrorist attacks could become a regular occurance in our cities and towns and we'll be left uttering the words 'Oh No...Not again!!!!' in dismay.

Realm of the Renouncer

India is a strange country. A country of extremes, a country where myth blends into reality, a country where several centuries reside by each other's side.A montage of disparate images knitted together by an invisible thread. Yet amidst these incongruencies one sees an enduring common thread. One such thread is the Indian psyche's unending fascination for the 'Renouncer'.

Right from the Buddha to the Mahatma, the renouncer has gained a special place in the hearts and minds of the Indians. Even to this day numerous ascetics throng the country holding sway over enormous masses. Even modern day politicians sought to project themselves as 'ascetic servants of the people'. Contrary to western materialistic philosophy which views the act of renunciation as a cowardly act of a loser, the Indian psyche's glorifies it as a brave act.For Indians it takes great courage to be a renouncer - the courage to 'Let go'.

Sonia Gandhi discovered that her stature went up by few notches when she renounced the prime ministership few years back. The mahatma became mahatma after renouncing his worldly passions. Even Buddhism, which is a quintessential product of pure Indian thought bases itself on letting go of worldly passions. The 'dhammapada' of Buddhism exhorts the virtues of asceticism and preaches its follower's to follow the simple yet enlightening path trod by the Buddha.

This attribute is not unique to purely Indian forms of thought but can also be seen in many foreign concepts influenced by Indian thought. A classical example of this is the liberal Indian 'Sufi' cult of Islam which is a radical shift from the conservative 'Wahhabi' cult that emerged out of Arabia. The Sufis renounced any form of material splendor and lived their lives composing hymns and forging social unity(Legend has it that they even slept in coffins to drive home the point).

Well it looks like whatever be the period the Indian fascination for renouncing will remain and is a source of intrigue for millions around the world.

The River of Life

The oddity of life and its true meaning has confounded many a people since eternity. Great philosophers and intellectuals have expended themselves in finding answer to this question. So what is this life, this almost metaphysical being which everyone experiences but no one can define.

According to my very little understanding, life is a river. It ebbs and flows, sometimes flowing gently sometimes violently, sometimes calm sometimes turbulent but unmistakably it does flow. Life like a river continues in its long journey never returning to a point that has gone by, ever going forward ever flowing.

Life akin to a river has its distinct stages a start, a being and an end.In its youth life is a torrent gushing through the narrow spaces of orthodoxy and convention rebelling against age old customs. In middle age it attains the poise and dignity of a brook flowing through the plains reconciled with the vagaries and ironies of life. In old age it resembles a spent river inevitably merging into the sea - a sea which in its tranquility symbolises death itself.

The Two Indias

The recent celebrations of 60 years of freedom gives us an excellent opportunity to look back at the road traveled by India and the road that lies ahead. The 60 year road has been bumpy for most of the times, rarely smooth and the Juggernaut of India has proceeded sometimes with a puncture or two but proceeded nevertheless. As Ramachandra Guha points out India may sometimes have been the most exasperating country in the world but it has always been the most interesting. So India's 60 year journey has been interesting to say the least.

There is an almost unanimous agreement that India's 60 year report card will show "Well done,Can do better" and the task cut out for the next 60 years will be to turn this remark into "Great work, keep up the good work". As Nehru proclaimed in the historic Tryst with destiny address "The future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving" and so its left to us the people to strive incessantly and fulfill our Tryst with destiny.

They say there is a proverbial "Jekyll and Hyde" dual element in every individual- a good and a bad side. This concept may be true of countries too and the last 60 years have witnessed two Indias with the above dualistic bent. And unquestionably India's fate has been and will be determined by the fate of these two Indias.

One of the Indias, sees itself as a victim of history and circumstance and wants to 'right' the wrongs of the past. It traces its future path on the roads of the past. It has no time for the present nor for the future. It expends its energies in intoxicating the people with the opium of religion, caste and language instead of expending it on activities that bring about the betterment of its people. This India manifests itself in communal riots, caste based violence, discrimination based on language, regionalism and petty politics.

The other India, sees itself as a product of synthesis and assimilation over many centuries and prides itself on being a monochromatic culture and cradle of a great civilization standing out like a beacon for the rest of the world. It treads gracefully on the newly carved pathways of the future, self-assured, confident and always looking ahead. It has no time for petty feuds based on religion, caste or language instead it looks to invest its energies towards the betterment of its people. This India manifests itself in its entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists ,in the many private firms that dot the urban landscape, in the thriving democracy and in the secular outlook.

These two Indias have existed simultaneously for the past 60 years, looking face-to-face at each other, one wrestling the other for supremacy, one triumphing over the other at various points and at all these points the common man has looked on as an eager spectator knowing well that his fate hangs in the balance. India's future inevitably depends on which of these two Indias triumphs and for goodness' and humanity's sake lets hope its the later.

The Cricketer's Pilgrimage

According to legend, there are three ways to find out the arrival of summer in England. The green lawns on the country-side, the chirp of the birds and the sweet sound of bat hitting ball. Well that tells a lot about the place of cricket in England and English society notwithstanding the huge following for football. Cricket is probably the most English of all games and I have come to admire the pristine setting of the game at its home - England.

As I watched the test match between England and India unfold at Lord's I was amazed by the whole atmosphere. The terracotta pavilion filled to brim, the lush green outfield, the almost deafening silence as the bowler ran into bowl and finally the sweet sound of bat hitting ball. It almost seemed blissfully idyllic. No wonder playing in England is every cricketer's dream I thought. For a cricketer going to England is akin to going on a pilgrimage.

Cricket in England lapses back to the halcyon days of the amateurs when it was a gentleman's game and the trappings of commercialization and business hadn’t maligned it. A time when bowler's applauded when a batman caressed him through cover and the batsman walked when he knew he'd nicked a feather edge. It would be naive to believe anything of that sort will ever happen, but it’s always good to hark back to the past and cricket in England provides an excuse to do so.

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!

"Liberty Equality Fraternity" - With this clarion call the French revolution stormed into this world 218 years ago this very day when angry Parisian mobs led by the San-Culottes engineered the "Fall of the Bastille". Like all revolutions this one came uninvited into the ball room of History and by the time its dance was done it had altered the structure of the World beyond recognition, forever and for good. Like the flood that enriches the very bank it wreaks havoc on its upheavals brought with it the light of enlightenment into this world. "Liberty Equality Fraternity" were no longer words confined to the books they jumped out and captured the imagination of the public.No event in modern history has altered the world we live in as much as the French revolution. It was a time of great suffering and also a moment of great joy and as Charles Dickens's opening line of "The Tale of Two Cities" puts it "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

There are principally three kinds of revolutions - Political, Economic and Social. The one we are seeing in India and China for instance is economic in nature. But out of the three the most significant and far reaching is the Social one and the French revolution stands out as an example of a social revolution. It brought to an end the tyrannical rule of royalty and laid the foundations of the modern democracy where people were governed by themselves and not by some snob who ruled because it was his birth right. The intensity of the revolution is best felt in the French national anthem the 'La Marseillaise' which is one of the most passionate of all anthems and shows us the sacrifices made during the time for things we take for granted today, namely - freedom and equality.

Come to think of it the revolution could not have happened anywhere else but France. For 18th France with such thinkers as Voltaire and Rousseau had the intellectual wherewithal required for it, also the ineptitude of the monarchy also was a decisive factor and these two factors merged with the frustration of the people helped to precipitate the revolution. Since french culture pervaded throughout Europe at that time, the revolutionary principles spread throughout it , and since Europe ruled the world the principles pervaded throughout the world, far and wide like a wild-fire.

The revolution stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit that craves for freedom and equality. It also rings a warning bell for tyrannical rules and dictatorships that subjugate their people.If i had to pick few of my favourite moments in time, then the revolution will be among the very best. Its sense of drama,euphoria,passion and not to forget its far reaching consequences have enthralled me for years and will always remain one of my favourite passages in time.

The rise of the Neo-Bourgeois

"The most perfect political community is one in which the
middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes."

Thus spake the great philosopher Aristotle while he sat and spoke to his disciples on the steps of the acropolis. These words ring as true now as they did 2500 years ago. This fact is proved by the political, economic and social growth of India in the last decade and a half. Though government policies and global conditions have helped India's growth, it is the zest and vitality of the Indian Bourgeois (middle-classes) that has made the greatest impact.

And this isn't the first time the middle-classes have played a pivotal role in the nation's fortunes.The Independence movement wouldn't have been a success had it not been for the hard work and sacrifices of the then middle-classes. So history has repeated in its inimitable way and the new middle-classes - the Neo-Bourgeois - find themselves pitch-forked in the middle of the Indian success story.

Right from the blue-eyed techie walking into his state-of-the-art IT firm to the first generation entrepreneur starting off on his mission with handful of cash and heartful of vigour to the Young graduate coming out of a B-school ready to take on the world , this breed of Neo-Bourgeois is all set to take India and the World by storm.

The primary difference between this generation and the previous has been the confidence with which it attempts any task. The attitude is more 'Why not?' than 'Why?'. The opening up of the economy provided this new generation with the ideal catalyst to turn from bronze to Gold. India moved from a "Socialist" set-up which was beyond its sell-by date that believed in an over-powering state to a "new third way" state that acted as a facilitator and encouraged Private enterprise. This proved to be incredibly beneficial as budding entrepreneurs mostly from the middle-classes spun high-end jobs for the rest of the society which in turn triggered a chain reaction of yet more jobs in the market. This unleashed the market forces which has brought prosperity and financial support to millions in the country. Though huge disparities still exist between the rich and the poor, they are perennial problems faced by even the developed nations and the next wave of the Indian success story should therefore focus on bridging this gap so as to ensure the foundation of the country remains rooted in solidity.

Finally to borrow Lenin's quote - during the Russian revolution, when asked to comment on the ability of the common man in changing history - the Indian Neo-bourgeois can indeed "give history a hand" and change the course of India's history and fulfill its tryst with destiny.

Failure of the Parliament

The word Parliament was allegedly taken from the French "Parler" which means "to speak" and today our politicians in the legislature do just that - "talk" and most of the times 'rubbish'. So the Parliament which ought to have been a place for discussion and decision making has been reduced to a mockery owing to our Politicians. So this raises an important question...Has the Parliament failed the nation? If you ask me the answer would be probably yes.

The reasons are not too hard to find. Take for instance the Budget presented for the last three years, all have been passed without a trace of discussion on the topic. After all who ever cares for a mere 100,000 crore budget that would power India into an economic powerhouse when there are other pressing issues like scams and sting operations. It just illustrates the appalling state of affairs. So it would be safe to say that the country is moving forward despite the best efforts of the politicians to hold it back. Also parliament instead of being the jewel in the crown of democracy is turning out to be its biggest embarrassment.

So now lets focus on the solution rather than the problem. One of the things that can be done according to me is having a minimum attendance for each legislator per session. If one does not attain this mark he would be forfeiting the perks that come with being a legislator and also puts a black mark against his name which will hurt his public life. How does that sound, pretty radical but then again what do they say - desperate situations demand desperate measures.

Finally how about this remedy. India being the largest democracy in the world can hark back to the past to take a leaf out of the book of Classical Athens- the cradle of democracy. In Classical Athens there was a yearly practice called 'Ostracization' which was more like a 'unpopularity' contest wherein all the citizens would gather and vote for the most unpopular politician and the unlucky man was exiled for 10 years, basically rendering him politically defunct. The Athenians got rid of many a tyrant owing to this practice. This seems rather dramatic but it can be implemented in some form or the other so as to achieve the ultimate goal of making the politician accountable. I wonder how many parliamentarians will stand the test of 'Ostracization' in today's India.

Shakespeare's Italy

I have been reading some of Shakespeare's plays (in their abridged version) these past few weeks and as always found it very fascinating as i was transported to a completely different world every time i read it. Every time you read Shakespeare you discover something new which you hadn't noticed earlier.

Likewise, as i was reading the plays this time one thought struck me - Why an English playwright writing for an English audience set most of his plays in an Italian backdrop. In this day and age of neo-nationalism its hard to find any contemporary writer setting his work in another country ,for instance when was the last time harry potter left England. But Shakespeare's most famous plays were based in Italy probably Greece comes a distant second.Sample this - Romeo serenades Juliet in Verona, The merchant comes from Venice,The two gentlemen are from Verona, The shrew gets tamed in Padua, Ceaser gets assassinated in Rome, Othello hails from Venice etc etc.

Some theorize that he was a sailor in his youth and spent a lot of his time in the ports of Italy while some others argue that he was in fact an Italian immigrant who came to England and became a play wright in the guise of an Englishman (which i find a touch funny). Personally i think there could be two reasons for this.

Firstly, the fact that Italy unlike other European countries until the middle of the 19th century existed as a collection of cities similar to the city states of classical Greece lent itself to portraying drama. For what better place to find warring families,princes at each other's throat than medieval Italy.In his plays Shakespeare showed the vices of mankind which can be more vividly shown in a feudal setup rather than in a republican one.

Secondly the fact that Italians are some of the most passionate people in the world came in handy to etch the characters. For a taste of Italian passion try listening to a bunch of Italians conversing in a bar.The Italian unlike the romantic Frenchman or the sober German was more easy to be portrayed as a passionate person and since drama was all about passion it fitted in well with Italian characters.

Whatever be the reason Shakespeare's Italy is one of the most fascinating places to explore the inner mind and persona of men transcending the borders of nationality,race and time.

A nation of Engineers

In the early 19th century at the height of the Napoleonic era Napoleon mockingly said when asked about England's threat by labelling them "A nation of Shopkeepers" and said that they are no good at war. If he were to be alive now he would probably have similarly labelled India as "A nation of Engineers".

As an engineer coming from Bangalore sighting another (software) engineer is as common as sighting fish in a pond. So you almost get a feeling here that every other person you meet is an engineer. The word Bangalore has become synonymous with the IT industry and its engineers. And every family wants to have a blue-eyed software engineer son/daughter.

Without a doubt the profession has done immense good to the country by contributing enormously to its coffers and providing the youth with a sense of financial security that the previous generations of it lacked. But all said and done some how i get a feeling that the profession has also seceded in overpowering other essential fields of social relevance such as pure sciences, arts , sociology etc. The Indian society has almost become monochromatic with the advent of the IT brigade. So much has been the 'ITfication' of India that the other fields of learning have become secondary in importance and attract very few talented individuals.

In a perfect world every individual pursues his/her passion but in today's less-than-perfect India people are coerced to take up engineering for the desire of a settled and stable life. In the long run this trend could be disastrous as you need more than engineers to form a healthy society, after all an engineer cant help you with your history lessons nor can he help you discover the hidden treasures of science. The responsibility not only rests with the children and their parents but also with the government of the day which being the custodian of the society is obliged to make sure that each field of learning gets its due importance and its fair share in the job market.Unless we address such anomalies we will just remain 'A nation of Engineers'.

'Veni Vidi Vici'

"They Came, They saw, They conquered" - The Australian team's performance in the world cup can be described as such. It was the most complete domination seen in a world cup ever. Especially the innings of Adam Gilchrist played in the final was the best innings in the world cup by far and probably one of the best ever seen in a one-day game. The Aussies despite missing some of their key players through injury and retirement played aggressive and competitive cricket right from the word go which enabled them to attain an unprecedented Three-peat. This was as much a triumph of the 'Aussie way of playing' as it was a testimony to their bench strength.They really have raised the bar a little higher and its up to other teams to aim higher.

In a sense it was a pretty fair world cup - the four best teams played the semis ,the two best teams played the final and the best team won it. The world cup also proved the fact that only those teams who played as a cohesive-unit will succeed consistently at major tournaments and served a warning to teams like India who rely on a bunch of over- hyped,overrated,overpaid,selfish super stars to win them big tournaments. So the moral of the world cup was 'Teams and not galaxies of superstars win word cups'.

However, in spite of the Aussie's remarkable performance this year's world cup will go down as one of the most boring ever. The Woolmer murder cast its shadow right through the cup and with India and Pakistan dumped out early and the Hosts struggling it was doomed to turn lack luster. But as always the ICC played its part in turning it into a dull and boring affair by scoring lots of 'own goals' which started with robbing the Caribbean 'joie de vivre' by sanitizing the stadia and eventually ended by enacting the most farcical climax to a world cup final ever.

India's abysmal performance was matched if not bettered by the 'performance' of their official TV broadcaster Set MAX who reached new depths in cricket broadcasting (or is it Ad broadcasting that they did) . They were too trigger happy to press the advert button without even giving a thought to the poor viewer who was given a raw deal. This attitude of SET MAX was blasted even by Steve Waugh who felt "Telecast in India was unwatchable". Thankfully their broadcast contract has expired and we have seen the back of them for good and hopefully other broadcasters learn from them how not to broadcast a cricket match.

In spite of all the dullness and gloom around the tournament it will always be remembered for the Aussie pursuit and attainment of Perfection. Probably they will be waiting and planning for the 2011 world cup already. In fact i can almost hear the Aussies shouting - 'Bring on the 2011 world cup'.

Pirate of the Caribbean

I will miss everything - the big back lift,the crouched knee, the guillotine blade of the bat coming down on the ball ,the brilliant follow through and the ball whizzing away to the boundary. World cricket and I for sure will miss the genius that was Brian Lara. He was every bit the real 'Pirate of the Caribbean', he stole runs,records and people's love and affection. The game will be poorer having lost two of its most charismatic players in Brian Lara and Shane warne within the span of three months.

My abiding memory of Lara would be the 153 he hit at Barbados during the 98-99 series with Australia, probably the greatest chasing innings ever. West indies didn't have any business sharing the series 2-2 but Lara made it happen single-handedly. I vividly remember him having an argument with McGrath after the latter felled him with a vicious bouncer and immediately retorting with a rasping pull shot the very next ball. And i cant forget the winning boundary - a thundering cover-drive off Gillespie, and the subsequent emotional Lara celebration. That was truly test cricket at its supreme best.

Lara played every concievable type of innings, Epic record breaking innings , match-winning fourth innings thrillers,last man blazing streaks and match-saving ones. He was like the actor who can play comedy, tragedy and drama and pull- off each one with consummate ease. Batting became an art form when he was at the crease using the bat like a paint brush. He indeed embodied the gay abandon spirit of West indian batting. He was so much similar to the two other west indian batting greats - George Headley and Gary Sobers - similar in style to sobers and in accomplishments to Headley. If headley was nicknamed 'Atlas' for bearing the weight of the West indian batting on his shoulders probably Lara deserved a similar title.

Whatever be the criticisms regarding his leadership skills he will go down in history as one of the true all-time greats to have graced the game. The breathtaking records set by him will take some beating and he will forever be remembered as the mortal who flirted with immortality.

Road to Perdition?

If you were an avid Indian cricket fan, the happenings of the last fortnight or so at the 'Carnival of cricket' would have made you really depressed. The worst part was the fall out that resulted in the aftermath of the debacle and believe me we haven't heard the last of this fallout. The fallout has made one point clear - Let alone winning as a team we cant even lose as a team. The mud-slinging has well and truly begun and it will continue until India wins against some other team (even a win over Canada will do) and every thing will become hunky-dory again and we will again get behind our 'stars' for the 2011 world cup and the cycle will repeat.

So where is Indian cricket heading? If Indian cricket does not wake up from its slumber we might well be on the road to perdition and might well be doomed in the future. These are some of the steps that should be taken to prevent this 'apocalypso':

1. Improve domestic cricket and more importantly improve the selection process so that talent does not miss out.

2. Rid Indian cricket of the politicians and 'honorary' officials and get in more professionals and run it like a private limited company.

3. Stop focusing on the star system and make an attempt to gel as a team, this applies as much to the players as to the general public.

Until the above steps are executed with sincerity Indian cricket will surely be on the road to perdition with no way back, just have a glance at hokey for a chilling reminder of this.

Einstein and Humility

This is one of the anecdotes that i came across when i was surfing. It is regarding the great man Einstein. I thought it was really good, So thought of putting it on the blog, so here goes.

Once Einstein who is now a very old man is sitting on a park bench in his native Princeton. Suddenly a young man appears on the scene and soon him and Einstein hit-off with a conversation and eventually they arrive at their respective introductions. The young man takes the lead and introduces himself as a Professor of physics in blah blah university and is doing a research in blah blah area of physics and so goes on and on for 5-10 minutes. When Einstein's turn to introduce himself arrives he utters the following words - "Hi i am Albert Einstein and I'm a student of physics".

A truly astonishing reply full of humility isn't it.Thus are the ways of great men i guess for humility to them is not a virtue but a way of life.This kind of humility is quite rare around us nowadays as each person it seems is going out of his way to impress himself upon others just like the young man. This anecdote teaches us an important lesson that you can never become too big to stay humble. Enough of preaching for today, untill next time Caio :)

The dragon Awakens

Last week the whole of the china and its diaspora celebrated the coming of the 'Year of the Pig' and this event got a great deal of coverage from the world media which used to shy away from third world countries like China and India and treat them like second class nations. So what has changed between now and then? This event is a case in point of the coming of age of modern china, indeed its the 'awakening of the dragon'.

If one has a glance at the histories of India and China they almost run parallel.They remain two of the oldest and continuously flourishing civilizations of the world that have contributed a great deal to world culture. Both had their glory days and fell on hard times in later days with India being ruled by the British and China suffering a 'Century of humiliations' at the hands of the western powers during the 19th century. And both are experiencing an economic and social resurgence during the 21st century.

Lets have a closer look at China. The Chinese up until the 18th century most often than not had a pretty prosperous time with several royal dynasties. A great change had taken place during the 18th century during which Europe had the industrial revolution and was strutting around the world greedily eyeing colonies. India fell easily with no strong central governing authority but china did not fall as a colony as it had some semblance of a central authority but got divided among the great powers into 'spheres-of-influence' which is a byword for exploitation. Thus began the 'Century of humiliations' right through the 19th century where china was humiliated to give up territory and pride.

The communist revolution though improved the situation it did little to bring relief to the masses but something really interesting happened in 1980 where for first time a communist country opened itself for foreign capital thereby throwing open china which brought and is bringing prosperity to the masses. India followed the path a decade later and still has to do a lot of catch-up.

What china has succeeded in doing is change the rules of the game viz. manufacturing which had traditionally been a 'Better-quality-more-expensive' business into a 'Better-quality-for-same-price' business which gives it an undoubtable edge over its competitors. This is similar to what India has done to services , hence no wonder the two countries are the fastest growing economies of the world. If this trend continues the future of the world might well be written in India and China and the dragon will keep raising its head.