Bright Ray of Hope!

While we were witnessing the usual meek surrender by our nation's favorite 'blue team', one bright spot shined bright on Indian sports horizon (not the first time!). While the 'terrible blues' were melting under pressure applied by the 'golden boys', Jeev Milkha Singh calmly held his nerve to win the European open Volvo Masters 2006 championship in Valderama, Spain. He coolly pocketed 666,000+ Euros or 847,000+ Dollars to win a tournament which was played on a tough course which is proven by his winning score of -2!

Not only he held his nerve on this tough course but he held his nerve to fight some of the world's best golfers; Sergio Garcia (world no 9), Luke Donald (world no. 8) and Padre Harrington shared the second spot with -1 score. And major winners like Jose Maria were down the leaderboard. This was certainly commendable to win against these champions especially when one is making a debut in this tournament.

Earlier this year he won another European tour title although it was in China but the same sponsors for the event, Volvo. It was like those times when Sachin used to win all those tournaments for India which were sponsored by Coca Cola (ironically he was endorsing Pepsi since then!). This winning record is even more special when one realizes that Jeev is actually coming back after a wrist injury (surgery) which halted his earlier good run. Like father like son. Winning tournaments like these the Jeevs and Arjuns of today are making way for future 'Tigers' from India, who knows some of them might be dreaming of representing India some day, may be in some small towns in US...! :o)

Let's cheer our champion and not forget him like we did the Michael Farreras & Geet Sethis of this world. Go Jeev...!!

Nationalist vs Human Rights. Who do you support?

The other day I came across this article in BBC. I couldn't help but share my views...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/forum/story/2006/10/061004_afzal_nandita_pro.shtml

Until, I read this topic, I was always curious of what could be the argument of those who favor to forgive Mohmmad Afzal execution.
It shouldn't be a surprise that I favored in his execution. I believe more from a symbolic point of view, than from 'a revenge' point of view. I think our Parliament is the highest symbol of our nationality.

It is a symbol of our democracy, it is a symbol of our independent existence. And it wasn't a mere coincidence that it was attacked. It was a calculated cold blooded attempt at damaging the symbol. So when we finally got our act together (by spending 5+ years in arriving at the decision) and identified the commander for this operation, I thought that there could not be any other means of conveying the message to the terrorists group and more so to the world at large how earnestly we respect our this symbol. (Whether it is inhuman to execute somebody or not is a totally different discussion. But given the frame of context where we have accepted that as a means of highest punishment I think we shouldn't be mincing our actions a bit)

But when I got over my first blood-boiling reaction on our own people demanding that we refrain from sending this signal, I did want to understand what could be the argument. Here was one chance given to me by BBC. If I read it right the theme behind this appears two folded, one is that this person is been victimized by the system and he is really not the culprit, he is been given the short handle of the stick and secondly (or because of that) this might instill violence in Kashmir Valley.

The first objection if it has any truth in it, is a matter of shame for our system. If on such an important issue we can't get the best breed of our intelligence get to the bottom of the issue even after taking 5 long years, it is ridiculous. But we have seen such shameless display of inefficiency in the past from our intelligence. But we have also seen the humanitarian activists always making hoopla on such issues unnecessarily to coax the Muslim or other minorities in our country.
So my vote is divided on this, although I do feel if our judicial system stands for 'save one innocent if you have to let go 100 suspects', thorough investigation is needed, if it means dragging this beyond this point (which I do feel is ridiculously late. I am fully aware Zarquavi was sentenced after 5 years too, but I don't buy 'if America takes this much time we can(should) take the same' argument). But if we know, more so, BELIEVE, we have done our bit in the investigation, we should not delay it even by a day.

On the second objection, I think Kashmir is a burning issue and any firm action we take to resolve the issue will always have the danger of instigating more violence. That should not deter us from taking firm actions, on the contrary could be the reason to take firm actions sooner to get the situation under control. We are living under the ghosts of our forefathers' lack of taking firm actions. Sooner we correct our behavior the better are the chances of solving the issue.

May be my prejudiced blood-boiling mind is still tainting my thinking, but this is my best shot at thinking about it rationally.

Ban on Cycle Rikshaw

I recently came across a news article which stated that Delhi court has banned Cycle Rikshaws.

I have never been able to make up my mind on this issue. I had taken this experience first hand myself when I had visited N.East part of India and I think Vardha in Maharashtra. I had found it very very odd to sit behind old man who was more than the age of my father carrying my weight and that of my friends and would get paid something like Rs. 10/- or something at the end.

As a consumer I felt it quite inhumane. I was quite restless the whole time I was inside the rickshaw. I couldn't stand the scene at all.
But when I talked to some people in that part of the country they said, if we stopped sitting in these, they will loose their livelihood and would die of hunger one day or something to that effect. Which was also valid.

When I see this news along with other rationale I do see the point how they would be creating a nuisance to the traffic with their speed and following the traffic rule or the lack thereof. From that point of view also I think this is needed.

Having said that I don't think that necessarily government needs to take responsibilities of folks those go jobless with a change like this. This way government's progress plans will always be pegged back. We saw the outroar by STD booth holders also when government made the STD rates cheaper. This is irrational. When rickshaws came they say Tonga-drivers had similar outroar, the six seater ban, so on and so forth. These poor rickshaw pullers have got themselves to such a state that they can't imagine their livelihoods without it. Well, what if somebody breaks his hand, wouldn't he try to find out other means of livelihood? I don't want to sound ruthless but any change will always be difficult on the ones who are the agents of the change. It is going to be specially harder if those agents are going to be those who can hardly meet their ends.