अलविदा..गिल्ली..

I take a break from my self induced stay way time from my blog to post this very emotional post on Eric Gilchurch a.k.a Adam Gilchrist..yeah, the greatest ever wicketkeeper batsmen. My fingers are trembling...my eyes are still wet from yesterday's tears of happiness..I am going to miss you loads Gilly! Cricket's not going to be the same without you mate..
So, here's a photo tribute to Gilly's last game on his home ground..what a spectacle it was!!!!!!
Walking out to bat....for the last time in the WACA....

A Gilly special.......

50!

A brilliant 100....

Gilly exuberant after his much awaited 100.........16th in ODIs...

Walking out of the ground for the last time......sob!


Thanks for all the you've given us.....We all will miss you...

Byee Gilly Miss you..............I can never forget you Gilly.....

International Cricket is going through a difficult phase..yeah, with all the boohoo that's been raised about the stress related sabbaticals, the Australian dilemma over the IPL, and the number of players seen retiring from their national team, to join the IPL. Now what exactly is the IPL? Well, do I really have to explain? I am sure there isn't single soul who does not know it..I'd like to think of it as Corporate India's meddling with the game..This has seriously disturbed the equilibrium that had existed within the game, the spirit of bonhomie among the nations.
I don't know what's happening to the cricketers, why are they so caught up with the IPL? I can't understand the need for such money..Why are they behaving like this? What don't they have? And cricketers like Fleming, Rafique, why are they quitting? Fleming? I thought he was one of the very few sensible people in world cricket! I can't believe he's doing this for money..
I am not too sure what this league is going to do to world cricket..We've seen the Indian Cricket League, the brain child of the ZEE Group. I didn't find it that intresting, and I don't think it was a success. I actually managed to catch a few matches and seriously, they bored me to death...yeah, they did.
And think of the poor fans who watch the game? Can they adjust? After years of supporting the Men-in-Blue, in all faithfulness, can they change loyalties as often as the league demands them too? Can a kid who idolised Sachin all through his life , hope and pray that he gets out quick, the next day? And can the kid shift back to supporting Sachin , the next time he dons India colours???????Well, I am leaving it for you guys to decide...
I am just waiting and hoping that Brett joins the league...well, I can't wait to see him again.....lol!
Now, coming to Tait and his problems..when I first saw Tait, I thought he was an ok type bowler, and yeah, he looks kinda cute too. No, he didn't sweep me off my feet when I first saw him bowl....naa, infact I thought he was extreeemly erratic. And I finally thought he was coming together during the WC in the Windies...well, after that he gets injured, and is back to square one, during the Test Series against India..then..he blows the bomb! Right after the series...I am not sure why he took the decision.
Lou Vincent? What's gotten into him? Marcus Treascothick..it all started with him...Or maybe, they are all right..playing international cricket is a stressful thing to do..players have to often cope with hectic schedules, busy plane trips, long days away from home( think of Steve Harmison, his quality of bowling is directly proportional to his distance from home..isn't it?), and other such things..
I thought it was awfully brave of these cricketers to have come out with their problems, and most of all to admit they have problems..
And I wish Shaun Tait comes back as soon as possible. When he comes back I am sure his team mates will take him under their wing, and we'll definetly see improvements!
I guess that's all for this post..and I shall not be posting anything till my boards are done..
Well, see you all on March the 19th(hopefully...If I am still breathing then..that is....).

Tomorrow's Valentine's Day..so what?
Well, I guess that's not the answer you'll get when you ask the pub hopping teens and twenty somethings that frequent malls, McDonald's,KFC's,Pizza places and the like ,in most Indian metros these days.I don't see anything special about this 'Day'. The sun will still rise in the East and sink in the West. This just happens to be one of the myriad 'Days' we have aped from the West, like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Rose Day,and the like...I mean, don't we already have loads of Indian festivals to celebrate? Isn't every festival a celebration of love, happiness, wealth and prosperity?
What is the uniqueness of this day? I mean, if you happen to love a person, can't you express it everyday? Why do we need this one day? Why can't we celebrate love on the remaining 364/365 days of a year? Do we really need a 'day' to tell a person how much we love him/her?
So, on Feb.14th every year we see Television filled with 'love'. News channels go around capturing incredible stories of 'love'.Actors, Politicians, sportspeople are caught and brought before the camera, and are forced to answer 'silly questions'. Young people are quizzed about their 'feelings' for their 'loved ones'..
And the most irritating part..if you happen to be in a gift shop on this day..you will literally be covered with 'showers of love'..yeah..it's just me talking about the tons of confetti that's wasted every year..And by the end of the day..you will be sick of the color, Pink.
So, who finally gains on Valentine's Day..no prizes for guessing the answer.
People are made to waste loads of money on stuff like Greeting Cards, silly bunches of red roses, heart-shaped chocolates, pink candy,and all other nonsense in the form of gifts! This is unnerving!
If you happen to be single on Valentine's day, well, God Save You. You are looked down upon, and immediately shunned. You attract looks. You become the 'object of absolute scorn'. You are treated like you are currently infected with AIDS/Herpes/Scabies/Rabies and the like..
Well, tomorrow, is the Day! I am not asking you to stop loving your special someone, I am just asking you to think if it's really wasting so much time/money/efforts for just the one day...Tell your loved one how much you love her/him whenever you can,show them your feelings, let them know how much you love them throughout your life, let them know that you care.Love is timeless, priceless, don't dedicate just 1 day out of the 365 days in a year to it..Everyday is special, make everyday Valentine's Day!

हैदराबादी एस्लंग!

'Lite, you take..'

'Lite re...'

'Bap, what's your problem?'

'Bap, lite you take..'

'Antha scene ledu, lite theesko!'

'Nee face..'

'Nee bondha!'

'Aree..thotti raa rey..'

'Thokkalo!'

'Laagichhukoni kodithey....'

'Naa koduku...'

'Abboo....'

'Nee Bathuku.....'

'Useless!!'

'Janaalu.....'

'Eeshestha!'

'Baadkhow!'

'Rey...'

And the winner...
'Thotti! Po ra po..Badkhow yedava!'

Hey...I just came back from College. I had gone to get my Pre-Final marks..I can say they were alright, except for the fact that I blew up my Math-B Paper. I had been to College after a long time...once there ,I kinda realised that this might be one of my last few days in College. You often find me cribbing about my Princi, the teachers, the irritable friends I made there..or those never ending classes....
This got me thinking...the College was not really that bad. I mean, ok, it wasn't a bit like school, but still. I am not sure whether I am happy or sad that, in less than two months I would be leaving this dump! The College has taught me a few things..
I remember the first time I walked(or rather, had been driven in), by mum. The College looked intimidating..I wasn't sure if I'd fit in. Yeah..I did feel that way! Then came my 'interview' with James. It was funny. So I assumed that the College would also be like Brother James! Then followed a first year with Franky. I was on a high after the first year. In the first year I also got to see the Homo Gradiens (species of human beings who would to anything to get good grades!).
Second year has totally brought me down to earth!
It helped me realise how the world is..and who my true friends really are..I learnt many lessons in the second year.
So..I don't really know..I might actually miss LFJC. But what I really will miss are my friends who have stuck by me...supported me through times good and bad. My Sam, my Sarah, my Antara, my Namita, my Sharon,my Swati,my Bhargavi, my Surbhi, my Anjana, my Geeta , my Mamtha, my Mahati,my Tripthi, my Sirisha, my Shilpa, my Prerna, and finally the one whom I am gonna seriously miss , my Monica..I 've finally realised what a nice friend she is..always helpful and kind..always bringing new songs on her phone..
So...I guess that's all for this post!!!!!

Yesterday, I watched 'Taare Zameen Par'. It was an enthralling movie..the movie deserves all the honours that have been bestowed upon it. The thing is...this movie really made me think.....no, not about dyslexia, but about our lives in general. The movie only focussed about a boy with dyslexia. His condition is faced by a fraction of the children in India. I am talking about the pressure children face..oh yeah, they face loads of it.
Yeah...become an Engineer, or a Doctor..or do Management..and if the child wants to do something else..like let's say, become a journalist, the child is automatically categorised as, 'USELESS'. Why? Is it because you don't draw a large salary right from the minute you become a Journalist???
The minute the child enters say, 7th class..he is sent to IIT Foundation classes. Now, as most of us know, the IIT-JEE is taken only after the 12th class! I mean, do you really need 5 years of training for one entrance? Come on....No wonder the suicide rate in India reached an all time high in the last decade.
Children are not given a chance to express their views. They have to do what they are told. If there are any signs of protest the excuse given is, 'The world out there is very competitive!' So?
It's irritating to see kids not even 10 years old carry bags heavier than themselves, walk to school at about 6 am. These kids are being prepared to face the world! Come on, what rubbish is this? The worst part is..despite all this these kids do not know anything that's happening around them. They don't know basic stuff like the President of India, or for that matter, the Chief Minister of their state!
This state of affairs is sad. I can only find the parents responsible for this..I always think most parents rub their dreams on their children! This is not fair! The children are not their parents! They are seperate individuals, with a right to their own life! They should be allowed to have their own dreams , own aspirations!
Now, who gains from all this? It's only the numerous Corporate educational institutions. They charge an exhorbitant fee. They make the parents sign a contract allowing the institute to beat(torture) children..
I don't know what's happening? I hope this changes for the better..till then, it's a big bye from me to all you people!!!!!!!