No Bharat Ratna this year

Very understandably to its nature the UPA govt has decided not to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' to anybody. This was their political weakness that led to this scenario, because if they choose a Congressman for the award, their UPA colleagues will cause turmoil to the life of poor Manmohan Singh. If they give it to any of their non-left allies, they face the music from comrades. Even comrade Jyoti Basu would have caused a stir in their own ranks. The main opposition party played their own cards by suggesting the name of Mr. Vajpayee.
As a citizen of the Indian Republic, I am more than happy to see the award being not conferred, rather than being conferred to somebody who is not deserving. I would have been more than happy to see the award being not conferred to Sachin Tendulkar, than it being conferred to somebody like Karpuri Thakur or Kansi Ram or even Comrade Basu. Even though my choice would have been Sachin, with Mr. Vajpayee being a distant second.
People may treat my opinion to be negative, but even though I prefer to choose the options positively, here it is more than a choice. In fact the moment you discuss any award associated with the pride of the country the choice should be restrictive rather than the inclusive. The reason is that it is not just an award, but it reflects how a nation wants it icon to look like. Whether he should be a originator or supporter of divisive politics like Kansi Ram, Vajpayee; or whether he should be a man whose integrity lifts the mood of whole nation, even at a time when they are on a low (If anybody has any doubts see the smile on the face of a stock trader, having suffered in market this week, after Sachin's century at Adelaide).

Hailing India’s greatest Test victory ever

On the final day of Perth test Sunil Gavaskar rated the win as the best by india in the 35-40 years of cricket he has covered. I was amused, not because I felt happy being able to witness the occasion, but also to see the admission from a guy who had been part of the same setup that the current lot of players are best bunch ever to represent India ever.
It may seem funny for older player, but I have seen the Indian cricket evolve from a bunch competing to represent India to a bunch competing to assert India. Right now I does not seem to be just a one-off effort, rather the Team India is delivering goods consistently for over last 7-8 years. They are not only winning on Indian dust-bowls, but on African skidders, English swingers, West Indian jumpers, and Australian fliers.
The other aspect I saw in the Perth day was that evolving of Team India from a one-star team to an all-star team, where contributions all over won you a match rather than single individual efforts.

नानो कार फैक्ट्री केस निरस्त

मैंने अपनी पहली हिन्दी पोस्ट के लिए नानो कार फैक्ट्री केस निरस्त को चुना, क्योंकि ये वह मुद्दा है जो मेरे दिल के काफी करीब था। मैं वैचारिक रुप से स्वयम को मार्क्सवादी विचारधारा का प्रबल विरोधी मानता हूँ। परन्तु ये एक ऐसा मुद्दा था जहाँ पर पश्चिम बंगाल कि मार्क्सवादी सरकार ने जमीनी सच्चाई को स्वीकार करते हुए निर्णय लिया था। ये निर्णय यद्यपि विपक्षी पार्टियों कि विचारधारा से मेल खाता था फिर भी सिर्फ विरोध करने कि खातिर उन लोगों ने सिंगुर में विरोध शुरू कर दिया।
यहाँ पर भारत कि सभी राजनैतिक पार्टियों कि असलियत जाहिर होती है कि उन्हें लोगो के फायदे नुकसान से ज्यादा अपने राजनैतिक नफे नुकसान से मतलब होता है। खास तौर पर अगर विरोधी पार्टी अगर कोई अच्छा काम भी करती है तो उसका श्रेय भी उन्हें देने मैं इन्हें कष्ट होता है।
खैर अब जब कोलकता हाई कोर्ट ने टाटा के प्लांट को हरी झंडी दिखा दी है तो मैं रतन टाटा, टाटा मोटर्स, एवं पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार को बधाई देता हूँ कि इतने विरोध के बावजूद भी वो अपने सही निर्णय पर टिके रहे और अंतत एक नए युग कि शुरुआत के सूत्रधार बने।
विरोधी त्रिनामूल कांग्रेस को भी मेरी सलाह है कि अगर कोई सरकार जनता के फायदे का कोई निर्णय लेटी है तो उसे सराहने मैं कोई संकोच नहीं होना चाहिऐ.

Kumble joins 600 club

It is one of the most privileged occasion for me as a cricket fan to see Indian Cricket Captain Anil Kumble join 600+ club.
A gentleman of cricketer in this era of so-called flamboyant cricketers, this humble looking cricketer has proved that to be a successful cricketer all you need is to prove your point on the field by delivering goods for your team. You don't need dancing or romancing skills (Sree and Yuvi, I hope you read it), neither you need to sledge or humiliate your opponents by your words.
I still remember him taking wickets on hard bouncy surfaces in South Africa ahead of Kapil, Prabhakar, and Srinath leading English coach to treat him as a medium pacer. In turn Kumble did not reciprocate in front of media, but proved on Indian turners that he is a spinner as well, forcing Mr. Fletcher to eat his own words.
The greatest tribute for the humble 'Jumbo' comes from his rival for ages Steve Waugh. "Any fair-minded cricket fan would have enjoyed Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket even though it was Australia's potential saviour Andrew Symonds" Waugh wrote in his column for the 'Daily Telegraph' after the second day's play in the ongoing third Test.
Congrats Anil!!!

Quota for minorities being considered

With reference to the article from The Hindu 'Quota for minorities being considered' stating that "Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Wednesday the government was exploring the possibility of providing reservation to minorities in educational institutions and jobs."
My question is that is the government actually solving the problem by providing correct solution to the problems of minorities?
My observation is that this way the government is making another mistake, creating another divide between the reserved ones: 'the elite reserved' and 'the ordinary (or say needy) reserved'. The elite reserved are the ones who are financially good and then even do not need any reservations. They educate their children in good schools, premier colleges and then take benefit of reservation to get cream of the reserved jobs. This keeps on happening for ages. Now what happens is that their needy counterparts remain needy as always. This means by no way their casts can be included in the non-backward classes, even if the reservation continue for ages.
If the government is serious about handing reservation as tool to the needy section, then they need to make the 'token' reservation. Once you have used your share of token you are no longer a backward or needy. Now you have got your engine running, so take care of it.
This will help enormously in providing the reservation to the really needy people. The policy takes care of making sure that the needy will get their share of opportunities.