Here comes the world cup again

Fifteen years on, the world cup tournament returns to India. The game has not changed much irrespective of several experiments being instituted over the past decade. Yes, there have been several additions in the law book of the game – free hits, additional runs for run scored on wide and no-balls, power-plays, review systems, mandatory ball change after 34 overs, hawk-eye etc.

It is a known fact that first fifteen overs proved decisive in 1996 all the way till the finals – an experiment for which Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya became national heroes. Talking about 2011 world cup, I do not see too much of experiments working in anyone’s favour. Perhaps, the game has evolved so much so that there are counterplans ready for every strategy possible on the field. I reckon option to take power-plays (both batting as well as bowling) – at the right time would be the key this time around. Skippers need to counteract real time and there lies the beauty of this mind game. Skippers will play pivotal role in taking their side home and players will need to apply themselves properly before going berserk. There are only two teams who seem ready for all this at this point. Hence, my bet will be on an India Sri Lanka final.

Just 4 days into the tournament, there is a huge debate over participation of minnows in the world cup which is evident from their crushing defeats at the hand of test playing nations. Ponting and Vettori have already advocated the idea of reducing the number of participating teams. For me though, that is not a point of debate. In the world cup football too, at least 4 or 5 groups are dominated by two teams who select themselves for the next round just by composition of the group. Since ICC wants to encourage the popularity of cricket, it will be all the more good if there are more tournaments involving these minnows.

Point of debate for me is actually the format of 2011 world cup tournament. Unless minnows cause few upsets (seems impossible at this juncture), this format is absolutely rubbish. Gravity of this 43 days extravaganza will be observed in final week only and rest becomes a record keeping exercise till then. India and Pakistan were eliminated in first round in 2007 and there is a need to keep the interest for longer period – point taken. But the format of 2007 was also rubbish (worst of the lot). One would hardly imagine a world cup with three teams each in a group. Super six formats in 1999 and 2003 were quite good stuffs and something on the similar lines could have been devised.

Having said this, the champion will be the one who will play consistently throughout the tournament with the exception of South Africa. To win the world cup, they need to play more inconsistently rather than consistently. After all, the tag of "chokers" does not serve them well.

What is the right way

If something is not so great with the people charged with governance in India in the recent times (recent times?), it has to be rampant corruption which seems to have engulfed the entire political system. It is a pity that connotation of accountability implies abundance of wealth for self and relatives which ought to be amassed in most illegal and inappropriate fashion. Here geography does not matter. Corruption is equitably existent in all the corners of the country.

Billions of my countrymen including me work hard round the clock to earn daily breads. Several of us work throughout the life to realize the dream of owning a decent home. Several of us spend whole life eating two meals a day and organizing family outing once a month. This may seem mundane but this is a lot which is still better off. This lot is better off for they are able to earn so much so that they can pay substantial portion of their income to government as tax. Similarly, several business houses pay substantial sum out of their profits to the coffers of Indian treasury.

For what? To run the country, uplift the living standards of poor people and provide opportunity for tremendous economic growth. This was my understanding when I used to go to school and college. Alas! They run the country (not sure whether they run the country or their own ulterior motives) in the most detrimental way. Alas! They uplift the living standards of poor people by offering no benefits. For each rupee of benefits offered, a thousand is deposited in some foreign banks (Who said Mauritius is only a holiday spot). Alas! They provide opportunity for tremendous growth to people who can provide similar or better growth avenues in return (totally unwarranted and totally illegal).

I wonder when these guys will perform their duties the right way. Their business is to serve the country in most selfless fashion. Every business prospers on the foundations of accountability, productivity, sustainability and code of ethics. These foundations are existent in every great success story which one get to hear about. These foundations are existent in every great leader as they develop their babies into big adults. I scratch my head in little anxiety as to where will our own chosen people take us. Towards prosperity or back to slavery?

A dream towards contentment

In each phase of life, we harbour dreams which are supposed to lead to a great deal of happiness. Once accomplished, it does offer a great deal of happiness and acts as an analgesic for all the pain experienced during the course. However, the game of dreams does not end there. I have not yet figured out how this could end for it keeps life running in right spirits and sacred faith. But, then why does there exist misery, why there are feelings of hatred and anger, why does patience go for a toss many a times.

Perhaps, the dream to chase these items was never on the cards. Someone was running after a degree, the other one was running after money and yet another one was running after power. This post may be read in conjunction with the first post on this blog. Indeed, a dream to chase degree, money and power are essential and we must do that. However, doing this alone may not lead to contentment. A dream to contentment means greater involvement of society in pursuit of real happiness. There has not been a single person in the world who has accomplished real heights of contentment without touching and inspiring lives of many other people.

In my mind, I think that the road to contentment is also a dream where you put aside your self-interest and replace it with collective interests. It is a dream about which our ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam often speaks about. Readers who have read his book “The Wings of Fire” could relate to where I am coming from. It is hard thinking that ways where life seems unfair most of the times. It is not easy when you live inside a political periphery for most of the times be it society, be it colony or be it profession. But there is one thing which is not tough. A dream towards contentment Today and an unwavering focus towards this dream all along the way. If it is within imagination, it can be reached also for we the people have made the world what it is Today.

Dream for it does not cost anything. If you lose, you will be more powerful. If you win, your dreams will be more powerful. There is a song from hindi Movie "Lagaan" which keeps coming to my mind as I sign off Today.

Change is inevitable...

This blog is about to turn a year old and inevitably, this blogger will also turn a year older later this year. Though the blog represents only a small piece of this blogger’s life, it has become an inseparable space of his life. A space which allows the liberty to share thoughts with distinguished readers. A space which serves as a repository of maturing thoughts, changing world and happening ambience.

Today change seems a buzz word. As someone said “change is the only permanent thing.” Only a few minutes ago, Novak Djokovic won his second Australian Open title. It is great to see young guns coming to the party and making the most of it. But, it also heralds a change in the canvas of tennis where we will not be able to see the vintage Fereder for many more times again. Yes, things are changing. For over past 12 years, Australia remained unconquerable in International cricket in all forms. The same was the case with West Indies in 70s and 80s. But, time has changed now and the game itself has become unpredictable. No one is a clear favourite going into the coming world cup. Change perhaps. We saw Spain claiming FIFA World Cup trophy last year for the first time. India put an unprecedented effort in CWG 2010 for the first time. South Korea shook China in Uber Cup tournament in May 2010 for first time in so many years. Change perhaps.

Similarly, life of a teenager has seen dramatic change in the past decade. Internet has come a long way and wi-fi is the order of the day in every middle class household. Nokia 3315 seems a handset of Stone Age and BlackBerry is favourite device of a teen. More time is spent on exchanging messages on facebook rather than the time spent on event itself. They are getting used to virtual mode of almost everything. Things are changing and changing fast.

Back to my organization, it is not the same since I started some 39 months ago. Within an eye’s blink, I now realize that so many people have moved on in their respective careers and lives. It is not the same at all. A lot has changed and a lot IS changing in every part of the organization and at so many levels. Infact, the business and economy has also changed in the past decade. One of the biggest recessions of recent times, surge of China’s economy and higher spend capacity of middle class consumers – so many changes.

In backdrop of all the above, this blogger thinks that he is now able to commemorate effects of all these changes. As the life moves on, we must embrace new things, new champions and new habits. At the same time, we must not forget old delights, old heroes and older times.

What an adventurous way to kick-start the new year!

The year 2011 started with new hopes and promises. Like for everyone, like for me :) . It was absolute thrill spending first week at Gurgaon amidst record breaking cold waves. Freezing cold meant more of laziness and less of outdoors and rightfully so. After all, life had to move to other side of the world for two weeks after that. Yes, I just got back after two happening weeks at Atlanta.

This year two weeks of conference at our head quarters started off with complete shutdown of the city due to inclement weather. Huge snowfalls, sleets and icy roads choked everything on a standstill. Since this is not usual for this part of the states, administration was not able to quickly respond to this situation. World’s busiest airport Hartsfield Jackson was closed for almost two and a half days. This delayed the start of our annual conference but fortunately, we all landed safely just before the storm. Extreme temperatures followed the storm making things all the more difficult. Gradually, we made our way to the start of the conference.

It was so fabulous to listen to your senior business and functional leaders. The sheer energy that they radiated was amazing and gripping. Setting new goals and rejoicing the accomplished goals are always a good way to start off fresh year and it gives immense pleasure to note how everything is tied up so beautifully towards one vision and around one team. Meeting people from around the globe was an icing on the cake. Few familiar faces and few new ones – but everyone tied up with a common theme. Building on existing skills and adding new skills are very important for one’s development and gladly, we had plenty of those as well towards end of this past week.

An event early this week though brought a scare especially sitting some 8000 miles away from home. As the news of an earthquake around Southern Pakistan and North-western India broke, it was so disturbing for few moments. Thankfully there was no major effect of this and life moved on peacefully. What an adventurous way to start the new year! Believe it or not, adventures mean so much in day to day life. Just imagine a life without adventures!

Little things and a better life...

The world is such a beautiful place. It is indeed. Another year has come on the horizon and every one of us is in some kind of introspective mode – some prospective while others retrospective. Some are busy making profit and loss statement for the year that went by. Some are busy doing planning for what lies ahead. While there were some gains for some of them, some would have suffered major losses. And in the midst of clumsy contours of so many lives, the world moves on… the life moves on to the next levels for the next “players”.

Again coming back to do a reality check, my consciousness goes deep inside a shell and what I note in particular is that conducting oneself and conducting with others is of such huge importance that it almost decides half the nature of profits and losses. Obviously, there are natural and social contributions to the rest half of the statement which most likely is not controllable. So as the years go by, there is a need to check one’s own orientation of the conduct related characteristics. I know that this is a very delicate topic and different people will always have a different approach to this. After all, preferences do differ from person to person. However, my point is those whenever one looks back at own self in the mirror, reflection must contain a great sense of serenity, modesty and positivity. This would definitely help us work towards impeccable levels of conduct.

Just consider the multiplying effect of this on the larger canvas of life. Won't it reduce the misery and sorrows that go hand in hand around our lives on a frequent basis? Won't it add significant profits to our yearly statements? Possibly yes. Oh certainly yes. I received a call from an old friend few minutes back and it was so soothing to hear his voice after so long. What did he do? He just dialed my number and made a lovely impact to end the second day of this New Year. The conduct could be in many other ways. As it brings serenity, modesty and positivity to the whole scene, the effect is manifold. If one could just cut down time thinking about something or somebody which creates anger, jealousy, hatred, agony and pain, the pie of serenity, modesty and positivity becomes bigger, bigger and bigger. So...

Keep Smiling and Be Radiant!

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love - Mother Teresa.