Cricket without Aesthetics

Dec.23.2012

Today I am paralyzed as far as cricket is concerned. In fact for me, today the game of cricket itself has paralyzed beyond the possibility of any recovery. 

Wearing the blue jersey there was that man who would swiftly go back and across and then standing on his toes would produce that inimitable back foot punch through the covers, for the balls pitched up he would lean forward with his arms drawing the arc in the air unleashing that majestically delightful cover drive, then there was that straight drive, with a still head, a mere push per se, but so graceful and so perfect that even an artist would find it difficult to put it on his canvas. 

Yes, today the man behind all these aesthetics has decided to hang up his boots. Along with him, many like me are saying adieu to the world of one-day international cricket. For us cricket without aesthetics is like idli without sambar, vada without chutney and chaai without cheeni all served together - and for us he was the only man left to provide us the treat we are looking for, with all the ingredients right in place and in their perfect proportion.

Thanks Master for all those stories you crafted for us – even in the depths of dementia, we will be greeting our grand-children telling them the tales you have weaved – just for the contemporaries like us who are lucky enough to be born in your era.

A Journey for Justice

19.Dec.2012 - Vanchinad Express reached Trivandrum Central sharp at 9:50 am. I got out of C1 compartment and quickly went to Arya Nivas across the station.  With two idlis, two vadas and a cup of strong tea I was ready for the day ahead. From there without waiting a minute, I rushed by auto and reached PSC Office by 10:30.

After taking copies of all certificates and letters I went to the enquiry section and presented my request letter. The enquiry officer was helpful and she directed me to the Section IV, on the fourth floor. Along the corridor with piles of files and papers I went inside the office – among the bundle of papers were few humans immersed in their paper works. I met the concerned officer and explained my concern.

Yes, my case was simple. With my 5 years experience in TCS (Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.) I was more than eligible for the post I had applied for – as a Programmer cum Operator in Kerala Beverages Corporation. Moreover I am among the short-listed candidates who had cleared the PSC exam. My certificate verification was over and I had presented my experience certificate in the requested format from the Asst. Labour Officer. However, the PSC found its own way to reject me – first stating I worked there as Trainee and when I presented my documents to clarify that, they stated they have no proof to verify if I worked as a programmer in TCS! To my surprise, the officer said she has not even heard about a company called TCS! I realized, there is no point arguing as they seemed determined that I am destined to be rejected.

Yet, with my valiant pleas they allowed me to meet another officer. Luckily that officer at least had heard about the company TCS. I calmly and humbly presented my matter to her. She felt convinced, yet gave no promise. She just signed it and told they will take a look at it. Again, the file was taken to the first officer. “Ok. We are taking your request into our file. However, we are not taking decisions here. There will be a PSC committee who shall go through your request and if they feel they will select you” – “You will not get any further notification. If you are selected your name will be in rank list. Else you are rejected.” - what a brute – as if the attempts here are not to select an eligible candidate but to reject as many as possible.

Dejected a little, I came out and went to the enquiry again. This time asking permission to meet Secretary of PSC. The officer, understanding my case, allowed immediately to meet the Secretary. I prepared another long handwritten letter stating my situation. In the long verandah close to the Office of the PSC Secretary I waited for my turn to meet the Secretary. After almost 45 minutes wait, I was allowed to meet him and present my request. He has heard about TCS, and he somehow felt convinced with my facts. He put his notes in my letter but did not say anything specific - he just asked his assistant to put it in file. The meeting did not take longer than 3 minutes. I came out of the PSC office by 12:30 pm – not knowing if I have achieved anything.

Other than presenting the case to the section and the Secretary, there was nothing more I could do there. I knew, the decision again will go back to the whims and fancies of the committee! And so is the case of many of my friends who also were rejected stating odd reasons!

I had no time to wait and think. I went to the print media Manorama on way taking more copies of the notes sent by my friend. I explained our situation, which the Manorama felt legitimate and they noted all the details. They promised to take it to the editor and will get it in print. Soon I went to Deshabhimani, which also promised to print it.  By then it was past two in the noon and I rushed to railway station – A kind gentleman saw me running in hurry dropped me at railway station in his two-wheeler. Thanking him I rushed in.

2:20 pm, Janashatabdi took off from Trivandrum Central. A long, lonely and at times costly journey for truth and justice has just begun for me. I stretched in its chair car again with the Autobiography of Mahatma – I was returning back with a little spark of hope, a bunch of promises and with a lot of inspiration emanating from the pages of the book in my hands.

Shenkottai

There are exponents of raga, there are maestros in thala, there are connoisseurs of rasa – however along with all these, if it is pure bhakthi bhava which resonates around us, it becomes divine! – that is what I felt about Sri S K S Shenkottai Harihara Subramanian Bhagavathar – disciple of Sethalapathy Soundaram Bhagavathar and Sreemushnam Rajarao who is devoted himself into the Sampradaya Bhajans (traditional form of bhajan). With his crystal clear diction of the swaras, the astounding power of his voice and his inimitable Bhakthi Bhava, the remaining artists on the stage too remained spectators !

(Kutcheri at Sree Poornathreyesa Temple, 13.Nov.2012)

Ritual for Radiant Living

T h e   M o n k   w h o   s o l d   h i s   F e r r a r i

Below are the rituals as explained by the monk for Radiant Living

1.    Ritual of Solitude

-          daily ensure to have a mandatory period of peace in silence (10-15 min) contemplating on who you are.

-          find a place where you will find the peace and practice this daily at the same time.

-          works as the pit-stop for the soul

-          e.g. walk around the garden, watch the sun rise, feel the morning breeze and relax

2.    Ritual of Physicality

-          take care of your body and nourish it with rigorous exercise.

-          at least 5 hours of the total 168 hours of a week should be invested for some kind of physical activity

-          e.g. vigorous walking, yoga, pranayama (art of effective breathing)

3.    Ritual of Live Nourishment

-          poor diet affects physical and mental energy

-          have diet of fresh vegetables, fruits and grains

-          vegetarian diet- sattvic diet

4.    Ritual of Abundant Knowledge

-          Lifelong learning and expanding our knowledge.

-          become student of life and use what you have learned.

-          read regularly for thirty minutes a day will do wonders (and be selective about what you put into the lush garden of your mind).

-          read something which will improve you and the quality of your life.

-          some books are to be tasted, some to be chewed and some are to be swallowed whole !

-          books of wisdom are not to be just read but to be studied by reading it several times.

-          Every answer to your every problem you have ever faced is in print. All the mistakes you will ever make in your life have already been made by those who walked before you. The answers and possible solutions are all recorded already on the pages of books. So read the right books

-          Biography of American Benjamin Franklin, Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Siddhartha – Herman Hesse etc

5.    Ritual of Personal Reflection

-          Every evening reflect on the full day activities sitting in a silence.

-          Write down your thoughts or do a Personal retrospection

-          Think about all positive and negative thoughts encountered – make immediate repairs to your negative actions/thoughts

-          Those who repeats the same mistakes are not aware of their self – Self-Awareness is the quality that separates humans from animals

-          Step-out of yourself and see what you are doing is right or wrong – a quality which is blessed only for the human beings

6.    Ritual of Early Awakening

-          Rise with the sun

-          Six hours quality sleep (uninterrupted)

-          Pain is the precursor to personal growth – Don’t dread it. Embrace it!

-          Meditate on serene thoughts for 10 min before going to bed, relax

-          And do this ritual for 21 continuous days to install it as a habit

7.    Ritual of Music

-          Play good music which soothe the mind.

-          Never forget the power of music

8.    Ritual of the Spoken Word

-          Make recite the mantras (which frees the mind) a part of your life

-          “I am inspired, disciplined and energized”

-          “I am strong, able and calm”

9.    Ritual of Congruent Character

-          This ritual requires us to take daily, incremental action to build our character.

-          Strengthen the character which becomes your action, action becomes habit and habit lead you to your destiny.

-          Be guided by heart

-          Congruent (Harmonious) Character has the following features which makes your life live according to the laws of nature

·         Industrious

·         Compassionate

·         Humility

·         Patience

·         Honesty

·         Courage

-          A failure to adhere to these principles, the true happiness will always elude you

10.  Ritual of Simplicity

-          All-important -Live a simple life

-          Never live in the thick of thin things

-          Stop picking up phone every time it rings, stop wasting time reading junk mail, stop eating out three times a week

-          Spend time with kids, Spend a day a week without your watch, Survive without facebook

-          Watch the sunrise every few days

-          Sell your cellular phone, dump your pager

Apply these rituals for one month, and you will surely start to see the difference within you !