Take a bow Sachin

As the world bids adieu to the little master, I cannot help but marvel at what a profound effect Sachin has had on all of us. Every he time he walked in to bat, a nation united in awe to watch the magician weave his tricks. It was more than just Cricket for everyone when he batted. It didn't matter where you were from, what your religion was, what you did, rich or poor, old or young, you just  had to love Sachin.

I remember. It was 1998.India visited Sharjah for the Coca Cola cup. Two magnificent Tendulkar innings to single handedly win India the cup was enough to see off the Aussies. It was as if he out there to teach the world how to play cricket. He just blasted the Aussie bowlers all round the park. This series was probably the reason I started loving cricket. I am among the million kids who tried imitating him when walking on the street, who drank Boost just because it was the secret to Sachin's energy.

Then there was the Commonwealth Bank series in 2007-08 down under. Sachin was up to it again. You would think that Sharjah innings was enough to make him an all time great against the Aussies. But not for Sachin, as he added more feathers to his cap. The four that he hit against Brett Lee straight down the ground in the second final is still imprinted in my mind. The only thing that eluded Tendulkar was also conquered as he won the World Cup in 2011 at his home ground to add the cherry on top of the cake. He had practically achieved everything and sometimes he would make you wonder how much more a cricketer can achieve.

Now as you decide to quit the one-day format with just one short of fifty tons, I wish you could have played a few more years. But you probably know what's best. We will miss you Tendulkar. We will miss your humility, your sublime shots, your off breaks, the awkward adjustment of your pants when you walked in to bat. I am lucky to have grown up seeing you play cricket. I will look forward to every Test match that India plays now. Adieu little master.

Winter has Come !

So after a long time, 111 days precisely, I am back with a post. To all the Game of Thrones fans, sorry to disappoint but this post is not about it as the title might suggest. Neither is it about the approaching Christmas winter. Rather it is about the gruesome Delhi incident that I am sure everyone is aware of.

I am extremely shocked and saddened by the gravity of this incident. Just thinking and writing about it sends a chill down my spine. I am not sure what is worse, this incident or the fact that our lives will return to its normal self after a few days until another similar incident. A few days back all of us shed tears for the Guwahati incident and what happened? Those heinous bastards are yet to be sentenced and are roaming free on our streets. What exactly will stop them from doing it again? A lot of rallies will be organized and slogans shouted, but is the government listening? I think its high time that our judiciary system shows some balls. It is ridiculous enough that it took us four years to hang a terrorist and celebrate the so called justice, but whats worse is that an act of rape or molestation results in just one year imprisonment. Come on! The US didn't bring Osama back to their home, feed him and give him a life of luxury until his existence sucked the souls out of their citizens. They just sent a bullet through him without thinking for a split second. That is one of the reasons why it is the most feared country in the world.

The fearlessness with which the Delhi incident took place goes to show how ridiculous the state of safety especially for women in our country is. There was a debate in the Lok Sabha on whether an act of rape should result in death penalty, but that died down as fast as a flash. Why is our government scared to take actions? Why can't they step up, take some extreme steps and send out a message that we are not ready for such outrage. What are they waiting for? A few more women to get raped, a few more bomb blasts to kill us, or is it for Batman??

I would like to share a poem by Farhan Akhtar that he wrote after this incident and I could not agree more with him.

What is this country that I live in?
With no equality
And the quality of life
Differs from husband to wife
Boy to girl, brother to sister
Hey Mister, are you the same?
Contributing to the national shame
Replacing your mothers
With the bent ideology of another's
perception that women have a particular role in society
Fills my heart with anxiety
Where is all of this going?
What will emerge from these seeds that we're sowing?
It makes my head spin
But I'm not giving in
Will keep asking the question 
What is this country that I live in?

What is this country that I live in?
That takes away her right to love
Brutalises her with an iron glove
Rapes her without fear
of there being justice for her tear
We've demeaned our goddesses
Gone back on all our promises
Become a gender distorted nation
Given our conscience a permanent vacation
what do I tell my daughter?
That she's growing up to be lamb for the slaughter
we've got to make a change
Reboot, reformat, rearrange,
and never give in
no matter how much our head may spin
Just keep asking the question
What is this country that I live in? 

I know that this post is not going change anything, but it is with the hope that one day I will get to see an India which is ready to stand up to its citizens and protect them that I am writing it. That one day where there will be equality in our country. That one day where we can roam our streets not with fear, but with conviction and belief in our governance. But as of today, there is nothing but shame that beholds us.

From a sad Indian. Comments welcome.