What was Bihar?
Bihar has been a karma bhoomi to many, Janak, Buddha, Chanakya, Mahatma Gandhi, and JP Narayan. The great empires of Guptas and Magadha eastablish there; Patliputra was then capital of the entire Indian subcontinent. Rabri Devi, no connection to names mentioned before also ruled the state for a while. Laloo did all he could to decimate his lineage, the history of this great land, but now he finds himself out of the Samosa, rather discarded. Bihar was fast becoming ignominy and disenchanted and embarrassing. Kidnapping and extortion had graduated from cottage industry to a thriving business proposition, right suffered at the hands of might. Laloo had, been there and done that. Absolute power corrupted absolutely.
Tipping point?
But this is not about him. It’s about the people it’s about the Man who did the right things. They claim sweeping poll victories, but this particular Bihar election was truly something else. I haven’t seen such one side (for the good results). I mean going by purely numbers no one is worthy to be called an opposition coz they haven’t got even 1/10 of seats. This is a compulsive mandate.
Bihar was fast becoming everything that was ugly, feudal, and criminal. The political scenario was so dire that political satire was becoming vengeance. The tipping point was hit and everything changed for good. There are statistics, damn lies and poll arithmetic. But I wonder if Nitish Kumar, the leader who led the party back to the power again would have actually believe that he would get such numbers. It is a crown of thorns, Nitish Kumar must not falter.
The longest hour before dusk.
Bihar finds itself bottom of the table of every just account. It been pushed back into feudal time in a lost decade. Nitish may not turn Bihar into Japan in next five years, but would do well to stem the rot and get the system to move, give, there is scope there for sure, and some of the brightest minds come from Bihar. It would be interesting at what pace Bihar returns to normalcy i.e. come at par with national average w.r.t. to per Capita income, education health, etc.
The time is right to focus on nayi kahani, (new story). The system has started to work for the better. It is a long (and unpaved) road in Bihar; Nitish Kumar has to restore faith and hope. The people have showed their belief in him. He will pay in the long run. His intentions remain clean and clear and leadership founded on robust principle and virtues.
Of mandates and poll arithmetic.
Congress party of India remains master of poll arithmetics, amazing work for them. I know they last more than half the seats they held last time; they are down to four seats from nine. No it’s not the Rahul effect. It is something they do to their allies, frienmies is term used by one of a magazines. Laloo Prasad was one of the kingmakers of third front, and then a minister in the Congress led UPA. Congress seems to be mastering this poll arithmetic concept.
The did it in UP to Mulayam Singh Yadav, left parties in the last Lok Sabha polls, in Maharashtra to their ruling partners the NCP and to the opposition BJP and Shiv Sena. There are more examples, National Conference in Kashmir there are so many examples. Laloo did lose, but it would be interesting what would have been the results in the following scenarios
a. Laloo Prasad and Congress going forward with some seat sharing.
b. A swing of say 1% for argument sake from Congress to Laloo.
I must confess I don’t have the numbers. But I think Laloo would have between few seats richer and Congress would have got more seats. But fighting polls from all the 243 seats meant Congress would split votes away from Laloo, one vote less in elections means you are behind by two votes. This is a sample of how poll arithmetic works. Yes Congress did lose more than what they had but this has ensured Laloo would not much to fool about other than his poll result. This would make Laloo go back to the drawing board. Old dog new tricks kind of scenario.
This for Congress means one less nuisance creating coalition partner, Mulayam, Sharad Pawar, Left Parties have already been subdued.
I am not sure it is a trend but all indications are there, but increasingly where ever voting takes place hung mandate post poll alliances (read opportunities) would increasingly be a thing of the past. I find most of the state governments in India a pure majority at least the major ones, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, MP, Bengal,AP, TN, I am sure these aren’t the only ones.
The nest state elections would be really fun.
24.11.10
Cricket: Solitary win for Team Indian
Mark Greatbatch a great bat in 92 world cup remarked before the start of the series that he would be happy if Kiwis draw two test matches, they did. The only worry would be a collapse in this test, the demons of thought came alive and Kiwi batsmen capitulated too soon. The Indian seam bowling looks ominous provided Zaheer is fit and fine. Sreesanth was ripping it and Ishant was making the deliveries jump.
The top order collapse and it was the question of when rather than what. The reason of Kiwi collapse was a bit puzzling especially after some decent performances earlier in the series, the type of pitches or the climate or the opposition nothing was mysterious, and the entire top order Kiwi bat except Ross Taylor had spent enough time and made some good runs. I was surprised when they capitulated early in the first innings on a score which proved to be meagre, in the hindsight. Kiwis were all out 193.
Sehwag the game changer.
Indian response was that of purpose and definite intent. Sehwag did what he does best, see ball hit ball, he can make runs at the pace he wishes. He is game changer in the sense that now people look at strike rates in Test matches. He is Bradman of strike rates in the history test matches e.g. in this series in averages 99.5 and scored at the rate on 89, which mean every time he went on to bat he scored a century in 112 balls that he face. He lobbed a return catch to Vettori. His rustic charm and nonchalance is what makes his batting more thrilling. Sehwag’s batting it may seem to be a perfect wish for Indian cricket fans, if you change anything in that it will vanish.
Rahul Dravid – still the best man at the wedding?
I honestly feel that Dravid has created his won space and around a deserving spot light that Sachin Tendulkar gets which dwarfs everyone else. He has done really well and will go down India top batsmen. There is very little in technique, class, temperament or fitness in which Dravid could be far behind. I dare say he looks the most fit and agile Indian batsmen. Dravid record as a run getter and as a player remains worth emulating. Those who wish he could be a little faster forget that at times, occupation of the crease is vital. If you bat around, Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman then the pace of scoring is their worry not yours. I think Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman would acknowledge that as well. I am not saying Dravid is a stymied stroke less wonder. I mean he has scripted one of the best Indian in Test matches wins both home and away more than once. He has done well. He played well in this series as well. I am looking forward to see him bat in South Africa. A lot of people would we surprise the way his bats there in South Africa.
A 10 or a 50 or a 100.
Tendulkar would have rejoiced a century on a bigger platform. That’s the only reason I would want to give for him not scoring his 50 century. I mean 50 centuries is huge. I would say Ponting would have crossed his mark is he had just scored 40 centuries in test. But then Ponting is now a distant second. I would bet on Jayewardene and Sehwag to come close to fifty century in the next series of batsmen. I hope Tendulkar keep his hunger alive because South Africa would be this huge tour where we have not done brilliantly and we had seen some embarrassing moments when we played them at home last. It was the same VCA stadium at Jamatha where Steyn had gunned us down and we were hopping all over like jack rabbits. Steyn u need to reload, our master cannon stand on heaps of runs and desire to do well in South Africa.
Bhajji the batsman, where is Bhajji the bowler.
Bhajji was in news for his batting prowess, he won the man of the series (without a doubt) for his performances ; he did well to rescue us couple of times, when danger pursued and showed lost of patience to get two centuries. I am worried about Bhajji the bowler in South Africa. I don’t think he will be playing in all the matches. I don’t think he would torn apart about South African batsmen, I am curious to see if he can make some quick-silver changes to his bowling. I believe he can; only time will tell.
Indians paint a mammoth score.
Indian kept piling the agony thanks to a magnificent innings by Dravid, Dhoni tonked it and extended the lead, while Gambhir seem to get into form, Sehwag did his bit, and so did Tendulkar. Indians made 566 a lead of over 350 with six sessions more in the game, perhaps there was only one realistic end, an Indian win. So it seems Indians won it 1-0. New Zealand did very well though and will be a great experience for those guys. I mean they lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in an ODI series there, those who thought they would suffer a familiar fate here in India would have been disheartened, this was a different format, Test matches don’t necessarily tread that way, and neither does the game of cricket. The best thing what it does is to make a mockery of what people, think, imagine or believe before looking at both faces of the coin.
The top order collapse and it was the question of when rather than what. The reason of Kiwi collapse was a bit puzzling especially after some decent performances earlier in the series, the type of pitches or the climate or the opposition nothing was mysterious, and the entire top order Kiwi bat except Ross Taylor had spent enough time and made some good runs. I was surprised when they capitulated early in the first innings on a score which proved to be meagre, in the hindsight. Kiwis were all out 193.
Sehwag the game changer.
Indian response was that of purpose and definite intent. Sehwag did what he does best, see ball hit ball, he can make runs at the pace he wishes. He is game changer in the sense that now people look at strike rates in Test matches. He is Bradman of strike rates in the history test matches e.g. in this series in averages 99.5 and scored at the rate on 89, which mean every time he went on to bat he scored a century in 112 balls that he face. He lobbed a return catch to Vettori. His rustic charm and nonchalance is what makes his batting more thrilling. Sehwag’s batting it may seem to be a perfect wish for Indian cricket fans, if you change anything in that it will vanish.
Rahul Dravid – still the best man at the wedding?
I honestly feel that Dravid has created his won space and around a deserving spot light that Sachin Tendulkar gets which dwarfs everyone else. He has done really well and will go down India top batsmen. There is very little in technique, class, temperament or fitness in which Dravid could be far behind. I dare say he looks the most fit and agile Indian batsmen. Dravid record as a run getter and as a player remains worth emulating. Those who wish he could be a little faster forget that at times, occupation of the crease is vital. If you bat around, Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman then the pace of scoring is their worry not yours. I think Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman would acknowledge that as well. I am not saying Dravid is a stymied stroke less wonder. I mean he has scripted one of the best Indian in Test matches wins both home and away more than once. He has done well. He played well in this series as well. I am looking forward to see him bat in South Africa. A lot of people would we surprise the way his bats there in South Africa.
A 10 or a 50 or a 100.
Tendulkar would have rejoiced a century on a bigger platform. That’s the only reason I would want to give for him not scoring his 50 century. I mean 50 centuries is huge. I would say Ponting would have crossed his mark is he had just scored 40 centuries in test. But then Ponting is now a distant second. I would bet on Jayewardene and Sehwag to come close to fifty century in the next series of batsmen. I hope Tendulkar keep his hunger alive because South Africa would be this huge tour where we have not done brilliantly and we had seen some embarrassing moments when we played them at home last. It was the same VCA stadium at Jamatha where Steyn had gunned us down and we were hopping all over like jack rabbits. Steyn u need to reload, our master cannon stand on heaps of runs and desire to do well in South Africa.
Bhajji the batsman, where is Bhajji the bowler.
Bhajji was in news for his batting prowess, he won the man of the series (without a doubt) for his performances ; he did well to rescue us couple of times, when danger pursued and showed lost of patience to get two centuries. I am worried about Bhajji the bowler in South Africa. I don’t think he will be playing in all the matches. I don’t think he would torn apart about South African batsmen, I am curious to see if he can make some quick-silver changes to his bowling. I believe he can; only time will tell.
Indians paint a mammoth score.
Indian kept piling the agony thanks to a magnificent innings by Dravid, Dhoni tonked it and extended the lead, while Gambhir seem to get into form, Sehwag did his bit, and so did Tendulkar. Indians made 566 a lead of over 350 with six sessions more in the game, perhaps there was only one realistic end, an Indian win. So it seems Indians won it 1-0. New Zealand did very well though and will be a great experience for those guys. I mean they lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in an ODI series there, those who thought they would suffer a familiar fate here in India would have been disheartened, this was a different format, Test matches don’t necessarily tread that way, and neither does the game of cricket. The best thing what it does is to make a mockery of what people, think, imagine or believe before looking at both faces of the coin.
22.11.10
Blog: Learning curve.
If you are on a learning curve and racing ahead faster and fester and even leaving the curve behind, is there a possibility that you hit a bump or just fall of the cliff off the learning curve and fall towards the nadir? The problem with hitting (or likely to hit) a nadir is you are never likely to hit it but keep going towards it. It can be painful or misleading or you could never ever realize it before everybody you ever knew is light years away from you physically and emotionally. But then it’s just a thought, a thought worth the blog. You are as good as you deeds and vice versa, every one will acknowledge and share your achievements and success but not many will acknowledge the pain of the efforts and hardships. I guess everyone is emotionally vulnerable, at least emotionally insecure. I say that without bringing in a sense of bargaining.
If you leave that behind and come to next point you may ponder about leading a balanced life. But there are so many things in the balance and so many things carving to be balanced. Priorities? Can you compartmentalize or segregate your life, into self, family, friends, other, career, duties etc. How does one ensure one doesn’t effect/impacts other compartment, so many things come to my mind, where do I start?I want to read, read a lot, haven’t been reading, watching and following cricket but then it is once too often. I hard to crawl out of the burden of self pity and stand up and decide to change back to the time that once was in ascendancy. It is so tough to live in present, can’t even find anyone to blame. It is definitely not as murkier as we think, a simple smile, a simply apology will resolve hosts of complex situation. Believe, Dream, Act.
I don’t know what am I waiting for in life, but some sense of reflection soothes a bit. There is not a lot of reason behind what you and I do; impulse doesn’t carry you long or far enough.
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