The 'Food' Connection.............

I have seen my mom, mom in law, granny and aunties feeding the crows, before anyone in the house get to taste the delicious food. Till few days back I had hardly taken any interest in feeding these birdies. For weeks back I was given the reins of the kitchen and as it’s customary I fed the birds. Later I got on with my work and never bothered to look if the birds savored the food or not. The next day I completely forgot to feed the crows, after the usual feeding time I could hear some loud cry of crows. A couple of them were on the balcony standing on the place where we keep the food and were eagerly waiting to be served. They were calling out for us to nosh them. I damned myself on my forgetfulness. Immediately I served them with some rice and ghee. The moment they saw me nearing me they flew away. I knew they were afraid of me, so I placed the food and left them in their privacy. Today somehow I was curious to know what happened after. It’s not just the crows; they were later joined by squirrels, sparrows, pigeons and some unknown species of birds. It was so amazing to watch them eat one after another (a rare sight to see in humans). When the squirrels are feeding on the rice, the crows would silently sit and watch, would not disturb the little ones. The striped ones would cutely take the food on both their hands and merrily gobble them. On the other hand when the crows are feasting on their meal, the squirrels would disturb them, in spite of their petite built they would not mind confronting the mighty crows and the crows are so timid that they silently pave way. The next day I noticed that the squirrels do not disturb the pigeons when they are eating. I really did not understand why the squirrels were nice with the pigeons and not the same with the crows. It’s a lovable sight to watch the get together of these birds and animals. The interaction and understanding between them is complex and is beyond my understanding. For a few days the routine continued. I enjoyed watching them daily. Again one day I heard loud crying of crows, this time I could faintly hear other cries also. I did remember feeding them in the morning, but I guess I fed them less than the usual amount so they were again hungry in the afternoon. The way they demanded for food some made me feel some kind of closeness with them. The very next moment I ran to kitchen. This time when I was placing the food none of them moved. They were not afraid of me anymore. The silent relationship blossomed into a friendly one. They showed that they were friends with me by not being formal any more. As the departure date is closing in, this time I am not just going to miss my family and friends but also my new found friendship.

Unsung women sport stars

Wrote this article 2 years back, now adding it to my blog.
This article was published in hindu open page 2 years back.

How many of us know these names “Suman Bala, Mithali Raj, Mamta Kharab, Neetu David, Surinder Kaur, Jhulan Goswami”? Probably none! They all are our unsung Indian women sport stars, who have earned glory for India in the field of hockey and cricket.

It is not our fault that we do not know them; it is because they don’t endorse, they don’t have big sponsors, their matches are not relayed, their posters are not printed, newspapers don’t sing their achievements and no award ceremonies. In spite of all these, they play for our country with the same passion and did us proud without expecting much in return.

In 2002, Indian girls had a tough cricket tournament against the British. Against all odds our “women in blue” proved themselves on foreign soil. The 19-year-old Mithali Raj set the Taunton ground ablaze with her spectacular world record double century and world record 7th wicket partnership with Jhulan Goswami.

Mithali is the fifth person to record a double century in the history of women’s cricket. The star performer of the match Jhulan Goswami took 10 wickets with her lethal bowling. She is also the first Indian woman to do so. The Indian men’s cricket team took almost four decades to record their first Test series win in England; the eves have done it in half the time.

Their relentless efforts took them to the finals of the 2005 Women’s World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately they lost the finals to the Aussies but their glorious efforts did not receive any attention. Whereas the Indian men’s cricket team also lost their finals in the World Cup but the treatment meted out was different. “The sport is the same but the treatment of women is different. The rules of the game are the same, but the revenue is different.”

The state of women’s hockey, “our national sport,” is even more pathetic. In hockey our women players are kept in the dormitory of the stadium, they wash their own clothes (uniforms) to wear for the next match. In 2004, the women’s team won the Asia Cup against Japan.

The win did not have any significant impact on their lives. They are stars for one day. Guess what they got after winning the Asia Cup? Rs 25,000 each. The men’s hockey team on the other hand was given Rs 1.5 lakh by Sahara India Parivar for the same achievement. In 2005, the men’s hockey team dumped, but our female stars won a four-nation tournament in Singapore outclassing South Korea in the finals.

On September 5, 2007, the men’s cricket team registered a victory against the English team at Oval to equalise the series and the women’s hockey team registered a victory against Singapore in Asia Cup to top Pool-A. Both the teams had performed excellently. Both were international level matches.

The next day leading news channels hyped the cricket team’s victory. No doubt they performed well, but the victory of the hockey team was not even mentioned in any of the channels. The news channels gave importance to Shilpa Shetty’s fashion show but they failed to highlight the women hockey players’ achievement.

On one hand we have our “men in blue” enjoying all perks and privileges of being a national player. They are entitled to travel in business class even within the country, big sponsors’ names sported on team uniforms, palatial hotels to stay, n number of television channels telecasting their matches, a plethora of awards given away and exorbitant match fees.

On the other hand our “women in blue” travel in sleeper class, hardly find sponsors. No TV channels relay their matches. The awards and rewards are not on a par with their male counterparts. Both in hockey and cricket women players face difficulties in finding a job unlike their counterparts who hold lucrative jobs in big companies.

Women in these sports give their heart and soul even after these problems; it’s time for our politicians, sports ministers to pay due attention to them.

Reservation

Reservation, a loop hole in the process called admission,
Where the poor and deserving are ultimately filled with dejection.
They say it’s for the poor; it’s for the backward,
But in their name the rich and the powerful stamp them and move forward.
Is this the justice given to the poor and the needy?
Not at all, this is just a plot planned by the greedy.
They need money, they need power,
So in the name of caste, reservation was implemented by the clever.
I am not shouting against reservation,
But, I am for the reservation based on social and economical condition.
Awake country men; come forward to change the policy,
Let the downtrodden also have access to education, as it’s a democracy.
Let merit and means be the two categories,
Curtail the rest and stop the political atrocities.
TOGETHER WE CAN TOGETHER WE SHALL.

Beautiful Moments

Beautiful moments are never made,

nor will they ever fade.
A silent nap, on my mother’s lap,
Will make me a child, with sorrows left behind.
A big hug, when you are in a trouble, deep dug.
Hand in hand walk with your loved one,

together watching the settling sun.
Seeing a baby smile, you forget your worries for a while.
Little Fingers holding yours,

wanting that moment to be for years.
Playing like a kid, when you have grown so big.
Enjoying with your little one, with so much of job left undone.
These moments are all beautiful which leaves your heart delightful.

I was in my own world

I am in my own world, happy and singing.
He steps into my world, with out me realizing.
My eyes refuse to see him,
But my heart yearns to be with him.
Days into weeks, weeks into months and months to years
There am sitting alone, with eyes full of tears.
Mind and heart battling and I am unable to decide
With confidence he says, why fear when I am by your side.
The love, the affection, the care.
Happiness and sadness equally we share.
Time was passing day by day.
We were so happy; I have no words to say.
One day, a storm hit my smooth life,
He left me, saying you can no more be my wife.
I cried and cried and cried
Finally the tears stopped coming as they had dried.
I wanted to ask him, why he left me with questions unanswered
But later felt, he did what ever his heart desired.
I was dull, I was dead
Thanks to my friends, upon who burdens I shed.
They supported, they motivated.
They told, life does not stop when you are rejected.
Move ahead, look forward.
Put the past behind, never look backward.
Still deep in my heart, I have secrets untold.
Why did he step in, when I was in my own world.

Why this to them???

A heart so pure, our happiness is reassured.
A smile for sure is enough to get cured.
Those faces, which make mine, glow
Those thoughts, which make mine, flow.
Singing, dancing and enjoying in their own way
This is how the kids are happy and gay.
They are unaware, yet optimistic towards life
I am aware, but still can’t save their life.
Oh my god, why this to them????

My hands are tied, my tears have dried
Still the hope in my heart has not died.
I can’t make them live longer,
But I can make them mentally stronger.
I can give them those moments never seen
I can take them through those paths never been.
I want to give them my share of happiness
I want to take from them their share of sadness.
Oh my god, why this to them????

Who were they???

One Saturday morning I was sitting in my cubicle and staring at the LCD monitor blankly, but something serious was running through my mind. I was thinking about my childhood days, those school days, and then the college days. Everything seemed so perfect with my lovely parents, my sisters and brothers, my grandparents, my teachers, my friends around me. The school and the college I went were the best, the knowledge and the exposure I got was indeed good, even before completing college had a job in my hand so life had been smooth till now without any difficulties. Have I achieved something in life?? First I wanted to know from my parents, so called them up and asked this question to my mom and dad, they said yes but immediately added saying would be even better with an MBA. Now it was my turn to answer the question my self. I said no, because I did not find satisfaction in life some how. Now my mind hovering over the fact, what will give me inner satisfaction? An MBA degree, an MS degree or getting married. I did not know, was in search for the answer. One day I was returning back from office after having dinner with my friend. Two small kids (a small boy and girl) came to me for alms. As a child I have always seen my elders giving money in such situations. Even I have done it several times, but that day my heart refused to do it. For a while I stood, by the time the kids went back dejected, I went behind them and asked whether they will eat something or they wanted money. The kids happily said “didi bahut bhook lagi hai, khana hi dedo” I took those kids to the same restaurant where I had dinner that night, told the manager to pack biriyani for them. Now the girl interrupted me and said “didi mere maata pita bhi mere saath hai woh bhi bahut bhooke hai” I told the manager to pack 2 packets of biriyani, I paid the money and told the manager to give them the parcel promptly. The manager was kind enough to do the same. I could see the happiness on their face. I came out of the restaurant, I saw a couple in poor condition, I could make out that they were with those kids; I went up to them and told that the kids were in the restaurant. Then slowly started walking towards my house. Mean while my mind was pre occupied with the thought that the parents seemed to be healthy and fit, they could earn and feed the children, but they resorted to begging, that too making the kids beg. Kids of their age were going to school studying, playing and enjoying, but these kids were begging on roads. I was satisfied, atleast I was able to provide them one time food, but what will happen after that, tomorrow they are at somebody else’s mercy. This is a vicious circle. They will grow up; continue to do the same what their parents are doing now. They would never become responsible and independent. Now the question comes up, to become responsible and independent what do they need? Education, yes this is the weapon with which one can fight back in life. If the kids are given proper education, then they will become confident and will become self sufficient in life and a full stop can be put to this vicious circle. That incident opened my eyes. Only we learned people can make a difference by imparting education to such under privileged children. I wanted to do something for them. I tried to find out those kids the next day, but could not find them. But inside me there was a burning desire to teach such kids. Suddenly I felt that condition of the kids who have parents is this bad, what will happen to those who don’t have one. I could not even imagine such a thought. I have seen many people going to orphanages to distribute clothes, money, food etc to those young ones. Monetary help is important, but only that is not enough. What is important is to educate them, boost their morale, and interact with them as they are totally cut off from rest of the world. Making them realize that they are no less than the other kids. Such activity increases their confidence. While thinking and doing such works I totally got involved in it, finally found this is what I wanted to do. I don’t know who those kids were, I don’t even remember their faces, but those innocent faces have made me realize what I should do in life. This is just the beginning, miles to go before I sleep.