Upside Down World

Upside Down World

The one to depend on breaks your trust

The one you love is not meant to be your mate

The one who truly loves you is misunderstood

The one who believes is misled to believe

The one who is hated by all is the humblest
The one who is surrounded by a crowd is the loneliest

The one who is rich is the most arrogant one

The one who speaks his heart out is just rude

The one who sacrifices everything is always taken for granted

The one who seems to have everything is the loneliest

The one looking innocent maybe the shrewdest

The one who is sugary and polite is just waiting for you to turn your back

The one who seems perfect maybe the most pretentious one

The one who is misunderstood might be the most understanding!

Nothing is what it seems like anymore.

Introduction to Indian Football

Yes that's right, I just said introduction because most of us in India are probably new to this topic. 

Just mentally answer these questions;

• Who is the most successful manager of EPL?
• How many times has Brazil won the World Cup?
• The most expensive transfer so far?

If you follow football even half of what I follow, you would know the answers.
Now, the next round of this quiz.
Don't mentally answer it, say it out loud. Make yourself proud.

• Who was the most successful coach for the Indian National team?
• How many times has India played in a World Cup?
• Which club has won the most number of I-Leagues? 

Simple eh?

You see a thousand people wearing a Messi jersey but never a dude posing in Bhaichung Bhutia jersey.You keep track of the number of titles European teams have but you don't know who the last I-League winner was. And we say that Indian football is no fun. 

How can a sport excel without the support of its countrymen? Take for example- cricket; it took off on a bigger scale after 1983. Are we waiting for something like that to happen in football? India won in 1983 with eight nations competing. Well, in football you got 204 nations competing just to qualify for the World Cup.

There are things about Indian football that you should just be knowing as a football fan; inexcusable to be unaware of these facts!


Durand Cup

This tournament, named after its founder Sir Mortimer Durand has been played in India since 1888; making it the third oldest competition in the world. Football leagues were played in India even before Real Madrid or FIFA existed. It was initially started as a competition for the Army- British as well as Indian but later it became an open affair for public teams too. Even today there is army presence in the competition. Army XI last won it in 2005. The Indian Army deserves a lot of credit for keeping this competition alive.

1948  

65 years ago at the London Olympics an independent Indian national football team took on France in the first round of the Olympic football competition. The Indians put on a brave display to win the hearts of the spectators. For 70 minutes the score stood at NIL all. Had the Indians not missed the two penalties, the French would've faced a major heartbreak who ultimately won it 2-1. What highlighted the match other then India's fighting spirit was the fact that most of the Indian players were either barefoot or just wearing socks!


The one-time World Cup qualification

India has qualified for a World Cup; never played in one. The qualification came as a result of the withdrawal of the other Asian countries. And why India withdrew later has a lot of disputed answers. One being that India couldn't afford the trip to Brazil, lack of match practice, team selection issues and the ridiculous one being that we withdrew coz barefoot playing wasn't allowed.   

"We had no idea about the World Cup then. Had we been better informed, we would have taken the initiative ourselves. For us, the Olympics was everything.. There was nothing bigger"

               - Sailen Manna, who could have been the captain of the team

A missed opportunity indeed. (Sportskeeda article)

The golden era - Undisputed Asian champs


India won the 1951 Asian Games which they hosted. In 1952, later, India also won the Colombo Qradrangular Cup held in Sri Lanka. The winning streak continued with India winning the cup again in 1954, 1954 and 1955 which were held in Burma, Calcutta and Dhaka respectively. The Indian national team ended up as runners up at the 1954 Asian Games.

One of the greatest achievements of Indian football was finishing 4th at the 1956 Olympics with the Indian striker Neville D'souza ending up as joint-highest goalscorer who also became the first Asian to score a hattrick in the Olympics and also making India the first Asian team to reach the Olympics semis in the process.

India went on to win the 1962 Asian games and two years later finished second in 1964 Asia Cup. India played in the Merdeka Cup in 1964, 1965 and 1966 where they finshed 2nd, 3rd and again 3rd respectively.


Who is Syed Abdul Rahim?

The man responsible for the ^Golden era of Indian football, pioneer of modern football and the most successful Indian football coach- Syed Abdul Rahim. He is the "Special One" of Indian football. He had the eye to spot talent and make them shine. He was the coach from 1950 till his death in 1963 due to cancer. He would observe day-to-day things, movements of monkeys and drew inputs from them to formulate his game plans. 

“I still remember he was suffering with advanced cancer during the Jakarta Asian Games. But the struggling Rahim Saab never complained and went about his job in a meticulous way. We won the gold. There was tears in his eyes when we won the gold. He died one year later. That was the last big achievement by the Indian football team. It is sad the authorities concerned choose to ignore his unstinting efforts,” 

- One of the forwards who played under him in the 1950s, Balaram.

Unfortunately, he is an unsung, forgotten hero today.

Cricket - A Gentleman's game? Not anymore.

Umpire signalling a free hit - Happy sight for all except the bowler

Cricket can be traced back to the 16th Century. It is said to have been played by the British Aristocrats who suggested the game be played in 'a gentlemanly manner' ,which means no sledging, cheating, body-line bowling , temper tantrums or excessive appealing. If the batsman knew he was out, he should 'walk' even if the umpire decided otherwise. 

Well, let's not get into the Aristocrats' meaning of a 'gentleman's game'! We have all kinds of players who would contradict each and every term in that definition!

For me, a gentleman's game broadly extends to rules not favoring one but fair enough for both; batsmen and bowlers. 

Apparently not. The changes in the game over the past few years have made it a Batsman's game. 

About a decade ago, a score over 300 was considered a safe house for any defending team. Getting there was the wish of every team batting first. The psychological edge of having that score was good enough to build an initial pressure on the opposition. 

The advent of Twenty20 cricket in 2003 paved way for explosive cricket in terms of scoring and beating of bowlers all around the park. Even the "Free hit" is an equally demoralizing rule for a bowler.

Bats are getting heavier, broader and bigger. Specials bats; like the Mongoose are being used to improve the six hitting abilities; but never a ball made which will swing, bounce or spin more. 

To furthermore empower the high scoring games, boundaries are being shortened but never came in a rule to extend their lengths! There has been power play (field restrictions) introduced, bouncers disallowed, flat pitches made but never a day is spared to insult and humiliate bowlers who give away a little extra runs! 

 "T20 cricket cannot be stopped. It is a runaway train prepared to kill everything in its way. I am not joking when I say this. If we don't handle T20 cricket properly, it will crush everything in its way, including the Test and one-day formats"

-Dean Jones

The ICC came up with the "Two new balls" per innings rule.That's just cherry on the top for batsmen as the balls won't make much movement.

“I think it’s tough for bowlers. The ball doesn’t reverse much because it’s quite new. The ball is only 25 overs old at the most. Even spinners don’t get that much turn”

Suresh Raina

The above coming from someone who is nowhere near an expert in bowling but true indeed. 

In the latest series between India-Australia (Sportskeeda article), noticed the ball running away for boundaries and wondering "How the hell is he finding every single gap!" Well that's coz there are just gaps now with the new "Only four fielders outside the 30 yard circle" 

Just how much difference can one less out-fielder make? 

 “I think captains will have a hard job in setting fields and bowlers will have an even tougher job in trying to restrict the batsmen with all the innovative stroke-play that has come into the game.” 

-Kieron Pollard 

"I have this funny feeling that spinners will not have a role to play in the future."

-Mahela Jayawardene

"This rule of having two new balls in an innings and not having more than four fielders outside the 30-metre circle throughout an innings has made life difficult."

-Shahid Afridi 

What more now? 

• A restriction on the run-up of fast bowlers? 

• Bouncers up to waist height only?

• Pace limit to 130 kmph?

• Under-arm bowling?

It's time to re-think the rules ICC. Make some fair rules. Change the Batsmen's game.

If you enjoyed this post, consider leaving a comment and if you didn't then definitely leave a comment! :)

Lust - It doesn't last!

As a matter of fact, I am currently reading Dan Brown’s Inferno. Inferno (Hell) is the first part of an epic “The Divine Comedy” written by Dante, who in his lifetime of suffering has probably scripted one of the best pieces of literature in the history of mankind. He has described what hell is, heaven and purgatory to his apparent meeting with Satan after going past the seven gates for the seven sins –  wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. The inferno was responsible for the uproar of the Church as it struck fear in the hearts of those who read about it and their realizations of their sins drove them to confessions and prayers.

According to the Inferno, there are nine circles in Hell. In the second circle are those who succumbed to their carnal desires as a result of “lust”. They are those who couldn’t reason with their inner desires. It is the most-least terrible sin but it is punished first above all. The feeling can make the most arrogant man kneel before it.

Helen, wife of Menalaus (King of Sparta) was said to be the cause of the Trojan War: acclaimed as the most beautiful mortal woman, she was abducted by Paris and brought to Troy as his mistress. The "great Achilles" was the most formidable Greek warrior in the war against the Trojans. He was killed by Paris, after being tricked into entering the temple of Apollo to meet the Trojan princess Polyxena. This is what lust could do, does and will continue to do.

Sherlock, yes the latest BBC series gives me a modern take on lust. Wherein Holmes suggests how he has detached himself from all kinds of mortal emotions which aids him focus on his core activity without any distractions. Lust has seen the fall of many greats from such heights that they couldn’t get back up there.

Unlike the ancient times, no more do wars take place for emotions like pride and love. People are bamboozled if they have fallen in love or the pit of lust. What is the difference really? Love and lust. One is about understanding, the other wrecks understanding. One brings two people together for eternity, the other just for fulfilling their thirst. One speaks from the heart out, the other from the teeth out. One is about the beauty on the inside, the other is about the flesh on the outside.

Lust is the reason why Delhi is the rape town of our nation; others soon joining the capital. It is the very reason why women don’t feel safe anymore. It is very reason why the species of men are losing their trust worthiness day by day. Only one good has lust done, it has paved way for businesses for pepper sprays and stun guns! They are indeed blossoming with the women’s day just passing by!

Phoenix

Phoenix

Taking leaps towards my goal

But the path is horrifying

Hurdles and thorns are all I face

It just gets harder and harder

It wasn’t supposed to   

They just want me to fall

Oh God why!

Please tell me why!

Broken and beaten, I chase my fate

Never giving up is all I know

Success is my only option

It just gets worse and worse, was it supposed to?

They just want me to burn

Oh god why!

I just don’t care anymore

Because I’ll rise,

Rise from my ashes to fulfill my destiny

And crush those en route

As failing is something I’ve never known!

Note: Originally written on 13th Jan'2011 

          Library, MLDC. 

Give him an Oscar for God's sake!

The man was named Leonardo because his pregnant mother was looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting in a museum in Italy when DiCaprio first kicked. He made his little break into the TV line at the age of five and ever since then it has only been an upward career movement for him. 

I do not watch love stories or any type of gooey movies and so I have never watched the movie completely which was Leo's big break into Hollywood- Titanic. He began shedding his chocolate boy image post that phase by phase. The movie won eleven out of fourteen Oscar nominations. 

I have watched Catch me if you can where he literally convinced me how becoming a con man and earning millions before turning 19 is such a piece of cake. The movie was nominated for two Oscars. 

The Departed, where Leo played an undercover officer. The movie blew minds all over and he played huge a part in doing so. The movie won four Oscars out of five nominations. 

Blood Diamond, I can't refrain from writing just a couple of lines about this movie. The movie almost makes you think twice before buying the shining stone after the watching the movie. What makes the movie so real is the cast's portrayal of their characters. Leonardo's borderline role of Danny Archer, leaves you to decide if was the hero or villain till the very end. It's a shame the movie although nominated for five Academy Awards failed to win any.

What happens when a top class actor meets a top class director? Inception! I don't know if it really was the movie or it was me convincing myself; but I did have a dream within a dream! The movie won four out of the eight Oscar nominations. 

Leo played the elegant slave owner of Candieland, Calvin Candie in Django Unchained. I was routing for Django throughout the movie but the villain appealed more to me. The movie won two out of five Oscar nominations. 

Had it not been for Mr. DiCaprio, I would've never watched The Great Gatsby and his impeccable portrayal of the mysterious yet a hopeless romantic, Jay Gatsby. The novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald has been adapted by six movies, with Leo turning out to be best acclaimed Gatsby of all. The movie was had two Oscar nominations.

It has been my raw deal that I haven't yet watched Aviator(Won Five Oscars out of eleven nominations), Gangs of New York (Ten Oscar nominations; Both these are being downloaded as I type this!), Revolutionary Road (Three Oscar nominations; where he reunited with his Titanic co-star) and Romeo + Juliet (One Oscar nomination; Not keen on watching this one!) 

^MY POINT FOR MENTIONING ALL OF THE ABOVE^

- JUST GIVE HIM HIS DAMN OSCAR ALREADY!

As far as his movies are considered, he has chosen them very carefully and his acting has only leveled up with age.

All in all, his dozen movies have racked up as much as 66 Nominations out of which they've won 26 Academy Awards! I'm not saying he was the sole body responsible for this achievement. Hell no! I give the Director and his technical team most of the credit. What I'm saying is that, him playing the lead role in most of these movies- deserves an Oscar and not just five nominations that he has! 

All of this before the The Wolf of Wall Street! The movie has five nominations; Leo is competing with Christian Bale for the Best Actor's! 

I have watched American Hustle and I have watched Wolf of Wall Street too; I most definitely won't say that Christian Bale doesn't deserve an Oscar, sure he does but Leo deserves it more! There is no bias in my opinion. I'm a Dark Knight fan first!

And the curtains finally close down

Being a part of an institute for a decade, wearing the same patterned clothes every single day; It is indeed a very emotional moment when school ends- although I really don't know why, it wasn't for me. I miss school but I was pretty much content to know I was entering college; far from the boundaries of discipline, birthday clothes everyday, no more remarks or calls for my parents to attend my complaints at school!

 

Attendance sheet!

First glance at MLDC back in 2009

 

Before even taking admission there, just to know where I was stepping my in to- I decided to go down and take a look. I took a rick from the station, got down in front of the gate and I simply couldn't figure out if I was standing at the right infrastructure. I could see the gate of Sathaye and indeed it looked like a college- with a campus too! Dahanukar, on the other hand, looked like a 60 year old society undergoing redevelopment. 

Junior College

 

Gameoooo!

Somehow after getting into college, it was not just about getting through with HSC but utilizing the two years to decide my future, take part in college fests, participation in college activities, good attendance, scoring well etc. Now that was the plan, what I ended up doing was regular attendance at Naturals, C.S at Gameaholics, flunking once in FYJC and hanging out with friends wherever that was feasible. Learning German was one of the highlights; especially the treks that tagged along! Who can forget the constantly nagging Amma?

Library

Library 

I've spent more time at the library than any other facility at the college. What's intriguing about group studying is the how you can help each other while studying, sort out each other's queries and succeed in exams. Just kidding! It was hugely about group breaks which usually were prolonged leg pulling sessions, Gaabheri misal, CCD (You know which one I'm talking about), coffee, football, cricket at the katta etcetera

Kattaa

 

Vella people at the katta!

I really don't like the open canteen. It's a shabby hangout spot. Not until a couple of years ago that the katta came into existence. And ever since then it's been mistaken for attendance criteria by most of us. Be it waiting for the exam, studying because the library is full, dressing up for some day or fancy dress or for no reason at all- all photo sessions are duly held at the katta. 

   

 

Someday again!

The Industrial visits

 

All I can recall about degree college is my articleship and the two industrial visits. The first one at Chandigarh-Shimla, although hectic was unforgettable for the singing competition in the mangalam express on the return journey. The latest IV at Agra-Jaipur superseding the earlier one in terms of better management by the college, enjoyment and that "last year of college wala" feeling- had it's own moments! Industrial Visit was really just a jargon for short bonding vacations!

Friends

 

The snow was worth it eh?

I wasn't gonna miss out on writing something about the most bearing compatriots of my college time. I've had just the unique friends. It's them who have made college life what it is. It's them that I'll miss. It's them that I hope I cross paths with. Though it's only some of them I know I'll be in touch with.

If I visit our usual hangout spots again, no matter how crowded, they will always look deserted to me. Hereon, we won't get the chance to see all the familiar faces together at the same time and the same place. Of course there are reunions; where one fourth are unable to make it, another one fourth don't want to make it, another make it but don't matter to you and it just won't feel like what you've been missing. 

Life after college

 

The last trek!

Unlike post school, where it was just the decision of which stream and then which college, now the questions will be much more and answers even m
ore decisive. Some might go distant places in order to post graduate or jobs. These five years- nothing casual like this time is coming back again. Life will take a mature turn after graduation. Be it B.Com or the other expensive forms of it, graduation is a formality and a necessity now.

Soon enough, we will be thrown out of our comfort zones, finding ourselves sitting in a room full of people with ironed faces, earning enough but spending it with whom? 
 
Some write ups are from the teeth out, this one's from the heart out. Soon enough the day will come when I can wear the black robe thing and throw that hat up in the air! Just like the movies ehh. 



Quick Poll: How about just enrolling for M.COM to enjoy two more IVs and railway concession for the same period? What do you think? :-D

The Juan Mata saga.

It's been inked again and again how Mata being the Blues' Player of the Year for two years running fell out of favor for the Special One and Mata has now become the Desperate One to find playing time ahead of the coming World Cup Finals at the Samba land. 

His move to United only has ups for himself, United, United fans, Chelsea and certainly not for Chelsea fans who have to see their favorite wear the Devil red jersey. That must hurt. 

In a brief note, the move is;

• Big Money for Chelsea

Well, for a change, the spenders will be earning. This is the highest they have earned on a player, surpassing 25 Million move of Arjen Robben to Real Madrid in 07-08 season followed by the recent move of Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfburg for 17 Million.

• A chance to break into the World Cup squad

Mata has never really been amongst the favored ones in the Playing XI of Del Bosque's Spain ahead of the likes of Barca trio; Iniesta, Fabregas and Xavi. The move to United only gives him a chance to be chosen ahead of David Silva. 

• Hopes of season revival

The transfer takes place on the back of losing the Capital One cup's final spot to Sunderland; how much more can Moyes take? Mata's play can turn the tables for United like Ozil did for Arsenal. He can deliver what is asked of him; create chances and score an odd goal every now and then. None of their midfield is clicking and Mata just might make the much needed difference!

• Not the player that Chelsea fans would want to cash in on

Just a few reactions from Chelsea fans on Twitter.

@chelsearumours : I want Bakkali, Draxler and Messi as replacements for #Mata. No, not one, all three.

@a_norin9 : I can only thank you for the memories but I will never think of you the same

@VrunTIPS : I've just read that #Mata to #MUFC article from the Telegraph. Do you know what I think about it

@DeeSansXO : Please dont leave us ... we need you, we love you ... You are a blue and blues never give up

All in all, it's good move for all the parties involved. I'll be happy to see the little Spaniard in action again.

A Mumbaikar's lifeline.

I've been a Mumbaikar all my life. I'm too accustomed to the crowded roads, the Mumbaiya language, the beaches I never step my foot on, the roadside food etc. to barely come close to thinking about moving to any other city. 

Any part one of the world I travel, I compare that particular place with Mumbai, how empty the roads are, do they make vada pavs, how long the frequency of their train or bus system is or in other parts of India- how pure their hindi is! 

Life in Mumbai is an adventure in itself, especially the train life. Only rich brats and delicate dolls are supremely deprived of traveling in a Mumbai local train. 

The early days of traveling in a local all by yourself.

Just like most of us, I commuted in a train after 10th standard, for college. I was in the middle of chaos on Borivali station on the very first day. Getting late for college. I had no clue as to which platform I was supposed to take off from! Fast train or slow train? Which direction train is the Churchgate one! It was a pretty big dilemma at that time.

Suburban war.

Having no clue whatsoever about any feuds between any suburb passengers, I resorted to travelling in a fast train coming from virar. I was really getting late on that day! The platform was deserted; I realized later why. The train arrives. Turns out Borivali passengers are debarred from getting on a virar train. I wasn't spared either. Disheartened, I tried to persuade my way in the next one. 

Virar dude: Piche waale dabbe me ja idhar jagah nahi hain.

Pitiful me: Mere akele ke liye toh kaafi jagah hain. Andheri hi utarna hain boss.

Dude again: Borivali se chootnewala train pakad na.

Very pitiful me: Please chadhne do na class ke liye late ho raha hain!

Virar dudes: akela hain sirf, le lete hain isko.

Relieved me: Pheww. :| (Train mafia!)

The East or West saga.

I get over my first day somehow. Enter second day. A slow train from borivali; it had to be. I'm late again, yet to get along with the timings. I get down at Vile Parle, storm my way up the stairs and off the bridge and booom, it's all changed. I can't see the Ram Krishna Hotel or the HDFC bank where my classes were. I ask around and I am told I was the wrong side of the railway track. Damn. How stupid I felt I was. 

Never have I mistaken for east/west after that day!

Many people have their set of tricks to identify this without anybody's help. Stand in the direction of Virar- to your left is west and to your right it's east. 

Shopping market.

Ladies compartments are a shopping bazaar for many petty items! Over the years I have come across many innovative products in the general coach myself.

An ear cleaner with a torch - How does anybody use it on self? Gift it to their wives? or girlfriends? 

A light bulb which is unbreakable - Why would I need one? I, like most common people, don't have the habit of banging light bulbs at reasons unknown.

Pens with waterproof ink which actually looks good and they give you a free trial as well - Nothing funny about this. What bamboozles me is that fact that they are being sold  for "Paanch ka das" because their "company has a special offer". 


Gas lighters- The guy was confidently selling each for 10 bucks and giving away a confident warranty of a week. I wonder how that was supposed to work  
Etcetera.

Aarti groups

I'll be very honest; I'm not a very huge fan of the aartis and bhajans in the train. Sometimes it all sounds like a noise and sometimes it in fact sounds good to the ears. What puzzles me is how those men have the energy to be so energetic after a long day's work, every damn day! Those people are seated in the same train, same coach, same seats, every single working day! 

These are few things you will not find in trains in any part of the world. 


It is weird how people are looking for a seat so badly when the trains are crowded like hell and people stand at the doors when seats are available in plenty. It is sometimes bewildering how most of us are bothered about being late for work when the trains are late because of an accident on the tracks. It is humble how there is always a "fourth" seat in a general coach and space just enough only for your buttock on the third seat of a first class coach. It is only Mumbai where life gets back on track almost the very next moment after a crisis strikes us. It is crazy how a fatso becomes a certain Usian Bolt at the sight of his train taking off. 

Commute by the railway for a week and you learn the value of a few seconds. We are Mumbaikars, we live by the minute! 

A Letter to Santa

At the Palladium, Lower Parel.

Dear Santa,

I don't want a fancy gift or expensive clothes

Neither do I want shiny jewellery or leather coats

Nor do I want to lead a luxurious living.

All I want is friendship that is true,

Love that is unconditional,

A promise made that ain't gonna be broken,

Trust which is worthy of it,

Respect which isn't namesake and

A life with not just puzzles but its solutions as well.

I know it’s not feasible,

Is it because I've been a bad kid? Or it is too much of good to ask for?

I guess I'll never know.


Note: This was originally written last year 24th December when I did not own a Blog. So I thought I'd share it on the same day this year! :)