Classics - I. When Wanderers became Waterloo

19th March 2006: The Day that Cricket Changed Forever

         Sometimes, a cornered cat is the deadliest being that exists. One can never be sure of what it can do to its aggressors. The South African cricket team, popularly called the Proteas, turned out to be exactly this as they encountered Australia for the final MTN Standard Bank ODI at the 'Bullring' Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Having risen from a 0-2 trail in the series to 2-2 after 4 matches, SA looked poised for a challenge, while the Aussies were smug as ever.

       Having won the toss, Ricky Ponting elected to Bat first as the pitch looked green and fast. Little did he know that shortly, things would go haywire there! Right from the first ball, the kangaroos unleashed a run-flood and endlessly pounded fours and sixes all around. Ricky Ponting came in at his traditional no. 3 slot and upped the onslaught. In 73 balls, he stroked his career's fastest century, the scorecard standing in the mid-300s. As the tense home crowd watched, their bowlers were beaten black and blue as the Aussie captain danced his way to a regal 164 off 105 balls, studded with 9 sixes and 13 fours. Australia had hoisted a massive 434-4, the then highest ever ODI team total in cricket. 

Music and The Human Soul - Alter Egos?

      When one does any task of his/her interest, it enthralls the person so much that the person is lost in it completely. One is said to go into a state of trance at such a point of time. 
In such cases one is said to have 'become one' with the job at hand.    
But then, as we would have observed at some point of our life or the other, music enthralls one and all. It sways all in its stead. I had the good fortune of being part of such an experience once. Six years ago, my school had organized a 'Cultural Mela'. This had our 'Tabla-Mridanga- Ghata-Vocal' Ensemble to perform a little classical composition formulated by our music professor. It encompassed soft, hard, slow, fast, quiet as well as violent beats of music in each instrument, followed by a vocal chorus of the same. 

Learning from The Maestro

24th May 2010 
The sun dawned in a splash of colours as a sleepy Gwalior woke up to another day of its sultry life. There, among the thousands, an ageing gladiator wielded his blade to fight a battle.
       What Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar did later that day in the Roop Singh Stadium will remain engraved on the very stones and walls of the city for another hundred years.
Starting off his innings like any other one, he pulled, cut,glanced, drove, hooked and lofted his way down a shot-studded boulevard of runs as a few more records came crashing down. The combined South African attack of Charl Langeveldt, Wayne Parnell, Paul Harris and Jacques Kallis, spearheaded by the fearful Dale Steyn stood almost insignificantly among Sachin's monumental runstorm.

Life.....

Life is a plush green lawn 
to nurture flowers on.....

In this time of not many a decade,
Let us come together b4 we fade....


In the torrentz of time and space...
of this everlasting race....!!

A Photograph Is Worth a Thousand Words

   When U look at a photograph, what is it that first comes to your mind? To me, they are memories. Sweet Memories of that point of time, my mood, the place where the photograph was taken, thoughts and feelings about the persons or things depicted in them, the beauty of the picture, admiration for the photographer's efforts(if any) that went into taking the click. Inspiration to do a similar feat, if possible (just for that sheer joy of doing it), and most of all, that vintage elation of nostalgic joy. No doubt, a photograph ensconces within itself a thousand words....