A Fistful of Salt

seeking sense within all this noise

About SV Rao

Insurance professional by day. A teacher by choice. A sports-buff, traveler, movie-nut, bookworm, and, a lover of vintage Hindi-film songs, seeking sense within all this noise. Welcome to my take; a fistful of salt is recommended.

Buckle Up For the Great Indian Election’s Global Ride

Posted on September 7, 2023 by SV Rao

The 2024 General Elections will be a Great Indian Blockbuster Tamasha. The stakes couldn’t be higher: for the I.N.D.I.A bloc of 26 opposition parties, have come together solely to overthrow the Modi Sarkar; and for the BJP-led NDA coalition, which is trying for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins. The sheer scale of the elections will be breathtaking. The magnitude of efforts taken by the Election Commission, the administrative and law and order eco-system, will be awe-inspiring. The ultimate salute to democracy.

Unfortunately, the toxic side will also be on full display. The old Congress playbook with its ‘winnability’ formula – Money, Muscle, Caste, Creed – has been embraced across the entire political spectrum. Many candidates with criminal backgrounds, dubious credentials, and low merit will be voted in as our future Members of Parliament. Vitriolic language and uncouth barbs will capture our media headlines. Political families will break up, and even long-affiliated leaders will head for supposedly greener pastures. Divisive rhetoric will prevail, and even some communal and regional disturbances may be instigated or inflamed to consolidate vote banks. TV channels, print media, and social media influencers will go berserk, spewing out a lot of stuff – less real news and loads of propaganda and negativity.

However, the X factor in the 2024 election will be the global interest, and more so, the meddling and interference, and even infiltration by some governments and nations, special interest groups, and social media disruptors. Indian political parties slugging it out is all okay. When foreign money and deliberate disinformation come in to subvert the election process, it takes on a dark and troubling dimension.

Let’s take the case of the Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Centre (OSPC). Ostensibly to push back against strident nationalism in any country, Soros publicly announced at the Davos Conference that he was going all out against the Modi Government. Hardly surprising! In 2018, the Sherpa Association backed by Soros filed a complaint with the financial prosecutor of France against the 36 Rafale Aircraft deals with India. The Opposition parties in India raised the decibel meter of ‘Corruption’ in the months before the 2019 elections. Is it a coincidence or is there more to it than meets the eye? Then his Organised Crime and Corrupt Repairing Project (OCCRP) targeted industrialist Adani immediately after the Hindenburg allegations (Investment firm with a focus on short selling). Are they just separate events or is there a definite pattern to it? If there is any substance in the allegations, Indian Regulatory and Investigative agencies are perfectly capable of probing into it. Period. It’s extremely likely that in the next few months, another top Indian industrialist comes on their radar, and ‘crony capitalism’ becomes the most uttered jibe by our desi politicos. Beyond this, it will lead to shocks in the stock market and jolt the Indian economy.

Generally, in conspiracy theories, there is talk of a ‘Deep State.’ Here, it is all out in the open if you know where to look. The BBC, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Observer… The BBC keeps talking about the instability and unrest in the Indian State of Kashmir. They have to keep the pot boiling. Remember that it was in a 2001 BBC interview that Yasin Malik (JKLF) had casually admitted to killing a judge, some unarmed Indian Air Force personnel, and some civilians. (Fact check – more than 13 million Indian tourists have visited the Valley till July this year, with another 3 months of the season to go. The hotels and guesthouses are full, and also the buses, cabs, and shikaras.)

After the inspiring success of ISRO’s Chandrayan 3 landing on the South face of the moon, a British news anchor patronizingly asked India to return 2.3 billion pounds in aid given between 2016 and 2021. The years cited are the giveaway. The British Foreign Office has formally acknowledged that no British aid has been given to India since 2015. The corpus relates to a joint investment fund for fighting challenges like climate change. Sadly, our news media did not directly rebut the fake news but instead spoke about reparations of $45 trillion dollars which the colonizers had looted from India. Remember that it was the BBC that played up the big lie about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) to justify the invasion and destruction of Iraq by Anglo-American forces. Christiane Amanpour, in a CNN interview, spoke of the Indian PM in the same breath as Putin & Xi Jinping. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post’s default setting on India is to showcase the country in a negative light. $2000 per Op-ed article is given to members of our very own Vodka Biryani brigade (you know the names) to highlight the slow death of democracy in India and the persecution of its minorities. Remember that our national Opposition leader brandished a copy of the Guardian paper with the same headlines as he spoke to a gathering at Cambridge. The Empire Strikes Back!!

The hypocrisy and double standards in peddling news is staggering. A few months back, an unarmed 17-year-old man of North African descent was killed by the police in a Paris suburb, sparking off weeks of violence in the city and across the country. Cut to BBC reporting on the banlieue (suburbs) where the migrant populace stays, “Is the violence the result of poverty and discrimination?” Not quite. “It’s a law and order problem. Gangs and petty criminals use anger over a tragic death to sow mayhem. Their problems have long been recognized by the authorities. But it will not be resolved anyway soon.” BBC Verify also talked about false posts and images about the French riots spreading online. Remember that Brexit happened with a 52%-48% leave vote majorly influenced by images of a wave of immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia swamping the country. These images were dropped by Putin’s army of social media manipulators sitting in St. Petersburg. Rest assured that the handlers from ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations Unit of the Pakistani ISI) will be extremely active in fear-mongering and spreading toxic disinformation in India in the run-up to the 2024 election. Insidious versions of Chinese whispers will also pass around.

Sticking to Britain, the extradition of fugitives Nirav Modi & Vijay Mallya will be drummed up by our Opposition bloc as a major election issue. Status – Nirav Modi – his case is said to be ‘statute barred,’ indicating further pending litigation. This after he lost his final appeal in November 2022. The latest about the ‘King of Good Times’ is that he cannot be extradited till a ‘confidential legal issue’ concerning him is resolved. When our MEA tells us that the entire extradition process is tortuous, it is exactly right. No wonder that London is the haven for financial fraudsters and oligarchs.

Recently, liberal France banned the wearing of the Islamic Abaya dress in schools. Check out the reaction from the Western media. Zilch!! Why then the uproar when the erstwhile Karnataka Government talked about standard school uniforms for all. Think about the profound disrespect shown against a Great Religion in Sweden and Denmark in recent months. Shrugged off by the Western media and channels like Fox News as mere ‘freedom of expression.’

Let’s move to Canada. Justin Trudeau openly supported the farmers’ agitation in India, which was confined to 2 States and went on for months in a heavily politicized manner. His vote bank politics led him to interfere in another sovereign country’s internal affairs. The funding for the agitation came from Khalistanis and allies in Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia. Fast Forward. How did the Canadian PM respond to the country-wide transporters’ strike in his nation relating to some Covid regulations? He went missing and underground for a week. He emerged to declare a national emergency (Fact Check – which was the party in power in India when the Khalistan crises came to a boil?).

It is an undeniable fact that the Union and State Governments in India handled the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic challenges more effectively than any advanced nation. Yet papers in the US and Europe showed photos of dead bodies at the Varanasi ghats as Covid deaths, which were being suppressed by the Indian authorities. India supplying vaccines to more than 100 countries also did not receive the media attention it deserved.

Selective Outrage. Remember that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and reputed Western virologists and bio-scientists played PR for Beijing after the Wuhan leak. China is the second-largest funder of WHO, and The Gain of Function Research which resulted in the leak has been a financial bonanza for the scientific community. Likewise, the persecution of over a million Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province of China does not raise protests from even Islamic countries. It’s not surprising that our human-rights Comrade activists are quiet.

In the 60’s & 70’s, the KGB infiltrated the top rungs of the Indian government, public service, media, university campuses, and even the Hindi film industry (The Mitrokhin Papers). If not Ideology, Vodka, Money, or a Honey Trap did the trick. Now it is Chinese money that is funding leftist media outlets, some political parties, NGOs, and social influencers. It’s distressing to hear the complete silence from the Opposition parties and this eco-system when China recently released a map claiming Arunachal Pradesh as its territory. All political parties in the Philippines joined together to lambast China’s claims to their part of the South China Sea. A joint US-Philippines naval exercise followed. It is high time that our political parties, irrespective of ideology or political compulsions, do not undermine serious matters of National Security. Remember that ahead of the 2019 election a national political leader after meeting the Chinese Ambassador claimed that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) had occupied 2400 sq km of Indian territory. Mocking the Indian Army just to take some political potshots.

China’s remarkable growth over the last 3 decades has been propelled by the Communist Party’s absolute dictatorship and State Controlled Capitalism. No dissent is allowed. India as the world’s largest democracy has made a more gradual but definite progress. With the additional internal challenge that some elements in the political domain and media have actively worked to undermine the national interest. Today the bottom line is that India’s growing geo-political clout and economic rise do not sit well with 2 neighbors, some Western countries, and their special interest NGOs and agenda-driven Think Tanks. It is interesting to note that Harvard has received $1 billion from China over the last decade, mainly as gifts. Show me the money. Be prepared for a lot of negative flak from Ivy League intellectuals over the next 10 months.

Cartoon from German Magazine Der Spiegel

In April 2023, a cartoon in the German magazine Der Spiegel depicted an overcrowded Indian train passing a modern Chinese bullet train on a parallel track with only 2 drivers inside. The many passengers on top of the Indian train are holding the tricolor.

‘Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But they are not entitled to their own facts.’ Daniel P. Moynihan-US Senator and Ambassador to India. The stakes and criticality of the 2024 Lok Sabha election cannot be overstated. Please fact-check. Please don’t get misled. Please see through the clutter and noise. Then please cast your valuable vote. Once the dust has settled and the debris removed we will have our new Government per the mandate and will of the people.

India Positive

Posted on August 13, 2023 by SV Rao

Rainbow Nation was a phrase coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa after the 1994 elections as the country peacefully and remarkably transitioned into a democracy. This was to bolster the blending of diverse cultures and traditions to create a colorful and vibrant society. India with its huge geography and 140 crores + population defies any such paradigm. Just consider this. 122 languages adding up to 234 including dialects. Hindi is said to be spoken by a major segment of the populace. If you count dialects like Awadhi and Bhojpuri… and even the tapori slang of the Mumbaikars and the Hyderabadi lingo’s twist and flavor. 6 recognized religions (Christianity, Islam) & including 4 great faiths born in India- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Add the small Parsee community of Zoroastrian tradition and Jews who sought refuge in India from persecution elsewhere. An ancient civilization that dates back to 6000-7500 years ( historian Tim Dyson).

Today’s India has truly started to churn as a melting pot. This cultural acceptance is being fostered by the job opportunities and economic interdependence of ordinary Indians which has led to mass relocations, which in turn is driving the wheels of commerce. Travel and tourism have led to millions of Indians discovering new sub-cultures and traditions and even taking a liking to their food and apparel habits. INDIA POSITIVE- a story not following the script of the divisive politicians and their acolyte media influencers.

Food for Thought. Whether the sweet delicacy Rasgulla originated in Puri as an offering to Lord Jagannath or in the State of Bengal does not really matter; as also whether the original recipe of Sambhar can be traced to the royal kitchens of Maratha ruler Sambhaji Maharaj or is a Southern India concoction as considered today. Whether the famous Idli dish originated in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka or as Kedli by the cooks of the Indonesian Hindu kings more than 1000 years ago also does not matter. Today be it Punjabis, Gujaratis and Bengalis are drooling over some delicious variants of the Idli & Sambhar or the Dosa, Uthappam, or Appam. The Rasgulla is a must at large corporate events and weddings as a preferred dessert. The Lucknawi or Hyderabadi servings of the biryani or kebab are hot-sellers across the country. The Chola Bhatura, Aloo Paratha, and Rajma Chawal from up North are the stuff of thousands of Swiggy orders every day down South. The Bengali Doi Maach, Goan, and Kerala fish curries are culinary bestsellers. The very thought of farsan items like the Dhokla Khaman virtually transports us to Gujarat as does Daal-Baati-Churma to Rajasthan. The delicious Momo –a staple in Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh – has spread its food-print all over. A visit to Indore is not complete if you do not sample the fare at Chhapan Bhog (the 56 eateries’ food lane) or taste the night offerings at the Sarafa bazaar.

During a recent visit to Chennai, I was struck by the number of Tea Shop chains across the city- Chai Kings, Chai Waala, and Chai Galli. Although the aroma of filter coffee still fills the metropolis the young Chennai crowd is having their sips of the other beverage also. A young woman from Chattisgarh was attending the order desk and language was hardly a barrier in handling local customers and the delivery boys. At one such crowded joint, I noticed the ubiquitous Mumbai fast food Vada Pav selling like hot cakes.

During a 2-day hotel stay in Chennai, I learned that the Supervisor and the entire Housekeeping staff were from Tripura. Disciplined, polite, and making an honest living a long way away from home. At a reputed South Indian restaurant chain, the entire waiter service staff was from Bihar and spoke the Maithili dialect. One of them told me that he had been working for them for the last 5 years and that he and his buddies were decently looked after. Other than the specialities the restaurant is known for they had expanded the Menu items to Naan, Paneer Kulcha, and Rajma Chawal. For me, Chennai is the Bellwether of cultural shift and change.

More than 13 million domestic tourists have visited the Kashmir valley this year with 3 months of the season still to go. The hotels and guest houses are full as are the cabs, buses, and Shikaras. Some of my friends who have returned after a memorable vacation are not just full of the beautiful scenery but also about the warm hospitality from the locals. Travel is good education. It changes perspectives and dismisses prejudices. The North East is now firmly on the Indian traveler’s map and as I have been there multiple times it is an experience to cherish. The backwaters of Kerala, the coffee hills of Coorg, the beaches of Goa and Puducherry, the wildlife sanctuaries, and the tranquil spots of Himachal and Uttarakhand are already attracting hordes. The less visited spots of the tribal hills of Araku (Andhra Pradesh) or the lush forests, icy lakes, and monasteries of Sikkim will soon turn into attractive tourist destinations. Odisha will not remain “ India’s best-kept secret’ for long and with the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat putting their weight behind scaling up the tourism economy good times are ahead for the tent stay in the Rann of Kutch, the Jaisalmer desert festival and the Kanha Tiger Reserve Park. The younger generation is on the move and they are seeing and finding the Real India. Their passion for long trips by car or bike and for trekking and adventure sports is a good omen.

When one does the ‘Matha Tekna’ at the Golden Temple in Amritsar one is bowing down to show respect to the message of the Gurbani. Then there is the heart-warming concept of the Langar. In Sikhism, the Langar is the community kitchen of the Gurudwara which serves free meals to all irrespective of caste, creed, gender, or economic status. During the Covid lockdown, the Langar was God sent for lakhs of migrant workers and the jobless and the destitute. Putting a Chadar at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is on the wish list of millions of Indians cutting across faiths. The Sufi saint and philosopher Moinuddin Chisti is celebrated in the A R Rahman song,’ Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ in the 2008 film ‘ Jodha Akbar’. The Sai Baba temple at Shirdi attracts millions of devotees every year and is second only to the multitudes that pay respects at the Lord Balaji temple at Tirupati. Just imagine the seismic effects when the Ayodhya temple of Shri Ram is opened to the public. Crores of faithful will line up for darshan. But it will also do wonders for the local and neighborhood economy and will serve the Greater Good. The Buddhist and Jain circuits in Bihar are testimony to India’s rich spiritual heritage. A look at the beautiful paintings at the Jain temple in Mount Abu or the pristine sculpture work at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai gives us a glimpse of who we are as a people. The St Thomas Church in Palayoor Kerala is believed to have been established by the Saint himself as far back as 52AD. The celebration of Merry Christmas in India is not confined to the lighted-up and decorated churches and the Midnight Mass. That Santa Claus caps and little glittering Christmas trees are sold at the city traffic lights a week before the Big Day speaks of the festive spirit which has taken over.

The Soft Power of Indian films, music, and dance has reverberated across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Europe and is now making waves in North America. Dangal has been a huge blockbuster in China. The ‘Naatu Naatu’ dance sequence from RRR has captivated the world. But now in India Bollywood no longer rules the roost. Bahubali 1 & Bahubali 2 did huge business in the original Telugu and other South Indian languages but the Hindi dubbed versions broke all box-office records. Paving the way for the big success of Pushpa & RRR (Telugu) & KGF & Kantara (Kannada) in the Hindi heartlands. Southern stars like Yash, Prabhas & Vijay Deverakonda are now well accepted and applauded by Hindi film audiences. So much so that many Bollywood biggies do not release their films when a mega South film is about to hit the cinema theatres. The Covid lockdown and the streaming channels also have played a big role in the breakdown of these regional film barriers. Audience tastes are now conditioned to the quality content and performances from Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi films. Tumbbad is a stellar example of a classic Marathi movie. Vijay Sethupathi (Tamil) and Fahadh Faasil (Malayalam) have developed a fan following of their own beyond South India. I was not surprised when on a trip to Kochi I saw a corporate gathering at a hotel grooving to the beats of ‘Zingaat’ (Sairat, a Marathi blockbuster). Nor was I surprised when I saw baraatis at a traditional Maharashtrian wedding in Pune doing the rousing Bhangra. People are now opening up to other cultural influences.

Rabindra Sangeet strikes a popular chord much beyond Bengal with its distinctive rendition whilst singing. But the music is a fusion of Bengali folk music, Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music, and the occasional Western note. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore created a pan India scores much before Independence. More than 100 years later we are still understanding the notes.

For the last 2 decades, many of India’s top cricketers have come from India’s smaller towns. Dhoni (Ranchi), Jadeja (Jamnagar), Shami (Saharpur-UP), and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (Meerut) to name a few. India’s most popular sport is no longer about the metros. And for the fervent fan of the Men in Blue, it does not matter if the winning runs are scored by Kohli, Gill, or Sanju Samson or if Mohd Siraj or Ashwin wins the match with the ball. That a man from Jharkhand is anointed as Thala (Leader) by the Chennai Super Kings fans and is embraced as one of their own is a potent, emotional story. Mr. Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha government sponsoring and supporting both the men’s and women’s hockey teams has resonated well with sports buffs across India. These impactful undercurrents are not restricted to big sports. A Pro Kabbadi League (an indigenous sport with the scent of our desi soil) was launched in 2014 and attracts full stadiums and a good viewership on Star Sports. It has brought into prominence Indian stars like Maninder Singh from Dasuya, Punjab; Nitin Tomar from Malakpur in UP; Kashiling Adake from Sangli, Maharashtra. Plus professionals from countries like Iran & South Korea. Times are changing.

The gender barrier is falling on all fronts. Sticking to the sports narrative we have medal-winning woman wrestlers from conservative Haryana. Mary Kom (Boxer- Manipur) & Deepika Kumari (Archer from Jharkhand) who both have tribal backgrounds are now pan-India sporting ICONS. Mary Kom has had a successful Bollywood film made about her life and achievements. PV Sindhu & Saina Nehwal (Badminton) and Sania Mirza (Tennis) are household names and brand ambassadors for many products and services. Earlier this year the lucrative and glamorous Indian Premier League for women’s cricket was launched and the first season had good audiences and good TV ratings. Some of the Indian women cricketers are already celebrities on social media. Top women corporate and business leaders are no longer outliers; many successful start-ups are being driven by women entrepreneurs. It’s still a work in progress but with the tipping point in the not-too-distant future.

In a sense, this can be seen as the quiet confluence of India’s mighty rivers, criss-crossing across our vast land. The Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Indus, the Narmada, the Godavari, the Tapti, the Krishna, and the Cauvery and their tributaries flow into and merge into the other with the mythical and hidden Saraswati beneath the surface. A myriad of sub-cultures reach out to understand, appreciate, and live with each other. This is not wishful thinking, being naïve, or misplaced idealism. The story of India Positive-around the Idea of India-is not making any headlines but has started happening. It is gradually enriching and reinforcing the national ethos. Just let people be.

The Inspiring Story of Rashid Khan

Posted on July 16, 2023 by SV Rao

Rashid Khan celebrating a wicket in his signature ‘airplane’ celebration

Afghanistan and Cricket!! 1935. Abdul Aziz Durani catches the eye of the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar with his wicket-keeping skills. He offers him a job as a sub-inspector and the Afghan family moves to Jamnagar with their one-year-old son born near the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan. Salim Durani grows up to be the flamboyant Indian Test cricketer known for his big sixes. He was born before his time. He would have taken to T20 cricket and the IPL like a duck to water. Sadly the great all-rounder passed away this April and the tributes and obituaries all highlighted his Afghan lineage.

In the 2019 ICC World Cup, the Afghanistan cricket team went winless in all 9 matches. But such is the soft power of sports and cricket that there were no bomb blasts or attacks on the day of the matches in the troubled nation.

Today the 24-year-old Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s first global sporting superstar and cricketing icon. Born in eastern Afghanistan his family fled to Peshawar during some turbulent years of the Afghan war and even lived in the refugee camps. This is where the young boy picked up the game of cricket. After their return to their homeland, he continued to play the game but mostly with his 6 brothers. It was not till 2014 that Rashid who fancied himself as an opening batsman converted into a spin bowler. He taught himself through endless hours bowling on the concrete passageways, and then fields, and in the nets, in a country that had just become an affiliate member of the ICC when he was born. Today- the Afghan hero, IPL millionaire, and T20 smash hit- the Rashid Khan story is celebrated and savored by all cricket lovers.

Just 17, he made his debut for Afghanistan on the Zimbabwe cricket tour in October 2015. Just 2 years later he was picked up by SunRisers Hyderabad for $600,000 at the IPL auction. He then picked up franchise deals with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and helped the Adelaide Strikers to win their first BBL (Big Bash) title in 2018. He then also played in the PSL for the Quetta Gladiators and the Lahore Qalandars. Rashid Khan, without exaggeration, is the busiest cricketer in the world and a globe-trotter. He is invariably amongst the top wish-list of teams in big cricket leagues around the world. In 370 T20 matches, he has taken 500 wickets with an economy rate of 6.33, and sustaining these numbers across years, various leagues and oppositions, and playing conditions have been a remarkable achievement. Many cricket pundits rate him as the best T20 bowler of all time.

5 seasons with the Sunrisers in the IPL had led to a wicket haul of 93 wickets with an economy rate of 6.3. With the Gujarat Titans in 2022- 19 wickets and the IPL trophy. In 2023, 27 wickets and a loss in the finals to CSK. Listen to another great spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sports Today, “Rashid Khan is a great player from a different league. He is picking up wickets in heaps, he is scoring runs, he is a gifted fielder, and he led GT whenever Captain Hardik was not available. He has done everything and excelled. GT is exceptionally lucky to have a player like Rashid Khan in their ranks.”

What is it that makes him such a great bowler? L Sivaramakrishnan has this to say, “He is an unorthodox leg-spinner. His arm action is so quick that he has to release the ball at the right moment. He is very accurate. His grip doesn’t change much for leg spin and googly. Because his grip is more like an off-spinner with a big gap between the index finger and middle finger, it allows him to bowl a better googly.”

Rashid himself said in an interview that he usually bowls between 90-91 kmph. That extra 5-6 kmph above the normal spinners is what harries the batter. ‘’Opposition batsman may know what is coming- they are just not sure what to do” (Wisden Cricket Monthly). Ravi Bopana has acutely observed, “You can’t pick him from the hand. If you pick him from the pitch by the time you have worked out which way it’s going to turn it is too late for playing the big shot. You nudge him around. Finally, you try to take him down in the last over. That’s when he bags a couple of more wickets.”

Like most other world-class spinners more than half of his deliveries are on the good length and most of the remainder are just short of a good length. The batters don’t reach the pitch of the ball and the speed ensures that they don’t have time for the cut or the pull. His speed through the air is modeled on his idol Shahid Afridi while maintaining a stump-to-stump line. Rashid’s biggest weapon and mind-game ploy is the lethally accurate googly and he has multiple variations in his arsenal. In the T20 format, the most effective method of dismissals is to control the runs and force the batter to take more risks. Rashid Khan knows how to keep the pressure lid on.

This self-taught genius has picked up some bowling tips from watching his idols Afridi and Anil Kumble on TV and video. But take a peek into the sheer dedication of the man- “I place bottle tops at different spots on the pitch and I bowl until I hit each one. It doesn’t matter how long it takes-1hr, 2hrs, 3 hrs, or only 5-6 balls. I have to hit every one of the bottle tops.” Is it surprising that he has airbrushed many a middling total to a match-winning one for his team?

Plus his ingrained discipline. In the 2017 IPL, he was given to eating unhealthy foods like biryani, bread, and sweets. He quickly made the switch to barbecues or grilled food with lots of salad. This has given him the fitness and strength to take on his punishing cricketing schedule. It has given him that extra energy to consistently bowl at 90+kmph and even touch 99-100 kmph at times. He has sheepishly confessed that he cheats for one meal a month; also that he is unable to eat if he does not do his regular workout.

In 2017, ICC declared him as the T20 Associated Player of the Year. His 96 T20 wickets in 2018 inspired the headline-‘Prodigy to Superstar’ (Wisden Cricket Almanac). Then, Rashid Khan was lauded as the ICC T20 player of the decade. Just before the ICC T20 World Cup cricket legends like Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, and Mahela Jayawardene picked him amongst their top 5 players across teams. Yet, the young Afghan yearns to be the MVP (Most Valuable Player) in an IPL season.

There is more to him than just being a champion spinner. With the bat, he is capable of clearing the ropes in the slog overs. Over the years he has evolved into an extravagant, destructive lower-order batsman. In his early teens, he had dreamt of being an opening batsman like his idol Sachin Tendulkar. As a fielder also he has been agile and focused, giving his all for the team.

In the history of IPL in India the most popular foreign players have been AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Rashid Khan has now been embraced by Indian cricket fans as one of their own. What adds to the aura of this young cricketer is his grounded approach; his close-knit family life with his 10 siblings and their families; the regular requests from his nephews and nieces that he shows them his ‘airplane celebration’ after taking a wicket; how his parents have taught him how to handle success and fame. As he himself puts it, “Money doesn’t give you good fame, good personality, good image. The only thing that gives you that is being humble. Being kind to everyone. Also if a fan asks for a photo and I ignore it, I don’t think I will be able to sleep. I never want to hurt someone’s feelings.” Small wonder that the spin maestro is so warmly welcomed by fans around the world.

Rashid Khan gives a lot of credit to his SunRisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman and Captain Kane Williamson for keeping him calm, positive, and focused. Referring to the latter he has said that he put his arms around my shoulder, “You just need to enjoy and keep smiling. That’s the only thing I want from you. Doesn’t matter whatever the result at the end but I want you to be smiling on the ground.”

His former national team captain Asghar Afghan has this to say, “The one special thing about Rashid is that whenever Afghanistan wins any match, the dinner is on him. Everyone gathers in his room and all expenses are borne by him. He really has a very big heart. Irrespective of whether he has performed or not if we win he takes the initiative for treating us to dinner. Even the 12^th man of our team prays that we win so that Rashid can treat us to dinner.”

The cricketing superstar is just 24 years old. His full name is Rashid Khan Arman. Arman is the male Persian name for ‘Wish’ and ‘Hope.’ In Turkish and Armenian it also means ‘God’s Man’.

Own Goals which have cost India dearly

Posted on July 3, 2023 by SV Rao

Over the last 75 years, India’s standing and development have been heavily compromised by statecraft blunders, misplaced ideology, prejudices and biases and lack of vision from our top political netas and a compliant babudom. They have shown a flair for scoring own goals in the fields of geopolitics and national security. They have also undermined national welfare and governance in the single-minded pursuit of power at any cost. Some of our most esteemed leaders have let the nation down through short-sighted policies and actions and even more so through sheer inaction.

Let’s put the Kashmir problem in context. In 1946 Sheikh Abdullah raised the call of ‘Quit Kashmir’ to get rid of the Dogra rulers. Mr Nehru rushed to support his friend and Raja Hari Singh stopped him at the border. The Nehruvian ego cost India dearly as subsequent events proved. In July and Sept 1947, Raja Hari Singh approached the Indian leadership for accession to the Dominion of India. Nehruji declined. He wanted Sheikh Abdullah to first take charge of a provisional government and accession would come later. National interest, logic and common sense dictated that he accept Kashmir’s accession to the Indian Union, forever shut the door on any Pakistani plans and then go for the change in administration. His intransigent position still haunts us after more than 7 decades. Pakistan took advantage and invaded Kashmir occupying a large portion of it and the State became a disputed territory. The Instrument of Accession was finally signed on the 27^th Oct 1947. All the tragic events which have panned out since have been a corollary to this original sin.

Worse was to come. On the 2^nd Nov 1947 PM Nehru announced that the fate of Kashmir would ultimately be decided by the people through a referendum held under the auspices of the United Nations. So the Kashmir problem was internationalised by our own Prime Minister. To aggravate matters further Article 370 came into force in 1954 with the Agreement of the State Constituent Assembly- basically granting local authority to the State of J&K. Article 370 was a temporary provision with its applicability to last until the formulation of the State Constitution. However, the State Constitution dissolved itself without recommending the abrogation or amendment of Article 370. The huge benefits of this special provision and the Union Government’s generous funding accrued to Nehruji’s dost Sheikh Abdullah’s family and the family of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Shockingly, some terrorists and separatist leaders sponsored by Pakistan enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in the Valley with security also provided by the Indian government. Finally, on the 5th Aug 2019, the pernicious Article 370 was abrogated.

In the 1950’s, PM Nehru rejected Nepal King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah’s offer that the Himalayan kingdom become part of the Union of India (The Presidential Years- Pranab Mukherjee). The same is also detailed on the Shodhganga website. Nehruji rejected the offer on the grounds that Nepal was a free country and should remain so. The late President has commented in his book that ‘had Indira Gandhi been in Nehru’s place she would probably have seized the opportunity as she did with Sikkim.’

On the 5^th of May 2018 (Karl Marx’s birthday)Mr Sitaram Yechury celebrated the merger of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a transition from a once-Hindu kingdom to a Republic. Since 2006 the Indian Comrade had become a mentor to this nation’s tryst with Communism. Cut to 2023. India faces an imperialistic China with humungous influence in Nepal. At times it does seem that our Comrade General Secretaries sit in Delhi. Their Chairman sits in Beijing.

Then there is the curious case of India being offered a permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 1950s. In 2023, it remains one of the country’s top diplomatic objectives considering the chaotic geopolitical situation. A seat at the table should be reserved for the world’s largest democracy, the 5^th biggest economy, an established nuclear and military power plus a Soft Power in its own right. The Great Wall of China is the barrier. Even left-wing media in India have acknowledged that in August 1950 as the Cold War gained momentum, America dangled the bait for a permanent seat at the UNSC. There was more to come. Servapalli Gopal’s biography of Nehru (1979) specifically mentions that ‘he (Nehru) rejected the Soviet offer in 1954 to propose India as the sixth permanent member of the Security Council and insisted that priority be given to China’s admission to the august group.’ Please note that the historian was the son of President Radhakrishnan, a close friend of the Prime Minister. Further, a detailed exchange between Nikolai Bulganin and Nehruji on this subject is part of another Nehruvian scholar’s book- AG Noorani’s ‘Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru’ (2002). Some Congress leaders and intellectuals have dismissed this as baseless rumours and a conspiracy theory of the BJP. The Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai bonhomie was rudely jolted by the Chinese invasion in October 1962 resulting in the loss of Aksai Chin territory in Eastern Ladakh. This humiliating loss is detailed in Brig John Dalvi’s ‘Himalayan Blunder’. The helplessness and shock displayed by the PM and his close acolyte, Defence Minister Krishna Menon. The outdated rifles of the Indian army and even the lack of warm clothing. Today, China has its eyes on Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2017, 2018, and 2019 the PM in waiting Rahul Gandhi met the Chinese Ambassador multiple times. He publicly announced that India had lost hundreds of square km to the Chinese without a fight. Shameful!!. A disparaging remark by a national party leader for the Indian Army just to score some political points. But flashback to 1962. His grandfather had done exactly that. Foreign intelligence agencies reported that in a few clashes in recent years, the PLA had retreated with a bruised nose. The latest is that the Chinese are reinforcing their border forces with Han-Tibetan soldiers.

The Vodka Biryani brigade, which drives the ‘Aman ki Aasha’ narrative should get a reality check done. China and Pakistan are hostile neighbours. Period. Check out what happened after the PM Atalji Vajpayee- PM Nawaz Sharif Lahore peace declaration in early 1999. KARGIL!!.

In the late 1970s, Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Congress attempted to co-opt Bhindranwale in a bid to split the Sikh votes and weaken the Akali Dal- its chief rival in Punjab. For starters, Congress supported his candidates in the 1978 SGPC election. Mr Sanjay Gandhi and Giani Zail Singh are credited with transforming an obscure preacher into a Frankenstein monster. The rest is history leading to Operation Blue Star. Followed by the shocking assassination of PM Mrs Indira Gandhi. Then the genocide of thousands of innocent Sikhs with Congress leaders inciting the mobs and goons. Even 40 years later justice has not been done. Connect the dots to the well-orchestrated Khalistan rallies in Canada, the UK, the USA and Australia. Follow the money to the funders of the farmers’ agitation.

The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a hotly debated topic today amidst the Amrut Mahotsav of Azaadi. Countries with large Muslim populations like Indonesia and Bangladesh have adopted the same. UCC has been practised for decades in Goa and Puducherry. Dr Ambedkar tried to reform Indian society by recommending the UCC. It just ended up as an article of the Directive Principles stipulating that ‘the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizen a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.’ The recommendation remained a dead letter because Muslims took a hard line on their personal law. There was also a pushback from traditional Hindus who were opposed to reforms of Hindu practices like inheritance, marriage and divorce and adoption. But the next few decades did see codification and reforms of the Hindu code as also the practices of Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

In 1985 the Shah Bano case became the litmus test for the progressive Rajiv Gandhi government. A 73-year-old woman was divorced through Triple Talaq and denied regular maintenance under Muslim Personal Law. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shah Bano (Section 125 of All India Criminal Code) pertaining to the maintenance of wives, children and parents irrespective of religion. The Congress Government with 400+ Lok Sabha seats capitulated to vote bank politics and appeasement. In 1986 the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Divorce) Act was passed making Section 125 inapplicable to Muslim women and verily overturning the Supreme Court decree. Alimony or maintenance was deemed payable only for 90 days after divorce.

In October 1993, the Vohra Committee submitted its 100-page report which has never seen the light of the day. The Home Ministry now claims that it has been misplaced. It is said to have explosive revelations of the cosy relationship between senior Maharashtra ministers and politicians, Mumbai crime branch officials and primarily the D Company of Dawood Ibrahim and some other underworld figures. The Netflix serial ‘Scoop’ tangentially refers to this in a 2011 time frame. If only the Vohra Committee report had been discussed responsibly in the public and national interest. The needle moves to 25 years later and the sordid saga of the MVA government in Maharashtra with its Home Minister in jail, an absconding Commissioner of Police and a reinstated sub-inspector- who had easy access to both- running an extortion racket targeting bars, dance clubs and restaurants. Truth be told, the Congress playbook with its winnability formula for elections- money, muscle, caste and creed have wholly been embraced across the political spectrum including by the BJP. So we have 233 elected MPs in the current Lok Sabha with criminal charges; 65% of sitting Kerala MLAs with criminal records with 21% in ‘the serious category’; and the BJP leading with 37% criminally tainted representatives in the UP Vidhan Sabha.

It is said that a fish rots from the head down. Independent India’s first official scam was the Jeep scam. In 1948, Krishna Menon, High Commissioner to the UK bypassed protocols and ordered 2000 refurbished jeeps for military use from an unknown foreign company. A substantial amount then of Rs 80 lakhs was paid upfront. 155 jeeps were delivered but did not pass the Defence Ministry tests. PM Nehru’s patronage ensured that even judicial enquiries were dropped in 1955. In Jan 1956 Menon was inducted into the Council of Ministers and continued till he met an inglorious end as Defence Minister in the disastrous Indo-China war of 1962. Those were supposed to be idealistic and patriotic times with memories of the freedom struggle still fresh. The Scourge of corruption was unleashed and has now become synonymous with India; gnawing like termites at the vitals of the nation and hurting the poor and needy and the middle class the most.

Jaichand and Mir Jafar are not confined to our history books. In 2008, India Today presented the Youth Icon Award to the mass killer and Kashmiri terrorist Yasin Malik. He was cheered on by the Vodka Biryani brigade in full strength. The trophy was handed over by a well-known Harvard-educated industrialist. In 2002, Malik had laughingly admitted to the killings of a Judge, some unarmed IAF personnel and some innocent bystanders in a BBC Hard Talk interview. Not surprising, what?! Consider which self-respecting government would have done absolutely nothing after the persecution and forced exodus of half a million Kashmiri Pandits from 1990 onwards. Just 2 years after 26/11 we had Digvijay Singh, Mahesh Bhatt and Zakir Naik on the stage for the release of the book- ‘26/11 an RSS conspiracy. Disgusting!!! Several Congress and Opposition leaders were in denial after the Balakot surgical strike against Pakistan. Can’t blame them, what? It’s totally beyond their comprehension. But more seriously, this is the reason India is seen as this soft, fractious and easy to lecture to and meddle with country. Even national security matters have become political football.

The majority governments of PM Nehru, Smt Indira Gandhi and Mr Rajiv Gandhi faltered and messed up in vital areas and the side-effects are still being felt. PM Modiji in his second term and with a majority in both the Houses also does not seem to be focused on urgent structural reforms. Possibly his own BJP Parliamentarians, Legislators and Corporators are the nay-sayers who defend the toxic status quo. The Supreme Court in 2006 in a landmark judgement had directed the Centre and State Governments to bring in urgently needed police reforms on a PIL filed by a retired senior police officer. Road maps on the way forward were already in place. Zilch!! (meaning nothing.)The 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was first proposed in 1996 and was also part of the BJP election manifesto. The Sound of Silence!!! A well-thought-through election finance bill on the lines of the French model to curb black money has never been on the table. To borrow some lines from Bob Dylan’s famous protest song- ‘The answer my friend… Blowin’ in the Wind.’

So it seems that in 2047, 100 years since independence, India will remain a work in progress. The country may make huge strides as a major economy, in technology and defence innovation and in global geopolitics. However, in key areas which directly influence governance and the greater good we may still languish behind as a developing nation. Courtesy of the reluctance of our tall political leaders to go the whole hog in cleaning up, revamping and reinforcing the entire edifice of the country’s public institutions and support systems.

Over the last 2 decades, a galaxy of stars of Indian spirit and origin has sparkled brightly in the space of business, technology, culture and entertainment. Is this destined to be India’s century- with India leading the comity of nations?!

Management Lessons from THALA (The Leader)

Posted on June 6, 2023 by SV Rao

In the classic IPL 2023 finals, 3 images have stayed with millions of cricket buffs and with me. Deepak Chahar drops a sitter with the classy and prolific Shubham Gill at just 3. Pan to MSD. A calm, stoic face and the game moves on; then Jadeja beats Gill as he lunges forward. Dhoni’s lightning fast reflexes are on show as he removes the bails in a flash (0.01 seconds). The bowler runs towards the wicket-keeper with eyebrows raised and the latter nods quietly. Yes, they have stumped the batter. It’s quite clear that Shubham Gill has been plotted out; as CSK are crowned champions Mahibhai is called to lift the trophy. But he has already invited Ambati Rayudu (who has announced his retirement)and Jadeja whose cameo hitting sealed the match on the last ball to join him on stage to receive the trophy. Then as the entire CSK contingent is celebrating we see the smiling captain at the back and corner.

The most impressive trait of the man is his unflappable temperament. Ravi Shastri acknowledges this in his foreword to Bharat Sundaresan’s book, ‘The Dhoni Touch’, “Captain Cool may sound clichéd now but in many ways, it was an apt description as nothing could frazzle Dhoni. I have seen him remain steadfast and inscrutable as a monk in victory or in defeat.” The crucial lapse by Chahar could have rattled the team had their captain let out a stream of invectives and abuses. “But Thala is known to take the pressure off his players. He has always looked at the bigger picture in tight situations or even after a couple of defeats. Things will balance out in the longer run,” says Michael Hussey. In some of his interviews, Dhoni has revealed his mental resolve, “I feel frustrated. I feel angry at times. I feel disappointed. But none of these are constructive. What needs to be done is more important than any of these emotions.” His calmness both as India and CSK captain has soothed the nerves of the rest of the team and ensured that they stay focused and continue to believe in themselves. Not losing composure in stressful situations is the key to positive team spirit and sustainable success. Our Corporate Managers can take a leaf from MSD’s book. Business targets have morphed into targeting team members- especially down the line. The simple mantra is that a good work environment (dressing room culture) translates into good results.

Some Corporate leaders today tend to complicate things, by an overdose of reviews and meetings and analysis. Dhoni is not too invested in cricket data analytics. He relies more on his observation skills and his deep appreciation of every nuance of the game. THALA has a genius for keeping things simple. Everything is not within our control. “Control the controllable things and attend to the small details and address the ground realities. More often than not results will be in your favour. If you don’t get desired results, accept and work to improve,” from a Dhoni interview. In a company setup, the controllables are mobilizing the right resources, deputing people to the right assignments, defining their roles and giving them space to deliver, facilitating teamwork & co-ordination, selecting the right leaders + Training, Upskilling, Motivation, Appreciation, and having their backs when there are bad days at the office. It’s not surprising to know that MSD often has dinner with the younger members of the team to put them at ease and to jell with them.

This attribute of MSD of having faith in and backing his players is a recurrent theme. Spinner Yuzi Chahal who has experienced his best days under his captaincy says, “Newcomers or with 15-20 match experience-MSD backs you and trusts you. A couple of bad matches does not shake his faith in you.” It’s only a game that is an oft-quoted response from Dhoni after losing a match or even a series. Connect the dots to the high success ratio at both the international levels and also in the IPL tournament. Hence it is that you don’t see much chopping and changing of players in the Dhoni era as became the norm later. Merit more than loyalty mattered to him.

This sanguine, down-to-earth mindset of Dhoni is commended by Shastri, “even in the new set up with Kohli as captain and with many youngsters- his mature understanding of the players and dressing room dynamics – Dhoni morphed into a pillar, advisor, and mentor without intruding into team management space.” Mahi had even earlier proved that he was the master of quietly taking charge without rocking the boat. The Art of Managing Egos. Catapulted to captaincy ahead of several Indian cricket superstars and former captains, he took his time, didn’t interfere with their proven methods, and managed to extract the best performances from these legends and the upcoming stars without ruffling feathers. Lest we forget the 2007 T 20 WC winning team was completely raw and the current CSK team was at best, average on paper.

MS Dhoni is an enigma to many as he is an unorthodox leader and a unique personality. His art of taking ownership has many levels- Being in the Present; keeping it simple but looking to improve; thinking about results only puts more pressure on the team, so focus on the process; keeping emotions under control is more constructive- anger and frustration lead to wrong decisions; don’t throw in the towel till the result is decided. Devon Conway (CSK opener) gives more insights in an interview with Harsha Bhogle, “MS gives us a role and backs us to do the role. He steps into their shoes as everybody reacts differently to pressure.” So it is little surprise that Thala’s pre-match meetings last only 10 mins but he has a sequence of one-to-ones. Also what he has to say in team meets is already known to seniors but helps to get the others on the same page. His simple take is- A captain is only as good as his team.

At the workplace also, team members reciprocate and feel a sense of belonging and responsibility based on the trust shown to them by the leader.

Leading from the front has been his hallmark. A corporate honcho has to herself/himself excel in one or more domains-Sales, Finance, HR, Operations, Technology or their leadership will always be in doubt. Delegation is good but one cannot be a non-playing captain. MSD has been at the top of his game as a wicketkeeper, a batter (at various slots), and a captain responsible for every action on the field. The innovative and effective helicopter shot is synonymous with him. He personifies genuine multi-tasking across various formats of the game and often raises the bar. This means living in the moment and in leading the charge in whatever the role demands. Not everything he has touched has turned into gold. But he has always appeared in total command on the field- not scurrying around to mitigate a difficult situation.

The Best Finisher accolade he has earned is well deserved for his utmost capability to lead from the front even as the asking rate appeared to be beyond reach. An astonishing stat is that he has scored 4,000 runs in a winning cause batting at No. 5 or lower. In ODI’s power hitting came into vogue because of him. No score was considered safe if he was batting for India. His batting average in successful chases in the ODI’s is the highest for any player in history- an incredible 102.71. The six to finish off the 2011 WC final is etched in a nation’s consciousness and has become part of folklore.

With 294 Test dismissals, 444 ODI dismissals and 91 T20 dismissals MS Dhoni is in a league of his own- the Don with gloves on… But as wicketkeeper cum captain he morphs into a different avatar. The stump mic has caught him advising bowlers on what and where to bowl or talking about the batter’s mind frame. Yuzi Chahal certifies that the plans have worked more than 70%of the time over a few overs.

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. But the Thala halo also speaks of a brilliant cricketing mind. It has been said that he has the game all mapped out in his head. Amazingly, he is often on the right course. Shubham Gill was outwitted by the Dhoni-Jadeja combination in the IPL finale. But few may know that in the 2011 WC final a Dhoni-short of runs- promoted himself above the Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh in the batting order. His rationale- danger-man Muralitharan was bowling and he had played him often in the CSK nets. In the Champions Trophy of 2013 he asked Rohit Sharma to open with Shikhar Dhawan and a hundred partnership opened the floodgates to many more runs. The sharply observant Dhoni saw things that others overlooked.

Adam Gilchrist has commented about the MSD aura, “Sheer calm and confident body language evoked great respect and even fear in the opposition camp.” The ultimate tribute has come from the master himself-Sachin Tendulkar, “Calm, positive and always one step ahead of the opposition. The best captain I have played under.”

He has always shared credit with the team and taken the heat for the losses. The 2011 WC winning team photograph also shows him in a corner with other team members at the front and center. After this heady win, it was all downhill for Dhoni and the Men in Blue as they faced one embarrassing loss after another in the Test series in England and Australia. It took great strength of character to bounce back with the sheer weight of performance once again. His announcement to retire from Test cricket during the Australia series in 2014-15 speaks volumes about the man. “90 Tests. The temptation to reach a milestone 100 is almost impossible to resist not to mention the power of captaincy. But he bid adieu as he believed he couldn’t give it his all,” comments Ravi Shastri.

MSD has always had the street-smart brain to cut through the clutter and reach a decision correctly. His technique both behind and in front of the stumps has been unconventional to say the least. He himself believes that millions connect with him as his cricket mirrors their gully cricket style. The sea of yellow at stadiums across India during the IPL is an unusual social phenomenon. It goes way beyond hero worship to a massive cult following. That this man from Jharkhand has been so warmly embraced by the people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu has a powerful message for our political netas. His respect for the people, their culture, and his humanity and simplicity, have made him their very own ICON.

In this era of omnipresent social media, this celebrity cricketer is totally missing from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He considers it a distraction and an addiction. In his own wry manner, he says, “Core job is to play well for India in cricket. If you do that there will be enough likes and enough followers.”

The incredible journey of this railway ticket collector from Ranchi to Chennai and beyond has not been without controversy. The CSK-RR match-fixing scandal and the banning of both teams from the IPL for two seasons must have scarred him badly. He has called it the lowest point in his life. The 2016 film, ‘MS Dhoni-the Untold Story’ produced by his friend Arun Pandey did not reveal anything. Mahi only spoke about it in the documentary ‘Roar of the Lions’ on Hotstar in 2019. Another cautionary tale is the conflict of interest issue with Rhiti Sports (where Dhoni had a 15% stake) also managing the careers and fortunes of his CSK team-mates- Raina, Jadeja, and Ojha.

The 2023 IPL final was heralded as MSD’s ‘Last Dance’ with the CSK team. But the cricketing legend has now metamorphosed into a national emotion. After his recent knee surgery he will likely return to CSK in IPL 2024 as a captain for a few matches and as a Mentor for the team and franchise. The final hurrah will be played out at Chepauk.

Magical Messi & King Kohli

Posted on February 23, 2023 by SV Rao

The Argentine- an iconic, mesmerizing footballer. The Indian is a charismatic cricket superstar. Both have immeasurably enriched, enhanced, and influenced their sport. The Internet and social media are overflowing with information about their goals and assists or runs and centuries and trophies and awards. However, it’s more intriguing to explore their seminal impact on football and cricket and beyond. More than an 8th Ballon d’Or trophy, what excites me is the real possibility of Messi holding up the Super Ballon d’Or later this year. A unique recognition for the player of a generation. The only previous awardee was Alfred Di Stefano in 1989. Virat Kohli has been proclaimed the ICC Player of the Decade (2011-20) and won a hat-trick of Wisden Cricketer of the Year awards from 2016-18.

Enough has been said about the sublime, magical skills of Leo Messi with football. Over the last 15 years, he has weaved an extraordinary dimension around The Beautiful Game. But what the world witnessed before and after the classic WC final in Qatar was staggering- a global, social phenomenon of heartfelt support for Messi to lift the WC trophy with the Argentina team. This overwhelming emotion has been captured by the legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo 9, “This guy’s football throws away any rivalry to the corner. I saw lots of Brazilians and people from all over the world rooting for Messi in this electrifying final. A farewell worthy of a genius-who far beyond a World Cup star- captured an era.” Former President Obama and basketball megastar LeBron James felicitated him as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Roger Federer served in his elegant manner, “Time and Time again, Leo Messi, you have redefined greatness.” Messi kissing the World Cup is the most liked post on social media. And get this- the outpouring of support by Bangladesh supporters led to the resumption of normal diplomatic ties with Argentina re-opening its embassy in Dhaka-closed since 1978.

A slice of the humongous praise Lionel Messi has earned over the years. The Dutch great Frank Rijkaard says that “his goals are a piece of art” and the late Radomir Antic’ referred to him as ‘the Mozart of football.’ Arsene Wenger (Arsenal football manager) has said that “Messi is the footballer from a PlayStation game, things that are impossible to do, he makes them possible.” Jose Mourinho’s (Head Coach, Roma) one-word take on Messi = ‘ Magic.’

The burden of expectations on the Argentinan forward has been brutal. To his everlasting credit, he has taken it all in his stride with grace, dignity, and an indomitable spirit. For years many fellow Argentines had not considered him as one of their own. He was part of FC Barcelona in faraway Spain. Maradona and the famous 1986 WC victory were the albatross around his neck. It did not matter that he had won the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the Argentina team; it did not matter that he had single-handedly taken an average national side to the 2014 WC final against Germany which they lost 1-0; it did not matter that he had won the Golden Ball award (player of the tournament); it also did not matter that he inspired his team to 2 consecutive Copa America finals as they lost. After the disastrous 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the Qatar WC, the GOAT was mercilessly trolled and compared to the camel. There were even graphic references to what happened to the GOAT. Millions of Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) fans jumped in with relish.

Manager Scaloni and many in the Argentina team have openly stated that they had come forward to rally behind their captain for ‘The Last Dance’ win for Messi at Doha. The Golden Gloves winner Emiliano Martinez put across his loyalty simply, “I want to give him life. I want to die for him.” Angel di Maria, who also played a stellar role at the Qatar tournament, harked back to the Copa America finals in 2021. He had earlier missed the WC final in 2014 & the 2 Copa America finals thereafter due to injuries. Messi told him that this was his final and his moment to shine. The personal touch. The attacking midfielder rose to the occasion by scoring the only goal of the match.

Argentina’s most famous person is also known for his humility and sportsmanship. His astounding record of assists shows him to be the ultimate team player. He has never taken a dive to get a free kick or penalty awarded. Hence, the testy exchanges with the Netherlands coach and the criticism of the referee came as a surprise to many who had followed his career. In a recent interview, he expressed his regrets for the controversy. Grapevine has it that his wife scolded him for his messy behavior. Just goes to show that a footballer often described as an alien from another planet is also human. The Leo Messi Foundation has a bigger goal. It has done exceptional philanthropic work in health, education, and sports. His Euro 1 million donation for clinics and healthcare facilities during the pandemic in Argentina also happened without much fanfare.

Tennis star Andy Murray recently asked, “if the 5ft 7 Messi is the best athlete ever.” At age 35, he played every single moment of the Argentina campaign, every grueling minute of the 7 matches including the 139 mins vs Netherlands and the 141 minutes against France.

Virat Kohli has been described as a Phenom, a Run Machine, a batting virtuoso, and the proud face of Indian cricket. His athleticism and in-the-face aggression have resonated hugely with countless millions of Indian cricket fans. Sunil Gavaskar, the batting maestro, makes his point with a straight drive, “To become a good player you need talent. To become a truly great player you need an attitude like Virat.” Australia’s champion Ricky Ponting is “not sure if I have ever seen a white ball cricketer better than Kohli.” It’s also pertinent to recall that he was a part of the 2008 U19 WC winning team and also a part of MS Dhoni’s 2011 ODI WC champion squad.

Kohli’s true legacy as a captain was his focus on raising the fitness levels of the players. The Yo-Yo test has been the benchmark of fitness in the Indian cricket team since 2017. This is essentially an aerobic test that tests the endurance of a player at increasing speeds until exhaustion. The cut-off was raised from 16.1 to 16.5 to the current 17.1. Only Hardik Pandya and Manish Pandey have scored a little higher than Kohli. He has also been the inspiration for a number of current and emerging players with his special perspective and passion for the game. The other laudable initiative was that even the lower-order batsmen would spend quality time batting in the nets. The tail should value their wickets and wag vigorously whenever the team needed. Hence, we have the current scenario where Ashwin, Shami, and Axar Patel are taking the fight to the Australian bowlers and winning matches for India.

There are many similarities between Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both are cast in the same mold. CR7 is considered the ultimate physical athlete and Kohli’s diet and exercise regime have become part of Indian cricket lore. Both are intense and aggressive on the field. Ronaldo’s fallout with the Man U coach and subsequent exit takes us back to Kohli getting Kumble removed as coach and replaced by Shastri. The Portuguese footballer’s controversial interview with Piers Morgan taking down Man U and coach Erik ten Hag; the recent sting operation which again revealed the perceived ego clash between Kohli and BCCI chief Ganguly and what was said and not said during the former’s pre-South Africa tour conference. Also in both cases, celebrity Dom has far transcended football or cricket. CR7 has the highest Instagram following for any sportsperson at 537 million. Lionel Messi has around 400 million followers. Kohli is by far the most followed cricket player in the world with around 130 million glued to him on Instagram. Roger Federer and footballer Sergio Ramos are among them. A juicy titbit- Kohli has converted Kishore Kumar’s bungalow ‘Gauri Kunj’ in Juhu into a swanky restaurant as part of his ‘One 8 Commune’ chain. VK is a passionate fan of KK but is also following in the food steps of Kapil Dev, Ganguly, and Zaheer Khan. On the social service front, his VK Foundation (2013) has done commendable work in supporting the underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society through education and sports workshops. Anushka Sharma’s mission to take care of stray dogs in Mumbai has now expanded to providing food, shelter, and Vet facilities for the strays.

Kohli’s post to CR7 after Portugal’s exit from the WC, “No title can explain the impact you’ve had on people and what I and so many around the world feel when we watch you play. That’s a gift from God.” But titles do matter for logging in to the all-time Hall of Fame, be it in an individual or team sport; whether it’s Usain Bolt or Djokovic, Chicago Bulls, or the Men in Blue. The glaring difference in the incredible success stories of Messi and Kohli is that the former was under relentless pressure to deliver the WC and Copa America titles for Argentina. Kohli has had a relatively easy pass even during his slump in form with the BCCI, the media, and his vast fan following all being supportive. Even when he got out for a low score the cameras stayed with him and his doing a small dance jig in the dressing room went viral.

Now we are looking at Kohli 2.0. A somewhat mellowed person, past the burn-out phase and regaining his prime form. But the game of cricket has changed dramatically over the last few years. Brendon McCullum and the English team have brought Bazball into Test cricket- attacking, entertaining, high-scoring games rather than playing defensive cricket to preserve wickets. So the England side topped 500 runs in a day in Pakistan in just under 75 overs. The 400-run barrier has been regularly breached in the 50-over format. 250 plus in the T20 game does not raise any eyebrows anymore. Indian cricket now looks at its talisman Virat Kohli to be in the zone in key matches- such as smashing a blistering 166 runs in 110 balls as he did against Sri Lanka and 82 runs in 53 balls in that sensational knock at the MCG against Pakistan in the T20 WC.

The Indian team will likely play Australia in the World Test Championship final at the Oval in June 2023. Followed by the ODI World Cup on home soil in Oct- Nov 2023. On the 18^th Dec 2022, Lionel Messi had the world at his feet. Will the year 2023 see the grand coronation of King Kohli?!

Too Much of a Good Thing?!

Posted on January 23, 2023 by SV Rao

Photo by Дмитрий Хрусталев-Григорьев on Unsplash

How can something basically good turn bad if tested to its limits and beyond? That sounds like an oxymoron. 5 decades ago our respected teacher Mr. Joseph had this to say to his class, “Even a virtue if taken to the extreme becomes a vice. A balance has to be kept.” This insightful remark has stayed with me and I have experienced and followed the counter-productive effects he spoke about then- in more idealistic times.

Working hard and sincerely is a virtue. But in today’s boot-camp culture, this has been stretched to a toxic dimension. Workaholics are sick people and should not be regarded otherwise. But we have hard taskmaster bosses proudly referring to ‘he is always the last to leave office’ or ‘ she attends to emails or calls even on Saturday evenings.’ Employees are now referred to as a Cost to the Company and from whom every ounce of productivity has to be squeezed out. However, it remains a simple truism that a healthier work environment leads to much better results. Work-Life balance matters. Quality time with family and friends and for hobbies and interests is an integral and essential part of life.

One with the same is the perennial review meetings to start and end the day and carried forward into the weekend. One may ask, where is the time and space to get down to actual work? Effective monitoring is a good management trait but this excess version becomes micro-management. It leads to huge pressure down the line, builds up frustration levels, and ends up in high attrition rates. Meetings properly scheduled and offering updates and solutions, interactions, and motivation are most welcome. Else, ‘meetings are where you waste hours and keep minutes.’

Honesty is a much-lauded virtue and is said to be the best policy. But it has to be refined as per the context; bluntness or plain-speak, even if factual, can backfire. The messaging has to be right. Giving a person ‘a dressing down’ in a Teams meeting is not going to work as a wake-up call. It will only breed resentment as a public humiliation. Scolding, however, justified, at home or offices don’t have to be outbursts. And what’s the harm of a small white lie to save a situation or to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

Social media has glamorized fitness to unheard-of levels. The six-pack of Salman Bhai fills the big screen; the supreme fitness and stamina of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo over the last 10 years has won him his legion of fans; the Yo-Yo test was first introduced to Indian cricket during Virat Kohl’s fitness-focused captaincy. Kohli personifies physical fitness and has set a sterling example for the Indian cricket team to follow. But these are top-level sportsmen and the average person is not cast in the same mold and is not required to withstand the arduous physical rigors. Grueling gym sessions are not called for. So we have the tragic deaths of Kannada film star Puneeth Rajkumar, comedian Raju Srivastava, and TV actor Siddhanth Surryavanshi soon after or whilst working out at gyms. To aspire and work out for fitness is a good thing. But a brisk 1-hour walk or 45 mins of cycling or weekend swimming sessions or a 5 K run is all that is required to be in fine fettle. Push it beyond and the average body starts complaining.

The desire to win is another much-celebrated mantra through documentaries, management studies, or Success Gurus. Competitiveness is fine as it defines progress and we look forward to the next batch of leaders and innovators taking the baton forward. But there is a line that should not be crossed. ‘Win at Any Cost’ or ‘Win by Any Means’ should not be the driving principle. Because here is where the overdose kicks in. So we have a drug-powered Lance Armstrong with 7 Tour de France titles and the doped Ben Johnson breaking the 100 & 200 meters records at the 1988 Olympic Games. The German car manufacturer Volkswagen cheated its way through a rigged emission check system to get a bigger share of the US market and become the no 1 car manufacturer in the world.

Social media and the IoT of things have connected the world as never before and the benefits have been humungous. From reconnecting on WhatsApp groups to instant news updates, and digital payments to access to a plethora of products and services. But anything done in excess has a definite downside. The over-addiction to technology has undermined human interaction and activity. It’s now common to see a family of four at a restaurant having a minimum conversation with all busy on their own mobiles. So much time is being spent online that millions of youngsters are missing out on the small joys of playing football or cricket on the playfield or just chilling out with friends. Whilst the practice of Happy Birthdays and Festive Greetings has expanded exponentially the joy of actually talking to a friend has gone missing.

Such is the charm and fascination with Artificial Intelligence and Bots that some of the corporate CXOs I have met would like human involvement at work to be totally eradicated. Lesser costs, absolute efficiency, and no headaches of managing people. Nary a thought for millions without work as the ‘Driverless’ vehicles hit the roads.

Let’s move to the Left and Right Ideologies. Karl Marx Utopian vision of an all-powerful, benevolent State attracted intellectuals, leaders, and comrades in droves. Adam Smith’s treatise ‘The Wealth of Nations’ seminally influenced Capitalist fervor and thought. It’s been a hundred years since the Russian Revolution which brought the communist doctrine center stage. Over the same period, the USA has evolved into the bastion of capitalism. Two resounding ideas and ideals have dominated the last 100 years. Both have faltered visibly because of excesses in implementation, no checks and balances, and a poor understanding of human nature. Power Corrupts. Two quotes that have come to epitomize these ideologies are- Power flows from the barrel of a gun- Mao and Greed is Good-Gordon Gekko, a character in the movie Wall Street. Communist countries have been characterized by lackadaisical economic progress and brutal dictatorial regimes. The USA has a blemished report card with high-income inequalities and an insidious nexus between Wall Street and the Capitol. Yes, Castro’s Cuba has done well on the healthcare and education front and nations like France, Canada, and the UK have tried to temper out the free market excesses with subsidized health-care, education, and pension plans. But the Left cannot pretend to be human-rights activists and the US is the symbol of the scars and excesses of capitalism. A balanced approach for the Greater Good has been starkly missing. Ironically, it’s worth noting that China’s rapid economic growth is due to State Capitalism facilitated all the way by the authoritarian CCP (Chinese Communist Party).

Powerful dogmas, philosophies, Ideas, and concepts are successful and relevant within the bounds of reason and good sense. Nationalism escalating into a hyper-aggressive version as in China & Russia is alarming; All religions have to be respected but Faiths controlling public policy and administration is disturbing; wealth creation is good but rising inequalities is destabilizing- despite being a mixed economy just 1% of India’s population controls 40% of the nation’s wealth; subsidies are meant to be supportive welfare measures for the short or medium term. Reckless subsidies and populist freebies may win a couple of elections but will haunt the nation and its people for years to come. Sri Lanka is in a self-inflicted, acute crisis and, totally dependent on bilateral & international loans to survive. It’s worth adding that protecting an individual’s rights and freedoms is the hallmark of democracy; stretching it as a right to bear arms (the Second Amendment) in the USA is having deadly repercussions with tragically regular mass shootings.

The sense of balance is all-important. Ancient Indian scriptures refer to the ecological balance between humankind and Nature and the Environment. Ayurveda (the traditional Indian system of health and longevity) prescribes how to achieve balance in body and mind. In the same vein, let’s delve into the ancient Chinese philosophy of Yin & Yang.” Yin, Chinese for the Female, and the Moon also represent darkness, passivity, absorption, and the Earth. Yang (the Sun and Male) represents light, activity, and the heavens. The balance of yin and yang was seen to influence health and order within an individual, society, and the entire universe.”

The Scourge of Corruption

Posted on January 18, 2023 by SV Rao

My earlier blog ‘Cans of Worms’ was about the big scams and corruption scandals in India over the last 7 decades. Corruption in India has taken on a huge, toxic dimension. It takes a cruel toll on the poor and is very troubling for the middle class. It has seriously compromised our polity and public systems and is pervasive across the country. It has eroded the quality and prospects of life for millions of Indians and aggravated the struggles of the majority populace of have-nots. The malaise has gone so deep that many good, educated citizens helplessly shrug that nothing can be done about it.

Western countries also have acute problems of corruption but it does not intrude into the day-to-day lives of their people. The venal ex-President and self–proclaimed billionaire Donald Trump has evaded paying income tax for many, many years. London is the welcoming, Go-to place for the world’s financial criminals as extradition is difficult. The serene beauty of Switzerland with the snow-capped Alps as shown in the Yash Chopra films is the picture-postcard version of it. The country’s banks have been the preferred havens for black money from all around the world. The Nazis were amongst their first customers.

Let’s hit the pot-holed roads. Their proliferation is such that the traffic has to navigate the holes to find the stretch of roads. The NCRB (National Crimes Records Bureau) finds that 5% of the deaths on Indian roads are due to pot-holes. The traffic police point to the same as the cause of long traffic jams in cities. This perennial bane can be resolved only if the roads are constructed with good materials and maintained properly. But there’s the rub. The 10% cut from the contractors to public officials and politicians has moved with inflation to 25%. The quality of roads becomes the first casualty. Poor roads or bridges or flyover construction is the fall-out. Let it be noted that one of the major reasons for China’s economic explosion was the focus on building good roads and infrastructure. Creating many, many jobs and driving economic growth.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is supposed to cater to the food requirements of the neediest- the ration card holders. Instead, the sad reality is that the fair price shop owners sell the good quality food-grain in the open market by using fake ration cards. The BPL (Below Poverty Line) populace is often left with poor-quality residual stuff. As it is, the system gives them access to only items like rice and wheat, ensuring that the poor continue to suffer on the nutrition front. The program also has an urban bias because the rural areas are not well connected by an efficient transport system. But surprise, surprise! Uttar Pradesh has redefined the system by becoming the first State to achieve more than 95% food distribution through a transparent biometric identification system.

Let’s look at the Minimum Wages scenario outside the States’ Shops and Establishment Act and the Central Sphere of Employees. The major chunk of daily wage workers is in the informal, unorganized sector. The National Floor level wage for an unskilled worker is Rs 178/- per day. Varying from State to State and Cities and towns. But it’s no secret that these poor people are at the mercy of the Agents. Through a social worker friend of mine, I was shocked to learn that these middlemen appropriated 40% of their daily legitimate earnings if they wanted 20 days of work a month. Also, extending work hours by a couple of hours a day is deemed normal. Talk about ‘bonded labor’ in our cities. They remain gagged as the Principals, Agents, and public officials enjoy the spoils. Meanwhile, the law against underpayment or exploitation gathers dust within the legal tomes.

The Medical profession and the hospitals have also fallen from grace. There has been a positive side to Covid management in India but the flip side has been very disheartening. The black marketing of oxygen cylinders and drugs like Remdesivir has been reported in the media. Less so the extortion from some in the hospital management for the availability of rooms and beds. Overbilling and prolonging patient stay is common practice at many private hospitals across the land. But a particular data shared with me by a health professional friend stunned me- 22,000 pediatric claims at government hospitals in a State for Rs 15 crs; 30,000 child care claims amounting to Rs 165 crs in the same State by private institutions. Malafide intent goes even beyond this. HPR (Health Professional Registration) by the National Health Authority has been made mandatory in several States. Many hospitals are accessing or buying or leveraging such certification as a cover for billing and conducting procedures and surgeries by less qualified or experienced professionals. So you have the case of 1 registered eye specialist deemed to be performing 300 cataract surgeries a day at different locations. Eyeball-rolling, Really?!! Then there is the frightening scenario of quacks endangering the lives of poor patients by donning surgical masks and gloves and wielding the scalpel. In fact, the ‘The Wealth is Health’ mantra goes back to the late 1980s. An anecdote as told to me by a colleague- his friend, a senior employee at a pharma firm had to pay Rs 1 lakh a month to the Health Secretary to secure access for his Company’s products at government hospitals. As they became more comfortable, the babu confided that most of the money went upstairs.

Digitalization of the economy and business has had a positive impact. The Co Win App and the vaccination drive showed what the country and the governments are truly capable of. Listen to Sundar Pichai (CEO-Google) about UPI and the Covid Relief fund. “It’s remarkable. It shows up on an individual’s account immediately.” But E-Governance has not really freed the citizens from the corruption quagmire. A simple case of renewal of a driving license. One goes online, fills in the details, uploads the documents, and makes the requisite payment. All one gets is the transaction number. So multiple rounds to the RTO with the same documents to get the job done. Then the middle-man enters and the fees are paid and hey presto! The job is done. This is where corruption spooks the average Indian. For every standard routine matter, one has to grease palms.

Let’s dekko at the judiciary and the police- 2 important pillars of the State. There is this saying, ‘the fish rots from its head.’ So we have a retired Supreme Court Judge reluctant to let go of his perks- having 20 public servants at his beck and call for many months post-retirement. From ‘Your Honour’ to ‘My Lord.’ Two more cases illustrate the rot in the judiciary. In May 2015, a Hindi film star was sentenced to 5 years in jail by the Mumbai Sessions Court in a hit-and-run case. The same night the High Court convened and suspended the sentence. The Superstar walked out with the swag of a Sultan. On the other hand, you have nearly 3 lakh under trial who have been locked up for more time than their alleged crime warrants. But the Governments and the Courts which only cater to the privileged do not initiate the process to set them free. It is a truism that in India a number of litigants pass away before their Judgement Day on Earth. A fresh infusion of 1 lakh + judges and magistrates and the fast track model can only clear the staggering pile of cases.

The police have a dismal reputation for being amongst the most corrupt organizations. This will continue till the Union and State Governments let go of their feudal hold on the police through the much-needed police reforms recommended by Shri Prakash Singh, retired IPS officer, and endorsed by the Supreme Court in 2006. So we have a reinstated police sub-inspector in Mumbai extorting crores of rupees from bars and clubs and having unfettered access to the Police Commissioner and the Home Minister. More than 40 years back, I had heard from a senior police officer that Rs 50,000 was the price for a lucrative posting at one of the stations in the Bombay port area. This was the investment and a resourceful cop would certainly look forward to a multiple ROI. The same sleaze was again exposed by a report around a decade back. –the secretary of an MLA asking for Rs 15 lakhs for a posting to a particular police station. It was further elaborated that the asking amount would depend on the importance of the police station in their constituency and its income-generating capacity. However, it needs to be said that a critical part of the Police Reform Report says that the ground level Constable force be given more dignified living and working conditions.

Elections are high stake games with tons of black money involved. All political parties follow the winnability quotient from the Congress playbook- Money, Muscle, Caste, Creed. So you have the BJP in UP strongly supporting their ‘Bahubali’ MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Sengar. Accused and later thankfully convicted for the brutal rape of a 17-year-old girl and later killing of 2 of her relatives in a planned road crash. Sengar had earlier represented the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party. But this serious and blatant criminalization of politics and shameless horse-trading has not served as a wake-up call for any of our tall leaders.

The 2014 Lok Sabha election, according to informed sources, cost around Rs 30,000 crores. The political coterie in India has become an exclusive, self-serving club. Hence, very few top politicians end up in jail. Some of them increase their assets by more than 1000 percent from one election to another. The Companies Act 2013 and the Electoral Bond scheme 2017 do not provide for more transparency and do not work for the greater good. The possibility of anonymous corporate, individual, or even foreign funding has increased. Increasing the risk of public policies being framed for the funders and not the voters. A potentially scary situation.

With the budget session looming, signing off on the much-debated topic of Income tax. Only 3.2 lakh Indians declare income of more than Rs 50 lakhs annually; only 16.8 lakhs fall into the highest 30% tax bracket; only 5.83 crs IT returns were filed in FY 2022. Think about all this in the context of the 1 million SUVs sold in FY 2021; and that 30.85 lakh Indian tourists applied for visas in 2022 despite the pandemic travails. The parallel economy in India is estimated to be around 50% of the GDP. Despite DeMo and the increase in digitalization, the cash economy has grown from 10.7% of the GDP to 14.4% of the GDP to a record high of Rs 30.88 lakh crores. Easy to understand why ‘ the captive salaried class’ or the organized sector employees are fervently praying for tax relief in the budget. A recent Oxfam report has revealed that 64.3% of the GST collections have come from the bottom 50% of the population. High time for a more equitable review of both direct and consumption taxes and widening the base through lesser tax rates.

As the current Government has a clear majority in both Houses it should pass the much-needed structural reforms Acts-police reforms, revamping the judiciary, 30 % women’s representation bill, recall of corrupt representatives, and election finance laws and regulations (look at the French model). There is no hope for a Naya Bharat or a New India till this rampant corruption is controlled and minimized. Only well thought – through and transparent public policies and laws can reverse decades of neglect and indifference. The third largest global economy will not have a satisfying ring to it if India continues to feature in the highly corrupt and high inequality indices in the world order of nations.

Vijay Anand- The Master Film Maker

Posted on December 30, 2022 by SV Rao

Vijay ‘Goldie’ Anand did not have to struggle for a break in the Hindi film industry. His elder brothers Chetan Anand & Dev Anand (13 & 11 years older) had established themselves as a filmmaker and leading man. Immersed in his theatre group at St Xavier’s College, Bombay, Vijay wore multiple hats as a director, writer, and actor. The Shape of things to come! Just emerging from his teens he wrote the script for the hit film ‘Taxi Driver’ (1954) directed by Chetan Anand and starring Dev Anand and his bhabi-to-be Kalpana Karthik.

His innings as a director began with ‘Nau do Gyarah’ under the Navketan banner in 1957. For the next 15 years, his brilliance and versatility lit up the big screen. ‘Nau do Gyarah’ was a road movie; ‘Kala Bazaar’ a nod to neo-realist cinema; ‘Tere Ghar Ke Samne’ was a rom-com; ‘Guide’ a classic book adaptation of R K Narayan’s masterpiece; ‘Teesri Manzil’ a musical mystery; ‘Johny Mera Naam’ a caper film with the lost and found formula; ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ inspired by A J Cronin’s Citadel about an idealistic doctor in a coal town, his surrender to Mammon and a timely redemption.

Vijay Anand is not just regarded as a textbook in movie making but the entire curriculum. This genius’s grasp of the movie craft extended across direction, acting, writing, screenplay, and dialogues to the editing room. During his prime in the 60s, he is known to have shared draft ‘mukhdas’ of lyrics to his lyricists to embellish, improve and work upon. Simply to ensure that the songs became a part of the story. Later in his career, he penned a few lyrics himself. The Maestro was not done yet. A trained waltz performer he did a dance number with Bindu in ‘Chuppa Rustam’.

But 4 extraordinary films in a 6-year span built the Vijay Anand cult amongst his legion of fans and within the film fraternity. ‘Guide’, ‘Teesri Manzil’, ‘Jewel Thief’, and ‘Johny Mera Naam’ remain in the collective memory of an entire generation of movie buffs even after the passage of 5 decades.

‘Guide’ (1965) is regarded as one of the best Indian films of all time. The story of a charming tourist guide Raju (Dev Anand) who falls for a married woman Rosie (Waheeda Rehman), goes to jail for embezzlement and is mistaken for a sage and holy man in a drought-stricken place is superbly curated and directed by Vijay Anand. The film transcends into an experience for our minds and soul. In 1965, the story had controversial elements but the filmmaker did not pull any punches. Rosie walks out on her philandering archaeologist husband after a showdown in a cave and gets into a live-in relationship with Raju guide. Waheeda Rehman’s portrayal of the independent woman character with her own identity and dreams remains a landmark in the annals of Hindi cinema. Rosie’s ascent to fame as a talented dancer Ms. Nalini (with Raju as her Manager) is beautifully captured through an elaborate song number. She also has no qualms about breaking up with a drunkard Raju after she discovers that he has siphoned off some of her hard-earned money and hands him over to the police authorities. Then, the seamless screenplay takes Raju’s accidental redemption story to a spiritual level and a surreal ending. The audience exited the theatre in droves with the film imprinted on their minds.

Goldie Anand’s films are also known for their natural and conversational dialogues. Remember that in the 50s and 60s Hindi cinema was still in the throes of theatrical dialogues and posturing with words that were not in sync with the character. ‘Guide’ is a testament to his mastery over the spoken word. In an interview, Waheeda Rehman shared that her only disagreement with the director related to her dialogue during her angry parting with her husband. She felt that the words were ‘coarse’ and ‘harsh’ but Vijay Anand persuaded her that they were ‘in character’ and ‘in context’. After watching screenings later she acknowledged that these words were critical in her character’s arc. Dev Anand’s redemption chart from convicted swindler to an accidental savior is captured through heart-touching dialogues- ‘Shaurat use mili, sar mera ghoom gaya; jab hosh aya to paya salakhon ke piche’ (in jail). ‘In logon ko mujh pe vishwas hain aur abhi mujhe unke vishwas par vishwas hone laga hai’ (Raju Swami fasting to bring rain to the parched countryside). ‘Maut ek khayal hai, jaise zindagi ek khayal hai. Na sukh hai na dukh hai. Na deen hai na duniya. Na insaan na bhagwan. Sirf main hoon, main hoon, sirf main hoon.’ (on his deathbed as heavy rain falls outside).

In an interview, Vijay Anand said that he has always been an explorer and a student of cinema as it is an integrated art form. As a director, he would give a complete picture of what he wanted to all his technicians and collaborators. It is not surprising that he was not limited to any genre. ‘Teesri Manzil’ ( 1966) has been called a musical thriller. The film opens with a film noir scene where a woman rushes up to the third floor of a hotel before falling to her death. Suicide or Murder? The first half is all about romance and foot-tapping songs and dance. Shammi Kapoor grooves and moves like Elvis Presley possessed. And it is with this film that our Pancham became RD Burman. Film is said to be the Director’s medium and this was brought out charmingly during the filming of the song, ‘Mere Sona Re’ where the buckle of a bag the hero was carrying broke. The filmmaker kept the cameras rolling and the lead man improvised adding a natural flair to the song. The second half of the film is full of twists and turns and new characters are introduced at a bewildering pace. Although it may not satisfy a whodunit purist with a thirst for clues, it evolves into a thrilling yarn.

One of the oft-spoken remarks about Goldie Anand is that ‘he was well before his time.’ In ‘Jewel Thief’ (1967) based on a story by KA Narayan, he created a doppelganger character for the hero, a cunning criminal who does not exist. Here his trump card was to cast Ashok Kumar as the real Jewel Thief. The thespian actor was reluctant to play the villain as it went against his well-accepted screen image. Vijay Anand convinced him that the surprise reveal would happen at the very end. The fast-track narrative was considerably enhanced by SD Burman’s score and compositions, and the film does not feel dated even today. The extent of his creative involvement is revealed when the opening credits roll. We see a profile of the jewel thief appraising the spoils in his gloved hands. Then you hear a chuckle and a short laugh. The Director’s laugh. The jewels are fake. Shades of Nirav Modi and his diamond collection.

His song picturizations have become the stuff of film legend. Like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and Raj Khosla he believed that songs were part of a film’s storytelling process and should take the story forward. He fervently felt that songs were part of Indian culture and films and if captured well on reel would bring repeat audiences to the theatre. During his time most filmmakers left it to choreographers to film the song and dance sequences. Not Vijay Anand. ‘My characters should not become artificial when they sing. They are expressing their emotions through the song. The characters are not meant to be dancers in the film.’ The song ‘Hothon mein aisi baat’ from ‘Jewel Thief’ was shot at the royal palace in Gangtok, Sikkim. In this fast-moving song, the camera stays with the talented actress/dancer Vyjanthimala showing her anxiety and distress even as she performs exquisitely till the male lead Dev Anand surprises her with an exclamation in the course of the song. In ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ from ‘Guide’ the rising sun becomes the metaphor for the new love between Raju and Rosie. The background shot the fastidious director wanted was available for only 15 minutes in the early mornings. So the unit was up and about each morning till he was satisfied. With his eye for detail and authenticity, Goldie scouted for the right locations- Chittor and Udaipur for ‘Guide’. ‘Pal, pal dil ke pas’ in ‘Blackmail’ (1973)is considered as one of the most romantically picturized songs in Hindi film history. It simply features a graceful Raakhee reading letters sent to her by the hero (Dharmendra) and imagining that he is beside her. In the same film Vijay Anand does the unthinkable of featuring the lead pair in an intimate love song situation (‘Mile Do Badan’) while they are being hunted down by villains with arms and dogs. His creative imagination amazes us to this day. ‘Ek Ghar Banega’ from ‘Tere Ghar ke Samne’(1963)had camera tricks where Nutan is seen in ice cubes in a glass of whisky. The song ‘Dil ka bhawar kare pukar’ was shot in the Qutb Minar (actually on a set as permission was not granted). In the song both Dev Anand and Nutan are shown climbing the narrow winding staircase as friends and come down as lovers. The lighting and camera work makes this a magical sequence.

Released in 1970, ‘Johny Mera Naam’ was the biggest hit of his career. This film is often touted as a must-watch for screenplay writers. Never a dull moment in a screen time of 2hrs and 45 mins. Kalyanji-Anandji’s signature car-chase tune which added to the mood and excitement of the movie also ‘inspired’ many composers later. Anita Padhye writes in her Marathi book, ‘Ek Hota Goldie’ about ‘Husn ke lakhon rang’, the raunchy number which became a highlight of the film. The back story of Padma Khanna gives the context- it’s not just another item number. ‘So real were Premnath’s expressions that Goldie was worried that Premnath might hug Padma Khanna out of sheer lust.’ This blockbuster launched Hema Malini towards superstardom and gave a new lease of life to Premnath as a major character actor.

A word about Vijay Anand’s notable screen roles which left a mark on the audience. From the soldier in ‘Haqeeqat’ to the disillusioned Dr Kothari in ‘Tere Mere Sapne’; the Professor husband in ‘Kora Kagaz’ to the Thakur of ‘Main Tulsi Teri Angan Ki’. To the popular TV crime series thriller ‘Tehkikaat’ in 1994 with Vijay Anand as private detective Sam D’Silva- directed by his nephew Shekar Kapur.

After 1973, his career went downhill due to personal and family issues; spiritual meetings with Rajneesh (Osho) and later sessions with UG Krishnamurthy also took him away from the film world. Still, for many Bollywood filmmakers, Vijay Anand is the Boss. Many are in awe of his technical finesse, storytelling skills, and his ear for film music. Shekar Kapur, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Raj Kumar Santoshi, Madhur Bhandarkar and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra to name a few. Sriram Raghavan (of ‘Andhadhun’ fame) dedicated his ‘Johnny Gadar’ to the Master and peppered it with many hat tips to him. In one scene the hotel receptionist is shown watching ‘Johny Mera Naam’.

Surprisingly, this much-feted filmmaker received only 4 Filmfare awards-Best Director & Dialogues in ‘Guide’ (1966) and Best Screenplay and Editing for ‘Johny Mera Naam’ in 1971.

But his seminal impact and legacy endures through his work. In today’s times, he would probably have been referred to as Mr 360 degrees- the encyclopedia of filmmaking.

Messi Magic & the Fairy Tale Ending

Posted on December 20, 2022 by SV Rao

22^nd November 2022. The first World Cup Group C match in Qatar. Score-line Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina. A stunning upset. A huge disappointment and shock for the millions of Messi fans across the globe rooting for his first World Cup victory with Argentina in his fifth appearance. The dream seemed to have ended before it even began. Social media trolls brutally took over and the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) was ridiculed by comparisons with the Camel; unflattering memes became viral with graphic references to what happened to the GOAT.

Not winning the World Cup with Argentina has long been the albatross around Messi’s neck. Many pundits have derisively called him out with, ‘What has he done for the national team?’ For the record, he won the Olympics gold medal with the Argentine squad in 2008. In 2005, he won the U-20 WC and picked up both the Golden Boot (top scorer) and Golden Ball (player of the tournament). He carried an average team on his shoulders to the finals of the 2014 WC where Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany. Pictures of a forlorn Messi holding the Golden Ball trophy, looking at the one which mattered the most, made headlines around the sporting world. In 2015 and 2016 he again powered an ordinary national side to the finals of the Copa America. The defeat by Chile in 2016 devastated him to such an extent that he retired from international football. Thankfully, he changed his mind a few months later. Even in his home country, he was not embraced wholeheartedly as he had moved to Barcelona, Spain as a young teenager. The huge shadow of the flamboyant legend Maradona, who won the WC in 1986 for Argentina, seemed to follow him everywhere on the international stage.

In 2021, Messi finally broke the jinx by captaining Argentina to the Copa America trophy and once again being adjudged as the Golden ball winner. In the same year, he won a record 7th Ballon d’Or trophy putting him in the stratosphere of one of the greatest footballers of all time. He graced the Barcelona jersey from 2004-21 scoring 672 goals with 266 assists in 778 games and winning 34 trophies. The intensely loyal Messi would probably have played his last game at Nou Camp. However, shockingly the talisman player’s contract was not renewed by the Catalan club due to a financial crises, aggravated by the pandemic. Very few sportsmen have achieved such glorious success over such a long career at the high levels of competitive sport. But after winning his 5th Ballon d’Or our sporting icon said, “I would prefer the World cup over five Ballon d’Or trophies.” Vamos Argentina!!

Over these years Messi’s magic has been such that it has added another X factor to the beautiful game. Exponents like Pele, Garrincha, Jiarzinho, Zico, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho from Brazil instantly come to mind. Osvaldo Ardiles and Diego Maradona also spiced up the South American flavour and servings. Messi’s artistry and ball skills have often been called ‘Insane’, ‘Other worldly’ and ‘Alien’. His vision, balance, sudden turns and acceleration have stupefied both defenders and spectators. His saucy dribbles, sublime free kicks and the art of the chip finish have brought gasps and smiles and sheer jaw drops. Take his assist to Alvarez for the goal against Croatia in the just concluded WC. A great solo run, dribbles and feints and even stopping once before making that lethal pass backward from outside the goal post for the goal strike. The Croatian defender Jorko Gvandiol is recognised as one of the best in the business. But the Argentine maestro simply outclassed and outmanoeuvred him. The Brazilian great Ronaldo has observed that the 35-year-old Messi has changed his game with his age, “The 30 scoring actions and passes are now reduced to 10 but he remains the decisive player. His sporadic entries into the box but he is the killer. He plays on the minds of the opponents all the time.” The Brazilian champion pays Messi the ultimate compliment that, “He is happy that Messi has won the WC with the caveat that otherwise the 2 Latin American nations are bitter rivals on the football field.”

Lionel Messi, the idol, is adored by his Argentine teammates. They passionately worked and played to hold aloft the Holy Grail of football for their country, their team and especially for their captain. Angel Di Maria who impressed and scored in the final with a Messi assist had this to say, “I always dreamed of playing with him, having him by my side every day. Every time we go with Argentina national team it seems very short.” Martinez, who won the Golden Gloves award as the best goalkeeper, is even more heartfelt, “I want to give him life. I want to die for him.” Please check out the viral video when after the penalty shootout against the Netherlands, the entire team runs towards the goal scorer but Messi crosses the field to hug Martinez who is lying on the ground. The goalie’s saves had won them the match. Messi the match-winner has scored 98 goals in 172 games for Argentina. Equally critical has been his role as a team player and creator with 58 assists. Assist refers to that final definitive pass to a team-mate or setting up a team-mate to take the goal shot. It is worth pointing out here that Brazil, France and England were favoured to win the WC. But coach Scaloni built up a team around Messi with the likes of Martinez, Di Maria, Hernandez and upcoming star Alvarez who scored 4 goals. Lionel Messi was blessed to have a team which grew from strength to strength with every outing.

What about the Messi Mania? It’s a global, social phenomenon rarely witnessed. The world went bonkers. Not only did the sale of the No 10 Messi T-shirts break all records but there are social media posts of guys getting married in these T-shirts. Prayers were conducted at places of worship across the world for the folk hero to achieve his dream. Kerala, Goa and Kolkata saw huge cut-outs of the star with fresh garlands put on every day. What is there about the Argentine football legend which has touched millions of hearts across the planet?

His humble upbringing was in Rosario, Argentina. His growth hormone disorder (GHD) and the medical treatment his modest family could not afford. Then Destiny intervenes. FC Barcelona (thanks to their scouts) sign up a 13-year-old Messi and agree to pay for his medical treatment. Probably, the best deal in the history of football. Then, the youth team at the Barca Academy and the rest is history. Still, it astounds many many football fans as to how a 5 ft & 7 inches Messi has been outrunning and outsmarting much taller and better-built opponents for so many years. There is also the undeniable fact that very few human beings have carried the burden of expectations this man has and has ultimately triumphed on every count. During all his struggles, he has shown that a monster competitor lurks within him co-existing with his sublime skills and sporting nature. Despite the intense pressure, he has conducted himself with grace, poise and a sportsmanlike attitude. The private Messi has kept a low profile about the outstanding work of the Leo Messi Foundation in the areas of health, education and sports. Many pundits are now hailing him as the greatest athlete on the planet and not just the GOAT footballer. How the hell can a 35-year-old play all the matches full-time in the high-pressure WC and still rise to the occasion whenever it mattered? Lionel Messi has transcended his sport.

Let’s listen in to another great sportsman cast in the same mould. Roger Federer, “Fairy Tale stuff, Argentina. Time and again you Leo Messi have redefined greatness. It’s a privilege to watch you. Congrats, Leo. Special and historic.”

So it is that most of the footballing world and fraternity rejoiced when Messi and Argentina lifted the WC trophy. It was both relief and ecstasy after the greatest final game ever played. A fairy tale ending for Messi and his team. A small nugget of interesting trivia. Both Messi and Mbappe, the French star, play for PSG (Paris Saint Germain) which is owned by the Emir of Qatar through the Qatar Sports Foundation. Some things are meant to happen. As Messi’s ( Golden Ball winner) incredible career draws to a close, the 23-year-old Mbappe (Golden Boot winner) will be looking forward to more goals and glory.