Demise of an Era

“He has done the crime against people of Iraq then, They should have decided what to do with their former ruler, Not the interim government that came into power due to an American support.. He has done Crime against Humanity, let the
International Tribunal decide what to do with him and Not any Country-Court.. ”

I said it last night and in a few hours time I’ve come to know that this is not going to happen... Never... Because, the Man I was talking about is no more.

I just watched it on TV; the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein is dead. He is hanged an hour before.

He was hanged today, as the Sun was rising in the City of Baghdad. But on whom the Sun was shining today?
The Dictator who dominated Iraq for over four decades, the Man who was causing nightmares for Bush (both Senior and Junior), is no more. The fiend that has been haunting psyches of America is no more.

But that isn’t what we Indians identify him as. For us he was not a fiend but a friend.

For us, he was a special friend. I’ll remember him as a man who, like a true friend, stood by India on many occasions. I’ll remember him as a secular leader who succeeded in keeping Iraq united for over a long period of time, despite the acute civil differences that were made by some selfish people. I’ll remember him as a leader who supported the modern living in Iraq, when some other countries of the region were going back in time.
We have lost a friend forever....

But I also can’t forget the inhuman steps he took during his regime. Inhuman to the extent that-one can not put it in words. I accept he was required to be punished but I won’t accept the way the punishment was carried out in hurry. (Well that shows how desperate Mr. Bush is to get rid of this all,).
Why they chose this particular date for execution, when the year 2006 is to end soon, when the Hajj is going on and when Muslims are to celebrate the Eid soon? (Well, they might have filmed this one too, and they may air it on prime time shows.)
Anyways, He is hanged till death for a crime he did around two and a half decade ago. What was America doing at that time? (Oh! How can I forget, he was in a fight with Iran and Communism, then, isn’t it?)
So why was he hanged now?
I simply refuse to accept this decision and the action over it. I believe that, execution is not the answer. It will end the person and not the thought.

Whatever it may be, but one thing is sure, Iraq will face tough time in the days ahead. There are pockets that are happy with Saddam’s execution and there are pockets who want to take revenge. There’re pockets that support US, there are pockets who oppose it. And there are pockets who want to get free. I feel that surely this is the Divide and Rule policy in place

Saddam To Be Hanged on Saturday?

Saddam Hussein will possibly be hanged in a few days. But I’m sensing a plot over here. Why he was denied of appeal? Why there is so rush about it? May be it’s all to deny him the right to be judged by an international court. Yes, He deserves a fair trial although he denied the same for several people.
What will be the difference between Saddam and his killers, if he’s really hanged? Nothing. Because already they have made a grave mistake by attacking Iraq and they are still to heal it Thousands of civilians and soldiers died in this war, and in Afghanistan, in Somalia and places like this.

He has done the crime against people of Iraq then, They should have decided what to do with their former ruler, Not the interim government that came into power due to an American support..

He has done Crime against Humanity, let the International Tribunal decide what to do with him and Not any Country-Court..

Two Years after Tsunami

Two Years ago, South Asia and South East Asia faced two Tsunami waves First that lasted for a few moments and took millions with her and Second, the Tidal wave of help and rehabilitation. That second Tsunami is still continuing and is required to continue for a long time.

The Physical damage done by the killer wave is a thing easy to recover, but that's not the case with minds. That's not the case with the thousands of little children who lost their childhood.

Although I live in a place long away from the one where Tsunamis struck, the pain is still alive in my heart and so is the case with several others.

Merry Christmas!!!!

It’s Christmas Time and I’m so happy today…!
It’s been a memorable Christmas for me; I spent it with some of my very close friends. I’d gone to Kadav yesterday. And although I’m so happy, I’m a bit tired and so I can’t write more.

Irfan Out of SA Series:

I am Happy today, but not so happy. I’m not happy with a decision taken by Indian Team Management. Indian Ace Seamer is asked to return home and play in the Ranji Series to get back his bowling form.
Now what they’re doing with him? You chose him as a bowler and then said that he’s a potential all-rounder. And then when your team is in need of all round performers, you deselect him saying that he is a bowler first. That too when he is the highest run-scorer and when your Great legends are going down.
Oh, I’m confused! Just imagine how confused he might be because of the changing nature of our game plans.
We worship the performers but when someone outperforms, we forget the previous one. This should not happen. I wish now he doesn’t feel like being thrown out of The Team.

Best Of Luck Irfan!

BMM Somaiya Festival: ESTRO 2006-07

I forgot to tell you, we today had our College Festival going on and our department has a special festival- Estro. We had our Film Festival Today and one of the Documentries was a really touchy one.It satirically talked about how Indians are unaware of their glorious past- the Freedom Movement, and even their currrent situations. It

Now what to call it???

I’m not so happy with the Indian Media especially the News Channels. Really Really Very Unhappy…
Well I’m angry with them all!!!!

They are spending hours and hours and hours on the loss of Indian team but nobody is bothered about the Glories in Asian Games

I’m so angry with them… And no it’s not because of the lost Cricket Series but it’s because we are not recognizing our heroes. I’m not angry or jealous with the game of Cricket. I just want to say LOOK AT THE SHOOTERS and other ATHLETES too! They are performing excellently.

And this suggestion is for the Indian Cricketers too!

Sadly, People are interested in Cricket only. And that’s why they are not so happy these days, they don’t know the other joys…

No cake and no cherry: India looses the series 4-0

On the first day of the series, I was praying for the “no rains”…
Five matches later, today I was praying for rains- both from the sky and from the bats of our Indian players…
Seems like when it comes to cricket, the Rain God doesn’t listen to us…

So it was at the Wanderers, Johannesburg that the story continued. India lost to South Africa again, and lost with a worst loss.
And with it the ODI Series has ended with Graeme Smith and boys holding Trophy in their hands.

The Indian Cricket Team is definitely going through a very very bad condition. All seem to have confused and there’s hardly anyone to play like a team. Most of the players seem to have lost on confidence. Yet there are a few people who showed a little glimpse of their talent. But over all, it was a bad performance, for sure.

When you have someone doing best and best again and again, you call it “The Cherry on the Cake”
Now What shall we call this Indian loss to South Africa? We have left very little to cheer, neither the cake not even the cherry.

The Series is Lost...

I just finished watching the fourth ODI between India and South Africa. Obviously, India lost.

Well, now-a-days, it becomes news when India wins... But this is certainly a ‘news’ as India lost the match and lost the series with it. We haven’t yet won a series in South Africa. But who expected such a bad performance from the “Men in Blue”?

I was still watching the match because of and only because of Irfan Pathan. He played a brilliant knock today. He showed more signs of maturity and patience. However I think he should concentrate on his bowling first. His bowling action seems to have changed. I think we need to give him some time.

As far the Indian team is concerned, what else remains to say? There is a talk going on about Saurav Ganguly to be selected.

So are we going back to the experience instead of youth? In my opinion, it’s not the question of youth or experience alone. It’s neither an easy thing to get a balance between them two. I feel what the Team needs most is not players but a proper game-plan. So let’s see when do they get it… and yes they need not to get overexposure in media. !

Final Flipper by Thrpedo: Ian Thorpe Retires:

“……You can swim lap after lap staring at a black line and all of a sudden you look up and see what’s around you. That’s what it feels like to me…”

-Ian Thorpe, The Australian Swimmer,

in a news conference announcing his retirement.

The famous man in his famous Black bodysuit won’t be seen cutting through the Olympic waters again.

One of the greatest Swimmers of all time, Ian Thorpe of Australia announced his retirement today signing the end of a record-breaking career at the age of just 24.
195 cm tall Thorpe who has an extra-ordinary flipper-size 17 feet, is one of the gifted Athletes. He could puff away other swimmers with his famed ‘Dolphin-kick’.

This Australian Olympic Superstar came to be known as a “Record-machine”.

He became The Youngest Men's world champion in swimming history at the age of 15, by winning the 400 freestyle final at the 1998 world championship, and since then, has been breaking a lot of records and making new ones. He celebrated The Sydney Olympics, 2000with three Golds and two Silvers.

Thorpe has not competed in any major international competition since the Athens Olympics 2004. Amidst the suspicions about his motivation ahead of coming Beijing Olympics 2008, the injury, illness, Thorpe said that he has realised –there was more to life than swimming.

Several brows rose to his decision to retire at so early of an age. Thorpe, however, said breaking records "wasn't as inspiring as it should have been."
Although he reportedly gets around US $2.6m as his sponsorship earnings, Thorpe said that Money was not his motivation. “I’m not driven by Finance, it’s not my thing. I’m lucky that I’m pretty financially secure. I’m not completely secure- I have to work or I’m going to run out. “

“As I got fit physically my mind also got fit, I started looking at myself not only as a swimmer but as a person.”

So he wants to whirl around in the new avenues of life. Best of Luck in your new journey, we’ll always miss you, Ian!

Here is Ian Thorpe in numbers

Thorpe has won 5 Olympic Golds. He also has won 10 Commonwealth Golds .

Since 1998 he dominated the 400 meter freestyle, winning the event at every Olympic, World; Commonwealth and Pan Pacific championships until he took break after Athens Olympics.

Thorpe stockpiled 11 World titles during his career - the most by any swimmer.
At the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Thorpe grabbed record six Titles.

Between 1999- 2002, Thorpe broke 13 World Records.

Ian, who also once has did a “catwalk” for Armani, is one of the graceful athletes of the era. He was a true champion of the game and a pin-up idol too…

Ashes begins

So the Ashes are finally here! ....

Do I need to say anything else to explain how enthusiastic people are about it? well they are, always... But this time- like it was last time- everyone is hoping for a battle. But I doubt what will happen because, looking at the present sides, I think Aussies are way too better. .

Anyways, let's see what happens...