mere funde

Ya, Goyal, it’s a very valid point. I think there are quite a few reasons for it. First of all, it’s the fact that we all like to have our time in the spotlight… and with half a dozen 24 hour news channels hiding mikes in every nook and corner for sound bytes, you only have to be remotely famous to get your share. And making absurd statements is the easiest way to get you there… Praveen Togadia is a fine example…

As far as this Dhananjay chap is concerned, it’s a debate that shouldn’t even have happened. I, personally, am not against death penalty… I agree, you can’t go around killing everyone but I feel our legal system gives enough scope for appeals and reappeals… if in nothing else, here at least it’s quite thorough in making sure that the case really is “rarest of the rare”… and if the high court, the supreme court and after that the president also decides that a person should be hanged, he must really deserve it. As definitely did Dhanajay…

You know what the basic problem is… I feel it’s that people don’t know what they’re fighting for… they forget that if they’re against death penalty, that doesn’t mean they’re for Dhananjay… coz how can they support a heinous killer. If they’re against death penalty, they shouldn’t be coming out on the streets a week before he is hanged and then forget all about it… the debate should be happening now… at this moment. I’ll listen, give me a convincing argument and I’ll listen. But don’t you tell me Dhananjay deserves my pity… coz he doesn’t… coz it’s not a convincing argument… coz no one in his right mind would say that… coz if you’re saying that, you’re not against death penalty, you just wanna be on TV… you don’t know what you’re talking about…

Many years ago, I had read somewhere that after Nathuram Godse was hanged, they buried his body in some unmarked field and then planted grass all over so that the spot couldn’t be recognized and idolized later… I often wondered why that was needed… there might come those who criticize Gandhi but would they really idolize Godse…

Hmm… maybe… I guess our forefathers knew us really well…

Ah… lot of psenti stuff put up in a lasr few posts… Here is one of those not so psenti ones…

Last Monday there was this huge debate on NDTV about capital punishment being awarded for rapists… And I started thinking but this post is not about that issue… After a lot of thinking what I started to think was that we Indians have a habit of trying to make heroes out of villains…

I mean how else can one describe the huge number of so called “intellectual” people coming out and claiming that it was injustice to award Dhananjoy a death penalty… And that too for all pathetic reasons… They say his parents have no other support… Did anyone give Hetal’s parents a thought… Again they say that he has been in imprisonment for too long and his mental state is not good… Ha… what a joke… was it ever ok??… and in any case the remedy for that is a quicker justice process and not letting him go free… But then the Bengali ‘bhadralok’ would be happy if he was set afree… but will they employ him as a gaurd in their own houses??

Boy I digress a lot… Neways getting back to the point now… Why do we have to make heroes out of such people?? Is it because or public figures have failed us too often… I could not think of anything better…

Anyone got other ideas???

This is my first entry in this blog…..after reading rahul’s and goyal’s entry, i m also in psenti mood….i just spoke to bansal and jeete convincing them to come to pune on sudeep’s b’day…i know you guys are psenti semites and you have enough time but no money…don’t worry i ‘ll sponsor your trip…just plan and come…..

seriously life is moving so fast…..i still remember rahul saying in railway station on our last meeting…dear bang is not that far from pune….we ‘ll meet on alternate weekends. but we are so busy that we are not even getting time to mail.

I am listening “with or without you” and “Ab na Jaa”….which is reminding me the old days…Nice days of psenti sem and those four years of BITSian life….

I am eagerly waiting for you people…….

And distances do not matter…. and thank you all for always being there….

Ankit and I are heading for Pune in the first weekend of Oct for Sudeep’s birthday… there still are hiccups that need to be overcome, but I’m sure I’m gonna make it there. When there’s a will, there’s a way… and this time round, there is more than will. It’s gonna be a small meeting with Thax and Sudeep… about 24 hours in the train and almost the same time with them.

Ha ha, what has it come to… these were chaps who were always within shouting range… for 4 years… 4 long years that now freaking seem so short. The road of life has moved on and moved on real fast. An 850 kilometer trip for 24 hours, there was a time when I would have considered it stupid… a waste… I guess perception changes, for there’s nothing in the near future that I’m looking forward to more.

I knew it would change, I thought I was ready for it… but it sure has ended up hitting me hard. I’m good at mailing, I’ll keep in touch, it’ll be the same… that’s what I had thought… shit, I was so wrong… all the mailing, all the phone calls, all the sms in the world aren’t even close to being an equivalent. Keeping in touch through mailing lists, scraps, nah, all crap… they’re no substitutes. It’s probably a bit psychological too… yes, there were those who I didn’t meet for weeks on end… but at least I knew that if I wanted to, I could… maybe I really took them for granted.

Yes, there are those I’ve lost touch with… so soon… and they’ve just disappeared… All you guys… I hope you’re happy… I hope you find what you’re looking for… I hope we can meet again someday…

Goyal wrote in a mail and mentioned the Khetri trip… and memories just came tumbling forth… all those trips, all that fun… the first trip to Dhaba… there was that song we had sung all the way… “bas yaadein reh jaati hain”… life sure moved on quick… sometimes I feel I was left behind…

Love you all…

Don’t be misled by the title… this is about BOSM and I guess the title will be clearer as I move along.

I wanted to hook on to the point Goyal mentioned regarding the fairness of BOSM scheduling. I’m assuming that Goyal actually meant the fairness of the draw. Putting the draw in such a way such that the BITS team always reaches the semis is quite unfair. I agree… In fact, I must say Dilee really tried to force his way through for impartial draws and did quite a good job of it last year, I’m not sure how things are turning out this time around.

This actually reminds me of something his person said to me a little before OASIS sometime… in my second or third year… (names are not important)… she said, “unless you are of the intellectual kind, I’m sure you’ll agree that it is an unsaid rule for departments and clubs to help BITS teams.” I had very politely told her then that I was definitely of the intellectual kind. If the BITS teams messed around with one of the rules, they’d obviously be disqualified.

Anyways, coming back to BOSM, it’s the captain of the BITS team that makes the draw, he’s the one who decides the seeds. And to tell you the truth, he’s the only one who’s qualified enough to do it. You really can’t give it to a body like BOSM Controlz ‘coz they’d have no experience… who’s playing well, who is not, which looks like the better team, which team should be given a higher seed… how many matches would you able to fit, should you go for a pool or a knockout… all these decisions need to be taken and it is only the captain of the team that can. He is the one who has to be fair and the onus should fall on him.

To be unfair in such a situation is incredibly easy… I know team A and team B are better than the BITS team… I put them in the same half of the draw and put the BITS team in the other half… that simple…

To ensure that there is no scope for unfairness also is very simple… you just need the will to do it… you have a public drawing of the lots, you call a representative from each team and draw the lots in front of them. Yes, the BITS team might very easily get a shoddy deal… but then, that’s part of the game…

I remember last time, after the ValD, this chap from COEP had come up to me, shook my hand and said, “Thanks man, for everything… last time we were a little annoyed with the way things were done but this time, it’s been really fair… the best 4 teams reached the semis, the two best teams reached the finals, really good…”

I don’t really know why he thought he needed to thank me for doing my job right (is that what it has come to these days?) but what I felt at that moment was easily worth all the BOSM medals… maybe some of the captains need to think about that…

My favourite BOSM memory is from a match that I lost… winning isn’t everything, is it?

BOSM turned nineteen the day before yesterday amidst rains and a very dull inaug. It was all too boring or I guess I just miss the number of participants Bansal had been sucessful in getting in or maybe it is one of those psentisemite feeling that creeps in with the number of inaugs we have witnessed.They are so regular and strereotyped and its not just about BOSM. Whatever the Inaug turned out to be a damp affair both literally and figuratively.

The exhibition match was between BITS and COEP. Boy one of the things I miss in inaug since the first year is a good inaug match. Something like Loyola v/s. SBMJC. Neways the match seemed totally one sided and BITS won comfortably (that too with Shetty as the captain and Karthik,ex-captain, not playing.) The only match till now where BITS has looked like a good team was against SRCC where they actually ruled the first half. After that they soon ran out of steam and then SRCC took control. The reasons were many. Match was payed at 9:30 in the morning under scorching sun and the first change was that kid from Maharastra. I know if you have the skills and all physique does not matter but for gods sake the kid is about Bansal in height and cannot take a lap shot even. So poor was the BITSian bench strength that the five players couldn’t take a much needed change. The worst was BITS v/s. Vaish Coll., Rohtak (funny story though, they believe that an OPEN meet is where anyone can come and participate and Debo wanted to know the Jats view on Australian Open.) You had to see BITS play to believe. They were pathetic and even though the opponents were mostly cricket players BITS struggled to make a good job of it. The couldn’t catch the ball. They couldn’t pass around. In short they sucked.

The match of the tournament so far was however SBMJC v/s. BRAC (defending champs.) I didn’t see most of the match due to BOSM Quiz (man I missed Rahul in the elims… had you been there we could have qualified this time…. lots of tennis) Bansal did and guess what, the captain of BRAC did actually dunked in one match. When I last saw the scores it was 50-40 in favour of BRAC but SBMJC cracked the last quarter and won it. Man they sure do rock. Anyways we had better things to do then. Like going to the dhaba.

One of the questions that comes to my mind during BOSM is whether GSu’s statement that BITS should compete against colleges other than the engineering ones. I mean BITS fares well against such colleges or atleast puts up a fight (like SRCC though its not an engg coll.) I mean they should compete against colleges where people have stuff to do other than just sports. Rst of the colleges send in pros. I know one cannot defend that statement but somehow I get that feeling and I don’t know why. Also is it fair to have scheduling done in a way that BITS reaches atleast the semis of all events. I guess that the scheduling thing requires al lot of guts. Rahul would be able to answer that one.

BOSM quiz btw, I struck up a nice conversation with this guy from Thadomal, Mumbai and had a nice time in he quiz. He knew a lot and it was fun at the quiz with both of us answering a lot of questions and winning stuff. We actually answered the T-shirt question together but since he went up first he was given the prize :(. But then in the end it was nice fun and I guess thats what BOSM is all about.

About tennis. BITS getting into semis depends on two teams who are out of the tournament. Some tie break ka funda. Will keep you updated on that front. The best performance however comes from the football team who has won two matches 5-1 and 8-0 with our very own Sam scoring the goal of the tournament from somewhere near the half line. That’s all for today. Chow!!

BOSM starts today back in Pilani… and from what I hear, it’s been raining. Maybe it’s a tradition or something, but I remember there being rain before at least 3 of my 4 BOSM inaugs. There always is a struggle scheduling matches on the tennis courts, we wish the clouds would part for just a moment, that the heaven’s won’t open up till the last point is played. And everytime, the clouds listen to us… and the matches finish on time.

Four BOSMs and I must say it’s been fun… and I’d probably give anything to be back there in Pilani right now… the excitement on inaug day… as you watch outstis practice… silently making mental notes of any flaws you might notice… “hmm… he struggles on a deep backhand… shit, forehand serve return is good… forward movement is slow… nice volley…”

There’s a team spirit, a camaraderie, as you stand with fellow BITSians… knowing they feel exactly the way you do… that they’re gonna get up at 6 the next morning with you… the day you’ve practised for before tests is finally here… standing there you realize that what you read somewhere was perhaps right… that it’s about taking part and not winning… at that moment, winning is the last thing on your mind…

It’s a momentary feeling… and it doesn’t last long… the traditional baski match happens and while you’re watching them play… you’re actually somewhere else… you’re on the tennis courts mentally wishing you didn’t have to wait all night to play your first match… you see yourself hitting the winning shot a thousand times before you actually do…

The match is at 7 in the morning… and the only people on the court are the two teams… does it matter that there is no crowd… hardly… even if there were a thousand people, you won’t notice them… all you see is the guy in front of you… this is the moment you’ve been waiting for… the moment you’ll miss when you’re sitting in Bangalore typing in a blog…

The match begins and you’d do anything to win… you’ll play up on your opponents weaknesses, you’ll even mentally psyche him out if you can… you find out he has a pulled muscle in his legs, you’ll make him run around… you’ll see him grimace, you’ll feel victory is near… a sprained wrist and you’ll get him to volley… because you want to win… because you know he’d do the same to you… because you know that he understands… because you know that when it ends and you shake hands, it will all be forgotten… there will be no grudges, you’ll part friends…

Because you know that if someone asks you about the match 10 years later, the first words out of your mouth would be… “He had a sprained ankle and shit, he still fought so hard…”

I think it’s been enough… we should conclude…

1> Hypocrisy in all forms is pathetic. One should have the courage to be true to himself and the world.



2> The decision what you wanna do with your life, how large a priority you want money to have, is a very important one. People should give it a lot of thought.



3> No one has any right to judge any such decision taken by someone. If a person decides to go after money, well, it’s his decision. We wish him all the very best!



4> We are entitled to our point of views (extreme or moderate) and we’ll keep blabbering!

Yes Goyal, money can buy me a hockey stick but not make me enjoy playing with it. But then, why would I buy a hockey stick? I’ll buy a pizza coz I know I’ll enjoy eating it!

You said “money can buy you all things in life other than happiness”… such a cliched line.

Suppose there’s someone who’s real good at painting… but c’mon seriously, unless you make it really big, you’re gonna be struggling all your life. He has graduated from an enginnering college, has a good degree. So, he had a decision to take… gus it all and start painting, try and make it big… or take up the software job.

Suppose he decides to paint, gus the job… maybe he makes it big… but maybe he doesn’t… if he does, great, his belief paid off… if he doesn’t… oops… he’s a failed painter… he spends the rest of his life worrying about rents and bills, his child’s education, the welfare of his family…

Suppose he decides that he’s gonna plan out his life… he’s got enough years ahead of him, he’s gonna plan it… yes, he enjoys painting but money also matters… he decides he’s gonna take up the job… work hard at it for the next 10-15 years of his life… he’ll still paint in his free time coz he enjoys it… and if he enjoys it, he’ll also find time for it too… inspite of his busy schedule… then, one day, when he has saved enough, when he thinks he has assured his own financial security… and that of his family… he’ll say I’ve had enough… and start to paint… maybe he’ll succeed, maybe he’ll fail… in both cases, he’ll still be ok…

There are 50 overs ahead of you… is it wrong to save your wickets (money in this case) so that you can slog in the end. Particularly, because in real life, there aren’t just 2 fielders outside the circle in the first 15 overs. Afridi made the fastest century but he also failed many times. You have only one life… can you afford to fail?