2012 - Wrap Up!

At the start of this year, I had vowed that I'll be much more regular with my posts. Its almost the end of 2012, and I have exactly the same number of posts as last year, excluding this one. But I still have around 2 hours to catch up! Though I don't really see the point. Till last year, each post drew at least one comment, and I knew people were reading, even if they were just my friends. This year, 13 posts have collectively drawn just two comments, not counting the two replies by me. The post on the "fire in the blood" documentary continues to draw a lot of people from all over the world each day, as it makes the round of film festivals around the world and curious people Google it to learn more. They inadvertently land up on my blog, but without much feedback, I am assuming no one bothers to read it. 

Catching eye balls was never the intention of this blog. It was always meant to be a place where I could think out loud and clear my head. But who am I kidding? Its obviously demoralizing to not have a sustained readership. Also, the things I end up writing about don't help. This year its mostly been about tennis, and a few social and political issues. Not much personal stuff. Incidentally, these are the very topics I cannot talk to my friends about, due to lack of interest. And as they make up my entire readership, its not surprising that there ain't much feedback. But anyway, enough of rambling, cause I am still gonna keep thinking out loud here.

This year saw a lot of lows, with a few highs - for me personally, as well as the nation in general. I'll probably spend January introspecting, and maybe even writing about both. Last year ended with a promising bang, cause I finally joined a PhD program, but the bang started to fizz out even before January was over. However, I did accomplish my long standing goal of joining dance classes. Basically, that sums up the year for me, disappointment and confusion on the career front, and satisfaction in finally doing something I love. Oh and yeah, my almost 2 years of post masters research experience fructified in the form of two publications in  international scientific journals - something I had dreamed of forever, but didn't really mean as much when it finally was realized. Anyway, so here's my two cents worth on what was good in 2012.

Best Movie (Hindi) - English Vinglish.

Best Actor - Not very competitive this year, at least from the movies I saw. It would have to be Nawazuddin Siddiqui for his collective effort in Talaash, Kahaani, Miss Lovely and Gangs of Wasseypur. Though I must say I haven't seen the last two, and also Paan Singh Tomar, for which many would say Irrfan Khan would be a lead contender.

Best Actress - Priyanka Chopra would have scored again this year in my book with Barfi! (after 7 khoon maaf last year), had it not been for a brilliant Sridevi in English Vinglish.
 
Supporting Performance - Parambrata Chatterjee in Kahaani and Kareena Kapoor in Talaash.

Best Soundtrack - Again, not too much brilliance to look back on, but Teri Meri Kahaani was the soundtrack that most frequently appeared on my playlist this year, along with Cocktail.


Playback singing -

Male - Sonu Nigam for Abhi mujh mai kahin (Agneepath).

Female - Hamsika Iyer for Raabta [Siyaah Raatein] (Agent Vinod)

Personality of the year - Definitely, the agent of change, the woman who took the nation by storm - the unnamed.

Movie of the year (English) - Life of Pi would come out on top from the few that I have seen. Still waiting to watch Argo and Les Miserables.

Breakthrough Artist of the year - A band to look forward to for greatness in future - Fun. They may not have debuted this year, but they definitely had a breakthrough and took 2012 by storm.

Song(s) of the year - Though it would be Gangnam style on many lists in the world, it won't be on mine. I never got the whole hoopla around this song, it was no Macarena! But this one would still be a very tough pick, with a host of songs ruling the roost this year. I would for now, go with the obvious ones - 'Call me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen, 'We are young' by Fun, and 'Somebody that I used to Know' by Gotye, though my heart says 'Madness' by Muse.

The 'Mosquito' whose sting will be missed

With Novak Djokovic lifting the season-ending ATP championship trophy last month, a landmark year on the ATP circuit came to a close. The year was marked with long awaited events. The last time when all the four Grand Slam trophies were held aloft by four different pair of hands was in 2003 and a Brit bloke had not won a Grand Slam since 1936. There were a host of high profile retirements and comebacks (read Tommy Haas), and then there was the biggest of them all - Ivan Lendl smiled for the cameras! One of those high-profile retirements came at the Valencia Open in the last week of October, from a player who incidentally , entered his name in the history books in that significant year of 2003 - Agassi won his last slam, while three players won their first. One of them went on to win 16 more slams, being labeled as the best ever to play the game, and still a threat on the circuit. The other two, did not win another major, and both retired this year from professional tennis. While Roddick hung his tennis shoes at the site of his lone major triumph at the US Open, Juan Carlos Ferrero, aka 'the mosquito', bid adieu at the tournament he owns. 

Ferrero is the player who was a major influence in drawing my interest to this beautiful game, along with Henin and Hingis. Watching this skinny lad waltzing gracefully and swiftly across the clay courts of Roland Garros, I was mesmerized at his success in a game which had begin to require brute force for success in the baseline slug fests that had come to predominate tennis. His shots were sharp and penetrative, with an aggressive, all-court game and one of the best forehands the game has ever seen. This earned him the rather unflattering nickname of "the mosquito". Shy and reserved, he was hardly the superstar the game seems to worship - the likes of Agassi, the Williams sisters - then. But still he was popular, as the countless lists on the Interet ranking ATP players based on their looks will vouch. It is interesting that both Henin and Ferrero emerged on the scene nearly at the same time.Both started out as exceptional clay courters, and went on to develop a potent all-court game. Both were champions who shied away from the spotlight, and chose to let their games do the talking. Both suffered major career falls due to injuries and illness. Its a different matter that while Henin would go on to overcome them and be counted amongst the greatest women players of all time in an attenuated career, Ferrero, who went on to play beyond the age of 30, faded into relative anonymity.

Lady luck definitely was oblivious to Ferrero's charms, considering the fact that his career was riddled with injuries just when he hit his peak after winning the French and making it to the finals at the US Open. This was coupled with the insurgence of the new wave of future superstars at the same time, including the GOAT Roger Federer, as well as Ferrero's heir, Nadal. While Ferrero led the Spanish team to its first ever Davis Cup victory, he was already anointed the king of Spanish tennis, replacing players like Moya and Corretja. However, his reign didn't last too long. Though he kept the struggle alive, making it to title matches every year, and making it to the second week of the majors more often than not, he was by now reduced to another one of the also-rans. Injuries had blunted the mosquito's  sting.

Towards the twilight of his career, Ferrero had silently started preparing for the after-tennis life, with his Luxury hotel, tennis academy and ownership stakes in the Valencia Open. He also showed signs of revival in the past 3-4 years, with better showings at the slams, and ending a 110 tournament long drought with a win at Casablanca in 2009, and impressive showing in the grass court season. Then came the 'Golden swing' in 2010, and the magician was in peak form, winning back to back titles in Brazil and Argentina, and then almost making it 3 titles in 3 weeks by reaching the final at Acapulco. This resulted in his return to the Top 15 in world, two years after he had dropped out of the top 100 for the first time since his debut. however injuries forced him out of action for the end of 2010 season and much of the first half of 2011 season. He could never bounce back fully after that, though maintaining a top 100 ranking for the most part, and finally after plenty of early round losses in 2012, he announced his retirement, attributing it to the significant time away from the game due to injuries and surgeries, as well as a lack of ambition after 14 years on tour.

Maintaining a quite dignity throughout his career, he won over millions of fans, as well as earned the respect of his peers, with Federer, Nadal, Ferrer, Roddick and many others acknowledging his place as one of the most talented and hard working players the game has seen. For Ferrer, his best friend and long time rival and nemesis, as well as Nadal, his heir he would always be the silent slayer who laid the foundations for the Spanish domination over the ATP tour.

India, the world's doormat - Are we a nation of pushovers?? - In light of Indo-China relations.

How often have we heard the phrase "Bhaisaab thoda adjust kar lijiye"??? And more often than not, we do end up adjusting. Yielding to others, even at the risk of discomfort to the self, is an affliction ingrained in us Indians. Though this statement sounds to be against my own principle of steering clear of generalizations of any kind, and commit a great folly in painting our immensely diverse nation in a single color, I should make it clear that my intention is to analyze the impression we shed on the world as a nation. An upcoming economy, a nation swinging between extremes of all kinds; culture, diversity, poverty are known and well - characterized aspects of our country. But I can't help and think, that to a close observer of our foreign policy, especially in the recent years, wouldn't India appear as a giant doormat with the phrase "Welcome!! Walk All Over ME!!" written on it?

On countless issues relating to foreign affairs and world politics, our country has often portrayed itself as a spineless, toothless spectator content with watching from the sidelines and "playing it safe". Apart from making tall claims of being the next, big thing, a superpower in the making, begging for nuclear fuel and a UN Security Council permanent seat, and crying hoarse over Pak - sponsored terrorism and asking the Big Boss (Uncle Sam) to reprimand our naughty neighbor time and again, we really haven't done much to validate our claims of being any kind of influence on the world's political stage. The most glaring examples of weak responses from our government have been the US backed sanctions on Iran and China's constant threat to India' territorial integrity, especially Arunachal Pradesh.

China has, time and again, threatened and claimed parts of Indian territory as its own, be it Aksai Chin or Arunachal Pradesh (the so called "South Tibet"). From Government officials, including the Ambassador to India, declaring Arunachal Pradesh as part of China unabashedly in the media, to sneaky forays into Indian territory in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and J&K by the Chinese army, there have been constant jabs from the other side. What is alarming is that in the past few years ,their frequency has increased dramatically. While on paper the status quo of "Hindi- Chini bhai bhai" is maintained by both the countries in the garb of border dispute talks, joint military drills and booming trade ties, the Chinese side audaciously objects to Indian flag hoisting, infrastructure development, or even the visit of the Indian Prime Minister when it comes to Arunachal Pradesh. Simultaneously, underhanded techniques are being used to apply pressure on Indian Govt., like issuing stapled visas to J&K citizens (citing J&K as disputed territory) and also AP, denying visa to officials as well as locals from Arunachal (claiming them to be citizens of Chinese territories and thus not needing a visa), deeper and deeper forays into Indian territory by Chinese military in Sikkim, J&K, and AP - demolishing stone structures and intimidating locals. There have been many instances of cyber attacks from China on key Indian installations like the navy, electricity grids, websites of government departments and ministries etc. It is widely speculated that these could have been state-sponsored. The tightly state-controlled Chinese media regularly paints India in a negative color, often declaring it as a "wanna-be" which dreams of matching China's growth and status as a superpower, but is incapable of doing so. The standard Indian Government response to any such activity was "registering protest" or "taking a strong exception" in a press release. China doesn't have a cricket team, or the other standard response by our country could have been to suspend cricketing ties with them!

A serious issue like the stapled visas did not figure in the talks held when the Chinese premier arrived on an official visit in 2010 while celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties. India was more keen to push trade ties and cooperation at the international level. on the other hand, the Chinese foreign ministry was not even slightly hesitant in strongly protesting Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2009 for election campaigns, calling it an attempt by India to destabilize relations by creating unnecessary tension in the "disputed area". All the External Affairs ministry here could do was to express its "disappointment" over the Chinese objection, when the situation called for India to assert its claims and reprimand the other side in no uncertain terms. While many called for retaliation by India by issuing stapled visas to people from Tibet, Hong Kong etc., the government officials were merely "searching for a de-stapler", and for over two years, China continued to issue stapled visa to J&K residents. The issue came to a head in 2010 when it extended the policy to AP, and was finally resolved when the practice was stopped after talks. Why did it take more than two years for India to get this blatantly provocative issue addressed? Why did it take "talks" for India to get what was right? It was almost like begging for your rights! While a 'tit-for-tat' response might have been immature, and it might be argued that a restrained approach by India addressed the issue without escalating tensions. But how long can we play the nice guy, and get trampled on? While we bask in the glory of our supposedly calm approach, maps all over China would be showing AP, and huge chunks of J&K as part of China, and might as well Sikkim (which hey had earlier recognized as part of India, but still continue military interventions there). China has time and again shown that it can't be relied on, with memories of 1962 still fresh in the the hearts of Indians, and now with Sikkim as well as J&K. China has maintained a long standing policy of being neutral on J&K, and not to favour its buddy Pakistan, but that too went out of the window when the first stapled visa to a J&K resident was issued. While India on its part, seems to have betrayed the thousands of Tibetan refugees by recognizing Tibet as part of China, in an effort to improve relations, similar to its abandoning of friendship dating back to ancient civilizations with Iran when it came to US-backed sanctions at the UN.

That escalating tensions in an already unstable region is not in anyone's interest is beyond doubt. But how long can we watch from the sidelines as the big "brother" of ours continues to bully us?

Musical highs!

When it comes to music and movies, I have pretty unconventional tastes, as most of my friends will vouch for. Especially in the case of movies, I have a tendency to like movies which have been universally dissed, as is the case with Saawariya, Raavan, What's your Raashee, Teri Meri Kahani, 127 hours and so on and so forth. With music, the unconventionality lies in the humongous variety of the music I tend to like. I am a guy who openly admits to loving Shania Twain's music, as well as counting AC/DC, Coldplay, Maroon 5 among my favorite bands. Blues, R&B, Pop, Alternative, Rock, rap, House, Country ...... nothing is out of bounds.

However, I have had been pretty conservative in terms of the artists I would listen to. I would never actively seek out and listen to new artists. I was pretty content with just listening to everything and anything by the artists I already knew. But off late, from about an year or so, I have been having the most amazing time discovering music by artists which are new, or I have never heard before. The Internet, more International music on Indian TV channels and radio stations in Delhi, Facebook .... plenty of contributing factors. But I have heard entire soundtracks of movies lately (Step Up series, Country Strong), many TV series have introduced me to great music (Grey's anatomy being the chief contributor, a well as Private practice, Glee, and the odd episode from sitcoms like Cougar Town). Joining dance classes introduced me to a kind of music I would have particularly cringed at few moths back (the likes of Taio Cruz, Britney Spears and many other unknown artists - to me, that is). But on some level I have learned to appreciate even these, if only as music you can really dance to. As my love and exploration of country music expands beyond Shania Twain to artists like Joe Nichols, Brad Paisely, Blake Shelton and the likes, the contemporary pop artists ruling the charts have also left their impression - Rihanna (We found love), Carly Rae Jepsen, Chris Brown, Wanted, Hot Chelle Rae and so on.

But its the new alternative music that' really buzzing my musical buds lately. As Maroon 5 firmly etched themselves as my all time favorites with Over exposed and moves like Jagger, I rediscovered Jason Mraz's beautiful music all over again after The Remedy. Bands and artists like Fun (Some nights, We are young), The Script, Gym Class heroes, Lady Antebellum, One Republic, Foster the People (HUGE FAN!!!!), Mumford & Sons have got me waiting anxiously for new music from them, something new to me. Now I just feel like listening to all the music by some of these artists which they produced before I got acquainted with them, their older albums - a very scary prospect, considering how much time I already blow away on the Internet. Anyway, I would probably do it anyway, starting with the band whose song stimulated this post - The Killers' Runaways. Something tells me I have heard and liked this band before too, but just can't recall anything. But if this song is any indication, I am sure I would love them. Doesn't this song just reminds you of the 80's music of Springsteen, Meatloaf, a bit of Queen ..... lots of drama. Anyhow, here's the video, and looking forward to more exciting, new music. Suggestion will be highly appreciated.

Growing Pains

If you are an avid Facebook user like me, you would have probably come across a thoroughly entertaining comic strip (or gag, in the latest terminology), featuring a curly haired little boy Guddu and his gang. These gags, found on the Facebook page titled "garbage bin", have almost become a cult among Indian Facebookers, especially the ones who grew up in the late 80's or early 90's. The reason these strips have gained such a massive following in a matter of months is that they touch a cord with our childhood. The use of daily incidents, situations, brands, shows and other icons of the late 80's and early 90's and presenting them as hilarious adventures of two lovable characters was a stroke of genius which instantly hit its target audience. Most of the comments on these strips by followers gloat over the fact that how much they can identify with these situation or characters, how the exact same thing happened with them in their childhood, and their astonishment on the fact that others went through the exact same experiences. The references vary from obviously common phenomena of that era, such as iconic Doordarshan shows and adjusting the TV antennas to get clear reception and 8 bit games like contra (things today's generation will have no clue about), to some which even surprised me like being asked to rush out and get snacks when guests come over, last ki choti wali roti, the ladoos handed out in assembly during Independence day celebrations in school and so on. All of them are so unique and authentic to that era that you can't help but smile and reminisce. Though the kids of that era did not swear as explicitly like the characters of garbage bin (as far as I know), maybe that's an addition to help the modern youth connect. 

According to me, what draws the young, or rather newly adult individuals such as myself, to this strip is our inherent tendency of wanting to escape the troublesome present and worrisome future, and revisit the simpler, happier days of our childhood. Now this may just be me, but I would like to think of it as a wider phenomenon. When life becomes too much to handle, we all tend to seek comfort in the past. A past devoid of responsibilities, one where our actions did not bear consequences - well they did, but the worst was being closed in the dark bathroom or a slap. We knew whatever trouble we got into, our parents would be there to get us out of it. They were there to take care of us. Cut to the present, where the tables have turned.and where we are the grown ups. Our actions, each of our choices, bear major consequences which decide the course of our lives, as well as of those around us. We assume the role of caretakers, rather than the receivers. Its something probably every human being goes through, but while some may never even realize it, others may have a seamless transition. Some might be forced to grow up earlier than their time by circumstances, others because of their natural tendency. But for all of us, at least once in a while, that moment comes when we wish for the security blanket of childhood. As the famous ghazal goes,

"Yeh Daulat Bhi Le Lo,
Yeh Shaurat Bhi Le Lo,
Bhale Cheen Lo Mujhse Se Meri Jawani,
Magar Mujhko Lauta Do
Bachpan Ka Sawan.....
Wo Kagaz Ki Kashti....
Wo Baarish Ka Paani..." 

( loosely translated as "take away my youth and money and fame, but please give me back my childhood"). I guess one eventually learns how to be an adult, how to fend for yourself, how to keep going on forward when there is no one behind to catch you, and how to make lemonade from all those lemons life throws at you.  Ultimately, the onus is on us, whether to use the free-of-cares childhood as an occasional refuge from the harsh realities of life and reclaim our past for a while, or be an escapist, permanently settle down there and refuse to grow up, and live! Because isn't that what life is all about? Constantly growing up (read maturing). But just for now, all my heart is singing is "hum bhi agar, bachche hote...... " !

P.S. - I sincerely apologize if the excessive cheesiness in some portions of this piece made you cringe or gag. 

     

The Indian Olympic Story

The first week of the 2012 London Olympics fortnight is over, and India has already equaled its best showing of 3 medals at the 2008 games. It was widely speculated that this would be the groundbreaking year for Indian sports, with predictions going up to as many as 10 medals. While that might look out of reach now, with medal hopes in archery, tennis and some shooting events dashed, India can still hope to look forward to adding to the tally of 3 with medal hopes still alive in boxing, wrestling, and shooting. A couple of heartbreaks in the boxing ring with unfair decision against Sumit Sangwan and Vikas krishan's win being reversed did mar the Indian party, so did the failure of some sure shot medal hopes in shooting. However, its been a fabulous outing already so far, with historic showing in badminton (Saina's bronze and Kashyap's quarterfinal showing), Irfan Thodi bettering the 20 Km walk national record by more than 2 minutes even as I write this piece and finishing 10th overall, a fantastic showing for Indian athletics.

It has been heartening to see athletes performing their best at the grandest stage a sportsman can hope for, as in the case of Kashyap, Thodi, the rowers, boxer Devender (who is looking good for a medal). Some of them might not be among the medals yet, but its a massive accomplishment if you are achieving your personal bests at the Olympics when faced with the best quality opposition from around the world. That is all one can really expect and hope to do. And especially if you are an Indian athlete, this achievement assumes epic proportions. The usual table toppers, USA, China, Australia have well established sporting infrastructure. Athletes are manufactured and trained in state-sponsored programs. All they do is train and achieve perfection. A Michael Phelps has more medals individually in 3 Olympics than India has to its name in its entire Olympic history. That is why even a qualification for the finals of an event, or finishing among the top 10 is a great achievement for an Indian sportsperson, and winning a medal is phenomenal. A Sania Mirza or Saina Nehwal, an Abhinav Bindra or Mary Kom, a Vijender or a Deepika Kumari do not receive the kind of state support a Chinese or American athlete does. They have to rely on their parents, who move from Haryana to Hyderabad, pour their lives' earnings in their training, take them for training on a scooter 25 km everyday, massage their sore limb and backs, sweat it out with them on the courts, fly them across the globe to participate in ITF tournaments and basically dedicate their lives for their wards' moment of glory.

Things are changing, billions of rupees were evidently invested in training for these Olympics by the government, sponsors are taking interest, infrastructure is improving thanks to events like the Delhi Commonwealth games. But these efforts have just polished the sheen for these athletes, and have just started. The foundations were laid by the dedication and unflinching commitment of these athletes who are now doing us proud. And possibly what makes it all worth it, is the fact that on a day when India clinched a ODI cricket series against arch-rivals Sri Lanka 4-1, the news channels and Indian population were reveling in Saina Olympic glory, and half hour specials were being watched on India's day at the Olympics, with not even a passing mention of the cricket series win, pother than the blinking blob at the bottom of the screen. Slowly, but surely we might be getting there, and as Krishna Poonia takes the field in the women's discus throw finals right now, India's sporting tradition may have also taken a flying start like her discus.   

Random Musings

One of the articles in today's The Hindu was titled "Mamta gets Pranab's letter seeking support". My instant reaction to this was "So what!?", as I am sure it would be for most people. Really, who cares about the presidential elections!? They did hog as much limelight in the last few weeks as they could, but now that its clear that Pranab dada is going to be the next "head" of the country, P.A. Sangma's valiant efforts being futile, does it makes sense for an esteemed publication to carry such a useless piece of junk on its front page? Personally, I feel it doesn't even merit a place in the classifieds. Many stories buried in the centre folds merit that place. Why would it be essential for us to know how the UPA is inflating Mamta didi's ego? Time and again I wonder if our media has got its priorities right. It took three months for the news about the African student beaten inhumanely in Punjab to make it to the mainstream media.

Talking about hogging the limelight, the shameful Guwahati molestation case has captured the nation's attention in the last few days. Nothing new or more can be said or discussed about it than already has been. Here again the television news channel displayed tremendous insensitivity by replaying the video of the incident over and over and over again, with poor attempts to conceal the victim. They claim that the aim is to highlight the offenders, which could easily have been done by just showing their faces repeatedly, instead of playing the incident's video again and again to cater to voyeuristic tendencies of the audience. But what I have been wondering is that while everyone worth his or her weight in salt, from politicians to members of Women's Commission and other NGOs and activists, Police officials and even Mahesh Bhatt, has discussed the issue on national television till the cows come home, I wonder has any thought been given to the victim? Justifiable angst and anger has been stirred in the masses against the offenders, but I just hope someone has bothered to help the victim through this trauma. I am not sure if adequate mechanism or protocol exists in our country to help victims of of such traumatic crimes. I wonder if the victim has received any post trauma rehabilitation, counselling to deal with the experience and repair the emotional and mental damage following such a harrowing episode.