Plea for deletion of `Sindh' from National Anthem

Interesting news...

And I wish all a happy new year. Let's hope the new year brings relief to those affected by the Tsunami quickly and effectively.

"Obviously..."

I just remembered that it was not until my 10th standard that I started using the word "Obviously..."!

In fact not just the word "obviously" but the expression of something being so obvious or evident. Even now, come to think of it, I am unable to readily come up with a Tamil equivalent for "obviously"!

Funny

From Cricinfo today...

The South Africans were not in much mood for conversation. Makhaya Ntini, the team's representative, gave deadpan responses to most questions, and achieved a rather droll effect:
"What is the team strategy for tomorrow?" he was asked.
"To bat on."
"Will the cause be lost if Jacques Kallis falls in the first hour of play tomorrow?"
"That's not going to happen."
"If you had a lead of 150 would you feel you would have a chance of pushing for a victory?"
"Depends on what time we get it."
"What is the least you would want to set India in the fourth innings?"
"110."
"Just 110? Even though India have Virender Sehwag?"
"We don't have any problem with Sehwag. Sehwag should have a problem with us."

I remember the days when one Mr. Hansie Cronje was the darling of the press. And later on, even he was not!

Math not popular in Kanchipuram

Seeing the above news headline in Rediff, I followed the link wondering why my beloved Mathematics wasn't popular in the land of Sankaracharya!

:-)

Naipaul on Narayan

I recently joined this forum called orkut - am not still sure what I will do there yet.

However a message on Naipaul's essay on RK Narayan, somehow made me respond thus.

I am sure Naipaul's essay would have been discussed in this forum before. But just thought I will write a few things that came to my mind after I re-read the excerpts of that essay from the link above.

I dont know for what purpose, audience and in what circumstance Naipaul wrote that critique on Narayan. But whatever those might be, I cannot miss the fact that the critique is so narrow in scope. It just addresses the point that Narayan's characters were "small people". Based on this one central argument, Naipaul tries to judge Narayan's work.

I also dont know whether Naipaul meant this essay to be his final word on Narayan. Throughout the excerpt he has mentioned ONE novel of Narayan as an example. ONE! I cannot understand how with ONE example, anyone can analyze Narayan's work to any sort of detail.

I am surprised that - knowing very well that his word will be taken seriously - Naipaul has made a rather half-baked attempt in analyzing Narayan and his works.

The Hindu Editorial...

Among all opinions and reports afloat about the arrest of Kanchi Sankaracharya, the Hindu Editorial was the most objective. A few highlights...

THE DRAMATIC ARREST and incarceration of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi — the most high profile of all contemporary Hindu religious leaders — as the prime accused in a brutal contract killing of a humble adversary is a first in the annals of the rule of law. The message sent out by this action taken by the Tamil Nadu police, evidently with prior approval from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, is that nobody, however high in religious or temporal matters, shall be above the law.

The Tamil Nadu police officials in charge of the investigation as well as the Public Prosecutor have claimed they have solid evidence against Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, with the prosecutor using strong language in open court to contrast his alleged criminality with his venerated spiritual position.

The strong language in open court to contrast alleged criminality with the spiritual position is as follows. Public prosecutor Mr. Duraiswamy, it seems, responded in court to requests for special treatment to the Acharya by saying -

"Today is court holiday, still special treatment has been given to him. There is a limit for special treatments. He is the most undeserving criminal deserving no special treatment. We are also devotees of the mutt. We respect the seat but not the individual who is occupying it"

(italics mine)
The Hindu Editorial goes on to add,

Devotees of the Kanchi Mutt are understandably upset. But they should realise that while there should be no public presumption of guilt against the Sankaracharya or indeed against any of the other accused, it would be absurd for them to believe communal allegations that he has been framed by the State Government to `appease minorities after the general election debacle' or for other devious political reasons

(italics mine)
The italicized portion above indicates the tone of the editorial making it clear that all are equal before law. And as the article says, it is indeed very interesting and unusual that -

... this is an extremely rare case of two bitter antagonists, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK president M. Karunanidhi, agreeing on an issue, namely that the law must be allowed to take its course in a highly sensitive case that has no precedent

"...refrain from commenting on Gurus"

When I asked his opinion about this news item to a senior in my office, his response was that he does not have an opinion on this and he usually "refrains from commenting on Gurus".

ICC study reveals that 99% of bowlers throw

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

So the great saviour of cricket's purity, Umpire Ross Emerson, couldn't prevail. Cricket is going to remain impure for a long time to come and what's more, it has been impure all the way. I am loving this!

All those cricket experts (including those ex and current cricketing greats) who gave scientific explanations for why Murali is a chucker probably read science from a different school from those who sat down to analyse.

If with glowing eyes, Murali spins the ball to deliver a well-disguised doosra pitching on middle-stump to go toward first slip, and as a batsman that is a problem for you, try solving the problem by playing his doosra. Don't try to eliminate the problem by crying foul.

And as an umpire, if all you want is newspaper space, try your hand in real politics. No-balling a bowling great cannot be your claim to fame - particularly when you are wrong!

History will be better off, for now it does not need to add an asterisked remark next to the highest wicket taker in Test Cricket saying his bowling career was tarnished by allegations over his suspect bowling action.

Or maybe it should, and explain why Murali is the highest wicket taker inspite of Ross Emersons!

A few things...

• I wish the two new Kart(h)iks in the Indian cricket team all the very best and hope that they get a long run in the team.
• I hope Ajit Agarkar is not looked upon as a "promising talent with lot of potential" until his retirement time comes. If at all he has some potential, it is probably in something not related to cricket.
• I hope the Australian cricket board considers Adam Gilchrist for captain rather than Ricky Ponting. The former has all qualities of a leader and more. The latter has far fewer qualities and is making a name for himself as a whiner.

Happy Halloween...

It so happened that last sunday, Subbu had a bunch of kids knocking at his door. Newbie that he is to USA, he opened the door after a lot of thought.

As he opened, the kids shouted "Trick or Treat!" - all with smiling faces accompanied by a few of their moms. Initially taken aback, Subbu recovered quickly, smiled back, and promptly picked a candy from one of the kids hands and said "Thank You!"

A couple of guys at office are still laughing imagining the look on the kids' (and their moms') faces as they left.