PAKISTAN-BREAKING UP IN PIECES

No prizes for guessing the five parts of future Pakistan
will be called what, and controlled by whom in this map
floating on the net.

If ever there was a case of helping Pakistan, it is now... Zardari has said today Taliban has surrounded swat and is growing in power, it paints a grim scenario. Taliban is a great danger to India, while a stable Pakistan is a buffer.

Pakistan politicians have shot themselves in the foot over Mumbai attacks. They have appeared foolish in their statements and approach and lost the trust of the world as well as their own people, even today they have made a very foolish demand of India handing over Kasab to them, whoever is thinking in Pakistan establishment is an idiot and playing into hands of India, they must ask themselves...what if India hands over Kasab, and prior to handing over Kasab asks them to take the dead bodies of the rest of the terrorist! Also if India refuses and instead world asks Pakistan to hand the terrorists to India, this government will never be voted by the public again.

Pakistan is acting belligerent, one is reminded of the Iraqi spokesman who said when US forces reached Baghdad, that Iraq will annihilate them. Pakistan is not facing the reality today. Though it's in a rather grim situation, this is something Pakistan has brought upon itself, and has to swallow a crow to admit it. Non state actor policy of Pakistan has taken 61 years to be exposed.

Lal Bahadur Shastri brought this Non state actor policy in open in 1965, his communications to UN are a testimony to the fact. India quickly replied in Kind only six years later when it used this same policy to dismember Pakistan. It was here there should have been a realization in Pakistan to change approach, but they blindly followed the military dictate, so while Lal Bahadur Shashtri was signing agreements pertaining to Kutch, Military was planning Invasion in 1965, and while Atal Bihari was signing peace accord in Lahore, military was planning Kargil.

Military has idiotically ruined Pakistan, it's arms race has ruined the economy of Pakistan and policies has made it a laughing stock in the world, and today Pakistan is on brink of a disaster, a civil war threatens to dismember the state further.

That Pakistan has a nuclear deterrent is not an issue, the issue is are these nukes safe or they can fall in hands of terrorists. Lot of people are claiming victory with Pakistan down on knees. However we should not gloat over it, Pakistan military is at it's weakest at the moment, you never know what kind of madcap adventure it might undertake, Pakistan is imploding, its crumbling from within, strict world opinion has rendered it's mass of trained terrorists against their own motherland.

The civil society of Pakistan is pleading for sanity and is puzzled at turn of events, if there ever was a time when they should rise, it's now, let the Pakistani army sent back to barracks and independent UN forces brought in to tackle the menace, this would have happened but for Pakistani fears that UN forces will capture nukes.

Let it be understood, nukes will not be left with Pakistan to fall in hands of terrorists, if they don't rise up now, a time will come when suddenly one` day world's forces will be swarming in Pakistan to save it's sovereignty, and save it from being dismembered, but that will come at a cost, Pakistan will not like, so can they be sane today! They need help...all they have to do is raise their hands up.

'Pakistan- Difficult Times Ahead'

In my last post I wrote about clouds of war in Pakistan, now with increased US drone attacks and candid proclamation that USA considers Pakistan a new battle front the prediction has come true.

We all know they teach wrong history in Pakistan, the main problem is that they do not take lessons from history as well.

In the twentieth century cold war era, US went on an arms race with USSR, the results of USSR matching USA in that race are well known, USSR is no longer in existence, it's economy was shattered and the union disintegrated.

Pakistan would have been well advised to learn from this and stop huge military expenditure, however it didn't and today stands on brink of a disaster which could have been well avoided. Pakistan has let itself become a victim of an economic offensive and today has become a destitute state with a begging bowl in it's hand, no Nostradamus is required to predict consequences.

Barack Obama on his first day proclaimed that USA is involved on two fronts, one in Afghanistan another in Pakistan. This contains a declaration of war against Pakistan, however the Pakistani leadership goes ahead and giving a blank cheque to China to negotiate with India with promise that it will agree to whatever China decides. This is the first major indication from Pakistan that it's cornered and on brink of defeat.

Time is running fast, the best Pakistan can do is to mend it's ties with India, indulge in quick quid pro quo, they will have to give more to get less, but then Pakistan has a chance of eliminating terror that they have been supporting so far.

Choices are hard and they need to be taken, and taken fast, before Pakistan is relegated to history books like USSR was.

'PAKISTAN' - CLOUDS OF WAR

In December maps were floating on the internet thanks to a Pakistani publication as to how most of India will become a part of 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan" by 2020.

Snide observations were made by Indians across the world, the illusions and delusions of Pakistan are still increasing, a state that lives on charity, a military that cannot arm itself without US & China, as a nation that is the most spanked schoolboy in foreign policy issues by world, it appears Pakistan is resorting to last semblance of show of self respect and defiance akin to defiance shown by dictators like Hitler who committed suicide and Saddam Hussein before he was hanged. reasonable thinking and sensible approach is the last thing that is in their minds.

Problem is that wrong information makes people think they do the right thing, even Ajmal Qasab while gunning down scores at VT station thought he was doing the right thing, but the world does not think so, there is a clear distinction between the world view and Pakistani view at the moment.

Economics sanctions will only further help disintegrating Pakistan which today is nothing more of a threatening beggar in world community, and her disintegration may let the nuclear assets of Pakistan fall in hands of Terrorists, who then will target the west with impunity. That's the only reason USA has been funding Pakistan in garb of war against terror in which Pakistan has made a complete fool of Americans. If USA could it would have taken stern action against Pakistan. truth is that it cannot.

So what's holding up rest of the world into taking action, answer is very simple 'possession of nuclear bombs' by Pakistan. That's about all, and in the end it will take courage by a nation to be prepared to take a nuclear hit if it militarily strikes Pakistan, which is a huge deterrent. Thus the policy of any strike against Pakistan will be targeted to cripple nuclear assets of Pakistan. This means the west is now belling the cat, and that cat is India. After Mumbai carnage our western friends are overtly and covertly encouraging India to exercise it's rights as a sovereign nation. With elections around the corner a war with Pakistan and a win will guarantee ten years of power to Congress party which otherwise is sure to lose these elections in India.

A totally different war is in the offing compared to earlier wars with Pakistan, India has become mightier, and economic powerhouse and will launch a shock and awe strikes that we have now come to see, but Pakistan is not Afghanistan or Iraq, it has a committed army and arsenal that will hurt India, there will be collateral damage, once we accept this fact, accept it will hurt, then the result is a foregone conclusion, Pakistan will lose the war terribly.

That brings us to the final question, what is the final objective of the war? Do we wish to occupy Pakistan? I am sure none of the Indians want to be saddled with crores more to feed and generations indoctrinated to foment trouble, so occupation of Pakistan is not a viable objective.

So do we let Pakistan to disintegrate into smaller states, that will result in those states being amiable to states not friendly with India so we will be back to square one. It would be all exercise in futility.

So what's the option? the above argument clearly shows military option is not worth any objective. Economics sanctions will fragment the state and nuclear assets proliferated, it's a bloody catch 22 situation. This situation is the only reason that Pakistan is defiant, unwilling to co-operate and laughably calls itself a responsible nation!

The leaders of the world have a peculiar problem, let's see how they deal with it. India must NOT allow the world to fire a gun off it's shoulder without world committing to equal responsibility, otherwise results could be disastrous.

PAKISTAN LIVES IN DELUSION

The reaction to Mumbai Terror in Pakistani Media is eye opening, one just has to hear it and understand why Pakistan is hotbed of Terrorism, the reaction of Pakistani Media is worse than an Ostrich burying it's head in sand when confronted with danger.

Watch the video

http://www.hotklix.com/?ref=content/152704

This shows why the non state actors are more powerful than state itself, years of wrong information has crumbled it's economy, inequalities have become immense, so much so, that dying is a good option to see the families safe, and people still believe in moral good in Fidayeen there!

If such is the media of a nation, they will sink it further than the military.

GOVERNMENT CARES TWO HOOTS FOR US!

As the critical situation comes to an end in Mumbai, it is time we citizens of this vibrant city do something to protect ourselves from these terrorists, as the government of the state and the country are only bothered of winning elections and they will soon be baking bread out of this terrible terrorist strike.

Last time Mumbai was attacked various promises were made, most of which have been forgotten. The top cops like Hemant Karkare and Kamte have been killed because of sub standard helmets and lousy bullet proof jacket provided by the government to them. If we treat them as hero's then let's send the politician to gallows who signed the deal for such sub standard equipment.

At the time of national crisis PM in his address to the nation spoke of police reforms! What a morale booster for the forces who were laying down their lives for ordinary citizens like you and me. This shows that he is insensitive and needs to be shunted out of the office.

How can terrorists just take a boat ride upon the city and unleash indiscriminate spraying bullets on unarmed citizens killing scores of them, its a failure of intelligence, failure of security, a fundamental right of citizen has been violated and these politicians are responsible, resign guys...you all are incompetent for the job.

Do we need fresh round of promises? Well my dear friends if we allow ourself to be divided in castes and religion this is what we will get, it will prop incompetent and impotents in seats of power and we all will remain soft targets of the bullets of a few. It will take a month for politicians to forget, and about three months to forget those who have been martyred.

I am not being cynical, its happened in the past, and we will allow it to happen again. It's time to be proactive, hot pursuit across the border is what is required. It's time to use force, whatever hurts us should hurt the perpetrators more. Israel like policy is order of the day and I am fully sure, people of Pakistan will aid Indians to rid their soil of such international criminals who are also plunging their own country into disintegration. Try them with open hearts and they will stand up for us I am sure.

Let's also take an oath, we will not vote for any politician who bakes his bread on this terror attack, at the moment that's the least we can do, otherwise that day isn't far, if such things continue, we will see mob lynching these incompetent politicians in future.

EMBARRASSED... NATION SHAMED

Feeling mighty embarrassed, while India beat Australia by a wide margin, and making a mince meat of England now, it's affairs of the coalition government that's causing a huge loss of face.

The central government has been informing its counterparts in the US and other countries about the role of the ISI in various terrorist acts committed and here the ATS was claiming that these blasts were the handiwork of a serving Indian Military Officer. Despite concrete proof backed by Forensic examination of the blast site and two unexploded bombs had conclusively proved that RDX was not used, but the ATS was levelling an allegation to the contrary.

There is a lot of goof up, elections are near and guess frustrated ruling party are using negative tactics to take right wing parties head on in these elections. What price is now being put at winning elections? Even causing shame to the nation is not a big price to pay it seems. As days pass it becomes ample clear, that ATS is working overtime to malign a certain section.

What's happening now? "Times of India" Quote 'It was pressure from an embarrassed Centre which forced the ATS to go back on its charge that 60 kg of RDX

allegedly pilfered by Lt Col Prasad Purohit was used in the Samjhauta Express blast last year.'

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the ATS links the army officer to 9/11 or the strike on London subway. There are divergent views on what is happening, however one issue which is pretty clear is that the ugly face of the UPA is being demonstrated. A comment by Anil Kumar of USA posted on TOI is most lucid 'ATS which has been using 3rd degree methods & torturing Lt Col Purohit can make him confess anything under duress. We are in the 21st century and it is a shame that we still use 3rd degree metods and torture the crimnals to confess. Instead the police should spend time collecting valuable forensic evidence, witnesses and clues so that the case does not fall apart in the court. The Police claims success as soon as the alleged crimnal confesses & the worst part is Media publishes the same as the Gospel Truth without any material evidence. The media should not try to sensationalise any crime till it is properly solved.'

Let's seriously see what has happened: politicians have been reduced to a lot of jokers, government agencies proven corrupt. Media is proven to be irresponsible,Never before such a damage been caused to the nation as a whole, and funnily my favorite news channel NDTV has been running debates on Hindu VS Muslim Terrorism, how they are so off the mark beats me. A terrorist is a terrorist...period. However the most damaged is the Indian army, the most secular force of India, the most respected Indian Institution. Congress & UPA for electoral gains have compromised it.

This will cause repurcussions, the division has commenced, Congress may gain a few seats in elections but it has caused nation a loss of face... shamed forever.

DEMOCRACY IS NOW AN OLD IDEA-WE NEED SOMETHING NEW

In the current world that we live in things are changing much faster than we could have imagined five decades ago. The way we live is changing drastically, where we live in has changed, how we live is changing the planet, it's environment and climate as well. Terrorism has changed the manner we agitate and wage war...only thing that isn't changing is the way we are governed and how we need to govern ourselves in this modern fast paced world.

Multiple bombs ripped the heart of Delhi last weekend, the capital of governance of our nation, which amply demonstrates how inadequate the current system of governance is. We are an democratic nation, with pretense of being socialist at heart, while socialism and communism have been proven to be totally inept systems of governance and social justice, it's sad no one realizes the Democracy that is pursued in our nation is equally sick and ineffective.

Democracy is an ancient idea, it is 2500 years old, democracy flourished in Greece, and in modern times, while ideas of freedom, liberty, equality and self governance are still appealing and fresh, the delivery system of these ideas have started to do just the opposite...our Democratic structure is such, that none of the ideals are being fulfilled.

This system is so corrupt that even when we wake up the milkman is mixing milk with water, and after we sleep, lobbyist are greasing palms to ensure big bucks rule over the interest of the common man.

Self governance is only a notion, when Lincoln gave the slogan...government of the people, by the people for the people, it was in 1860's, that slogan is taught in the Indian civics books, but in effect it does not exist any longer.

So what exists? The powerful and monied (Bahubali as they are known) and stark criminal record sheeter s get elected to our parliament. Why...because there is a fear psychosis that makes people of the region vote for them.

This is not what Democracy should be...media keeps blaring about these people but what happens? Nothing...why? Because these lawbreakers are lawmakers.

In effect in India and elsewhere, in so called democracies we have a ruling class, where the baton is passed from one generation to another, so what kind of Democracy is this? It sounds more like autocratic Monarchical system.

Now when the power is in hands of a few, we find lobbies behind these power brokers, a system of coterie, sycophants, and parasites forms where people attached to these groups are sticking on for their own benefits...so who looks after the benefit of the common man.

The political parties learn t from the British to rule his country you have to divide and rule, so what we have in our country now is a society fragmented by castes, creed, SC, SCT, OBC and so forth. Local parties are flourishing on these principals and what we get after elections is a fragmented result and a hung parliament leading to coalition governments where all ruling parties have their business agenda and not ruling the nation in mind.

Truth is that governments benefit other economies, whether they are of other countries or large companies and running of the nation is like running of a business corporation in modern world.

So politicians are actually businessmen in garb of serving public, and all this leads us to conclude that Democracy is not actually the Democracy that we thought to be. Then what is the solution, how can we find another system, and bring it into place soon enough. You must have heard it many times that people opine that we need dictatorship to run our nation properly, no that isn't a solution.

So where is the solution? I can see the answer lying right within the problem itself. What are the problems i) Politicians winning due to their power ii)Bahubalis winning due to the fear they create iii) many regional parties playing king makers detrimental to the interests of this nation.

So how do we over come it? We have to take a simple step...which will be a leap towards better governance. The simple step is... ratification of winning candidates by two other constituencies.

For example if a criminal in Bihar wins election sitting in his jail cell, he still cannot win if his election isn't ratified by two constituencies which do not border the state the candidate's constituency is in. So suppose a criminal wins an election vote, but receives veto in Kolkata and Begaluru, he is gone, this simple system will eliminate criminals getting into parliament, this ratification will help reduce the power of King maker parties whose candidates win only in their constituency but have no appeal elsewhere, so while they may flourish in their region they will have no chance at the centre if the candidate isn't worth while enough to get a vote from two other regions.

This will bring two party system back at the center. Not only now the winning candidate will have local mass appeal but will have broader national support as well. Imagine the windfall for the people of India if this happens.

Such a ratification will lead to better candidates coming in, who are more inclined towards the public and they will definitely take the old idea of Democracy forward by listening to people and we might actually see a government of the people, by the people and for the people in our lifetime.

But will this happens? Difficult till we have nepotism and criminals in our politics, we need one good leader to stand up and fight for the Nation's good...where is this 'one' leader? We desperately need him.

BLOGGING AWAY TO PROFIT

How internet has affected the world's commerce is well known and documented. The effect it has had on communities which were reclusive, reluctant and perhaps taboo is still not known.

There is one community in India which is blossoming with the advent of blogging, and that's the racing community. Horse racing in India is still not very respected despite it being the sport of the King's and King of Sport. The avid race goers have been sharply divided into the knowledgeable and ignorant. The bettors are more unequally divided into smart and the herd mentality mass. Any one who has been associated with horse racing learns a lesson that inside information never works, if it had, all trainers, jockeys and owners would be billionaires and bookies would cease to exist. The fact is a very small percentage of bettors manage to exist after five years of racing, most wither away having made insurmountably losses. The fact is in last thirty years I have seen many huge punters come and go, but the bookmakers are still the same.

That doesn't mean one must become a bookmaker to make money in racing, one can bet and survive, and suddenly the few good men who are knowledgeable have decided to share it all with punters and what we have a vibrant community of bloggers who follow their tipsters and I know many are making a profit.

The advent of these blogs meant there would be a few normal tipsters and few out of the ordinary. The first maverick and extraordinary blog was destiny calling started by Mr. Raj Gopal Nair, he has a unique system of DFR, which you can apply to the tips of your favorite tipster and laugh all the way to profit, it dosen't mean that the DFR system is in fallible, it is, but still it is the first proper system of rating and odds in Indian blogosphere and still the best performing.

Another unique blog is racing-info.blogspot, this blog has taken online bloggers community with storm, there are many firsts to the credit of this blog, it is interactive, and has a live room where blog members share the whole racing experience together. The main contributors are Like of Abel D Raj, whose rating system is amongst the best...his graded race selections are usually infallible and has a huge strike rate with his full 100 rating thoroughbreds. Then there is Ravi a delhi based contributor, who is amiable always ready to help and finally Charan from Calcutta, who I guess doesnt not follow any of the systems but has a knack of picking five six winners in a day like it is as normal thing to do as breathing. Charan has avid and mad supporters today, he too has bad days, but those who follow Charan have not yet paid their bookies a single dime since live room has started, after the week it is always cash in instead of pay out.

Suddenly the racing community which thrived on connections, inside informations, which others used to conceal and sometimes let out wrong information for malicious purposes is history. We get educated tips, one can look to Shyam, Tiger, Swamybabu, and Madhu all of whose blogs have tips according to their systems.

However today, there is none better than racing-info, where i have made friends, we share views, knowledge, happiness and sorrows, and suddenly...to hell with information...and we are making money.

I am sure we are still a small community...but the way we are blogging to profits...the numbers are set to increase...who knows in three years we'll have more people on this blog than at the course when races are on...

TURMOIL LOOMING LARGE- PAKISTAN DIVIDED

IN HAPPIER TIMES

Situation across the border is changing dramatically, foes turned into friends & foes again after mission 'out' Musharraf was accomplished. I am not being a devil's advocate but the events are pointing towards confrontation in Pakistani politics which can have ample ramifications and spillage across the border on our side. Things can never be seen in isolation, and they never should be, whatever is happening in Kashmir is an ample proof of the spillage.

Musharraf has vacated office, he must be the rarest of the dictator's to bow out with immense dignity and face. It must be to Musharraf's credit that this man has well honed survival instincts and uses adversity to his credit. While the world is going ga ga about the fact it has rid itself of a great dictator, the events unfolding in Pakistan show that he may be out but not yet without a clout.

It wasn't without reason Musharraf allowed USA to fire missiles from Pakistani territory on targets in Pakistani territory. Today Musharraf can rely on those upon whom he has doled out favors. Musharraf knows the moment he allowed Pakistan to become an ally in war against terror, he will cause these terror elements to go against him forever, nothing will change that. The growing power of India on world stage quickly changed Musharraf to change tones, the very man who sunk the Agra summit for his hard stand on Kashmir, suddenly harped on various middle ground solutions when he realized the world will never support his way on the issue.

So what's the situation after him? Simple, Pakistan's democracy is in a crisis, there is a minority government, the way issues are going downhill and Musharraf must be smiling. Now the existence of democracy in Pakistan in a barely few months has left created a large leader from SINDH, and another a large leader from PUNJAB, with ungoverned tribal areas having their tall separatist leaders this is perhaps the 'time' when Pakistan has been most fractured in it's history.

While a large section of civil society of urban Pakistan is progressive and forward looking it still cannot match the manner in which polity is degenerating the state. Now comes the major question... what happens to a divided Pakistan?

The first knee jerk reaction will come from Pakistani army, it will like to keep it all together, and the single issue that binds Pakistan is Kashmir. Full stop.

Expect incursions to increase, expect cease fire on LOC to be history, unless Pakistan's polity redfines itself, i fear we will find ourselves plunged into a bitter crisis which helps no one.

The Pakistani civil society has a huge role to play now, their media has to bell the cat. They must create a public opinion in the nation that compels politicians to work with consensus and for the country and not just for their personal agendas. It's time for Pakistan to shake up it's feudal ties and knot political coalation that works... otherwise once again army will take forefront and we will have more of the same once again...but in a more dangerous way.

MAHALAXMI RACING...RWITC NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC

I have returned to race course after years, though whichever part of the world i have been i have kept in touch with happenings and events of the race course and have watched direct telecasts on ten sports of feature events. Well I thought race course to be the same place I had been a regular to as a youngster... it's not. I remember Delhi race course, it's become something like that, instead of improving, racing at mahalaxmi seems to have regressed. I am not aware if other racing centres have regressed equally.

One of my favorite owners as a youngster was Mr. Champak Lal Zhaveri, he has graduated to being a senior custodian of RWITC and I was delighted to see him present various trophies to winning owners with a ever radiant smile and panache that suits him so well and a charm that he has retained so well over the years, but that's all about the race course that hasn't changed.

First thing i noticed was a lack of crowd, the stands have been empty, even for major events like ST. Leger that I attended this year the crowd were a patch of whaat we used to see on a regular race day back in eighties and early nineties, so why has the public dumped racing?

One answer to it is evident that Mumbai racing is like what delhi race course of eighties was, you saw the color of betting in the ring and discovered the winner, I never imagined that could happen in Mumbai ever, i was proud of the fact that racing in Mumbai was a sport and not gambling. Now look what happens in Mumbai, Pre race favorites at 16/10 Golden orra goes up to 5-1 in the same race Cindrella man starts at 2-1 and finishes well over three and Breznev which started the day at 2-1 opens over three and touches 5-1, and then dutifully all three lose...two of them well in rear. Same thing happened with price of Arkhos and Hurricane, well before the race you know that these horses are not on job! A horse who doesn't figure on board in past races wins a race start to finish in a miler!!!

No doubt that RWITC is no longer running a sport, but a gambling den. Nothing has changed at the race course, the same old chairs in the stands, they look ancient now, the eatbles are sorry reminders of dishes that are ancient. You get some sorry sandwiches, cutlets!!, puffs!!! the sofas outside the stand counters appear to have been bought from a 1920 garage sale. the lawns were badly kept and patches of brown showing at many places.

The paddock is in a very sorry state, the fencing is in urgent need of replacement, the information boards are a blast from past, in days of plasma screen and touch button interactivity RWITC course is a stark reminder of things as they existed years ago. The television sets are bad, many have contrasts and colors messed up, and the seating in front of the paddocks where mostly old and avid race goers sit down to look at the horses at close quarters is the most uncomfortable place of the race course.

The cloak rooms need a complete makeover, there is a need for proper seating, more greenery and upmarket snacking at the RWITC. Those who took the decision to allow people in pants & shirts have killed the glamor of the race course, there needs to be a dress code, if suits are out then at least people should be formally dressed and look good, what's this with jeans & sneakers. It's a funny sight seeing Pesi Shroff lead a winning horse in ill fitting trouser and shirt with his body bulging from all points, i guess a jacket would definately do him good, Dallas Todywalla with his tie and a jacket has maintained the dignity that trainers should.

Finally having gone through almost a season with continous track of races at RWITC, i can sum it up by saying clean racing is dead, most of the professionals are hunters of punters. there are no crowds that cheer the owner as he leads the horse and I haven't seen single standing ovation to a jockey, trainer or an owner.

The gap between successful and not so successful professionals has grown very large. Most people complain of the inefficiency of the stewards to maintain clean racing. My father quit owning horses after his very well bred horse Knight & Day who was running an on money favorite was got by the race mafia and killed. My father was shattered as the culprits were never brought to justice.

Years after that incident, today at Mahalaxmi it appears mafia rules the roost.

If we need the sport to survive, we need to make things better at the race course, and ofcourse, we need to get the bookmakers out, the tote dishes out good odds, let people back whatever they want at the tote.

CHAMPIONS OF 50/50

Dhoni's Dhurandhars as Hindi media calls team India have layed low and dusted the Aussies. The big mouth Aussies and it's uncivilized media must be dumb struck. They forgot what goes up has to come down.

I praise the humility of Dhoni in victory, and appreciate self control of Team India in face of absolutly shameful behavior of Australian this summer.

While forgetting the fall of Aussies from grace and going on as to how depleted the side has become we must concentrate on the job at hand. Team India is a growing powerhouse of International cricket, and cool humble heads must concentrate on keeping the team well oiled for performances over next ten years.

The success of the team is bad news for Dravid, he hadn't the foresight to retire, now he will never be picked.

To Aussies this defeat is a stark reminder of the fact that much of their success was based on the favor of the umpires their reputed batters had, with honest umpires, Australia can not manage as many victories they managed in last few years.

Hats Off Dhoni...you did well, twenty twenty wasn't a fluke you have made huge inroads towards 50/50 supremacy.

Hats of to Vengsarkar...the selector with Midas touch...If I were BCCI...I would honor him and pay him as big a bonus as the players.

SOMALILAND- WATER HARVESTING

This is how a typical Johad looks like


Somaliland has made rapid progress on it's own. Today the young nation stands proud and tall having de-facto recognition from important nations.

Somaliland has achieved a lot, it has progressed virtually without external help, today it has important partners like world bank to help in reconstruction of this ravagaed country.

Somaliland needs water, there is a paucity of perennial rivers, it rains but the run offs either drain into sea or dry up. Water conservation is a problem every where, especially with more developed nations facing the stark realities of issues emerging from their polluted fresh water sources, which cannot be used today without adequate treatment. It rains in horn of Africa and the issue is to conserve and harvest this rain water.

Somaliland needs a movement like we have had in India by Rajendra Singh who created JOHADS (Check Dams) in a dry state of Rajashthan leading to blue revolution. Making adequate water available and today some areas which I could have only imagined as desert are full of vegetation and bio diversity.

These Check dams are simple, they require voluntary labour of the villagers, who create mud and rubble embankments down the hill where rain water stream gush down. These then not only arrest the water flowing down and create a resorvior which comes handy for domestic and irrigation use, but the water that percolates down raises the water table creating scope for fresh and clean water wells not so long in future.

Somaliland needs a Rajendra Singh, the topography of the country is very suitable to create thousands of these JOHADS, and once they are made not only the water shortage will be met, but vegetation cover will increase, and when the water in the check dam dries out after few months the moist area can be used for cultivation.

Benefits are many...nothing better than having a raised water table with wells providing fresh water near these JOHADS after five or so years. Will someone in that country stand up and move the people to go and create these check dams.

For the interested I am giving link to Rajendra Singh's Tarun Bharat Sangh which caused a blue revolution in India...maybe it inspires.

http://www.tarunbharatsangh.org/

About The Magic Man himself... http://www.tarunbharatsangh.org/media/waterman.htm

People say lot of money and will of god is requied to move things...whereas it just takes one man and some hard labor and fortunes of masses can be changed for a whole lot better.

Ugly Aussies, Dirty Ponting, Abominable Media

Aussie Media is going ballistic against power of BCCI and blaming Cricket Australia for letting their players down.

The fact of the matter remains, MONKEY evidence was lacking, it wasn't recorded for display or hearing, on display was a simple evidence, as to how Aussies cheat, they claim false catches, keep standing in their crease even after being given out, pressurize umpires and don their role in giving opposite teams batsmen out.

Aussies won the Sydney test because they cheated. No one has denied that Bucknor gave just too many decisions against India. Once cheating was taking out of Aussie system, they lost at Perth and a could not win in Adelaide...

The pride and ego of Aussies have been hurt because their supremacy has been shaken.

As for India being the powerhouse of world cricket, why grudge that? India is powerful, if you don't like it, please don't play with us.

Who likes criminal Aussies anyway?

GET MY HARBHAJAN HOME WITH HONOR

Well what do we want our cricket team to do? They took 31 wickets of Australians (So many not given) 20 required to win a match! Then have batted better than them and lost the match and horrors of horrors Harbhajan is slammed as a racist!

Mr. Pawar we are from a land that has fought racisim, Mahatama Gandhi was the pioneer, if today an innocent Indian is slammed as a racist for no fault of his, it will be entirely your fault.

You have been a Union Minister and chief minister, why do you covet the ICC president's job? To hell with ICC just get our respect back for us... all the money in your coffers have come from the toil of our cricketers...give them their honor back.

GET OUR BOYS HOME!!!

THE ONUS IS ON YOU MR. PAWAR HISTORY WILL BE JUDGING YOU.

"BENAZIR" DAUGHTER OF EAST

Assasination of Mrs. Benazir Bhutto Zardari marks the depth to which subcontinents law & order has sunk to, it emphasizes the giant stature of terrorism present now.

LTTE in Lanka, Maoist in Nepal, insurgency and sepatarist movements in India and the visible terrorist infrastructure in Bangladesh are claming a lot of lives.

Most of all Pakistan has been a hotbed of Terrorism and an evident exporter of Terrorism. Pakistan instead of eradicating terrorism had been trying to distinguish between good & bad terrorism till recent past.

The main patrons of terrorists are in power in Pakistan today, and they are also under threat from this demon they helped create, nurture and now cannot contain. Pervez Musharraf himself has lived by the sword and will die by it, to predict that his end will be as brutal needs no seer or oracle, it simply remains to see how many lives will he endanger while trying to save his skin.

Benazir has been an extra-ordinary leader, an excellent orator, a woman in Islamic world who connected with the masses and came to power through the democratic process which not many men can emulate and will take a long time for a woman to emulate if Pakistan exists like what it is today.

Assasination of Benazir is not just and Assasination of a Pakistani leader, or for that matter a sub-continental leader, her assasination symbolizes the murder of democracy, her assasination is the murder of hope of million Pakistani's who want a regime apart from army. Benazir's assasination is murder of humanity.

Assasination of Benazir will create turmoil in Pakistan, all the American scriptwriters who were busy implementing their screenplay for bringing democracy find their principal actor eliminated. Western intellegence has failed, western diplomacy has been defeated and Pakistan either will fall apart or its people will unite and overthrow the military regime and rebuild Pakistan.

After the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi in India, the people unitedly rose and built a vibrant India that is today. A similar effort by people of Pakistan would be a fitting tribute to its tallest modern leader, who has been slain for their cause and aspirations.

MALAYSIA SIMMERING DISCONTMENT

Malaysia is a country which has progressed outwardly but has remained deeply conservative society. Current discontentment of ethnic Indian community brought to the fore the lack of understanding of diplomacy in political leaders of Malaysia. Mahatir Mohhamed stood like a giant in Asian politics and he stood like a rock, he could defy the Americans, but he did it diplomatically.

Indian are everywhere in the world, however for unknown reasons they have not grown in Malaysia, unlike elsewhere in the world where Indians are affluent and influential minorities in many countries. People are trying to profess that Malaysian government is trying to oppress the Indian ethnic community, something which no sensible person will buy.

If ethnic Indians voice their concerns in Malaysia, then it's definately an internal matter of Malaysia in which no one should interfere. Not Karunanidhi or anyone else. Every society has it's share of unsatisfied groups, we have many in India, and it's better to let the society itself find a solution for its problem. So any action that Malaysian government takes in face of unrest & protests, no one must make adverse comment on it.

The world is changing fast, closed societies are being forced open, anything and everything a society does becomes a matter of scrutiny. Thus the manner in which political leaders reacted to the unrest and unnecessary reaction from Karunanidi was deplorable. What it ultimately it achieved was to attract international attention on the diplomatic faux pax and suddenly the ethnic Indian issue was internationalised. Badawi was with his back to the wall and came out with emotional rhetoric which as much as it was true, it could have been done without.

Despite modernization of Malaysia, people tend to brand Malaysia as a regressive society, which I find totally untrue, even we have a conservative society in India, that doesn't mean we are regressive?

Finally, the protesters were asking for replies from Queen in UK! Why should anyone else answer? Why should Malaysian government give explanations as to their 'care' of the ethnic Indians, let the Queen answer!

Now everyone is asking, is Malaysia truly Asia? Are Malaysian politicians fundamentalists? My answer is, go to Malaysia and see, except for a few blunders on part of the politicos, Malaysia is a country with problems similar to the one's in our backyard, let's look in our backyard and not to worry about the society elsewhere, as for the politicians, the world will hold a mirror to them.

Endgame Dravid

Dravid the selfish face of Indian cricket, a man who did more damage than Azhruddins & Prabhakars couldn't have ever managed is now on destiny's payback list.

Rahul Dravid being dropped from the Mumbai match is a clear signal that the former captain's place in the one day side is once again under scrutiny.

Dravid is the first to admit that the shorter format of the game is not his forte, yet so far he has managed to adapt and create spaces for himself. Now time seems to be running out.

Dravid through his machinations and manipulations and graciousness of Ganguly has been a part of India one day team, he played 2003 world cup only because Ganguly risked his keeping skills.

Today life has come a full circle, there is simply disgrace waiting for this disgraceful man and there is only one way he can keep himself afloat in cricketing history, by retiring.

Guess it's time for Ganguly and Tendulkar also to go from the one day (50/50) scene...however first has to be Dravid.

Dhoni is a much better cricketing brain, and we need the Utthapas, Gambhir, Sehwag in one day side.

Bye Bye Dravid....

I wrote your obituary long ago, its now being soleminized.

CELEBRATIONS, Cricket & Music shows

This is the time to celebrate resurgence, rejeuvenation of Indian cricket, all through i have been criticizing Dravid as a captain and have in my earlier posts shown how he along with Chappel killed Indian cricket.

Dhoni has just lifted Indian cricket to a level from where it can progress to be a consistent team and rise to the top of the rung.

After Ganguly if anyone should lead Indian team in all forms of cricket it should be Dhoni, he has on debut has become a world champion, what more you can ask?

I love Tendulkar, I have been one of his biggest fan, but I am praying he opts out of tests captainship as well, Tendulkar may be the greatest player, he can still not be a patch of a captain compared to Ganguly or Dhoni.

Why I like Dhoni? For a very simple reason, it is said that spectators are the best judges, and at every crucial moments when spectators wished for a change, Dhoni applied with better effect. In the Pakistan final he could have places an extra man out of the ring but he didnt, and two of the catches went to guys who otherwise would have been on the boundry, and think of the singles that were saved.

Celebrate Indian win, rejoice a world cup Title has come after 24 years, but something tells me, with Dhoni at the helm, we will get another sooner than later, and wait definately wouldnt in two digit years.

Celebration time again when my favorite dance show Nach baliye kicks up again while Music shows near their end. T20 cricket almost killed other programs on TV, Nach Baliye this year has got of to an awful start, almost more tardy than last year, however last year, performers made the show into an unforgettable reality saga on television, can they do it this time around too. With Jhalak Dikhlaja having better contestants, its a mighty ask.

Indian Idol has come to an end and as usual lousy contestant won again, a different thing which happened on Idol 3 was Amit Paul.

Amit Paul has been the best voice heard over last three / four years and will definately make more than the one crore that boy from darjeeling took home, because while Amit will succeed in Mumbai the Darjeeling boy will have to go back from where he had come.

Amit Paul must realize that Idol was a begining, and that audience votes don't seal his destiny. Amit has enough talent to make it big and only one person can stop him from being a top star, and that person is Amit himself, if he takes things in life too easy.

Finally back to cricket, it's time that Dravid & Ganguly retire from the limited version of the game gracefully in near future. Especially a word for Dravid, he has had a brilliant career that has been marred by his two year reign at helm, which showed him to be a greedy selfish character. His abdication has done him no favors, he was close to a boot, it will be sad if he is shown the boot soon, because he isn't a Ganguly who would make it back, and certainly he wouldnt be liked to be heard on prominent Cricket channels as a commentator, just like Manjrekar whose commentary has relegated him to commentating on the other side of the border.

ENDULKAR?

It is not endulkar.... it's just the way we treat our heros who are celebrated by rest of the world. Has Sanjay Manjrekar made it to the times cover? Has Ravi Shastri made it to the times cover? Sharad Pawar has goofed it, believe me it will not be long before when selectors fall on Tendulkar's feet pleading him to join back the national side.

Let me ask the selectors, when Tendulkar was selected it was asked by many that he is too young, and a famous quote was made 'if you are good enough, you are old enough'.

In today's context the quote holds true in reverse, if Tendlkar is good enough, he is young enough!

Is Mongia better than Tendulkar? Or at thirty he is young enough?

Dravid is a greedy guy, clinging to captainship by dropping competetion!

Well it's simply not cricket.

Mr. Chappell calls Indians Mafia

Indian cricketers are 'Mafia'. This is what Greg Chappell wants us to believe. Chappell sounds like a sore loser who blames everyone else except himself.

To be honest if you will go to the archives of this blog you will find all what Chappell was upto was wrong. Chappell tinkered with the careers of proven performers which lead to disastorous performance of India, he needs to be kicked hard in the butt and barred from a cricket pitch where India are playing.

What He did to Sourav is open now, that he kicked Zaheer and he too came back strong is there for all to see, he finished the one day career of Kumble, he turned Harbhajan into a shadow of himself with a damocles sword hanging on him all the time. Ashish Nehra was given the boot and I am sure one day he will be bac strongly too. Chappell had said ' Sehwag is a special challange of my coaching tenure, and see what he did to him, Sehwag the champion looks a rookie these days. Pathan another champion is left mentally confused and forgotten the basics. The icing on Chappels cake is the downward slide of Tendulkar, the master whose batting order has been tinkered. Then look at Raina's, Kaif's...whatever Chappell may say today about them, the fact is they underperformed under Chappell.

No coach has ever so successfully destroyed a flourishing team ever before. Now he calls Indian cricketers 'MAFIA'.

I guess we Indians take comments from white skinned persons lightly, BCCI must smack Chappell hard for this comment.

Chappell is a crazy autocratic delusioned human. He is better in a butcher shop than butchering Indian cricket further.

Dravid is equally guilty of having no mind of his own and following Chappell like a lost child. Dravid doesn't deserve captainship of India.

I have full faith in Col. Vengsarkar, he will do what is right. Chappell soon will be on a return flight.