Its Shoe's day out

This election has thrown many surprises and will be remembered for a long time for many reasons. It is a 3 way fight and all the three alliances are having a close fight. Many analysts say the result will give a hung parliament. However, one unique thing about this election is the shoe throwing incidents. We see a number of people throwing shoes at the leaders including the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition. Has it become a fashion to throw shoes at the leaders to show their protests? It all started with a Iraqi journalist throwing shoe at George Bush when he was given a farewell. This continued in India and the first victim was our Home Minister Mr. P.Chidambaram when he was asked about the acquittal of Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 Sikh riots. This was followed by Naveen Jindal. However the most daring incident of all is a man throwing shoe at the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he was address a rally. These shoe throwers continued their fight when they threw a slipper at the NDA Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. L.K.Advani. The latest to join the group is the Karnataka Chief Minister Mr. B.S.Yedyurappa. I don’t know whether it is a political plot or not as all these leaders have pardoned the shoe throwers. I never knew that these people are so kind hearted :)

Chak de India...

The wait is finally over. India has won a test series in New Zealand after 41 years. It last won a test series under the captaincy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. It has been a splendid performance from team India and Dhoni’s golden run as captain continues. India has not lost a test in the last 9 matches and Dhoni maintains his 0% loss since taking over the captaincy from Anil Kumble. Everyone lived up to their tasks and performed really well. This well could be the last series in NZL for the big three and they didn’t lose the opportunity to stamp their authority. Sachin and Laxman scored centuries and Dravid didn’t fail even once. Apart from this, he broke the world record for most number of catches in test match cricket. Gautam Gambhir has been a revelation since the Sri Lanka tour, scoring 2 centuries in consecutive matches. Sehwag has been a disappointment in test series, not able to convert his quick starts into a big one, but that’s how he plays. Yuvraj has to prove his credentials if he has to be a permanent member of test team and he had an average series. Dhoni, as usual had a terrific 3^rd test, scoring 50’s in both the innings and taking 6 catches in the 1^st innings. Bowlers too had a good outing in all the 3 tests, especially Harbhajan who had his best overseas tour in his career picking 16 wickets including a match winning 6 wickets in the 2^nd innings of the 1^strd test with a 5 wicket haul in the 1^st innings and as always had given early break through all throughout the series. Ishant Sharma did support Zaheer well by taking wickets in crucial times. Munaf too didn’t disappoint as a third seamer. Overall it was a tremendous performance from team India and is very well on course in claiming the top spot. test. Zaheer Khan was brilliant in the 3

It would have been sweet had India won the third test. In fact I would say that they were really unlucky as Vettori was given not out, what seemed to be a plumb LBW and Ishanth dropping O’Brien in the square leg. Had they won the match it would have been their 100^th test win, which would have made the series triumph even sweeter.

As Dhoni wished, it is a great gift for the big 3.

Congrats team India and hope they continue this form for at least 2 more years.

Yet another very good tool from google

http://www.google.co.in/intl/en/landing/loksabha2009/

Check out this link to know everything about election 2009 including, how the government has performed in the last 5 years in each state.

This is really a very good tool to choose the candidates before voting.

Gandhigri

The one I am going to say here is the most revered principle of all time. It has changed many nations’ history. It had its birth in our very own land which was adopted by many. In fact it took me at least 3 to 4 years to fully realize the power of it. Yes, I am talking about none other than the Gandhigri.

Gandhigri is nothing but the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. I may not the best person to talk about it, but I feel it is my duty to spread the awareness about it. To be frank, few years back I never believed in Gandhigri, but few articles, books and of course movies changed my perception. Now I somehow believe that, it is the most powerful weapon to fight against injustice.

The most important aspect of Gandhigri is Ahimsa i.e. non-violence and peace. People may argue that it is not possible to follow non-violence in the current scenario when the world is facing threats from enemies and terrorists. Yes, I do accept it but it is not impossible to make them realize about it, may be not the terrorists but at least the enemies.

Ok let me explain with an example.

Let us take the case of LTTE – Sri Lanka dispute. After fighting for 24 years for a separate state what have they achieved? The only thing that was achieved was the loss of millions of innocent people and also our very own Prime Minister. Now the situation is that they have been wiped off Sri Lanka. The leader is missing and they lost almost all their territories. I am sure, had they approached in a peaceful manner, they would have got the support of the world, but now they are an abandoned group. I am sure everyone would have supported their cause had they fought it in a peaceful way. At least they would have got some breakthrough in their talks.

I am not asking you to show your other chin when you get slapped, but at least try not to hit back. If you hit back, the ultimate result is enmity between the two, but if you don’t there are possibilities of friendship between the two and who knows it could be the turning point of your life. One should give the other person a chance to realize their mistake. The Indian law says that every person who has been charged should be given a chance to defend him or her and the greatest example is the appointment of a lawyer to Ajmal Kasab. I am not trying to defend his actions, but he should be given a chance to realize his mistakes so that he doesn’t repeat it again. It may sound difficult to digest given the fact that so many people died, but by hanging him it will only increase the anger of terrorists rather than subside.

I would love to quote Barrack Obama here who in his reply to John McCain regarding Al-Qeda in Iraq:

“…..I have news for Mr.McCain as well. There was no such thing called Al-Qeda in Iraq before Mr.Bush invaded…”

By invading Iraq for no reason, they just increased Al-Qeda’s aversion towards US and as a result 100’s of innocent people being killed every now and then.

One voice changed India which inspired the voice that changed South Africa and both these voices preached non-violence.

I am sure, when one voice can change a nation, one billion voices can certainly change the world. Hope to see a peaceful world at least before my death.

Last but not the least, I would like to quote Superstar as well.

“Anger is the cause of everything, one should know how to control it otherwise life will be miserable”