A Letter from INDIA to the Indian Cricket Team

Dear Team India,

You know that cricket is celebrated like festival in India. It runs like blood in the veins of every Indian, be it rich or poor. No Wonder the anxiety and anticipation of India-Australia cricket quarterfinals on 24^thMarch 2011 overshadowed the death anniversary of Shahid Bhagat Singh that fell on 23^rd March, 2011 (his 80^thdeath anniversary). No one for once remembered, forget paying tribute, the young man who sacrificed his life at the age of 23 for independent India. The nation was enthralled with the anticipation of witnessing Sachin’s 100th century in international cricket and his 18000 run feast. Let’s not forget how many ‘havans’ and ‘special prayers’ were done for your victory against Australia in the quarterfinals.

The martyrs of the past are now the part of history textbook but you the Indian Team are the current heroes of the Nation. We look up to you to give us something, a recognition of “sporty India”; a recognition apart from the “poor victims of corruption”.  It feels good to be titled as ‘Cricketing Nation’ than ‘Corrupt Nation’.

All the political parties and the ministers (not leaders- it is a very dignified word), whom we elected have showed us the ugly side of the game and shamed us with their dismal performance in all the fields - team(with integrity and honesty), captaincy (leadership), batting (top order- giving good guidance, middle order- providing solid growth, lower order- playing sensibly not ducking with bribes), bowling (restricting runs- restricting corruption, getting wickets- nabbing the corrupts and criminals) and fielding (containing inflation, population explosion, crime rate and unbridled construction).

So Team India in your victory we’ll find the balm for the excruciating pain that is caused to us by the 2G spectrum scam, the Commonwealth scam, the note for vote and the prevalent corruption  (We wonder why the news calls these sinister crimes as scams), which has scarred our souls and wounded our hearts badly. In your victory we’ll find the joy, the solace, the pride of being an Indian- a winner and not a corrupt.

If you, the Blue Brigade, fail us in the days to come, don’t worry, we won’t be more heartbroken and lost than we already are. We’ll gulp the news of loss in the same manner like we have gulped the poisons of n-number of scams till now just with a few noises and going silent thereafter, expecting nothing.

But remember we want to see the ‘Men in Blue’, you,  lifting the cup, we want to hear the world applauding us for being victorious and feel the glory of India- the nation of cricket lovers not the land of scams.

An Indian

** I tried my best to get it in some national english daily... missed out. Probably not a newspaper material or even the print media works on 'solid jugaad' :)

Between You And Me

No matter how worse it gets, You'll be there that's something I know...
It's not because I'm too good, it's just because you are a wonderful YOU.

Teach For India

This month I'll finish my tenure with Teach For India as a volunteer. Soon the kids will have their exams and all that they were taught will be tested. My test still won't be over as I was not trying to teach them just maths or english, I was trying to motivate them to learn. The lesson I wanted to imbibe in their hearts was of hard work and honesty. They'll fail the day they feel that they can't do it and I'll fail if as a teacher I let them believe it. My footprints might be lost in the sand of time but one day I want them to rise and mark their footprints, become a good human being and serve their motherland. The rising digits in my salary bring me no solace, it's just a need but an hour spent in teaching these kids becomes my hour of serenity.
Probably now will be the time for me to say goodbye to my kids... with a heavy heart I have to move on and find out a way through which I can reach out to other kids and give them the same lesson and move on and on and on.

I have miles to go before I sleep,
Stay awake with me for a few nights,
Walk with me - a few miles,
Help me as I have a long bridge to be built,
Help me.... please TEACH.


P.S.- Those who read this and want to appreciate me or my efforts... just try to understand I don't do it for anyone, I do it for myself. This is how I buy happiness for myself. I'll try to mend your heart because this is how my heart is contented. I'll be your friend because I see that compassion in you that I crave for. I teach them because I desire to see honest countrymen in my country, who don't rob, rape, kill, burn my nation, my country, my motherland.
Educate a child and I'll be indebted.

hope our paths cross again and the hearts stay true till then

"..hope our paths cross again and the hearts stay true till then". Aren't those lovely words, a beautiful message from a stranger to me.
I'll keep it real short. I hate when a close friend and I drift apart. We once used to talk for countless hours. Now we don't even have time for conversations. We have become the part of the rat race, things have changed. We’re going on our own separate ways and heading at different directions. If I’m lucky, maybe our paths will cross again one day, someday. Until then, be true to your heart and your dreams will come true. Until then, I hope you know I miss you. I promise you my friend I'll be me, be it now or then.

To Reach The Silence Behind

He sleeps in his bed tonight and remember those things which he never thought of doing but he did them. He was not born to follow rules and regulations, he was born to follow his dreams. The restlessness inside did not let him reach the silence within him. His words stood between silence and silence; and he listened quietly. It was his heart that showed him the way... all the way. His inside is his outside. He is not always right but he does what he feels is the best. With bleeding hands he tries to heal, unknowingly stains the white in red. He owns his words. He is writing to reach you but he might never reach you. You talk without speaking, you hear without listening and he keeps whispering in the sounds of silence. And he keeps whispering in the sounds of silence...