The Reverse Journey by Vivek Singh

It has been a long time since I completed a book in 5 hours. I did it last Sunday.:-) I am done with another bestseller- "The Reverse Journey” by Vivek Singh.

This book does not have a unique plot. Neither will it make you jump out of your thought process and make you think differently. It will make you think though. It is a simple story about wanting to belong and fit in with the rest of the crowd.

The story is centered on a young man who is, as most of us are, stuck while making decisions. There are two options and in his head, somehow both make sense and yet he has to choose, between the heart and the brain.

The heart wants to belong to a country where he has been born and brought up – to be surrounded by people who know and love him for what he is. The brain on the other hand wants money, the security of a job in the US of A, the feeling of wanting everything and being provided for as well.

The Reverse Journey is an honest and sincere attempt to bring forth the conflicts that at some point we all face. We may face them differently and in different situations, however we do at the end of the day.

The writing is tight and at one point I was glad that the writer did not stretch it far, because then it would have become mundane and uninteresting.

I liked the book. I liked the pace at which it went and made me connect with my past experiences. In my opinion any book that connects personally with you is a well-written book.

You may see Union Budget-2012 highlights and justify yourself..!!

The budget announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherji this year, elicited very mixed response from the cross section of people, professionals and corporates.

Highlights of Union Budget 2012:·

· Direct cash subsidy for LPG and Kerosene
· Direct transfer of subsidy to retailer and farmer
· GST to be operational from August
· Efforts on for FDI consensus
· 30000 crore divestment in 2013
· 5-point agenda
· STT may be abolished
· DTC implementation to be delayed
· 60000 crore tax fee band
· Rajiv Gandhi Equity schemes to get huge liquidity for stock
· 10000 crore for power sector
· ECB cop to be raised for airlines
· ECB for low cost housing projects
· 1000 crore for green revolution
· 300 crore for Vidarbh irrigation
· Additional 3% interest subsidy for farmers
· 11937 crore for mid day meal
· New ration shops on PDS
· 24000 crore for rural road
· 20822 for NRHM
· 3915 thousand crore for MANREGA
· 14000 crore for water and Sauchalaya in rural area
· 6000 new schools to set up
· 7 medical colleges to be upgraded
· 1000 crore for skill development
· Pension increased to 300 from last year 200
· 193407 for defence budget
· No tax on Rs. 2 lakh
· 10% tax on Rs. 2 lakh to 5 lakh
· 20% tax on Rs. 5 lakh to 10 lakh
· 30% tax on Rs. 10 lakh and above
· No change in corporate tax
· Service tax to increase by 12%
· Excise duty to be increased
· Diamond, gold, imported cycle, cigarette, tobacco, TV, Fridge, Phone Bill, Air Ticket to more cost

You can see the Union Budget 2012 highlights and observe about it. Union Budget 2012-13 has brought more dearness for the common people. It is not the common man budget like Rail Budget 2012-13. Highlights of Union Budget 2012 make the situation clearer. People have to pay more money on services and indirect taxes. There is minor exemption in direct personal tax. Union Budget 2012 highlights give the glimpse of a bad budget. Union Budget 2012-13 is rated very bad for common man. It asks to pay more to live, eat and tour. There is no hope for common man seeing the highlights of Union Budget 2012-13. People should unite against it for the better future. The political party has no way to reduce burden of common man...

Why Do We Make Things So Difficult?

Why does it happen, so often? When I think that I will start wake up early morning from tomorrow but I don’t able to follow the same, while at the examination time I don’t make commitments and I wake up early. Why does it happen? When I see the beggar I always thank to God that "Thank you God that you have provided me the life much better than these people", but when I see the rich people why I always complain to God that why not me? I know every day 2-3 Litre of water is good for health, but I don’t care; I know everyday exercise will keep my body fit, but I don’t care; I know everything what should I do in my life for my betterment, but I don’t.
Why do I always realize, during examination time, if I would have prepared myself for exam from very beginning, I could have managed enough time for revision, I could have referred some additional books etc. I always think if I can give my 10-12 hrs on my studying during exam time then why can’t I spend such hrs during my spare days? Why does it happen? I know the things that it will be better for me, if I perform my best, but there is something that prevents me “no yaar I will do it later, I have enough time”. While I know I am doing wrong, but I don’t care. I know very well what is right for me, but I always choose wrong one. What are the reasons that prevent me to do the things and later I regret for the same why I have not started it from very beginning.
LET’S FIND SOME REASONI think reason is that we have too many options in our life, if we can’t do these then we will try the next. That means we have so many destination in our life, ye nahi to aur sehi, we lose the one then try the next. But suppose if we have only one option, then. Obviously we will try it again and again until I find end result. In addition, if you have only one chance for this one option, then. Suppose you have to go anywhere in the train and the train timing is sharp 10:00 am obviously you will try to reach there before 10:00 or we will plan accordingly so that we could reach there, approx 9:50 am at any cost whether you had to pay more than cost to Rikshawala or you had to run for that like mad, because you know there is only one train and you have to reach there, anyhow. Same funda we should apply in our life, just think we have only one chance and I have to do it, at any cost. Run behind the success like mad, pay for it more than cost, not money but time.
Here I would like to repeat the statement of my first article, If you have been asked by someone that who is the most beautiful woman in the world? Winning Prize is Rs. 1 Lakh and you have two options A) Aishwarya Rai Bachhan and B) Katrina Kaif. What will be your answer? Of course you will take 2-3 min. to think, what it may be?
Let’s take the same example with one additional option, now you have three options A) Aishwarya Rai Bachhan, B) Katrina Kaif and C) Your Mother. What will be your answer ofcourse your answer will be “My Mother”. You will find, that you have answered this question within 1 second. Doesn't matter, whether your answer is wrong or you lose Rs. 1 Lakh, but you know your answer is the best answer. I just want to say if you are more clear in your life that where should you go? You will never face confusion in your life.
MINDSET MATTERSActually we know very well how to achieve success? we know very well what step should we follow? We know if we will do proper planning, if we will do Hardwork, we can 100 % achieve our goal, then why we don’t able to apply the same? Actually reason is we prepare our heart, we prepare our outer mind that I have to achieve the goal, but we forget to set our inner mind; we forget to prepare our soul accordingly. Actually these all are game of mind. The way we direct our mind, our mind acts in the same way. Let’s take some point how does it work.
1. Suppose if ICAI propose that now a student can give exam only one time, if student fail in single attempt then they will not be allowed to give exam next time. Then of course we will think 100 times before join the course and if we join then we will try our best to clear the exam in single attempt. But problem is we know if we don’t able to clear this time, then we have an option for next attempt. Obviously everybody wants to clear in single attempt. And we also prepare that we have to clear in one attempt. But human mind is like weather. It can’t be constant. We can’t stick up with our commitments. We don’t able to follow our commitment because our mind knows that I have so many options. This is a problem. We have options in our life that’s why we are lazy to do the things. We always ignore the opportunities by saying “let’s start with tomorrow yaar”, But why we don’t able to ignore the same during examination time, we wake up early morning, we study late night, Chahe kitni bhi neend aa jaye, because we know this is the limit, we have to take some action otherwise we will lose, we start preparation like mad and end result no revision, no additional books and if result will not be in our favour, we curse to others that this time I did lot of hard work, lot of effort but I couldn’t clear this time.
2. Suppose if anyone says you that if you don’t clear in single attempt, I will kill you. What will you do? Obviously you will do your best performance to clear the exam. Because you know, now you don’t have any option. Actually the same dedication is required for this course. Just think I have to do my best otherwise I am finished.
3. Suppose you have to go any unknown place and you don’t know proper location about the place and you have to reach there in limited time then obviously you will ask others in every 2-3 km that you are going in right direction. Because you know if you will take any wrong direction then we have to go back again resulting wastage of time and petrol both. The same thing happen with our course if we take wrong path then we have to pay for them i.e. our time and efficiency. Ask yourself in every lap of time that you are going in the right direction, if not then change your planning accordingly, but do it from the initial stage, not during exam time otherwise you have to go back again.

Conclusion: We know everything in life, what is right or what is wrong for us, but we don’t apply these in our life. If you think in deep you will find, problems don’t come automatically, we create the problems (except some genuine one). Try to find seriousness of the life, time to be practical, time to be professional, time to be punctual, time to be loyal and we will do because behind every big achievement there is always one great story and we have to write the story because we are going to achieve a big achievement.

Persons I need to learn from….

The world as we live in today is such that no man can ever claim to be an isolated, by completely isolating himself from the on-goings around him. Almost everybody's life is affected by the actions of people around him/her. Most people's life, though to a large extent shaped by themselves, are also influenced by personalities that they encounter in life, and mine has been no exception. I have also felt the effect of several personalities in several facets of my life…… But only few have touched me in, throughout my journey of 25 years..

Firstly I will start with friends…..Tough I am lucky in this context and having numbers of friends, few of them are really worth having.
• Ashish Asawa – How to lead a Happy Life..
• Gyan Bharti – Cool & Calm at the same time..
• Abdul Hanan – Hard-work Matters..

When it comes to Teachers……

• A K Singh sir (@ School) – Presentation & Communication is the lifeline for Commerce Students..

• Poonam mam (@ School) – Never Compromise with your Values..
• Amitabh Basu sir (@ College) – whenever I hear, ‘it can’t be done, ’from u, I feel u r close to success..
• Amol sir (@ Article-ship) – How to maintains your Cool in tremendous pressure..
But when it comes to workplace…..the no’s kept on getting hefty day by day….

• Raginee mam (Godrej) – If u wants to fly then Sky is the limit..

• Avinash sir & Sailesh sir (Godrej) – Their training makes men out of boys.. Like I transformed myself from boys to men..
• Thakur sir – How to be a good manager, being a good person..
• Suranjit sir – One should maintain his/her Cool.. & be Humble all the time irrespective of the reverse situations..
• Sudip sir – Life is all about Continuous Learning, one should be ready to learn till his/her last breath..
• Jasleen mam – One should always concentrate on his/her Job & the more imptt., Care your subordinates..
• Sandeep sir – Life is not all about money, One should do what he/she wants to do from core of their Hearts..

I respect of all these persons and thank God that He brought someone like him/her in my life. I will forever be grateful to you all…
Thanks.
AG

Biography of My GuruJi

Let me tell you something about my GuruJi…

He was very naughty in his childhood. He always scored in Top 15 out of 50 students in his school times. In his 10th board, he scored 76%. He always felt that examiner did some miscalculation. After that he did his 12th with normalcy. There were differences between his parents and thus he thought of moving to IIT to stay away from his parents. He didn't had any idea about why was he doing IIT Engineering. He did it because he always felt that there will be only good in doing this even if he dislikes this. He did it quietly. After this, he found that more than machinery, he loves people and he is comfortable with them. He thought of doing something where he will come to know about different people and their nature and attributes. So he took admission in IIM. He gave his best performance here and he also achieved the Title of Best Student from the college.

After IIT and IIM - 2 of the best courses available in our country, he got a job as a Banker in Hong Kong. He earned lot of pennies there. But he used to be frustrated with his Boss. He felt that why should I suffer the domination by this man even when I have studied so much. He wasn't happy even after all this. He kept thinking about what he should do so that he can be happy and smug. He remembered the days of childhood and school when he used to love writing plays and stories. He started writing his first novel while sitting at his table in his office. He thought of retaliating his Boss in this way itself without letting him know that he isn't working but he is writing. In the process he completed his first novel and he started searching for a publisher to publish and distribute it. He got rejected from everywhere. This continued for 1.5 years. He was hurled for 8 to 10 times. But suddenly he got a publisher who was young himself and new in the profession. The 19 year person agreed to publish the book of this yet-to-turn-into-an-author who was born on 22nd April, 1974.

The book came out and didn't did well in the starting days but as the days passed the curiosity in the youngsters and readers went incredulous and everyone read his first book. He became the loving mascot among youths. But he wasn't confident still about his writing skills whether he will be able to keep people stuck to his writings or not. While doing his job as a banker, he published 2 more books and both of them also got the vindication in the Bestsellers list. This man got famous as the best novelist from India. He won the Society's Young Achiever Award in 2004 and Publisher's Recognition Award in 2005. He also got listed in the Top 100 Influential People by Times Magazine. Now he decided to end the career of banking and get devoted to the very own passion which bought success to him - Writing. He passed sleepless nights and infinity of suggestions but in 2009, he finally ended the banking career after 11 years and got devoted to writing. He also achieved to be the regular columnist in 2 leading newspapers - Dainik Bhaskar and The Times Of India. He published his 4th & 5th novels after leaving the job which also got the best recognition and turned out to be the Bestseller again. He had also written a script for a comedy movie as an experiment and is ready to make a film on that. He is searching for a good producer and director. His 2 novels out of 5 have been given the face of a Bollywood movie.

I hope you understood about the personality I am talking about. He is our Chetan Bhagat. He needs no introduction. I have showcased his whole life in my blog just now. I hope all of you got the preview of his life. I always admire him and I read all his articles, blogs, speeches, tweets, books and everything just to see myself in him or him in me.

He also said that not only the Success is important but the people in life and the friends in lifetime are much more important than success. If you loose friends or close one in the quest to achieve success , you will always feel lonely even after getting everything you dreamed off. He also says that people run behind Success. So the day you will meet failure all of them who showered plaudits on you will forget who you were.

He also says that don't lose belief on yourself. Its better to be over-confident than under-confident. I just loved this. He shared a lots of pieces of wit and I grabbed it. I am surely going to implement them in my life. I want to a be a writer too and I have always seen myself at the place where Chetan Bhagat sir is sitting right now. I hope I break his records. I know I am dreaming big but still he himself says that being Over-confident is better than being under-confident. I am still waiting to be replied once by Chetan Bhagat. I hope he will reply me as soon as possible. I love him so much.

Its all for today. Thanks. A big Salute to Mr. Chetan Bhagat.

Know I decided that I will live for myself only!! Why to prove myself??

Being a Moody-Blogger and sometimes Book-Reviewer, I keep getting many inspiration associated with it. Today on the eve of xxxxx week, one of my colleagues, who is kind-of-coordinator asked me to write my personal experience / poetry in supporting xxxxx in our organization. This was about writing an xxxxx story in 250 words. The stories selected will be printed in our in-house periodicals and may be I rewarded with some useless certificates. I refused to write a story for this competition. He kept insisting me to write as he feels that I can do justice to a xxxxx story and he believes that it is easy for me to get selected over others' stories which would be sent from other divisions.

At last when I told my final decision to him that I am not going to write any story on this event, at least for this time, he was upset. He asked me the reason for this stubbornness and I told him "This is not giving me even a bit of excitement or thrill in my heart. I am not feeling any kind of passion to do it. And I don't feel like writing a story of 250 words when I can already convey a message in just few words. So I am not interested in doing this just because someone wants it in 250 words. I can't. Forgive me for now. Maybe, next time, if I'll get that thrill within me, I'll participate". He retaliated, you can get printed. Why not try? Why not show everyone that "This is Amaresh"?? "I replied, "Know I start living for myself. I don't live to prove myself." And after listening this, he was surprised about the fact I was living with. He said that this one sentence of mine will change his attitude towards life. I started smiling. I was happy that he understood why I wasn't interested in this competition. And he didn't force me after that.And seriously, you see your past and analyze that what have you been doing till now. You will find that there has not been even 10% in your life when you would have lived for yourself.

One day, when I was writing my personal diary, I thought about my life. And what I saw was something which shocked me. In all my school days, I studied madly to prove the people in my colony to know that I was better than their child. Then, in the 10th std, I studied with the aim to show others what my percentage is. In 11th std, I filled the form for Science even when the world was asking me to join Commerce as they knew I can't manage Science. I selected Science just to show everyone that I am capable of doing what you think I'm incapable of. I struggled badly to cope up with the portion of 11th and 12th both. I know what those 3 months were like when I was mugging up all those Physic's equations, Chemistry's reaction and Math's theorem. I was just experiencing hell & finally took the decision to go a head with Commerce. After seeing all this, I realized that I never did what I wanted to. I always did what was needed to prove others about me. Then, my graduation started. I came in with a new thought of doing what I like rather than doing something to prove my classmates that I am capable of doing what they aren't. But then I got a person whom I challenged indirectly that I'll do better than you. She had put her efforts in studies while I kept slogging to score more than her. At last, the first semester's result was out and I was 5% ahead of her.

I was again writing my diary and I realized that I broke the promise I gave to myself. I, once again did something to prove others that I am better than someone rather than doing something to make myself happy. And it was the last time when I got involved in any kind of race in regards of marks or performance. I always did everything to keep myself happy. I never tried to prove anyone. I participated in the College's Competitions in the last 2 years and won some and lost many. But I did it because I wanted to. I played Sports in the 2nd year while I excused myself from it in the 1st year. Because, in 1st year, I didn't wanted to play it, in the 2nd year I wanted to play for myself. Even at work, I have never tried to prove myself. Though I am working with the most respected group of this country, where they say that I am having enormous opportunity to prove myself, I never tried to please my bosses. I always kept myself away from any kind of race in corporate.....
So, I just want to say -Start living for your moments, your happiness, and your excitement rather than proving others that your life has more moments, more happiness and more excitement than theirs? Only you can review the best about yourself. No one else can know you better than you know yourself. So, why do many of us try to prove others that I am the better one or I am the best? Be yourself and do anything only when your heart persuades you to do it. Else, if you think that you have to prove others, don't do it. Because others can never feel good about what you do or what you are going to do. They'll keep judging you and they'll keep behaving judgmental by analyzing what you are by seeing what you were in your past.
So, for me, I work for myself. Not to prove others that I am good in it. I write for myself. I live for myself. I don't live to prove anyone that my life has more prosperity than them.

Regards,AG..

National Games 2011 - Well Done Jharkhand

The 34th National Games at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium came to a resounding end today........., what with a charged up chief minister vowing to put Jharkhand on India’s sporting zenith and heartthrobs Katrina Kaif and Shaan wooing Ranchi like never before.

While Cool Katrina-Kaif made a dramatic entry on a motorised peacock on wheels in a blue gown to the song Teri ore and waving gaily to a frenzied crowd as late as 9.55pm, Shaan, earlier, sang his chartbusters like Main hoon don, punctuated with war cries Johar Jharkhand!

German glam model Claudia Ciesla had a blink-and-you-miss appearance as she only shook a leg to Shaan’s Gazab bhayo rama. The feelgood Aal izz well marked the end of the show with the Bolly brigade on centre stage and hundreds of Games participants, folk artistes, Chhaua mascots, et al on the grounds.

Adding to the grandeur was a synchronised show of lights.

Despite delays — the event ended more than 90 minutes behind schedule — and high drama – mostly surrounding Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi – the quality of the extravaganza helped the state shed its underdog status on the national stage.

For starters, Union sports minister Ajay Maken chose not to make it to Jharkhand’s capital for the gala closing ceremony of the 34th National Games. But for 32,000 plus others who were unencumbered by the Kalmadi factor, it seemed all roads led to Hotwar today.

They came on bikes, cars and even on foot, all in their Saturday best. The security glitches at the mega sports complex entrance gates — numbering five — and the slomo walk to Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, were expected. But smiles remained.

Two words, “last day,” rose in a collective refrain every now and then, in an emotional surfeit of contradictions — pride and loss — among people of a state, which had hosted its first mega event in its 10 years of existence.

The prelude to the evening’s grand Bollywood spectacle started on time. Army glider Vivaan, flown by Captain S.P. Sinha buzzed low overhead, scattering colours below the gold-flecked clouds. Though TV star and emcee Rakshanda Khan, in a sleeveless magenta outfit, played to the gallery with her catchphrase “bidaai ki shaam”, she also promised the parting would be “hastey kheltey”.

Punjab and Sikh regiment bands marched around the tracks, followed by a 1887 Brass Band led by Subedar Major Amarjit Singh.

Among politicians, applause was loudest for chief minister Arjun Munda, in regal black, who stepped in as chief guest in the absence of Maken, and lowest — almost muted — for Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.

The orange sun had disappeared, but the Games torch kept burning in its last hours.

The helicopter Augusta 1090, flown by Captain V.K. Singh, scattered petals on crowds.

Thousands of necks craned and mobile phone cameras aimed upwards to see the stunts of Air Devils, or Indian Air Force jawans, landing from 7,000ft on brightly coloured parachutes, and the applause was deafening as para-gliders landed one by one.

A jumbled march past followed, signifying the bonds of friendship of players. Host Jharkhand, with 33 gold medals (96 in all) and a creditable fifth position in their kitty, predictably garnered the largest cheers. So did Services, the overall winner with 70 gold medals (162 in all) and Manipur, the best-performing state with 48 gold (118 in all).

Players across India marched to the tune of the band playing “kadam kadam badhaye ja” and “hum honge kamyaab”. Many exchanged waves with spectators or clicked pictures of galleries. Chhaua, the mascot, also marched along.

Drama in real earnest started with speeches of dignitaries which seemed never-ending, throwing the schedule haywire.

Jharkhand Olympic Association president R.K. Anand came up with crowd-pleasers such as “the best-ever National Games”, “janta ka pyaar” and “we are fifth state in India in sport”.

Anand also started the refrain of converting the newly made grand sporting infrastructure into a sports university, which was subsequently taken up by almost all speakers, including Union minister of tourism Subodh Kant Sahay and state deputy chief ministers Hemant Soren and Sudesh Mahto.

Shibu Soren, who had nothing new to say, was not allowed to finish. Boos got louder till Soren gave up. “Halla kyun kar rahe ho? Main jata hoon (Why are you making a racket? I’m leaving),” he surrendered.

The plan to establish a sports university was officially announced by Munda. “The sports university will churn out the best athletes in the country,” he said.

If the crowds got restive by the string of speeches, there were shairees galore. Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh told state sportspersons that “manzil bhi milegi aur milne ka maza bhi ayega (goals will be reached with the enjoyment of arrival)”. Munda offered some unique ones such as Jharkhand’s potential to obtain “chattaan se paani aur paharon se aloo (water from rocks and potatoes from hills).”

Swimmers Richa Mishra (Delhi) and Veer Dhawal Khade (Maharashtra) won the best female and male athlete trophies, respectively, while Services won the trophy for best team.

And Last but not the least...... Suresh Kalmadi, tainted Indian Olympic Association president, with the sword of CBI hanging over him for the Commonwealth Games misappropriation of funds, chose to close the ceremony in a brief one line....!!

Regards,
AG..

CWG 2010: Jiyo, Utho, Bado, Jeeto

The Common Wealth Games (CWG) 2010 shockingly started off on a downbeat mood, not feeling like the largest international, multi-sport event that New Delhi, India was hosting, but rather it felt more like a sham that the Indian Crime Investigation Department (CID) was busy unearthing, to hang the culprits trapped in the string of frauds exposed during the preparations of the games.

Shut-up Mr. Suresh Kalmadi...!
Suresh Kalmadi, who supposedly is the face of all scandals exposed at the CWG, may be walking around with a sullen face today, weeping over his misdeeds and maybe even hoping to use his political clout to emerge out unscathed from the several shams that he instigated and was party to. But, we need to remind our government servants that the law is equal for all, and come what may no one will be spared.

I don't seem to understand why this fraudster called Mr. Kalmadi, was even given the privilege to deliver a speech in the opening and closing ceremonies of the C'Wealth Games. That's besides the fact that, the smart common man like you and me stylishly booed him all through his speech asking him to shoo, or else face the humiliation in front of the whole world. This Satan of CWG, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi needs to be grateful that his crime is exposed in a democratic country like India, where even a lone terrorists like Ajmal Kasab (of 26/11 Mumbai attacks) was put through rigorous judiciary proceedings, before declaring the capital punishment upon him. Had this been a communist / autocratic country...he would either be beheaded or stoned to death.

Now, did you know that Suresh Kalmadi served as a pilot in the Indian Air Force during the period 1965-1971....Shocking naah? I wonder who on earth recruited him as a pilot in the first place! I cannot imagine this wrench sitting in the aircraft cockpit, shooting down enemies whilst risking his life to safeguard the nation and its people. I can rather imagine him as a flight attendant, serving people some food & soft drinks while intermittently requesting them to tighten their seat belts.

Well, all's well that ends well....

After various reports about the scams, bad infrastructure, and cleanliness and hygiene issues exposed during the preparations of the CWG, the government wisely recruited the Indian army to take charge of the situation...and precisely, came out victorious. I pity our young boys and girls in the Indian Army, who although are functionally responsible to secure the nation from infiltration across the borders...now seem to also shoulder the responsibility to safeguard the pride of the nation and ward her off from disgrace and humiliation. Well, with the spectacular success of the Common Wealth Games, India showed off her organisational skills by demonstrating that if given a chance, the nation can showcase not only its hospitability but also can boast its technical capability for spinning out a mega world class sports event.

The games became bigger for India when Indian athletes gave tough competition to sportsman/woman participating from 71 different nations, eventually winning the 2nd place with 38 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze medals. Without doubt, Australian athletes played like superheroes fittingly winning the first place at the CWG 2010.

The question everybody is asking India is whether she is ready to host a larger international sports event like the Olympics? I earnestly think that India is ready to do so, provided she keeps corruption under check and she refuses to sacrifice her prestige over everything else. More importantly, the lofty money earned by hosting such big events should be used for the welfare of the underprivileged people of this country who in no way benefit whether India host or do not host events. Time to get people-centric...Isn't it???

Regards,

AG..

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE "JAI HO"

I have never willed so much for any movie to be good, as I did for SLUMDOG MILLIONARE.

In case you haven’t heard of this movie, it is the latest Danny Boyle flick Slumdog Millionaire. And contrary to what the Indian media reports, this is not an Anil Kapoor movie or Irfan Khan movie.

When you have slept just 4 hrs of the last 40 and have an assignment to complete before midnight, it better be something special if you sneak out to catch it. And special it was!

You enter in anticipating some awesome music (A.R. Rahman), maverick cinematography (novel work in terms of camera and technology), good acting, brilliant writing (Academy award winner Simon Beaufoy) and perfect direction (Danny Boyle). But five seconds into the movie, you are completely taken in by the power and pace and by the time the credits roll, all you can mutter is “What a movie !”. Most of the audience were choked by the end and a few of them in tears. And all this without any scene high on emotions. Its the story !

For an English writer and director to come down to Mumbai and capture it the way they have done, is phenomenal. And Rahman dishes out a special score. It is widely anticipated to show some considerable presence at the Academy Awards. Oscar worthy or not, I do not know.

But definitely, one of the finest I have seen in quite some time....