The Rising Sun of Indian Sports

With the beginning of the Pro Kabaddi League on July 26, the traditional sport of India gets a thrust to become a popular sport. The initiative of Mashal Sports has surely worked wonders, with the likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Ronnie Screwvala and Kishore Biyani of Future Group as franchise owners in the league. The turnouts have been impressive too, and the stadiums have glittered in the presence of sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, to actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan to business tycoons like Anand Mahindra.
The marketing of the league has also been impressive, as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra were roped in to advertise the physical game. The Official Broadcaster Star Sports has left no stone unturned in promoting the game as apart from telecasting live matches, it has also televised shows expounding the rules and briefing the viewers about the star players of the game.
This game of raids and defence, with its unique play and facets, seems to have won the hearts of people.

Definitely, the Indian Premier League has created great prospects for Indian sports, giving rise to various other leagues such as the Hockey India League, the Indian Badminton League, the Pro Kabaddi League, the World Kabaddi League, and now the soon to begin Indian Super League (soccer), and The International Tennis Premier League. With some of the best players and coaches of the world coming to India to participate and playing with the budding sportsmen, it has surely enhanced their learning, but it has also given them the much needed global exposure that one would always strive for when playing such sports given that they are not as lucrative as cricket is.

On the whole, India seems to have a good future in sports, provided that the respective federations are not lax as it has been argued uptil now and work even harder to promote sports. Hope to see India winning more medals at the Olympics.

A Mountain View

A gaze down the valley supersedes my mind,
An unseen scene is all I get a vision of,
Someone has poured this white vapour,
Trees peep out from neath the endlessness,
Flowing rivers of fog, take away my maculate possessions.

When winds turn into breezes and breezes to bliss,
The sun finds a way out from enigma.
Sunshine embraces the valley in ebullience,
When the rains had caressed the blooming greens,
Perhaps the birds have known the secrets,
Whispered by the Divine Mother.

And as I move with clouds,
So I see the great panacea they will to liberate,
But even tremendous seems the burden inside me,
O Heavens! Shower the elixir, for my wait nears eternity,
That the beatitude engulfs me as vapours.

The senses perhaps cannot perceive the greatness,
Words cannot meddle in the colloquy of souls,
The day would pass but may tranquil realms remain,
Let unfold the ceaseless book of Hers page after page,
And page after page.

As sun sinks into the infinite horizon,
With skies from above and beneath,
Felling their draperies to proclaim dusk,
As the sun closes its lids with one last breath,
Promise that you will reveal yourself tomorrow,
And day after day,
Till your rays become mine and I become you,
And all darkness fades away.

The Kidnapping

"Yea!" And it was the third goal for Praana right at the stroke of the end. He was in tenth standard and had played many state level matches representing his school. Lo! The exams were approaching and he would have to abandon the pleasure of scoring goals as a center forward. He would have to miss a major tournament which was to be witnessed by the national coach. Though, exams were not the problem; it was the orthodox behaviour of his parents who wanted him to become a doctor for what he said,"That's the way the ball bounces." So he left the besmeared ground whose surface had trysts with the prodigy's skills. He retired to his room and draped into his chair with an indestructible obligation to study and work hard for the medical examination.
"Son, what is the status of the syllabus? Son, are you awake?"
She only saw well-arranged pillows placed under blanket. Out of the blue the phone started ringing and she discovered herself in the ocean of terror-
"Hello!"
"Ram Ram Ji! Your son is with me and if you want to see him happy and playing then surrender him to me for three weeks."
"Hello! Who is this? What do you want from us? Where is my son?"
"I want nothing but your son. I can track all of your phone calls so if you try to reach the police then you would see him beheaded, Ram Ram!"
And she cried. She wept and screamed and let away floods of terrified waters from eyes. Her husband, Ashok came just to see her wife fainting. He tried to wake her up; he sprinkled water on her face and asked the cause.
"Praana.. Praana.. He has been kidnapped, he has been kidna..."
"What! How do you know?"
"Just now, the kidnapper called and said.. Our son is with him and we dare not call the police or he would be found decapitated.."
"Oh No! Did he ask for a ransom?"
"No! He just said he wants Praana for three weeks."
She had never cried so much and it looked as if the weep was incessant.
Wiping her tears he consoled,"Ok calm down Richa, look we have a strong boy, he plays hockey, doesn't he? We will call the police..."
"No."
"Listen to me first Richa. Look we will stealthily call police. We have to, wonder what he could do to him in three weeks."
She nodded in accord.
From Hissar, Praana's hometown, he was taken to Delhi via bus and the kidnapper kept him in a guest house as his nephew. But he was not a normal or professional kidnapper. He took Prana to the ground and made him play hockey.
"All right, sir."
The kidnapper trained him hard. Undoubtedly, he was best in the business for Praana. He wanted to make him rock solid, a boy with nerves of steel and a great athlete, because he was one of those people who had scanned his calibre with the stick. The lethargic and sleep-loving boy now woke up at five in the morning. Stamina-building, skill-enhancing, trick-embellishing- all sorts of exercises were in the daily routine. For Praana, undoubtedly, this was the period of his lifetime. He could enjoy this even though he was distant from his parents. But he had to do this to keep them happy. Every night his eyes would drench for them, he would say Pranam and go to sleep fraught with dreams.
Two weeks of hard separation ensued for the parents. They would have sleepless nights, all of their day would revolve around police station; they were in a misery. Eversince they had called the police from a PCO, it had begun its hunt for the missing boy of fifteen. All over the state, ads were put in the local newspaper, on pillars, walls and where not. Officials were stationed at various places but there was hardly any sign.
But for Praana, he was on a campaign to bring his dream alive. After a fortnight of shedding blood, sweat and toil, he was ready to play a match the next day. The kidnapper was ebullient with the dedication and sportsman spirit of the young boy. That's the way the coaches feel when their student gives more than expected. He called up to the parents of Praana and said,"You have a great boy. He is a gem. I often find the skill in him to be like Major Dhyan Chand.."
"Hello! Who is this, from where are you calling?", Ashok was ready with line hacking setup.
"Just one week and your boy will create history, sorry, he will be history!"
With the help of police, the parents discovered that the number was from Delhi. They rushed to the railway station, booked tickets and now had to wait for just about an hour. Meanwhile the Delhi police was informed about the kidnapping that had taken place. They were now ready for another call and they would catch the kidnapper.
"Richa, you know, I think I have heard that voice before, but I don't know when."
"Don't worry this is happening because we are eager to meet our son."
"Is it so?"
"Yes."
So they were in Delhi on the night before the big day for Praana.
Praana was on the threshold of playing in front of the national coach and before joining his other teammates from various places in Haryana, he touched the feet of his teacher, who kidnapped him just to give the national team the diamond which they needed.
And the match began in the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi. The ball was with the opposition for more than half of the first half. Praana's legs showed signs of keenness to play and his hands itched to storm the ball in the back of the net. And suddenly three goals landed through the goalie into the nets in a matter of four minutes. The opposition had taken charge of the game and the score uptil the first half was 0-3.
And the second half began and Praana was substituted for the center forward who had an average game losing possessions.
Meanwhile, the police after long sessions of inquiries and interrogations had traced the place where the kidnapper was living and soon they could ready a sketch of the person.
"Aaa!"
"What!", the parents were startled to discover that the coach of Praana was his kidnapper. The father was ready with his sleeve up and they were off with the police to the stadium.
"Yea! Yea!" Noises could be heard with the tinge of triumph. As the parents entered into the stadium, they were on their knees and broke down. The boys of Praana's team were galloping in groups with Praana on their shoulders lively and satisfied. His coach was dancing like a fairy and with the glimpse of the parents arriving, he greeted them along with the national coach.
"Are you Praana's parents? Would you fulfil a wish of mine?"
The parents felt embarrassed as they struggled to lift their heads and nod.
"Give him to me. He will be out there with the national team for the Olympics. I have never seen a dragflicker of fifteen with as great an accuracy as his. Four goals in four extreme corners while one through the legs of the goalie in the penalty corners. In the last minute, he scored two goals on his own dribbling through the awestruck defenders like a hurricane. He dived and intercepted some passes with the speed of a bullet. He is a live wire and he deserves to represent India."
"Take him. He is all yours," said Ashok disillusioned by his desire.
"Thank you. Mr. Baldev, call your heart."
"My heart?"
"Merely an expression of speech! Call Praana."
"Oh!" With a grin he called the player.The young boy jumped and broke into his mother's arms in ecstasy. His eyes could not be seen. All that could be seen was some rainbow-like tears which flowed in torrents out of the holes. He hugged his father tight."
Said Ashok, "My son! You have become a man your chest is quite taut."
The mother still did not have any words. She shed even more tears than when she heard of the kidnapping and was speechless.

In Delirium

Some day was there when I was a pessimist,
Stalemate in semblance of sweltering cyst,
So morose, so sullen and so morbid,
Such intensifying was the delirium torrid.

Blatant was the thought of disease,
It glared, blathered in unwillingness to release,
Exhorting for homicide sans procrastination,
No path to trace, some serious castigation.

Began it growing fervidly in fiery fierceness,
Until a whim crossfired midst hopelessness,
Suicide is not a solution, a predicament,
Can you stop the cycle in torrent of torment?

You will have to bear the pain again,
There is no way out without the rain,
The rain of strength, life and energy,
Only way out is: Get up! And fire in synergy!

Decimate the dead part and maraud,
Capture and assimilate power, ring the chord!
Because no one has the right to rule you,
Become your own emperor, it is only YOU!

Take the name of the Lord and begin,
This is a new moment with new energy, grin!
For with will for life comes your breath,
"Strength is life, weakness is death."

India At London Olympics

India at London Olympics goes with 73 competitors in 12 sports as of now as compared to 57 in 13 sports in 2008. This cannot be called a big achievement though. A country with a population of  1.2 billion sending just 73 for the global event is not justice to the talent it has. India has always had the capabilitly to produce greats in various sports. Sachin Tendulkar and many others in cricket, Major Dhyan Chand "Wizard", Roop Singh and the greats of a gone era in hockey, Viswanathan Anand in chess, Leander Paes in lawn tennis, Prakash Padukone and Pulella Gopichand in badminton to name a few.

Then where is the fault? When a country can produce sportsmen of this quality where do we lack. When we see the governance behind the sports we find that cricket is an exception to other sports from the fact that it is not directly run by government and the only sport which has remained evergreen in India at the international level seems to be cricket. This opens some windows where we can question the government. Where have the other sports been for such a long time?

China goes with 317 competitors in 20 sports as of now. Argentina goes with 140 in 21, Brazil with 256 in 26, Kazakhstan with 92 in 14 and South Africa with 143 in 16 sports when we look at some of the other developing countries.

Undoubtedly the world owes a lot to India when it comes to producing greats and the greatest; its high time now the lion of Indian sporting talent arises again. Talent needs exposure and support and indisputably I see India at exalted levels in near years if the sporting ministry reconsiders it policies and give the much needed exposure to the Indian sportspersons lurking to perform.

Hellhole

Hellhole is their habitat, they are humans,
Yet they yearn only for meal, give them once,
Their path is along the drains, they traverse it,
As a wanderer walks along rivers, we curse it.

Ubiquitous detritus is the ensign of abhorrence,
Enshrine they eagles and vultures in pretence,
Reeking excreta adorn the ambience here,
Stagnant water is the place to bathe and share.

The arrival of monsoon is the greatest time,
For the mosquitoes and flies to snore their rhyme,
Epidemics are spewed with each raindrop,
Which nestle close to and nourish the weedy crop.

Let me bring you closer to death, or abduct you beyond,
You will strive, struggle through this dark bond,
But will never find this place even in dreams of dreams,
Oh! How vaguely I beam that nobody gleams.

No, let me not carry you to mine shallow depths,
You have nothing to discover but dying breaths,
But lend me a hand to emerge me from myself,
As I keep drowning into this swampy shelf.

We all know the ways to drag them out,
But whence shall you leave to flout,
Do it once thence you will get your fruit,
Elsewhere you accost, now where is your brute? 

And there comes a man who gives them a pedal,
To hit and escape from the strangling girdle,
He makes their work his, it he worships,
He scrapes through death in these stifling strips.

Work of life now becomes the work of a day,
He heaps his health and wealth in this array,
As a servant, a dutiful servant of brothers,
A God in everyone he consequently discovers.

Soon follows him the country in an indestructible hope,
That there will be the rise of the downtrodden through rope,
Of sympathy, empathy, help and forbearance,
What shall not be shaken through unity hence?

If everyone out of you is made up of gold,
What this massive hurdle could do, behold,
Come up, be bold, see through the eyes of your kin,
"The negligence of masses is the greatest national sin."

Redemption

Billions of crimes have you committed,

Trillions of people have you hurt,

Realize the power of one new moment,

Which can trigger the next infinite a moment.

With happiness of penance and satisfaction,

Clemency in disguise pouring down,

Now ignite double the people depressed,

With the spark of new energy.

Do everything in this chance,

You do not know the last day,

Let skies announce the commencement,

Of a new power appearing on Earth.

You have nothing to steal now,

For the only theft left is sorrows,

Rob the people off them,

Throw your good deeds in rivers.

Let you sacrifice your life,

In this penance let there be no compromise,

For you have that energy,

To dissipate for your brothers. 

Camouflage Of Pity

An ocean is ever in flames,
But where is the sky to receive?
There is clemency camouflaged,
When will the heart perceive?

All the world talks about desires,
But where is that one moment of content?
Make your sky porous enough,
And see clouds of pity which relent(desires).

HIS ocean yearns to shower its warmth,
Do an act worth a merciful vapor!
But pleasures swelter you in snow lands,
When will there be an act of valor?

I met a man who lost everything,
But continued to serve the victims of penury,
His lips were in a constant motion,
And look he won the grace of God!

Yet he desired nothing more than arms,
To serve his fellows and see them lively,
When do we find a man like that?
With body smeared with blisters highly.

Whatever you desire to be you will be,
Just do deeds fetching greetings,
Know that you could have been worse,
In the midst of ground of ill-feelings.

Why not give happiness to others,
When you can give it without a frown,
And be in cognizance of that warmth,
Which approaches you and pour it down.

The Indian Sports

So, the IPL is under way finally after plenty of wait and you could have probably expected a better start with tough and tight competition. Anyways, still 50 days to go and the event is a promising one with expectations of good matches to come.
But my attention goes to the other sports which stand nowhere in front of cricket's glitz and extravaganza. It was good to see World Series Hockey in a fervid way. But there too it was a bit lackluster due to the absence of best national players busy for Olympics. And the word 'Olympics' brings me to its attention.
There has been little fever for the biggest sporting event to be held in London. Provided the fact that they take place after 4 years, there is great anticipation from most sportsmen, but not the public it seems.The Olympians seem all geared up as they are working very hard to make a mark. And I have no doubt that when time comes to bid luck to them, the entire country will stand up to see the faces of India's representatives.
So can't there be better infrastructure for all those sports which are held in Olympics or even otherwise. Most of our football grounds have poor drainage system and outfield.. Not enough stadiums for hockey players to carry out training provided that Hockey is a National Sport and needs to be given prime importance as a symbol of respect. Remember it was the first sport to lift the heads of Indians in front of the world. Medals in events such as equestrian look far from Indian reach. More pathetic is the case in that of aquatics, athletics(with less participation), fencing, gymnastics, etc. Therefore, India looks much behind other countries even with a population of 16% of the Earth.
Why is it that we are satisfied with the little no. of medals we get in Olympics? Why can't we give equal importance to other sports other than cricket? Though, I feel good that there is atleast some sport in which India is much ahead.
I believe India can get global exposure mainly through sports. Look in the case of South Africa and see how much they have been under the light due to their world sporting events. We can attract more tourists easily with development in sports and certainly with a huge increase in foreign exchange. The job may not be easy but for the love of country we'll have to do it. There is a big need to push other sports forward and look how SPRINGS of talent deluge India.

Essence Of Smile

Some days back in gloom,
I was in the shade of dismay,
Everything perturbed me, frustrated,
Even my heart seemed to betray.

I continued to be stick-in-the-mud,
Dormant as an inactive volcano,
Suddenly a gust of wind struck me,
And my indolence was under the snow.

That gust was a great whim,
It was when I remembered myself laughing,
That laugh which shows teeth,
White or yellow, either deserving grin or slapping.

Well, laugh has got something unusual in it, isn't it,
For once, at least a moment, you forget sorrow,
That's where you have to hold the string,
And climb it, you have only smiles to borrow(from yourself).

Let me tell you which kind of laugh that was,
The smile in which you laugh so hard,
That you try to make sound, but it bursts completely,
Can shake the walls. Yet unheard, when the breath sparred.

That ultrasound can touch the heart,
It is an expression uncontrollable,
And all faces in the room light up,
Regardless of character, and is laudable.

So good is that, even when you tickle,
There is more closure of eyes than annoyance,
And look, you can't help it,
It goes on even when urine drains in effluence!

A baby's smile, aloof from guile,
A boy's laugh, a man's grin,
Your parent's lovely expression,
Or the one when one is pricked with pin.

Sorry but I cannot define this in words,
That feeling is so rejuvenating,
And when you get that anytime,
Do share with everyone, no harm in making.

Keep Smiling! Regardless of any cause. What's the harm in smiling!

                                    

Enslaved..

Sometimes making a decision becomes a fuss...
In fact it becomes a noose which tightens as the time comes closer. When too many people enter the arena, we can't defeat our dilemma. This discourages us of discernment. When our aim is held high, the friends influence us, and we go with them. But then as if parents come and spill milk.. You feel smothered by the expectations and too much buzz. But you don't know that's where a leader is born..
The leader has the ability to take the right decision at the right time. Only he can be a leader who can think of serving people at the cost of himself. Why fear when making decisions for yourself? You know what is right and wrong for you. Meet yourself every night to discover the gem in you and have an interview with an unseen hero.
While people will have their claims in for their desires, it is no wrong to choose for yourself when that choice can help another million people get their life. That's why it is said be SELFLESS.You can hardly make mistakes  if you have the intelligence with selflessness.
Parents, friends will push you away. But your politeness shall pull them. Have the power to convince with sweet words. It can be difficult...
But you have the courage don't you? Or are you flies waiting to fly just before someone stomps on you. Then take the decision which is going to be right for not only you but everyone. Parents can only help us, but they can't be in our place at all times. We are a different entity, and we have the freedom to make our decisions.
Therefore don't be afraid when people intimidate, you follow the right thing.

The Spring

The time has come,
To look up to your goal and stare it,
Whereafter you have to live with it,
Drink with it, sleep with it, dream with it.


You have walked great miles,
The time has come to touch the milestone,
Convert iron to gold with Philosopher's Stone,
Wherein you have to dissolve, and with content drone.


For when an itinerant person finds the spring,
He has no place to go, he can sigh, a new breeze blows,
He can plunge into it, swallow it, it mellows,
True happiness after forlorn days it bestows.


Where the wet trails take you, follow,
For you have the faith, selflessness and gallant,
That when stones pester you will be a rock valiant,
And when you will persist will walk the torrent.


Amidst that spring you'll know only springs,
Even when autumns, winters, and summers trespass,
Even in droughts, even in floods, peace will encompass,
Even after the perpetuation of hurricanes of humongous mass.


For Lord Krishna says those who are selfless,
Those who are imperturbable and those who don't perturb,
Those who work for the destitute, and gloom they curb,
Whose eyes are unto me, will find me, this I promise.
Him nothing can disturb.

Awake

Enough you have been in sleeps,
Dreaming everything impossible,
Now wake up, for you have Everests to climb,
And I feel, your success is plausible.


Surrender yourself unto your work,
The work, which was to be done only by you,
And now that lion has awakened,
Your dreams will take you through.


Show to yourself that you are a sun resuscitated,
Which had to enlighten the world for its sake,
"Every moment is a new opportunity",
Motherland calls you once again, Awake!