Will Anna’s crusade lead to a non-corrupt India?

Raise hands if you learnt about Anna through the barrel of Facebook… My hand raised! Be it UK, Australia, or America, most of the Indians didn’t know about Anna’s fight for corruption. Actually, count India as well. Bet many youngsters were obscured from this news. Even though many of us are quite regular on TOI, we still bypassed the intense news revolving around politics or corruption. Reason being: Cricket World Cup Match. When Cricket is broadcasting on TV/Internet/News, Indians stand still. No one gives a damn about who’s getting hitched/ditched? Who’s running the elections? Whose raping or getting raped? Who’s dying? No one cares! The story ends at Cricket. Period.

India won and next thing you know [via Facebook], Anna Hazare going on fast. Support him at Jantar Mantar! Mera Neta Chor Hai! I bet, even today, thousands are alien as to why Anna-ji was fasting and what was the hoopla all about? My significant other had to explain me what exactly the Jan Lokpal bill is… I doubt an army of a dozen people can prosecute politicians or bureaucrats. Corruption in itself is a very powerful enemy and we need the entire country against it to diminish permanently. Considering the fact that the whole nation went completely ga-ga over Hazare’s crusade; from this point onwards would you think twice before jumping a signal or bribing a cop so that the situation can be dismissed? Easier said than done’! Few days back, my dad gave me an excellent example of Chandigarh and how bribery is nowhere to be found in that place. Even the cops are loyal, let alone other facilities and the mango people…

Anna Sahab did his deed by showing the right track to our youth. He even made our work elementary by concocting a body of individuals with the power to prosecute even the prime minister let alone politicians or so-called-lawmakers. Now it’s our turn to stay focused and motivated and loyal to the non-corrupt path. Can we all do that? Rome was not built in a day! So, the change will go into effect but bit by bit. After all, we too desire an honorable and truthful life.

Just a thought: Indian people are very tolerate. However, now the misuse has gone beyond imagination. The way our government’s chamber of secrets are revealing; it’s getting difficult to stay mute and bear the burden of our rotten politicians. It’s high time now!!!

Oh Gym Shym Karle Ve…

Tu slim shim banle ve zor laga ke… Oh my!!! How much I miss out on my workout sessions, gym days, and the never-ending strenuous Shenandoah Valley hiking trails? Every day I feel guilty while consuming another bite of ‘roti’. Every day I get pissed for wasting another day without workout. And now it has been almost a month without exercise. Sitting at home, loading up on food, becoming a couch potato are not the best ways to stay in shape. Living around Indian food has many pros and cons. There’s no other delicious food out there except for our desi food. Okay okay, my fellow readers will get offended if I don’t mention about Thai food. That’s an exception! Yumm! However, believe me; the amount of ‘desi ghee’ poured in every desi entrée is un-believable! Plus, there are out of this world feeding tactics used on every child in every family. ‘Take one more roti just one more, last one, com’on take it take it, some rice too’. Count the roti’s and then calories!

The worst part is yet to come. While having lunch, the dinner menu will come into play for a discussion. And while having dinner, the next morning’s breakfast will get debated. Are you serious? Shouldn’t we enjoy the present moment and the food in front of us? Not so, in our culture. I can sense the fattening feeling from the debate let alone consuming the food. I’m sure all my blog readers can relate to this amazing quality of all the families out there. Only if everything we consumed was fat-free… Only if the calories never existed on Planet Earth… Only if no workout was required to stay in shape… Only if. Every female can associate herself with this article. It’s more like ‘har ladki ki kahani…’

Anyhow, the whole point of writing this article was to motivate my inner self so that I could get back to the ‘routine’. Only if the summer was already here, I wouldn’t be cribbing. But, thanks to this never-ending winter!!! Hoping/praying for a red, hot, sultry, sunny, sweaty, summery season. Fun times ahead…

We Bleed Blue!

Goodness gracious!!! I missed my articles, my writing, my random thoughts, my opinions, and much more. This past month, life changed dramatically and believe me…I relish this change every minute. Anyhow, let’s not get into those details. I have another article under-production dedicated only to that transition.

We Won! We Won! India Won! That’s the brand new mantra all across the nation and globe. If there’s a single Indian residing in an alien country, s/he is celebrating to the fullest. Winning the match from a strong contender and our very own neighbor is no Joke. This match was not an ordinary match. It was bigger than a Karan Johar or Shahrukh Khan Film or the 3G scam or even the Commonwealth Games. This was the baap of everything. The intensity of Cricket is beyond imagination. To find out the real meaning of Cricket, one should travel to India during the World Cup. No one cares about job, school, college, homework, exam, movies, movie stars… Only cricket runs through the mind. And if Sachin is playing, the world stops and so does the time. He’s the God, the real idol of our nation [literally]. For proof, please meet my significant other. He won’t tolerate a single comment against the God. Period.

Today is the D-day itself. It’s life or death. The last world cup we won was in 1983 on this very day. We have been eagerly waiting for another victory. India is batting at this very moment and our beloved got out. I almost had a fit for a moment and Facebook got crowded with sad comments/frown emoticons. Tweeple started bombarding twitter with uncalled tweets. The fans are going totally bonkers at the stadium. With every good shot the entire public goes ga-ga. ‘We will rock you!’ No doubt, no double thoughts, no qualms. The match got real intense in the beginning. It could have gone either way. Sri Lanka had a fair chance however we didn’t lose hope. On the last ball Dhoni did it with his SIXER. He lifted the spirits of the entire nation. That’s exactly what we needed. We did it! We won the World Cup 2011. After twenty eight hard years we finally achieved the one and only goal. A salute to all the men in blue. The atmosphere became too sentimental. Everyone around had joy of tears when the boys picked up the God himself. This win is wholly and entirely dedicated to Sachin. He’s the man and always will be. Hail to the Master Blaster!

The street life after the match was unthinkable, unmatchable to any celebration ever. Mango people went totally bonkers. Traffic didn’t seem as painful. The patriotism emerged out of every living soul in India and elsewhere. There were more tri-colours on view than ever before. Thousands and thousands of euphoric Indians were on the roads. I wish I was in India to witness the enthusiasm, the madness, the mania. The scene on the Marine Drive/India Gate/Gateway of India was bizarre. We created history on Saturday April 2, 2011. The most memorable day ever! RESPECT to the men in blue…

“He carried the nation for 21 years and it is about time we carried him” – Virat Kohli