We will miss you!

We started walking in 2012. And, the god has been kind enough to gift the Dilliwalas (people who are from Delhi) a new year gift which is insane. The world is going in for a "Ga Ga India" and we are all set to reap its benefits. Yes, the design behind such a huge opportunity may have emanated from the economic prowess of Mother India. Sports is no different from any other industry or sector which is bleeding in the so called "First World" and they are increasingly expanding their presence in the new economic hot spots like India. But whatever the reason may be, we are lucky enough to witness history being created in Delhi this January. It is almost impossible to sit back and wait. It feels like so close yet so far. 

A tough young boy with talent from a small village in North East India made it big. He did it with his immense talent and skill, his precise and tough disciplined life which he dedicated to his passion. His passion was akin to many from this beautiful part of India. Boys love to kick it around and dribble it around and girls would love to cheer it. Its a poor men's game and , yeah, you bet, its the most popular sport in this world. Football is life in North East India. And, Baichung Bhutia was no different. 

This lad  from Tinkitam village in mountainous Sikkim came, saw and conquered the football and lived his dream. I M Vijayan, another wonderful footballer of India, described Baichung as a "God's Gift to Indian football." His speed, accuracy, reflexes and intelligence had helped to improve the scenario of football in an otherwise cricket crazy country. He showed to his own nation that he, along with many others, has it to make the cut. This illustrious career as a player is coming to an end when he will formally retire from professional playing as he will lead the Team India to a wonderful match on January 10, 2012. 

The exit of this wonderful player from India ever has to be grandeur. And, yes, we expected it right when the Deutsche Football legendary club Bayern Munchen comes to this part of the world to bid farewell to Baichung along with his teammates. Its no fake news that the full strength and full bench of Bayern Munchen is coming to New Delhi and, if newspaper reports are to be believed, the club will place a full strength team against Baichung Bhutia led India XI Football team.  

If you wished for a dream, your god just granted your wish to become a reality. Yes, you get to see Germany's World Cup captain Philip Lahm leading the team which will have (take a deep breath, or you may fall short of it) World Cup 2010 Golden Boot winner Thomas Muller, star striker Mario Gomez, "Jewel of French football" (as described by none other than God himself, Zinedien Zidane) Franck Ribery, Dutch superpower Arjen Robben, German superstar midfielder Bastian Schweinsteigar et al. Phew!

Its not about a result, its not about all the business angles involved, its not about just football. Its about the respect that an Indian footballer has earned in the international football scenario. A gentleman, in his truest essence, Baichung happily posed for a photograph, shared his own opinions and also listened to other's points of views when I met him recently in Delhi. I felt poignant to see that Baichung is still a kid when he has the football with him. He plays the ball with same innocence and he is still very much in love with the game. It was a wonderful sight when he played with young kids and showed them a trick or two and still laughing with them on it. For a person like Baichung, we have a memorable match at hand. I hope that Baichung keep on walking on his chosen path of popularising and improving the standard of football in the country. And, as people say, make it a mainstream sport. Lets watch him in action again at the J N Stadium in Delhi! Come on 10th Jannuary!

We will miss you Baichung! 

A Date with City of Joy

 Caught in the most berserk imagination a human mind can only sparsely realise, may be due to an inquisitive quest that I have always treasured in my heart, I was a bit skeptical and, at the same time, was looking forward with excitement to step into a city of marvels. The need of that hour demanded for a cup of hot tea so that the butterflies in my stomach do a retreat at least for some time. Failing to camouflage my camouflage my SOS call for a cup of hot tea, a benign vendor was smart enough to offer me a cup of “laal cha” (or Lemon tea). Having been a while since I drank the last cup of lemon tea, for I have been staying in the western India and this remain an eastern delicacy, the salacious urge to sip in the tea almost made me snatch away the cup from him. With great satisfaction I sipped in as I looked from my rusty window at a sky that had slowly rebelled against the ghastly darkness making way for the mighty Sun to take over the business of the day. The enlightened skin of the earth was getting brighter as my eyes got trapped at the tip of what has been the city’s perfect snapshot----the Howrah Bridge.

Shivering at the fact that only a distance of few minutes kept me apart from the colossal Howrah railway station, I began to pack my things along with my body and soul as I conjure my senses to explore a city, best known as Calcutta. 

The enigma of Calcutta remains. The epicenter of British raj and its legacy is still languishing which can be seen in a state of despair. That it is not a humdrum place as like many other 21^st century cities, is proved when I saw a wall writing that was an appeal to the British, a desperation that was manifested in those frustrating words “British come back. Slavery is our birth right”. May be the passion for the land has not dried up to the extent that it is believed to be. Still there is someone who is avid about freedom and hope. May be it is not British, may it is a scum that has leeched the society and the time. And it is still going on and on. May be it is a silent outcry against the Neo-Colonialists who have marched in that has threatened the fabric of hitherto untouched hinterland. Welcome to Calcutta where ‘Bhadra Lok’ is trying to explore the panorama of communism for decades.

As soon as I left the bogey and step down, the red army encircled me. Hold on, this is not the land of Dragon. It is all right if I am in a communist state but still this is India, a democracy. But, no they were not red army but army of porters, better known as Coolies. While I floundered my way out, I went straight to the old Howrah station where I kept my baggage in the cloak room with no promise from the attendant that the immense rats will do no harm to them. But then in life you have to take chances. I took the chance and, guess what, pulled it off without a snip later on that day. The next thing that I had in my mind was that I have to rush the Waiting room to freshen up. The hall was full of people as it has so far been. The paucity of restrooms is always felt when you are held at the razors edge. If you pull out, you have to start it all over again. Once you are there inside the restroom, rest assured that others enthusiasts won’t allow you a resting stay. The job is to be done real fast. Somehow I liked the unanimity within the procession in imbibing the anthem which is incidentally one of my favourite as well. They were true to the spirit of 'the Dylan Classic, “Knock, knock, knocking on heavens doors”. This acted as a nice wake up call for the people who were getting ready to plonk themselves into this precarious world of Calcutta. This refreshes the Calcutian spirit among people.

As I moved under the blue sky, the Rabindra setu, better known as Howrah Bridge, was standing tall proudly defining the identity of the city. It promises to take you to the other side of the river Hooghly, to the precarious yet alluring pulp of Calcutta. The sight is spellbinding. Just while you stroll across the road by the side of the bank, there are flurry of petty restaurants. They are trying to sell some of the most delicious and the cheapest breakfast in the world. I suspect the prices that were responsible for the popularity of the coinage. Their ambience even though a big turn off for anyone but the aroma of the smell will make anyone with a huge belly goes berserk. Just taste the “Luchi with Gorom Ghoogny” and you will simply go out of the world. You also get introspection the Calcutian life from a closer view. Now, whenever you pay for food in Calcutta, just make sure that you have adequate change with you because you know the MasterCard would never work there.

Calcutta is a strange city. It has so many strange things that you may start feeling like getting foxed at life. The once celebrated Calcutta Metro always excited me with impossible imaginations in my childhood. So it was something eagerly waiting to hop into. So, I took a metro ride from the Esplande to Shobha Bazaar.  An impetuous excitement flooded my imagination and my senses went all awry with the thrill of that speeding spearheading underground. That was something.

2012...Lets take the walk!

So much to hope and so much to dream about! So many moments and so many walks! The journey continues as you smile at your past with love and starts flirting with future. Give yourself a present, live to dream, live to be alive. Today is always new. Relish it! May the best happen to all of you always! Spoil yourself with love! Happy New Year! 2012 is here.

Recently, I watched a wonderful ad of Coca Cola that talks so much about optimism prevailing over pessimism, people fighting for good over bad. Yes, the day may not be smoke free yet but hey! we are still wishing everyone on a new year. We are still wishing and hoping and dreaming about an unknown year. There is a sense to optimism in everybody and that is what makes me feel good about it. Its time for us to walk towards our dreams.

What a better present for self can be other than identifying your right priorities and work out plans to achieve during the year. No, I don't have anything to quit but I actually want to adopt a few. Some good habits I shall try to adopt.

Among them, the most important and wishful is a road trip to Ladakh and Srinagar. I would really love to see this amazing piece of earth in 2012. While I did have some plans to cover some part of Arunachal in the early part of the year, that plan is looking tough now. God help us in that!

Lets walk now.