Lack Of Focus And Not Anouska Let Kohli Down !

The Indian cricket team  made a inglorious exit from the Cricket World Cup .It came under fire from every front –including  getting a few bullets from me .Many were giving vent to their anger for emotional reasons and some like me were angry because I thought  they  were put up on a high pedestal  by the media  ,for not much reason – and  they had to fall .I wrote in a blog before the World Cup started that we would be lucky to make it to the semi  finals –I am glad I  was proved wrong .The last thing I had expected  when I made the  forecast  was that Bangladesh would be among the 8 teams that  would  qualify  and I always thought that England would find its place under the sun !!Bangladesh are the minnows of world cricket –no matter what their Prime Minister thinks of them  .Lucky we ran into them in the quarters .

There were a lot of reasons for Indias defeat  in the semi finals –but Anouska Sharma is certainly not one of them.

Do players get distracted ? Yes they do unless they are exceptional human beings  and exceptionally gifted .Those who are geniuses  can  cope with distractions –those who are short of it may not .From all accounts drinking ,dancing and having parties all night will certainly affect ones performance .And if one is in the midst of a tempestuous love affair ,it will almost certainly distract you .If you are not distracted –then you are certainly not in love .!! Obviously Virat Kohli was distracted –but then why blame Anouska ? Its not she who was batting and  on whose name so much was at a stake.Blame Virat for it –he just does not seem to handle his distractions well enough these days .Remember him losing his cool on a journalist  which led to him being warned by the BCCI ? Do you think the incidents like that   would not have distracted him ?  Besides ,he has to cope up with his celebrity status  ,and add to it the celebrity status of his girlfriend  .Not being able to handle fame and fortune is the greatest challenge for anyone (remember what it did to Vinod Kambli and Rajesh Khanna  ).So lets get the red herring out of the way –players get distracted - unless one is a genius like Sacchin Tendulkar who left a world cup match to attend his fathers funeral  and came back and scored a century and dedicated it to his Dad .Or  you have to be like the greatest cricketer of all time –Gary Sobers.Here is a incident from his life .

Sobers was known as someone who was likely to be in the mood for a party, even during a major match. He rarely went to bed at a normal time because he was  one of those people who could   have four or five hours' sleep and still wake up fresh he admitted.It was well known I liked a drink  and went betting  after play.

While most of the West Indies team returned to the Clarendon Court Hotel after a days play against England in a Test Match , Sobers headed out with retired West Indian spinner  Reg Scarlett, and the pair headed to a nightclub, and as they made ready to leave in the early hours, Sobers said he "realised I had long gone past the need to sleep". He persuaded Scarlett to come back to the hotel, where the two of them settled down in the bar to reminisce.

"We drank until about 9 o'clock in the morning , then I got a cold shower, walked up to Lord's, got my pads on and walked out as the umpires called play," he said. "I took guard, but all I could see as Bob Willis ran up was arms and legs. The first five balls I missed, and I could hear Kanhai (he was the Captain of the team) and everyone else up in the pavilion laughing. Anyhow, the sixth ball hit the bat."

As his head slowly cleared, he found he had other problems, as "churning pains" started in his stomach. As he neared his hundred they were bad enough for him to consider retiring, but he feared it would break his concentration.

He completed his century and soldiered on until the afternoon drinks interval, when he turned to Charlie Elliott, the umpire, and said: "I'm not feeling well, can I go off?" Elliott was bemused. "Go? What for? I haven't seen you get any injury." An increasingly desperate Sobers replied: "Charlie, I've held this in for 50 minutes, I can't hold it any longer. Put down whatever you like. I gone…" And with that he headed back to the dressing room, unbeaten on 132.

Inside the pavilion, Kanhai asked what was up and Sobers told him that his stomach was "giving him hell", adding: "The only thing that'll help me now is a port and brandy mixed." The drink was duly produced and he downed it in one. "Bring him another brandy and port," Kanhai said. "But make it a big one this time." Sobers was ready to return. He duly completed his 150 !!

Clearly the Indian Cricket Team has no Gary Sobers amongst them and Virat Kohli  and gang should be supervised like schoolboys when they tour .Otherwise they lack the talent and discipline to be given the freedom  and iconic status that they enjoy .In the end –it was this factor that led them down .The VIP culture percolates every pore of our society –and you get further away from yourself if you start believing in it .To win –you need to be yourself and not be someone who has been created  by someone else .The gap must narrow and merge for you to be a winner .

We Lost Bcoz We Did Not Play Cricket.

I usually don’t write post scripts about cricket .Its a futile thing to do because the game is so unpredictable .Only someone who has played it for close to 30 years and followed it with the mind of a addict can appreciate that .For a majority of us –it’s a entertainment .For a addict and a student of the game –it’s a science ,(about why and how much the ball will swing and spin,about how much it will bounce ,about how quickly it will come off the wicket ,about where it will go if it is hit with a bat which you swing at a angle starting from lifting it from the position of third man or above your shoulder ),and so on .Its a game about strategy and cunning –about how you give the ball more flight in the air so as to generate that little extra bounce off the wicket leading to a mishit (ah Bedi and Prassana were prime masters at that ) and so on .Its not just a “lathi charge” –hitting leather with wood .More than anything –the game is  about patience and planning .We lost the match yesterday because we failed  to play cricket like cricket .There was no science .Rohit lost his wicket because he left a huge gap as he brought down his bat .He did not bring it down straight .Kohli lost the plot because he became impatient .He was just not in a position to hook  but the Australians (and perhaps someone in the stands )drove him to desperation .There were a billion hopes that sunk with his shot .Shikhar made a fool of himself .He was going nicely ,was getting runs and there was no need to hit everyball and to hit it straight to the only fielder in the outfield on the off side  .The strategy should have been to keep picking the singles ,get fours and sixes occasionally ,and push the score till 125 and then go bang bang !! But he just lost the plot .Dhoni was the greatest disappointment .17 overs and still no Ashwin ? We were all waiting for him to come on .And who do we see coming to bowl –Kohli .God ,can anyone explain that ?We had Australia in a tight spot after getting the prized wicket of Warner   let them off .Spin should have been introduced much earlier .And can anyone explain why Dhoni waited for so long to have a go at the bowling ?It was a impossible ask by then .The run rate was too much for the asking and we were not playing Afghnasithan .

It was a sad end to a world cup campaign.And it was sad not because we lost .It was sad because we lost in the way we did .No planning ,no fight and no remorse .Were we good enough to reach the semis ? I think we were lucky to be there in the first place .We were never tested till the run up to the quarter finals .We were lucky against South Africa –yes we were lucky – and we did not have a chance against any of the 3 teams that made the semis .No matter how much you say –“well played India”-the fact of the matter is that we played badly .And we did not play cricket .And we were not upto it .I don’t care too much for pessimists .I dislike optimists .I love realists who call a spade a spade.Call me anti national .Call me a pessimist .Call me anything –but for heavens sake –call a spade a spade .

Viraat Kohli -The Man Behind The Superstar .

We were at the Spice Court in Jaipur for dinner last year.No specific occasion (unlike a anniversary or a birthday party )-just a routine visit after a good workout of a walk and a few minutes at the squash court .Just the three of us –Sangeeta ,Pratique and me .We were welcomed warmly by Parth ,the Manager of the place .By now he had become a good friend –we used to frequent the place with embarrassing regularity .

Sipce Court (on Jacob Road,and next to Cottons ),was crowded .There were the usual crowd of foreigners who were watching  the puppet show with  bewilderment in their eyes.And of course the normal Jaipur crowd –familiy in tow ,with small children running helter skelter .There was also a group of casually dressed sportsmen sitting outside (Spice Court has a dining room and a garden sit out as well).About 8 or 10 of them –in Capris and T shirts .They were sitting quietly and waiting for their order to be served .We passed them without much fuss .

After a hearty meal of butter chicken and “laal maas”,we made our way out .Suddenly Pratique said

“Dad ,Virat Kohli.See he is sitting there”,he said .I looked .And frankly speaking ,I could not recognize him .

“Where”?,I asked him

“Dad,there with the group of sportsmen.He is wearing a red and navy blue T shirt”,Pratique said .

Yes it was Virat Kohli ,along with some members of the Delhi Team who were in Jaipur to play a cricket match against  Rajasthan .

“Lets talk to him”,he said .I told Pratique that I was not too interested and I had gone past the age of seeking out the stars .

“Why don’t you go and meet him ?Go” ,I egged him on .I did not like the hesitancy that was enveloping him . “Go yaar ,and say hello to him .Its not a big deal .He is just a couple of years elder to you .Cricket is like religion in India .Thats why he is so popular .If he was as good in Papau New Guinea ,nobody would even know who he is .You are as good as him in debating .!!But debating in India is like cricket in Papau New Guinea”!!,I said and laughed .I was trying to get across the point that every one has some strenghts .And some of those strengths  coincide  with what is made popular by television –in this case cricket .I have met many craftsmen who could do and create things we cant even imagine –yet no one knew them .And see what happened to Tijan Bai ,when the media pitchforked her into international fame .!!She is so excellent .!!

Pratique got the point –he strode towards the cricketers .I watched him as he approached Virat Kohli .

Virat  appeared  to be a unfriendly guy .He hardly looked up .And then mumbled something .Pratique stood for a liitle time .And then came back .

I did not ask him what happened .But he appeared rattled .Once inside the car ,he told me ,

“Whats wrong with the guy Dad.I told him that I liked his batting and he said “Khanaa to khaane de yaar .”

I told Pratique that maybe he was right .And maybe we cant imagine how it feels when people disturb you everytime you do anything –walk ,eat ,dance,shop ………”

“In that case ,he should have his food in his room”,said Pratique curtly .

Yesterday Virat Kohli was in divine form .He cut ,he drove ,he pulled ,he swept ,he hooked .He dismissed the ball from his presence .It was like poetry in motion .

I got a message from Pratique on my Blackberry .It read “Though I hate Virat ,he has played a masterful innings .Amazing”.

Yes ,Virat played a master innings .But the real sportsman was  my son .He acknowledged a great innings .

I wish Virat also becomes a real sportsman .He too should  have acknowledged my son  when he went up to him and complimented him in Jaipur.

Because ,beneath our successes and failures –there always is a good or a bad person .A gentleman or a criminal .The honest and the dishonest .The faithful and the unfaithful.

 As human beings we are not just a good cricketers  or a good debators.Those are acquired arts meant to earn us a living ..!!We are either nice or crude human beings .And it cant be hidden for a long time .!  

"Goodbye Amitabh Gupta Sir.I will never forget you "

He was amongst the first few people I met in Jaipur when I embarked on starting the Delhi Public School way back in 2002 .It  was a nippy October morning as I was driven by Ram Singh from Delhi to Jaipur .I had just been appointed the founder Principal of DPS Jaipur which was to start in April the following year .My first port of  call –Mr Amitabh Gupta .I had been briefed about him and the stories I had been told had intimidated me  .He  was a retired DGP of Rajasthan who  had  relinquished  charge a couple of years back .Policemen and celebrities  have never really fascinated me and I approached my meeting with him with a bit of apprehension .As my car pulled into the temporary make shift office of the school at Rathore Nagar ,I could see him in the foyer .He was talking to someone .

He was a big man –more than 6 ft tall and probably close to a 100 kilos in weight .He very thin hair and walked with a gait of  a “mast” man .He embraced me warmly and with a smile that was infectious

“I am Kain ,Sir”

“Oh hello Kain Saheb.Welcome to Jaipur” he had replied .

With that  I had met the man who was one of the pillars who would shape the building of DPS Jaipur .

There was nothing of the school that I was destined to lead at that point of time  -  only a piece of barren land  .Everything else had to be put into place .A huge credit for that must go to Amitabh Gupta Sir as he worked his way tirelessly through papers and departments .He was a celebrity police officer (his contribution to the building of pucca police stations and colonies for the constables was well known ) and it helped us push our project with much greater speed than it would have been possible otherwise . Frankly ,I could not see how we would start a school in less than 6 months .And even if we built it ,from where would we get the teachers and the students ? But Amitabh Sir had no such apprehensions .One day , discouraged ,I asked him “ Sir ,how will we finish the work ? And how will we get the kids ?” .The school (before Jaipur engulfed its peripheries)  was 20 kms away from the Sodala Chowk on the Ajmer Jaipur Highway ,which is notorious for  accidents .!!He looked at me ,smiled and said “ Kain Saheb , abhi to aap gaari me aaye hain ,ek din ,hum aapko helicopter mein  se utaarein gey .Jaise Patni Saheb Kartein hain”( One day we will make you land in a helicopter instead of a car ,like Mr Patni does .Mr Patni is the owner of RK Marbles and one of Rajasthans  wealthiest men )!! He sold me a big dream ,and though we were not able to achieve it ,he had forced me to think big .

Over the months  and over cups of tea and coffee(which he always peppered with “Equal”, since he was a diabetic ),we would discuss everything under the sun ,police reforms ,corruption ,Kiran Bedi (yes he recounted how he beat her once at tennis at the Police Academy at Mt Abu), Bhairon Sing Shekhawat ,Sharma Dhabha (where we went once for lunch ),-everything .His special interest was Pakistan where  he had served( in Karachi) when Mani Shankar Aiyyar was Indias  Counsel General there .He used to tell me tales of Mani (many of them not repeatable !!!),since Mani had a penchant for the good life .!!.Mr Gupta had also travelled the world and it had helped since his daughter was married to a officer of the Indian Foreign Service .In between tales and work ,he would order for Pizzas from Pizza Hut in Vaishali Nagar (later the outlet was closed down ).

 One day he called me  for drinks at his residence . “ We will have a couple of drinks and then you can go back for dinner to your hotel “ he had said .Those days I was alone in Jaipur and staying in the Maharani Palace Hotel  near Sindhi Bus Stand .He stayed in the posh locality of Bapu Nagar .

It was the first time I met his charming wife  Shiela ,who was a alumni of Sophia College Ajmer .We got along famously since my sister was also a product of the same college and were contemporaries in the 60 s .I remember ,it was a chilly evening and we downed more than just a couple of drinks of Black Label .And when I got up to leave Amitabhji  told me “Arrey Bhai , baitho dinner toh  abhi  baaki haih” . But hadn’t I heard that he had told me that I could go back and have dinner after a couple of drinks ?

“ I never call anyone for drinks at home without dinner” And after a pause “ Kain sahib ,try to make that a principle .Its good” .!! I have never forgotten those words and I can picture myself sitting on the dining table being fed some lovely food .He also made sure that my driver ,(Bajaur ),was fed “ Pehle driver ko zaroor khilaa deneaa”  he had instructed the help who was serving us drinks .

Its not that I did not run  into problems with Guptaji once the school started .I thought that  sometimes he was interfering in my work . “ I cant be held responsible for my work if someone else is taking decisions”  I had protested  once .Being the giant intellectual that he was ,he gave me my space .

In 2006  I fell ill and was on the verge of entering the abyss of death . Amitabhji did not leave Sangeetas side at the Durlabji Hospital, waiting for me to come out of coma .And finally when it was decided to take my near dead body by a air ambulance to Delhi ,he was there to supervise the arrangements at the airport . I owe him a huge debt for being alive today .

My time in DPS  Jaipur was coming to a close .I was asked to take  over DPS Ahmedabad .And two days before I was to leave I called him up .He was prompt in his response .”Kain Saheb, come over for a drink  tomorrow” he said .I knew his principle that he did not call without offering dinner ,and since someone else had already invited us for dinner and drinks ,I asked if I could be marked “absent” for the dinner ?

“Aaap aiyeh to sahi” he had said .

We made our  way to his Bapu Nagar residence on the penultimate evening before I was to leave .He greeted me with a huge hug .But clearly ,he had aged .However , the spirit had not deserted him .We downed 3 pegs of whiskey (Black Label), along with pieces of tandoori chicken before  I finally took leave of him .I bent and touched his feet and said “ Sir AASHIRWAAD DEEJEEYEH”. He told me how highly he thought of me and wished me luck . “ You will do well anywhere” he said .Its amongst the most treasured compliments that I have received in my entire life .It came from a profound and  a deeply intellectual man .It was to be my last meeting with him .The year was 2011.

I kept in touch with him from Ahmedabad .Once he called me up from the Ahmedabad Airport .His daughter is a resident of the city and he was on his way back after a couple of days stay with her .I also informed him that I was shifting to Dubai .I called him up from Dubai a couple of times when someone told me he was not well . I was told that he had had a fall and had to be hospitalized .But he recovered .

Day before yesterday I  tried  phoning  him up .I got no response .I phoned up my ex Administrator Bharat and asked  about him .Bharat informed me that Guptaji was alright .I told Bharat to convey my regards and love to him .As things turned out ,I think Bharats information was not quite correct .Amitabh ji was at that time in a hospital battling for his life and on dialysis .He was on the verge of multi organ failure .All of a sudden I had thought of calling him up .Perhaps just to listen for one last time  those two words by which he always addressed me –“Kain sahib”.!! It was not to be .He passed away .this morning (13^th Feb ).With him passed into  history a man who I would like to describe as “ a gentleman to his nails”.

I will never forget him .He is sharply etched in my individual and collective memory .He will only die the day when I forget who he was .And that is something I can never imagine .The day I forget him ,you can be sure that I will be  mentally dead .No live human being can forget someone like Amitabh Sir .And if you start forgetting ,then you are no longer living .As of today –he is with me in thoughts – having a peg of whiskey ,a slice of pizza ,a cup of adrak wali chai ,discussing Indira Gandhi and Kiran Bedi ,and even Daler Mehndi (he had a accident when going to preside over a Daler Mehndi show in Ajmer ),and welcoming the high and mighty at my Annual Function .!Who says he is dead ?

Are You A Destined To Be Great?

 Leadership is a highly debated issue and one never gets a simple answer to the question –what makes a great leader .As a leader of some sorts ,I have often debated it in my mind and read and attended umpteen seminars about the same .My simple answer to the question as to who is a great leader would be  –a great leader is someone who is so passionate about a idea that he /she is not only willingly to die for it ,but pushes himself /herself to be exposed to death in its quest .In other words -fearless .There are innumerable examples of people who were fearless and possesed with an idea -Hitler ,Gandhi ,Martin Luther ,Chengez Khan ,Nelson Mandella ,Abraham Lincoln ,Alexander the Great,Winston Churchill....and the list goes on and on .Not all of them were neccesarily good -but all of them were able to command the obedience and allegiance of men under them.I am trying to analyse the core of great leadership ,which is radically different from good moralistic leadership (though great leaders have more often than not been value oriented leaders.).
In recent times there are   two supreme examples of great leadership that come to mind -both in the very recent past  .And in different fields –one in aviation and the other in education

Neerja Bhanot was the pretty  senior flight purser from Chandigarh who was  on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked by four heavily armed terrorists after it landed at Karachi  from Mumbai in 1986. Bhanot alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack and, as the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member American cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the aircraft. Bhanot, being the most senior cabin crew member on board, took charge.

After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Bhanot opened the emergency door and helped a number of passengers escape. She could have been the first to jump out when she opened the door but she decided not and was shot while shielding three children from a hail of bullets.Maybe some of you have not heard of her -but she is the youngest recepient of the highest gallantry award given to a citizen during peace time  ,the Ashoka Chakra ,has a Square named after her in Ghatkopar (Mumbai) called "Neerja Bhanot Chowk",and has a stamp which was released by the Indian Postal Service in 2004 commemorating her .She was also given  a Special Courage award by the US Department of Justice in 2005.Her age -just 22 years .!! That is greatness and please compare her response to that of the 3 members of the cockpit crew who deserted the plane and ran away -as if they would live forever by doing so !!

The second example is that of Tahira Qazi ,the Principal of Army Public School in Peshawar where  young and innocent children were brutally gunned down  . Ahmed Qazi, son of Tahira Qazi, the martyred principal says his mother  never  ever left  school till the last child had left and even on the day terror struck, she had a chance to escape, but she insisted she would leave with the last child. It so happened that her body was the last one to leave the campus that day. When terrorists entered the administrative block, he says his mother told them, "Leave the children aside , talk to me, I am their mother." She was contemptuously shot in the head.What a sacrifice . Her place in history is assured .
Maybe all Principals and budding Principals can reflect whether we have it in us to stand up –if not to die ,then at least not to compromise on basics of important values which we are duty bound to teach  .Do we have it in us ?Do we want to be great and risk everything for a cause and NOT  believe that greatness comes only to Generals ,Politicians ,Sportsmen,Film Stars ?  If yes –then history will judge us kindly (the present may not ).If no –do we go back home everyday  and sleep in peace ?The answer to one of those question will determine whether you will make a good or a great Principal .And only you know the answer .
However the bottom line is -you can never become great by playing safe .!!

Uttarayana -Remembering Ahmedabad !!

My Day Out On Uttaryana.

It was a busy day for me yesterday .It was  a day I had earmarked for seeing and absorbing the colours of Uttarayan –the kite festival in Gujerat .Uttarayan coincides with Makar Sakranti and signifies the end of winter and the beginning of the movement of the Sun north towards the celestial space which heralds the summer months .From July it starts heading southwards and thus is called Dakshinayan –a move which will bring in the winter months .

It is a big, big festival in Gujerat and one cant miss the pulse of it .There is a lot of flutter in the city weeks before the festival date –with kites being sold  all over shops in the city .The vegetable markets are packed and one should be brave to try to venture into them because people are buying  vegetables to prepare the traditional dish called “undhyu”.Undhyu is a mixed vegetable –fruit, sweet and sour gravy which is eaten with puris and sweet ladoos or “surati jamuns”.!!I planned my trip out to see how Uttarayanan happens .!

A Stack Of Kites -Rows After Rows of Them  At The Patang Bazaar.

I first made my way into the Bopal area where I stay .It has a number of highrises and the moment I drove out and into the residential part of the colony (I stay in a secluded part of the area ),I could see why the festival was what it was known for .I could see desolate roads ,and crowded rooftops .I could hear drums being beaten(dholaks)and I could see men and women dancing .And I could see hundreds of colourful kites flying in the skies .There were small boys on the road who carried wooden sticks and had their eyes fixed for a falling kite .The moment it(the falling kite) neared them ,they would raise the stick upwards and give the thread of the falling kite a twirl and “capture”,it .It went on and on .I watched the whole thing with a sense of amusement and awe .!!I took several photographs of it .!!

But my main destination was the heart of the city –Manick Nagar , Kalupura ,Daryapur,and Khanpur .One has to be brave to get in there .The streets are narrow ,they are bustling ,they are cluttered with tea stalls and dhabhas BUT one can see kite flying at its best here!! .I watched with amazement how small children were so adept at flying kites .I also saw some amazingly designed and coloured kites .I even managed to buy a pack of 20 kites for 100 rupees .I talked to some of the old residents of the area .Some of them had been flying kites for 60 years .!!Kites are strung by a thread called “manjha”,made out of powdered glass .This helps in giving a kite a edge when it entangles itself with another kite or enters into a “war”with it .!!Localities fight with each other in “downing”,each others kites –as soon as a kite goes into the air ,it is a signal for the adversary to retaliate .!!Its much like a air raid over a city by the enemy –the plane has to be shot down !!There are champion kite fliers and they have kites which are specially made for them .So when Ustad Nizam Sheikh puts out his kite –everyone  recognizes it .He is a celebrity  kite flyer of his locality and normally will be challenged by a celebrity champion kite flyer of the locality adjacent to his .These are contests which are watched very keenly and celebrations break out  among the supporters of the kite flyer who brings down the opponents kite .

I watched one such contest .It was a enthralling experience as the two kites of opposing localities took to the skies .It is not only a matter of art but also of strategy .The kites skirted each other –trying to get at the other from a particular angle .And from a particular height .Finally one kite swooped on the other one from above ,Nizam frantically tugged at it –first gently  and then in a series of convulsions ,and finally a loud cheer as the opponents kite went into a free fall .The little boys darted off with their wooden sticks to retrieve the booty!!.Everyone started dancing –including me .!!A free cup of half chai -“cut”chai-was served and the battle continued .It was great fun and I never knew that kite flying was so competitive and generated so much passion .I had learnt another thing –experienced something which I had never experienced .

In the evening ,the sky was crowded with white kites so that one could pick them up against fading light .And when it got dark I saw for the first time “tukkals”-kites lit up .The sky was peppered with them .It was a beautiful site .

I don’t celebrate any festival –neither holi,diwali , sankrati or uttaryan .I am against them because I think they tend to do harm .Holi is dangerous –I have seen people getting blind because of spurious colour .In Diwali I have seen people being terribly hurt and animals being terribly frightened .During kite flying I have seen so many birds lying on the roads and fields being slit because of the sharp and glass coated thread .I wish one

 could balance our festivals in a way by which everyone can enjoy .This year we decided to campaign not to fly kites between 6am to 10 am and from 3pm to 7 pm .Thats the time time when birds tend to take to the skies .I hope all of you who are reading this will spread this message across .We need more birds  in the sky than the kites I saw on Uttarayan .Not less .As Charles Lindberg the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic wrote 

"I realized that if i had to choose ,i would rather have birds than aeroplanes "(his last interview before he passed away )

We need to protect the beautiful form of life called birds .I cant better their value to us than to quote what John Burroughs wrote

"The very idea of a bird is a symbol and suggesstionto the poet .A bird seems to be at the top of the scale ,so vehement and intense his life .....the beautiful vagabonds endowed with every grace ,masters of all climes ,and knowing no bounds. How many human aspirations are realized in their free ,holiday lives ---and how many suggesstions to the poet in their flight and song .!!

My Debt To Reading !!

I have always been fond of reading . I started reading  rather  early in life and there was a reason why I did so .It was because of my passion for cricket .I don’t know why I was so passionate about cricket –it was something very abnormal because I used to scan every paper or magazine (those days only one –Sports and Pastime)and  note down some  contents things  in files .I would even cut and paste some of  clippings from newspapers into similar files  .By the time I passed out of school I had nearly a hundred files .Sadly ,termite ate into them in  my ancestral home in Clement Town, and with a big bonfire one day –they were consigned to flames .I  remember  I felt terrible about it .The burning files being consumed by flames is etched sharply in my memory .

Reading about cricket was contagious .It  quickly spread to reading books .I do not call myself a voracious reader –but a steady and meticulous one .I had to read my quota of 10 books or so in a month and it was  a certainity that I would read a minimum of 100 books a year .(the voracious reader would read about 500 books or so a year –I read somewhere that Shashi Tharoor reads about 2 books a day on a average!!).Whatever I read –I reflected upon .I imagined the rolling countryside described in some novels and I also pondered a lot of themes of betrayals and selfishness and about love and lovemaking.  Books cemented my beliefs in right and wrong and made me thoughtful. I lapped up P G Wodehouse ,Enid Blyton ,W E John(Biggles and Gimlett), Shakespeare ,Max Brand (Westerns ),Oliver Stone ,and even Barbara Cartland (I have 4 sisters and they loved the romance depicted in Mills and Boon novels ).I read the great classics and one of them that stood out in my mind was “Wuthering Heights” by Emile Bronte .

My school Librarian gave me Wutheing Heights and “ordered”  me  to read it and review it .I was about 13 years old . “ Don’t think you have write about it while you read it, otherwise you will treat it like homework” he advised .”And don’t worry if you don’t want to write about it –its ok ,just enjoy the book” he said .I took the book home .As luck would have it –the electricity went off  after I had just started reading it .But  I had a kerosene lamp. Just the right atmosphere in which to read this haunting epic of star-crossed lovers. I stayed up till three in the morning to finish the book.The power of the writing was to remain with me for the rest of my life.I continued reading while in College and University and subsequently when I started teaching .Since i read History at College and University ,i read a lot of books on the subject .And Yes -i read Toynbees 12 Volume Classic "A Study of  History"as well !!

Reading was a habit which came to stay and never went away .I still have to read  before I sleep –otherwise I cant fall asleep .!!

 After a gap of 25  years,of  reading Wuthering Heights  in school ,I picked it up again again while I was a Principal in Bhopal.. Would it have the same hold over me? Or had I grown big and old now to NOT be moved by  a tale of love, hate, longing and enchantment? Obviously I had not, for once again I was up all night, gripped by this haunting  tale of  passionate yearning and burning desire played out on the desolate Yorkshire moors. Catherine and Heathcliff yearn for union with each other but it is always denied. Just as Emily Bronte’s yearning for love and fulfilment finds exp­ression in this tale of her own frustration. And with yours and mine at different phases of our life .And as  my train rushed across the Yorkshire Moors en route to Scotland –I once again remembered “Wuthering Heights”.!! After 40 years !!Thats the impact reading books has had on me !!

I haven’t read much in Dubai –and the reason for that is that my rather large and personal library is left behind in India in boxes packed neatly(I am a great one for rereading what I like ) .But whenever I get a chance to read –I do so .My writer friend Meenu Mehrotra presented me her novel –“Sunlit Hearts” .I loved it as I did reading Rajdeep Sardesais book  “2014 –The Elections That Changed India” .I haven’t read books written by my students Anupam Srivastava ,Mahendra Jakher and Ajit Shehrawat .I look forward to doing so in the very near future .

I look forward to going back to reading( about 100 books a year),  as I start my walk back to the pavilion !! I only hope that its not a case of the “Far Pavillions” because I cant wait to get there !( a fabulous book by M M Kaye).And I hope the termites don’t get to my valuable books which are lying packed  in India.That would be the unkindest cut I would have ever got in my life !!