Where Are We Heading?

It’s the times for the youth to wake up and stand against the unethical activities that are on in India. When I say youth, a major responsibility would fall on the shoulder of the girls. Today she is a daughter and tomorrow, she will be a mother of a child.

The future of a child is crafted in the hands of its mother and to craft a beautiful future the mother should have a solid knowledge about the country. I have come across the young ladies at my work place or society and most of them are just busy chit chatting, flirting and rarely reading (majority of them are readers of magazines or novels). If you ask them what is there in the paper, they would let you know lots of gossiping that are published in Mid Day, Bangalore Times etc. They would know where the Wills Life Style Fashion Show was. They would know which fashion designer had his ramp show arranged in which part of the country today. They would know which celebrity is dating with another this weekend.

But if you ask them when is the BBMP elections are scheduled, what is the issue with Ashwini – Irfan Love Story… they would not know. Ask them something from the books of history which was taught to them in their primary schools. And the boys are not an exception to it; however, most of them have knowledge on current affairs at least.
There was a road side show by one of the Private TV Channels and host asked in the public, what is the significance of Republic Day (Jan 26th)? And more than half of the mob did not know why we celebrate Republic Day and this mob was nothing but mob of Youth. Would you believe that?

Do you expect a bright future of India through such eyes? They may become big entrepreneurs, professionals and so on. But what is the use? Where would our culture stand in these hands? Where the glorious History of the Great India would go?
Young Boys and Girls... get on your own feet and start to collect knowledge!! Knowledge about India, Indian History (not the one written by British, but by a True Indian), Spread the word about India!! Let’s not shout “Jai Ho” for Slum Dog Millionaire, but say “Vande Matharam”!!!

Chakk deee… Oo… Chak De India!!!

Since Hockey World Cup is on its way to India, I thought this is the right time to write something about the Indian Hockey. In this article you will find some great achievements made by our own Indian Hockey from the day it has started playing the game.

Hockey is India’s national game and today people have forgot that it is our national game. Sometimes I get a feeling that Cricket is so popular in India and that should have been our national game. There are reasons for hockey’s non-popularity in India which I will discuss in the later part of this story. Now, let’s just look at the history of Indian Hockey against the history of Indian Cricket.

India made debut to Test Cricket in 1932 and won its first match in 1952 (almost 20 years). Prior to this victory it had lost 25 matches in a row. On the contrary, Indian Hockey team had to wait 32 years to LOSE a Olympic match prior to which it had won 30 matches in a row.

Both the games were introduced to India by the British. It took 20 years and 15 matches to beat England in a Cricket Test Match. But, England had to wait for 37 years and 22 matches to beat India in a Hockey Match.

1928 Indian Hockey team is the first team to win a Gold Medal in Olympics for Asia. The records set by the Indian Hockey team in Olympics are still unbeaten. 8-1 win against Germany in 1936 Olympics Finals, 32-0 win against America in 1932 Olympics League Match are 2 records of those. Starting from 1928 to 1960 India has won 30 games in a row. It took 28 years to see a match where India scored just one goal. Prior to that there was no match which goals less than 2. After 48 years, in 1968 New Zealand beat India by 2-1 which is the first match ever where India allowed the opponent to score second goal. In a group of 100 Hockey Playing nations, India stood at #1 for 40 years unbeaten, which is why it was adopted as our national game.

Such was the Indian Hockey team and today we nowhere in the medal list. Forget the medal; a day has come where we would be glad if we get qualified for Olympics. What is the reason for this? Is it the inefficiency of the players? Problem with the Coach? What is it that has brought Indian Hockey to Hell Down Under?

Just thank our own Hockey Federation for all the courtesy that it has been showing on our players. First thing is first, the salary of an International Hockey Player is less than a Domestic Cricket Player. If a player falls unfit, the Federation asks him to take the medical facility and reimburse the bill which has never happened in the history of Hockey. The fastest player of India Rajiv Mishra (Germany’s coach placed 3 extra cameras to capture his moves, since it was impossible with one camera!!), who got a knee injury just before the 1998 World Cup was asked to undergo a surgery which was “Successful” and he was fit enough to walk. Railways gave him the job of Ticket Collector and till date the Hockey Federation has not reimbursed the medical expenses. As an answer, Mr. KPS Gill says it is the responsibility of player to take care of his health.

Now when the players have protested against the Federation to give them the arrears, with a threat not to not play the practice matches for the World Cup. And Mr. Suresh Kalmadi replies “Is it money or Country important to you?”. If this is the case, then imagine the situation and importance of Hockey in India. Hope you might have got an idea why Cricket is popular in India.

Why am I blogging here?

It’s been a long time that I stopped writing. After 3 ½ years I have got that zeal to share my thoughts and the knowledge I have gained from my readings. I thought this would be the best place to share my thoughts with you all and get your views about it.