‘The Lalit Modi Affairs’

    The controversies surrounded Lalit Modi has been fuming in Indian politics for more than a fortnight. All political parties except the ruling BJP found fault with the Union External affairs minister as well as the current Rajasthan Chief Minister. But BJP and its leaders accuses the opposition in making a hill out of a mole. Is that true? Does the common man of India really swallow whatever the BJP (exactly, BJP spokespersons) saying?

            The external affairs minister of India Ms. Sushama Swaraj helped Lalit Modi getting travel documents from British authorities. She said India didn’t have any objection in letting Modi visit Portugal on behalf of Indian Government. Lalit modi is an Indian citizen wanted by the enforcement directorate of India for questioning, related to some economic offences committed by him in India. He is now a fugitive, residing in England. And India is still trying to bring him back for questioning (well, a part of India). So a year back, when Lalit modi wished to meet his ailing wife who was being treated in Portugal he asked for help from Ms Swaraj. And on humanitarian ground she interacted with the British officials. So how it became impropriety?

         The friendship between Lalit Modi and the Swaraj’s is not a secret. So when Lalit Modi needed a favour, he asked for it. But how could the foreign minister of a country help an offender to the law of the land on her personal interest? If Lalit Modi approached her, she should have directed him to the Indian high commission, which would be the proper way to follow such a thing whether it is on humanitarian ground or not. And even if she acted herself to help on humanitarian grounds she should have consult the executive and its head, the prime minister. She must have told other ministers (like finance since Lalit Modi facing ED charges). Did she do that? Is there any files relating to this whole matters? Ms Swaraj was approached by Lalit Modi because she had (has) some powers, if she were a home maker not a foreign minister she shouldn’t have asked for such a favour. And if she had done the helping in an improper way means impropriety. If the executive was known about this and the matter was informed to the Government of India then it should be explained like that. Without any proper filing, a minister helping somebody who is close to her with back door recommendation is visible impropriety.

         Many argue that Ms Swaraj should be spared considering her long honest political career. She had never seen in such a situation before, I agree and she was very much appeared to be on the right side always. But this particular act definitely showed the conflict of interest of her. Even on humanitarian ground or helping a friend should be done the way our constitution permits. She definitely misused her power. And I would also like to know whether the Government of India had a chance to negotiate with Lalit Modi if everything held in a diplomatic manner (like giving permission only if he agrees to comeback to India after the visit). And with the given travel documents, Lalit Modi went to Portugal and partied with his friends was the aftermath of Ms swaraj’s humanity shower. And after all these, other ministers in the executive came out stated ‘nothing improper done by Sushama’. Well, if that being the case there is no need of law and order or judiciary. The ministers give clean chit to each other and  then‘all is well’.

        The second lady Ms Vasundhara Raje Scindia the then leader of opposition and now the Chief Minister of Rajasthan tried to help Lalit Modi getting immigration clearance when he took asylum in London in 2011. She filed a witness statement in which she said Lalit Modi is a victim of the witch hunt by the then central government which actually aimed at her. She then specifically demanded that the presence of such a witness statement by her should be kept secret from the Indian Government. Yes, I agree Lalit Modi is not a wanted terrorist or criminal, but he was a person guilty of money laundering and was escaping from India. And that time, an MLA and the leader of opposition of a state, gave clean chit to the offender in an affidavit that filed in a foreign country and wanted that to be a secret! I consider that as anti-national, whatever others may say! The excuses like the affidavit didn’t really submit can’t even stand as the intention of Ms Vasundara raje is very clear there.

      Now what the BJP spokespersons are actually doing is pathetic. They said first other ministers are saying there is no impropriety, so there is nothing. Each time they countered questions with the former UPA rule misdoings (c’mon, that’s why they are sitting in the opposition not even with a majority that could get them a leader of opposition). It seems they are trying to justify their minister’s acts with comparing the misgivings done by previous ministers, like which is greater, which is the greatest! Those ladies acted against the morals and ethics of the positions they bore. They broke rules. If they are going to defend those by saying ‘we don’t see anything’ along with the preaching of ‘zero tolerance to corruption’ then that’s just arrogance that the monument mandate they got in the last election brought to them. And the finding that impropriety or corruption occurs only when money transactions occur is an awful defense. Even without any favours received those two had done grave mistakes which are punishable by the law. And by clinging to the excuses they are mocking at people, they think people are fool (are we?).

          And somebody who has the authority to say something about this, like the ministers themselves or Prime minister should come and explain things. I don’t mean the bluffing of spokespersons or chorus support of other ministers. Somebody who can clarify things should come out. And the Prime minister should explain if Ms Sushama Swaraj acted by herself or with the knowledge of him. And if he knew about the matter then he should explain why such an improper way followed in such a case. It is not a silly question that why the prime minister who has always a take in every matter is silent in this matter, especially on an issue in which the external affairs minister and one of his chief ministers facing grave charges. Or is it true that everybody fears their name may come out next if they say something against Lalit Modi?

       And during this time Lalit Modi is playing with all the cards he has. I’m thankful to him for his contribution to the creation of Indian Premier League, that’s just awesome. But if he did something wrong he should be punished. But he can do one thing. He can give the details of incidents which he think our politicians or other personalities did for him or others as favours (means impropriety) if he has evidence. It is a thing that may bring politicians of all parties before people with their real faces. So he could do that rather than bargaining with tweets and posts. I don’t think that may bring all the politicians or people involved before law, but still we could see how many are there wearing masks.

            

   

Some 'Cricket' thinking

        The short rest for Indian cricket team is over with the start of its test match against Bangladesh and the cricket extravaganza continues. Even though most of the cricketing countries play extensively, the annual Indian Premier League (IPL) added two months extra work on almost all Indian cricketers (includes national as well as first class players). As a cricket fan I’m happy to see more cricket, if everything happens in fair manner.

         Even though a number of sports are followed greatly in India the space got for cricket has been safe with it for a long time. This influence or the importance of cricket on Indians praised as well as questioned by many. But the fan following for cricket never reduced, even the match fixing and scams couldn’t affect it. I think the acceptance of cricket is because of ‘the ease of doing’ it. Let me explain it. I do see kids playing cricket everywhere I go (in Kerala). No restrictions apply there, no rules. They just needed something to hit (coconut leaf base; midrib base, most commonly used weapon here), something to throw and 6 sticks as stumps (just forget bails). They play in roads, under shades or wherever they get a chance. I’m not saying everybody play like this. Well even in my childhood we used to play with heavy bat and the rubber ball (couldn’t afford any kookaburra) even though not everyone playing own these. I just wanted to say kids start to play cricket with anything and then learn the rules and become addicted to the game (unfortunately this not happen with other sports). So the attachment to cricket is not only limited to watching it in television but also playing it in real (or at least most get a chance to watch a match live in front of them).

       Thus cricket is popular in India than politics. I favour India whenever we play. But my favourite team is Australia (South Africa and New Zealand follows). Well, the positive about Australia I felt is it always proves cricket a team sports and it play like a team. Other teams have something to learn from Australia on how they behave in the fields. They are always active and aggressive; they try to challenge opponents at every time even when they are at the verge of failure (they are always ‘hot’ not ’cool’). I wish India may copy that quality.

       Team India proved in all format of cricket that they can be the king of this sport. But the aggression of Indian players in the fields is inconsistent. In many occasions it stumbled before huge totals, or gave away too many runs at crucial times. But the change that happens in Indian cricket now may help it to overcome this flaw. The matches before world cup and world cup itself show some sign of revival. After the England visit India toured Australia. The result of 2-0 failure may show a disastrous failure, but it was nothing like that. Yes, it is true that Australia won convincingly but team India showed its resistance and maturity throughout the series. Even in the absence of Indian cricket legends and a pointed bowling attack India managed to frighten the Australia throughout the series. The followed tri series was actually a time wasted program for India, like Mr. Ravi Shastri said. India should have rested well before the world cup.

      The continuous 7 match victory in world cup was another feast. Well, I hadn’t given India a chance in the world cup. I didn’t even feel the team was the right one for a world cup. In my view India had better players who sat outside to watch the matches in TV. And the bowling unit of India was a nightmare for me until the start of the world cup. But they proved me wrong. Yes, they stumbled before Australia in the semis. But whatever the bowlers did in the world cup was praise worthy since it led India into semis, mainly. And if we consider the real situation, avoiding the media hype and all about India regaining world cup; it was not a bad world cup for India. The 2011 world cup which was taken place in India was almost the last opportunity of the legend Sachin Tendulkar. And it had to be won by India for that reason (well, winning world cup for the country would be something else for the players of course). But for me it was a boring world cup if excluded ‘we won’ and ‘Sachin got it finally’. I consider the 2003 finalist India was more deserving than 2011 champion India.

        Actually it was the 2003 world cup which made India a contender team in the cricketing arena. Under the captaincy of Saurav Ganguly India became a team or showed the sign of a team which has competence (no offence to the previous versions). The following people have just to maintain that and they did it okay. The Australian demolition of India in the final of 2003 brought tears into my eyes, it was heart breaking. But I really felt very proud of that Indian team (reached finals from the scratch). I heard some players had tears in eyes when we lost the semifinal against Australia this year. Well, after the loss of first wicket we stopped seeing match and started to play cards. I knew the result of the match even then. But my brother checked scores at intervals as he had some hopes till the end. I knew the inevitable couldn’t be stopped. And I didn’t see anything to get emotional. Bowled badly, batted badly, there was no sign of a fight from a single player, so how could somebody expect something positive. India had everything this time, even the experience of winning the world cup. But it never acted serious about the world cup, starting from the team selection to the attitude of team mates. So reached semis with total experiment, well done!

         I wanted one of the semis; South Africa vs. New Zealand as the finals even though I gave 90% chances to Australia even before the World cup start. (I always profess the win of Australia before every world cup). It was so sad to see both AB and McCullum in the losing side in semis and finals. But last the most deserved won. 

        Apart from the 2003 finals, one of the matches that always comes into my memory is an India vs. Pakistan match (it has to be). I haven’t seen a single ball of that match but enjoyed the complete commentary through radio (that too in Hindi!!). It was my board exam time, March 2004; if I’m right it was India’s tour to Pakistan. This particular match was the fifth one day international and the 5 match series was 2-2 then. So whoever wins that day night match would take the series. And I came back from school after my second last exam in the noon, for the first few hours I had resisted the urge to know about match but before reading a sentence for the next day’s exam I sat beside the radio to hear the commentary (the TV cable connection should be disconnected in the houses of kids who have board exams; it is a common and normal ritual in my place). In the First innings India scored some huge total (considering) that time and Pakistan then started its chasing and thunder and lightning started at our area. Power went off at sometimes, the signal had some troubles; we could hear only some muttering sound at times. So then my brother and I who were very bad at Hindi, trying to grasp something from the commentary, lost all ideas. Then nearly at 11 pm Pakistan lost the match, India bowled out Pakistan. With heart filled happiness and a lot of tension about next day’s exam I went to bed. That match is a happy memory and I can’t think what would have happened if India lost it.

       The first T20 world cup of 2007 was also something special apart from winning it. The group match tie against Pakistan and then won it by first ever bowl out, Yuvi’s 6 sixes against Stuart Broad, and the never losing attitude and fight against Pakistan in the finals were just amazing. Even though it was not an India’s match, one England vs. West Indies match also stays in my memory (can’t tell which series and when). Well, it was a tight match and England lost. I saw the English players in tears and I started to hate West Indian team (but almost all individuals starting from Gayle to Narain in the West Indies are my favourites). The South African famous chase of Australian’s 434 is another match that floats in my memory. After the first innings I started to calculate how big Australia’s victory would be. Bang! Next day’s news mocked at me, how could I consider South Africa as a small fish!

       India is a country where cricket can be considered as another religion. But at present the plight of cricket is not good in India, the news of bookies approaching players, internal corruption of governing bodies, politicizing the cricket are not at all positive. In addition to that if Indian team can’t showcase its mettle in the fields, then whatever it have been built for some decades will be lost; the cups, top ranks and especially the fan base. So it will be better to concentrate on matches rather than the show offs outside, for the players. The new era of aggression may take India into its heights (oh, I don’t like ‘cool’ much). The test match against Bangladesh ended in a draw; still it put India in number 1 position in the ranking. Hope it is a good new start.

   

      

Changing views

        I never liked dusk. My likes and dislikes used to stay with me for long, rarely it changes. But in case of dusk it was more than a dislike. I feared twilight, a lot of times it scared me out without any reason. I always had a feeling of lose at the time of dusk; like something going to end and a number of times I broke into tears as I couldn’t control the feeling. I don’t know that was a common thing or I was just freaking out for no reason. Anyway I wanted to be in closed spaces at twilight. Even I was with my family or friends, I knew I was losing my happiness at that time and my face turning pale. If I was alone I used to cry (consider I enjoy my solitude very much at other times). The sight of sun going out whether it was at my home yard or beach suffocated me alike. I always tried to be normal and acted normal in public but I knew I was conquered by the feeling of fear always.  It had been with me for long 26 years; all my life. I never enjoyed anything at unset until last Sunday.

     Last Sunday, I was traveling at dusk and alone, and when it was near 6 pm, I thought ‘here it comes’ and I closed my eyes. But I was happy and for the first time I felt that I just have to enjoy the moment. Apparently my seating was to the west side and at window. And I looked at the departing sun doubtfully since I was not sure of any change in me. Actually there was not much change in my life so I expected the fear would come at any moment. But even that thought; that doubt was a happy one. I was not feared. For the first time I felt so much ease at that time and I started to enjoy the view. If I were a an artist I would draw paintings of what I saw outside, the beautiful sunset moments which I had seen 1000 times before, but have seen with ‘what I should have been seen with’ for the first time then. I can’t explain the calm and peace I felt at that time. It was beautiful, and that is usual but I felt that then only for the first time. The horrific feeling that always stayed with me till then was not there. I felt like I was liberated. Well, the question was where it had gone? Why was it with me till that day? May be I’m feeling ‘worst is over’ or ‘I become mature enough to tackle anything comes in my way’ (or the feeling of nothing worst can happen to me than the period of my life that just passed through).

       And each day after that till today I go out at twilight and watch the sunset. It is not there and gone forever. I don’t know what it was but it was tragic, the pain I felt was countless; the feeling of unseen wound and bleeding. Dusk is no more fearful for me, there is nothing ending at dusk, no negativity at that time. It is just peaceful, now at dusk; I have to farewell the sun for the day and then just to wait for new rise.