Sports Heroes Anthem

Earlier this week I received a call from my friend and ex-colleague Rasika Kulkarni. She sounded excited, as did Nilesh Kulkarni - they are both the Directors of the International Institute of Sports Management, Mumbai, India. Without exchanging the usual pleasantries they asked me to block my diary for the 24th of January 2016 for a very special milestone in their lives ... they were launching the #sportsheroes national anthem enacted and supported by 8 of India's sports heroes @sachin_rt @dhanraj_pillay @ibaichungbhutia @Maheshbhupathi @WrestlerSushil @MirzaSania @gaGunNarang and the great Sunil Gavaskar @excricketr ... the anthem has been conceptualised by Nilesh and Rasika and is written and directed by Abhijit Phanse, music direction by Ram Sampath, Photography by Sudeep Chatterjee ... tremendous team effort with an outcome of a 3.10min video that strung the right chords giving the traditionally dressed audience goose bumps and moist eyes.

Dhanraj and Sachin were the only two of the eight sports heroes that were present at the event held at the #TajLandsEnd. Both of them spoke with humility and emotion about their sport and the flag and the joy they have felt each time the #indianflag was unfurled in a foreign land because of their win.

The beautiful sentiment of 'Apne bachhon ke pairon ko apne desh ki mitti lagne do' was given by Sachin, Dhanraj and Nilesh. It was portrayed with beautiful imagery of children playing gully cricket, marbles, sprinting, catapult and many such. The key message of the anthem was that all the eight sports heroes shown in this version of the anthem, are people from very humble beginnings and today they are on the global arena playing on behalf of #India making us proud by winning and unfurling the #indianflag across the world - and this is possible by each of our children too.

As a child I remember playing all kinds of games in the open spaces with my friends. Games like kity-kity, lagori, robs&cops, dabba-i-spy (it was pronounced as dabba-ice-spice), goooooooldspot, hopscotch, fire-in-the-mountain, climbing trees and eating guavas and shehtoot and badams, swimming, cycling, racing, badminton, gymnastics, throwball, basketball, high jump, langdi, phugddi, kho-kho, hututu (kabaddi), four corners. We would leave home at about 4pm and not return until 8pm in time for a wash and dinner with the family. Getting dirty in the mud was a given. Falling and scraping our hands and knees was common place as was getting back to the madness after a tear or two -- that thrill and joy I felt in those growing years is unmatched.

Playing a sport builds our strength, teaching us about team spirit, about the victories and losses that one faces in life and how to toughen up and accept defeat and then get back and try again the next day. Sport doesn't care for your color, caste, wealth, religion ... all it cares for is your talent. And if you can convert that talent into a passion and maintain your focus and instill a culture of self discipline and hard work it is most certain that the world will salute you in return ... and you too will have the opportunity to watch the #indianflag unfurl as you stand atop the victory stand with a lump in your throat, a tear in your eye and a billion+ cheers to back you up! Go India go ... #winforindia

#2016 - #Newbeginnings

Is it that time of the year again?
For reflections of the months gone by,
Where masking the tears, were the smiles aplenty.
A cuss under the breath and the avalanche of intolerance spilled, and
In the dark of the night rising cries of pity. No. Anger, into the pillow.
Resolve for an affirmation of change,
Beginning from me - the fingers pointing at me no longer.
When thought out resolutions are copious, assuring life anew,
A time for hope they say; that numerology may help!

Plans to meet who, when and where - the Marina or perhaps the Corniche?
For pretty dresses to impress - He likes the color blue, he said.

But, 'Sorry we don't have an open slot Ma'am'

The polish has a smudge and there is no repair,
The blue one isn't showing my cleavage enough,
The beauty spot needs to show - the red one is short too,
My eyes trace the slit and the red reflection smiles.

The sea of yellow and red is growing bigger.
Oh, I wish they would hurry!
But will I be able to focus on me
The regime of Yoga. No, he said Zumba!
And no whites; for how long would that be?
And the phone is ringing and I do not hear.

I am late, as always he says.

Be good - And who is saying that?

I should have worn blue!

And us...
Is that a light?

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Shades of the new year at Carter Road Bandra last evening with massive crowds of people took to the roads with friends, kids, elders and family were an interesting first time experience for me. People of all kinds Indian and foreign; tiny and huge; modern and conservative; young and old hugged, smiled, laughed, Selfied, lit crackers, wore caps and red illuminated horns and let go of balloons and floating lanterns into the dark sky singing Happy New Year ... it was a time for cheer.

At the traffic signal was an efficient cop on duty directing traffic. I extended my hand out at him saying 'Happy New Year Sir'. He smiled and gave out and then on second thoughts pulled back his hand. smiled and said 'Happy New Year Maam' and went on with his job at hand ;)