Before I write this article, a small STATUTORY WARNING! I feel very deeply about this issue and I am very biased. These are my views alone and most of them arise from the fact that it will seriously affect me and many people like me, but the reason I am writing this article is to get my thoughts out there and make myself heard.
Ground Realities :
* We are a Cast based society, no matter what our Constitution says. People are still discriminated against in many walks of life.
* Many people of the higher casts treat the lower casts as paraiahs and they believe that their children should get married only within their own community.
* Many people who belong to lower casts tend to have an intense inferiority complex and always tend to draw on atrocities committed by the upper casts. Many of them despite their achievements feel held back by these deep rooted insecurity.
* Cast based reservation for the SC/ST has existed for the past 50 years in the entire country for the upliftment of those tribes and it is still considered a necessity. Many southern states have implemented further reservation polices in the state run institutions to uplift the other backward casts and this too has existed for quite some time now.
Reservation :
Has discrimination in current day India turned on it’s head? Are we looking at a situation where in the future, maybe 20-30 years later we will land up saying that there is too much discrimination against the forward castes they have to be given an equal opportunity? It’s quite possible. People who are forward cast are not necessarily people who have cars and homes. There are people in the forward cast who may be very poor and struggling as well. And by the same token there are people in the lower casts who have more money than most Indians can imagine. Where is the justification for such a policy on reservation at higher centers of learning. NDTV recently conducted an all-India poll on weather the country would want reservation or not and they felt they had found astounding results with 54% of the people in their survey saying that they would support it. Looking a little deeper we find that around 75% of the OBCs and SC/ST wanted it and 43% of people from the general category supported it. Our logic in such a situation would tell us that no sane person is going to say no if he gets his education handed to him on a platter. If I could I would like to pose this very question in a slightly different manner. This question should be posed to the people who the currently proposed reservation is expected to benefit. Would you prefer the reservation in the current form or would you prefer a reservation/scholarship system based on the annual income of the family? And I am sure you will find a not so surprising answer. The poor and destitute OBC,BC and SC/ST will support this proposal and the well to do may not. There are people within the backward communities who feel that this type of reservation may not be the best way forward. This formula, the very controversial Economic Status formula is in my opinion the best option.
There are many dalits who are well educated who feel their children shouldn’t avail of this liberty as they have already. This is another proposed option where the next generation of the backward classes is prevented form taking reservation. In this way the percentage of students availing reservation, conceptually should reduce steadily.
Many people have been appealing for the government to consider improving education at the lower levels instead of doing it at the higher levels, because many of these students who come to these schools of higher learning struggle not only to communicate but also to understand as the medium of education is always English. But the current proposal of reservation will not be rolled back and that is quite clear from Arjun Singh’s comments. His interview with Karan Thapar is below and that will give you a lot of insights into the man and his ideas.
If nothing works and all the students protests are in vain, the government can at the very least open up the seats that are not filled by the SC/ST and OBC students for the General Category so that the discrimination against them for being born into a community is reduced.
Before you go any further, just take a minute think the of Police Brutality and Government of India’s heartless attitude toward the peacefully protesting medical students. We all want justice in this matter and it does not seem forthcoming. So many students have passed out and so many are continuing on their hunger strike and there is no response form the government.
What ever the outcome of this protest and whatever the decision of this government. This sequence of events has shaped a generation and scared our belief in the changing face of Indian politics. The politicians still play vote bank politics and they don’t seem to have any concern for the people of the country.
With this I give you our Human Resources Minister.
Karan Thappar Interviews Arjun Singh on ‘The Devil’s Advocate on CNN-IBN’
Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to the Devil's Advocate. As the debate over the reservations for the OBCs divides the country, we ask - What are the government's real intentions? That is the critical questions that I shall put today in an exclusive interview to the Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh.
Most of the people would accept that steps are necessary to help the OBCs gain greater access to higher education. The real question is - Why do you believe that reservations is the best way of doing this?
Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to say much more on this because these are decisions that are taken not by individuals alone. And in this case, the entire Parliament of this country - almost with rare anonymity - has decided to take this decision.
Karan Thapar: Except that Parliament is not infallible. In the Emergency, when it amended the Constitution, it was clearly wrong, it had to reverse its own amendments. So, the question arises - Why does Parliament believe that the reservation is the right way of helping the OBCs?
Arjun Singh: Nobody is infallible. But Parliament is Supreme and atleast I, as a Member of Parliament, cannot but accept the supremacy of Parliament.
Karan Thapar: No doubt Parliament is supreme, but the constitutional amendment that gives you your authorities actually unenabling amendment, it is not a compulsory requirement. Secondly, the language of the amendment does not talk about reservations, the language talks about any provision by law for advancement of socially and educationally backward classes. So, you could have chosen anything other than reservations, why reservations?
Arjun Singh: Because as I said, that was the ‘will and desire of the Parliament’.
Karan Thapar: Do you personally also, as Minister of Human Resource Development , believe that reservations is the right and proper way to help the OBCs?
Arjun Singh: Certainly, that is one of the most important ways to do it.
Karan Thapar: The right way?
Arjun Singh: Also the right way.
Karan Thapar: In which case, lets ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC? Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the correct figure?
Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizeable percentage of our population.
Karan Thapar: No doubt, but the reason why it is important to know 'what percentage' they form is that if you are going to have reservations for them, then you must know what percentage of the population they are, otherwise you don't know whether they are already adequately catered in higher educational institutions or not.
Arjun Singh: That is obvious - they are not.
Karan Thapar: Why is it obvious?
Arjun Singh: Obvious because it is something which we all see.
Karan Thapar: Except for the fact that the NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference?
Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to go behind all this because, as I said, Parliament has taken a view and it has taken a decision, I am a servant of Parliament and I will only implement.
Karan Thapar: Absolutely, Parliament has taken a view, I grant it. But what people question is the simple fact - Is there a need for reservations? If you don't know what percentage of the country is OBC, and if furthermore, the NSSO is correct in pointing out that already 23.5 per cent of the college seats are with the OBC, then you don't have a case in terms of need.
Arjun Singh: College seats, I don't know.
Karan Thapar: According to the NSSO - which is a government appointed body - 23.5 per cent of the college seats are already with the OBCs.
Arjun Singh: What do you mean by college seats?
Karan Thapar: University seats, seats of higher education.
Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know I have not come across that far.
Karan Thapar: So, when critics say to you that you don't have a case for reservation in terms of need, what do you say to them?
Arjun Singh: I have said what I had to say and the point is that that is not an issue for us to now debate.
Karan Thapar: You mean the chapter is now closed?
Arjun Singh: The decision has been taken.
Karan Thapar: Regardless of whether there is a need or not, the decision is taken and it is a closed chapter.
Arjun Singh: So far as I can see, it is a closed chapter and that is why I have to implement what all Parliament has said.
Karan Thapar: Minister, it is not just in terms of 'need' that your critics question the decision to have reservation for OBCs in higher education. More importantly, they question whether reservations themselves are efficacious and can work.
For example, a study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working.
Arjun Singh: I would only say that on this issue, it would not be correct to go by all these figures that have been paraded.
Karan Thapar: You mean the IIT figures themselves could be dubious?
Arjun Singh: Not dubious, but I think that is not the last word.
Karan Thapar: All right, maybe the IIT may not be the last word, let me then quote to you the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - that is a Parliamentary body.
It says that looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000, just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled. So, again, even in Delhi University, reservations are not working.
Arjun Singh: If they are not working, it does not mean that for that reason we don't need them. There must be some other reason why they are not working and that can be certainly probed and examined. But to say that for this reason, 'no reservations need to be done' is not correct.
Karan Thapar: Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.
Arjun Singh: As I said, the kind of figures that have been brought out, in my perception, do not reflect the realities. Realities are something much more and of course, there is an element of prejudice also.
Karan Thapar: But these are figures that come from a Parliamentary Committee. It can't be prejudiced; they are your own colleagues.
Arjun Singh: Parliamentary Committee has given the figures, but as to why this has not happened, that is a different matter.
Karan Thapar: I put it to you that you don't have a case for reservations in terms of need, you don't have a case for reservations in terms of their efficacy, why then, are you insisting on extending them to the OBCs?
Arjun Singh:I don't want to use that word, but I think that your argument is basically fallicious.
Karan Thapar: But it is based on all the facts available in the public domain.
Arjun Singh: Those are facts that need to be gone into with more care. What lies behind those facts, why this has not happened, that is also a fact.
Karan Thapar: Let’s approach the issue of reservations differently in that case. Reservations mean that a lesser-qualified candidate gets preference over a more qualified candidate, solely because in this case, he or she happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upper castes are being penalised for being upper caste.
Arjun Singh:Nobody is being penalised and that is a factor that we are trying to address. I think that the prime Minister will be talking to all the political parties and will be putting forward a formula, which will see that nobody is being penalised.
Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary - Reservations also gives preference and favour to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society?
Arjun Singh:I don't think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.
Karan Thapar: You mean India is not a modern society and therefore can't claim to be treated as one?
Arjun Singh: It is emerging as a modern society, but the parameters of a modern society do not apply to large sections of the people in this country.
Karan Thapar: Let me quote to you Jawaharlal Nehru, a man whom you personally admire enormously. On the 27th of June 1961 wrote to the Chief Ministers of the day as follows: I dislike any kind of reservations. If we go in for any kind of reservations on communal and caste basis, we will swamp the bright and able people and remain second rate or third rate. The moment we encourage the second rate, we are lost. And then he adds pointedly: This way lies not only folly, but also disaster. What do you say to Jawaharlal Nehru today?
Arjun Singh: Jawaharlal Nehru was a great man in his own right and not only me, but everyone in India accept his view.
Karan Thapar: But you are just about to ignore his advice.
Arjun Singh: No. Are you aware that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who introduced the first ammendment regarding OBCs?
Karan Thapar: Yes, and I am talking about Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961, when clearly he had changed his position, he said - I dislike any kind of reservations.
Arjun Singh: I don't think one could take Panditji's position at any point of time and then overlook what he had himself initiated.
Karan Thapar: Am I then to understand that regardless of the case that is made against reservations in terms of need, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of efficacy, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of Jawaharlal Nehru, you remain committed to extending reservations to the OBCs.
Arjun Singh: I said because that is the will of Parliament. And I think that common decisions that are taken by Parliament have to be honoured.
Karan Thapar: Let me ask you a few basic questions - If reservations are going to happen for the OBCs in higher education, what percentage of reservations are we talking about?
Arjun Singh: No, that I can't say because that has yet to be decided.
Karan Thapar: Could it be less than 27 per cent?
Arjun Singh:I can't say anything on that, I have told you in the very beginning that at this point of time it is not possible for me to.
Karan Thapar: Quite right. If you can't say, then that also means that the figure has not been decided.
Arjun Singh: The figure will be decided, it has not been decided yet.
Karan Thapar: The figure has not been decided. So, therefore the figure could be 27, but it could be less than 27 too?
Arjun Singh:I don't want to speculate on that because as I said, that is decision, which will be taken by Parliament.
Karan Thapar: Whatever the figure, one thing is certain that when the reservations for OBCs happen, the total quantum of reservations will go up in percentage terms. Will you compensate by increasing the total number of seats in colleges, universities, IITs and IIMs, so that the other students don't feel deprived.
Arjun Singh: That is one of the suggestions that has been made and is being seriously considered.
Karan Thapar: Does it find favour with you as a Minister for Human Resource Development?
Arjun Singh:Whatever suggestion comes, we are committed to examine it.
Karan Thapar: You may be committed to examine it, but do you as minister believe that that is the right way forward?
Arjun Singh: That could be one of the ways, but not the only way.
Karan Thapar: What are the other ways?
Arjun Singh: I don't know. That is for the Prime Minister and the other ministers to decide.
Karan Thapar: One way forward would be to increase the total number of seats.
Arjun Singh:Yes, definitely.
Karan Thapar: But the problem is that as the Times of India points out, we are talking of an increase of perhaps as much as 53 per cent. Given the constraints you have in terms of faculty and infrastructure, won't that order of increase dilute the quality of education?
Arjun Singh: I would only make one humble request, don't go by The Times of India and The Hindustan Times about faculty and infrastructure, because they are trying to focus on an argument which they have made.
Karan Thapar: All right, I will not go by The Times of India, let me instead go by Sukhdev Thorat, the Chairman of the UGC. He points out that today, at higher education levels - that is all universities, IITs and IIMs - there is already a 1.2 lakh vacancy number. 40 per cent of these are in teaching staff, which the IIT faculty themselves point out that they have shortages of up to 30 per cent. Given those two constraint, can you increase the number of seats?
Arjun Singh:That can be addressed and that shortage can be taken care of.
Karan Thapar: But it can't be taken care of in one swoop, it will take several years to do it.
Arjun Singh:I don't know whether it can be taken care of straightway or in stages, that is a subject to be decided.
Karan Thapar: Let me ask you bluntly, if you were to agree to compensate for reservations for OBCs by increasing the number of seats, would that increase happen at one go, or would it be staggered over a period of two-three or four year old process.
Arjun Singh: As I told you, it is an issue that I cannot comment upon at this moment because that is under examination.
Karan Thapar: So, it may happen in one go and it may happen in a series of several years.
Arjun Singh:I can't speculate on that because that is not something on which I am free to speak on today.
Karan Thapar: Will the reservation for OBCs, whatever figure your Committee decides on, will it happen in one go, or will it slowly be introduced in stages?
Arjun Singh:That also I cannot say because as I told you, all these issues are under consideration.
Karan Thapar: Which means that everything that is of germane interest to the people concerned is at the moment 'under consideration' and the government is not able to give any satisfaction to the students who are deeply concerned.
Arjun Singh:That is not the point. The government knows what to do and it will do what is needed.
Karan Thapar: But if the government knows what to do, why won't you tell me what the government wants to do?
Arjun Singh:Because unless the decision is taken, I cannot tell you.
Karan Thapar: But you can share with me as the Minister what you are thinking.
Arjun Singh: No.
Karan Thapar: So, in other words, we are manitaining a veil of secrecy and the very people who are concerned...
Arjun Singh:I am not maintaining a veil of secrecy. I am only telling you what propriety allows me to tell you.
Karan Thapar: Propriety does not allow you to share with the people who are protesting on the streets what you are thinking?
Arjun Singh:I don't think that that can happen all the time.
Karan Thapar: But there are people who feel that their lives and their futures are at stake and they are undertaking fasts until death.
Arjun Singh:It is being hyped up, I don't want to go into that.
Karan Thapar: Do you have no sympathy for them?
Arjun Singh: I have every sympathy.
Karan Thapar: But you say it is being hyped up.
Arjun Singh:Yes, it is hyped up.
Karan Thapar: So, then, what sympathy are you showing?
Arjun Singh: I am showing sympathy to them and not to those who are hyping it up.
Karan Thapar:The CPM says that if the reservations for the OBCs are to happen, then what is called the creamy layer should be excluded. How do you react to that?
Arjun Singh: The creamy layer issue has already been taken care of by the Supreme Court.
Karan Thapar: That was vis -a-vis jobs in employment, what about at the university level, should they be excluded there as well because you are suggesting that the answer is yes?
Arjun Singh: That could be possible.
Karan Thapar: It could be possible that the creamy layer is excluded from reservations for OBCs in higher education?
Arjun Singh: It could be, but I don't know whether it would happen actually.
Karan Thapar: Many people say that if reservations for OBCs in higher education happen, then the children of beneficiaries should not be entitled to claim the same benefit.
Arjun Singh: Why?
Karan Thapar: So that there is always a shrinking base and the rate doesn't proliferate.
Arjun Singh: I don't think that that is a very logical way of looking at it.
Karan Thapar: Is that not acceptable to you?
Arjun Singh: No, it is not the logical way of looking at it.
Karan Thapar: So, with the possible exception of the creamy layer exclusion, reservation for OBCs in higher education will be almost identical to the existing reservations for SC/STs?
Arjun Singh: Except for the percentage.
Karan Thapar: Except for the percentage.
Arjun Singh: Yes.
Karan Thapar: So, in every other way, they will be identical.
Arjun Singh: Yes, in every other way.
Karan Thapar: Mr Arjun Singh, on the 5th of April when you first indicated that the Government was considering reservation for OBCs in higher education, was the Prime Minister in agreement that this was the right thing to do?
Arjun Singh:I think, there is a very motivated propaganda is on this issue. Providing reservation to OBCs was in the public domain right from December 2005, when Parliament passed the enabling resolution.
Karan Thapar: Quite true. But had the Prime Minister specifically agreed on or before 5th of April to the idea?
Arjun Singh: Well, I am telling you it was already there. A whole Act was made, the Constitution was amended and the Prime Minister was fully aware of what this is going to mean. Actually, he had a meeting in which OBC leaders were called to convince them that this would give them the desired advantage. And they should, therefore, support this resolution. And at that meeting, he himself talked to them. Now, how do you say that he was unaware?
Karan Thapar: But were you at all aware that the Prime Minister might be in agreement with what was about to happen but might not wish it disclosed publicly at that point of time? Were you aware of that?
Arjun Singh: It was already there in public domain, that's what I am trying to tell you.
Karan Thapar: Then answer this to me. Why are members of the PMO telling journalists that Prime Minister was not consulted and that you jumped the gun?
Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know which member of the PMO you are talking about unless you name him.
Karan Thapar: Is there a conspiracy to make you the fall guy?
Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know whether there is one or there is not. But fall guys are not made in this way. And I am only doing what was manifestly clear to every one, was cleared by the party and the Prime Minister. There is no question of any personal agenda.
Karan Thapar: They say that, in fact, you brought up this issue to embarrass the Prime Minister.
Arjun Singh: Why should I embarrass the Prime Minister? I am with him. I am part of his team.
Karan Thapar: They say that you have a lingering, forgive the word, jealousy because Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh and not you as Prime Minister.
Arjun Singh: Well, that is canard which is below contempt. Only that person can say this who doesn't know what kind of respect and regard I hold for Sonia Gandhi. She is the leader. Whatever she decides is acceptable to me.
Karan Thapar: They also say that you brought this issue up because you felt that the Prime Minister had been eating into your portfolio. Part of it had gone to Renuka Chaudhury and, in fact, your new deputy minister Purandar Sridevi had taken over certain parts. This was your way of getting back.
Arjun Singh: No one was taking over any part. This is a decision which the Prime Minister makes as to who has to have what portfolio. And he asked Mrs Renuka Devi to take it and he cleared it with me first.
Karan Thapar: So there is no animus on your part?
Arjun Singh: Absolutely not.
Karan Thapar: They say that you did this because you resented the Prime Minister's popular image in the country, that this was your way of embroiling him in a dispute that will make him look not like a modern reformer but like an old-fashioned, family-hold politician instead.
Arjun Singh: Well, the Tammany Hall political stage is over> He is our Prime Minister and every decision he has taken is in the full consent with his Cabinet and I don't think there can be any blame on him.
Karan Thapar: One, then, last quick question. Do you think this is an issue, which is a sensitive issue, where everyone knew there would have been passions and emotions that would have aroused has been handled as effectively as it should have been?
Arjun Singh: Well, I have not done anything on it. I have not sort of what you call jumped the gun. If this is an issue, which is sensitive, everyone has to treat it that way.
Karan Thapar: But your conscience as HRD Minister is clear?
Arjun Singh: Absolutely clear.
Karan Thapar: There is nothing that you could have done to make it easier for the young students?
Arjun Singh: Well, I am prepared to do anything that can be done. And it is being attempted.
Karan Thapar: For seven weeks, they have been protesting in the hot sun. No minister has gone there to appease them, to alley their concerns, to express sympathy for them. Have politicians let the young people of India down?
Arjun Singh: Well, I myself called them. They all came in this very room.
Karan Thapar: But you are the only one.
Arjun Singh: You are accusing me only. No one else is being accused.
Karan Thapar: What about the Government of India? Has the Government of India failed to respond adequately?
Arjun Singh: From the Government of India also, the Defence Minister met them.
Karan Thapar: Only recently.
Arjun Singh: That is something because everyone was busy with the elections.
Karan Thapar: For seven weeks no one met them.
Arjun Singh: No, but we are very concerned. Certainly, all of us resent the kind of force that was used. I condemned it the very first day it happened.
Karan Thapar: All right, Mr Arjun Singh. We have reached the end of this interview. Thank you very much for speaking on the subject.
A nation who’s emotions are boiling over, I end this article with a quote which goes to show how insane reservations are….
Unconfirmed Source(Aziz Premji) :
I think we should have job reservations in all the fields. I completely support the PM and all the politicians for promoting this. Let's start the reservation with our cricket team. We should have 10 percent reservation for muslims. 30 percent for OBC, SC/ST like that. Cricket rules should be modified accordingly. The boundary circle should be reduced for an SC/ST player. The four hit by an OBC player should be considered as a six and a six hit by a OBC player should be counted as 8 runs. An OBC player scoring 60 runs should be declared as a century. We should influence ICC and make rules so that the pace bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar should not bowl fast balls to our OBC player. Bowlers should bowl maximum speed of 80 kkilometer per hour to an OBC player. Any delivery above this speed should be made illegal. Also we should have reservation in Olympics. In the 100 meters race, an OBC player should be given a gold medal if he runs 80 meters.
Rahul Murali V
Courtesy : CNN IBN and A Forward from a friend
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Where did you go???
Well that's the end of India's winning streak while chasing. They lost the match by just one run. Kudos to the West Indies, not a single person gave them a chance of winning even a single game against the mighty Indians... Lest we forget the are the current ICC Champions trophy winners. Well it just goes to say how unpredictable this game is... Anyone can win a One day Match.. But!!! This blog is not about the outcome of the game persay... It is about a really interesting incident that took place during the West Indian innings...
Irfan Pathan is running and bowls to Ramnaresh Sarwan who taps the ball into the onside and goes for a run, the ball is beautifully fielded by the Indian youngster Suresh Raina who proceeds to throw the stumps down. Sarwan had his nerves about him and tried to get back to his crease.. Well it's a close run thing... All the players including Virender Sehwag who was standing at square leg turn to Square Leg umpire to appeal...Only to find to their surprise that he is not there... The Umpire Billy Doctrove was instead at the far end the ground literally facing the umpire at the stumps... Our West Indian umpire had gone down to the boundary ropes at the end of the previous over to say something to the groundsmen and the umpire at the bowlers end Arshad Rauf called for the next over to start without noticing that his partner was not on the field... Well, even though Sarwan was in as shown by T.V. replays, Rauf called the ball dead and asked the bowlers to restart the over...Sarwan was in so there was too much controversy over the ball being called dead, but what if he was out of his crease, ans the ball had been declared dead, would the Indian team have agreed to the decision...
But the rest of the over was very interesting to see Sehwag standing in his position at square leg shoulder to shoulder with Doctrove to macke sure he does not run away again somewhere I guess.. And in the next over when Doctrove was at the bowler's end and the batsmen pinced a leg bye, he as so confused by the incidents that had just transpired that he lifted one leg as a signal and then he lifted his other leg... When an appeal was made against the batsman he still looked a little confused... But he got his wits about himself soon enough and business as usual resumed....
This must be one of the funniest moments in cricket in the recent past after Sreesanth dancing efforts on taking his first wicket in a one day game....
Cheers,
Rahul....
Irfan Pathan is running and bowls to Ramnaresh Sarwan who taps the ball into the onside and goes for a run, the ball is beautifully fielded by the Indian youngster Suresh Raina who proceeds to throw the stumps down. Sarwan had his nerves about him and tried to get back to his crease.. Well it's a close run thing... All the players including Virender Sehwag who was standing at square leg turn to Square Leg umpire to appeal...Only to find to their surprise that he is not there... The Umpire Billy Doctrove was instead at the far end the ground literally facing the umpire at the stumps... Our West Indian umpire had gone down to the boundary ropes at the end of the previous over to say something to the groundsmen and the umpire at the bowlers end Arshad Rauf called for the next over to start without noticing that his partner was not on the field... Well, even though Sarwan was in as shown by T.V. replays, Rauf called the ball dead and asked the bowlers to restart the over...Sarwan was in so there was too much controversy over the ball being called dead, but what if he was out of his crease, ans the ball had been declared dead, would the Indian team have agreed to the decision...
But the rest of the over was very interesting to see Sehwag standing in his position at square leg shoulder to shoulder with Doctrove to macke sure he does not run away again somewhere I guess.. And in the next over when Doctrove was at the bowler's end and the batsmen pinced a leg bye, he as so confused by the incidents that had just transpired that he lifted one leg as a signal and then he lifted his other leg... When an appeal was made against the batsman he still looked a little confused... But he got his wits about himself soon enough and business as usual resumed....
This must be one of the funniest moments in cricket in the recent past after Sreesanth dancing efforts on taking his first wicket in a one day game....
Cheers,
Rahul....
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Calypso MAGIC...
Caribbean Tussle
Rahul Dravid and his men have been in the Caribbean for a week now. They are trying to get an old monkey off their back. They need to defeat the West Indies convincngly and break the record of not having won a series in the Caribbean for the last 30 years. Looking at the West Indies of today, the Indians definately start as favorites, but they will not be meek pushovers like the Zimbabweans or the Bangladeshis.
The last time the Indians were there, under Saurav Ganguly's captaincy they were a team on the rise, but they did not manage to win the series. They lost the 3 test and levelled the series. The Indian team is 3 in the world in both forms of the game and the West Indian team too seems to be confident after their demolition of the Zimbabwe team recently.
With "Brian Charles Lara" at the helm no one knows what to expect from this stalwart. Can he inspire his boys to defeat the the mighty Indian team which has had quite a few shake ups in the recent past but still looks very strong with new stars like Dhoni (Now the Number 2 batsman in the world in ODIs), Suresh Raina and Sreesanth coming to the fore. I believe that the Indians will win the series hands down but in this game you never can say. The Caribbeans in their home environment with the tremendous crowd support may just spur them on to something miraculous and it will also be interesting to see how the young Indians do in hostile conditions.
There are a few worries in the Indian camp with injures to Ramesh Powar and S.Sreesanth but they should be strong enough to come out of it and be ready to take their place in the team in time for the 2-3 one dayer. Sachin Tendulkar has been the foucs of all the attention in the Indian media off late to see if he can recover in time to join the team for the Test matches and the World would be in for a special treat of seeing two of the world's greatest batsmen on the same stage maybe for the last time in test match cricket.
The test matches are still a while away and we hope sachin will be fit in time for the series, for no other reason other than it will be great to see that dual.
The Indians play their first one dayer later today on a pitch that is supposedly a green top. With the pace attack that the Indian currently boast of it should favour the Indian team. With a solid win over Jamaica the Indians should be really high on confidance.
A Second Chance
Ravi Shastri was recently quoted saying that the selectors should be ruthless in selection and old players should not be given another chance unless the current crop does really badly and there is no more backup for them. This would seem to imply that no matter what Ganguly or Zaheer or D.Mongia do in first class cricket, he feels they should not be given a second chance. I feel we should never forget some of these cricketers because they have match winning abilites and the door should never be completely shut on any of them. If the door has to be closed, let them close it themselves with mediocre performances.
Burnout
Player burnout seems to be a major issue for players these days. I feel there is a very simple solution to the entire issue. Most cricket boards contract 25-30 cricketers for the national team every year. Which means they feel they are good enough to represent the country, they should put in a rotation system in place where the best cricketers play maybe 3/4 of the time and the rest of the time they can be rotated with the second rung players. They could take 18 people on tour instead of 16 and implement the policy, this also gives you more injury cover. 18 would mean 3 bowlers, 3 batsmen and 1 wicketkeeper on stand-by. That is sufficent cover for all the players on the field. The schedule cannot get less exhausting and this is the best way forward. Like Kapil Dev said, they are professionals and if they feel they need a break let them take a break.
Rahul Murali Venkataraman
(Correspondent http://rahulblah.blogspot.com)
Rahul Dravid and his men have been in the Caribbean for a week now. They are trying to get an old monkey off their back. They need to defeat the West Indies convincngly and break the record of not having won a series in the Caribbean for the last 30 years. Looking at the West Indies of today, the Indians definately start as favorites, but they will not be meek pushovers like the Zimbabweans or the Bangladeshis.
The last time the Indians were there, under Saurav Ganguly's captaincy they were a team on the rise, but they did not manage to win the series. They lost the 3 test and levelled the series. The Indian team is 3 in the world in both forms of the game and the West Indian team too seems to be confident after their demolition of the Zimbabwe team recently.
With "Brian Charles Lara" at the helm no one knows what to expect from this stalwart. Can he inspire his boys to defeat the the mighty Indian team which has had quite a few shake ups in the recent past but still looks very strong with new stars like Dhoni (Now the Number 2 batsman in the world in ODIs), Suresh Raina and Sreesanth coming to the fore. I believe that the Indians will win the series hands down but in this game you never can say. The Caribbeans in their home environment with the tremendous crowd support may just spur them on to something miraculous and it will also be interesting to see how the young Indians do in hostile conditions.
There are a few worries in the Indian camp with injures to Ramesh Powar and S.Sreesanth but they should be strong enough to come out of it and be ready to take their place in the team in time for the 2-3 one dayer. Sachin Tendulkar has been the foucs of all the attention in the Indian media off late to see if he can recover in time to join the team for the Test matches and the World would be in for a special treat of seeing two of the world's greatest batsmen on the same stage maybe for the last time in test match cricket.
The test matches are still a while away and we hope sachin will be fit in time for the series, for no other reason other than it will be great to see that dual.
The Indians play their first one dayer later today on a pitch that is supposedly a green top. With the pace attack that the Indian currently boast of it should favour the Indian team. With a solid win over Jamaica the Indians should be really high on confidance.
A Second Chance
Ravi Shastri was recently quoted saying that the selectors should be ruthless in selection and old players should not be given another chance unless the current crop does really badly and there is no more backup for them. This would seem to imply that no matter what Ganguly or Zaheer or D.Mongia do in first class cricket, he feels they should not be given a second chance. I feel we should never forget some of these cricketers because they have match winning abilites and the door should never be completely shut on any of them. If the door has to be closed, let them close it themselves with mediocre performances.
Burnout
Player burnout seems to be a major issue for players these days. I feel there is a very simple solution to the entire issue. Most cricket boards contract 25-30 cricketers for the national team every year. Which means they feel they are good enough to represent the country, they should put in a rotation system in place where the best cricketers play maybe 3/4 of the time and the rest of the time they can be rotated with the second rung players. They could take 18 people on tour instead of 16 and implement the policy, this also gives you more injury cover. 18 would mean 3 bowlers, 3 batsmen and 1 wicketkeeper on stand-by. That is sufficent cover for all the players on the field. The schedule cannot get less exhausting and this is the best way forward. Like Kapil Dev said, they are professionals and if they feel they need a break let them take a break.
Rahul Murali Venkataraman
(Correspondent http://rahulblah.blogspot.com)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
The State of Freebies...
So... the elections are over and there is a change of hands again... Will the TN gov. keep it's promises to give Rice at Rs.2/- a kilo... Is it possible? Can they give colour TVs to families under the poverty line....Even if they do... What is the point if they don't have the electricity....
The bold promises made by the DPA is going to be under serious scrutiny....
These are some of the key points in the Manifesto:
“Quality rice” at Rs. 2/- per kg through P S (rate at present Rs. 3.50)
Color television sets for homes without one
Free gas stoves to all poor women
Maternity allowance of Rs. 1,000/- per month for s x months for poor pregnant women
Members of self-help groups for women will rece ve Rs. 45/- per day as training
allowance once again
Eggs twice a week along with the nutritious noon meal for school students
Unemployment allowance of Rs. 150-300/- for unemployment youth
Generate employment opportunity to 3 lakh youth n the state
Self help groups for youth and free computer training to youth n rural areas
To take steps to set up IT Parks n Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai , Salem and
Thirunelveli
Introduce metro rail in Chennai and its suburbs
Upgrade airports at Madurai , Trichy, Coimbatore, Tuticorin and Salem
To waive all co-operative loans of farmers and extending free power to weavers n
addition to farmers
Assign 2 acres of land to poor landless families
To restore all concessions withdrawn from government employees
Institute a third Police Commission to redress grievances of the police force and
intents on implementing the recommendations of the s xth pay commission as and
when they are announced
To enact a legislation providing reservation for minorities in Tamilnadu
To urge the Centre to bring in a constitutional amendment for a separate reservation
for Muslims and Christians and repeal the anti -conversion law
Revive the Legislative Council
Reduce bus and rail fares h ked by the AIADMK regime
MGR film city will be re-established – outdoor shooting charges will be rolled back Kannagi statue will be back on the Marina
With the left already saying that if the center helps the state in distribution of these freebies it would have to do the same all around the country, the FM is going to have a tough time getting his house in order...
With the elections out of the way it gives rise to another issue...Reservations..
With nationwide protests underway from the professional students community the government should think twice or thrice before they implement it.
With the HRD minister saying he is not going to look into the matter again all hope for the youth lies with the Cabinet and the bill getting shot down in the parliament.....
This state and country are in for a seriously testing time.....
All the best to all of us....
"I guess we are responsible for anything that happens because we are the ones who have put these people in power..."
Rahul.....
The bold promises made by the DPA is going to be under serious scrutiny....
These are some of the key points in the Manifesto:
“Quality rice” at Rs. 2/- per kg through P S (rate at present Rs. 3.50)
Color television sets for homes without one
Free gas stoves to all poor women
Maternity allowance of Rs. 1,000/- per month for s x months for poor pregnant women
Members of self-help groups for women will rece ve Rs. 45/- per day as training
allowance once again
Eggs twice a week along with the nutritious noon meal for school students
Unemployment allowance of Rs. 150-300/- for unemployment youth
Generate employment opportunity to 3 lakh youth n the state
Self help groups for youth and free computer training to youth n rural areas
To take steps to set up IT Parks n Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai , Salem and
Thirunelveli
Introduce metro rail in Chennai and its suburbs
Upgrade airports at Madurai , Trichy, Coimbatore, Tuticorin and Salem
To waive all co-operative loans of farmers and extending free power to weavers n
addition to farmers
Assign 2 acres of land to poor landless families
To restore all concessions withdrawn from government employees
Institute a third Police Commission to redress grievances of the police force and
intents on implementing the recommendations of the s xth pay commission as and
when they are announced
To enact a legislation providing reservation for minorities in Tamilnadu
To urge the Centre to bring in a constitutional amendment for a separate reservation
for Muslims and Christians and repeal the anti -conversion law
Revive the Legislative Council
Reduce bus and rail fares h ked by the AIADMK regime
MGR film city will be re-established – outdoor shooting charges will be rolled back Kannagi statue will be back on the Marina
With the left already saying that if the center helps the state in distribution of these freebies it would have to do the same all around the country, the FM is going to have a tough time getting his house in order...
With the elections out of the way it gives rise to another issue...Reservations..
With nationwide protests underway from the professional students community the government should think twice or thrice before they implement it.
With the HRD minister saying he is not going to look into the matter again all hope for the youth lies with the Cabinet and the bill getting shot down in the parliament.....
This state and country are in for a seriously testing time.....
All the best to all of us....
"I guess we are responsible for anything that happens because we are the ones who have put these people in power..."
Rahul.....
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