Freezing Thoughts

The end, of another year. The festive mood of Christmas is always a wonderful way to end a year and look forward to a new one. January 1st is just another day in every respect, but end of a calendar year is always a good time for some retrospection and introspection, for the best thing about closure is the promise of a new beginning. Personally, 2012 was an eventful year for me. I hope the lessons learnt from experiences stay forever and help in navigating through the future in an effective and fruitful way. Perhaps the biggest lesson of all came in form of a poem titled ' If ', by Rudyard Kipling. Though I've read it before as a teenager, it is a wonderful feeling to come across it again, after almost a decade and find new meanings out of the same words. I share it here in the hope that the reader finds it relevant and takes inspiration from the poem. Also, I came across a recitation of the poem by Sir Michael Caine and couldn't stop myself from adding some m

During the early 2000s, I used to dream for an Indian cricket team that played like an Australian outfit. I wanted India to possess the attributes which defined that great Aussie team; the habit of winning, never-say-die attitude, immense self-confidence and thorough professionalism. I definitely did not expect India to lose a Test series at home, just a few days after Australia did the same, and bring about a face-palm moment. It is not right to be too harsh on the current Indian team which is clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process. But more than the defeat, what is not a pretty sight, is the manner and attitude that go with it. Without Dravid and Laxman, those two wonderful troubleshooters who worked with the knack of adept technicians and the grace of seasoned magicians to rescue India, the responsibility on bowlers is immense. Sadly, sights of wane and inexperience among pace bowlers and an alarming void in spin department are not reassuring.  And there is the big q