Just Me: The Kratik Malhotra Blog

From The Nib Of A Dreamer’s Pen #IMGAcademy

2013-05-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

(What an experience I have had at IMG! Passed faster than light and learned more than the Solskjaer of technology)

“I tell you, nothing is going to happen here. I wish we were working for IMG.” --- My friend’s words while sitting in the parking lot of an Indian soccer stadium, during our marketing stint at an Indian soccer club, having failed to fill the seats with people.

Many of you might remember my blog-post, written about two and a half years ago, ‘A Touch Closer’. It was about how after being rejected by this software company, Tieto, God presented me with an opportunity to work and get paid, for what was a lot of money for me back then, by the largest soccer data and analytics company in Asia, Real Time Sportscast (RTS), as a soccer commentator and analyst.

After RTS, I went on to write for the largest soccer website in the world, market the biggest and the best professionally managed club in India, and in the past five months, I have interned with the largest sport management company in the world. I have come a long way but it's only 1% of where I want to be. Reflecting back, that job with RTS did end up getting me a touch closer.

At RTS, I was taught about stats, how they are needed, their importance, value and most importantly, their use. I started from scratch, did online soccer commentary of games, helped collect statistics and worked as a statistician, helped report the statistics and most importantly, working with technology and data, and analyzed them to aid the teams playing in the Indian Soccer League (I-League). It was a great experience.

When I moved to the United States, I was put on board of the FSU Women’s Soccer Team as a soccer analyst. It was a great year-long experience and it helped me in mastering my dream technology/software, Prozone. Now, I am called a ‘Prozone Expert’ by a few people in the industry and having learned Dartfish, I look to take my analysis to the next levels.

Late September 2012, I had applied for an internship in Sponsorship with the academy of the world’s largest sport management company, International Management Group (IMG), and they came back to me asking me to focus on another area, along with Sponsorship, Performance Technology (PT). I had offers for a marketing internship with NASCAR in Daytona, a marketing (branding) internship with Florida Panthers and a communications internship with the Philadelphia Union, but when IMG came calling with PT, my choice was clear, even though one of the other internships offered to pay me an hourly wage and another would have covered my housing and food.

When I started with IMG, that thing of ‘working for IMG’ had sunk in, completely. With my first week here, I was still caught in the ’IMG awe’. Seeing the work-culture, the professionalism among staff, the facility and infrastructure, the star athletes on campus, my job and responsibilities, the level of technology used, the knowledge to gain…everything…it was just marvelous, and I couldn’t believe that I was there. And to my loss, I, sort of, had started feeling that the organization was too big for me, and I had started undervaluing myself. I wish I had respected myself as much as I had done at any of the places where I worked in the past, but it was a priceless lesson from a learning standpoint. I won’t lie, I had a shaky start, but I improved in my work and partly, it was due to the IMG staff, who me feel like I was a part of the team. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them for that. It underlines their professionalism and management skill.

Alright, back to joining IMG. When I was told that I am cleared to join IMG, I remembered my friend’s quote (mentioned at the start of the post). It was all like a dream. I say, “I rely on miracles,” and that is what it was, it was a miracle. From a good old electronics engineer, who only ever sat for one job interview because he was clear that he wanted to get to Manchester United and Sky Sports, to a boy who interviewed players from several top clubs including Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, and is followed by Sky Sports journalists on Twitter, to one who was asked to be the face of the private television of an Indian soccer club that had their best season this year, to a boy who worked every day with the number one collegiate women’s soccer team in America on the number one soccer analysis software in the world used by the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Arsenal, and to a boy who was stepping into something that he considered absolutely massive, it was unbelievable how far I had come.

My internship was dual-departmental, and for the sponsorship department, I worked on sponsorship activation, sponsorship representation, inventory management, sponsor events, sponsor-related social media interaction and sponsor-apparel allotment, amongst several things. Working and interacting with some of the top sponsorship professionals at IMG, along with the personnel from sponsors that visited the IMG Academy campus onsite, was a magnificent experience.

For the performance department, I dealt with some of the state-of-the-art technologies that were there to learn. My job in performance revolved around working on Catapult, but later, I also started working on Dartfish and worked on match analysis with IMG’s under-14 soccer team. It was a major challenge but it was terrific. Working with Catapult was a little tough because I did not have the necessary exercise science knowledge needed but I was there to implement the technology, and I was very clear in that aspect.

The Catapult Guy! (Real Time Analysis)

I believe, I did the best job that I possibly could have done and in the process, learned a lot. Dartfish was awesome. Knowing how to use the tagging feature in Dartfish has taught me how to integrate various technologies together maximizing its use. I thought Match Analysis (MA) would be a piece of cake for me, having worked on the best technology that was there to work on, in Prozone. But Match Analysis was different as it required a lot more manual work, but was no big deal for me to adapt. However, with enough on the table to work with, finding time to work with MA was tough, especially because I was not bound to work on when I started. Working with MA and IMG soccer was something that I took up due to my love for soccer and my two-year analysis experience in the sport.

In all, IMG offered me an invaluable experience. In fact, I would have paid to work on some of the things that I worked on and gain the knowledge that I gained. It was very-very special indeed. Every single morning I would wake up, smile and say, “I am living my dream,” and then, leave my apartment for work. I have loved every moment of my time in Bradenton, Florida. I still remember when some of my colleagues brought in a desk and set it up for me; what a moment that was! I was so touched. Five minutes after that happened, I went into the restroom, locked myself in one of the toilets and cried. To me, it showed that I was valued and loved. It was such a touching thing. Even on my final day, gifts and comments like these made me melt. By the way, in the picture is a shakeweight gifted to me by one of the 'crew' members. I will miss the crew; everyone, absolutely everyone.

There are so many memories that I am taking back home with me and holding which in the highest regard, I would cherish these for a lifetime.

My office for the summer - Doak Campbell Stadium

Hey reader, if you are looking for an internship or a job, apply for a position at IMG Academy, it may not only fulfill your expectation, but it may even supersede it.

As for me, it’s time to move on and further enhance my learning. Next stop: Florida State Football. Yes, I am heading back to Tallahassee. As my Tally lads may say, “Back In the hood.” In the hood, yes, but who knows, I may head back to IMG in the future again :)

Yesterday, it was IMG; tomorrow it will be Manchester United. My dreams and aspirations make me a dreamer. Thanks for reading this post from the nib of my pen.

Follow your heart. Have faith. Live your dream.

Love,

Kratik

Follow me on

(Just click the Twitter logo)

My Take: Not Nineteen Forever

2013-05-15T14:48:00.003-07:00

('My Take' is the new thing that I have started with my blog. Taking the knowledge of my Guru, Sri Sri Ravishankar, through my blog, this is my shot at keeping people's smile up, give them belief and having them maintain faith.

Let's do it!

So, the song that I am doing is 'Not Nineteen Forever'.

I have been listening to this song over and over again. It’s a great song. Love it! With Manchester United’s 20^th title closely linked with it, it is, really, the theme of this week).

Here it is:

She tried to peel me off the pavement

Tried to insinuate sometimes

To underline it, it’s the mind. You see how it works. When you are not doing fine with someone (not necessarily opposite sex), you always feel that it is he/she who is doing all he can to harm you. But you know, it doesn’t always work out like that. Now, obviously, there are nut-heads, but that’s not the case most times. It all may just be a coincidence. As my Guru, Sri Sri Ravishankar (@SriSriSpeaks) says, “Leave it all in the past. Real freedom is freedom from future from past.” Do that. Forget about it and move on.

I am in danger of going too far

Asked me would I like to go for tea and toast

Get your hand off my thigh

In the car she turned to me and said

Now, she had invited him for tea and toast, and he gets closer - puts his hand on her thigh. And then, moans. I mean seriously, ungli do toh hath pakadna chahte hain! Lol. And on top of it, gets frustrated and writes a song. Many of you must have observed this type of a behavior in you or in people around you. It underlines too much expectation. No expectation, no heartbreak. So, chill leave what’s passed in the past and live in this moment.

You're not nineteen forever, pull yourself together.
I know it seems strange but things, they change

Older woman and a younger man

Both of them doing all they can

Now, this is epic! I mean epic! So, now, he is trying to boost his own ego saying…you’re getting old! This happens to so many people. When the things are going well, they say "You are the most beautiful girl," and when things go bad, "You frigging suck! You’re not good enough for me!" If this is happening with you…don’t worry. Chill. Become aware. Accept the situation and know that this will pass. Live in this very moment.

Tried to get your attention all night long,

Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times,

If you'd like to dance to that song,

Front crawled the crowd down the stairs,

And I followed you out in the rain, nowhere to be found,

Never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again.

This is more self ego boost. He asks this girl for a dance several times; the girl refuses and as it turns out, it hurts his ego. Then, he follows the girl out; the girl doesn’t care and leaves. That's when he goes like, “Chuck that! She’ll never look as pretty as she once looked, so, who cares?” This reminds me of one of my classmates. He would go and try for every girl in a club and when the girl would reject him, he would be like, "She was fat! She didn't look good," and I would be there asking him, "Why on earth did you even try then?" Has it ever happened to you? If so, you’ll know what happens next. You keep thinking about that girl, forever. It affects you. Well, it really affects you because your ego takes such a blow, and you end up writing a song, making your feelings and emotions public. It ends with the girl hating you and you going in depression for a bit, before you find another girl. Some of you who may be going through the situation may think, "What bullshi*", but many of you, who are sitting pretty, past this phase, will be like, “You are a rockstar, boy!”

So, lesson time. Smile, accept the situation. Have faith and believe in God, and know that all the unpleasant situations have always passed and so with this one. Chill. Have fun and live this moment because this moment is the only this that is now!

If you are not going through any emotional drama, keep living it up mate!

Love,

Kratik

Follow me on

(Just click the Twitter logo)

The Warrior Prince

2013-04-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

(Have you ever transformed anyone's life? Do it for the better! This world needs you! )

Warrior Prince. No, this post is not about Sourav Ganguly nor is it about Paul Scholes. Well, Scholescy is the ginger prince. Whatever.

This post is, in fact, about a boy who believed in God and let it all pass. Stop thinking so much...I am not talking about Ayrton Senna either. He is just a boy; a boy who experienced dreamland and lived his fantasies every single day.

What's his name? Well, they call him the Warrior Prince.

He had never been away from his kingdom but he dreamed of claiming the Kohinoor Diamond, buried at nadir under Joker's dungeon. He had heard stories, but he didn’t know the way. He had faith, but it could have been his last fight into the fray.

As he was about to leave for Azkaban, the greatest masters blessed him. They blessed him to fly through Pandora and sprint past Mufasa. He promised to not disappoint; donning his fedora, he set his sail.

First, he met Scrooge McDuck on the way, who was too busy counting his money. He went to the richest duck in the world said, “So, what are you going to do with your money?” Uncle Scrooge replied, “Invest it to make more.” He remarked, “Really? And what are you going to do with that?” With a gingerly look, McDuck said, “Make more. Simple,” as he started counting how much money he had made, again. Prince remarked, “Interesting.”

Prince kept his hand on Scrooge McDuck’s shoulder, smiled and said, “That who fears can never live and that who lives will never fear. Think about it.”

Leaving Mr. McDuck puzzled, high and dry, he sailed on.

As he sailed further, he noticed that he had reached ‘Duckland’ as he saw a number of ducks. One of them was shouting from the top of his voice. Prince didn’t understand the reason for his discomfort, and so, approached the duck wearing a blue sailor hat.

Let’s have a sneak-peak into the actual conversation:

Prince (hand on the duck’s shoulder): What happened young man? Oops…sorry, duck.

Duck (furiously): Duck?! My name is Donald!

Warrior Prince: I am sorry Donald. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You seem livid, what happened?

Donald Duck (depressed): I have been trying to win the ‘Disney Star of the Year’ award but I always get beaten by a mouse.

Warrior Prince: But you came second, that’s good, isn’t it?

Donald Duck: Not as good as first!

Warrior Prince: I’ll give you a weapon with which you can beat your best; maybe even that mouse, who knows?!

Donald Duck: "What's the big idea!?"

…and Prince made Donald to close his eyes and conjured his magic. When Donald opened his eyes, his anger had evaporated and there was a strong shift that he felt. His smile was wide and he promised himself to spread the love to latitudes even wider.

The Warrior Prince sailed past the mountain and saw a mouse cracking jokes and making people laugh. He paused and exclaimed, “A 2 ft. mouse wearing a crown talking to humans, interesting?” Prince then, paused, heard one of mouse’s jokes, laughed for a bit and started sailing again.

He soon bumped into a clumsy dog, who seemed to have a little intelligence, Goofy. Seeing Prince, Goofy shouted, “Aren’t you going to Mickey’s winning celebration?”

Sneak-Peak:

Prince: Who is Mickey and celebration for what?

Goofy: He was crowned the ‘Disney Character of Year’ for the 85^th year running!

Prince: Have you invited Donald? He was sad and was fuming that he didn’t win.

Goofy: Yes, Mickey invites everyone. Donald was invited as well.

(Goofy looked down and put his hand over his own fedora) You know, Donald is a good friend of mine. He fights sharks and storms, but gets beaten by Mickey every year. Sad, but I guess that’s how it goes.

Prince (Smiled): He will win the next year; I have given him a magical weapon.

Goofy (laughed in his own unique way): Gawrsh! What’s that?

Prince (smileed even more and starts sailing): Call Donald; he is waiting!

…and Prince sailed on.

He soon saw a pilot almost crashing his airplane into the sea before ascending the aircraft in a steep spiral over water. Having come from the age of empires, he had never seen this kind of airplane drama. In his sight, that was extraordinary.

Seeing a man looking in awe from the deck of his ship, the pilot’s assistant asked the pilot to see if the man needs help. The driver dismissed his request at first, but then, obligeed. After a smooth landing on the bed of the sea, the driver and his assistant swam over and entered the ship.

Pilot said, “Hey, I’m Baloo. Do you need any help?”

Overwhelmed Prince replied “That was mind-blowing and yes, if you can fly me to Azkaban, that would be great.”

Baloo pulled his assistant, Kit, to the side and had a little discussion and ultimately, told Prince that two had come to a decision and would not be going to Azkaban.

Prince (looked down and frowned): Thanks, but I really wanted to get there.

Seeing his face grow smaller, Kit pressurized Baloo, who said, “Let’s go!” After experiencing multiple tailspins, Prince reaches Azkaban safely. He noticed that Baloo had a habit of losing his temper very easily and asked him if he wants a gift.

Seemingly caught in conundrum, Baloo, in a jolly way, says, “So, I get paid?”

Prince: No, not money. Better than that.

Baloo: Better than money? Free food at Louis’ restaurant?

Prince: No. Close your eyes.

As the bear closed his eyes, Prince ran his charm on Baloo’s mind and started walking towards the Dungeon underneath the castle, leaving the pilot at peace.

Seeing him walking on the island, towards the castle, castle’s guards caught him and presented him to the Joker, who, thought that Prince wass just another person who has lost his way, and so, ordered his guards to put him into the dungeon.

In the dungeon, Prince met five individuals, who called themselves ‘The Planeteers’, and who were tasked with defending the Earth from the greatest of disasters and making efforts to educate mankind to keep others from happening. With all of them depleted in energy and with the boy from North America, Wheeler, going through relationship problems with Linka (from Soviet Union), Prince iterated his desire to restore all their powers with his magic.

Also, he saw a man, ferocious as a tiger, rambling, looking to beat the meat out of a person. As he tried to go close, the man shouted from the top of his throat, trying to scare Prince. Prince started smiling and started walking towards the man.

The man felt indifferent as for the first time, someone hadn’t got scared of him. As Prince got to the man, his smile grew and he put his hand around man’s shoulder, asking him to sit down. He asked the planeteers to sit down as well.

Prince taught those six prisoners breathing techniques and guided them through a meditation. He made them feel focused and relaxed at the same time, made them experience bliss and devotion at the same time, made them experience their presence and love once again, and most importantly, made them smile once again.

As the prisoners opened their eyes, they felt revitalized and the rush of adrenalin had them believing that they had been reborn.

After the meditation, unbelievably, the ferocious man stood up and said, “My name is Jaffer. I have committed sins; many sins. But I don’t blame myself for any of them. I blame you!”

He added, “Yes, you. I blame you! Because had you made me experience what I just experienced, I would have never committed any of these sins. It’s you who is responsible and not me.”

As the others looked in amazement, Prince smiled and said, “Your time is now!”

After breathing techniques and meditation, planeteers started to feel strong once again, and combined their powers to call on Captain Planet.

As Captain fought Joker, Prince taught Jaffer the ‘Art of Living’ well enough to teach the others. With time, Joker was beaten and Captain rescued the planeteers and Prince. When Prince asked Jaffer to follow him to his kingdom, Jaffer replied, “I have just started. I have plenty of work left here.”

He further added, “With power comes responsibility and this is the greatest power one can have – to transform lives. Having attained that, I will make a difference. I am better off here.”

Prince smiled, and then, God conjured magic. Jaffer took Prince to a river, down into the dungeon, and dived into the river and went to its deepest possible point. With the whole situation past Prince’s vocabulary, Jaffer came back with a bright shining substance. Prince, remembering his ultimate objective, smiled and said, “So, it was true. The Kohinoor Diamond really existed at nadir of the river.”

As a token of gift, Jaffer, who as it turned out was cursed to be the protector of the precious stone until someone treated him as a normal human being, presented the massive – 5 cm in radius diamond – to Prince.

Prince got reminded of something that was taught to him back home: When you do His work, he does yours.

As he reached his kingdom, he got to know that Scrooge McDuck was living his dream and enjoying his retirement than putting all his energy in earning money. He was also informed that Donald Duck had finally won the ‘Disney Star Of The Year’ award. It was brought to his notice that Baloo was keeping his anger at bay, and Wheeler and Linka had sorted out their respective stresses and are doing very well in their relationship.

How did this happen? What did Prince do? I have talked of Prince’s magic. His magic was in not differentiating between creatures, making people experience delightful meditation and teaching them the way life is supposed to be led.

***People, one request, let Prince rise in you so that what happened in Boston today never happens anywhere in the world tomorrow. Meditate, make people meditate and make this world a better place to live in. Spread knowledge. Spread Love.

Jai Gurudev J

Love,

Kratik

The Ultimate Battle: Live Or Die On This Day

2013-03-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

In the woods, he learned to breathe,

Crushing the sheath under his gawky feet.

In search of Pride Lands with a gritty breeze,

Outsized by Sherekhan and his latent crease.

A heart too filled but wrapped in gripe,

Pounding for a dream, educing to fight.

Ignoring interdiction, it dances jive,

Hunting hurdles, it will eternally strive.

Time too stagnant in an abyss of silence,

All good fights had come to this.

In the middle of a gantlet cage, he began to reminisce,

Spirit revived, Aladdin smiled, hearing the cobra hiss.

Standing on a hill, past the river,

With ingenuity and diligence in heart so fervor,

Destination in sight, shrugging the quiver of fear,

Captain Planet he was, with his rise, he defined valor.

Into the battlefield, he dared to step on,

Matching the Joker’s grin, a smile he gracefully donned.

To live or die on that day, a skill he honed,

Seeing himself in Goblin’s eyes, he witnessed bourn.

…What happened next? Ask me in a month :)

Do you believe in miracles?

I rely on them :)

Jai Gurudev :)

Love,

Kratik

The American Dream

2013-03-14T21:50:00.002-07:00

American Dream? Don't know what it is, but it feels like I'm living it.

Words, they often tell the story,

But they are entwined with feelings so brittle that they change so readily.

Pictures, they often let you relive the moments,

But they pull you into the past ever so easily.

Memory, it never forgets what it has to remember,

But in its own mesmerizing way, it keeps you attached, aimlessly.

Silence, it helps you experience that empty space,

But, it’s that space which makes you come to terms with reality, pleasantly.

How often it happens that you can look back, pat yourself and say, “Yes, I have lived the dream.” If you ask me, I don’t even know the definition of a ‘dream’, but I wouldn’t be shy in saying that I have lived it in this past year.

December 27, 2011 was when I landed in the United States with a heart full of dreams. Who was I? No, I was not Spiderman! I was a small time soccer journalist, who wrote for the largest soccer website in the world, who was told he had ‘fans’ (bullsquat, I say!), who marketed one of the biggest soccer clubs in India, who hosted games in front of a thousand of people in mammoth stadiums, who did a little bit of soccer analysis for Real Time Sportscast and who believed that making a person meditate and spiritual knowledge can transform a person’s life. Kratik, who? Even I didn’t know. In fact, I am still discovering. But irrespective of whoever I was, I wanted to be someone bigger. I had heard about the ‘American dream’ and I wanted to live the American dream.

When I began my journey at the Florida State University, the ‘Seminole feeling’ didn’t take as much time to settle in as within the first couple of weeks, I was on the board, working as a soccer analyst for the university’s soccer team. Having prior experience with soccer obviously helped as I got to work on my dream software, Prozone. Unlike my time with my undergrad degree in engineering, grades at FSU were never a problem. Yes, I worked my socks off but it was all God’s grace that grades panned out better than I had expected them to.

With time, I met some amazing lads. Soccer fans, F1 fans, guys who taught me American football and guys with whom I experienced the FSU life, you know what I mean ;) As time passed, I realized that I was actually doing well. But there was something still missing and my intuition told me that it was my will to make a difference, my will to make people meditate, my will to spread Sri Sri’s message, my will to transform lives. And it was all God’s grace that I managed to do all that. How? He has his own ways.

I got a teaching assistantship for two of my four semesters at FSU! I taught four one-credit hour courses in ‘Stretch and Relaxation’. I taught yoga, meditation, the secret to smile…In all, I basically taught a spirituality course. Lol. Why?

I once asked my spirituality teacher, “Why do you teach all this? Why don’t you feed poor people by the money (that you charge) instead of giving out all this knowledge?” And his reply was one that gave me a path to walk on. He said, “We can, but if I give them food for 2000 bucks, how many meals will I be able to serve? 25 meals for a person? Instead, I give them knowledge, it is priceless and lasts with them for a lifetime. What do you think is better?” I remember pausing and saying, “Wow!” Knowledge like this and people like him have truly helped me shape my life.

So, when I look back, and ask myself, “Did I do the right thing in teaching yoga, meditation and spirituality, and not just not normal stretching?” Absolutely! Spirituality is very different from religion, and I highlighted that. In my courses, I never spoke religion. In fact, I told Christians to believe in Jesus and know that he is taking care of them; I told Muslims to have faith and believe in Allah and know that he is there, and I told Hindus to believe in Ram and Krishna and know that he is ensuring that his/her life leads to perfection. Same implies to Jews and Buddhists as well. I just spoke one language and it was called spirituality, which revolved around the fact that our lives are taken care of and that we do not need to worry.

I also taught few stress relief sessions at the Big Bend Homeless Coalition. It was amazing! The expressions of people after coming out of meditation were priceless. I should have filmed a Mastercard commercial right there. Lol. Those homeless people were so special and under enormous stress, more than what a normal person can even imagine, and making them meditate was an exceptional experience.

Okay, back to FSU. It was the fall semester, the end of August, when I met some of the finest chaps in America. They weren’t the Michael Jordons and the Lionel Messis of this world, but who they were, were truly wonderful people with great hearts, who knew how to celebrate every moment, how to be supportive and how to live their life to perfection, and that’s what made them bigger and better than even Jordon, Ronaldo or Messi. They were about 25 in number, maybe more. They laughed, they enjoyed, they partied, they lived in the present moment, they…just lived every moment as it came and in the process, taught me how life was to be lived at FSU. In fact, when I look back now, I would say that they were the missing link in my time jigsaw (if there is anything like that lol) at FSU. It was them who were the reason that, when I think about all those times of the fall, it lets me believe that I lived my semester to perfection. I am still friends with them and it feels like an absolute blessing.

Meanwhile, I had applied to a number of places for my internship and I got in to my dream company, doing my dream internship: IMG Academy and an internship in Performance Technology and Sponsorship. I still remember sitting, with a friend of mine, as a marketer in the parking lot of our team’s stadium and saying, “How cool would it be to get to IMG?” And here I was, at IMG!

I still have over a month left of my internship at IMG and during my time here, I have not only worked with some of the top American football college athletes, but also, I have got a chance to meet Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, Floyd Sam and Juninho. It’s been awesome and it’s all God’s grace.

Now, why did I write about all this? Well, I don’t know. Maybe because I just wanted to. Actually, no. There was something that has really been biting me. What is it? Not the most heart-warming thing, off course. The thing is, in ten days, I am going back to Tallahassee, and it could be the last time that I see so many people. Why? Because if I don’t get a job, I go back to India. Marketer for a year and a half, journalist for two years and a sports analyst for over two years, am I not worth a job? I don’t know. But as I had taught in my courses, my Guru’s message, my life is taken care of, so, I need not worry. At times, I give myself a lesson. Lol

But if this is the last time that I meet some of my friends, especially those 25 or so fun-loving mates of mine, what I can certainly publish is that I will miss them to extremity.

PPPPSSSSSHHHHHHHH…enough of getting emotional. Bigger picture. As I had said, “I came to America to live the American dream,” and thanks to God’s grace I lived the American dream. Frankly speaking, I don’t even know what the American dream is, but my experience couldn’t have been bettered.

For making my time a truly memorable one, a special ‘thank you’ to Miao, Shuai, Paul Sheffield, Eric Parks, Pamella, Erin, Laura, Ellen, Alicia, Brittany, Katharina, Smay, Justin Garner, Parker, Sarah H, Carlton, Andrew Young, Jim, Steve, Kristen, Nindiya, Gary Galvez and Jennifer, Matt Cline, Caroline, Amanda G., Max, Christian, Mikey, Lauren B., Sara, Del Toro, Nicky Yang, Ashley, Stephanie, Lance and Tiffany, Joshua Peterson, Nick Downey, Ozi, Neslihan, Kosuke and Yue Ji, and my MBA buddies: Lancer, Claire, Tony, Albert, JR, Justin, Julian and Dan, and my mates who have graduated: Ryan Pekerek, Ryan Pham, Logan Liles, Justin Mason, Sid sir, Javier and Wang Suk, and all the Indians who have always stood by, and all the teachers…all of you are true rockstars and the reason why FSU students rock the world.

Love,

Kratik

When I Just Stood Still!

2012-12-27T10:24:00.004-08:00

It’s crazy how He makes it happen...unconditionally crazy!

At times you just wonder if it’s a dream...unquestionably crazy!

You cannot but experience the adrenalin rush…unambiguously crazy!

When I just stood still…absolutely crazy!

Yes, I have worked as a journalist and I should write my posts in the form of a conventional writing script, but just for this post, let me just express myself, chucking the traditional and predefined ways to write.

December 22, 2012: It was past 1:30 PM and here I was, in New York, walking out of Penn Station to have lunch with my friends from Florida State – Yoko (Yi Lian) and Michael (Zhang Yi). Both, soon to get married, down to earth, extremely caring - in all pretty decent - Chinese fellas, were to meet me at Grand Central Terminal, New York City.

Okay, let me admit it, in spite of a million hoardings, it was difficult finding my way out of the Penn Station; bloody hell, that place is huge! Also, it was my first time to New York…and yes, that really was, literally, going through my head all along. After working my way out of the station, climbing the staircase, I reached the 34^th Street. As I was on the pavement, I smiled, thinking to myself, this is so movie-like!

I stood there for a minute, looking at everything around; right from cars, to yellow taxis, to the Christmas decorations, to the green-vested security guards, to the tall buildings, the way people were dressed…everything, really. It was magical. Okay…c’mon, for a year I was in Tallahassee! This was way too fancy for me!

So, after looking at everything around, having climbed up the Penn Station staircase, I started walking to left in order to discover the way to Grand Central Terminal. I walked for a minute or two and then, looked over the pavement, where I was walking, to see where I exactly was. As I looked up, the structure said, “MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!” As I read MSG, the time stopped for me. I mean, literally! I just looked on and on and on, in absolute disbelief. NY went numb at that moment.

Why? Well, well, well. I have always been a massive WWF/WWE fan and over the years, time and time again, listening and reading that PPV WWE events – such as Wrestlemania – are often held at MSG, visiting Madison Square Garden was certainly one of my dreams. 'Watching it' be for watching WWE or not, I just wanted to see what it was, and here I was, standing right outside the structure, staring at it aimlessly, wondering if I was in fantasy-land. I stood there for three, four, five, six or maybe even, ten minutes, I have no idea. The only thing that can recollect is standing there, staring and thinking to myself, "wow!" I remember experiencing multiple adrenalin rushes. In fact,, the whole prana in my body was practicing repeated moonsaults. It was a divine feeling! Absolutely unbelievable! It was like I was struck by an absolute wonder! Like I was touched by an absolute angel! It was absolutely ridiculous, but outrageously beautiful!

As I walked from the 34^th street on to the 42^nd st,making my way on to the Park Avenue, I wore a smile that could possibly not have shed; in fact, it was growing all the time. You know what, even as I am writing this, my smile is so erect!

I, a decade back, use to dream of seeing Madison Square Garden, New York and here I was, in 2012, unknowingly, standing outside it. Frankly speaking, for all the time that I had been planning a trip to NY, until the time I saw MSG, even the thought of visiting MSG hadn’t come into my mind; it had been completely flushed out over the years. It was not until the time that I saw MSG when I realized that I was nothing but living my dream.

A famous dialogue from a Shahrukh Khan movie is so reverberating round my head right now, “Kehte hain, agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, to poori kaaynat use tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.” Translating to: If you love something from your heart, truly, then, the whole universe uses all its energy to unite you and your love. That’s what happened in my case...it was a moment when I just stood still!

(Trying to do a Shahrukh and failing miserably! Let me make this clear, Shahrukh isn't my favourite actor, but Brooklyn Brige pe aa ke Shahrukh ka pose toh banta hai!)

The lesson that I learned was to never get feverish about anything as God is watching every action of ours and monitoring every emotion that has arisen, and knows every feeling that we are or have experienced. He knows what's the best for us and when it needs to be given to us. So, chill and know that whatever you need, will be given to you and whatever you want, if it's good for you, someday, sometime, it will be given to you :)

Keep believing, do not get feverish, have faith and smile :)

Because call him Jesus, Krishna, Allah, Buddha, Universe or even Guru…call him whatever...He is watching us and taking care of us every moment.

Jai Gurudev :)

Love,

Kratik

(With Yoko and Michael at the Grand Central Terminal)

A Silent Vow

2012-11-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

A shallow lie,

A deep impression.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A bruised chin,

A raging emotion.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A broken dream,

An injured heart.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A deep breath,

A gentle smile.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A simple move on,

An effort too hard.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A step towards greatness,

A written farce.

Nothing said,

A silent vow.

A dream achieved,

Manchester United.

Enough said,

All needed was a silent vow.

Jai Gurudev :)

Love,

Kratik

Mansion From The Ashes

2012-10-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to the man whom I miss the most…

A defense once seemed too impervious to permeate,
Twist of fate, and a storm shook them, ruffling their feathers.
A boy stood tall, from the ridge he looked on,
Searching for mirth from the ashes, he belched latent ciphers.

Losing wasn’t a part of his vocabulary,
With an attitude too pugnacious, his vow was silent.
Knowing that his challenge was nothing but the Battle Royale,
He refused to bow down to this world so tyrant.

He cycled miles, created critics but refused to comport,
Selling ornaments to support his family, the world heard as he knelled.
From Manchester to Munich, he travelled to learn a recondite theory,
Leaving his trace the German way, he redefined how paper was spelled.

Winning the respect of his friends, foes and his caricaturists,
He marched on, reconstructing the wall ever so strong.
Guzzling down the success potion,
He gushed to glory in the period of Vietcong.

Years on, standing tall on the same ridge as he looked on,
He smiled thinking how he sustained the worldly bashes.
From a feeble boy to a valorous man, he had transformed,
Never bottling, he had made a mansion from the ashes.

…dedicated to the man whom I miss the most. The greatest individual that I ever knew. He underlined strength. He was a fighter, really, who lived his life the way he wanted and achieved everything that was there to achieve…my Grandfather! And writing this, I am a proud grandson.

Love,
Kratik

Fill In The Blanks

2012-10-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

I had this weird dream about a girl who worked at Starbucks. This is not the dream…a little exaggeration added, but I wanted to write something on the same lines.

She worked at Starbucks down on Tennessee,

Often served me Mocha, the Peruvian princess.

She fawned me the second time we met,

Hypnotized by her limpid smile, I would often digress.

She considered me a jokester first and a then friend,

Even her staid time gave up on our toothsome talks.

She laughed on as we could hear the titter tightening,

Natty we were, raphsodical those times at King uncle’s docks.

An arduous effort, a carping remark,

A firm vow, a crotchety act.

An uncordial rife of tremors, deserted and dilapidated,

A shrieking refute, little too edgy, much too daft.

We stood tall but we ran thin.

We smiled wide but we hugged ostensibly.

We swam soppy but we played sordid.

We sang rhyming but we danced mildly.

I thought we had hit the dead end,

Even the furbelow whispered that it couldn’t trim more.

Caviler in empty caves, baiter equipped with a regular banter,

Shirking out with her debonair presence, out came the vigorous roar.

What happened next can be ‘filled in the blanks’, but just like former United assistant manager, Jimmy Murphy after the Munich-air-crash – when Manchester United Football Club was on the brink of being shut down – said, “How we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today.” Murphy picked United up from rags and made us stand up as a club that is now the biggest and the most valued sports franchise in the world. As for this story…it all can be filled in the blanks J

Love J

Kratik

Ron And Hermione…The Unfinished Story

2012-09-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

They set their path rambling on the coincidence boulevard,

A new beginning, they were off trekking on a treacherous street.

With neither wearing a demurely look,

Living on the edge, they laughed on the jokes so obsolete.

The absolute opposites, swayed by their own whim,

An alienated bond, it looked like a written farce.

Rash by nature, surrounded by a dowdy aura,

Holding on to refuge, from heart to head, shivering on and chasing cars.

Often through delivered ointments, to the ridge they reached,

Galloping through darkness, it seemed like a deed out of utter creed.

But they were Ron and Hermione, and naturally, there had to be melancholy,

Alacritous abandonments, on opposite fronts they began to breed.

He was brave, caring, gullible and sloppy,

Waiving his flag, he stood tall, smiling and wearing his fedora.

She was intelligent, choosy, courageous and short-sighted,

Opting for fun, neglecting her mate, she lived in the island of Pandora.

The returned Voldermot blocked his gullet,

Fed on oxygen, battling for survival, in Dumbledore he believed.

She always called him a friend and this was her real test,

Not even bothering, failing miserably, she laughed as Ron felt aggrieved.

Blessed by the master, who defeated ‘the one who must not be named’,

He felt touched by the hand of God, rescued from heir, bursting out alive.

As he came to terms with the truth of Hermione’s ‘fun’ priority over her ‘so-called friend’s’ being,

He set his way on a promenade, realizing that camaraderie was an effort too jive.

Donning Harry’s invisibility cloak,

With no strings attached, Ron smiled and wished for Hermione to have a perfect time.

They still stand on opposite fronts as a primordial silver lining appears to be drawn,

Maybe they are history, maybe they are not, but rest assured, somewhere in their respective heart-ora, as friends, in rhythm and rhyme, they still dine.

- Kratik Malhotra

When I First Met Guruji

2012-05-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

(There is something horribly wrong with my blog font and it's not getting sorted)

You know you’re special when he smiles at you,

You know you’re adored when he touches you,

You know you’re treasured when he tests you,

But you just know you’re blessed when he shows you what celebration really is.

My Nokia phone screen read March 2, 2009 21:37. Knowing that all the YES!+ teachers and most volunteers from Pune had already left for Aurangabad a day before, even my best shot at staying clam couldn’t help numb the disappointment that had sunk in, arising from the feeling of not even making an attempt of meeting the man whom I called my ‘Guru’, Sri Sri Ravishankar-ji. Moreover, digesting the fact that the chance to meet him was sort-of gone, the rising emotions were absolutely killing me with guilt.

Well, but that was more-or-less because I knew nothing about Aurangabad, and so, I didn’t even count myself a candidate in leaving all on my own for the City of Gates. In fact, to be true, you know, I had forgotten that I was already ‘taken-care-of’ by the master and somewhere deep down, I was begging for that feeling to be revoked. And ‘He’ did exactly that! His messenger: a dear friend.

After a day in the physical presence of the master, almost the whole of our ‘AOL sena’ had returned back to the Queen of Deccan, Pune, and one of the returning volunteers was Vishal Vengulekar. I knew it would make me jealous, but it was a feeling that I couldn’t resist; I had to call up Vishal – my first YES!+ friend, who had seen ‘Him’ at the satsang in Aurangabad a day prior, when he went with the other Puneri volunteers and teachers – and ask him of his experience, and so I did. Vishal took my call and briefly told me everything that he remembered of the trip: right from his bus journey to Guruji’s ‘Question and Answers’ session.

(Mahasatsang at Aurangabad that Vishal and other Volunteers and Teachers attended)

He inspired me so much that I told myself, ‘I can’t miss this, I simply can’t!’ So, I decided to find way so that I could somehow

get to Aurangabad, and therefore, I called up a YES!+ teacher, who was partly responsible for introducing me to the world of YES!+ and Art Of Living, Shashank Ombhase.

Shashank was one of those people who were on the bus with Vishal. Shashank, like a typical YES!+ teacher, encouraged me even more to meet Guruji. In fact, he clubbed his day’s experience with a couple of his own Guru stories. When I finished talking to him, I was so convinced to go that I had started to believe that Guru’s grace would inevitably conjure up and He, my will and my valor would overcome all the difficulties and make me meet him. (Just to note, my father was in Aurangabad for that very day, so, I knew if I could somehow reach the city of Aurangzeb, I wouldn’t have to worry about finding accommodation).

(Pic taken about three years back, I hope this solves the purpose of identifying the people. Akhil - long hair, blue shirt, on the right and Vishal - center-right, black jacket, next to Dhanashree, who is in red)

Shashank gave me Akhil Balekar’s phone number, who was an Art Of Living volunteer from Pune, then in Aurangabad. The very next moment, I was on phone with Akhil. I asked him if I would be able to ‘see’ Guruji; his reply was affirmative, however, he added that meeting Guruji in person could be very difficult.

Meeting seemed like a far-fetched dream, and in-truth, I was contented in catching a glimpse of Him, even if it was from 100 yards away. With 23:30 the reading in the wall clock and with excitement oozing out of me, I took out my kurta – the only kurta that I had and which I had worn in a play that I took part in after my 10th grade – and a pair of jeans and set a morning alarm of 3:30 AM as I started making all the preparations for my Aurangabad adventure. I slept with pumped adrenalin and as I woke up, the blood through my veins felt like it was gushing faster than ever before. It was just crazy; I couldn’t stop smiling.

(Me, Shashank, Aarushi and Khushboo; Forgive me as all my photographs with Shashank were group photos and this was the best of the lot)

I even energized myself with the sixth source of energy, the cold water bath. And guess what, it wasn’t even 4 AM. Mummi was shocked to see my determination and she couldn’t believe that I was seriously leaving for Aurangabad. She thought it was one of my ‘I am going to own Manchester United Football Club one day’ like things. With a water bottle and a Monaco biscuit pack and I set off to meet Him.

…and the ‘adventure’ started, an adventure in every sense of the word :)

Well, I hadn’t even reached the gate of my building complex when the sandal of my right foot tore. I certainly wasn’t going back to change my footwear, and so, a bright smile followed and I walked on. I know it was a little foolish on my part to not go back, but then, that was one of my least concerns; I just wanted to meet Guruji.

From what I could sense, Guruji was having fun and he decided to play even more. I had to wait 20-minutes for the rickshaw and half hour for the Aurangabad bus at Shivajinagar bus stop, where this person fooled me and handed me ticket for this bus that only went half way, to Ahemadnagar!

(The 'Bus' or was it?)

The bus' condition was atrocious to say the least. In fact, it was not even a bus; it was a mini-bus/ tempo van, which was stinking as though it had not been opened since the 19^th century. I couldn’t do anything but ‘accept’ and that’s what I did, accepted the van not the people though, which was my biggest mistake.

This guy sitting on the seat before me was spitting outside the window continuously and when I saw that, ‘random acts of kindness’ point from the YES!+ course conjured in my head. However, I hesitated and did not do anything. So, Guruji decided to give me a gift, when a drop of that guy’s tobacco-filled spit flew through the window and on my cheek.

Yuk!

That was that!

I gave him a hairdryer, and I wouldn’t really be surprised if he has

always thought of me before spitting ever again, even if it was in his washroom’s basin.

Well, I hadn’t informed my father but in a morning conversation with my mother, he was told that I was on my way to Aurangabad. So, as I was about to reach Ahmednagar, he made me aware of the buses available buses from the Ahmednagar bus stop.

Two hours of journey and I had finally reached Ahemadnagar. So, as I was told, I stood at the bus stop waiting for the bus, and what a bus stop! I didn’t end up being its biggest fan. I asked people around me and everyone told me that buses to Aurangabad were as frequent as 15 minutes. Maybe I was just unaware, ignorant or probably dumb because I stood for over an hour and didn’t find a bus that would go to Aurangabad. Can you believe it? He sure was playing games! However, I did find an ‘Omni Van’ that would go only half way to Aurangabad, until this place called ‘Newasa Phata’.

(The Omni Van)

This Maruti Van was legendary in its true sense. Guess what! It was a Van that was supposed to seat only three people on its two back seats, however, as per the driver’s ‘order’, either seats had to have four people seated. The driver looked in no mood to assure comfort and I was rather stupid to even think so. So, there were four people seated on either of the back seats and out of the sandwiched four, I was one of them.

Well, but that wasn’t the real problem, the real problem was that everyone who was sitting next to me was ‘sweat-stinking’ (okay wait, ‘stink’ is an understatement), and I was not only sitting right in the middle of the two seats but also, in the middle of my seat. I was lucky that the man who was sitting next to the window decided to get down, I wonder why? Not really!

Well, I certainly was in no mood to miss on the opportunity to sit next to the window, and so, I hurriedly sat, poking my face and more so nose outside the wi1ndow, trying to avoid that entire foul sweaty odor.

An hour ride and we were at Newasa Phata, phew!

I called Akhil from the Phata and he asked me to come to Sachin Mule's bunglow in Aurangabad. At Newasa Phata, I could see an Asiat bus waiting at a restaurant, and I thought to myself, ‘That’s it! I certainly am meeting Guruji now!’ But it’s said, “Sabar ka phal meetha hota hai.” Maybe I had forgotten that!

I met this person, who also had to go to Aurangabad. After meeting him, I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Guruji for sending me a companion, who could guide me on how to reach the city. I smiled at him and said, “I will walk a little further and see if we can get any means which will help us in reaching Aurangabad faster. If this bus is about to leave, please wave your hand.” So, in a carefree manner, I went a little ahead to search for taxies, keeping that man in my sight. When I returned to Newasa Phata and that restaurant, there was no bus there. I was shell-shocked! I asked the man about the bus and he gleefully replied, “Woh toh gayi!” And I went like ‘What?!’

(The Asiad Bus)

Although it resulted in a wait of another half hour, but I finally boarded a bus and I was on my way to Aurangabad. Oh yes! I was almost there!

…but it doesn’t end here as I got down at the wrong stop!

Papa had sent a driver to pick me up from this place called ‘Baba Petrol Pump’ and where did I get down? 10 Kms. before the stop, at Pandarpur!

As Srividya mam says, "Einstein!"

To cut it short, more wait, but the driver finally picked me up and dropped me to Sachin Mule's bungalow. Now, the bungalow security was very tight and I was told that I simply could not to enter! Well, I was not going back now, not even if David Beckham invited me for his birthday party. I called Akhil again and he came…he came with hope but he left as quickly as well, as he had some ‘important work’. I looked on with a poker face, thinking to myself, ‘How could he just go in?’ Well, for the first time, I was really losing it and losing it bad, but that’s when He turned it all around.

I had been waiting with a family for almost 20 minutes outside the gate and I pretty much knew that the family would get permission to enter the gate. It was miraculous what happened next. I guess the guards thought that I belong to that very family and they let me in to the bungalow with the family.

Having met Akhil a bit later who asked me to sit with the other volunteers, I joined this group that had come down from Mumbai. Becoming friends within minutes of meet, we did the Sudarshan Kriya together. They were so enthusiastic that they even did Surya Namaskars 2:30 in the afternoon! If the trip wasn’t all that adventurous so far, another surprise came my way. I discovered that by the time my Kriya finished, the food had got over!

Well, I was this being who hadn't had anything since morning; I was starving. In fact, that was not only the case with me, but with everyone who had travelled many miles to see Guruji. One thing that I learned on that trip was that Mumbai volunteers are smart. One of the volunteers from Mumbai went into the kitchen and got almost half a dozen roties made. Six roties with chatni for ten volunteers, totally worth it!

Minutes on and we left for Garware Stadium, the place where the event/course ‘Utsav’ was to take place. We were all allotted sevas and I was at the security. It all went fine and the Utsav started!

Now, the teachers for the course were the biggest surprise element for me so far: Khurshed Batliwala and Dinesh Ghodke. Well, I was a participant of the second course that Srivi mam ever taught, so, I knew about Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya, and if you are her student reading this post, you will know that she talks so much about them in her course that your fascination to meet them reaches an unprecedented high.

Thus, just watching the two directors of WAYE (World Alliance for Youth Empowerment) in front of me teaching the workshop that they have designed themselves was an exceptional sight. It was so cool! However, having not carried by spectacles, I remember, I was not able to see them properly even on the big screen and so, I prayed.

Utsav

As the course moved on, it was time for Long Sudarshan Kriya! Now, I had done my Kriya in the afternoon and right before the start of the Sudarshan Kriya, the Mumbai volunteers from somewhere got the news that Guruji will be coming on to the stage when the course participants end their Kriya. Now, that was jugad underlined!

…and that’s exactly what happened!

Saleel bhaiya needed some volunteers to ‘welcome’ Guruji back stage and guess what; we ‘incidentally’ were at the right place at the right time. Bhaiya asked us to be seated in a line as told us the golden rule, ‘Guruji’s speed of motion is directly proportional to your excitement’. I said, “Whatever,” which was another of my mistakes! I mean, I had done by YES!+ course two and a half months back, so, I didn’t know who Saleel Bhaiya was. We volunteers sat in a line along the path on which Guruji was to pass. I was so very excited and guess whom did I see walking by, passing a smile towards me, Dinesh Bhaiya! I went like, “Dude! I wanted to see him from close and here he is, smiling at me!”

(Me and Dinesh Bhaiya, this is a a recent pic; venue: Vishwamitra)

With my heart beating faster with every passing second, especially after hearing on-and-off whispers from other volunteers – who came out with rumors such as ‘He is climbing the steps’ – I finally saw Him. He was distant but I saw Him, and I noticed that he was walking towards me. He had his secretary holding a basket full of fruits, of which he was giving one fruit each to a volunteer/security-guard that he came across while making his way on to the stage.

I was sitting with the Mumbai volunteers and we were one of the first few volunteers that he was to meet. Just as he reached our group, Saleel Bhaiya introduced us to him by saying, “These volunteers have come from Mumbai just to meet you Guruji,” after which Guruji asked, “Yahan sab log Mumbai se aayen hain?”

And that was the moment that all the excitement that I was holding back, came out and with a wide smile, I impulsively shouted, “Guruji main Pune se.” He said, “Ah…Okay,” and then, he handed me an apple and walked past me. In fact, there was more to it. As I said “Guruji main Pune se” in an instantaneous manner, Guruji looked into my eyes and we shared an eye contact that lasted for about two seconds; maybe more, maybe less…I don’t know. It was a moment when I had forgotten everything; it was like the time had stopped.

It was absolutely magical. However, when I saw him walk past me, that’s when I realized, I should have kept my calm. Trust me, all that was going on in my head was, ‘Had I followed Saleel Bhaiya’s golden rule, the meet could have longer’, but I was so happy.

Just like the test of my resolve to come to Aurangabad, Guru’s grace didn’t end there. As the 1301 course participants came out of their meditative state to discover Guruji sitting right in front of them on his throne, we volunteers were told to assemble next to the ramp. I was the second volunteer standing in the queue. As the volunteer who was first in the queue was given seva, I was told to move forward.

Now, just imagine, I was standing right below the stage, next to the ramp, and sitting in front of me were Guruji (to my left) and Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya (to my right) at a distance of less than five meters; it sure was incredible. I could not believe it; I still can’t.

Guruji answered a number of questions from the participants and left soon. After the course day got over, I met Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya personally. They blessed me too.

It was all like a dream. March 3, 2009 morning, all I wanted was to catch a glimpse of Him and here He was, giving me an apple in the evening on the same day. Moreover, I just wanted to see Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya from close, and here they were, blessing me.

That Aurangabad trip was nothing but a perfect chance given to me by my Guru to implement all the sutras that I had learned in my YES!+ course. I gave my 100% and he made my experience worthwhile. In fact, he showed me how to celebrate life by making my experience one that acted as an epitome of grace and celebration.

Like Dinesh Bhaiya once said during a volunteer’s meet, “He makes the impossible possible,” and that’s what my whole Aurangabad adventure was about…impossible becoming possible.

No Breath, No Life,

Know Breath, Know Life

Jai Gurudev J

Love J

Kratik J

Sourav Ganguly: Inspiration, Idol, Teacher

2012-04-13T22:29:00.001-07:00

For most, Sourav Ganguly is only a great cricketer who is currently captaining Pune Warriors; for some, he is their favourite cricketer who has redefined ‘comeback’; but for me, he is my inspiration, my idol and my teacher, who – through his performances – taught me how to get through - what seemed like – one of the toughest phases of life.

I am on the right, holding (sort of) a banner at Wankhede Stadium :)
And yes, I traveled miles to watch him play :)

An year after ‘Dada’ was presented the Padma Shri - one of India's highest awards – by the then President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, he was kicked out of the national team following a run of poor performances in 2005. To some, the words ‘kicked out’ may read too strong to describe the situation of his drop, but seeing how he was ill-treated by the BCCI, to me, they are just an understatement. A few months later, the Indian coach then, Greg Chappell (seen as the main reason for the Warrior Prince’s departure) decided to rub it in by publicly making a statement that ‘Ganguly deserved a good farewell’.

These events not only made my blood boil, but got me against supporting the Indian cricket team. Then, in 2006, he did that Pepsi advertisement 'Apne Dada Di Baat Sunenge', and as he was mocked by both – audiences and media, I had eyes full of tears even contemplating what lied ahead for the man whom I have idolized ever since I was nine. His career really seemed to had hit a dead-end but he always had something extra, and you could see that every single time he walked on the field, whether it was playing for India or any other team that he has ever played for. He refusing to carry drinks on the field for Bengal in the early part of his career is an example of that.

And so, I expected him to be back, but he superseded my expectations by roaring like the royal Bengal tiger and making a comeback second to none, going on to not only drill his name in the hearts of the fans that had always saluted him, but also, regaining respect from those glory hunters who had cut off all the connections with him since the time his form had worsened. He also carved an impression in the hearts of all his doubters and critics by proving his mettle.

He went back to playing Ranji Trophy and featured in every match for Bengal, playing under Rohan Gavaskar captaincy, underlining his desire. With time, slowly and gradually, he was discovering ‘his touch’ and as the runs started to flow, it only seemed like a matter of time before he would make that all-awaited comeback. I remember, this was early 2006, when he was in Pune playing for Bengal at the Nehru Stadium and I couldn’t go for the game because I had an Engineering Graphics exam to appear for in a day’s time; that was just painful in its own right.

With Greg Chappell still in charge, the ‘god of offside’ was picked for the tour of South Africa in December 2006. With Ganguly having the history of not being the greatest against the bouncing ball (at least since the time when he was hit on the ribs by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar), the critics were chuckling quietly, "Ah ... He's going to get buried on the bouncy South African track" and more or less, it was all set up for a fall. But it seemed like as though all these remarks fired the warrior in him even more as he made his critics look silly with a gutsy 87 against Rest of South Africa in a four day tour match.

Soon, he was playing his first test match in over an year. In the match that was played in Johannesburg against South Africa, which was remarked as ‘Ganguly’s comeback game’, saw Dada score an invaluable 51 to help India to victory.

Now, on one hand, Ganguly was piling up runs, whereas on the other, Greg Chappell was getting more and more scrutinized by the media for some of his decisions. After India’s poor showing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Chappell resigned as the Indian coach and Ganguly went on to become the highest run getter for India in both Test and ODI cricket in 2007 scoring 1106 Test runs at an average of 61.44 and 1240 One-day runs at an average of 44.28. Ganguly’s comeback and Chappell’s omission clearly underlined one of Darwin’s theories – Survival of the Fittest. Now, Sourav Ganguly had nothing left to prove to anyone. He could proudly say that he had not only been there and done it, but he also came back to do it. The comeback was indeed complete!

Although in different fields, in the first half of 2007, Sourav and I were scoring on the absolute opposite ends. As he was winning over one fan after another, with my poor grades in engineering, I was losing people’s faith time and time over.

It was August 2007 and I knew I wasn’t passing my second year engineering exams, and so, I had pre-decided to go to try out for the auditions of the ESPNSTAR show ‘Dream Job’, which assured the winner a job of becoming a ‘Sports Commentator’ - which certainly was my dream job. To cut it short, I didn’t make it through the auditions, because – on the base of what I was told - ‘I still was in college’. Failing exams and being rejected by ESPNSTAR, those were one of the hardest times for times for me as I neither wanted to go back and do engineering, nor did I have a plan as to what I am going to do in the future; and that’s where the ‘Gangulian attitude’ helped me.

As I was on the bus, on my way back from Mumbai, I couldn’t help but think of Dada – his spirit, his ability to fight, his will to be recognized and his strength in standing up and being counted. He was a champion, and in that three hour bus journey, I somehow learned from the Prince.

He inspired me so much that I came back, worked hard on my backlog exams and cleared all my subjects. It was phenomenal seeing the change the Gangulian attitude had brought in me; it literally carried me at times when I felt I couldn’t progress and injected a spirit within me that made me stand up for myself and realize what’s like to be counted.

In 2008, he announced that the series against Australia would be his final in International cricket. The Maharaja played in every game of the four-Test series and amassed 324 runs at an average of 54.00, retiring when his form was at its absolute pinnacle. He fought like a warrior, played like a prince and retired as a King, with grace and with unmatched respect, showcasing every little boy that has ever dreamed of playing for India, what sort of fight must be put forward to play for the nation and what it exactly means to walk out on to the cricket field wearing the Indian chakra on your head.

As for me, YES!+ and Art Of Living followed, and that did change my life as I rose from poor/very-average engineering grades to rediscovering myself. Maybe it just polished the Gangulian attitude by a million folds. After writing for media giants such as the Indian Express and Goal.com, I am presently pursuing my Masters’ degree in Sport Management from one of the best Sports universities in the United States - Florida State University (FSU). I know it’s God’s grace, but its magical how that attitude so Gangulian has helped me move forward.

Now that he is playing for my home team, Pune Warriors India, it makes the situation only sweeter. As I watched him captain Warriors to victory over Mumbai Indians in the first game of this season’s IPL, it was another occasion when I felt deeply emotional. In fact, after the final bowl of the match was bowled, I jumped, danced, celebrated and sang 'he is back!’

Looking at his attributes, leadership quality, connection and contribution to the Indian cricket, he needs to be put into the national fold straight away; if not as a player, definitely as a coach/manager. This is for BCCI: Sack Duncan Fletcher and appoint ‘Sir Sourav’ as the Indian coach. Home or away, he will guide us to glory.

Right from 1996, I don't even know if I have ever even missed an inning of his. Whether it was him playing for Bengal, Lancashire, Glamorgan, Northamptonshire, Kolkata Knight Rider, PWI or India, I was there to see how he was doing. If I wasn't watching it live, I was following the game over the internet. To me, he is a legend in his own league and it’s just magical what affect a cricketer can have on you. Just following and idolizing Sourav Ganguly, who played with his heart on his sleeve, made me get through a patch that looked like a dead-end and since then, a Ganguly in me has lived on.

Sourav Ganguly…Champion? For sure.

Sourav Ganguly…Legend? Definitely.

Sourav Ganguly…Superhero? Without a doubt.

Sourav Ganguly… Life-changer? What do you say? J

Love,

Kratik

Follow me on

(Just click the Twitter logo)

From The Examination Hall To The Bangalore Ashram

2012-03-31T13:30:00.012-07:00

The watch in the examination hall read 17:25 as I could feel the adrenalin gushing through my veins. They were those five minutes which would signal the end of the my third year second semester electronics engineering examination, and see me leave for the Bangalore Ashram for the first time. In spite of all that fluster of being in an exam, I couldn’t help but smile and feel excited, even though I was not having the easiest time answering the question set.

I scribbled whatever I could in the final few moments, and then, as the bell rang, I punched my fist in the air and shouted, ‘Yes!’ I still remember running out of the class like I had won gold in the Olympics, with hundreds of eyes staring at me in amazement - they must have thought, ‘What’s up with him? What did he write in such a paper?’

I came out of the hall; I smiled, jumped, picked up my bag and galloped to the campus road where my car driver was waiting for me. With the bus due to leave at 6:00PM and my college 20 kms away, I knew I didn’t have much time, so, told my driver him put his foot through the accelerator.

Just to note, even prior to my final exam, Guru stories had already started happening. I really wanted to do the Advance course in the Bangalore Ashram. Well, I had heard so much about it - the Ashram, the course, and everything related; I just wanted to do it, and even though I was told that the reporting for the course was on June 3, 2009 (the same day that my exams were supposed to end), my sankalpa was very strong.

One of the Pune teachers had spoken about me and five others, who so wanted to do the course but couldn’t as our exams were to end the same day. The YES!+ teacher from Pune, was told ‘No’ upfront, but somehow, things just fell in place and we were permitted to join from the next day morning. We would probably be the first and the last participants ever in the history of the Art Of Living to have been given such a privilege, but I guess our reason was genuine and our willingness to attend the workshop, absolutely immense.

Back to June 3, 2009, the day when we were to leave. I changed my dress on the way, picked my Mummi up from her office on my way back from college and reached the bus station. I gave my Mummi a hug as she left for home and as I entered the bus station.

Guess what, I see a smiling Rutuja Kagwade (who was in Cummins College) running towards me and saying, “What an awesome paper!” I went like, “Really?”

She remarked, “It was great, only problems (She meant numericals)”

And I looking in disbelief said, “Yes, only problems (like real problems in the exam)”

We waited and waited, and the bus which was to leave at 6:00, left at 8:00PM. In the bus, it was me, the teacher - Shashank Ombhase, Varsha Anandani, Rutuja, Sharvari Patil and Annirudh Khurade. Guru stories, Ashram stories, Bawa-Dinesh stories were shared as my excitement grew more and more. I would be wrong if I say it wasn’t fun, it sure was! As it had been exam time, I hadn’t been sleeping properly; four-five hours of sleep was enough to go and write the exam, and so, I wanted to sleep properly is the bus.

Guru showed his magic again. The bus that we were travelling in, had a capacity of about 60, but had only 25 passengers travelling. So, each of us, took two seats each, made ourselves comfortable and went to the Ashram sleeping.

The bus reached Bangalore late and we opted to take a taxi to reach the Ashram fast. It was about 11 in the morning on June 4th, when Shashank told me to look outside the car window. I was like, “Why?” He gave me a strange expression. As I rolled my eyes, I saw the tip of Vishalakshi Mantap. I, sort of, went numb and then, shouted the famous line, “I am home.” It was a moment which I can’t explain in words; just imagine, seeing VM for the first time from naked eyes. Well, as I am writing this, shivers are doing moon-salts in my body; it’s just a feeling that can be experienced by the observer.

We kept our luggage at the reception and rushed into the VM, where the course was taking place. The course volunteers asked us to hurry-up and as we entered meditation hall, Dinesh Bhaiya gave us a look; like, you know, ‘look’, which sort of was intimidating. In the midst of things, I still couldn’t believe that I was inside the VM.

The advance course went on and I learned so much. I also made so many friends, including Kalpak Gandhi, who is such a dear friend to me now. Silence was incredible, and I did meet Guruji too J That meeting was so so special.

On the day of the Sunday satsang in the amphitheater, I went to Bawa and said, “I have just given my third year engineering exams. My parents think I am mad, but I really want to do Sports Journalism.”

He smiled and replied, “First finish engineering and then, think of doing anything else.”

I exclaimed, “My parents think I should do MBA”

He gave me an expression so as to say, “No.” He then, blessed me, and all I can say is that life has been a blessing since.

Seven days after returning to Pune, I was writing for the Indian Express as a sports journalist. Later, I not only went on to head the content writing section for the Maharashtra Premier League (cricket) website but also, write for the biggest football website in the world, Goal.com (interviewing the likes of Morten Gamst Pedersen, Ryan Nelsen, Steve Kean, Jason Roberts, Michel Salgado, and many more). I also worked as a sports analyst for a Singapore based company, Real Time Sportscast and as a marketing trainee for one of the premier football clubs in India, Pune FC.

(Me and Michel Salgado)

Now, three and quarter years after doing my Yes!+ and a little more than two and a half years after doing my Yes!+ advanced, I am in USA studying a Masters’ program in Sports Management at the Florida State University. I just feel so blessed.

The advance course in June 2009 was my first, and I enjoyed it so much that I went on to do four more. With Guruji set to be in Canada for his birthday this year, I so want to go, but with me still to apply for the Canadian Visa and arrange for the ticket expense, it sort of looks improbable. However, just like for my first advance course, my sankalpa is still as strong or maybe, even stronger

Even thinking of being in the Ashram gives me Goosebumps, but whether in Montreal or in Bangalore, I know I am meeting him soon. Ashram is a special place and meeting Him is a special experience. If you haven’t been there, you must go there. It’s not ‘almost heaven’, it is heaven J

Take me home, Ashram roads,

To the place, where I belong, Bangalore Ashram,

Oh my Guru, take me home.

Ashram Roads J

Jai Gurudev J

Love J

Kratik

Follow me on

and know what’s up with me (click twitter to follow me)

Those ‘Priceless’ Five Minutes With Khalid Jamil

2011-12-24T10:41:00.001-08:00

When you feel like a chronic ill-tempered feeling would never leave you,

Living with a look so demure,

When you know your greatest challenge lies ahead,

It’s then that his messenger’s word drops a seed of beatitude that in gratitude makes your eyes water.

During his playing days, he said ‘No’ to the ‘Big Two’ clubs of Kolkata having been offered contracts as either club was being sponsored by a liquor company (Source: TOI); he once sold a bottle of champagne which was awarded to him after he was crowned ‘Man Of The Match’ to buy sweets for slum kids; he is currently doing wonders with a Mumbai Football Club squad lacking the necessary strength to challenge for honours in Indian football, the so-called ‘God’s Own Midfielder’ and the Andre Villas Boas of Indian Football, Khalid Jamil.

Six months back, seeing him coach and manage his Mumbai FC Squad so superbly well, setting them up to defend well and nick games time and time again for over a period of six months, for me, even meeting Khalid sir one on one was like a dream for me. After having read about him on how strongly he follows his ethics, he had been an absolute inspiration for me.

Along with working for Real Time Sportscast as a Sports Analyst (RTS) and Pune Football Club in Sports Marketing, I joined Goal.com as a Football Journalist in May 2011, and the first article that was assigned to me was on Khalid sir and his team, ‘The 'Underdog' Story Of Mumbai FC’.

I would be lying if I say that I didn’t enjoy writing the article. The article turned out great and its after effects were so positive that the man himself, Khalid sir met me and complemented me on the article that I had written. He said, “Kratik Malhotra? Mai soch bhi nahi sakta tha ki koi aisa bhi likh sakta hai.” After the comment, he also gave me his cell number and asked me to message him with my name. That very moment, as the adrenalin gushed through my veins, I settled myself down explaining to myself what had just happened and what the 34-year old had said to me.

From then on in - either in Kolhapur or in Pune - I interviewed him a several times and his simplicity, ability to be straight forward and the sheer child-like innocence in his eyes took me aback. Every time that I would meet him, I would just want to be like him; whether knowingly or unknowingly, I had just turned into a massive fan of Khalid Jamil.

While working for Goal.com, Pune FC and RTS, covering football, if there was one more thing that I was doing, was applying to the United States to pursue my intended course, Masters’ in Sports Management. As months passed, god shower his blessings and I received admits from New York University (NYU), Florida State University (FSU), St. Johns’ University and Southern New Hampshire University, of which I opted to join FSU.

With me all set to leave for USA on December 26, 2011, my will to meet Khalid sir for one last time grew and a couple of days back, on December 22 when I was covering the match between Mumbai FC and HAL Bangalore at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune for RTS, I finally caught up with him.

After waiting for an extra half hour, watching Khalid sir finish his regular post match training with the players who had not featured in the game and the interviews with the press following a comfortable 4-0 victory, I went to him and spoke.

I first congratulated him on the result and later, told him that I would be moving to US after four days to do a two year Masters’ course in Sports Management. Listening to which he replied, “Toh fir idhar aa ke kaam karna”, which translates to ‘come back to India to work’. It was a statement that evoked a feeling in me of exactly how much I could help my country become bigger and better in the field of sports.

Moreover, he patted me on the back and said, “Mehnat karna, tu accha karega.” Translating to, ‘work hard, you will do well’.

It was like he had blessed me. I smiled at him, feeling so very confident. For that instant, I felt like I am the ‘special one’ sent by god to take the Indian sport to another level. I shook hands with him, and started walking out of the stadium. Just as I had reached the parking lot, the tears of gratitude started to flow down my eyes and boy! Wasn’t I touched? I sure was!

Half an year back, Khalid sir was once a man whom I was overwhelmed to meet and here he was, wishing me good luck for the future.

It was just magic, conjured by god for me to realize that my country is and would forever be my valentine. There are some things that money can’t buy and those five minutes with Khalid Jamil were just one of them.

Cheers :)

Love :)

Kratik :)

#Volunteer4BetterIndia

2011-12-19T01:39:00.000-08:00

Boy this thing is really picking up now!

Some of the tweets read as:

My way or the high way??? Why not choose the highest way!!!so#Volunteer4BetterIndia

Many pay 30% tax to the Government. This means that 4 months in a year we work for PM & Co. #Volunteer4BetterIndia - make them do their jobs

No Belongingness = Corruption. No one would ask/take bribes from anyone they consider their own. Spread Belongingness #Volunteer4BetterIndia

And…

Why this volunteer volunteer volunteer di?! Because I love India... #Volunteer4BetterIndia!

It sure gets my adrenalin gushing through my veins. And yes, even I want to do something for my country!

More than a million tweets in a day. Man, stunning! Absolutely astonishing!

But, what exactly is #Volunteer4BetterIndia?

Guruji in the Ashram at the satsang said that we must devote at least an year of our life to our country. India! The Master was correct; we need to give an year to the country in order to bring about the change. So, give an year and volunteer and India will change. Thus, ‘Volunteer for better India.’

Now, don’t ask me why shall we work towards bringing about the change? It’s logical.

I mean, do you want to really want to live with this education system (click to read one of my blog posts) and crib all the time?

Do you still want to see a third of our country illiterate?

Do you want to have people continuing and following age-old customs like Dowry and child marriage?

Do you want to live in a ‘tiger-less India?’

Do really want to see several NGOs (click to read one of my blog posts) milking money from people for their own sake and not for people?

Lastly, would you even like to see the rate of currencies like dollar, euro and pound go further up?

No, right?

So, work towards the change. Even the seva mentioned in this (click on the ‘this’ hyperlink) blog post of mine, could just be fine but then, it has to be regular. Take up a project and then, stick on to it. Any project that helps the society in some way or the other would do, but work towards change!

As my Art Of Living teacher says, “YOU TEDDY BEAR!!! Don't just sit there and look cute, but make a difference!”

So, pick up your seva arm and start like you have never started before, and work like you have never worked before.

Jai Gurudev J

Love J

Kratik

Cleverley’s Injury, Crisis? What Crisis? Ravel Morrison Is The Answer

2011-11-28T07:36:00.004-08:00

Ahead of the Manchester United's mid-week League Cup encounter against Crystal Palace, I, Kratik Malhotra talk of Manchester United's wonder-kid, Ravel Morrison, who along with Paul Pogba could well start against the Championship opposition. I also talk of why Morrison could soon become an invaluable asset to the first team. Have a read...I hope you like the article:

With no Wesley Sneijder signed this summer – who earlier in the year was termed by United’s first team coach, René Meulensteen as a ‘perfect’ signing for the club aiding Gary Pallister opinion, who thought that the 27-year old would be ideal for the team giving them the ‘steel’ missing since Roy Keane’s departure - there was a growing panic among Manchester United fans who were contemplating a tough season ahead.

However, all the doubters were put to rest with the emergence of the young dynamo, Tom Cleverley who seemed to fit into the system well, filling well into massive boots left over by legendary Paul Scholes. Cleverley’s speed, agility, creativity and ability to hold the midfield had United race above the rest at the start of the season.

But since the 21-year old’s foot injury at Bolton ruling the young Englishman out for more than a month, the Red Devils have lost their way a little bit and are now found chasing their fierce rivals, Manchester City by five points.

Tom, however, did make a return to the first team but the former Wigan loanee suffered another injury at Everton last month in his first game back ruling him out further until Christmas. Since Cleverley has been out, United have rather been poor and if such displays continue, City may well have the title wrapped up by Christmas.

So, in order to replace ‘Scholescy’ and have United playing the fluid ‘United way’ again, what will Sir Alex do?

When asked this question in the summer, pointing to the marvellous group of youngsters coming through the ranks, Sir Alex said, "Maybe the next few weeks will help us overcome (the Scholes retirement) it. Maybe somebody will emerge out of the youth team or one of the young players emerge, and then we carry on."

So, is the current crop of youngsters that good?

Well, the man himself, Paul Scholes thinks so and regards them better than his ‘Class of 92’. Speaking about the United youth players who have recently won the FA Youth Cup, Scholes said, “We’d struggled a bit in the Youth Cup since then 1992. But this group look like they’re ready to go into the first-team now, because they’re big, strong, powerful lads and have the skill to go with it.”

Of United’s current crop of youngsters, Scholes - who has agreed to take on a coaching role at the club - identified attacking midfielder Ravel Morrison as his pick of the bunch. “We’ve trained with Ravel and we know what talent he’s got - hopefully [he will fulfil it]”, remarked the former English International.

Ravel Morrison, who?

Morrison - who was astonishing against Wigan’s reserves a couple of weeks back in a performance when he even bagged a stunning goal - is a midfielder who can play through the middle, as a playmaker, on either wing, in behind the striker or even has an ability to sit deep. His style of play makes him best suited to playing as one of three in the middle of a 4-5-1 as he likes to roam and float around. Although he is notoriously hard to mark as he tends to pull opposition players out of position but due to that, he is also overly reliant upon other midfielders doing a lot more work to fill in gaps that he has vacated.

Ravel Morrison Scoring Against Chelsea Rserves

One of his specialties is his ability to spring counter attacks so quickly by sitting deep. He also times his runs into the opposition penalty area very well and is particularly good at halting a run to find space just on the edge of the area, a reason why he scores so many Scholes-esque goals. Ravel embodies a street footballer who has succeeded in translating carefree showboating to passing the acid test of one of world football’s biggest clubs.

Therefore, his style of play can see him play either as a box to box midfielder in the centre of the park in a conventional 4-4-2 formation or as a partner to Rooney, in behind Hernandez in a 4-3-2-1 formation, which Sir Alex famously employed during the Cristiano Ronaldo era, winning the Champions League in 2008.

Brian Marwood, Manchester City’s football administrator, who has been put in charge of cultivating City’s next set of stars at their Platt Lane academy and in a recent interview, speaking of the youngster who is born in Wythenshawe in Manchester on the 2nd February 1993, he stated, “Probably the most gifted teenager in the country is Ravel Morrison at Manchester United.”

Huge, isn’t it? Especially, considering that it’s coming from a man from the blue contingent of Manchester.

More so, the United fans are going ‘gaga’ over Morrison, by making comments like – ‘Who needs Messi when we have Morrison?’

Now, that may be a bit over the head but seriously, if such a talent exists at Old Trafford, in ordinary circumstances, it must be a time for celebration in regards to a prodigious footballing career. But, unfortunately, there is a twist to the Morrison story:

Throughout his schooling, he has had disciplinary problems, resulting in suspensions and expulsions. His home life was equally disruptive. Since his time at United, he has been involved in a number of behavioural issues: Threatening other players, threatening opponents, getting involved in fights, alleged gang activity, and subsequently witness intimidation. He was recently arrested by police for being in a car carrying weapons and drugs. The young midfielder has also been charged with assaulting his girlfriend and causing criminal damage.

But in spite of all the charges, under the guidance of United’s coaching staff, he has shown signs of improvement that got the Guardian Journalist, Daniel Taylor to remark (after his court case, where he escaped imprisonment), “At his court case this week he was in a suit, he hadn’t brought any of his hangers-on with him and, overall, he just seemed a little bit older and wiser. The reports from the youth offending team were all positive and – if it was genuine – there was no longer that sense that he thought he was untouchable.”

If Sir Alex ever wondered ‘had he’ grabbed Rooney five years prior to when he actually signed him, then, this is a real chance for him to guide a talented player to even a better career.

With Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter hailing him as a better footballer than Jack Wilshere and considering that United are yearning for a playmaker, and suffer from a shortage of guile in midfield, he possibly should have cemented a berth in the first-team squad already.

Considering Anderson is out until February, with Phil Jones and Ashley Young – both of whom can play in the central midfield - recently signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and central midfielders in Darren Fletcher, and Michael Carrick already amongst the ranks, testing out Morrison may not be the worst decision.

Even if United are to make any new signings, January is still a long way to go and Cleverley’s injury really shouldn’t be looked on as a calamity but a chance to see a promising home grown talent with bags of undeveloped potential that if given decent first team opportunities and if developed properly, may reach unparalleled heights, and as it has always happened at Old Trafford, youths are always given a chance to prove their worth.

One of Sir Alex’s great attributes is that he knows when the time is right to give a player his ‘chance’ and no matter how young he is, he may well be worth a shot. As Sir Matt Busby once said, “If they’re good enough, they’re old enough.”

Legends Of Indian Football: SS 'Babu' Narayan – Where Is He Now?

2011-11-18T08:20:00.001-08:00

‘Babu Narayan’ as he is famously known is regarded as one of the stalwarts of the Indian football. But where is he now?

SS Narayan or ‘Babu’ Narayan as he is famously known is regarded as one of the stalwarts of the Indian football squad that made its name at international stage during the mid-1950s. Born on November 12, 1934, Babu is a legendary goalkeeper who, along with his coach then - Syed Abdul Rahim Saab, is said to have played a massive part in what is now known as the ‘Golden Era’ of Indian Football. Babu Narayan’s story is nothing but a fairy-tale, let’s look back at the story of, probably, the greatest goalkeeper that India has ever produced.

Career:

Love for Basketball:

Babu Narayan was a student of Khalsa college in Bombay and during the time with his college, he represented the Maharashtra State in 1954 and became a member of the Bombay senior team. His love for playing sports always got him charged up and prompted sudden eagerness as he devoted the mornings playing basketball and evenings football. According to the man himself, basketball helped him a lot in becoming a better goalkeeper. When I interviewed him, he said, “I think basketball made me a better player. Positioning, collecting the ball and jumping made me more aware of my position, handling and overall agility.”

Caltex India Limited:

As football was a growing sport in India, the American company, Caltex India Limited was looking to form a competitive team in Bombay (Mumbai presently) and thus, Caltex were bringing in players from all across the nation in 1955; one of them the legendary Neville D’Souza. A player named - SS Narayan - typically unheard, was picked on the basis of his performances during his time with the Junior (college and school) teams. He was also picked because the club owned by the American owners lacked a goalkeeper and needed someone to step in. It was nothing but a chance for the then 20-year old and he grabbed this opportunity both his hands.

SS made his debut for Caltex in the Rovers Cup and was applauded for his debut performance against Kemari Union (KU) from Pakistan. Even though he was only 20, his ability to position himself, organize his wall, come out to collect crosses, also, handling and shot stopping skills were considered exceptional as his influence on the team was worthy in leading his side to the semi-finals of the tournament.

As described by Babu Narayan himself, “Kemari Union was practically Pakistan’s National Team” and as he says, “Pakistan had a very good national team then.” The Rovers Cup tie between Caltex and KU was an epic game which was played over three games as the first two games ended in draws and failed to produce results. The third game saw Caltex beat KU to enter the quarter-finals of the tournament. Next up, their opponents were the strong Bangalore Muslims, who had been the finalists in 1953.

Babu Narayan’s Caltex beat the Bangalore based side in a single game and marched on to the semi-finals carrying the underdog flag. Their semi-final outing was rather considered an uphill climb as they lined up against the mighty Mohun Bagan which composed to mainly Indian internationals including the great Sailen Manna, probably the greatest striker who has ever played for India and also, the only Asian Footballer ever to be named among the 10 best Captains in the world by the English FA in 1953.

The tie against Mohun Bagan was another epic encounter as it lasted for three games with the first two ending in draws, only for Caltex to lose the third by conceding a goal in the final two minutes of the game.

This tournament did no harm to Babu’s reputation as the goalkeeper received a call from the football club to be a part of the Durand Cup played in Delhi in December 1955. Although Caltex again didn’t win any honours, SS Narayan’s excellent performance throughout the tournament was noticed and acknowledged. This made way for the youngster getting picked in the Bombay team for the National Championship in Trivandrum.

His performance in the tournament was a standout and saw Bombay reach the finals of the tournament where they lost to Hyderabad due to a last minute goal. The youngster got substantial recognition as the national selectors thought that they had seen enough to take him to Australia as a part of the travelling Indian Olympic Football team. So, within an year, the boy who had never played for a professional club until his graduation time, at a tender footballing age of 21 had reached the promise land by making it to the pinnacle of Indian football, The Indian National Team! Babu was living a dream.

Tata’s Football Club:

After a fascinating Olympic experience, Narayan returned to Caltex and played a couple of seasons with club before moving on to Tata’s in 1958. The move to Tata’s was not due to the difference in the playing standard of the two clubs but due to a choice that Babu considered as a ‘safe’, as in those days, the rumours of the clubs owned by American owners shutting down were drastic.

The legendary goalkeeper played for Tata’s for 13 years before announcing his retirement from club football. In his time with the club, Babu Narayan won five Bombay league titles; the first of which – unbeaten! As Babu was the goal-keeper, he was majorly credited for the performances. They repeated this feat in 1961 as not even one team, once again, was found good enough to defeat the Tata’s football team. Babu’s goalkeeping was always the centre of attraction.

Tata’s did not have a coach and Babu Narayan often acted like one to the junior team, teaching the younger kids, his immediate juniors and the players looking for a break in the first team.

Babu’s retirement came as a shock to many as it was one that was completely unexpected. Along with his football, Babu was also working and doing his job properly was one criteria to which he couldn’t succumb. As Babu states himself, “I got a promotion in my job and they asked me – job or football? And I couldn’t leave my job. Thus, I had to retire from football. Nowadays, cricketers get a day’s leave for playing sports; back then, this was not the case.”

Indian National Team:

Babu Narayan Played for Indian National Team for about nine years. He made his International debut in the 1956 summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and performed exceptionally well to help India reach the semi-finals of the Olympics. India became the first Asian country to achieve this feat. After reaching the quarter finals, Team India lead by Samar Banerjee defeated the hosts, Australia 4-2 but then crashed out of the tournament 4-1 losing to a very strong Yugoslavian team, which had beaten a good United States outfit 9-1 earlier in the tournament. In the semi-finals, Babu Narayan made some fantastic saves but couldn’t stop his country from getting hammered.

Even though he switched clubs, his performances on the national and international stage had made him an automatic pick for the Asian games of 1958 in Tokyo. His inspirational performances led India to another fourth position. He was again in goal when the national team was attributed to the runners’ up position at the Merdeka Cup 1959 in Malaysia.

Tough Time:

Babu was again picked for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Italy. These games were a major disappointment as India finished last in their group with only one point. SS Narayan was left out of the team for the 1962 Asian Games where India beat South Korea 2–1 in the finals to the tournament. Babu Narayan made a return to the Indian squad again, establishing himself as India’s number 1, but failed to make a serious impact as India failed to qualify for the 1964 Olympics in Rome, losing out to Iran in the final group game.

Babu Narayan stated the reason for the loss as Rahim Saab’s death due to cancer. He said, “Rahim was the greatest manager ever. He coached the Indian national team for over 12 years and thus, he knew every single player in and out, and made it a point to come regularly for the national championships to see the developments of individual players. We played almost the same team for four years and that was the key to getting great results.”

“Our preparation was going on for the Rome Olympics when a month before, he passed away after losing his battle against cancer. The new coach who came in started to implement a new formation which didn’t work out at all because we were used to playing Rahim Saab’s way.”

Coaching Role:

Babu worked with Tata’s for 43 years and so, never got a chance to go into professional coaching. However, he managed to do his bit to promote football in India. Since he is associated to Bipin Memorial Football Association, which provides free coaching to students, for over 20 Years, he has coached the best crop of youngsters coming through. He would take his fun out by training the kids and even Steven Dias is one of his students.

Man of the Match Selector:

For the I-League matches played at the Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai, Babu Narayan was chosen as the ‘Man of the Match Selector’ his primary job being to select the best player of that particular I-League match. He did the job because he loved the beautiful game and wanted to stay attached to the sport. Moreover, he had a chance to the current crop of Indian youngsters. In order to reach Cooperage, the man whom they love so dearly in Mumbai, would travel 45 minutes by local train from Thane to Churchgate.

Where is he now?

Babu Narayan is the current Vice-President of the Mumbai District Football Association. When he is not working, you will find him either at the Cooperage stadium during an I-League match, at football events where people often call him as a chief guest or relaxing in his house after a historic career that has affected the Indian football history in so many ways. Babu Narayan has gone down in the books as probably the best goalkeeper that India has ever produced.

This was my post on a legendary Mumbaikar. I hope you liked it.

Follow my blog... http://kratik1987.blogspot.com/

The Innocent Foreigner

2011-11-03T00:06:00.001-07:00

Unlike a townie, rambling across the treacherous street,

Timid by nature, dowdy in manner,

Not knowing the limits of his own feet,

Lost in a land unknown, the innocent foreigner.

His metropolitan accent would have many embarrass him,

Writing his way out, he was often left chasing cars,

His appearance had them wonder if he was swayed by his own whim,

With Kids confusing him with football stars, to him it was like a written farce.

But a goal he had set for him to achieve,

And so, he took off wearing his fedora,

In God, he said he believed,

Marching on, holding master’s hand from Paris to Pandora.

Blessed by the wind, he danced with the wave,

He finally found friends and a place to refuge,

Crowned he was with comments so rave,

Climbing the ladder like our very own Uncle Scrooge.

Struggle sure it was but on he went,

Battling through agony with the ointment of grace,

Whenever in trouble, to his amazement, a scent he always smelt,

Greeted by guru with wisdom and knowledge, he finally found his place.

The Innocent Foreigner.

Love,

Kratik

Good/Bad whatever. Please leave a comment.

Thanks.

But Something Just Feels Right

2011-09-28T14:58:00.001-07:00

I am about to lose a job,

But something just feels right.

I haven’t got my admit yet,

But something just feels right.

I don’t know what I am going to do in life,

But something just feels right.

Jai Gurudev…Master is who makes you feels right J

Love

Kratik

VEDA

2011-09-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

Whether it was Rituraj Borah (the best guitarist I've ever met, my classmate, currently working in Bollywood as a music director), Eugeneson Lyngdoh (another classmate and now, one of the best footballers produced by India in recent times), my YES!+ teachers Srividya Natarajan and Manish Nasa, Rahul Bali - Chief Editor Goal.com, or even the Indian Express journalist - Kabir Mandrekar, I've been privileged to be with people who have been so terrific in what they do. This time was no different.

Week and week out, I use to hear this YES!+ chap called Krishna Sood sing in Satsang and wonder, how on earth is he not on TV?

From what he had told me some months ago, he had joined a professional band -Veda. I thought, fair enough, great chance to showcase his talent.

After all this while, half hour back to be precise, Krishna sends me on of his bands' songs and barely I had heard a minute of the song, and I went...wow!

I'm still astonished but so happy for Krishna

Here's the link to his first song.

http://soundcloud.com/user5688900/veda-tujhe-dekh-dekh

I guess, you guys have heard by now. Brilliant, isn't it!

Publicize it. He needs your support to make it big and I hope you aid his cause.

Okay, I know this is not edited, so, do not keep an eye on the grammar. Chill!

Love :)

Kratik :)

Jai Gurudev :)

Getting Back To Old Facebook Chat

2011-08-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

The new faceboook chat sucks…doesn’t it?

It sure does according to me.

But why?

Consider that there are about 100 friends online but the chat only shows 25, mentioning 25 because it shows 25 to me. Basically, the number of people that the chat box shows depends on the your screen size.

It also shows your friends who are offline which hardly helps. So, in my opinion, what FB needs to do is to separate online and offline friends by providing them like google talk of ‘view offline friends’

Remember when facebook first introduced the ‘chat interface’, with a separate window opening other than your explorer if you wanted to chat. If you want to do that then, you can probably search different sites and blogs but here, what you’ll read is, how to embed a chat like how it existed sometime back.

I came across this on one of the websites, saw that it works and loved it so much that it works and decided to post it on my blog.

Here is how:

#1. If you are using Firefox you should install GreaseMonkey. You don’t need to install GreaseMonkey on Google Chrome.

#2. You need to install a userscript i.e., Facebook Chat Reversion

#3. You can install that script both on Firefox and Chrome. But you need Greasemonkey to install it on Firefox.

#4. You can get back the Old Facebook chat interface. Enjoy!

I have chrome and saw that it works, so posted it. I hope you all love it as well.

Cheers J

Kratik

Clive Tyldesley with Magic in his Speech

2011-05-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

As we are only a week away from another European Cup final, I thought it'd be awesome to look to look back on a piece of commentary that in itself has become an epic. Clive Tyldesley was the commentator when Manchester United beat Bayern Munich at Nou Camp in 1999:

United were 1-0 down after 90 minutes, scored within two stoppage time minutes to leave Bayern Munich bemused and United fans in jubilation.

Here it is...

(United have a corner, Beckham to take.)

90.21 Can Manchester United score? They always score. Beckham.......In towards Schmeichel......its come for Dwight Yorke

Cleared...........Giggs with the shot

90.35 SHERINGHAM! (Sheringham scores) NAME ON THE TROPHY!

91.15 As things stand we will go into extra time with a golden goal hanging like a massive shadow over this final unless Ole Solskjaer can find another......

(United have another corner, Beckham to take)

92.13 Is this their moment?

92.17 Beckham...... Into Sheringham..... AND SOLSKJAER HAS WON IT! (Solskjaer scores) Manchester United have reached the promised land, Ole Solskjaer, and the two substitutes have scored the two goals in stoppage time and the Treble looms large!

93.33 (Final whistle blows) History is made, Manchester United are the Champions of Europe again and nobody will ever win a European Cup final more dramatically than this. Champions of Europe, Champions of England, the FA Cup holders, everything their hearts desire. United fans will ask where did you watch the 1999 European Final? Where did you see Ole Solskjaer win it with virtually the last kick of the final?

Back from Dead – ONGC Revival

2011-04-28T12:29:00.001-07:00

Having lost twelve of the first nineteen games of the season, ONGC looked dead and buried, and the favourites to go down into I-League division II. After several analysts and pundits had branded their relegation battle as ‘Mission Impossible’, heroics from Kailash Patil, newly signed Japanese - Katsumi Yusa – and Badmus Babatunde have seen them steady the ship and move to the 11^th spot in the I-League.

ONGC utilized the season’s first transfer market to its full effect, signing eight players including N.D Opara and Kailash Patil from local rivals Air India. Their business seemed good enough for a mid-table finish; some people even called them ‘the underdogs’. The season that promised so much for the Mumbai based club didn’t start as expected – both on and off the field matters. Firstly, their home ground in Mumbai – the Cooperage Stadium - was closed for the purpose of revamping, renovation and construction. Thus, they were forced to shift their playing venue from Mumbai. ONGC, eventually, agreed to play their home matches at the Shri Chattrapati Sahu Stadium in Kolhapur. Secondly, an inspirational coach in Sujit Chakravarty, the man who had got them promoted, opted to leave the club to coach an Indian Footballing giant, Mohun Bagan. He was soon replaced by Subrata Bhattacharya. Thirdly, ONGC were made to taste dust when a series of late goals in several games, denied them crucial points and had them fighting for relegation.

In their first game in the I-League, they produced a solid performance and got stuck in to East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, only to lose by virtue of a late goal by Tolgay. In the next game, another late goal haunted them; this time to the advantage of AIFF XI when Jeje Lalpekhlua put one in the back of the net in the 81^st minute after Babatunde had given ONGC the lead. Further late goals against Salgaocar, HAL and Pune FC broke ONGC hearts as they drew in the former and lost the latter two with the goals in 78^th, 75^th and 89^th minutes, respectively.

But it was not only late goals that have led to ONGC struggling, some of their performances have been extremely disappointing and not in par with the other I-League teams. Their displays against Dempo, Chirag United, Mumbai FC and Mohun Bagan in the first half of the season were unacceptable and had them placed at the foot of the I-League table with only a win out of 13.

As the second half of the season got under way, ONGC did a Wolves – who had beaten a Manchester United side which was unbeaten in the English Premiership season, 2-1 at the Mollinuex - against East Bengal, shocking the unbeaten league leaders 1-0 in Kolhapur to notch up their second win of the season. Many had predicted this very game to be the turning point of ONGC’s season but it never proved to be. In spite of signing the Japanese - Katsumi Yusa - in the second transfer window, they were soon thumped by Salgaocar 5-0 in Goa and then, beaten by Dempo, Air India and Pune FC leaving them with 12 losses in 19 games and with a mountain to climb.

It seemed almost impossible for coach Bhattacharya to lift his ONGC outfit but somehow, he managed to do that with excellence.

It looked game over after 50 minutes in Margao, Goa when Churchill brothers, expectedly, took a two goal lead over ONGC. A brilliant run down the flank by Yusa allowed the Japanese to play in Babatunde, who found the net to pull one back. Soon, the former Air India man, ND Opara equalized to give ONGC hope. ONGC FC again had to claw their way back into the game after Odafa had restored Churchill’s lead. The 3-3 result against Churchill Brothers and a fighting spirit – that Bhattacharya had been speaking so much of - was vindicated by ONGC.

Pundits and fans, who had written off ONGC before the game, couldn’t even have thought in their sleep if this could be the turning point of their season. With six games left to play and fellow relegation battling Air India up next, Bhattacharya knew that this was a six pointer. He started with Katsumi Yusa, playing him for the first time behind Kailash Patil, the local Kolhapur boy. His trust on Yusa and Patil proved dividends. Yusa, first curled a 21-yard freekick from outside the box; a freekick that even David Beckham would have enjoyed. With news spreading around Kolhapur, thick and fast, of the former Air India man, Patil starting the game, the crowd soon started rushing in. And, weren’t they treated by Patil? They sure were, the local boy scored a brace to leave the Kolhapurians jubilant and to take ONGC within points of Air India, thereby, kick-starting their safety push. ONGC eventually winning the game 4-0.

A week on, another 6-pointer at Kolhapur, another start for Patil and guess what, the same result. This time, Kailash Patil didn’t shine but Jatin Bisht had a wonderful game, the captain lead from the front; man who made the difference - Yusa. On endless occasions, he charged into the box and out-did several JCT players with his quick feet and trickery. Although Babatunde received the man of the match for his two goals but the man who got all the praise was the 22-year old, Katsumi Yusa. The win gave the table footers another victory under their belt as they chased survival in the I-League. Babatunde scored the winner for ONGC in the 93^rd minute. For once, even ONGC FC was experiencing scoring goals late on.

After beating East Bengal earlier in the season, Bhattacharya hoped for the same against Mohun Bagan; a task too difficult to carry out at the Salt Lake?

As it’s said, what goes round comes around. How many times have late goals denied ONGC deserved points, this was their turn.

Mohun Bagan scored early and lead until the 78^th minute. With ever-influential Yusa going off for Kailash Patil, the Mohun Bagan fans breathed a sigh of relief, only for them to be shocked. Kailash Patil came off the bench to become the super-sub to score two vital goals that gave ONGC three priceless points and took them out of the final three, for the first time this season. The resurgent ONGC spirit was vindicated again.

Ever since the time, most people labelled ONGC’s relegation battle as “Mission Impossible”, it has been anything but; it has been a great escape. ONGC FC have since come out fighting, and fighting they are to play in the biggest football league in India for one more year, at least.

Recently, the pundits have called the ONGC FC form as temporary and have been saying the famous footballing prologue that reads, “When would the bubble burst?”

When would it burst, we will have to wait and see, but somehow, if ONGC FC are able to survive, it will, for sure, be one of the greatest relegation battles put forward by any football club on Indian soil.

No matter, how much people blame Subrata Bhattacharya for ONGC’s earlier results, the long haired Indian, coaching the Mumbai based club has certainly conjured magic, developed team spirit, made the team play out of their skins and shaped the fortunes of ONGC to the surprise of most watching the Indian Football League. Dead and buried, not quite! they are still fighting, the Men in maroon and White, ONGC FC.

Indian Education System and SkyKpaar

2011-04-22T12:32:00.001-07:00

Graffiti on a wall next to ILS, Symbiosis, Pune reads, “It kills you without even letting you know. It kills you silently, the (Indian) Education System.”

Hundreds in India suicide after not doing well or in exams; thousands suffer from depression after been put under massive pressure, and millions stamp on their dream and not lead a life that they want to lead, instead leading a life that they have been made to lead due to this education system. But on the other hand, the life that they lead in a clichéd profession – in most cases - lets them taste success at a rate unparalleled in any other country around the world. Also, this has led to the Indian economy experience a rise in recent past and if you see, Indians are doing exceptionally well in India as well as abroad.

So, the education system, is it really a silent assassin, or is it the one that can leave India leaps and bounce above the rest?

The education system in the past:

The education system back then, was spirituality based. It made people have and maintain their piece of mind, also gave them skills and techniques for doing so. It was a pivotal in making India a country that was famously called as the golden bird.

Going back to the ancient Indian readings, "He who is possessed of supreme knowledge by concentration of mind, must have his senses under control, like spirited steeds controlled by a charioteer", is famously said by the Katha Upanishad (iii, 6). In fact, from the Vedic age downwards the central conception of education of the Indians has been that it is a source of illumination giving a correct lead in the various spheres of life.

If you go on to read through some of the books about ancient India, it is said that the percentage of literary people in India was more than that at present. At least up to the 7th century A.D. this system worked most satisfactorily. People showed brilliancy in all departments - Mathematics, Astronomy, Medicine, Chemistry, Poetry, Drama, Grammar and Philosophy. No nation could excel these people at that time. From the 4th century B.C. to the 11th century A.D. all foreigners who came in contact with India and studied her civilization critically were very much impressed by it.

They spoke highly of Indian character specially their truthfulness, honesty, and sense of justice. The influence of the system of education was very great among the people in general. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador who came to India in the 4th century B.C. remarked " for whereas among other nations it is usual in the contests of war, to ravage the soil, among the Indians it is on the contrary. They never use the conquered as slaves." Idrisi, the Arabian traveler and scholar in his Geography written in the 11th century A.D. says, "The Indians are naturally inclined to justice and never depart from it in action. Their good faith, honesty and fidelity to their engagement were well known and they were so famous for their qualities that people came to their country from every side." Abul Fazl, the author of Aini Akbar, in the 16th century notes, "The Hindus are admirers of truth and showed unbounded fidelity in all dealings."

Dwelling on this wonderful effect of this system of education unparalleled in history Sir Monier Williams says, "And here I may observe circumstances in the history of India are more worthy of investigation than the antiquity and perseverance of her institutions. It has existed almost unaltered since the description of its organization in Manu's code two or three centuries before Christian era. It has survived all religious, political and physical convulsions from which India suffered from time immemorial. Invader after invader has ravaged the country with fire and sword but the simple self-contained township has preserved its constitution intact, its customs, precedents, and peculiar institutions unchanged and unchangeable amid all other changes." (source: Brahmanism and Hinduism p. 455).

British Transformed it for the worse:

As the British invaded India, they looked at the education system and were stunned to find everyone rich, happy and contented.

Lord Macaulay (Thomas Babington Macaulay), who was born on October 25, 1800, arrived in India (Madras) on 10th June 1834 as a member of the Supreme Council of India. He returned to England early 1838, and resumed his writing career there. Macaulay was in India, thus, only for nearly four years, but he was destined to impact the lives of millions of Indians forever, and so he did. In a letter to British Queen, he said, “"I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."

Thus, now British had their work cut out. Slowly and gradually, by hook or by crook or by trail and error, somehow, the British transformed the Indian education system.

It is often said that British brought urbanization to India, fair enough. But what they took away was one of India’s priceless assets – the Education system.

A Silent Killer?

The head of Scientific Advisory Council very rightly, and famously, wrote to the Prime Minister, C.N. Rao, drawing his attention towards the faulty education system in the country calling the Indian education system as an exam system.

Well, according to me, he is absolutely correct. Have a look:

Curriculum of schools in India:

First week – chilled atmosphere.

Second week – Class Test 1.

Third week – Class Test 2.

End of the month – Unit Test.

This pattern continues throughout the year; only Unit Tests are replaced by Half Yearly and Final Examinations. Much to the agony of students, education becomes a burden rather than learning.

Every single place that a child goes, people rather than asking him what all he has learnt, all they him is asked is, “How much did you score in your exam?”

It is literally as though getting good marks and a decent enough percentage in exams is the end of the world for the people. But people forget that every child has his own field of interest, which at times is not respected by most and thus, this system pressurizes a child too much in order for him to succeed.

This trend of making a student week with examinations after examinations, carries on in colleges as well and has often lead to student suicides.

Newspapers recently had tragic daily reports of youngsters who have killed themselves or taken what Indians euphemistically call "the extreme step" because they fear the shame of a bad report card. On a single day last month, it was reported that two teenage boys in New Delhi hanged themselves at their homes.

One was falling behind in his studies and the other was afraid of an English exam. A final year Bachelor of Commerce student hanged herself in the commercial capital Mumbai apparently because she was not prepared for her economics paper and did not want her family to feel ashamed.

A grade 12 student from Surat in western India hanged herself and another threw herself before a moving train in Allahabad in northern India, the paper reported, adding there were other suicides that day too. "Teenage suicide (over exams) is a national disaster," said Samir Parikh, psychiatrist at Max Healthcare, a leading New Delhi private hospital chain.

In 2006, the most recent year for which official figures are available, some 5,857 students -- or 16 a day -- killed themselves due to exam stress. Police say thousands more suicides go unreported because parents want to keep the cause of death a secret.

Sad, isn’t it?

It sure is.

Movies like ‘Taare Zamin Par’ and ‘3 Idiots’ have been tried to covey similar things. It’s only for us to realize.

Another aspect of the education system is that it makes students think in an extremely clichéd form. For example, most of the people who take up engineering after their high school, don’t even know what does the engineering course offer. Board exam, then, a number of entrance exams, if you make it good, otherwise, students pay and get in; in another words, dig their own grave.

Look, there must be thousands who would have wanted to do engineering all their life and become successful engineers, but then, there are millions, who never thought of engineering as their profession and have got in (either on merit or donation) for the sole reason that, engineering is “the thing” these days to do. This was one of the reasons that a newspaper recently reported that only 7% of people, who pass out as engineers are worth working as engineers.

Need for a change?

Well, for all that has been mentioned above, yes but I guess I have left it too late when it comes to bringing out the positive aspect. Yes, the Indian education needs some tinkering but you can’t deny the fact that the degrees that it offers are respected all over the world. Famously, Chennai-born Sara Mathew in an interview to Times of India gave ample credit to the Indian education system for her success. "The good education system in India is what has helped me in excelling in my career in the US," she said and added that Indian degrees are highly respected and are very helpful in getting good jobs in the US.

Similar is the story with most Indians who have success stories in India and abroad. With Indian economy on the rise and Indians doing well in most areas of the world, is the change necessary.

Well, it is a difficult question but the change is needed, even if it is a minor tinkering but we do need a change. I know people are doing well and will continue to do well in the future but what about the ones, who find themselves down and suffering from this education system, do we not think about them?

I change is need, even if not a major one, but a change is needed.

Now, if the Indian Education System is that good or that bad, is it bad enough to be changed massively?

Ok, it does lead to students weep under but if it does bring success, do we really need to change it?

Well, now that is where SkyKpaar steps in, and steps in it does, perfectly!

In one of its modules: Sunshine:

Most children are really interested in a particular field but at times, there is something that stops them from taking a professional course in that field. Some succumb to parental pressure, some overly influenced individuals take up the same fields as their friends and most take up clichéd fields purely due to the thinking patterns in the society. This project called ‘Sunshine’ is aimed at school students majorly from VIII-XI std. in order to make them realize and live their fields of their interest.

A joke often goes around in India. The joke reads – if you ever throw a stone from the moon on India, it will – in most cases than not – go on and hit an engineer. Now, this joke is decent enough if we want to have an occasional laugh but what it also underlines is that the pattern the Indian education system is following. When it comes to choosing a field, most toppers chose science without giving a prior of what the field demands, then, Commerce and then, Arts. Now, some of those who have taken science might want to make a career in another field (theatre, music, dance, accountancy, economics, etc.), a field that suits their interest. Thus, we aim to bring a change in the pattern of thinking in the society.

In the other module of this workshop: Inside Campus: because you deserve to know the truth This is a website centric module which aims to provide all the inside and true information of all campuses (Colleges, Companies, organizations). This website will have the information of all the college in India from each and every university. Thus, if a person wants to move in from a different state, he can go to our website and then, have a look at the list of various colleges from the university and decide for herself which college she wants to take admission in.

This website would offer the grading of colleges, fee structure, courses offered, detailed map and a special review by us from the college which will include comments of the currents and the pass-outs.

The last module of the workshop: Jump Start: coz all it takes is a nice Jump.

This is a series of workshops specially designed for undergrads. Soft skills are exceedingly important and needed to be a successful personnel. These workshops will including development in students’ soft skills. The workshops will be aided by the students practicing the NLP and meditation techniques in order to focus better. These workshops will make the students aware of all the non-academic activities they can get themselves involved in.Day by day, the world is becoming smaller. We have universities who come all the way from UK or USA to Pune, especially to conduct seminars. Students are usually unaware of such events happening in the city. Thus, we will also make the students of such events happening.

Yes, SkyKpaar is definitely taking up measures to change what needs to be changed but we need your help, your support.

Is it a silent killer? Yes, it is.

Can it be bettered? Yes, it can.

Need for slight tinkering? Yes, surely needed.

Support us and we’ll change the thinking, we’ll change the education, we’ll change India.

Jai Hind.

Rape-Age(d) India

2011-04-10T02:57:00.000-07:00

“

Hello Bhosale Aunty, how are you? (Reading the name from the door)

We are carrying out a survey and doing an analysis in your society, would the shoes do? (Asking as if to come in)

Don’t worry, I’m not here to ask you for any money. I’m here just to speak to you.

As you know, some middle-aged people in the Indian society, infamously, do not take care of their parents, considering as a burden to them and often send them to old-age homes; some even leave their parents on the road to suffer.

Do you know what do these parents do?

These parents pick up bricks at the construction sites, work as labourers or some even work as garbage collectors. So, what we bunch of kids thought, what if we do something for these old people who have been left homeless?

Aunty, you and me, we are lucky enough to get a meal twice a day, wouldn’t you want to help these old people?

(Rest of the time, these people – who lie and call themselves volunteers - cajole these old people, in this case Bhosale aunty and uncle, in order to get money from their pocket)

Read this, they said:

Uncle, you are 75? Well, you look as if you’re 60.

Aunty, uncle has such a jolly nature.

(After they think it’s too much of cajoling done, they start getting to the point)

Aunty, you said right, that you would like to do something for these old people, so how much would you like to donate by cheque?

If you can, I would say please donate 60,000 to support six grannies. For one granny, you can write a cheque of Rs. 6,000. Which bank account do you have?

Don’t worry we accept cheques from SBI also. (Now, when he says this, Bhosale aunty now realizes that these people, who had said are not coming in for any money are actually there to accept money by cheque!)

Then, this guy, who is speaking shows his Helpage India (HAI) card and says that he is working for Helpage India, which he is…so, true. He then, takes the amount, laughs and walks out with his team.

”

Helpage India…Ghanta! I say, Rape-aged India. These bunch of youngsters cajole, convince and emotionally blackmail old lower-middle-class people, who are in need of money themselves, into giving out decent amount of money for charity. Yes, most of the money goes to HAI but not all. A percentage of that money goes to the companies that these youngsters work for. And, they are not volunteers; they are on a pay roll.

Well, the reason why I know this is because I was there with these guys - claiming themselves to be volunteers – incidentally, having absolutely no idea what it really was.

I went for this job interview in Mumbai, for a company that offered a job as a management trainee and claimed itself to be UK-Based MNC and the world’s leading marketing company. The advertisement on the internet said that the company wanted cricket minded people – how crap!

(This was the advertisement)

Well, when I finally reached their office in Andheri (East), I was told that to test my “valour” and skill, I would have to go through a personalized round which would also show me 5% of the company business.

So, I said to myself, wow! This really should be like eating a piece of a cake for me, as I have done DSN and a couple upgrades at YES!+.

I along, with another person (Karanjeet), who was also applying for the job, were sent with a trainer and a girl to Goregaon (West) for carry out a “task”.

Task - bull shit, it was loot!

On the way to the residential complex, he made us clear with the fact that the only thing that they were interested in was profit, and it didn’t matter what a person did to make those desired profit. The way the company earned profit was by doing door to door marketing for HAI and receiving a percentage of the donations that they have helped HAI acquire.

Thus, the only way the company - the trainer and the girl were working for – could earn profits were if people donated money to HAI.

Listening to this, I said, what shit! Because, the people would donate for charity and nothing should go to the companies; it should go directly into helping people. But thinking of it from a business point of view, I thought, “Fair enough”.

We were taken to a residential complex. Well, it was basically a building wherein, lower-middle-class people lived - most of who were retired personnel from banks, railways and other government services. Thus, the houses that these people lived in were provided to them by the government.

For me personally, it was like “not happening” because I quickly realized that the people who these “so-called volunteers” were to target, were not the richest and had financial problems themselves.

The first house that we went to was of a lady called Mrs. Singh. She was alone at home and gleefully invited us in. She was a lady from Uttar Pradesh, who had migrated to Mumbai along with her husband. The management trainer asked her if her husband was present at their home then. She instantaneously said `no’ and guess what, he refused to talk to her; later telling me that, as they only care about profit, they don’t even talk to people who are unemployed, uneducated or not having a chequebook. I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I thought, “Decent business frame of mind” and on the other, I thought, “Why do people not do YES!+?”.

The trainer would tell people that we all “volunteer” for HAI, whereas, he – the trainer - was not volunteering but doing his job and was on a pay roll.

Soon, we went to a house of an old retired 70+ personnel, called Richard. He lived with his wife and with a smile, he delightfully welcomed us in. As he opened the door, I saw that he was dressed in a banyan and trousers. Looking at the walls of his house, it seemed as though the walls hadn’t been painted since an age. Thus, it was easy enough to believe that the man wasn’t the strongest economically. Richard, as he spoke to us, it was clear that he was a man of high virtues. He also claimed that he had done a lot of charity in the past. He shared with us his story of him needing financial help, listening to which, I felt sad for him, in fact, really sad. Even though the management trainer tried his best to get the money off Richard’s pocket, Richard’s financial condition didn’t permit him to take part in charity. I strongly felt that these guys representing HAI should have taken a measure to aid his cause.

Walking up the stairs, we went to a man’s house, a man who had recently been operated for a kidney disease and was almost bed ridden. Firstly, lower-middle-class family, then, someone who has had a major surgery, as a result – almost bed ridden; even joker from Batman would have enough decency to walk out and not ask for donation. But the trainer didn’t. As his convincing power and ability to cajole was immense, he did enough to convince the man and his wife to donate money. Asking for a minimum of Rs. 6,000, he came down to Rs. 1,000 seeing how adamant the was on giving donation. To me, now it was clear that to them, self-respect, decency and moral values held no fort. Sad.

Later, I told the trainer, “Uncle, nice guy.” He said, “What nice, he took so much of our time.” I was stunned. It was clear that these people had no feelings, emotions or respect for old people.

We walked down and went to this lady’s house. She was a very old lady, probably 70 odd years of age. The trainer knew that he had to get money this time and so, he did. He put in everything that he ever had in retrieving the donation. More than anything, his way of talking, convincing and cajoling, irritated me minute by minute but I kept quiet. Soon, the lady started to share her side of story, which eventually lead to her crying in front of us. I felt sad, I mean how you cannot feel sad when people are crying and telling you about something bad that has happened to them in the past. It was disturbing to hear the lady’s story of how she worked for 40 years and was made a fool, time and time again, thereby, losing an awful amount of money.

The trainer started to emotionally blackmail the lady literally forced her to shell out Rs. 6,000 as donation.

But that was still fine, now is the most shocking part. Guess what, when she went in her room to get her cheque book, the trainer started to make jokes and laugh saying “Time-pass Time-pass”. Can you believe it, I couldn’t.

I mean, the lady has recently cried in front of you about something that was personal to her; if you are a human, firstly, you are bound to have enough decency at least not make jokes about it, especially, in her own house. Secondly, have feelings and emotions to feel pain. I absolutely hated that. I still don’t know if these guys are human or not, or whether they have a heart or not. Whatever it is…I had absolutely had enough.

They moment we left the lady’s house. I looked straight into the eyes of the trainer and said, “You know (name), I can’t do this.” The lady needed our help and help of HAI and all these people did was to loot her by convincing her.

Rejecting the company, I was really proud of myself and I respect my decision because cajoling people is not my cup of tea. When a person donates, let her do it because she wants to, not because you want to earn profit from their donation. Sad, really the case.

And look, I know it is great to do charity and be involved in charity in any sort but three things must be kept in mind:

1) Do not cajole people.

2) Do not lie that you are volunteering when you are under salary from a company.

3) Even if you want to target and cajole people, never fool and convince those, who are financially not the strongest.

I respect Helpage India and I, myself have donated long back for HAI but seeing the situation, HAI needs to look at the companies and the people who are marketing for them.

When I am blogging about this, it’s not to share my experience but to spread awareness that there are people, who don’t care who you are or what you do; for them, it’s just about selling their product.

Also, as mentioned above, the way these companies earn money is wrong and must be stopped. We donate to help people, not because a part of the money that we give in on the name of donation goes to these companies. I hope HAI people also read this post and take measure.