Sigh, oh sigh.

After winning the bid for Kolkata team, Shah Rukh Khan had said that he would work towards helping "the young realize their dreams."

The Hindu's editorial had said there were few better role models for the young than Kumble. It said that Kumble had not only embodied the qualities Indian parents have traditionally tried to inculcate - a solid work ethic, honesty, perserverance and modesty - but had injected his own dynamics into the process.

Talking about the corruption cancer in India, Ramesh Thakur, says that Manmohan Singh began his prime ministership with the huge advantage of widespread public perception that he is clean and incorruptible. "For all his other faults and failings, quite remarkably in the Indian context, his public perception of probity remains intact."

"Yuki Bhambri, all of 15 years old and playing in the Australian Open junior championship here for the first time, displayed tremendous maturity and impressive skills from the back of the court to outlast the British third seed Daniel Evans 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 in the boys singles quarterfinals on Thursday."

So what's the connecting thread here? My eyes moistened when I read/heard these.

What!? Why??

I think I need a career soon. Way too much idle time on my hands!

Government of India, Analog Devices Inc, AMD, Intel are you listening? :)

Go! Go! Go!

Rooting for some good things!

Go Hillary!
Go Kumble!
Go Lok Satta!
Go 123 deal!
Go Bill Gates (get out :)
Go Kiran Bedi!
Go Nadal!
Go fire.power!
Go Anand :)

Sphoorti

I finally went to see Sphoorti - Srivyal's initiative for destitute kids.

One of the first things I said was, "man, this looks so real!" He must've been confused at that. The thing was, I hadn't seen the website or pictured what I was going to see. As I walked towards the place, through the sub-urban lanes, led by two scrawny kids, the modest surroundings began to sink in. There was random vegetation, cattle waste and no proper drainage.

The 'ashram' as the kids called it, is just a house-like place. The verandah was teeming with close to forty kids. All of them were poring into their books, with some kids helping their friends.

As I tried to understand the working of the place, the enormity of the job began to dawn. It's forty-plus number of kids we are talking about. Parents talk about one or two kids as responsibility. Health, nutrition, schooling for forty-plus kids is a huge task. The kids are all pretty young between five and eight years. Srivyal is thinking of renting a second place too to segregate boys from girls. "Kids will be in their pubescent age soon," he said.

Srivyal's sphoorti amazed me. He is thinking of expanding and taking in more kids. I promised to spread the word. My gang in the U.S. of A. is itching to give-back anyway!

Music in the air

Indians sing. There is singing everywhere. Every TV channel has a singing competetion-based reality show.

I was in Nagpur for the New Year's Eve and it struck me there that people in India are so comfortable singing in front of strangers. Even if they are totally out of key.

At a restaurant, the waiter was singing along with the instrumental music in the background. The ticket collector in the bus was singing "koi mil gaya.." along with FM Mirchi.

In contrast, my Ph.D. advisor was totally surprised when she heard me humming while working in the lab. She asked me incredulously, "Anand, are you singing?"

Music and dance is part of our culture. Apparently, the theme of movie "Aaja Nachle" is the same.