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What Manmohan Singhji must learn from Dhoni!

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:24:25 +0100

The sensationalism of the two buzz phrases “Indian Team Wins The World Cup” and “Anna Hazare’s Anti Corruption Anti Government Campaign” have saturated our ears and eyes for the last one month and I wouldn’t like to bore you on that like our famous Barkha Dutt does with her shrewd remarks or our Navjot Singh Sidhu boxing with his one liners. Whether you hated it or you loved it, you just couldn’t help from getting engrossed in them. So, on a lighter note , taking the same aura but a completely different direction, I would like to share my views on what Manmohan Singhji must learn from Mr. Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the leadership angle.

Its all about effective leadership and leading from the front, something which our PM has never been able to. Dhoni saw trouble, knew he would be questioned badly for it, hence took responsibility and promoted himself up the order. On the contrary, when have we seen our PM stand up and speak for himself ?

A good leader is respected and lauded by the greats. Sachin Tendulkar, legend of the legends, said Dhoni is the best captain he has ever played under. In political context, I have serious doubts whether our Mr. Pranab Mukharjee would ever give such a statement!

Another very important attribute is that whoever you are you need to be frank because truth cannot be hidden for long. Just observe the frankness with which Dhoni addresses a press conference or an after-match talk, accepting mistakes gracefully and expressing intent to sort the mess. When the mess of the 2G scam was under his carpet, did he ever say: Look, it happened under me and I shall take full responsibility of sorting it out?

I can go on and on with such comparisons, but to put it in a nutshell, Dhoni plays with a straight bat. Simple. Straightforward.Cool. He treats every player with the same respect, every game with the same importance. He knows what will work for him and knows when to take that little calculated risk. He knows his mind and speaks it. He does not over-react to situations but handles them with grace. He knows when to push ahead and when to back off. He knows when and whom to give credit to.

I might be accused of comparing a sport like cricket to something as serious as running the nation but somehow I still feel the principles are the same. Problems exist everywhere-only the granularity or the magnanimity changes.

With all respect to Shri Manmohan Singhji, I really think he is a good man. But then, if he keeps his eyes, ears and heart open , its not late to start reversing the damage done to a bruised nation. Team India has shown what its capable of doing on the field and the other Team India can score similarly globally. Common, Mr Manmohan Singh!Go for it! If nothing works, just get Dhoni into your cabinet. For our sake, atleast!

HINDIFICATION OF CHENNAI

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:25:46 +0100

After 18 years of living in Gujarat and sometimes being asked “Aap Madras ke ho” I moved to Chennai last year, bracing myself to become a pucca “Madarasi”. I was sure I would yearn to hear Hindi being spoken and thought might have to refresh myself with a liberal dose of Hindi movies. What I have seen in a year now, in Chennai is anything but what I had imagined it to be.

My first encounter as a “Madrasi” was quite an eye opener to how pervasive Hindi had become. Mustering courage to speak like a native, I thought I would initiate my Tamil speaking sojourn in Chennai with an autowala. “Evvalo Vanguveenga?” I asked trying to sound natural. “Iruvathi Anju”…? I nonchalantly blurted ”Adallam Mudiyadu, mupattu anju than koduppen” ! “Aap kya hindi waale ho”?… pat came the reply from a very Madrasi looking fellow. My first “bulb” had blown the fuse!!

These days, Hindi has become a default language especially if you lived in Anna Nagar and wore a not so “Southi” look! Koyambedu vendors greet me with” Inga vanga … Aloo: 20 rupaiiye kilo, Bhindi: 30 rupaiiye kilo” Achha price me dega!!

My friends on the pre-text of making me feel at home, roll out a series of Hindi one liners. The occasional “Meri dost kaisi ho?”, “Namastey” and “Shukriya” make me feel like heaven. Others with less endowments start with “Kaho naa pyaar hai, Rang De Basanti, Dil Chahta Hai”… or whatever they might know. I am now their testing ground but am thrilled that Hindi shots are fired everyday and even if they miss, I don’t care. It is beginning to look like Hindi is here to stay!!

I have often wondered about how this metamorphosis was accomplished in less than a decade. Bollywood would certainly receive the maximum credit. I guess with the likes of Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut ,Tamil heros in Hindi movies and Hindi heroines in Tamil movies seem to be the norm. With most lyrics in film songs having to be incomprehensible anyway, I guess people don’t have to understand a Gulzar or a RD Burman to enjoy the song. IPL is probably the second biggest reason. Mr. Dhoni has become “our very own” and we hardly seem to mind calling the Rainas and the Sharmas “Chennai Super Kings”. Just try taking A.C Bus home today, and down the I.T Highway you will find it full of “Hindiwalas”. You might have to pinch yourself wondering if you have taken a luxury bus do sight-seeing in Delhi! Try saying “Qutub Minar teri(a)mma?” and do not be surprised if an angry Sardarji bursts saying “to phir Red Fort tera baap”!

Not only has the lingual landscape changed but its seamless acceptability seems to indicate our openness as a society. Best of cultures are known to be “potpourris” smelling fresh with new fragrances being added everyday. Chennai surely is setting an example of how the new generation does not need language to bond, just a friendly heart and an open mind. We “Madrasi Hindiwales” are unique ……Enna ….Namma Vazhi….Thani Vazhi…..!!!!
Chennai Vazhga!!!.

IDENTITY CRISIS

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:06:52 +0100

I guess I am a sort of a hybrid personality. I don’t meet the definition of a South or North Indian. I don’t have a Madrasi accent but can’t speak more than 3 sentences in Tamil. Those who couldn’t resist their curiosity regretted having asked me for an explanation. Those 16 mark university questions don’t quite develop abilities to “answer to the point”. Born in Delhi, grew up in Gujarat but actually a Tamilian and perhaps looking for a Bengali bridegroom! Well that ought to complete the great Indian circuit! But these days these questions have got me thinking. Is this stereotyping or is this a mind boggling identity crisis for the present day youth?

Want to be a lecturer at MSU, Baroda?: Sorry Sir, first clear Gujarati Paper. Student from another state and want to join school?: Hey, Tamil paper compulsory. College student and got the form rejected? Well, you forgot the “community certificate”.
Which water reaches your home?: The one from Karnataka or the one from Tamil Nadu?. Couldn’t get justice in West Bengal High Court? : Simple, transfer the case to Uttar Pradesh. Working in Shiv Sena dominated area in Mumbai? : Quick, Start speaking Marathi! Expect incentives! Getting lost often on the streets because the roads have been grandly “renamed”? Superb South Indian Contestant in Indian Idol?: “Chance e ille. He won’t get votes”. Cricketer waiting for a call to the National team?: You should have played Ranji for State X. It would have been easier to get though the selections?!?

I start to if where I am from becomes more important than who I am. I guess I can be accused of being overly enthusiastic considering how diverse India is, but somewhere down the line I am sure most of you(Yes! the Youngistan) would agree with the idea of bringing about some uniformity in sectors of general administration, education, employment and talent appreciation. And if your reaction to this is, “Whoa! You are talking big things!”, then let me make it simple: If you are able to gather the gregariousness of a Sardar, the entrepreneurship of a Gujarati, the enthusiasm of a Marathi, the fearlessness of a Rajput, the artistic talent of a Bengali, the extra-ordinary resilience of a Keralite, the sobriety of an Oriya, the culture consciousness and intellect of a Tamilian, you become a true Indian – an Indian who knows no boundaries and demands respect all over the world .This mental uniformity is imbibed by being and observing people and places around and noticing certain salient and wonderful qualities in them. Uniformity in other sectors will eventually arrive.

Rehman’s music which knows no barriers, Shahrukh Khan’s embodiment of “ Indianness” in Chak De India (he allowed only players who said they represented “INDIA” into the field ) are like a whiff of fresh breeze in this muddled world. I am still in search of my identity…This time fortunately, I am not confused….. I am just hoping this breeze would sweep us off our feet and take us beyond narrow confines of language and state!!