PECULIARITY OF EXAM TIMES!!!!!!!

Of late I have been busy thinking about the topics to write on. I keep wondering what next can I put up on my blog. And what bothers me is why am I becoming so obsessed with blogging!A little introspecting and I get my answer.....surprise.......surprise...... It's exam time for me. Now what have exams got to do with blogging, you would ask. Well as a matter of fact exams have got to do with everything but studies. Yupp that's absolutely true.......atleast for me!

I get the best of ideas during exams. Whenever I open my syllabus book and try to cram all about the Indian economy , its policies, its reforms and its growth so far, I don't realise when my mind wanders away. And all that goes on in my brain is what else I can do in my life apart from boring studies.

Its strange that throughout the year we waste our time lazying around, having fun with friends, bunking classes and a lot more. Only once or twice do we sit down and ponder over our lives. Only once in a while do we plan for our future and very rarely do we end up deciding upon something concrete. But everything changes during that one month of exams( You read it absolutely right.Final exams in DU often extend to over a month......its a sheer torture I tell you!)During this one month all we do is make plans for our future, set targets for ourselves and promise to fulfill all the expectations that our parents have from us. In short we do everything but one during exams and that is Studying. We spend our precious time thinking about all things missing in our lives and what all we could have done if only exams were not to be taken care of!

The most irritating and frustrating thing about exams, though is , all the events that we so truly want to enjoy and be part of happen during exams. Then be it IPL, cricket world cup, release of a much awaited movie, best friend's birthday, wedding of a relative, and the list goes on and on. We feel the whole world, actually not the world, but the education institutions conspire against us. What else can be the reason behind us being compelled to study when everyone else around us seems to be having the best times of their lives.We feel left out of all the excitement and fun all due to some silly exam. And to top it all we can neither stay away from these events completely nor can we enjoy them fully. So we end up sitting in front of T.V. watching match with textbooks in our hands. We know we are not doing justice to either studies or match but we can't help it. Exams force us to act like this.

But human mind is a great controller Before we lose track we are brought back to our senses. We suddenly realise that whatever be the case we still have to write the exam. And then another thought process begins. This time its about looking over our past deeds. If only we hadn't bunked classes, if only we had listened to the teacher instead of cricket commentary in class and if only we were a little regular in our studies, the exams would not have been so frightening.The sight  of unread pile of books would not send shivers down our spine. And we go on and on about what we could have done to pass the exams without nightmares.

It all happens during exam times. From planning our future to regretting the errors of our past mischieves we do everything except for one  and that is studying. 

Yes in all this serious thinking we somehow forget our studies!

But not everyone can do what we students can. Our teachers take one whole year to complete the syllabus. But we students do that in one day, actually one night before the exam. Its commendable how we cram everything in less than 24 hours and still manage passing grades.Books become so precious to us at this time that we don't want to part with them even while entering the examination hall........!!!!!

The way our mind functions and the way we organise ourselves during exams surprises us as well. Exam times are indeed peculiar.

IPL: ........... Premier League

IPL: Indian Premier League or International premier League?

Well first things first. I am a huge fan of M.S.Dhoni. So my bet is on Chennai Super Kings for sure!!!!!!!!!

Now coming to the point. Why do I call the IPL International league? Not because the centre of action happens to be South Africa this time And definitely not because so many international players are part of the tournament. They were there last year as well and as a matter of fact not more than four foreign players can be part of the playing eleven on any match day. So whats the reason for my dilemma!

There are eight teams in the league and when the format was introduced it gave a very rosy picture. Eight different teams representing eight different regions across the length and breadth of India . And eight players leading these teams which were to be a mix of domestic and national players of India and international players from different cricket playing nations. Now the Confusion really is all about the captains. Last year only one team had a foreigner as its captain. The spin wizard Shane Warne led the lesser known Rajasthan Royals to an impressive win last season. But numbers were still in favour of Indian captains. Seven teams had Indian skippers.But everything has changed this time round. The number game has become very balanced with four teams being led by Indian captains and four by foreigners. And why do I question this move? well it is not as much a matter of questioning as it is of surprise, shock and disappointment!

We will look at it one by one.

Deccan Chargers are being led by the wicket keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist. He is a genious no doubt and in fact the side is performing really well under him. The team is gelling well together and his constant chit chat from behind the stumps has motivated the team to do well. And his brutal assault right in the beggining of the innings sends the opposition in a frizzy. So, full support to Gilly for leading the team that is as the top of the points table right now. VVS Laxman should not feel left out as long as his team is winning and he is scoring the important runs needed.

Next change was done with the Royal Challengers Bangalore owned by the Liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Kudos to this man for foraying into so many ventures and achieving success. But luck seems to be evading him in his latest venture. RCB didn't perform to well last year. This season too, after starting on a winning note, they have been on the losing side. But what really miffed me was the removal of Rahul Dravid "The Wall" from captaincy and giving the command to former English skipper Kevin Peiterson. (By the way he is the most expensive player this season alongwith Freddie Flintoff!) Dravid is one person who stays away from controversies and is mature enough not to give silly juicy soundbites to the media. All he does is to let his game do the talking. And this time too he has done just that. The way he raised his bat after reaching his First Fifty in this season expressed the unsaid emotions. And while Dravid is among the leading run scrorers so far, the much hyped Peiterson has nothing much to talk about. We will see what Mr Mallya has to say about this now!!!!!!!!

But the biggest most controversial and rather unfortunate change was with the Shah Rukh Khan owned Kolkata Knight Riders. First it was John Buchanan's multiple captaincy theory(thank God it was only a theory!!!) and then removal of Sourav ganguly from captaincy out of the blue. The reins were handed over to Brendum McCullum instead. I just can't come to terms with this decision. Honestly I feel there is something about an Austrailian coach and Sourav Ganguly. Earlier it was Greg Chappel and now Buchanan! And whats more surprising is the extent of King Khan's modesty.  I will disclose  a little secret here. I love King Khan and his movies Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dil To Pagal Hai happen to be my favourite.He is an alumini of my college.....not that it matters.....well in fact it does when you are a Fan.......lolz!!! Coming back to his modesty now. As per him all cricket decisions are made by his teams cricket department and he has no say in it. Oh Really I ask. Is he not bothered about his team's performance? Will he not give his opinion if he feels that that would increase his team's winning chances? I can bet on the fact that had the  IPL been held in India this time, this change would never have been made. No way would the Kolkatans' have allowed a match of a team representing their region without Dada being the captain. They worship Dada and rightly so. And Ganguly is not the one to take the beating lying down. His performance so far, both by ball and bat and more so with his attitude shows who the real Dada is afteral!

And about Rajasthan Royals and Shane Warne. No Comments. I think the master of spin has been a great coach, a wonderful captain and has led the team extremely well so far.

So, there we have it. The DLF IPL season 2 being held in South Africa with supporters being confused about whom to support. There is no regional support to talk of. No Delhi crowd cheering for the Daredevils, No Kolkatans to  shout for Dada and No Punjab de puttar backing the Kings XI punjab! Few Indians have flown down to South Africa but that can not match the fervour and frenzy had the matches been held in India. And then there is absence of Indian captains leading four major teams. So lack of individual support too.

What do the cricket obsessed nation do now?......  Cheer for the Bangalore team playing in Cape Town with Kevin Peiterson as the captain! Now that's TRULY INTERNATIONAL......isn't it!

P.S.: My support still is with Chennai Super Kings.......no confusion about that. I love our Captain Cool and am sure Mahi and his team will be the best.

By the way the long blog goes on to show how much I am obsessed with cricket!

what else but the elections!!!!!!

The world's largest democracy is witnessing another general elections. The images and videos I see on T.V. makes me wonder are these the people who will be making decisions for us in the near future! Everybody from movie celebraties to the neighbourhood aunt are telling us how one vote can change the way our democracy works. But  can they help us to choose the right canditate?

Politicians are spilling dirt on each other just to gather votes. Accusations and false promises is all we get to hear from their mouths at present.And anybody who is somebody is trying to to gain their 15 minutes of fame by foraying into politics at this particular time. Then be it Munnabhai or former miss India or the local businessman. Its heartening to see that more and more people are taking the initiative to change the way the system works. Their belief that "Be the change to  bring about a change" is quiet encouraging. But the question is that after jumping into politics have they not forgotten their real cause? Have they too not started behaving like politicians whose way of working they so wanted to change? They too have entered the dirty War-of-Words and they too don't shy away from publicly using caste,religion and region as the basis to garner votes.These new entrants are however only a fraction of the canditates.

The most ironical is the fact that a long list of canditates with past criminal records and many still facing charges are contesting polls. Its surprising to see that people with past records of murders, kidnapping and various other criminal activities, are so openly and shamelessly appealing to the masses to vote them to power.And their motto, Bring about a change! What change are they talking about........Legalising Crimes?

Another interesting or grim face, call whatever, of India's election is the alliances between different political parties.Its in fact hilarious how these alliances work. Two different parties would be at logger heads with each other prior to polls. They would leave no stone unturned to malign the rival party. But after polls, the closed door meetings result in these very parties forming an alliance against a third party. Indeed it must be quiet a daunting task to form these alliances.  Very often we see parties forming alliance with a party against a party with whom it was in alliance previously. Too much of an Alliance you see!!!!

Its funny how the system works and what is more striking is the fact that it has been so from the past six decades! No wonder then that i was more interested in The American Presidential election where change was not merely talked about.Change in fact did come with first black president taking control of the White House.No wonder I was more informed about the outcomes in different states of U.S. than I am about India. In India we are spoilt for choices. But the irony is that its not Gold or Iron we have to chose from. The choice is infact between Dust and Sand!

So go ahead and make your choices.........see even I have joined the league to promote Voting!!!!!!!!!