VVS

In the recently concluded London Olympics India finished last in hockey.  India once hailed as 8 time gold medalist in Olympic hockey has finished with the wooden spoon.  Indian players could not cope with the speed of the Germans or the Dutch.  Indians are great dribblers and hence possess the ball for a long time without passing to other players.  Germans or the Dutch or Koreans go on passing the ball and always put pressure on the opponent's goal post.  Only we improve in this area we can at least put up a show at Rio de Geniro for which we will first have to qualify.  We hope at least in 2016 we win atleast bronze in hockey.

With the Olympics round the corner our Tennis stars are fighting one another. Mahesh and Bopanna refuse to play with Paes as parters in the doubles. Paes does not want a younger player as his doubles partner. Mahesh's father and Paes' father take up cudgels on behalf of their respective sons. First the sports minister wanted to intervene in this on going battle. Ultimately backed out. Latest to join the bandwagon is Sania Mirza who accuses the All India Tennis Association of using her as a bait. She accuses Paes' father who she says wanted a written undertaking that she would partner his son in the mixed doubles. With this bloated egos it would not be surprising if these so called Tennis stars crash out in the first game itself. Why does the AITA trying to pacify these players. Why not groom young blood. At least we can lose with a brave face. All these fading stars are surely going to fade away after the olympics.

Now the stage has been set for Pranab Mukerjee to be elected as the 14th President of India. After much dithering Sangma has been chosen as the opposition's candidate. Pranab must be feeling greatly relieved as he can no longer preside over the economy which is now in shambles as Finance Minister. The UPA it appears is ready to run away as the problems are aplenty.  Day in and day out there are corruption charges. The latest being the corruption charge against the Union Minister Virabhadra Singh who has resigned today. If UPA's problems are full. the Opposition is no exception. NDA constituents are fighting among themselves as to who should be the PM eventhough the election is a far cry ie in 2014. The Left is left out. In the Presidential election they do not know whom to support. Should they support Pranab as a Bengali or Sangma as a tribal. Ultimately they have rooted for Pranab. Bengali is better than a tribal. CPI has chosen to abstain. So much for their concern for the d

On 3rd June 2012 at about 9.45 p.m. Mr.Narayanan who we fondly call him as Narayana Mama breathed his last. He had been unwell for a couple of months. I feel very sad for Mami. We were neighbours at Arisikaran Street for nearly half a decade. We had such close relationship which can never be described. Narayana Mama was such an honest and upright man both at his work and also at home. He always travelled by his old cycle. Even though his son was in USA and daughter well settled. He depended only on his old cycle for commuting. For the past few years the old couple had been staying with their daughter at Bangalore.. Eventhough he was at Bangalore he used to ring me up and ask about TN politics. Though elder to me by about twenty years I enjoyed his company. One incident which he narrated which is indelible in my memory's page. When Narayana Mama's father died, the tenth day ritual was performed. As per the ritual the wife of the dead would be presented with new saree and other

On 26th of May 2012 we family members numbering 12 went to Tirumala. The journey from Chennai to Tirupathi was good and we reached there within 4 hours by a private Tempo Traveller. From Tirupathi to Tirumala we went by Govt. bus. The entire journey was splendid. We thought we would finish Darshan of Balaji within 3 to 4 hours and return to Chennai by evening of 26th. But the Lord had other ideas. We stood in the queue for Rs.300 at 11.10 a.m. Slowly we meandered our way. We went from one shelter to another. No one knew where the queue ended. The shelters had been built in such a way that it takes you around the temple. While standing in the queue we helped ourselves with fruits, biscuits etc. Nobody had lunch except the morning breakfast. As time passed our hunger increased. We went on and on and on. Hours passed. one ,two, three, four ,five, six and so on. Our energy sapped. Hunger increased hunger turned to anger. Words were exchanged as my brother in law who is a diabetic and wh

A five days back there was an earthquate with a magnitude of 8.6 in the Ritcher scale in Indonesia. The effect of the earth quake was felt in Chennai. There was a mild tremor at 2.15 pm and another at 4.30 p.m. Everyone were on the streets. All the offices had declared an unscheduled holiday. Everyone was rushing home. There was complete traffic jam. I don't understand why the offices have declared a holiday? There was a tsunami warning which was also subsequently withdrawn. The buses were full. So were autos and share autos. Our people should be taught how to behave during a crisis.When will we behave in a disciplined manner?

Sachin at last has scored his hundredth hundred that too after a wait of more than a year to get to this landmark.. His 49th hundred in ODIs. He has scored 51 hundreds in tests. It is really mind blogging. How this little master is able to achieve some many milestones in his career. India is proud of this little master. What an energy. What a determination. His focus on cricket is unmatchable. Twenty years in International cricket. No one can come near his land marks. Now that he has crossed his mile stone he can now really enjoy his cricket and play care free innings. Now tongues will start wagging "when will Sachin retire?" It is sad that we the people and the media are putting on pressure. Let us all leave him to his own counsel. Congratulations Sachin. Carry on.

The Union Budget 2012-13 has been disappointing to say the least. The income tax threshold ceiling has been increased by just Rs.20000/-. Service Tax has been increased by 2%. Revenue through disinvestment has been anticipated. Some of the electronic items have been increased. A dull and drab budget.

The song "Why this Kola veri" in the yet to be made film "3" has sent waves across the world.Without knowing the real meaning of the term people across the globe were mouthing the song. Overnight Actor Dhanush and the music director Anirudh have catapulted to fame. Actor Dhanush had even lectured to the students of IIM-A. Why this kola veri on "Kola Veri"?

When the Karnataka Assembly was debating the hoisting of Pakistan flag in Karnataka three ministers of the ruling BJP blissfully were watching pornography in their mobiles not knowning the Assembly proceedings were covered live. Once caught off guard they had no defence but had to resign. It is a shame on democracy

On 2nd February 2012 Justice Singhvi and Justice Ganguly handed down a landmark judgement cancelling 122 licences granted by A.Raja the then telecom minister who is now behind bars. Everyone trained their guns on Raja.It was made out that only Raja was the culprit and Every one including the Prime Minister and the then Finance Minister were kept under dark although it appears that A.Raja had been constantly meeting them and informing them of the developments. The entire opposition questioned the spin doctors of the Congress headed by Kapil Sibal, the burly lawyer turned Telecom. Minister and "Zero Loss"fame. The Congress party was hard pressed to defend itself. Come 4th February 2012 the trial court Judge O.P.Saini gave a clean chit to Mr. Chidambaram stating that there was no criminal conspiracy. The UPA Govt. was saved of the embarassment and they began dancing widely at the judgement. The Judge had a strange logic. He says that Raja consults Chidambaram on pricing of the s

Mayawati sacks Khushuwaha from BSP on corruption charges. Immediately the BJP embrances him. With one stroke its whole anti corruption campaign got a set back. What is the use of Advani's Rath Yatra against corruption when a corrupt person who has FIR filed against him is admitted to the party. Of late the difference between Congress and BJP is that of tweedeldee and tweedeldum

Having lost Melbourne and Sydney tests there was some hope that the Indian Cricket team would at least put up a semblance of fight against the Aussies. But in the first innings of the third test which started today ie13/1/2012 it meekly surrendered to the Aussie paceman to 161. The batting greats have not shown any resistance. I think the team needs to be overhauled to include youngsters and players like Sachin, Dravid and Laxman should be asked to retire as they have aged as far as the game is concerned.

"Nakeeran" the Tamil weekly published a story regarding J.Jayalalithaa, CM of TN that she was a beaf eater and questioned how a brahmin could do that. This sparked protests from the AIADMK cadre who burned down copies of the weekly. Defamation suit had been filed with the Madras High Court which directed the Weekly to prominently publish an apology. Why does the editor of the weekly Nakeeran, R R Gopal stoop so low to defame the present CM. The DMK has nothing worthwhile to question the present dispensation so it is using its known sympathiser R R Gopal to defame J.Jayalalithaa. Even this seems to have back fired as it had no takers.