scorch it out

Every life remains unfulfilled in one way or other. Disappointments and defeats can be overcome but feeling of fulfillment comes from within. It’s something which you have to embrace. You may be a champion in your field (I’m monarch of all I survey), still you may be left feeling of being a dwarf in some other field, a field where thousands will score over you. It hardly matters that in your own field even vanquishing them won’t require any effort on your part. A Sampras doesn’t need to break into sweat on Wimbledon grass, but mere mortals may get better of him at Rolland Garros. Same is the case with Lendl, Wilander, McEnroe or whoever is dabbling around.

So it’s perfectly fine to accept your limitations and let others savor their victory over you(they richly deserve that). But then an Achilles shouldn’t only be aware of his heels. He should acknowledge the tremendous power vested in him by none other than almighty.


A persistent feeling of being weak in a field robs you off the pleasure you and others can have if only you rather than whining about your shortcomings and excel where you belong. Life is short and a specialist is always better than a jack (except in mad world of payjama cricket). Knowing where you belong is half the battle won and remain can be won by sheer talent and flair you possess.

So battles are there to be won. Greater laurels are beseeching us to be galloped. What we all need is enlightment Alas there is no bodhivriksha for the same. Peers are the best judges of what we do. It’s time to unshackle ourselves. So time to identify inner self and stop cribbing about imperfections and demanding conditions(Kissinger would have made a better president than Bush only if…..)

Tale of two cities

When I first landed up at Bangalore ,I knew something was missing.
As a young man in engineering college I had 4 fun filled years at Warangal,kingdom of Kaktiyas. I was destined to draw my first salary at Hyderabad, capital of AP.
So AP became home away from home. But ah I forgot what was first thing which I missed out here at Bangalore.It was Queen bee of Hyderabad (Katrina Kaif for those not prospered in typical HYD air) sheepishly peeking at you through those huge billboards..lady was missing at Bangalore . I reached here in the morning ,there was slight chill in the air, but autowallahs of Bangalore found my pocket hot enough , they took full advantage of me and first time in last few months I felt lighter ( my wallet was anorexic you see).
Next few hours flew off assessing –reassessing Bangalore and missing my lovely Hyderabad. I don’t know telugu but managed to pick entera,ra,wokti,rendu,nalgu chepandi etc. just to show off my lil’ telugu gyan. Kannada got me stumped. I asked my friend kannada equivalent to telugu radu. Most important uttering in an alien place.
First few days were torrid(no reference to weather though..). never had landed in such a messy traffic earlier. Once I was in horrendous traffic jam which kept me edgy for 3 desperate hours(1/12th of Bogart’s famous desperate hours & a take on 36 ghante )
Now I‘ve to taken a liking for Karnataka and Kannadigas (as they call themselves).
Of course it’s more crowded here; ahem I know traffic hardly let you take a
breather Crime rate is growing exponentially and last but not the least no
gorgeous lady peeking at me from gigantic billboards, but still charm of Bangalore keep growing.
Weather is nice, people are more or less very friendly (I can name wonderful friends I made here….list will be very long then).

So cheers for Bangalore and accolades for Hyderabad. They are what is expected from them. No Bubblore no Hyperabad…(as labeled by rival groups) . it’s a great sojourn (so far ) from HYD to BANG.

Ruffling right feathers.. Rafa

Here comes another teen sensation. One with flashy t-shirts and age old knee hugging shorts. A perfect harmony of modernity and a throwback on beautiful old times.
A fledgling yet stout personality who loves venting his emotions out. One who has enthusiasm of a child and has shown tremendous maturity to let bigger pundits marvel at him. That’s Rafael Nadal in nutshell for you.
I was just going through yesterday’s newspaper and saw an article on young Nadal.
Well I am not a great fan of Nadal(the player). But Nadal the persona has amused me a lot. Young man has stormed into tennis world like few before him have done and still remains down to earth. He symbolizes those old virtues as humility, family values which are as rare as Borg’s wooden racket these days.
Of course he fails to delight tennis purists. He doesn’t have silken touch of Federer or grace of Sampras nor does he boast of picturesque offerings of a leaping fully stretched Becker returning a forehand, still he gives a feeling that he is here to stay.
He forced Federer to bite clay, but now he has to prove he doen’t have feet of clay while encountering masters of serve and volleys . Spanish players in past have derided Wimbledon(Grass is for cows) but the truth is it still remains the most prestigious major, a fact that rankles likes of Lendl and Wilander the most .
Will young man be there long enough to create new records and force Pete Sampras to be a Roy Emerson (second best as far as no. of majors are concerned) is something which only future will reveal. Till then let’s hold the breath and savor the brute manner in which he frolics with his hapless challengers.. But right now he deserves every bit of plaudits that are showered upon him.
So young man soak up the sun and let we tennis aficionados prepare for one more tennis rivalry (Fed vs Rafa)..