For the Archive | Football World Cup 2014

Hilarious for many...

But the First Semi Final have offered me a comic relief to share with all my friends and Gen Next for the years I will stroll this planet.

Miroslav Klose, the man who scored his 16th, over took Ronaldo to create a new platform of scoring goals in World Cup history. As it happen, I took a snapshot and was about to put on my facebook Wall. An in action (but hazy) picture of the Ball getting past the Brazilian Last Line and across the Goal line. As I was processing the image, I heard the commentators shout! 3:0. Remember, Klose's 16th made the score 2:0. It was just a few seconds.. Very few seconds. I peeped through the screen, it was 3:0. Well. Brazil would be losing for sure... but what followed next was really inexplicable.

My broadband was fast to upload the processed image. I clicked back into the full screen and the score line was 4:0. Amazing. At the moment, I was mused with the incidence... But then Brazil lost the game 7:1. A scoreline, that not many expected for this gigantic name in the World of Soccer. As it is... since the era of International football in 1914 it has never been so. So, it was a moment in history and I am proud that I can archive it as well...

As for the religion of football, its a beautiful game. A game that brings back every one... to their roots, digitally, verbally and even physically. Its a game of guts, gust and lust!

WC 2014 will be memorable, since it is the WC that I could follow without any exams or any thing lurking behind. Maradona is the name that developed my Loyalty to Argentina. It was back in 1986, when I remember vaguely my Dad dance with his local friends, taking me to the tunes of Bengal's traditional drums... Dhaak...

1990... I did develop some senses to identify the happiness... It was then I recognized the curly haired Maradona.

24 years... its a long time wait. Today, Argentina will face off with the Dutch. The world looks towards the magic  of LM10 (Messi). But the flying Dutch will be hard to tame.

For the archives. Argentina Vs Netherlands.

Pray the sky gets Azure even at Sunset!

Recuerdos lloran "Orkut"

Memories Cry...

The first ever stampede of social media vibes, the scraps that were then digital... The scribbles that made testimonials, craving for more fun every night, near the computer. The start of the Social Networking Age... The protagonist, the pioneer will expire on September 30, 2014. I came to know it from it's murderer, the Facebook share.

Many memories will linger around; hence, I make my little effort to recollect some and put up the last image of my Orkut Homepage for the Archives.

Back in 2005, the craze came into my life. A place where the social networking was buzzing and my college mates introduced me to it. Initially it was hard but then the meaning of the Wall and the Scraps became more succulent. New friends... good looking and you always have that freedom to change your name and announce of being a Rock Star, a Cool Dumb head... I remember, I once renamed my profile name with Mr. Xhang-- The Warrior. A request from my student (who apparently is a doc now).

But then, there were good feelings too. The first ever sentence conveyed to my life partner was through the Wall. We had our classes together, but never spoke to her for 1 years... but then Orkut Wall was so very good, throwing back all the inhibitions...and then the story is known by the world around.

Orkut. A Social Networking Pioneer. My last profile pic and wall paper is here for the Archives; as long as the blogspot exists; I guess. I will not say I will miss you, because I seldom visited you after the advent of Facebook... I admit. But you had been a good teacher and that is what I shall remember about you.

Bye...

The Cuspless Cup.

Never know why it's called the World Cup. A trophy would better suited given the modern perspective when the cusp within the cup has been replaced. Yet, Brazil wins it more than any other country, in the World of Football and to look into the fact, a combined population of humans might be higher in the Northern Hemisphere, but Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and also Australia to some extent has more World Cups (Football and Cricket) pulled into the Southern Hemisphere. Being an Indian, the last time the nation got a chance to play in this prestigious event was nearly a decade before my birth; but when ever the knowledge of the game befitted my senses... It had been only one name: Argentina... Maradona. 

24 years ago, 1990, the blue brigade crossed the hurdle of the Quarters. They lost out eventually to West Germany, the ultimate winners of the cup in the Finale. Then again... every time it has been so. I have been very jittery with the fact that Argentina faces the Germans. In 2006, Ayala scored a beauty within the 11th minute or so, of the match. Lahm took the momentum away with the pace from the wings, I guess Ballack made it through. Then Miroslav Klose closed the chapter with his header. My second best overthrew the facvorites from the Quarters.

24 years.

24 years have been going around for quite a long time, prior to teh WC. It's said... Brazil's 4th was after 24 years. So was Italy's... This time it's Germany on the verge of getting 4th title.... as it's 24 for them... But... the magic of 24 gets initiated by Argentina... so it's 28 years... the 3rd to be Blue-White...

Pray... so!

Modified Sensation

27th February, 2002. "I was getting ready, brushing up and ready to engulf the last left overs as my Maths exam would start around 9:00 AM. Dad had been very ill today. His pulmonary infection relapsed and I was doing everything on my own. I never thought I would be writing such an incident. But God knows his mercy and may be I shall read my own lines some years later...."

This is the excerpt from my diary, that I wrote 14 years back.

"... suddenly mom came running back. She asked me not to go to school today (I was surprised as there was Maths Exam!); as the musalman patti (muslim colony) has some commotion near Lord Para, just behind my school. Some muslims had burnt hindus in a train in Gujarat." 

I remember how she frantically looked into the Anandabazar Patrika. There was something in it. There was something in it.

"And there was in the headlines that reaffirmed her overheard news."

That day, the exam did take place, but the school was let off early. Doctor did not come in his chamber and dad coughed harder over the night. The nation was too busy to hear his cough. I, a standard eleven heard them, soothing his back for relief and saw in a flash, the face of a man who portrayed like a Demi-God to many, Satan to others.  And there is always two sides of the story. In this case, there were many lives into it.

Diary. I smile back to those pale yellow pages scribbled all along. The chronicles of a growing soul. The chronicles that after more than a decade, would re-open to think that a Satan back then can even be praised a Demi-God. And then there would be many, to salute or kick., a "Modi"fication. So, this is what I think of the"Modified Sensation".

14 years back, Modi was a name of terror. But the name turned into an Iron Fist to convert Gujarat? I don't believe that completely. Gujarat was booming, well before Modi. It's greatest asset was in Anand. The milk industry with it's greatest pleasure all over India as well of International acclaim. Brand Amul. Even before Mr. Modi had taken his office in 2001 as the CM of Gujarat, Gujarat was self dependent and economically strong in textiles, gems and jewellery, petrochemicals (Reliance leading the way). Mr. Modi didnot start all these? Development was rooted, Mr. Modi just harvested and irrigated them.

Then why Modi? A Modi Model? A Gujrat Model!! In this context I would like quote some leader in the recent elections (LS'2014), saying that "Gujrat Model can be for Gujarat, not for Bengal, Assam, Odisha or else where." True! Geospatially not possible.

Then why Mr. Modi and that too with a seat for BJP that counts a staggering 280+? Not in recent history it was possible and no body could get it. I have a small notion to it. It's not models... not only development... This time the Indian Citizens voted for the attitude and persona of this person with white beard (animated looks cute!). Its about a Prime Minister who would be known and heard and not asked by failed by Rajnikant to open his mouth (facebookers know the joke).

Mr. Modi brought with him persona. He represented a National Party and so he made inroads all over the nation. There is another leader with the persona... I will come later on with that.

Prior to the elections, I have been a frequent viewer of debates of better say political speeches. Hailing from Bengal, I would like to ear mark some aspects that I believe made a mandate in Bengal.

1) Mr. Modi. BJP won 2 seats. His speech had versions of development, but also had adverse versions of communalisms. In Bengal we don't like the latter, but former.. we always want so.

2) Mr. Gandhi: He only criticized Mr. Modi. No remarks on his vocal performance.

3) Ms. Banerjee: The present CM of West Bengal, the TMC supremo had development. She has achieved some and promises to achieve some more for the state in near future. Pleasing to hear. She wanted to be a force at the Center. Federal front or not, Bengal gave her mandate. She is a force, with 34 MPs. She can ask or argue for many aspects.

4) Mr. Bhattacharya. Ex-CM of Bengal was all but dissappointing. An alumni of my Alma Mater had nothing but Sarada corruption to hold upfront to criticize TMC. Bengal gave them their toffee... 1 seat!

Just by taininting someone is not politics. Policies and Implementation is Politics like implementation of Biological knowledge is Biotics, so is the former! Modi gave hope of a strong economy and stronger India. Atleast, we will have a stronger PM to seat at the PMO. Mamata Banerjee gave her words and she is believed in Bengal. She got her lion's share while people like Mayawati, Mulayam, Nitish didnot have such a lucky poll this time.

I just wanted to express my congratulations to all the candidates. We expect a lot from you. Hope you will not dissappoint us, just as us, the Indian citizens have not disappointed you.

Perplexed Purple.

Not about Kolkata Knight Riders. I have stopped viewing IPL at random. The colour is of the dried sweat, blood and skin admixture. And more purple it gets with the summer heat.

A decade back, elections was different and this time round; its full of Maggi Hot and Sweet- Its different.

A decade back there was all Red; pompous and pride... people decided to cool them down and brought a green serenity to the state of West Bengal, a few years ago. It was a change and so will it be in the center this time. Or atleast the common humbled good for nothing futurists think so and the leaders will sip in champagne within the Limo!

And I being a general public feel so perplexed. Politics and leaders are one who has got a good grip over their vocal cords! History knows how Hitler overturned the German sentiments, how Napoleon over took the Chapel, how Netaji boiled the blood of the masses. A few years ago, your decision would be partially influenced by the speech delivered by the political maestros! But today, given it any colour or any symbol, I feel so perplexed to realize that there is nothing but waste of time to listen to them. May be the Election Commission of India sensed the inability of the leaders a little bit earlier and so deviced a No Vote button in the EVM. But, again.. given all odds into the offering, to press that would mean no use. It will not stop the bad to go ahead. (Bad has got different layers; some are good too... Lim->good). I will vote for a proper candidate, but that might reduce the purple, but perplexed mind will eat but the banana after May 16th, 2014.

So... DO VOTE! Many will say what will it matter or how will it matter. But believe me, if your vote goes against the winner, the winner will win by lesser margin  and that will play a phsycological aspect to atleast do some work, otherwise next time would be a tough time. 

SAY NO TO "NO VOTE BUTTON". CASTE YOUR VOTE ON THE RIGHT BUTTON.