Opinion: AAP has proved that no dream is too big

December 8, 2013 will be inked with a golden stylus in the history of Indian democracy. Arvind Kejriwal's victory against the Delhi Chief Minister will go down as one of the brightest chapter in India’s electoral history especially, in a post-JP era. Aam Aadmi Party's victory, despite them being in number two position in India's capital city, is a victory of masses. It is a victory against the corrupt. It’s vote against the power-hungry Congress. Above all, AAP’s performance gives you a reason to believe that no dream is too big.

Firstly, it makes a common man believe that politics is not just the privilege of elite and the ruling class. For generations, Indian democracy has revolved around the two national parties -the BJP, and the Congress. Formed during the winter of the 2012, Delhi election results is an incredible achievement on the part of the AAP, for, not many gave them a realistic chance in run-up to the election. With no prior experience, AAP has managed to reach out to the common people and not just in the posh up-market areas but also carved a base for itself in the rural areas in Delhi. Ripples of Arvind Kejriwal’s victory are bound to resonate in various parts of the country. Especially, the youth of this nation, who were by and large cynical about the 'Indian political system’, now have something to look forward to. Too all those youth out there in offices, #AAP has given them a viable option apart from the Congress and the BJP. It has installed a feeling of self-belief among entrepreneurs, working class people, start-up hopefuls that India also can change for the better. It can also create a corruption-free environment where hard-work and dedication will be rewarded.

Secondly, the election results showcases that mass uprising can’t be taken for granted and common people can’t be fooled all the time. All these while, Congress party banked on its populist announcements and freebies to hide their miss-governance. The ploy simply didn’t work for the party as an informed public showed them their place. Credit must go to the #AAP for reaching out to public and explain them the intricacies of the decision taken by the government when it came to populist schemes. Occasionally, Indian democracy has thrown some mass leaders, support mainly coming from a particular caste or religion but, never before it has been witnessed that a party without any so called ‘social-formation base’ doing so exceptionally well. Something that JP always wanted to do. AAP’s success will inspire many more to join politics and work towards bringing in the change that was considered impossible.  

Thirdly, the results will help bring a generational shift in the mindset that politics can never get rid of parochial policies. That new ideologies can be carved, and people with cleaner slate can get their long-awaited dues is one of the biggest outcomes of these elections. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, head of the Centre for Policy Research, in his well articulated thoughts published in the Indian Express much before the elections, said: “You may not be the biggest fan of all of Arvind Kejriwal's institutional proposals. But there is no question that he played a significant part in transforming the discourse on corruption. He has empowered many others to say that business as usual cannot continue.” The election result has precisely proved Mehta’s observation.

Finally, and more importantly, 2013 Election results – apart from teaching a lesson to the corrupt and non-functioning government– will help start a new discourse in Indian polity. A discourse which was once started and championed by Jai Prakash Narayan but failed by his followers.

These are extremely early days to ask if AAP can extend this electoral gains all across India or not, but it has definitely succeeded in ushering in Hope - one of the greatest harbinger of Change. 

#Change #electionresults2013 #AAP # Delhidecides

Post-retirement, can we expect a more eloquent Sachin?

By Himanshu Shekhar

This has been a monumental week in India’s cricketing history. After 24-long years and 200 Tests, arguably, modern cricket’s greatest batsman is bidding adieu. It’s Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell time.  It is not just any other November in India. It is a week were emotions have just got the better off everyone, and, in the end, even the God could not hide it.  Nation cried with the man. 

It is definitely not an ordinary week for Indian cricket at large. Hardly anyone, who is remotely attached to cricket, is oblivious of the fact that the man who has conquered almost every batting record in the book will no longer be seen in active cricket. Tendulkar has decided to call it time, whether his fans have agreed to it or not is a different question.

Post November 16, 2013, Indian crickets’ most colossal story will only be about reflections from the past. Tendulkar, for many, was synonymous to cricket. His retirement is bound to create a huge void not just in the Indian batting order but in the hearts of millions of fans. MS Dhoni’s side might find a worthy replacement like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma but for fans it will take time to find an icon that charmed one and all with not only his strokes but his mannerism as well.

For all these years, every time he walked onto bat, it seemed that he was wearing an iron-jacket, shielding himself from the surroundings. His focus was only on one thing – the release of the ball from the bowler’s hand. Anything outside the field never bothered Tendulkar. He chose to reserve his opinions or comments for all these years on many issues. Can he afford to do it now?

At the risk of being repetitive, I would once again state that this is no ordinary week. Apart from the Little Master’s retirement, two more significant development happened which went largely noticed. Former captains and two of Tendulkar’s team-mate, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble opted to speak their mind on issues bothering cricket – corruption and governance.

These consequences are important. According to me, there has to be (a) substantial jail term for the offenders,” Dravid said during a discussion on ‘Ethics and Integrity in modern-day sport’, organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation. One can not recollect if anyone else of his contemporary cricketer has taken such a stance.

A day later, it was the turn of Anil Kumble. “My three-year stint, along with my colleague in the Indian team, Javagal Srinath, who is the secretary, taught me a few things, and I believe now that just as other areas of the game - like umpiring - administration too can benefit from having people who have played at the highest level,” Kumble said while delivering the MAK Pataudi lecture.

Perception about the Indian cricket is in serious question today. In fact, it has been for a long time now. The unwanted controversies surrounding the IPL have just added fuel to an already burning house. Not going too far back, the recent controversy surrounding the team’s tour to South Africa has put the governing body (BCCI) in bad light.

The BCCI maybe the best run administrative body financially, but is it the most well managed organisation when you compare it with other nations? Is BCCI the most respected body? Is it doing enough to raise cricket’s infrastructure at the grassroots? Is BCCI doing enough to bring transparency?

In coming months, we would like to know where Tendulkar stands on these pressing matters.

“Some perceptions have to be willed into reality. For years we thought we were a sporting nation, but we had little to show for it,” Kumble reminded the august gathering at Pataudi lecture.

We would like to see Tendulkar add all his weight and experience behind Indian cricket, maybe Indian sports. In many ways, this has been a significant week for Indian cricket.

End of an era - Sachin Tendulkar announces retirement

Ending months of speculation, Sachin Tendulkar has announced to quit all forms of cricket. Tendulkar, who has already announced retirements from twenty-twenty and ODIs, will play his last Test match (200th) at his home venue at the Wankhede.

"All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years. It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old. It’s been a huge honour to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200^th Test Match on home soil, as I call it a day," the master batsman said in a statement released by the BCCI on his behalf.

"I thank the BCCI for everything over the years and for permitting me to move on when my heart feels it's time! I thank my family for their patience and understanding. Most of all, I thank my fans and well-wishers who through their prayers and wishes have given me the strength to go out and perform at my best."

The announcement immediately evoked emotional reactions as Tendulkar fans took to the social media expressing their sentiments. His teammates in the Indian dressing room, and outside it, were also not far behind in expressing their thoughts. 

"Privileged to have seen a child prodigy gone on to become a true legend of the game from very close quarters. All the best Sachin," tweeted Sanjay Manjrekar.

Not far behind were his friends and admirers in the media.

 "We all kind of expected the announcement some day. But now that it is here, its hard to soak in, no matter what your views," tweeted television commentator and presenter Gautam Bhimani.

The grudge against Tendulkar

Himanshu Shekhar

Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to improving Indian cricket is nowhere near his tremendous influence on it.

Whether one admits it or not, Tendulkar is synonymous to cricket. He is the heartbeat of millions of cricket fans across the globe. He is not a model; any more than, say, Neville Cardus was a model for aspiring cricket writers.

But my big grudge with Indian cricket’s biggest name is – unlike Cardus, who changed the course of cricket writing, Tendulkar has done little - apart from illuminating the craft that he practices - to shape the future of the game which has given him everything.

Here are a few examples.

The pro-DRS-camp has resigned to the fact that it will only take an umpiring error, which sends back Sachin at the score of 99, to convince the whole of India about the merits of the system.

To have or not have a DRS is a different debate altogether. But that statement, often made or written in a lighter vein, signifies the influence of Sachin Tendulkar in Indian cricket.

Going back to the parallels drawn with Cardus, unlike him, Tendulkar has always been an establishment figure.

It’s not that one asks him to get into an ugly fight, for the way he has conducted himself over the years has been nothing less than an inspiration. However, his silence on key issues concerning the administration and running of the game leaves people like me baffled.

No one expects an Amol Muzumdar or a Paras Mhambrey to come out in the open, voicing their opinion and get on the wrong side of the authorities.

But Tendulkar can. However, he never does it.

Take for example, the case of mindless number of IPL games. The tournament can easily be cut and re-sized into a format to give it meaning. Many have raised their concerns, but one has heard little from the Little Master. He carries huge respect in the dressing room. But, has he provided any kind of
leadership when it was actually required? The best thing he did in time of crisis was to step down as the India captain.

Last time Tendulkar reportedly took a stand, an entire tour was on the verge of being scrapped. Upset with the three-Test ban on Harbhajan Singh in the monkey-gate episode in Sydney, Sachin reportedly sent a message to Sharad Pawar, the then BCCI president: “In this hour of crisis, the board should stand by him. I suggest we should play in Perth only if the ban is lifted.”

The rest is history. The ban was toned down and the tour went ahead.

If Tendulkar cares for the reputation of cricket in India, or he bothers a little for the appalling state of India’s premier domestic tournament, the Ranji Trophy, he should voice his opinion. He has been oblivious to the running of the game when he could have done a lot.

It was no surprise that his childhood friend and cricket buddy Vinod Kambli broke down in tears, suggesting that Tendulkar could have done more. ‘‘We are very close... we were very close. He could have done a little more, but he didn’t,” Kambli was heard saying.

By no means has one suggested that Tendulkar should have meddled in the selection matters. Had Kambli actually taken some cue from his routine, the situation would have been different. But did Imran Khan wait for Inzamam-ul Haq to come to him and then offer advice? Doctors give advice. Leaders just motivate, inspire and push their men to achieve newer heights.

All these years he has never raised a voice against the powerful. India needs a systematic change as far as saving the game is concerned. But his silence on key issues grappling Indian cricket is getting to a disconcerting level. Will we ever see Sachin Tendulkar breaking the disciplined system-obliging image for issues which really matters to the cricketing world and India in general?

Centuries ago, English philosopher Sir Francis Bacon had a lot to say on human nature and virtues. “Silence,” Sir Francis claims “is the virtue of the fools.”