What happens when people meet after 20 years? Wonderment (hey, is that you?), glimmers of recognition (I was thinking...), reminiscence (hey, where’s so-and-so?), fond old memories (remember the Alibag picnic?)....
And now imagine what would happen when not one or two, but more than 35 people meet after 20 years....
Which is what happened last Saturday (10 days ago) when our class of ’89 met for a reunion. Some of us were meeting each other after more than a few years, some us after a decade and some of us met each other for the first time since our graduation!
A couple of people had come in from other cities just to meet others for a couple of hours, and a few who are now abroad had sent in messages.
And the icing on the cake was some of our professors joining in – some of whom have retired and came especially for the function.
It was overwhelming, to say the least! When asked to introduce themselves, one could see some people choking on their words, some holding back tears that were threatening to brim over, there was a sense of elation in some, while others remembered all the joyous times we had spent together.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? Now when my rational mind remembers it, all the time we had spent all those years ago was not paradisiacal, but when we met after two decades, all we remembered were the good times we had spent together. It was as if the negative memories were wiped out from our minds, leading us to remember the utopian world that existed, as it were.
And now it is time to start reconnecting with people – to chat, pick up lost threads, make new connections with their spouses, sometimes even with them.
After all, twenty years IS a long time!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Blood Donation Drive is over
The blood donation drive officially wound up on Dec 1 (There is still a camp being held at MegaMall, Andheri - today and tomorrow). There is more than enough blood now in the blood banks - as Mr. Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation informed me - and I am satisfied!
This entire exercise gave me a fair bit of interesting learnings. I'm just going to mention two of them.
If you're sincere about wanting to something, there will be enough people coming forward to help you. Remember the dialogue of SRK in Om Shanti Om when he receives the award? Something similar just happened, where Francis and Mohd. Gaus of our marketing team came up and handled all the logistics flawlessly, Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation (I didn't even know this gentleman till before this activity) organised all the blood banks without me even having to worrry about them, Dhrub (from our sales team) just went ahead, spoke to mall owners and organised camps there, Sumit handled the advertising...it was amazing to see this chemistry !
And thanks also to the teams from Future Group, Oberoi Mall, Mega Mall, K-Star, Kamala Mills, to the various blood banks and their volunteers, the railways....Thanks guys, each and every one of you!
The second learning - if you want to really do something like this which involves being pricked by a needle, no glamour and photo-ops; count on the middle and lower middle classes. These were the people who came forward and donated blood, and who got others to do so. With a few honourable exceptions (like the gentleman who came all the way from Kandivli to Goregaon - Mr. Jeswani, if I remember), upper class Mumbai does not care! We've seen it in the turnout during the two elections held recently, and we've seen it now during blood donation drive.
There was a lot of pompous self-grandeur - concerts, candle-light vigils - all events where they could get out of their air-conditioned cars, have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the haut monde, shed a few mls of glycerine and go back. But when it came to a de-glam event like donating blood, the emptiness was deafening! And you should have heard the reasons - from the ridiculous to the absurd!
Clear lesson - the next time I want to organise a blood donation drive, I shall first organise a sponsor, a lead actor / actress who will say that s/he is going to be there, ensure a few photo-ops and then start the drive.
So, there we are.
Till next time, folks...
This entire exercise gave me a fair bit of interesting learnings. I'm just going to mention two of them.
If you're sincere about wanting to something, there will be enough people coming forward to help you. Remember the dialogue of SRK in Om Shanti Om when he receives the award? Something similar just happened, where Francis and Mohd. Gaus of our marketing team came up and handled all the logistics flawlessly, Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation (I didn't even know this gentleman till before this activity) organised all the blood banks without me even having to worrry about them, Dhrub (from our sales team) just went ahead, spoke to mall owners and organised camps there, Sumit handled the advertising...it was amazing to see this chemistry !
And thanks also to the teams from Future Group, Oberoi Mall, Mega Mall, K-Star, Kamala Mills, to the various blood banks and their volunteers, the railways....Thanks guys, each and every one of you!
The second learning - if you want to really do something like this which involves being pricked by a needle, no glamour and photo-ops; count on the middle and lower middle classes. These were the people who came forward and donated blood, and who got others to do so. With a few honourable exceptions (like the gentleman who came all the way from Kandivli to Goregaon - Mr. Jeswani, if I remember), upper class Mumbai does not care! We've seen it in the turnout during the two elections held recently, and we've seen it now during blood donation drive.
There was a lot of pompous self-grandeur - concerts, candle-light vigils - all events where they could get out of their air-conditioned cars, have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the haut monde, shed a few mls of glycerine and go back. But when it came to a de-glam event like donating blood, the emptiness was deafening! And you should have heard the reasons - from the ridiculous to the absurd!
Clear lesson - the next time I want to organise a blood donation drive, I shall first organise a sponsor, a lead actor / actress who will say that s/he is going to be there, ensure a few photo-ops and then start the drive.
So, there we are.
Till next time, folks...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Homosexuality – Revolt against nature
This post has been written by Mudassar Khan, who had written this e-mail to me in September as a response to my post then.
Sorry Muddu, for not posting it earlier.
---
Allah SWT is the creator and the Lord of the whole universe. He gave existence to everyone and everything and He gave a natural system for His slaves. Whenever this natural system is broken, chaos set in.
Allah SWT has kept the natural system of sexual relations between men and women, which grant physical and mental solace and give material and spiritual pleasure. It also acts as the means of propagation of the human race. As a result of which the society remains at peace and happy.
On the other hand, men forming relationships with men and women with women is a serious crime, which is disliked by each and every religion and by every cultured person. These kind of relations harm the society, give rise to and spread fatal diseases like AIDS and destroy humanity as a whole.
Homosexuality is such a serious sin that it is a collection of all other types of immodesty. This is a revolt against nature. It is a sign of being away from the mercy of Allah SWT and invites the wrath and anger of Allah SWT.
the nation which was involved in this, the Ummah of Hadhrat Lut (Peace be upon him), was punished by Allah SWT in different ways. In the last part of the night, an angel gave such a shout that it destroyed them. A population of 4 million i.e. 40 lakhs was lifted up to the sky and thrown headlong. Then stones were rained on them which wiped them away from the slate of existence.
The Holy Quran mentions this incident in many places. The reason is that people should realize that if they are also involved in this sin, then the wrath of Allah SWT will destroy them as well. Allah SWT says:
And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! Surah A’araaf – (7:84)
It is given in Surah Ankabut:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
To highlight the disgusting and nasty nature of homosexuality, here in the Holy Quran, the word “Al-Faahisha has been used.” At another place, for adultery, the word “Faahishatun” has been used. The intended meaning is that adultery is one of the types of immodesty and indecency, but homosexuality is a collection and compendium of all types of immodesty. This disgusting act has been termed as “Al-Faahisha” 3 times in the Holy Quran:
We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? Surah A’araaf (7:80)
In Surah Naml:
We also sent Lut (as a messenger): behold, he said to his people "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? Surah Naml (27:54)
In Surah Ankaboot:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
This is such an act of immodesty, that all religions, cultures and cultured persons hold it to be so.
Apart from this Allah SWT has declared homosexuals to be those who break the rules of Allah SWT and Islam. Allah SWT says:
"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males. (165) "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" Surah Shuara (166)
And in Surah A’araaf:
"For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Surah A’araaf (7:81)
Among all the evils of the society and the kinds of immodesty, there is none worse than homosexuality. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given strict warnings about this act:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: May Allah SWT curse the person who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) had done. May Allah SWT curse that person. He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) repeated this thrice. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadith No: 2677)
There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul ‘Ummal:
Translation: The nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) was punished because of 10 bad practices. My Ummah will be involved in one more bad practice. They had homosexual relations between men and men and this Ummah will have homosexual relations between women and women. (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No: 13014)
There is Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah and Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: What I most fear about My Ummah is the act of the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him). (Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 8171)
Homosexuality – Takes one away from the Mercy of Allah SWT.
There is a Hadith in Al Mojam Kabeer and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: Hadhrat Jabir bin Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with them) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When the Dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic rule) are oppressed, then the enemies will rule. When adultery will become too much, then there will be too many prisoners and when those who do what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) did, then Allah SWT will remove His hand of Mercy from the creation. Then He will not care in which valley they are killed.
There is a Hadith in Mojam Ausat, Shu’abul Iman and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There are 4 persons whose days and nights are in the anger and wrath of Allah SWT. Among them is the man who has sexual relations with another man.
There is a Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi and Sahih Ibn Hibban:
Translation: Allah SWT does not even look at the person with mercy who has homosexual relations with men or women. (Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No: 4418)
There is a Hadith in moa Tabarani and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah SWT curses 7 from His creation from above the seven heavens and repeats His curse thrice on each one of them. Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed. (Mojam Ausat, Hadith No: 8734,Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 6, Pg No: 272)
Personal and social loss of homosexuality:
One among the wisdoms of keeping marriage as permissible is that the race of humans, which is the cream of all creation (Ashraful Makhlooqat) should not end. If human beings satisfy their sexual desires through some other way, then the mentioned benefit of the Shariah will not be gained. These kind of relationships may prove to be start of the end of the human race.
The sexual relations between men and women are not only for fulfilling the sexual desires, but children are sought through it. Satisfying sexual desires through homosexuality is to fall from the heights of humanity to the depths of the animals.
Imam (May Allah be well pleased with him) (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in the Tafseer of verse no: 81 of Surah A’araaf:
Translation: The wise Lord has granted extraordinary strength to the womb of the women to absorb the semen. When a man performs this act (in the natural way), then all the drops of semen are absorbed by the womb of the woman. But when a man does this with a man, then as the anus of the man is not granted this strength, some drops of semen still remain in the genital organ, because of which the organ swells and suffers from many diseases. These details can be known only through the science of medicine. (Tafseer Kabir, Surah A’araaf, verse no:81)
Giving legal status to homosexuality is to push humanity towards destruction. At this stage, when AIDS is already swallowing innocent people, providing legal status to homosexuality is to promote AIDS. Humanity is struck as to how the new generation will survive when men will marry men and women will marry women, that new generation, who is the future of the nation and the world. If the cover of legal status is granted to this revolt of nature, then new problems will be created in the society which will shake the very foundations of the society. Many sections of the society are supporting the decision of the government and are declaring it as modern culture, free thinking etc. When this is culture, we don’t even want to know what uncultured means.
It is the responsibility of each and every religion along with the government to curb these attempts to build a virtuous and harmonious society. We hope that the government will not accept this as per article 377.
Sorry Muddu, for not posting it earlier.
---
Allah SWT is the creator and the Lord of the whole universe. He gave existence to everyone and everything and He gave a natural system for His slaves. Whenever this natural system is broken, chaos set in.
Allah SWT has kept the natural system of sexual relations between men and women, which grant physical and mental solace and give material and spiritual pleasure. It also acts as the means of propagation of the human race. As a result of which the society remains at peace and happy.
On the other hand, men forming relationships with men and women with women is a serious crime, which is disliked by each and every religion and by every cultured person. These kind of relations harm the society, give rise to and spread fatal diseases like AIDS and destroy humanity as a whole.
Homosexuality is such a serious sin that it is a collection of all other types of immodesty. This is a revolt against nature. It is a sign of being away from the mercy of Allah SWT and invites the wrath and anger of Allah SWT.
the nation which was involved in this, the Ummah of Hadhrat Lut (Peace be upon him), was punished by Allah SWT in different ways. In the last part of the night, an angel gave such a shout that it destroyed them. A population of 4 million i.e. 40 lakhs was lifted up to the sky and thrown headlong. Then stones were rained on them which wiped them away from the slate of existence.
The Holy Quran mentions this incident in many places. The reason is that people should realize that if they are also involved in this sin, then the wrath of Allah SWT will destroy them as well. Allah SWT says:
And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! Surah A’araaf – (7:84)
It is given in Surah Ankabut:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
To highlight the disgusting and nasty nature of homosexuality, here in the Holy Quran, the word “Al-Faahisha has been used.” At another place, for adultery, the word “Faahishatun” has been used. The intended meaning is that adultery is one of the types of immodesty and indecency, but homosexuality is a collection and compendium of all types of immodesty. This disgusting act has been termed as “Al-Faahisha” 3 times in the Holy Quran:
We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? Surah A’araaf (7:80)
In Surah Naml:
We also sent Lut (as a messenger): behold, he said to his people "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)? Surah Naml (27:54)
In Surah Ankaboot:
And (remember) Lut; behold he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Surah Ankaboot (29:28)
This is such an act of immodesty, that all religions, cultures and cultured persons hold it to be so.
Apart from this Allah SWT has declared homosexuals to be those who break the rules of Allah SWT and Islam. Allah SWT says:
"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males. (165) "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" Surah Shuara (166)
And in Surah A’araaf:
"For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." Surah A’araaf (7:81)
Among all the evils of the society and the kinds of immodesty, there is none worse than homosexuality. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given strict warnings about this act:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: May Allah SWT curse the person who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) had done. May Allah SWT curse that person. He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) repeated this thrice. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadith No: 2677)
There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul ‘Ummal:
Translation: The nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) was punished because of 10 bad practices. My Ummah will be involved in one more bad practice. They had homosexual relations between men and men and this Ummah will have homosexual relations between women and women. (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No: 13014)
There is Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah and Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: What I most fear about My Ummah is the act of the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him). (Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 8171)
Homosexuality – Takes one away from the Mercy of Allah SWT.
There is a Hadith in Al Mojam Kabeer and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: Hadhrat Jabir bin Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with them) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When the Dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic rule) are oppressed, then the enemies will rule. When adultery will become too much, then there will be too many prisoners and when those who do what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) did, then Allah SWT will remove His hand of Mercy from the creation. Then He will not care in which valley they are killed.
There is a Hadith in Mojam Ausat, Shu’abul Iman and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: There are 4 persons whose days and nights are in the anger and wrath of Allah SWT. Among them is the man who has sexual relations with another man.
There is a Hadith in Jame Tirmidhi and Sahih Ibn Hibban:
Translation: Allah SWT does not even look at the person with mercy who has homosexual relations with men or women. (Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No: 4418)
There is a Hadith in moa Tabarani and Majma Uz Zawaaid:
Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Allah SWT curses 7 from His creation from above the seven heavens and repeats His curse thrice on each one of them. Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed, Who does what the nation of Lut (Peace be upon him) is cursed. (Mojam Ausat, Hadith No: 8734,Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 6, Pg No: 272)
Personal and social loss of homosexuality:
One among the wisdoms of keeping marriage as permissible is that the race of humans, which is the cream of all creation (Ashraful Makhlooqat) should not end. If human beings satisfy their sexual desires through some other way, then the mentioned benefit of the Shariah will not be gained. These kind of relationships may prove to be start of the end of the human race.
The sexual relations between men and women are not only for fulfilling the sexual desires, but children are sought through it. Satisfying sexual desires through homosexuality is to fall from the heights of humanity to the depths of the animals.
Imam (May Allah be well pleased with him) (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in the Tafseer of verse no: 81 of Surah A’araaf:
Translation: The wise Lord has granted extraordinary strength to the womb of the women to absorb the semen. When a man performs this act (in the natural way), then all the drops of semen are absorbed by the womb of the woman. But when a man does this with a man, then as the anus of the man is not granted this strength, some drops of semen still remain in the genital organ, because of which the organ swells and suffers from many diseases. These details can be known only through the science of medicine. (Tafseer Kabir, Surah A’araaf, verse no:81)
Giving legal status to homosexuality is to push humanity towards destruction. At this stage, when AIDS is already swallowing innocent people, providing legal status to homosexuality is to promote AIDS. Humanity is struck as to how the new generation will survive when men will marry men and women will marry women, that new generation, who is the future of the nation and the world. If the cover of legal status is granted to this revolt of nature, then new problems will be created in the society which will shake the very foundations of the society. Many sections of the society are supporting the decision of the government and are declaring it as modern culture, free thinking etc. When this is culture, we don’t even want to know what uncultured means.
It is the responsibility of each and every religion along with the government to curb these attempts to build a virtuous and harmonious society. We hope that the government will not accept this as per article 377.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Blood Donation drive starts today
Our blood donation drive starts today, with 5 locations across Mumbai. I'm hoping and praying it goes off well, and we get a lot of response from Mumbaikars.
I'm counting on all my readers to take action on this - either by coming over and donating blood, or at least by forwarding the message as much as possible to others who will do so.
The venues for the next 5 days are-
Nov 26: Big Bazaar - Malad (Near Station-West), Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Thane (Kapurbawadi Junction), Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 27: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 28: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 29: K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 30: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
Dec 1: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
More venues will be announced soon. Details will be available in DNA Mumbai (www.dnaindia.com)
Keeping my fingers crossed!
I'm counting on all my readers to take action on this - either by coming over and donating blood, or at least by forwarding the message as much as possible to others who will do so.
The venues for the next 5 days are-
Nov 26: Big Bazaar - Malad (Near Station-West), Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Thane (Kapurbawadi Junction), Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 27: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), Oberoi Mall, Goregaon East
Nov 28: Big Bazaar - Phoenix Mills, Big Bazaar - Mulund (LBS Marg), K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 29: K-Star Mall - Chembur, Ghatkopar Station
Nov 30: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
Dec 1: InOrbit Mall - Malad, Kamala Mills Compound - Lower Parel, Dadar Station
More venues will be announced soon. Details will be available in DNA Mumbai (www.dnaindia.com)
Keeping my fingers crossed!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Let’s give of what we can
One year to possibly the most horrendous attack on Mumbai! I wanted to do something, and also get people involved.
Not the usual candle light marches or the concerts etc., where people would come, join, leave and forget about it.
I wanted something more meaningful...where people would give something that would make them more involved, and hopefully therefore it would be a proper commemoration of the events of 26/11 and the people who gave their lives.
Hence, with the support of my organisation and a few like-minded people and organisations who are giving their time and space, we’re organising a blood donation drive in Mumbai. Comprising lots of blood donation camps across railway stations and malls, we intend to have this drive from Nov 26 for around a fortnight.
Coincidentally, while this drive was being organised, I read last week that Mumbai’s blood banks are nearly running dry, to the extent that surgeries are being postponed. And I thought – what an apt time to do this.
By the way, did you know that donation by one person does not mean that this blood will be given to only one person? One person’s donation will actually save maybe three or four lives – as the blood donated by us is separated into parts - usually red blood cells and plasma, since most recipients need only a part and not all the blood.
Hopefully, Mumbai will show its spirit once again, and we’ll be able to collect a lot of blood.
Keeping my fingers crossed. Will keep updating you with more details. And I hope some of you will also contribute by walking up to the nearest railway station or mall and help save some lives.
Not the usual candle light marches or the concerts etc., where people would come, join, leave and forget about it.
I wanted something more meaningful...where people would give something that would make them more involved, and hopefully therefore it would be a proper commemoration of the events of 26/11 and the people who gave their lives.
Hence, with the support of my organisation and a few like-minded people and organisations who are giving their time and space, we’re organising a blood donation drive in Mumbai. Comprising lots of blood donation camps across railway stations and malls, we intend to have this drive from Nov 26 for around a fortnight.
Coincidentally, while this drive was being organised, I read last week that Mumbai’s blood banks are nearly running dry, to the extent that surgeries are being postponed. And I thought – what an apt time to do this.
By the way, did you know that donation by one person does not mean that this blood will be given to only one person? One person’s donation will actually save maybe three or four lives – as the blood donated by us is separated into parts - usually red blood cells and plasma, since most recipients need only a part and not all the blood.
Hopefully, Mumbai will show its spirit once again, and we’ll be able to collect a lot of blood.
Keeping my fingers crossed. Will keep updating you with more details. And I hope some of you will also contribute by walking up to the nearest railway station or mall and help save some lives.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Lessons from the Ashes
First of all, Eid Mubarak everyone – in advance.
Getting back to my blog today...actually posting some quick thoughts that I had written nearly a month ago, when the Ashes were won by England, who pocketed the last test with a day to spare.
It’s possibly a very wrong time to post this, as it seems like Australia is going to whitewash the English in the ODI series, but the Ashes victory held a few lessons for me, which I thought I might share, so here goes...
It was a very interesting series. Australia looked distinctly the better side, and statistics clearly point to it. However, the better side does not always win, as happened in this series. And this led me to think about the lessons one could learn from it.
Lesson 1 - It is not only about being consistent; it is about seizing the moment: As Andrew Strauss, England Captain, said, “When we were bad we were awful, but when we were good we managed to be just good enough”. And being just that good enough was enough to deliver.
Consider this – Australia scored more runs, lost fewer wickets, had 7 out of the top 8 scoring batsmen and the top 3 wicket taking bowlers. And yet they lost! The turning points? English bowling when it mattered. 7 out of the top 10 bowling performances in an innings and 5 out of the top 7 bowling performances in a match were by the English bowlers. English bowlers also claimed 5 wickets in an innings 4 times compared to 2 by Australia. Which brings me to the next lesson.
Lesson 2 - Work to your strengths that would lead to actual deliveries: It is no secret in cricket that batsmen can save you matches, but to win a match, you have to take 20 wickets. And England did that when it mattered.
Lesson 3 - Be positive, and results would come: Despite the fact that they were outscored by Australia in both batting and bowling, the one area where England were distinctly superior was in their Strike Rate, or Runs per Over. Definitely a sign of positive intent – they were not willing to retreat or go into a shell. And yet...
Lesson 4 - Dig in deep, even when nothing goes your way: Consider this – chasing 239 to just avoid an innings defeat in the first test, and at 70 for 5; it all looked to be over. But Paul Collingwood refused to give up. 74 runs was not a huge amount, but the 245 balls faced and the 344 minutes of occupation of the crease stood between England and defeat. But possibly the clearest indication of how the series would progress came in the final 40 minutes of the test. 12 overs to play, all Australia needs is one good ball, and a bunny by any standards at the crease. And yet, the way Anderson and Panesar blocked out every ball and saved the test must have played on the Australian’s minds in the 2nd test.
Lesson 5 - When things go wrong, take a break, and use it well to re-group and strategise: After the debacle of the 4th test, not even the most die-hard of English supporters would have thought of England winning the Ashes. But the team took their break right, worked out their weaknesses, took a few strong decisions and ‘Trotted’ away to glory.
Getting back to my blog today...actually posting some quick thoughts that I had written nearly a month ago, when the Ashes were won by England, who pocketed the last test with a day to spare.
It’s possibly a very wrong time to post this, as it seems like Australia is going to whitewash the English in the ODI series, but the Ashes victory held a few lessons for me, which I thought I might share, so here goes...
It was a very interesting series. Australia looked distinctly the better side, and statistics clearly point to it. However, the better side does not always win, as happened in this series. And this led me to think about the lessons one could learn from it.
Lesson 1 - It is not only about being consistent; it is about seizing the moment: As Andrew Strauss, England Captain, said, “When we were bad we were awful, but when we were good we managed to be just good enough”. And being just that good enough was enough to deliver.
Consider this – Australia scored more runs, lost fewer wickets, had 7 out of the top 8 scoring batsmen and the top 3 wicket taking bowlers. And yet they lost! The turning points? English bowling when it mattered. 7 out of the top 10 bowling performances in an innings and 5 out of the top 7 bowling performances in a match were by the English bowlers. English bowlers also claimed 5 wickets in an innings 4 times compared to 2 by Australia. Which brings me to the next lesson.
Lesson 2 - Work to your strengths that would lead to actual deliveries: It is no secret in cricket that batsmen can save you matches, but to win a match, you have to take 20 wickets. And England did that when it mattered.
Lesson 3 - Be positive, and results would come: Despite the fact that they were outscored by Australia in both batting and bowling, the one area where England were distinctly superior was in their Strike Rate, or Runs per Over. Definitely a sign of positive intent – they were not willing to retreat or go into a shell. And yet...
Lesson 4 - Dig in deep, even when nothing goes your way: Consider this – chasing 239 to just avoid an innings defeat in the first test, and at 70 for 5; it all looked to be over. But Paul Collingwood refused to give up. 74 runs was not a huge amount, but the 245 balls faced and the 344 minutes of occupation of the crease stood between England and defeat. But possibly the clearest indication of how the series would progress came in the final 40 minutes of the test. 12 overs to play, all Australia needs is one good ball, and a bunny by any standards at the crease. And yet, the way Anderson and Panesar blocked out every ball and saved the test must have played on the Australian’s minds in the 2nd test.
Lesson 5 - When things go wrong, take a break, and use it well to re-group and strategise: After the debacle of the 4th test, not even the most die-hard of English supporters would have thought of England winning the Ashes. But the team took their break right, worked out their weaknesses, took a few strong decisions and ‘Trotted’ away to glory.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
What an eventful month
I’m back, writing my first post after what have been an eventful 4 weeks, and possibly the last for the next 4 weeks.
Before I regale everyone with the last month’s tales, I wish everyone a blessed Ramadan. Ramzan Mubarak.
And so, just I, me, myself today...
I had decided that I would devote an hour every Sunday to this blog. But the awesome August! Ufff!
The first weekend went by in a blur. Saturday was a working day. On Sunday, the women (my mother, wife and sister-in-law) decided to do some shopping, and of course, yours truly was the driver and nanny for 4 kids. And what a shopping day it was!
We started at about 12:30 (getting up late, of course! It was a Sunday, c’mon!). A leisurely lunch was followed by more than an hour in the first shop, which culminated in the purchase of one dress (wow!!! They bought one). Then the drive to another shop in Vashi, and another couple of hours, where the growth of purchase improved by 100%.
By this time, it was already close to 5 pm, and the kids were getting restless, so yours truly – in a fit of inspiration – decided to be the good ayah and take them to the garden so that the women could shop in peace.
And there we go off to Vashi sea shore, where the children indulged – till the shower struck!
And we were far away from the car.
And we all got drenched to the core.
And if there’s one thing I dislike, it is getting into the car when wet!
But what do we do?
A quick run to the car when the shower reduced its intensity (may have been after about 15-20 minutes, but felt like an hour or so), and a call to the women if they were through, and the drive back to the market, where they were still shopping...
And we waited in the car for another good 30 minutes – sopping wet!!!
Women, I tell you! :-)
But jokes apart, that was the first time in my life that I saw my mother and my wife indulging in shopping like this. Not their usual get in the shop, pick up somethings, pay and rush, like an episode of a TV serial.
The day was not over yet.
We rushed home, changed, picked up father and then went for dinner. By the time we returned, it was past midnight, and I couldn’t wait to hit the sack!
Bye bye blog!
The next weekend (Saturday, Aug 8) was my cousin’s wedding, in Pune. And much like the film of the same name, that was another series of episodes. While the folks went earlier, I reached on Saturday for the marriage, only to find the groom’s mother crying.
Hey, mothers of brides cry, not mothers of grooms! What happened?
Turned out that my cousin’s (the groom’s) friends had an accident in the morning, around dawn. The car turned over on its side, with three guys inside. Amidst their pain, one of them had a brainwave and called the last dialled number – which happened to be my cousin’s.
Our hero decided to go to their rescue. And those who know Zahir can guess what he would have tried to do.
Yes, before the ambulance or other help arrived, he tried to get the car upright by himself. The car did turn upright, but in the process, he slipped and hurt his entire back and shoulders!
Shaadi to shaam ko thi, subah mein hi baraat nikaal di.
Thankfully, it was not very serious for him, so the wedding proceeded with the groom wincing in pain and the greetings thereafter – you can imagine everyone trying to hug him, someone standing behind stopping them, and a couple (including me) managing backslaps....
Saturday was not over yet! By the time the wedding was being celebrated, my five year old nephew, Emaad, had extremely high fever. We rushed him to the doctor, who – being ultra-cautious – directed us to Naidu Hospital.
What?
Suspected swine flu?
And who tells my parents and others that?
We being smart decided to keep our traps shut till the results. Everyone at home was getting worried that my sister-in-law and cousin are not back yet, and my uncle and I kept reassuring everyone that there are lots of patients at the good doctor’s.
Till finally, two hours later, they call. It was a false alarm. Thank God for that!
And we had decided to go rapelling to a waterfall on Sunday.
Aren’t we brave, folks! I mean, the city is hit by swine flu, and we go not only for the wedding, but also for a picnic the next day.
So, the Don Quixotes leave the next morning for the waterfall, with a few children in tow, so that they could enjoy in the rain.
And enjoy we did! For those who have seen the photographs, eat your heart out!
But how could the day pass off without an incident?
One cousin’s kid – the naught monkey – decided that he had to be the hero for the day, and promptly went and fell on the rocks near the water. Had to get stitches on the back of his head.
It was evening by the time we returned to Pune from the picnic, and past 1 am when we reached home in Navi Mumbai.
There goes week two without my blog!
The rest of the week went by in a blur, with a lot of work at office. By Thursday, I was feeling pretty weak and restless, and by the time I reached office on Friday, I had the cough and high fever.
Sure enough, I was given the marching orders, and by the afternoon, I was back home and at the doctor’s, who gave me the best medicines he could prescribe for my cold, which put me to sleep from Friday afternoon till Sunday evening.
I could not look straight, leave alone writing a blog!
Bye bye, week 3.
Monday and Tuesday were spent coughing in office, and then the fever returned. By Tuesday evening, I was feeling so weak that I kept praying to God to let me drive home safely.
This time, my friendly neighbourhood doctor got my blood test done. And the result – malaria!
What? After going to its capital, spending two days there, meeting people, getting drenched – and I do not even catch the flavour of the season? All I get is this measly kiss from a female Anopheles! How boring!!!
And what a boring week it turned out to be. Sleep, eat, have medicines, and sleep –Wednesday to Saturday.
Feeling better today, so decided to post all the happenings of the past month for your enjoyment.
Hope you liked it folks – all those who know my family and those who do not.
With that, signing off for possibly another four weeks, till the end of Ramadaan, with a request to remember me in your prayers. I’m still not fully fit yet, but hope to resume office tomorrow.
Before I regale everyone with the last month’s tales, I wish everyone a blessed Ramadan. Ramzan Mubarak.
And so, just I, me, myself today...
I had decided that I would devote an hour every Sunday to this blog. But the awesome August! Ufff!
The first weekend went by in a blur. Saturday was a working day. On Sunday, the women (my mother, wife and sister-in-law) decided to do some shopping, and of course, yours truly was the driver and nanny for 4 kids. And what a shopping day it was!
We started at about 12:30 (getting up late, of course! It was a Sunday, c’mon!). A leisurely lunch was followed by more than an hour in the first shop, which culminated in the purchase of one dress (wow!!! They bought one). Then the drive to another shop in Vashi, and another couple of hours, where the growth of purchase improved by 100%.
By this time, it was already close to 5 pm, and the kids were getting restless, so yours truly – in a fit of inspiration – decided to be the good ayah and take them to the garden so that the women could shop in peace.
And there we go off to Vashi sea shore, where the children indulged – till the shower struck!
And we were far away from the car.
And we all got drenched to the core.
And if there’s one thing I dislike, it is getting into the car when wet!
But what do we do?
A quick run to the car when the shower reduced its intensity (may have been after about 15-20 minutes, but felt like an hour or so), and a call to the women if they were through, and the drive back to the market, where they were still shopping...
And we waited in the car for another good 30 minutes – sopping wet!!!
Women, I tell you! :-)
But jokes apart, that was the first time in my life that I saw my mother and my wife indulging in shopping like this. Not their usual get in the shop, pick up somethings, pay and rush, like an episode of a TV serial.
The day was not over yet.
We rushed home, changed, picked up father and then went for dinner. By the time we returned, it was past midnight, and I couldn’t wait to hit the sack!
Bye bye blog!
The next weekend (Saturday, Aug 8) was my cousin’s wedding, in Pune. And much like the film of the same name, that was another series of episodes. While the folks went earlier, I reached on Saturday for the marriage, only to find the groom’s mother crying.
Hey, mothers of brides cry, not mothers of grooms! What happened?
Turned out that my cousin’s (the groom’s) friends had an accident in the morning, around dawn. The car turned over on its side, with three guys inside. Amidst their pain, one of them had a brainwave and called the last dialled number – which happened to be my cousin’s.
Our hero decided to go to their rescue. And those who know Zahir can guess what he would have tried to do.
Yes, before the ambulance or other help arrived, he tried to get the car upright by himself. The car did turn upright, but in the process, he slipped and hurt his entire back and shoulders!
Shaadi to shaam ko thi, subah mein hi baraat nikaal di.
Thankfully, it was not very serious for him, so the wedding proceeded with the groom wincing in pain and the greetings thereafter – you can imagine everyone trying to hug him, someone standing behind stopping them, and a couple (including me) managing backslaps....
Saturday was not over yet! By the time the wedding was being celebrated, my five year old nephew, Emaad, had extremely high fever. We rushed him to the doctor, who – being ultra-cautious – directed us to Naidu Hospital.
What?
Suspected swine flu?
And who tells my parents and others that?
We being smart decided to keep our traps shut till the results. Everyone at home was getting worried that my sister-in-law and cousin are not back yet, and my uncle and I kept reassuring everyone that there are lots of patients at the good doctor’s.
Till finally, two hours later, they call. It was a false alarm. Thank God for that!
And we had decided to go rapelling to a waterfall on Sunday.
Aren’t we brave, folks! I mean, the city is hit by swine flu, and we go not only for the wedding, but also for a picnic the next day.
So, the Don Quixotes leave the next morning for the waterfall, with a few children in tow, so that they could enjoy in the rain.
And enjoy we did! For those who have seen the photographs, eat your heart out!
But how could the day pass off without an incident?
One cousin’s kid – the naught monkey – decided that he had to be the hero for the day, and promptly went and fell on the rocks near the water. Had to get stitches on the back of his head.
It was evening by the time we returned to Pune from the picnic, and past 1 am when we reached home in Navi Mumbai.
There goes week two without my blog!
The rest of the week went by in a blur, with a lot of work at office. By Thursday, I was feeling pretty weak and restless, and by the time I reached office on Friday, I had the cough and high fever.
Sure enough, I was given the marching orders, and by the afternoon, I was back home and at the doctor’s, who gave me the best medicines he could prescribe for my cold, which put me to sleep from Friday afternoon till Sunday evening.
I could not look straight, leave alone writing a blog!
Bye bye, week 3.
Monday and Tuesday were spent coughing in office, and then the fever returned. By Tuesday evening, I was feeling so weak that I kept praying to God to let me drive home safely.
This time, my friendly neighbourhood doctor got my blood test done. And the result – malaria!
What? After going to its capital, spending two days there, meeting people, getting drenched – and I do not even catch the flavour of the season? All I get is this measly kiss from a female Anopheles! How boring!!!
And what a boring week it turned out to be. Sleep, eat, have medicines, and sleep –Wednesday to Saturday.
Feeling better today, so decided to post all the happenings of the past month for your enjoyment.
Hope you liked it folks – all those who know my family and those who do not.
With that, signing off for possibly another four weeks, till the end of Ramadaan, with a request to remember me in your prayers. I’m still not fully fit yet, but hope to resume office tomorrow.
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