Impossible City!

I was caught unawares!

Today is the 11th day of the illuminated lunar fortnight and all immersion celebration of idols should have ended logically on the 10th day. But this time the devotees or more appropriately revelers somehow earned a bonus day and created havoc on the main arterial roads of Mumbai.

As I left office there was uninhibited celebration on the roads--crowds carrying their idols on tempos with loud dancing, louder bands playing non-stop and loudest fireworks right in the middle there. Traffic snarls and mass congregations at the bus stops. City buses started disappearing--maybe the staff need to celebrate too.

I managed to travel half the distance on a bus and afterward decided to walk the 3km home considering pondering wondering.

As usual, the homeless hordes lounged on even the most prominent pavements cooking eating sleeping defecating and suffering there while imported cars zoomed past in fond oblivion. Thousands carried on with their existential dilemma while thousands went on celebration without end and wasting money of immense proportions. And, the city admin machinery looked on. Maybe with election round the corner all voters are allowed to do whatever they want! Eat drink and be merry and 'vote for me'!

Where's this city going? What's going to happen next? How long would it take to burst out of seams? No solutions. I only managed to arrive at the title of my post!

ICC Champions Trophy-India Gets A Point!

India got a point today in the match against Australia which seemed to be slipping out fast from India's grasp and then the rains interrupted leading to sharing of points.

And, it was not due to Kirsten Vision, but rain intervention! Coach Kirsten's therapeutic vision document had Team India in trembles still recovering from the loss of Yuvraj Singh and the absence of Sehwag and Jaheer Khan. The 'vision' has raised a world wide controversy with conservative India scandalized. Kirsten, the most experienced opener for South Africa of yore, did the most inexperienced thing by his anatomic vision. Whenever India is concerned better talk of meditation and spirituality, dear Kirsten. It was obvious that he had to deny the vision under tremendous pressure from all quarters.

Anyway, India got a point and is still in the reckoning technically. They have to beat West Indies by a huge margin and Australia has to lose to Pakistan by a good margin so that the run rate comes in India's favor. If Australia win against Pakistan outright India is out. Pakistan is already in semi final from Group A.

No speculation please on why India eventually wins or loses!

The Politics Industry!

An Indian newspaper today reported one politician saying that politics is no longer linked to people; it has become an industry where you make huge investments and try to recover it in quick time. This was in reference to forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections which is poised to become the most expensive one of all times. One candidate would require from Rs. 30 to 50 million to campaign effectively for a win.

The 'industry' phenomenon explains why all are desperate for a ticket and dissidence is growing when tickets are not given. This is affecting parties across the board with stalwarts joining rival parties or standing as independents.

The problem is whenever industry is concerned performance and results are crucial for success. Now, in this politics industry what kind of performance or results are expected considering the fact that it's delinked from people or say voters. If voters have nothing to gain out of the investments where exactly do they stand? Politicians will have to sell something to earn revenues. Or do they have assured risk free returns? Dumbfounding questions!

Anyway, coming to performance a piece of breaking news: one more masala ingredient has just been added to already spicy juicy Indian Cricket! More on that later.