ChinmayC Blog

The most exciting sightseeing of a Mahabaleshwar visit is the trip to the mountain fort Pratapgad—about 22 km from Mahabaleshwar through a narrow hilly road that cascades up and down the Sahyadri Mountain range in Western Ghats making you gasp all the way. The sharp turns to the extent of almost 180 degrees and the green valleys down thousands of feet now one side of your car and the next moment the other side.  Pratap Gad —the Fort (Gad) of Valour (Pratap)—is strategically placed and is known for the legendary Battle of Pratapgad in 1659 fought and won by Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj against Afzal Khan, the commander of the mighty Sultanate of Bijapur . Through a web of deceit from both sides finally Shivaji killed Afzal Khan here and the Afzal Khan Tomb was also built in the Fort environs. You can climb up to the top through two layers of Fort constructions and get amazed by the military strategy adopted and the sheer natural beauty all around.  Tea Break at a Restaurant ...

India cricket captain MS Dhoni gave out the right signals right after the Kolkata Test defeat that there was no question of quitting his captaincy. Right, why would he? Do the corrupt politicians do so? Do the rotten chiefs of Indian sports bodies do so? Who bothers about national pride and dignity? If supreme bodies like the Indian Olympic Association or the Boxers’ get suspended by the international controlling authorities, let it be so, why would anyone give up personal profit for that! The national selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) showed similar inclination as how they could possibly control the Frankenstein it itself created and nourished.  Therefore, as per Dhoni’s signals three perfect scapegoats have been identified for the sacrificial altar   by the BCCI Selectors in Kolkata today for the fourth Test match between India and England staring in Nagpur from 13 th December, 2012. The first one is Yuvraj Singh who fought cancer to get back to...

Finally India managed to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat—a defeat terminology India have been used to thrusting upon their rivals at home since time somewhat memorial. On the last day of the third cricket Test match in Kolkata today England cruised to a 7 wicket victory over India—a historical win at Eden Gardens where England last won a Test as far back as in the 1976-77 England tour of India under the captaincy of Tony Greig. England could have wrapped up the match forcing an innings defeat well within four days yesterday but for spinner R Ashwin’s charged fight-back   posting the only half century of the Indian second innings trailing 207 runs. The so-called Revenge Series got turned on its head and converted into a Humiliation Series by a gallant England team that called the shots all the way since the media-termed Revenge No.1 after an Indian victory in the first Test at Ahmedabad. Mumbai made Revenge No.2 turn into Humiliation No.1 and now Kolkata made Revenge No.3 t...

India have won the multi-brand Retail FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) Test fought vehemently in the most happening playground of the Indian Parliament since the beginning of the winter session on November 22, 2012. With Rajya Sabha, the upper house, defeating the opposition motion by 14 votes in the second innings today the Government of India has finally cleared the way for 51% FDI in the $500 Billion Indian multi-brand retail market and the much required further economic reforms. Lok Sabha, the lower house, had already defeated the voting motion convincingly in the first innings played on December 5, 2012. Though it was an executive decision of the Government the opposition wanted a debate with voting in Parliament. How the final victory came about…well…ours not to reason why, ours but to wait and watch! In this unique Test Team India always knew what was right for the country. Team Opposition could hardly differentiate ‘right’ from ‘left’ or from ‘centre’ and yet succeeded in makin...

As his forte Aamir Khan has made his blockbuster appearance after a gap of almost three years since the release of the super movie 3 Idiots in 2009, and his magic worked for the much awaited Talaash; The Answer Lies Within that released on November 30, 2012 all over. Talaash has grossed the sixth highest Box Office earnings of the year over the release weekend and is confirmed a hit. Aamir Khan, this time coming with a big mustache, plays a cop and gives a powerhouse performance for his loving admirers yet again. If you enjoy an absorbing suspense buildup to the extent that it makes the end irrelevant then Talaash is the right movie for you. We had said a similar thing in the review of Kahaani , but Kahaani was almost flawless and the intended power of the climax twist did not get diluted due to the ‘technicality’ whereas Talaash is not flawless and it ultimately does not stay loyal to the genre of suspense. The Talaash climax is kind of a state-of-the-mind affair—you like it or...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday suspended the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for its repeated failure to abide by the constitution and rules set by the apex body. This is the biggest shame and embarrassment possible for the largest and most populated democracy of the world. And ironically this comes just after India’s best ever haul of medals in London Olympics 2012 . The decision renders India disqualified to participate in any major international sports events and of course in the Olympics. India now have the unique distinction of sharing the shame with Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.  Such was the rampant lobbying, corruption and colossal disregard to both national and international decorum in the sports bodies of India in general over the years that this huge embarrassment was in fact anticipated by many . Politics, personal ambitions and corruption have been the distinctive features of the Indian sports bodies, particularly the IOA. Even after the scam o...

Every second building in Mahabaleshwar is a hotel, well almost, and the entire population at a point of time consists of only tourists barring the local shopkeepers, tour agencies, tourist bus and car drivers and of course hotel owners and staff.  The city is crisscrossed with hilly and narrow roads and lanes—in the market area these are mostly clogged as it is very difficult almost in every road for two vehicles to cross and near empty and serene in the quieter areas. Apart from the tourist cars you find geared up horses too for taking   joy rides.  After a hectic day of sight seeing the tourists throng to the colorful market in the evenings. The local products that particularly attract them are strawberry delicacies, honey and wooden articles of immense artistry. Foreign tourists are not seen as frequently as compared to other Indian tourist destinations. Lack of a direct flight here could be a possible reason. But thanks to the new highway it takes only five hours fro...