Don't worry, we have Bumrah

India finally wins an ICC tournament, but I was reflecting on a side story after the win.

There was a moment in India vs Pak game last month. A Child was disheartened that India's total seemed very small and Pakistan was cruising towards the target. His Father cheered him up with, don't worry .. we have Bumrah. And then the boy saw what happened next, and then he became a fan.

https://x.com/i/status/1799889813585510649

We had games when ball was keeping low, when it was swinging, when the wind was a factor, when the wicket was slow, when the wicket was fast, and you get the drift ... but there was one constant. Bumrah was there!

Come to the final, India's total was good but not safe. SA innings starts and then he gives you a wicket with a dream delivery. 'What a ball, what a bowler' ...kind of goosebumps!

And then SA start their charge, and then they cruise like Pakistan were doing and then it seemed all hopeless. But... watch out for what commentators were saying.

After the powerplay: SA need to be ahead they can't keep things to the end, 30 runs from 2 or 3 overs are very different when you have 2 of them from Bumrah !

When Heinrich Klaasen was showing his class, and all hopes were lost:  Rohit surely needs to bring Bumrah NOW, if there is anything that can happen for India, it is that guy!

After the match is finished: Rohit, Arshdeep and Axar were brilliant, Kuldeep showed his class in the tournament but how do you explain this guy, Jasprit Bumrah ?

So how do you explain Bumrah ? It is not the statistics, neither the wickets tally that does justice to him. It is the belief that people have on him. The pundits, his captains, the opposition and the fans. Here is a bowler who is at top of his game, sure of his skills and beyond the need of any external validation. Absolute Genius!

There was a time in the final when I was resigned to the fact that SA are winning the cup, I was in fact OK with this. Why? Because if India cannot win it, my second favorite would be SA .... always. I was planning to switch off the tv and go to sleep but not before... you know, Bumrah bowls!

And he bowls, and the buzz is back, India is in the game. There are very few players who have this ability, who become more than just good players. Who carry the belief of a nation on their shoulders with such consistency and spunk. Players who come once in a generation and Bumrah is one of them!

Navratri 2022 in Bilaspur

One of the fondest memories from my childhood involves Durga puja in Bilaspur. The city almost transforms into another world. 'Metaverse' is the closest which comes to mind if I have to describe it using the latest vocabulary. As we go into last 3-4 days of Navratri and the sun sets, the city starts getting ready. People gather around pandals navigating traffic and chaos in the narrow lanes, sound of songs celebrating the goddess and smell of dhoop overpower all the cacophony.

I am at a stage where I have spent more than half my life outside my hometown Bilaspur, this realization itself brings a lot of mixed emotions. I left this place to pursue higher education and career aspirations and since then I am a confused soul who doesn't know where he belongs. Every time I come, I invariably try to find memories which take me back to younger days and festivals tend to be the easiest memories you can recollect.

I do come for every Diwali except for few due to unavoidable reasons. But Diwali is a festival which I associate more with Home and Family, not necessarily with the city. The lights, decoration, markets buzzing with people do add an argument but still Diwali is a more personal and intimate festival for me. Whereas Durga puja is all about outside environment, the city is an integral part of it. 

I was in Bilaspur for Durga puja after nearly 2 decades. I was here last year but 2 years of covid had sadly taken everything out of festivities and the celebrations were lukewarm. This time, it looked as if the flavor and fervor is truly back and it was time to go out and experience it. So I did !!

And it brought so much of nostalgia. Good old times when we used to do a city tour in a rikshaw, eyes wide open, filled with excitement and having a great time looking at all the 'grandeur'. I put grandeur in quotes because becoming older and wiser, seeing a lot more places and things has put things in perspective. I admit the charm is not the same but still, hopping around durga pandals took me back to those younger days which in itself is something to be thrilled about.

So all my younger friends, if you are having a good time, be there and cherish it. As the Japanese say "Itchi-go-itchi-e"

लॉक डाउन - लॉक डाउन !!

आज बैंगलोर बंद है, सुना है लॉक डाउन है। पूरे एक दिन का !!

जब मार्च में प्रधान मंत्री जी ने पूरे देश में लॉक डाउन की घोषणा की तब हमें लगा की ये हमारे लिए जरूरी है। अगर अर्थव्यवस्था को नुक्सान होगा तो सह लेंगे पर लोगों की जान तो बच जाए। 

बात सही भी थी, हमें कोरोना के बारे में बहुत काम जानकारी थी।  WHO के अधिकारी भी भरोसा जताने वाली बातें नहीं कर रहे थे, ये कैसा वायरस है, कैसे फैलता है , इसका संक्रमण कैसे रोका जा सकता है और अगर हो गया तो इलाज क्या है।  हमें कुछ नहीं पता था, बस इतना पता था कि अगर ये बहुत तेजी से फैला तो हमारी चिकित्सा व्यवस्था संभल नहीं पाएगी।  मास्क्स नहीं थे, P.P.E कीटस नहीं थे , वेंटिलेटर्स, दवाइयां सबकी कमी थी।  

एक बात जो धीरे धीरे समझ आयी की लॉक डाउन करने से कोरोना ख़तम नहीं होने वाला है, इससे हमें कुछ समय मिल रहा है की हम तैयारी कर पाएं ,और अगर हम वो कर पाए हैं तो वही लॉक डाउन का सही फायदा है। 

और आज जब हमारे पास थोड़ी ज्यादा जानकारी है , मास्क्स और सोशल डिस्टन्सिंग के फायदे पता हैं और सबसे बड़ी बात ये पता है कि कोरोना कहीं जाने वाला नहीं है , हमें इसके साथ ही रहना सीखना पड़ेगा !

ये सुनकर निराशा होती है कि अभी भी हम लॉक डाउन से आगे कुछ सोच नहीं पा रहे हैं। ये कदम ऐसा ही है कि नहीं करने से अच्छा कुछ तो करो,भले उसका असर हो या न हो। लॉक डाउन नहीं हुआ, हरताल हो गया।  दुकानें बंद करो, ठेले बंद करो, जो घर से निकल रहा है, उसको अंदर करो।  पूरी पुलिस की ताकत लॉक डाउन कराने में ही लगी हुई है। 

मेरी राय में तो एक दिन के लॉक डाउन से व्यापारियों के नुक्सान के अलावा कुछ ज्यादा नहीं होने वाला। ये लड़ाई ऐसे सांकेतिक क़दमों से नहीं जीती जा सकती :(