OH My God!!

I always wanted to write this. I always felt uncomfortable in doing certain things. But due to the fear of God you may say and to not hurt my mom's feelings, I was/am doing them. Nevertheless, I have questions ringing inside me. Why this is done? Why not that is not done? 'This' and 'that can be seen below.

Everyone has religious feeling. Many towards it and some against it. And let me make clear that I am towards it (although not so superstitious). I do believe in the existence of super power (you can term it as God or Nature). But there are few things that seem to be too much for me or in a since not required. The same effort can be spent in the good of several fellow humans.

The first big thing that puts me into a serious thought is the religious travel/yatra. Let it be any religion, people think that as a good deed that brings them moksha or heaven. But no one is sure if such an afterlife exists. Still we love to save for that not-so-sure life that is going to exist. Religions might have been originated in different parts of the world but how they have this yatra in common is the question that interests me. I will try to find that sooner. If someone could help me in knowing, that will be great.

Also the offerings to God, ranging from 100s to several lakhs is so common. People think if you give to God, he will give you ten fold!! I am surprised where this thought came from.

Maybe from a psychological stand point, it will give some clarity, atleast to me. This has something to do with the belief of the people. They always need someone to believe, someone to motivate them. That motivation factor is the one told above. In fact two. There maybe lot more like asking for forgiveness, but the point here is, we need someone to carry our burden. We choose God as he is the superior to all. Those offerings/yatras, we feel, will bring us good time. We believe, good will happen due to that. That belief gets transformed into a self belief. As some psychologists say, if you start believing something over a period of time, the belief will come true. In that sense, the offerings maybe accepted. But could that not be changed?

Can't the poor be helped with the money spent on that? Certainly they can but people generally expect something in return for their action. If we give to God, God will give us back (belief). But what will be get if we give the poor. If you believe in the almighty, then he is watching us every time. Our good deeds are noticed. Its more than what we do to God directly. I heard a story told by a writer about his friend. What that friend will do is, every year on his birthday he will buy 4 biriyani packets while going to office. He will distribute them to the beggars on the way. These kind of small things will give you greater satisfaction. You are noticed, don't worry. There is no politics here!!

I had a personal satisfaction yesterday when I contributed few kgs of rice and wheat for the people affected by flood in Uttrakand. I am not sure if that will reach the right guys but I have done what I could. Show love to the fellow humans. God will love you or you will get that great feel for that matter. :Pray to God that you will offer something, but to the poor!!

Helping hand is always better than praying lips.

Do we have someone in Jumbo’s shoes please?

You need not be 6 foot tall or a right arm leg spinner to replace him. What makes him special is his line and length. He bowls stump to stump, he has pace; and the line and length he bowls is consistent; he has the temperament to bowl long spells. He doesn’t spin the ball much. This has attributed to his success over the years. He was a new generation of spin in the 90’s when there was no legend in the dressing room to guide him (at least in the spin department). He was a refreshingly new talent but without much variety. He had that odd googly but apart from that he is not so special. That made people to take him for granted. Even when they understood his potential they felt difficult to handle him. He had that attitude to bowl tirelessly even when he doesn’t get much assistance from the pitch. That where he outplays everyone else (Including Bhajji).

If you have a close look, much of Harbhajan’s success came in Kumble’s playing days. After the retirement of him, Bhajji is just a pale shadow of himself. As experts say, spinners hunt in pairs. There was a good rapport between them. That was because, Jumbo was a selfless bowler. He sets the thing up for Bhajji to get wickets when he himself don’t get any wickets. They bowled in tandem.

It is not easy to replace any legend all of a sudden. When Sunny retired, it took another 15 years to find another good opener in Sehwag. So it will be in Kumble’s case. But I am surprised to see no one want someone in his place. No talks on the legend. Is that because we are traditionally spin bowlers and we can find another special talent? That will not be the case. Sometime you need to stick to the basics. Atleast in the longer format. Too many variations will cost us the match. That is what happened in the recent home series against England. And that is where you need someone like Kumble to set things up, make it difficult for the batsmen to score. The pressure will result in wicket, either your end or the other end. The young generation is now in a hurry for wicket and fame as well. Ashwin, dubbed to be the man for the future, fails in this aspect. He is yet to attain that maturity. I am not sure if the current bunch of players have the patience to watch a test match of 80’s and 90’s (especially between India and Pakistan, which will be draw most of the time and you can predict the result in the 3^rd day itself). That patience is missing in the modern days. There you need a man of Jumbo’s caliber to marshal the troops.

Having said that, I recently compare one man with the patience and skills of Kumble. I maybe to totally wrong or too early but if found right, you have to give it to me for this discovery. While I am writing this, he has taken his 2^nd wicket against Pakistan in the last edition of champion’s trophy. He was bought into the team as a spin bowling all rounder, failed in all aspects and c ritisised by everyone. Even Dhoni came under severe criticism but now it is paying off. Yes it is Sir Jaddu. Ok ok let me justify or try to defend myself first. I was a strong critic of him and his batting abilities (Still I am), but when it comes to bowling, I feel he is the best spinner in India at present. The stats will tell you. He is economical, doesn’t spin the ball much (odd ones turn) and that is his strength. He has a slower one and a quicker one. Bowls stump to stump as like the great jumbo. If you are not convinced yet, just go back to the India-Australia Hyderabad test. Just watch how he sets up Clarke for the wicket. I was convinced at that point. He is our man for a long term. He is now doing for India in the Champions trophy. Both with the bat and the ball. He has the temperament to bowl long spells. For me he is the man for the tournament against Australia. Without him, 4-0 would not be there (sure India would have won the series). This young lad has a long way to go!! For me he is the spinner to watch out for!!