Destiny ==> Rome

Less than a day before the biggest football night of the year kicks off. The Champions League final will be played in Rome. Two of the best teams competing for, well history actually. Manchester United take on Barcelona in a final between equals, there is truly no favourite.

Its the biggest match in football players life (except maybe a world cup final). The pressure, anxiety, nerves and demons need to be fought. The 'stars' will be expected to dazzle, but its going to be the 'workmen' who deliver.

As is usual in sport, its going to be the 'Reds' against the 'Blues' ( why do all sporting contests have these two colours)

And there are no prizes for guessing my loyalty!!
Victory be ours, its destined..

Clear Mandate!!

Election 2009 will be remembered for a lot of things, but nobody had predicted the sweeping results. The Congress triumph, the BJP despair, the Left sent right out(pun unappologetically intended), Mayawati has more time to build statues (not in Delhi), Lalu can take a train to Bihar(on the side middle berth), Mulayam and Amar Singh can use the time to update their facebook profile (in English, they have 5 years to learn it). Who would have thought all this was possible. Let me state right at the outset that I have no brilliant insights you wouldn't have read, but I am so excited and that I am compelled to write this post. Thus a summary of events brought out by this election.

The most powerful statement made by voters this time is that extremism will not be tolerated. Extremism of any form, religious, ideological or caste based. Mr. Muthalik, beating women at pubs will get you pink chaddi's but not votes. The fact remains that India is secular not because the minority are secular, but the majority are secular.

My caste my vote; no longer true. People have matured (I hope my inference is correct) and are voting for development and visible economic benefits. Recent assembly polls and the last two national elections seem to reflect this.

Cut the negativity. The Congress party focused on the work that did in the last five years (I'm not getting into whether they actually did anything). While the BJP were harping on the 'Weak PM' line, the outcome indicates Dr Manmohan knocked them out with just one punch.

Humility. Its an under-rated virtue, but it is most appreciated. A host of politicians made arrogant statements, took cheap shots at opponents, trash talked. The endearing humility of the PM stood out and endeared the voters. The message was clear; 'My works speaks for me'.

The clear mandate to the UPA provides them with the opportunity to implement reforms they could not earlier bring about. The pressure is back on the Congress to deliver and validate the voters confidence. This election outcome leaves our country on the threshold to a lot of possibilities, let us achieve all of them.

Colour Obsession

As a nation we are obsessed with fair skin. No this post is not another rant about our hypocritical view on skin tone. I am also not going to debate on the ethical stand point of fairness cream advertisements as well. This is more like a journey through our collective past, which I think shaped our mindset.

If we look back at our history and ponder over the last five hundred years and examine our rulers. First we had the Mughals of Persian-Afghan descent. Then for over a century we were ruled by the British. This era had a significant impact on our psyche. As the skin tone of our masters became fairer, our fear of the colour increased. We are victims of our past. I don't blame anyone, after all the British did dominate our existence rather brutally. And when they left our shores the fear, shock, awe,respect turned to love for fair skin. I wonder if our attitude would have totally opposite if we were ruled by a darker skinned race?

As we complete almost 61 years of independence, we are breaking the shackles. We are more confident in all aspects of life, acquiring businesses, leading innovation and driving growth (No this is not part of the India Shining campaign). The fear has reduced but it has not been replaced with equality in our minds.

You can't really blame the advertising guys behind the fairness cream ads, they are just taking advantage of a dominant prejudice (though the underlying concept still rankles me).
P.S - There is no anger directed at anybody.

Poll Commentary

The great dance of the Indian democracy is drawing to its climax. The general elections are always exciting and full of drama. This time was no different, the incessant mud slinging, changing partners and meaningless cacophony littered among some important issues. The election process ends mid may.

I voted; but where was the rest of Mumbai? It is appalling that only 44% of the electorate exercised their vote. This is not very different from the last time, but the environment has changed dramatically. Mumbai was hit badly and one expected a stronger reaction from the citizens. A lot of anger was vent during the rally at Gateway post the terrorist attack, but heck the attitude has not changed. It makes me wonder that if this does not change us, then what will?

We face adversary with our chin up, but we missed an opportunity to be the change. No matter what the reason for not voting, the black dot on the finger is far more important.