Else where in my blog I wrote "Ask a failed man how he failed, so that he can explain at length, but not a man who has succeeded because he do not know how he was successful". Is this statement correct? Few weeks back I was watching a tennis match of Wimbledon - gentlemen's final 2009 between Swiss FEDEX Vs Yankee Andy Roddic. What a match it was? I was biting my nails, watching the volleys, deuces, tie breakers, games, sets and both the sport men’s struggle to win that match at any cost. No doubt it was a clash of titans and a match to be remembered for years to come.
Finally it was ended with the highest ever games fought in a grand slam - if am right about the records. My heart bleeded for Andy Roddic for his defeat. I have not seen (or missed) tears in the eyes of Roger Fedarer (unlike when he won the title at Rolland Garrows) or in the eyes of defeated Roddic other than greatest disappointment. To compensate that situation I have tears in my eyes which I want to hide in front of my daughter because she may think that am emotionally weak bol ke. (Incidentally even with books also, still after reading the same book so many times I will have tears in my eyes and one such book to quote is "A train to Pakistan" by Mr.Kushwanth Singh).
I do not know that I will have tears in my eyes for a tennis match fought by two non Indian players. I asked myself later so many times, what made me to move in such a way? The answer is the defeat in such a fashion. I know how it hurts when you loose something after coming to the verge of winning the match and after fighting savagely for more than four and half hours or so. when Roddic commented "But I tried Pete..." for the greatest player Pete Sampras watching from the stands, every body watching that match know what he meant by saying "I tried..." and how he tried to win the match.
My daughter who is also there in front of the TV watching that match asked why am I disappointed? She knows to whom my respect goes to because of my moist eyes. It is not for the defeat as we all know that no looser will ever respected but for the way Andy Roddic has accepted the defeat and responded later. Am sure we will all have a few occasions of watching this final in years to come under the golden moments of Wimbledon. At the same time we have to bow for Fedarer without loosing his patience fought and won the match.
Any defeat is cruel and merciless and how a person takes it is more important. Some take it gracefully and some do not accept it and blame it on everybody including the empires, judges and deciders. A few examples to quote is the reality shows on different TV channels. At times it is boring to see people weeping for a defeat in those shows. To help this situation I think anchors are also trying their level best to build up the tempo for the elimination round. I have left these shows for good and resumed my old habit of reading books. I forgot to mention here that I watched a few of the elimination rounds of a recent Swayamvara - a different cup of tea to taste. So in this for somebody who is eliminated can we say that he is defeated? I do not know and somebody comment on this.
Also in another channel there is a contest (I do not know what it is to be termed a game show or a reality show) to win in that you have to tell the truth in the presence of your family members. They ask you few questions which will pain you. I was told a few families are already broken by this. Good for us. We deserve what we want. Participation in this is a devils alternative in my perception. Here it is not the question of loosing or gaining but probing the inner thoughts and confess with a poly graph machine connected to you. This contest, I think has opened a Pandora's Box. Let much discussion go on this show and hope the muddy waters will be settled. Even though these channels are commercial, I hope human beings are there behind these concepts and are they not listening what India is saying? Mera Bharat Mahan.......
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Friday, July 03, 2009
"What's in a name?"
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." - Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) - Shakespeare.
But in my perception there is a lot at stake in anybody's name. People whose names starts with a higher order of alphabet always struggle when they are called for a debate or in getting invited - not by first came first serve basis, but on the order of alphabetical priority. I know this because of my name with an S. That is the reason I put my daughter's name with an A - Anjana. But she is complaining that she did not have enough time to think about any subject when they are calling to talk her in her college assignments. So there is a point to be noted here as well. So point no 1 is name should start with a "C" or a "D" preferably.
I have an identity crisis till my late age in the life. This is because during my childhood days I was timid. In contrast my elder sister is ferocious and she used to protect me and my eldest sister in our preschool quarrels. Because of her peculiar name "Muni Kanya" I was always Muni Kanya's brother only. For me being two years younger to her is not an issue but for my eldest sister who is two years senior to Muni Kanya also known as Muni Kanya's sister only. Phew - bad luck. In Hyderabad telephone directory Muni Kanya's name is only one of its kind. So point no 2 is try to put a peculiar or odd name. (Also try to be ferocious as well - Sis am sorry and I tried to be like you and learnt that it is not possible for everyone to be like that).
Srinivas is a such a common name in Andhra, so many of them are there with same initials also in every class. During my college days my roommate is also another Srinivas. But Sekhar has christened us Pidi Srinu 1 and 2 which followed for the rest of the years. Later during my job in MACE there are three SRAOs and all are named KS, JS and VS based on their initials. So this JS struck to me finally (other than Muni Kanya's brother) and I liked it because of the simplicity. I thought there is no confusion until one day some body is inquiring about one Mr. PS in stead of JS. To be further simpler like Americans I have to call myself Mr. S. But what is the guarantee that some body may call me Mr. Z. So point no 3 is no name is not so simple to avoid confusion.
In contrast longer names do have advantages. Let me quote a joke. (source of this is not identified but duly acknowledged). In one of the international flights Bond sat by the side of an Indian and an Andhrite. Casually Bond introduced himself in his typical way "I am Bond - James Bond". Our friend snapped back "I am Rao, - Subba Rao, - Venkata Subba Rao, - Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond frowned), - Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond yawned), Satya Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond fainted). The joke ends with our friend commenting "Do not play games with Indians..". Point No 4 long names are comfortable because you can trim yourself in whatever way you like and your spouse call whatever way she / he likes and a bit of that name always exist over there.
Also some times a few names of persons or places just ring a bell in our memory and recollect that person or an activity immediately. For example if you want your daughter to become a tennis star put her name in such a way that it ends with a Pova, Eva or a Nova. Cut the scene you are sitting in Rolland Garrows or Wimbledon waving your hand from the stands vigorously cheering your daughter against William Sisters if they do not retire by that time.
There are other ways of world recognizing us with our name other than the above guidelines. Now a days it is the famous TAST (Throw A shoe Technique). Throw one on the face of a famous personality and chances are there that we may land in Teehar jail but next day we will become a personality of Who is Who in all GK books. Generations next will remember you with your name being sought for a quiz contest. Some body kindly advise other than this any short cuts to become famous with our names over night.......
But in my perception there is a lot at stake in anybody's name. People whose names starts with a higher order of alphabet always struggle when they are called for a debate or in getting invited - not by first came first serve basis, but on the order of alphabetical priority. I know this because of my name with an S. That is the reason I put my daughter's name with an A - Anjana. But she is complaining that she did not have enough time to think about any subject when they are calling to talk her in her college assignments. So there is a point to be noted here as well. So point no 1 is name should start with a "C" or a "D" preferably.
I have an identity crisis till my late age in the life. This is because during my childhood days I was timid. In contrast my elder sister is ferocious and she used to protect me and my eldest sister in our preschool quarrels. Because of her peculiar name "Muni Kanya" I was always Muni Kanya's brother only. For me being two years younger to her is not an issue but for my eldest sister who is two years senior to Muni Kanya also known as Muni Kanya's sister only. Phew - bad luck. In Hyderabad telephone directory Muni Kanya's name is only one of its kind. So point no 2 is try to put a peculiar or odd name. (Also try to be ferocious as well - Sis am sorry and I tried to be like you and learnt that it is not possible for everyone to be like that).
Srinivas is a such a common name in Andhra, so many of them are there with same initials also in every class. During my college days my roommate is also another Srinivas. But Sekhar has christened us Pidi Srinu 1 and 2 which followed for the rest of the years. Later during my job in MACE there are three SRAOs and all are named KS, JS and VS based on their initials. So this JS struck to me finally (other than Muni Kanya's brother) and I liked it because of the simplicity. I thought there is no confusion until one day some body is inquiring about one Mr. PS in stead of JS. To be further simpler like Americans I have to call myself Mr. S. But what is the guarantee that some body may call me Mr. Z. So point no 3 is no name is not so simple to avoid confusion.
In contrast longer names do have advantages. Let me quote a joke. (source of this is not identified but duly acknowledged). In one of the international flights Bond sat by the side of an Indian and an Andhrite. Casually Bond introduced himself in his typical way "I am Bond - James Bond". Our friend snapped back "I am Rao, - Subba Rao, - Venkata Subba Rao, - Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond frowned), - Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond yawned), Satya Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond fainted). The joke ends with our friend commenting "Do not play games with Indians..". Point No 4 long names are comfortable because you can trim yourself in whatever way you like and your spouse call whatever way she / he likes and a bit of that name always exist over there.
Also some times a few names of persons or places just ring a bell in our memory and recollect that person or an activity immediately. For example if you want your daughter to become a tennis star put her name in such a way that it ends with a Pova, Eva or a Nova. Cut the scene you are sitting in Rolland Garrows or Wimbledon waving your hand from the stands vigorously cheering your daughter against William Sisters if they do not retire by that time.
There are other ways of world recognizing us with our name other than the above guidelines. Now a days it is the famous TAST (Throw A shoe Technique). Throw one on the face of a famous personality and chances are there that we may land in Teehar jail but next day we will become a personality of Who is Who in all GK books. Generations next will remember you with your name being sought for a quiz contest. Some body kindly advise other than this any short cuts to become famous with our names over night.......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)