IPL 7 : Knights reign The Kings,...its patch Purple over Red...KKR ....KKR....again !!

The Kolkata Knight Riders have done it....& in style.....winning the coveted trophy twice in three years.... Korbo, Lorbo, Jitbo re....Jitbo re....

For a team that was struggling at the halfway mark of the tournament this year, they came back with amazing belief in their abilities & won nine matches to the trot to romp home winners...... Kudos for sure. The think tank had done very good home work, & got the winning combination on the buzzer..... to go past strong teams like CSK, RCB, MI & of course KX1P..... it indeed has been a purple patch for the Kinghts.... well done.

In fact, in my huddle discussions with friends around for the finals, I must admit I felt it will be the Red Kings from Punjab this time. The reasoning, the rationale, the statistics & the team form said it would be the Knights, but somewhere, the heart felt, the instincts felt, it will be Punjab this time...& I rarely go wrong with such instincts, I must say....& the Kings X1 Punjab missed the title by a whisker....& they have themselves to blame for losing an almost winning game.... was it the nerves of the first final, was it the team composition, was it the batting order, was it scoring just 58 runs in the first 10 overs,.....lots of conjectures...but a golden opportunity in the offing lost.....some stories like this are meant to bring in tears. The most consistent team till the playoffs....the most fearless & inventive batting, one of the best fielding sides, a cool Captain in Bailey, Maxwell & Miller scoring from virtually every delivery & more...& yet!!

Look at the match.....the big guns of Punjab....Maxwell, Miller & Bailey(the murderous three in big hitting...throughout the tournament), contributed just 2 runs to the total !!!, & yet they amassed 199....incredible...& at the helm of all this were two rather lesser known players.....the duminitive Wriddhiman Saha & Manan Vohra...... Saha going unbeaten for 115 off mere 55 deliveries & Vohra a brilliant 67 off 52 deliveries. They had taken heveyweight bowlers like Morkel & Naraine & Chawla to cleaners.....it was simply incredible.....& in chase, when KKR lost their best batsman Uthappa in the 1st over...it looked all set for Punjab...wickets were falling at intervals. However, another lesser player from the shadows emerged in Manish Pandey for the Knights to slam an unbelievable 94 off just 50 deliveries....& then from nowhere a Piyush Chawla, better known for bowling, stole the show for the Knights, by hooking that awesome six of Mitchel Johnson in the last ball of the 19th over, & of course then hitting the winning boundary. Two years back, it was a certain Manvinder Bisla who tore the CSK attack in the finals with 80 + run innings to win it for the Knights & this time it was Manish Pandey.....SRK does live his luck on his sleeves.
I would stick out & say that the Punjab lost because on this day of reckoning their international players contributed almost nothing, despite having been in fabulous form right through the tournament. It was the bowling which let the Kings down....they had crossed the line narrowly in the playoffs, & in a couple of other matches as well, but maybe, they did not pay heed or did not have enough resources. 

It was however, a final worthy of every single moment....hard fought....fortune swinging.....& jaw dropping. 

The heartening fact of this edition of IPL was the domination of Indians as much if not more than the overseas players through the tournament. The matches were mostly well fought & close encounters....there was very little to chose between the winners & the losers, in almost every game....Cricket certainly was the winner. 

Saha's incredible century, in the finals, though in vain, was equally countered by Manish Pandey.....in the bowling Aksar Patel was excellent for the Punjab, while Umesh Yadav was piercing with his new found pace for the Kolkatans. 

In the playoffs, Sehwag's masterclass century from nowhere against Chennai was equally contested by Raina, with his unbelievable 87 off just 25 balls...he would have won the game, but for the unfortunate run out. Hard hitting Yusuf Pathan's ballistic 72 in the play offs; Corey Anderson's 95 not out 42 year old Pravin Tambe's hat trick to get a win for Rajasthan against the KKR from nowhere, Robin Uthappa's dream run with the bat, having won the Orange Cap with 650 plus runs; Mohit Sharma winning the Purple Cap with 22 wickets; some brilliant batting innings by Sanju Samson, Gautam Gambhir, of course Yuvi & Virat Kolhi in flashes. In bowling Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Aksar Patel, Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav & Jaddu were stand outs. 

Heavyweight players like Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Rahane, Ashwin, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Kartick, all had a rather tame tourney by their standards.

The fact that both the Orange Cap & the Purple Cap stays home with the Indians, & also the Emerging Player of the tournament bagged by Aksar Patel, speaks volumes of how the Indians performed this year. 

Amongst the overseas players, the standout & the Most Valuable Player of the tournament was Glen Maxwell....he was in dream form in the early part of this edition with three knocks in the 90's...then there were Lindl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Warner, deVilliers, Duminy, Miller, Corey Anderson(rather late in the contest), McCullum, Pollard(though in patches)  in batting & Naraine, Morkel, Starc, Malinga(till he left for his national squad) were phenomenal with the ball. 

Verdict NaMo ...a Vision ....a Hope ....achhe din aane wale hain...

Frenetic guessing, volatile & high pitch debates across various news channels, pre poll campaigns of an unprecedented scale, kept 80 million electorate of the largest democracy on the edge of sanity for the last 40 - 45 days. Rallies, meetings, comments, counter comments....sometimes scathingly vitriolic, religious sentiments evoked, breaking the moral code of conduct, use of technology (holograms), social media (FB, Twitter) for better reach....the 16th General Election campaign of India saw it all.
Who will emerge.....NaMo or RaGa or a Third Front, or even AK.....various poll pundits, various predictions, various trends....each claiming its rightful place amongst discussions......it was completely mind boggling. The biggest worry was a fractured mandate leading to a downward spiraling economy & further vote bank politics in the name of Secularism !!!

Its all over now with an unparalleled victory for Narendra Modi led BJP.....a crystal clear majority for BJP alone clocking a staggering 282 seats & the NDA alliance closing on 336. For the first time since 1984, a political party has on its own claimed clear majority....the first party other than Congress to do so since Independence.....by far the largest anti incumbency verdict since Independence. Such has been the dominance of the saffron, that while Congress failed to even open its account in as many as ten states & failed to clock double digit in any one, the BJP swept clean in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa & had near clean sweeps in UP, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, & Madhya Pradesh. Even states like Assam, Odisha, West Bengal have opened account for BJP & there were good inroads in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, J&K, & Punjab.... truly a national presence. In fact BJP's tally of 71 in UP alone was better than the national tally of UPA !!

So absolute has been the results, that the ruling UPA Govt has been reduced to an abysmal low of 60 seats, with Congress claiming a mere 44 seats & now completely at the mercy of the Speaker for an Opposition Status. In fact as a party, this has been their worst ever performance, not even putting a tally of 54 seats (minimum 10% - one tenth of Lok Sabha) & hence may not even qualify to put up their leader as the Leader of Opposition on their own......only three of their 28 cabinet ministers managed to retain their respective seats....... finally a decisive verdict by the Country against a party which has been enjoying an extended stint over the years using divisive strategies, vote bank politics & corrupt leadership !!!
They will need radical changes in their approach, policies, strategies & above all Leadership.....all of which needs complete overhaul....if they ever want to return to recognition amongst the country's electorate.

Narendra Modi, would be a satisfied man for now. It has been a campaign well orchestrated, well planned & exceptionally well executed. A victory well deserved....for all the resilience, faith in capabilities & team work at the grass root levels.
Not a single politician in Independent India would have had to face such strong opposition....ever. Both political & intellectual. Over the years, he has been spurned, criticised (sometimes even by his own partymen), lambasted, hounded & even written off from becoming a National Leader. His detractors kept on screaming hoarse for the 2002 riots in Gujarat ( a charge that even a Supreme Court set up SIT has given him a clean chit for !!).....& in fact, probably they lost this election, as they had nothing else to speak of....& the country had seen enough of scams & corruptions, minority card based vote bank politics, riff raff coalitions, abject lack of strong leadership & myopic vision over the last two terms of the UPA.
On the contrary, Narendra Modi had three successive terms in Gujarat on merit of good governance, development, & credible achievements to show case & he went across the country harping on the same model to replicate.....a story that the mass could relate to, a promise that the youth could identify with, a story that the backward & the downtrodden over years could look up to with hope.... & the results have comprehensively established this diktat. It has indeed been the rise of a phoenix...virtually from ashes. Maa Ganga has indeed showered her blessings on this Son of the Soil.....it has indeed been a fairy tale journey from a tea stall to Shakha to State Leadership to National Leadership.....a path completely strewn with very few roses & plentiful thorns...but a path worth traversing !!!

Naendra Modi gets a full term ahead....a full 60 months of National Leadership through inclusive governance....to resurrect India's economy, uphold the heritage values, establish trust & faith amongst all communities, opportunities by merit & not by any bias.... as the Lotus blooms....truly a Modified India. As he has been saying ... "Acche din aane waale hain" ...NaMo NaMo....Om NaMo Shivaye....

His recent interviews have been an eye opener....full of maturity, humility, long term vision, but with a resilient confidence in his abilities....despite such a resounding victory, he welcomes inclusive governance...it gives us hope for sure.....lets all help him rediscover India....realize our dreams.
As first steps, keenly waiting for the new Cabinet to take oath.... who are the guardians of the various portfolios ??  There certainly would be some interesting news in the making ahead......

We as a Nation will watch him fulfill the promises made..... as will the rest of the World....

Jai Hind....

Popular Indian Customs - A Rationale....

Popular Indian customs & the rationale -

Our fore fathers, through generations have prescribed & practiced some interesting customs with fervour & faith. Each one of them have significance even to this day, although we have been following them....using & abusing them without really understanding the rationale. 

Given below are a few with a possible explanation. Hope this is useful : 

Throwing coins into a river - 

The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient times, most of the currency used was made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river was one way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practice.

Joining both palms together to greet - 

In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms - termed as “Namaskar.” The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact!

Why do Indian women wear toe rings -
Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

Applying Tilak on the forehead - 
On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of "energy", the red 'kumkum' between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

Why do temples have bells - 
People who are visiting the temple should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum (Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or womb-chamber) where the main idol is placed. According to Agama Sastra, the bell is used to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reason behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose. These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.

Why do we worship ‘Tulsi’ plant - 
Hindu religion has bestowed ‘Tulsi’, with the status of mother. Also known as ‘Sacred or Holy Basil’, Tulsi, has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout in many parts of the world. The vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi and that is why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear message to the entire community that it needs to be taken care of by the people, literate or illiterate. We try to protect it because it is like Sanjeevani for the mankind. Tulsi has great medicinal properties. It is a remarkable antibiotic. Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases, stabilize his or her health condition, balance his or her body system and most important of all, prolong his or her life. Keeping Tulsi plant at home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the house. It is said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant. Maybe that is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their houses.

Why do we worship 'Peepal Tree' - 
‘Peepal’ tree is almost useless for an ordinary person, except for its shadow. ‘Peepal’ does not a have a delicious fruit, its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why should a common villager or person worship it or even care for it? Our ancestors knew that ‘Peepal’ is one of the very few trees (or probably the only tree) which produces oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because of its unique property they related it to God/religion.

Start with spice, end with sweet - 
Our ancestors have stressed on the fact that our meals should be started off with something spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end. The significance of this eating practice is that while spicy things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently, sweets or carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process. Hence, sweets were always recommended to be taken as a last item

Applying Mehndi/ henna on hands -
Besides lending color to the hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb. Weddings are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and fevers. As the wedding day approaches, the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and groom. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body.

Celebration and cleaning during Diwali - 
Diwali usually falls in October or November which marks the start of winter season and end of rainy season. Rainy season wasn't a good time for everyone back then; many homes needed repair and renovation after a heavy fall. That is why time before diwali was considered the period during which everyone can indulge in cleaning and beautification of their home. And also take out their winter clothes and pack the summer ones.

Sitting on a floor and eating - 
This tradition is not just about sitting on floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas. Sitting in this position while eating helps in improving digestion as the circulatory system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are standing.

Why not to sleep with your head towards North - 
Myth is that it invites ghost or death but since says that it is because human body has its own magnetic field (Also known as hearts magnetic field, because the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we sleep with head towards north, our body's magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the Earth's Magnetic field. That cause problems related to blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields. Apart from this another reason is that Our body have significant amount of iron in our blood. When we sleep in this position, iron from the whole body starts to congregate in brain. This can cause headache, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline, Parkinson disease and brain degeneration.

Surya Namaskar - 
Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to Sun God early in the morning by their water offering ritual. It was mainly because looking at Sun rays through water or directly at that time of the day is good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this routine, we become prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to be the most effective part of the day.

Ear Piercing -
Piercing the ears has a great importance in Indian ethos. Indian physicians and philosophers believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect, power of thinking and decision making faculties. Talkativeness fritters away life energy. Ear piercing helps in speech-restraint. It helps to reduce impertinent behaviour and the ear-channels become free from disorders. This idea appeals to the Western world as well, and so they are getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark of fashion.

Application of Sindoor or Vermillion -
It is interesting to note that that the application of sindoor by married women carries a physiological significance. This is so because Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmeric-lime and the metal mercury. Due to its intrinsic properties, mercury, besides controlling blood pressure also activates sexual drive. This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for the widows. For best results, Sindoor should be applied right upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain.

The Scientific explanation of touching feet (charan-sparsh) -
Usually, the person of whose feet you are touching is either old or pious. When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego (and is called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy (which is called their karuna) which reaches you through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs. The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body. These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and palms become the ‘receptor’ of energy and the feet of other person become the ‘giver’ of energy.

Why should Tulsi not be chewed with teeth -
It is a popular belief that Tulsi is the wife of Lord Vishnu; therefore, chewing it will be a mark of disrespect. However, botanists, in the course of their research, found that Tulsi plant has the maximum of mercury. If raw mercury is applied to teeth, they fall immediately. That’s why in Hindu religion, Tulsi leaves are not chewed but swallowed.

Why use Til (sesame) sweets in festivals -
Tilgul is a very colorful and excellent sesame candy made of sesame seeds and jaggery. Til means sesame seeds whereas gul means jaggery in Marathi/ Hindi. Since Makar Sankranti is celebrated in mid winter ideally Tilgul recipe is a combination that helps keep the body warm due to these heat generating ingredients making it a healthy sweet to enjoy. In Ayurveda, Sesame is considered to be an extremely beneficial and strong medicine. Sesame laddu's are beneficial for those children who normally have the problem of bed-wetting in winters.

Why do Indian women wear Bangles -
Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human. Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one's own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body.