Happy Birthday, Lalooji!
Roger Federer wins Wimbledon 2009 vs IIFA Awards, Macau: Switch On!!
12:13 AM Posted by Sash Sheen
Everyone is asleep and I dare not disturb them. There are guests at home and I am sleeping in the hall with my family. I had taken a long break from blogging for reasons I cannot elaborate at the moment. It was a well deserved break- just to wake up at about midnight to write an article, because my heart is filled with overflowing thoughts coming from the fathoms of my heart.
Sunday evening and I was beaten by what I call a summer rain on my way back from Koramangala. After a good meal, I switched on the television.
Star Plus is re-running the IIFA Awards show that was held at Macau earlier this year. As usual, they have the "funny" skits - like the ones that infuriated Ashutosh Gowarikar in a recent award show. And Star Sports has the Wimbledon's finals going on. And like most, I believed this was a cakewalk for the revived and revitalized, arguably the greatest tennis player of all times: Roger Federer.
So, between choices of individuals, I was doing what my newly purchased remote does best- Swapping between Star Sports and IIFA Awards.
Fedex was one set down and I didn't want to watch so flipped to IIFA, much to the delight of many at home. Sonam Kapoor looked outstandingly "ewww" in her dance outfit. I always thought she was a better dancer. Switch...
Nice!! Federer is set level with Roddick. Roddick is sending fireballs. Will Fedex survive this onslaught? Switch...
Advertisement...Switch...
Now, this is great! Federer up 2 sets to 1. One more set and he beats all records. I feel good...
Switch...
Abhishek Bachhan, the heir apparent to the throne of Bollyhood is dancing like his father. There aren't many as lucky as him. The best thing about a Bollyhood award function is that my set of celebrities always get one- One from the Bachhan family, one from the Khan family, one from the Akhtar family, one from the Roshan family or one from the Yash family and yes, one deservingly for AR Rahman... Switch...
Oh my God! Federer loves five setters, doesn't he?
Roddick has steamrolled over him in the fourth set. Is he going to do a Nadal? The stalwarts of the game like Sampras and Bjorg and even Sir. Alex Ferguson are watching from the box. History beckons both Fedex and Roddick...Switch!
IIFA awards has Hrithik singing. Believe me, he is best at dancing..Switch...
This is turning out to be a cracker- the Wimbledon 2009 Mens single final. Powerful serves, immaculate baseline shots, terrific backhand, lofted forehand- name it and you have it. Fedex looks composed and so does Roddick. I felt pity for Mirka- Fedex's wife. She must have had her heart in her mouth and mind you, she is seven months pregnant. Poor lady!!
Read it tomorrow in the papers and see it over and over again, this Wimbledon's final was one of the most pulsating and intense one ever. If you were to ask me, I would rate this the best tennis final ever along with last years epic. From 6-7 to 7-7, 8-7..... till 14-16, each moment was heart stopping and breathtaking. Roddick was accurate with his serves and Federer was unleashing his trademark backhand. You never knew what would happen next. And yes, in the end, the inevitable happened- Federer won it. To be honest, things might have been different if Nadal was around but this is mere speculation. Fedex was calm and composed throughout the intense tie breaker. I imagined myself in that situation and saw myself sweating nervously. I felt sorry for Roddick- he is a great champion and a great human being, on and off the court. I believe his day will come. He didnt deserve to lose today. But...there had to be a winner and who else but Roger!!
Roger there Sir.... This is an ode to you!!
Switch off....zzZ!!
Click here to read more...
Stopping by the woods! – From the Oeuvre- Dated:- 12.4.1999- 13.4.1999
3:48 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
Pictures taken during my “walkathon” from Gyalshing to Pelling/Pemayangtse to Sangatsholing.
The picture below is in the vicinity of the old palace. The old palace is the inspiration behind this poem.
A day comes.. which comes in life,
Once or more but not so often,
When the thirst of a man..
A man yearning for peace and solace,
Finds resort in the mystique…
Where the wings of freedom and joy leaps unbound,
Perspiring thoughts of Pride and Prejudice…
And chimney soots…
So did I feel when I trod past Pelling Woods!
“The land of hidden paradise”..they did say,
And unbelievably so,
So much explored yet so much to be!!
The trees of the deep have much to relate,
These silent spectators to the great happenings,
Of great kings, people and dynasties,
Of War and Peace…
And above all – Of love and lovers of late!
The once saddled roads- witnesses of the forgotten past,
Are still but an open book…
Shifting our thoughts down memory lane,
Now of unknown fame!!
The beats of beatles and the singing birds,
In the wrath of Autumn, with free falling leaves…
Echoing in tones unknown,
Add melodies exquisite for atmosphere requisite!
The ruins of the palace standing atop in free spirit,
Looks upon the hill…
The woods and the settlement below!
Now all alone against tides of fury and ice,
Whispers in pure delight…
Encroached upon are weeds, grasses, ferns and thorns,
Alone- Moaning calm and quiet…
A saga retold!!
Once gone through the phase,
A bliss of solitude is encarved,
Deep- Very Deep in the heart and soul,
Beckoning once and more,
And one can’t help but visit again….
THE GREAT PELLING WOODS!!!
I thought I had lost this poem and sadly, I knew only one stanza by heart. So, I used that verse in my short story “The Bet”.
In the story, for a realistic flavor, I have quoted that the stanza is from the poem “Impeccable” by a Nobel Laureate Peter Scotch.
Click here to read more...
Appeal from Darjeeling: In Support of the people displaced by Darjeeling Landslides(Darjeeling Press Guild)
2:51 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
Dear Friends,
Cyclone Aila left a death trail as it whizzed past through Bengal, early this week. Our Hills, too, have also been battered and maimed and is today housing hundreds of inconsolable souls who have lost their near and dear ones.
Darjeeling recorded 240 mm of rainfall within 24 hours. Given our poor planning and lack of proper expertise in disaster management our infrastructure has crumbled so have the dreams of many families.
500 houses have been destroyed and more than 1400 people are currently staying in 41 government relief camps. Many families are still searching for their dear ones hoping to find their bodies even after four days. Till date 26 bodies have been recovered, mainly from Darjeeling and Kurseong while two more are missing at Haridashatta and the villagers have not yet given up on the search.
Nature’s fury has spared none. Six people who were trying to save the family of Pooja Gurung, at Haridashatta, have been buried alive. None could save the saviors who saved 14 lives. These people had come from as far as Soom tea garden to help the victims in Darjeeling.
Three year old Tashi Doma Sherpa, died on her way to the hospital. Forty one year old Mohan Kumar Rai and his eight year old son Manish Rai from Bara Pattabung were found underneath the debris clutching each other for one last moment.. Siksha Tamang and Yogesh Subba, from Cutlary, Kurseong, had just been married but the slides snubbed their lives in a blink of an eye. Almost every village, every locality has a similar story.
We can only pray for the departed souls but for those who are homeless we can and we will make a difference.
The Darjeeling Press Guild has been moved by the devastation it has witnessed. Following request from the residents of Darjeeling we have decided to undertake a project to rebuild many a dreams.
We cannot construct 500 houses but we want to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged residing in far flung areas of the district by constructing at least 20 houses- maybe more if can generate more funds.
We have already started our groundwork. The administration has promised us to provide land for reconstruction and we have already formed a team comprising of journalists from all newspapers to identify the beneficiaries. We have made provisions to print every penny that we collect and spend in leading dailies for we want to justify the faith reposed on us.
Given your love for the place, we would also like to appeal for help from your end by mobilizing support among our community members out there. We have also started a thread in Facebook titled: In Support of People Displaced by Darjeeling Landslides. Please browse the thread as well.
Thank You,
Vivek Chhetri.
President,
Darjeeling Press Guild
Principal Correspondent,
The Telegraph
+91 94341 41985
vivek.chhetri@gmail.com
Click here to read more...
The gamble called World Cup T20 2009!
12:27 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore- the bottom two teams of the last IPL were in the finals of IPL 2 held in South Africa this year. In 2008, it was Rajasthan Royals minus Shilpa Shetty routing the formidable CSK in the finals. So, what message does this version of the game send? T20 is the newest form of unpredictable gambling, glorified by renowned multinationals, celebrities and the richest cricketing board.
T20 has nothing to do with skills nor with class. Unknown batsman like Manish Pandey can be a hero for two games and proven masters like Jayasuriya or Tendulkar face the question regarding their age or adaptation to the version of the game yet again.This game has destroyed the existence of cricket altogether. If the T20's were to replace the way cricket is played, there will be no benchmark of identifying greats and the average. There won’t be a Sachin or a Bradman or a Lara again. One day, you will have Manish Pandey, the next day you will have a Tyagi. With so many games coming in and too many heroes for youngsters and teenagers to follow, cricket will lose the battle of popularity amongst games.
With the T20 World Cup right round the corner, I am all set to write previews on each "gamble". And definitely, it is not for my love of T20 cricket. It is because I have nothing to write on soccer before August this year, when the EPL Season 09-10 commences.
Click here to read more...
From “The Oeuvre”: Ink and Pennings- OCTAVE: “TO ATHENA OF NOW!!”: A poem I composed on 27th April 1999"
6:20 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
Meaning of an Octave:- octave n. 1 Mus. a interval between (and including) two notes, one having twice or half the frequency of vibration of the other. b eight notes occupying this interval. c each of the two notes at the extremes of this interval. 2 eight-line stanza. [Latin octavus eighth]
This poem was dedicated to Martina Hingis, the lawn tennis player from Switzerland. She stood there alone and tall during the period when Americans dominated World Tennis.TO ATHENA OF NOW!!
There she stands,
So invincible-so colossal,
Fist clenched and will abyssmal,
Grandeur and Glamour,
Off and On the court,
Message of Youth and Vigour she totes!!
Thus does Miss. Hingis,
Bring Americans to Nemesis!!
Click here to read more...
The Oeuvre: Ink and Pennings: LIMERICK AND QUATRAIN: Poems composed on 27th April 1999"
8:03 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
limerick n. humorous five-line verse with a rhyme-scheme aabba. [origin uncertain]
quatrain n. four-line stanza. [French quatre four]
LIMERICK-“THE DU-ROSE”!
Dancing to the melody of the whispering zephyr,
In the vacuity of May Air,
With tears of heaven, rolling like pearls,
in sepals mackintosh,
Stands vacuously Red- THE SUMMER ROSE!
LIMERICK-“BLOOD-CUT”!
The knife brushed through the white skin,
The cut was deep,
The cut was mean.
And seconds later did it flood,
The dark crimson blood!
QUATRAIN-THE OFFICE MAN!
After a hard tough day at job(To aggrandize his boss),
He pulled his tie,
And gave a heavy sigh,
Crouched and slept off!!
Click here to read more...
The Oeuvre: Ink and Pennings: ON(E) YOUR WEDDING: Poem composed on 6th May 1999
6:22 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
I composed this poem on the auspicious occasion of my youngest aunt’s wedding. Then, I copied the same on a card and gave it to her.
This is your wedding ceremony,
A happy day- a great event for many.
Bonded by the nuptial knot,
That will hold ya’ll together throughout…
Yours is a great pair…Ganga and Junga!!
Made for each other indeed,
I am adamant of it!!
Surveying your amicable personality and lovable subtlety,
Here is me offering you love and prayers,
For the life you are to get,
And proudly say…
“Your marriage was life’s best step!!”
From the auricles and ventricles of my heart,
Sash
Click here to read more...
The Oeuvre: Ink and Pennings: PRIMA FACIE: Poem composed on 14th April 1999
7:29 PM Posted by Sash Sheen
I WONDER WHY....
I search for words,
To express myself,
And relieve my thoughts...
And encarve my leaping emotions in the form of verses,
Etched permanently in lifeless paper!
I WONDER WHY...
I fancy myself as a poet,
Whose pen speaks more than just Ink,
But speaks of rivers and woods,
Of valleys and dale,
Of dainty peaks and damsels,
And mere topographical features!
I WONDER WHY...
I search for the past,
Dig out the present,
And imagine the future,
Through the words I create...
For years to come…
Until someone tells me:-
"Farewell to thee, my fren…O poet so known, yet so unknown!!"
Click here to read more...
