Nuclear Deal:The Positives fallout & New Hope

If you have been watching the news channels in the past few days, you would have seen excerpts from the debate in parliament about nuclear deal between India and the United States. The debate appeared to be a soap opera, straight from the Ekta Kapoor production house. With friends turning foes, back stabbing alliances for mutual benefit and money so on.

But all jokes aside, I would like commend all the politicians who spoke during the debate highlighting the pro’s and con’s of the nuclear deal. I would like to mention that Advani is not on that list as his speech had nothing to do with the deal and represented everything that is wrong with Indian politics. He could not rise beyond the issue of petty politics and think about the country.I even praise the left representative who presented the views of his party.

Watching the debate on TV was an eye opening experience in a way. As it made me feel that the future of Indian politics may not as bleak as one may fear. Among those who spoke for the deal, people such as the Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah stood out for their content and oratory skills.

I know there were a lot of events that occurred that brought shame to the home of Indian democracy but I for one do not want to dwell on them. Focusing on them is a job that seems to be very well carried out by news channels. I would like to focus on positives such as emergence of young leaders who inspire hope for the future. My two personal favorites were the speeches from Omar Abdullah and Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Our railway minister’s speech was one that was humorous and comic but at the same time was very calculated counter attack on every point raised by the opposition. In the case of Omar Abdullah it was very evident that he was speaking straight from the heart. His passion and his choice of words echoed the feelings of every simple Indian.

Also I would like commend the prime minister, who showed that he is man of his word and backed the deal to the hilt. He showed that he will not compromise on his beliefs and ideals to satisfy the petty needs of coalition politics. I honestly believe he is a man whose integrity cannot be questioned and only has the best interests of the country at heart. His track record speaks for itself and this deal will only add to his legacy.

But the words that give me most hope are the one’s spoken by Rahul Gandhi. He finished by saying India is an emerging world power and it is time we start thinking like one by questioning how we may impact the world and not how the world may impact us. I am an optimistic Indian and believe that this is no false dawn.

What Makes a Champion??

The other day a few of my colleagues and I were chatting about how the story at Wimbledon had unfolded this year. The discussion as usual moved from how well Nadal has played? To who is a better player Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer? And then is Roger better than Pistol Pete Sampras?
So it became a question of who is a better champion.

As expected the loyalties of my friend's were divided. In my opinion Irrespective of sport, the personal favor for a particular personality stems from the ability of the athlete to overcome adversity which may be a particular opponent, Insurmountable odds, even limits of physical ability or the ease with which they dispose of all competition. This is true irrespective of sport.


A hero of mine is Rafael Nadal. It is the effort he has put to make his game better on grass that is praiseworthy. Every year he has played Roger Federer and shown remarkable improvement. Coming from Spain, a country known for it's ability to produce high quality clay court player's. Nadal showed that it is only a myth that one who play's on clay cannot play on grass.

Many say he lacks the class and finesse of Roger Federer but I say what he lack's he more than makes up in intensity, speed, power and a tank full of heart. I think the words I am looking for to describe his spirit is 'bahut Jaan hain usme'. Roger Federer for all his ability this has shown that when push comes to shove he lacks the grit and determination to win matches which are tight. It is one thing to win matches when you are class above your opponents but the true test of a champion is to find a way to win, when his adversaries raise their game to match his.


Michael Schumacher is my all time favorite F-1 driver but many do not like him. My Favor comes from the he brought the Ferrari F-1 team back from the dead. He transformed them from a mid table team to a championship team. He did it after he had achieved success with the Benetton team. Before his years of unrivaled success he had fought tooth and nail for every point, as he pitted an underperforming Ferrari against the better performing Williams and then Mclaren machines.
In the case of teams my choices are no different. I like to support and watch teams which play as unit and not one's whose wheel's fall when their star player is not around. I like to support teams from whom, it tough to find one stand out player. I supported the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and Boston Celtics this year against the LA Lakers on both occasions. Reason being the lakes relied on Shaq and Kobe in 2004 and in 2008 nothing much changed as they still relied on Kobe. But it would hard to pick one person from the piston's team or to pick one from the Celtics team this year. Now that is what being a team all is about.

In soccer, like teams Arsenal appeal tome for this very reason. The players at Arsenal play well as a unit. These players individually may not be stars it is just the fact that fit perfectly when they play together. The credit for this goes to Arsene Wenger. To strengthen my point just look at the careers of all the players who have left Arsenal over the years. Henry:struggling at Barcelona, Viera: Somewhere in Italy Inter I guess, Reyes: Atheltico Madrid ?? Anelka: Not even close to his days at Arsenal, Lundberg: A pale shadow of his Arsenal days, Robert Pires:Villareal but no impact .

“Champions are not born or made in the gym; Champions are made from something they have inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.”

I cannot think of anything more apt and true.

Nadal Vs Federer Wimbeldon Episode III: Nadal Strikes Back

Rafael Nadal beat Roger federer 6-4,6-4,7-6,7-6,9-7 in the longest Mens singles final ever.In this installment of what is fast becoming, one of the greatest rivalries of all time. Both Roger Federer a.k.a 'Fedex' and Rafael Nadal 'Muscles from Mallorca' stood on the verge of history. But it was who Nadal became first man since Borg to hold both the french open and wimbeldon title's. In epic and enthralling final Nadal was clearly the better player.

The match lived up to its hype and promise not before the weather teased the spectators with some rain. The match got underway after the rain delay and Nadal seemed to have found his feet much faster than Federer, breaking early to take a 2-1 lead. The champion showed his mettle and pushed Nadal to brink in the 10th game of the first set but Nadal held his nerve to win the first set.

Federer came out fighting at the start of the second set to win the first two games and seemed to have the fight of cornered Tiger as he went on to take a 3-0 lead. Nadal suddenly of the blue came back from dead in the second set to make it equal at 4-4. The Nadal juggenaut could not be stopped, he went on to take the second set 6-4. The championship was just inches from Nadal.

The third set was a battle royale between the two. This set was a see-saw affair, Federer had a chance to break serve but could not convert 4 break points, Nadal too could not convert his oppurtunities also. At 5-4 federer leading and set going with serve the weather decided to tease again, the rain came down causing another delay. After which the set went to a tie break where Roger was on a roll and took the set to finally put himself on the board.

If the third was a battle royal, then the fourth was an epic which will go down in annals of time as one of the best sets of tennis ever played . The set went a tie break with both players holding serve. The tie break was played at level, which in was another universe. The spectators got their money worth just watch the tie break. It had everything volleys, drop shots, passing shots, absurd angles and anything that you thought was not possible. Federerfought back from 5-2 to make 5-5 and 6-5. My point of the match was at 7-7 Nadal hit a passing shot that was in my opinion simply absurd after being on the backfoot the whole rally. Unfortunately Nadal could not capitailse on 2 championship points. Roger played an unbelievable point at 8-8 to take a 9-8 lead and went on to win the set.

It just seemed destined to go to a fifth set from the outset and it did. Federer had comeback from the dead to even it out . The fifth set continued from where the fourth ended. The games went with serve to reach 2-2 and 40-40 on federer serve the heaven's opened again. It just seemed appropraite as there was nothing to choose between the 2 players. Returning after a short rain interuption, Federer went on to close the game. The 8th game of the set on Nadal serve was very tight as Federer pushed Nadal to the wall but this he kept his cool to recover well. Surely Nadal must have been thinking have I lost my chance after bein up 2 sets up? The game goes on 5-5 with both players wondering what they have to do to win this match? 11th game of the 5th set Nadal has two break points 15-40 up but is unable to capitalize. 15th game 15-40 Nadal up and he finally capitalise's. But Federer will not let it happen pushes the game to duece. And finally Nadal wins it on the 2nd duece of the 16th game.

What a few weeks it has been a amazing few weeks for spain. But it has been definately long time coming for Rafael Nadal and very much deserved. Honestly, It was the best final's I have ever seen in my short life time, Thank you Federer and Nadal.

I am sure I am going to be late to work tomorrow.