Marcus Zahner IV: Priorities change, so do people!

He had lost his post, his respect and his ways. The towering Hercules - who once used proudly show off himself as the Supreme-commander of forces was reduced to a man, driven by spite and a realization - Priorities change, so do people.

He was no longer in the army - it did not suit him he thought. Poor soul ! His fall to disgrace was worse than he thought. People viewed him differently. Those piercing eyes killed him more than a thousand arrows that pierced his heart. He had won many a battle in his life - but sad - he could not handle this. A world in which - a failure was worse than a person who had never tried. Strange are the ways in life - he thought!

He made his way back to his people. He had lost the spirit in him to stand the combat - his heart ready for a rebound. I must go to my people - he thought! So he did. Picked up his gear and made his way back in to the holy land he had come from!

He expected a rousing welcome - a welcome,that would arouse his heart. He cared, not for the people around him - but for his family. Pity that, he had never expressed that. But he had always believed in one thought - if you care for someone - it shows in your actions and that is a better showing that a thousand words. Action is better than words - somebody had been right. So did he think. And such had been his life and his actions throughout. But little did he know - that people need not think the same.

He failed to understand - why you need to constantly establish in front of people - how much they mean to you? It beat his mind . Sadly, so did his people. The touch had gone. And so was the telepathy. May be - he had changed - he dint know. But little did he know that his people would fail to understand him. But the inevitable had happened.

He had always thought - once you know a person - you know him for life. That might have not been the universal law. But he always believed that. But the power of universal law had overridden him. Only thing constant in this world is change. He had to learn it the hard way. No longer could you - go and talk to people the way you did before. They would have met different people. Priorities would have changed. He grinned. Priorities change. He was no longer the person that people would care for, leave alone caring about him first.

He should have thought this over. But alas, his mind and heart failed to capture the great laws that the universe had laid. He looked up to the skies and thought about the ONE, He just hoped he would stay true - just as he thought he always would be. The never changing phenomenon - that had stood the test of time. Probably, thats why he is called GOD.

He talked to the people. He saw the bashing in their eyes. It was relentless - he had lost the battle once more. A battle of minds - that he so often seemed to fail to understand. Once again! He always knew - people did not understand him. He felt it was cool! But that was not to be. He was feeling bad now. Nobody knew him. He cried. He threw his head out of the world. But alas that did not help. The tirade continued. He stood helpless like a boat standing in front of the a giant tsunami wave. He was tossed like a mass-less object. But he stayed calm. He couldn't talk further. Anything he did would utter - would invariably screw up things like never before.

But there was hope. Probably, he thought.Rather hoped! He went to one person - he had relied on since he had met him. It was the hermit by the lake. Probably, he was more than a person - he felt. The only one - he looked for advice in a life that had been driven my personal convictions. It had been easy to be branded as a selfish guy. But that did not matter much to him. The society had always laid down his rules. But he was not the one to stay with those. His weird thoughts had got into not-so-good relationships many a times. But hardly he had cared about those.

But it hurts when the people you think are your closest to you, do not understand you. Either you failed the people, or they fail you. Does not matter who is wrong or right. Wrongs and rights! He laughed. These were just terms people had devised to impose there opinions on others. Who is say what is wrong and what is right. These were just perceptions. People often choose to see things, they way they want them to see. If your perceptions happen to match with the other person - Bingo! you are lucky. But that was not the case every time. He did not think he would have to leave his touch with his people to trivial things such as opinions, perceptions or even luck. But again he had to bow down to the might of universal laws - People choose to see things, they want them to. It does not matter who they are - may be your own people, may be your friend and even your family - Hardly matters!

He was dejected. Like a tiny mass of ice embroiled inside a galloping avalanche. He had been consumed. Not that he was perfect. But he did not feel the need to be perfect - at least when he was with his people. But that happy-faced-go-lucky was a creature that everyone expected - even his people. As soon as you don't hurt people's egos, or stay within limits - just speaking what they expect you to speak - rather what they want you to speak. He learned something else - Play the game by the rules, no matter who the opposition was.

He always knew this. He had heard this before. But now, he realized it. Difference! The heart had not only been bruised, it had been scratched and mauled. The comforting words of the Hermit, only calmed him - far from soothing him. He had seen the ugly side of people. He had to live with this for life.

No point in thinking - why things turned this way. Because they were just people. And they behaved as one. He could have been wrong. But again it did not matter. The ship had been wrecked. And he had to live with it. He learned his final rule - Agree with people - that's what they want. Even a logical disagreement would not cut ice. But a dishonest agreement would definitely would.

He went inside his mind. Amazed by this realization - he thought of the ONE. And decided to live with this truth forever. He would have loved to say - Don't worry be happy. But life hardly gave him a chance to do that. Try not to worry and hope to happy - that's the best he could amass.

Thinking thus, he dozed off into sleep. Hoping the world of dreams, would be better than the real one.

The Feel "GOD" factor

The GOD particle - it was not a particle, it is a thought -
The thought that unleashed the power to reach into worlds -
Beyond our vision - and also our imagination - THE Outside
And worlds hidden inside our vision - THE Inside

The power of images has never been more relevant. It was a song that i had heard a zillion times in my life before. But something was different this time. My mind was filled with mindless rambling by Dan Brown about ancient mysteries in his book - The Lost Symbol. But at best it had stroked within me the fire to at least see what lay stark in front of me.

But what 550 odd page thriller couldn’t do, was accomplished by a simple enigma song and images of all gr8 men who have walked this earth - Buddha, Jesus, Swami Vivekananda, Shirdi Sai Baba - all but forms of the one supreme one.

Preaching a philosophy, so pristine, so simple, and yet elusive. Why was it that something so simple had to be mysterious - let alone being elusive? It’s not that we don’t know of its existence. It’s just that we are ill-equipped to tap into its potential. But would a cleaner body and a cleaner soul (if there was any - I question) lead to the ultimate feeling ever. As I always believed, it was all about the “feel”.

No bishop is going to help you in this mission; no pundit is going to help, no Sufi or any saint. The power of man lies within himself. It was not without reason, that the earliest Hindu scriptures preached – “Brahman is the only truth, the world is illusion, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman and individual self”.

Come to think of this - have you ever questioned - Einstein and his theory of relativity - No! Why because many people in the world - great scientists, physicists, corroborate the ample evidences and say that it is true. However, whatever be the case you still believe it - without necessarily understanding what it says.

Then why is that when it comes to GOD, human mind gets all worked up and logical that it has to protest even the mere existence of GOD. I use the same analogy - just because we don’t understand HIM and many of his doings - doesn’t mean - HE doesn’t exist!

So with all this rambling going on into my mind, stuck a thought that was as clear it could ever have been - Which is why is it called divine intervention!!

Is it just because that man is not able to fathom all the happenings in this world
Is our mind liberated enough to look into worlds -
That exist beyond the materialistic 3 dimensions - we see in our life.

Perhaps not –
Which is why we seek pleasures –
More materialistic in nature,
Only to feel the guilt and later atone for our guilt at HIS altar

Everyone was missing some point somewhere. So was I.
There is a certain "feel" that you get –
When you go to a shrine, chant prayers!
I guess when I say I “feel” GOD, many would argue –
Especially the skeptics
That it’s just you - listening to your own self.
Bingo! I have the point - that’s what is GOD all about.
How many times do we listen to that tiny voice that speaks inside us?
The liberation - even though for a second - does appear clear.

One video had sent me down into an avalanche of thoughts –
Only to be paralyzed by the –
Enormity of the thought!

The power of music had been elevating!
The power of images was uplifting!
Everything was falling into place!
Why we have all the sacred hymns -
To give us a distinct sense of clarity in thinking!
To know what we ought to know -
But strangely -
The clutter inside our mind - overrides one and all -
The hymns liberate us from the clutter - so that we listen inside us!
Why we have images of yogis meditating in trance -
It gives us an insight into view points -
We don’t see -
Indeed everything was falling into place!

What caused that change in me - GOD only knows - quite ironic!
May be that’s y people call it divine intervention.
Would chastity help me in this journey - again GOD only knows!
Would I be able to speak to worlds that apparently exist beyond 3d - God only knows!
Power of thought perhaps -
That has still remained the same -
There are no ancient mysteries - but present ones - the mystery of man and his powers
And a man who realizes it - is called GOD!
The gr8 souls realized - " I realized I am GOD - you haven’t" - HE says!
Can I ever have that realization - GOD only knows!

Listen inwards - the voice may be lost amidst the clutter inside your head! - HE says!
It was all making sense!
All the scriptures, mysteries mean nothing - Just know yourself!
Can I listen to my voice - GOD only knows!
Yes, I know - to reach GOD - reach yourself!
To reach into yourself - reach out to others!
From inside to outside - the journey ends!

HE always says - "Know that MY spirit is immortal, know it for yourself!"
Feel his presence, feel yourself!
Enjoy the emptiness - not implying emptiness of thought -
But of action - a sense of calm, stability - that’s when we reach GOD!
No needs to tell you -
You ought to know for yourself!

I stayed still - stayed calm – thought more than I acted!
There is a void inside my mind!
Yet, it had not been clearer!
I was hearing myself!
I was hearing GOD!

Silence prevailed!
I sense a small ant run through my body!
And I am back to the earth!!

Marcus Zahner III: Fall comes after summer

The upsurge in my mind had done many a wonder to a heart – broken and shredded. Things through the summer went well - I thought!!! Thanks to a tough front put by Mirandus – my lieutenant. But also, the air of arrogance that Penhaskians carried seemed to have spelled doom for them. They had lost the eastern part of the Loranz. But they still held firmly the remaining parts of mosaic. Zelekos, a tough master – had rejuvenated his troops.

The blossom of the summer was long over. I was back to the fight – burdened and encumbered. In view of my poor leadership during the Spring, I was demoted. I was no longer the Supreme Commander on the ‘Loranz mountain range’. With paucity of choice, and for better marshalling the resources, the Emperor had elevated Lieutenant Raiden to the position of Supreme Commander on Loranz. I was working under him. Not that I held any grudge against him. He was quite an amenable person. I had known him for a long while now. It was only logic that drove the Emperor to this decision.

But it was difficult getting to used to receiving orders, after you have been the one – delivering it for a long time. It pained. I was just assigned my first task – control of the troops on the west side of the plains. I was given strict orders -Plain defense, no attack. I had just completed my weekly appointment with Raiden. As usual, he was courteous enough and accorded me the honor and respect – that a ex-commander would deserve. I played my part too - respectful towards the orders of my new commander. I spoke little, nodding my head in affirmation of the plans that were being laid out.

I made my walk back to the basement. The moon shone brilliantly. But it was receding. A grin flashed through my face. So, symbolic of the times that I had been through. The full moon of the summer was over. And the receding moon was just reflecting the thoughts in my mind. The summer was nothing but a surprise walk on the bed of roses. But the honeymoon was over. I was back to the gritty world filled with people more adept than I ever could have been.

The long walk finally came to an end. And I was commencing my walk towards the den. It was a weekly thing. The walk was painful as always. Every moment it made me realize that I was now someone who has to carry orders and not the one issuing it. I felt that people looked at me differently. I could no longer see the respect in their eyes - as I passed through the camps. May be it was just my perception, nevertheless, it still was. I was pissed off. I was escaping the eye. Lest somebody see me. I had become a man who had lost his power and believed that escapism was the solution to my problems. I carefully took the by lanes of the mountain. I knew it would be a long walk. But it had been saving me from those known-eyes for a long time now.

Every step I keep in this fun filled day, was reiterating to me, the trauma I had been feeling since I had returned to the basement. I found no other choice. I was no longer the supreme commander. It was gone. But surprisingly the pride remained. It was the pride that was hurt. Strangely, our mental weakness affects us far more than our physical weaknesses ever could. I had fought many a battle, fiercest of forces – my body had been mauled, but my heart stood fresh and handsome as ever. Ever ready to face that fucking challenge, that life was throwing at me.

But little did I realize that, I was just the lieutenant then. And on top of it, I was just fighting the smaller kingdoms - kingdoms that had rebelled against the Emperor. We were always on a moral high ground. It is indeed strange – as to how little do people realize the important of truth when they fight a battle – the question of moral high ground. Never was I on the unjust side – always stood by the truth – by my Lord.

But the war against the Penhaskians had changed that all. Both sides were right in their ways - Penhaskians, more, than we were. And now, after the smooth journey of summer had ended, fall had been summoned by the weather gods. I was falling too. They say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Was it so? May be – it is true. But I was not tough. My mind was fucked. It was screwed - and mauled in every way imaginable. Not by the Penhaskians - but by the stupid, interactions of thoughts inside.

The same stream of thoughts ran through every time, I made the seemingly long walk to the basement. It was painful. But I was not at choice. I was not a person, who could just take problems lightly, and say, “Everything happens for the good. Do what you want to do.” I could only wish I was. I could only think of Commander Morgan – leader of forces on the Pernivia Mountain front. He was doing well. His army had stemmed that rummage of the Penhaskians. In fact, he was on the attack. I just thought of him. A smirk ran through my face. If only, I could face problems like that. But that was not to be.

The long walk had finally come to an end. God, please continue to look after me despite my flaws – I prayed.

Indian - “OLD” World Order

Continued from Reading the “True Media story"

But the following day, SRK quite smartly rubbished the reports that he was trying to promote his upcoming movie 'My Name is Khan' by blowing his detention issue out of proportion. And our media reported that with equal vigor. That was quite a smart piece of news reporting!! It is like the classic case – 'Close your eyes and don’t see a white elephant'. It is more than likely that you would see one. Now that the whole publicity stunt has gone boom - SRK and his media friends come up with a new trick. Go on a "publicity" spree - saying this is not ‘MY NAME IS KHAN’ publicity. Aise bol bolke ho gayi na publicity. Any publicity is good publicity. SRK is definitely the “desi” Edward Bernays, to understand this thing - even before our PR gurus would have!!

Amidst this entire finger pointing towards US, we forget that they will go to any extent to secure their country. Period. And I see no problems in that. In fact, it is better if we do that as well. The problem is not with US, it with us.

I remember reading my history texts about Napoleon Bonaparte. He was a guy who was slightly unsure of himself. So, would wage a war against every small nation. Just to make sure that he is influential enough. And sadly it led to his downfall. SRK is falling prey to the same syndrome. But there is a larger syndrome that we all have fallen to - servile attitude to the VIP culture. It all stems from the colonial and royalty mindset that we have been used to. Not for decades - but for centuries. Its so ironic that while we see some serious media crap about young politicians in parliament (it hardly changes anything, I would say most of them are nothing better than IPL cheer leaders for political parties), almost all of the new faces in the parliament – and most of the so-called Rahul-baba-youth-brigade are from political dynasties. Just like Industrialists enthrone their sons and daughters to become future CEO, there is a superb transition going on with the political system. Not to forget our Bollywood clans.

I remember a dialogue from Krantiveer where Nana Patekar says, “Barso se gulami karne ke aadat hai tum logon ko. Pehle raja maharajaon ki. Fir Angrezon ki. Aur ab yeh neta aur goondon ki”. So true. Perhaps he forgot to add film stars to that list. Now I get why. SRK was not exactly a ‘Bollywood Badshah’ then.

Go to YouTube and just type – New World Order Theories. You will see a whole-lot of conspiracy theories claiming how an esoteric group of people aspire to control the whole world. But we rarely do we see the Indian - “OLD” World Order that is staring right in front of us. A distinguished coterie of politicians, industrialists and film stars rule us – financially, emotionally. There is only one '–lly' left to our control. And we are pretty good at that. But Sanjay Gandhi almost ruined that as well.

While I write all the crap above, one sincere SRK fan writes this on TOI – “It was shocking to hear all that I think, U.S should for sure apologize and if they don’t then we should also do the same with Americans and especially their celebs. Why should we always behave like a weak and forgiving country and take non-sense from everybody especially the US, why do we take their big daddy behavior always. Guys please react - it’s high time…” The passion is gripping. I have no words to say. No comments on this. I am out of my pseudo-intellectual mind limits. Tongue tied.

But all said and done. When I write this crap - all that I am doing is add to the negative SRK publicity - which very well adds to the MNIK publicity. SRK knows this game all too well!

Reading the “True Media story”

Disclaimer: I see people blogging excessively these days on SRK issue…so it’s now trivial…or some would say fashionable to write on SRK ….but I would take up this chance to do some serious introspection :P
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Few Bollywood bomb-shells possess brains!! So is the case with Neha Dhupia. But she once gave a statement that would definitely be the one she would remembered for -“Only sex and SRK sell”. I guess she meant in the usual jai-jai-SRK way. But I had to wait so long to get the true meaning: D. Perhaps, unfortunately the super-star got high on his own dose this time.

Our high handed VIP culture was way too much on display for the past six decades of Indian independence. But perhaps as people we have been trained to fawn at our seniors. College juniors must respect seniors. Ragging is nothing but PDP (Personality Development Program). All this gives rise to the classic Masonic pyramid structure in the society. The SRK episode is the latest one in the never-ending list of examples.

"What happened to Kalam was atrocious as he is a national leader. What happened with me is nothing in comparison to that," he said…..good at least he understands that…then just look how APJ Kalam reacted and how our Bollywood Badshah reacts!!

“But this time it was a bit too much. I have travelled to other countries. I never faced any problem in the UK where I am treated like a state guest. They escort me to the car”, says SRK. Obviously, he is the unquestioned, unparalleled (and all the other UN’s in English) demi –GOD in India. And moreover – Badshah - King Khan. Now com’on - If Napoleon Bonaparte goes to one of his territories, wouldn’t he get a rousing welcome? What’s the harm in such expectations? But the true problem is with the US constitution. It says, “All men are equal”. Isn’t it too much to expect people to have the read the visiting country’s constitution? SRK – I stand by you. You rightly deserve an escort in US as well.

"I told them I was a movie star and had recently visited the country for the shooting of my film. Nothing seemed to convince the immigration officer…” SRK says. How in the world is the security officer concerned whether he was a film star or not. No further comments. Reader should be smart enough to understand this. (Instead dumb enough – Pun intended!!)

SRK apparently called up Rajiv Shukla. Indeed, why are friends for? Don’t they say – A friend in need, is a friend indeed. Rajiv Shukla and the Congress would definitely be “treated” with a special screening of MNIK. I don’t see the Congress reacting so fast to the problems in India - or the ones faced by the Indian students in Australia. The APJ Kalam episode was supposed to be an eye-opener for all of us. But still people would affirm that respect to a former President – one of the very few non-political Indian Presidents – is important. And SRK had to come up with this tamasha. I understand there is lot at stake (he has co-produced the movie MNIK). But there is no reason why he has to even think of such a preposterous and stupid idea. He outshines us all – doing his own version of Rakhi Sawant and Emraan Hashmi.

And when this whole episode comes up - PC comes up & tweets ( I hate that term !!) and says how she is terribly upset at this!! But why PC? Oops…dint I forget that Kaminey was just released - Chalo some free publicity for Kaminey. And the Kaminey marketing team doesn’t have to scratch their heads on this!!

Continued …

Live your childhood dreams !!

The stage is set. The music is loud to the point where a slight increase in volume would shatter your ears rendering you deaf for the rest of your life. You are mesmerized - at the mercy of a bigger force. All that you do is – head bang - a westernized rendition of a villager captivated by a tantrik baba. The artist gets into his amazing solo. Your hands go across the guitar strapped across your body and you play your version of that solo. Your locks are all over the place giving you that unique look that only Rock stars own. And this goes on for a while.

Phat!!! The song ends. The bubble bursts. Suddenly, the guitar in your hand is gone and all you are left with is good-guy-crew-cut. The villager is out the tantrik’s captivity. And you start panting!!

It has been about eight months since I had listened to Randy Pausch. His talks about fulfilling your childhood dreams seemed all relevant to me. But thanks to my undoubted “strength” – procrastination, I have not been able to do that still. But later I realized that there is something more to it. All that I dreamt as a child was still unfulfilled or partially done at best. So, how much of an inspiration would you find in making a list that is full of unchecked boxes.

But things change. And for me, it changed during the long weekend. It was a first check on my list. Visiting Niagara was a big dream waiting to be fulfilled. With that across the way, it was time to make a note of my childhood dreams.

As demonstrated above, the first unchecked one would be learning to play a guitar. Yeah! A guitar in your hand would look much better than bare fingers playing a solo. Even though you flirt with your impossible dreams, there has to be a reality-check - especially when you are talking about something as definitive and difficult as learning to play a guitar. Okay fine! I downsize my guitar dreams. I should at least be able to roll out the standard Hindi guitar songs – Papa kehte hai, Allah ke bande, et al. But kehte hai na – Allah meherban to gadha pehelwan. Who knows, I might even learn to play some of my favorite solos. ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘comfortably numb’ would top that list.

So, the guitar dream is defined. The next one in the list is to whistle. Every time I saw SRK in a movie whistling his heart out, I would think – will I ever be able to do that? I have been mocked quite a few times, Abe yedus tu siti bhi nahi mar sakta? All I can do is – to play out that two-handed-conch whistle. The two-fingered-whistle, one-fingered whistle, free-hand whistle – the types overburden me. I should be able to learn at least one of those types. So there goes one more in my list.

I would say that the above two ones on the list were quite timid. The ones I could gain with practice. It is time to write down my biggest dream. Ohh! We have all dreamt of it. Cool as hell!! You remember that scene in ‘Mission: Impossible II' where Tom Cruise stands atop the mountain and the camera rolls all across the extended landscape. Or even in ‘Braveheart’ where Mel Gibson does a Tom Cruise version – albeit before him. That is so cool!! Sometime, before I die, I have to do that. I would stand on top of a mountain (let’s say somewhere on the Grand Canyon or Harishchandragad/Sahyadri) with a video crew flying on the chopper capturing my coolest moves and all of the amazing landscape around me. And I could ask Rahman to put up some cool music on the background.

And on and on, I go with my list.

I often remember these lines - "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intent of arriving of safety in an attractive and well preserved today, but a try to skid sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, with the body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming- woo hoo. What a ride!! Remember, life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but the moments that take out breath away." So, true.

Some things seem risky.Some things seem impossible. But we always love the risky and impossible ones, don’t we – especially when we don’t know our limits. That’s what we often did as a child - dream of things, irrespective of whether we would achieve it or not. I wanted to be Sachin Tendulkar, make my way through the space onto the moon, to lead a life on a tree house inside the Amazon or sometimes just fly like Superman and save some damsel in distress. So often stupid – but we would just Dream!! But as we grow older, we become more ‘practical’ and more often than not - stab that child in us – who would often dream of things in a plane – where he doesn’t belong. If Randy is correct – and I know damn well, he is – there is a unique satisfaction in living that childhood dream of yours.

Even if you cannot achieve it, at least write it down – there is some childhood-fun waiting to explode.Go ahead and live your dream.

Note: For all those, who have not seen Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture – please do see it. It’s worth its weight in gold.

A New Beginning

By Kandan,

He woke up to the sounds of birds and some dogs barking in the distance but the most distinct sound he heard was of the waves pounding on the sea. He slowly looked around him; he might have slept for some time .His friends were not there. He blinked his eyes to adjust to the warm sunlight and what lay before him was the most beautiful sight he had laid his eyes on ever in his life. The sea was clear devoid of any human form or shape, the crystal clear blue water lay spread before like a canvas waiting for the divine brush to lay on it. The blue sky with fluffy white clouds extended beyond it and above him the sun shining majestically on the scene. He felt the warmth of the sunshine as it pierced through his outer skin and he felt the pure energy seeping through him. It was like he was being cleansed from the world above.

He slowly got up and was only mystified by the beauty of the place, the mountains and trees slowly wafting in the gentle wind that blew across the land completed the most serene and heavenly atmosphere that could have been created. He walked towards the waves as they splashed across the rocks. The sound of the waves was most pleasing and it was something natural that did not seem out of place. In fact nothing seemed out of fact. The waves touched his feet and went back, and soon they were back and again left him. He just let his senses takeover him, and his thoughts which were so many suddenly were none. He was in a state of equilibrium, a feeling of nothing, a feeling of bliss. He was not happy, he did not think, he did not move and it was the state of mind that he experienced which gave him such pleasure that it was worth leaving everything behind.

He closed his eyes and the sun rays hit on his eyelids and the warm sensation eased his body into relaxation. Never did he think about this and he totally forgot everything around him. The sound of the waves resonated in his ears, he felt the sunshine on his skin and his mind was set free. He smiled in wonder at this state, of what he felt. It felt like eternity before he opened his eyes and he shuddered at the thought of such experiences. He saw the distant boat; he looked at the small houses far away removed from civilization. Life so far was like the waves, ebbing back and forth but he had no idea he was already a quarter century old. The childhood memories, the teen fantasies were replaced by the realistic acceptance of things that were not possible.

Yes he could not emulate Sachin Tendulkar, he would not be able to land on the moon but they had served purposes. They gave him hope; they were something he might have lived for. He sighed. Such is life. Here today, gone tomorrow. He knew he hardly had another 60years on this earth if he was lucky! Sometimes time just is, the people who are the ones who come and go.

There is always a spark in every child, a curiosity, eagerness and a mind to do things. But somewhere along the way things tend to wane, things tend to get lost. But today suddenly he felt like that child again, wanting to go beyond his limitations, wanting to go beyond that job he had. Everyone has a fucking job! He realized he had but one life, the satisfaction of constantly challenging himself was what he looked forward to everyday. But then where had he lost that feeling that had kept him charged for so long. Why did he fit into the norm, because it was easy or to just to appease people who are supposed to matter to him?

He looked behind him; he looked in front at the waves. He did not pause, diving full length into the water he swam like there was no tomorrow. He left it behind. It was a new beginning.

Is reality driven by human mind?

Right since my childhood, I have been fascinated by the charm – a magician or an illusionist exudes into making us believe that you see is indeed magic. A thought you would want to come true. Your search for the world of magic – a world where you rule, where things happen because you wanted them to happen, where people behave the way you want them to. Aaah!! - A world which all of us want in our dreams. If it were only for magic to be real!!! But the eternal human quest to understanding reality has always been constricted by one’s perception. It is this inability that an illusionist uses to alter your perception to weave an illusion, which you buy as Magic.

One of the strongest pieces that remains entrenched in my mind forever has to be this – “Be ready to show the world, what you want to see for yourself”. Meaning all that you see in the world, is nothing but what you are showing to the world. So, reality is as you see it. More truly, what your mind wants to see. Reality is something that, we choose to see.

Our human mind is extremely potent in adjusting itself to becoming the way we had always wanted to be. So, if you are blown away with the style of a particular person or a character, it so often happens that you end up behaving like they do. It is this, internal desire that your mind caters to – of making you the person you had always wanted to become. Of seeing things, we always wanted to see. Of making a reality that, you would fit in.

This leads to the further question, as to, if this were true, everyone in this world would be having things his or her own way. No, it always doesn’t. The extent always depends on your degree of craving or simply put your degree of madness. So, your-real-world would come closest to the actual world; when your mind is strong enough to change the actual world.

How often we have heard people say, that if we want something badly, the whole universe helps us in achieving that. But things might be slightly on a higher plane. It’s just because, your carving for your goal is so strong that the universe comes out of its way to accommodate your goals and desires. Thereby, your-reality is now reality for others.

It’s a big mesh between the interchangeably used words reality-illusion. It’s just perspectives that people choose to place their feelings. While I see it as a changing-reality-with-a-change-in-perception, others might see it as change-in-perception-with-a-constant-reality. But then again, we are back to square one. Who sees the true reality? Some third person who can see all these things devoid of any perceptional imbalances.

Whatever be the case, all that we see in this world is a reality out of perception. The way we want to see it. And as far as the third person goes, we probably refer to HIM as GOD - an unbiased, impassionate, adjudicator of truth and reality. Really, reality is stranger than fiction.

Pic courtesy: Heikenwaelder Hugo, Austria, Email : heikenwaelder@aon.at, www.heikenwaelder.at

Marcus Zahner II: Upsurge to the light

Continued...

I am poised at a distinct point in my life, where I am neither left with the vision to look into my future nor the clarity to analyze the misdoings of my wretched past. With an accruing list of failures in the past, life presents me with an ultimatum - 'perform or perish’.

The night was long. I had spent the whole night contemplating my options. I was preparing myself. Amidst all this, the rays of light were making their way out – tearing through the clouds and were gradually lighting up the entire sky. It was the crack of the dawn. It was as if nature was talking to me – “Tear the darkest of clouds in your mind. Let those tiny rays of positive thoughts make their way – And victory will be yours.”I felt better.

All through my life, I had to choose between two paths, one which is the suitable path and one which is right. And my elders would always advise me to take the right one. However, life at this juncture offers me only one forward path - A path which is going to be a rough road with pot holes and puddles of mud. Pot-holes which can zero your efforts at any point of time and slashes of mud which the weird world throws at you, without even knowing the situation you are in. A path where your victory is not guaranteed. Yet, I decide to take this path - because life offers me neither choices nor its fancy illusions. It’s my only chance to redeem myself in my own eyes - My only chance to make-up for the misdeeds in the past.

Life, at various instances has presented to me, the magic of “Luck, Labor and Chance". The three things that help catapult a man from the league of mundane gentlemen to the company of distinguished successful people. However, when you run out of luck and life offers you no chances, your only fight is ‘Labor’ - Your only guide to realizing your potential. So, I decide to give all that I have. And I decide to force every bit of might that I could amass to ready myself for the onslaught of dejections.

In this losing battle, amidst all the negativities surrounding me, where I have more to lose and nothing much to gain, I look to HIM as my ultimate source of inspiration. I pick myself up, on the very words that my MASTER would say - “Always put up a fight. If you do so, you might or might not win. However, if you don’t, you would certainly lose.” HE has been my light-house in my heuristic journey - Someone who might not give me the best in the world, but always pushes me to aspire for the best.

Along with this, I carry a belief that I have nurtured for years now - The doors to success are always difficult to open. It is because life allows only those people to succeed, who want to achieve their dreams against all odds. That door is precisely kept to provide a sense of purpose to all those who believe that if you need something badly, the whole universe acts in consonance to help you achieve that dream.*

With all HIS support and my unshaken belief, I am determined to take this wily road, a tough one to triumph, an effort where I might not be vindicated and I might fail. However, every time I look into the mirror, I can proudly say, “I tried". It is this thought that provides me, the endurance to take on this fierce journey. A journey, I have never seen in my life before.

*: Thanks Coelho for this wonderful thought!!!

Marcus Zahner I: Reflections in the dark

Note: This is a fictional account of Marcus Louis Zahner, the commander of Gordinola. Following is his story during the 'Battle of Earth' against Penhaskia.

It was a beautiful starry night. The sky was glowing in its fullest bright. It had bestowed us with a shower of thousand stars. There was silence all over. But it was scary. It was the silence of the dead. There were bodies all around me - And silent mourning. My men were lamenting the loss of their brave brothers – Brave Gordinolans. They had stood for me – even in times, when death was staring at them. But the day was brutal – an assault nothing less vicious than the attack on a poor deer by a pride of lions. It was a day; I wish I never see again.

The congenial period of preparation was over. The battle lines were drawn. Right from the time, the battle bell had rung; Zelekos (Commander of Penhaskia) had marched with vigor and unseen ferociousness. We faced an army as vast as the expansive sky and armor as powerful as the mighty ocean - an enemy fiercer than anything we had seen before. With paucity of arms and ammunition on our side, we face the most difficult battle in our lives - A battle which goes beyond arms and ammunition - A battle of who-wins-the-game-of-wits. But I was losing it. Falling as a pawn to my worthy opponents

In this war for supremacy of the earth, one has to go down and the other would emerge victorious. Am I destined to be the loser at this? Was I simply not justifying the Gordinolan pride? Was it a wrong battle to enter in the first place? Did I over-estimate my abilities as a commander? Or was it simply that destiny had chosen this way for me? Destiny!! Isn’t that the word, helpless people use; when they cannot have things their way? Aren’t the people who are destined to win, invariably the people, who have challenged destiny and made their way!!

I thought of my MASTER - The true emperor who laid more faith and belief in me than I could probably could ever have. How would HE plan this out if he was in this situation? Heck! He would never have led his country and fellowmen in such a position. But is retreat a choice? Hell No!! I am too far into this ugly battle - I had lost more resources than I could muster to fight this enemy at hand. My foe had this battle simply his way. And there was no way I see that myself standing true to the faith that HE had put in me. Was I failing my MASTER? Was I failing myself?

Questions! Questions! And more questions!! Should I have better analyzed my strengths and led this war? Am I betraying my people who had ornamented me with unlimited resources? Questions that I have no answers to!! I was at my own faults; having committed some strategic blunders - wrong decisions that had claimed the lives of my soldiers. I was tasting failure like never before.

Amidst dead soldiers, here I was – their commander - contemplating the choices that I had made. Wrong choices!! Wrong territory chosen for expansion!! A better scrutiny would have simply shown me that the Penhaskians would have had this battle their way, even before it started. Was I too arrogant and haughty to have condoned such glaringly simple facts? Though into this war, could I have chosen a better turf for this battle? A place where I could have played to my strengths! Again questions and questions!! Tormenting questions!! I can barely answer them. I am willing to pay the cost for my follies, but how would I substantiate the killing of my brave soldiers? All the wrongs have been done! And paid for! Quiet heavily!

But let bygones be bygones. I look to wake up to a different morning tomorrow. A morning which will be bright as ever – it raises a hope that I can salvage my pride. But tonight, all I see is darkness spread around this beautiful sky. My mind is not beautiful and brave anymore. Neither am I.

But even this cloud has its silver lining - 'There is no better position in life than being pushed down, with your back lying on the ground. It puts you in a place, where things can’t get worse anymore – it can only get positive.'

That moment of happiness

It was a long day of work. My boss got all cranky over the reduced budget this quarter - and suitably chose to remind me of my commitment to work. All I did was sulk inside, smile outside. But that was all forgotten. The day was over. It was six. I sat down on the banks of the lake, with a bottle of ''pop" in my hand.

The sun was settling upon its long day of work. So was I. The dark was waiting in the closet.Waiting to take over. I often wonder - of all the things in the world, if there could be any thing better than this. It was my favorite moment of the day. It was 'my comfort zone'. It was twilight.

Serene.Calm. Peace at its best. Geese floating all around. Making me feel proud of my voice.I chuckled. I looked up at the sky - a receding giant at its best.Oranges. Reds.And a splash of blue. It was as if nature had got its best painters to sketch this moment of magic. Probably, there is no better example of a gracious exit than the moment at twilight. The sun has to make its way out. It parts us in a manner which we all could 'stand up and appluad' or 'sit and enjoy'.This was my routine pill of happiness since I had been to this little town.It was happiness like never before.

As I sat by myself on the wonderful borders of the lake, I saw someone walking towards me. I looked carefully. I was dumb struck. It was a face that I would never forget for the rest of my life. Puzzled. Mesmerized. It looked as if the enchanting moon was down on this earth at this hour of twilight. Face pure as heaven. With a smile extending right throughout her face. Infectious as hell. It was a moment when I had forgetten everything around me. The sky. The lake. Everything. Nothing seemed to run through my mind.

She walked towards me. I tried to regain compusure. Changing my gawky mouthed 'awe' to standard 'american-hey-smile'. I couldn't have looked more worse. Our eyes met. She greeted me with a customary 'hi'. and smiled. I was still smiling as if it was my last moment on earth - And I was Don Corleone exclaiming - "What a life !!!"

She then turned away and made her way towards the other exit of the park. And I was still exasperated at the moment that had just passed by. In a couple of seconds, she turned and said " Have a good night" ."You too....and if only......" I was left muttering. And I was back to square one. Back with myself. I tapped myself on the head and chuckled - " What the &*%^ was that idiot"

Sometimes, I do realize the truth in the words that my friend had once said. " Tell me. What does that give you? That you end up giggling so much. Fleeting moment of happiness? As if she is gonna be with you forever. But you still feel as if it were to be our achievement.".So true he was.

But whatever. She had made my day. And had left a smile on my face.

Fat man's fairy tale

The most advertised products on the net other than beauty and hair products have to be weight-loss products.30-day programs, pills, herbal methods,tread mill, cardio, gym and one Indian channel also sprung up a reality show on this. All my life, I could never understand the logic behind this irrational exercise - until I saw myself going JakeLaMotta's way. Believe me, there is not-a-more helpless situation in this world, then seeing ur waistline increase at a rate, inflation grows in Zimbabwe. Both grow out of control.

Shahrukh’s 22-day program-Kareena’s size zero diet-anorexic model talks- I had seen them all. I also became a avid watcher of all those – teleshopping shows – reducing ur waist in 7 days. Every night, I ponder on how starting from the next day, I would do it all. Nice workout in the morning, strict diet throughout the day and away from cheese, burrtios, pasta....(omg!! the devil in my mind was already turned on !!! -- Stop it !!). My trousers wouldn’t fit me anymore. I had to be careful while walking, lest something ‘tear-ful’ happens. I was super-clumsy and carried the big-fat-pig tag with me. Huh!! I cannot bear it anymore.

Oooph!! I am panting!! Sorry I need a rest. My present size has left me to my heriditary lineage - breathing problems,asthma and what not.A big list to choose from. And my weight-increase was just helping me claim my family booty.

But today was it. After all those failed attempts, I decided. Made a vow to myself. Before the end of this month, I would reduce atleast 10 pounds. Started my day with a bang. I had planned what to eat during the whole day. A carefully worked out diet program - would put Kareena to shame. So, it went something like this: Simple breakfast of 2 eggs and one sandwich. Lunch containing plate of dal rice and 2 chapatis. A glass of milk for dinner.

I was determined. I held myself throughout the day. It wouldn’t budge even if somebody made a shahi-khana (royal meal) for me. Steadfast. The breakfast was nearly perfect.3 eggs. Doesnt matter. Had a perfect lunch though. It was 8 - time for dinner.I had my glass of milk. An infectious smile ran through out the face. I patted myself for the way I conducted myself throughout the day. "Proud of you! you did it. Good start.Keep going."

I was relaxing on my couch. I heard something. It was the 'Stomach-bands'. (I still dont understand how they come with such original tunes). I was listening to them. They were getting better. Swaying me away. My pride was waning away. My mind was pleading me. And the balance on the weights started to tilt. Then came the gambit.

"Hey, why not have a light meal. You ve been true throughout the day. A little indulgence won’t affect.But from tomorrow- follow the schedule. Strictly"

I got out of my room towards the kitchen. I saw the main door. “%^&* off”, I ran. Straight to Chipotle. Two burritos. I could not wait. Enough. I wouldn’t stop even if somebody paid me for not eating.Ten minutes. I was clean. Aaaaah!!! The bands were not playing anymore. It was as if I was having a sumptuous meal after being stranded in a deserted island for years. Silence prevailed.Then came the thoughts.

“S%^&.S%^&” – The curses began. I was livid with myself. " Ten minutes and you ruin the whole day". Something had to be done. Next morning, I promised I wouldn’t be uncomfortable. Won’t be clumsy. I will be what I was before. Look good. Be smart.

I went to store next morning. Got myself a bigger pair of clothes.Got a nice french beard (to hide my double chin). Life was good again. I didn’t fear any more. I felt good. No fear of any ‘tearful’ incident. Clothes suited me. It made me look good.So, it was happy days again.When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. You bet.

It was night. I was contemplating how the day was. Suddenly, like in the movies, two men popped out of my body – One wearing a White suit and other in black.

Mr.Black said, “ Smart decision my boy. Life is to enjoy. You love food. So enjoy it. Don’t bog yourself down with stupid and clumsy problems around you. Make your own way. Problems will be a thing of the past.”

Mr.White said, “ How often..I see meek people like you. Avoid problems rather than face them. What you have done today is nothing but a tame step. A step, only the timid would take. But remember this thing, someday, this pair of clothes would be tight for you, and you would be forced to find yourself a new one”

________________________________________________________

My mom says," A problem has several solutions. Many choose the easy one. Few choose the right one"

"Cow-Belt" Politics II

Continued...

Having said all that, I would like to tell that we are closest with the BSP in terms of ideology and the methods of functioning. So, they would be our natural allies. Minor differences would be sorted out.

Q. Media pundits are already dubbing your ‘Animal front’ as the ‘Fifth Front’. What do you have to say about that?
Cow: (Smiles) See I don’t believe in counting these fronts. Neither the people do. It is all media hype and the work of some naïve politicians. Every other day, you see parties opening new fronts. This is not good for the country. And I have told so many times, in my election rallies as well. All we want to present to the people is a ‘Non-human, Secular, Democratic, Non-dynastic Alternative'.

Q. So you are virtually shutting out post-poll alliance with all the human parties?
Cow: (smiles cunningly) I have never said that. A good politician always keeps his options open.*

Me: Thanks Gayatriji for this wonderful interview - A pleasure talking to you.
Cow: (Moos Happily)

My theory of more political parties than voting population has already caused some discomfort in New Delhi. They are haplessly trying to fix this problem. The alarms have rung. They are trying to call PC – PC where are you – we cant find you. Oh!! Sorry...PC is busy facing shoes and sandals right now…oops!! Facing terrorist and executing them in the 26/11 case (For those who don’t know – PC is the Home-Minister of India. I don’t blame you for the ignorance. Cabinet reshuffles and ministry exchanges in India are more frequent than stock-market bears). OK fine then let us call us the PM. Oh!! Sorry PM is busy fighting it out with L.K Advani – quite literally!! Fine we then have to settle for the other PM – Pranab Mukherjee. After sometime, the storm is subsidized. PM makes a few phone calls and fixes the problem.

Do we ever bother to think where our democracy is headed to? India would perhaps be the only country in the world where leaders are voted-to-power-to-rule-us and not sworn-to-office-to-serve-us!! Such is our plight! The media still calls the elections – ‘The world’s largest democratic exercise’ and we just live by it.

*:Thanks Jayalalitha for this wonderful thought

"Cow-Belt" Politics I

India today faces a problem of plenty (read political parties). By the order, they are mushrooming, the day might well come when the number of parties could well outdo the voting population.

Amidst new coalitions and fronts, a newly floated party has been able to keep its sanity well above human expectations. Last week, a cow named ‘Gomata Gayatridevi’ from a remote UP village name launched her own party – Cow Party of India (CPI), in front of a massive crowd. The response was exuberant. Cows from all the country had flown into the village just to listen to their leader speak. Our resources have informed us that Gayatridevi was planning for this for quite a well. Good planning I must say – looking at the number of people for her election rally.

We caught up with Gomata Gayatridevi, during one of her election rallies. She can hardly listen to me. The people are cheering and moo-ing. We get into one of the cow-sheds nearby.

Me: Welcome your Highness – Gomata Gayatridevi
Cow: Hello

Me: What prompted this plunge into politics?
Cow: India is in a very bad situation right now. We are facing problems of corruption, inflation, lack of education and an ever-increasing unemployment. People call me ‘Ma’. I believe it’s the duty of every mother to protect her children. And of I want to see my children prosper; I have to enter into politics and make policy changes.

Q. But people say that the actual point of decision was made during the recently concluded ‘Cow Fair’ in Lucknow?
Cow: Yes, it was the boiling point. A decision had to be taken. Humans had reduced us to being mere commodities. The cow fair was a nice platform for all cows to come together and fight this menace. Hence, the birth of CPI

Q. But you think that in this coalition era and regional politics, your party would make a mark?
Cow: I am a women and a cow. So, I urge all the women in this country to vote for our party. For we are the only party, that truly represents them. Also, we are the only party which has presence in all parts of the country. You can find our party workers and voter base (cows) right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Assam. We are the only National party in this country right now- hence, the decision to contest from all the 543 LokSabha seats.

Q. But would you reach the magic figure of 272?
Cow: Wait for the results. The numbers will speak for themselves. Doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani ho jaega.

Q. Gayatriji, you speak of Doodh ka doodh aur Pani Ka pani ho jaega. But the problem facing us is Doodh ka pani and Pani ka doodh. How do you plan to tackle this?
Cow: See the problem here is with the middlemen.

Q. You mean the milkmen.
Cow: Yes. We have always believed in giving quality products to the people. And have always delivered. But these milkmen in the middle have tarnished the name of the entire dairy industry.

Q. Do you plan to take steps against this, if voted to power?
Cow: Definitely yes. We will promote the growth of co-operation in the milk sector. Look at what AMUL has done in Gujarat. We will replicate their success throughout the country.

Q. So, you will bring about another White Revolution in India?
Cow: No! No! Why only white revolution? We are not a color-based or a caste-based party. We are above caste, color and race politics. We will bring about revolution in all colors. Why only white revolution?

Q. (I am into splits – but control myself) Madam, there have been media reports that you have been in talks with other parties for a possible post-poll alliance. Can you shed some light on that?
Cow: Yes. We are in talks with the Singh Parivar (SP) in Gujarat, Rhinoceros Party of India (RPI) in Assam and the Buffalo Samajkalyan Party(BSP) in UP. Also, we are trying to expand our talks with other parties as well.

Q. Talking of a possible post-poll CPI-BSP combo in UP? How do you think the alliance will work, especially since you and the buffaloes are business competitors?
Cow: Dekhiyeji. Business ek taraf aur Rajniti ek taraf. I agree that we have differences. But we are ready to bury our hatchet and get together in our effort to serve the people of India. See the nation needs an alternate form of government right now. For the past 60 years, the humans have failed to give proper governance. I feel that we animals should be given a chance to lead this country.

Sab Chalta Hai !

(Written during early December)

It was a day full of assignments and homework. I hardly had the time to complete any of my daily chores. I was neck deep in assignments to even know what is going around. I decided to take a little break. I turned on to NDTV for some news.

The 26/11 trial was still looming large. Processions. NGO's going ahead with candlelight vigil. Lot of support for the victims in the days that followed 26/11. The media were playing some statements by Pranab Mukherjee. My friend (from Mumbai) came online. I pinged him to ask if people were still up on their toes over the latest Mumbai attacks. He replied ( in a manner which characterises us) " Kuch nahi yar...yeh baar awaaz zyada der tak hai ...but thanda ho jaega.."

Suddenly I heard lot of action going around my apartment. There was a fire brigade outside my building. With its flashy lights and honking sirens, it got me outside the apartment. After enquiring, I come to know that my neighbor had barbequed her chicken inside her house, without the chimney on.(Trivial reason for such a commotion!!).The fire brigade went about their work and sorted the situation in minutes. This showed up one more facet of America - A superb system around.But more important than that, a system that cares for its people.

Now, I can understand the confidence an American reposes in his system. I remember after an Indian airlines flight was hijacked in Kabul - news channels went about asking world citizens how their country would have reacted. An American proudly said “ If the terrorists had hijacked even one US citizen, US would have declared a war on that nation…” I understand that its an over statement.But just think, citizens from how many countries would have mustered a confidence even to say that!

But that’s not the end of the story. After that incident my neighbor personally apologized to each and everyone. This goes to show the amount of responsibility that people take on to themselves. Not shirk it.

I am back to my apartment. Barkha Dutt runs a special show praising the resilience of Mumbai and its people. All I can remember is what Naseerudin Shah said - " We are resilient by force, not by choice".

Salute to the Maestro

Declare 24th April a national holiday - so that people can sit at home and watch their favorite Tendulkar innings!!!. On his special day, a collection of some of the memorable quotes about Tendulkar.Enjoy !!

1. Brian Lara: Everybody gets 15 minutes of fame.But is there's one person I've admired over a 15-year period, it's definitely Sachin.

2. Adam Hollioake: In an over I can bowl six different balls. But then Sachin looks at me with a sort of gentle arrogance down the pitch as if to say 'Can you bowl me another one?'

3. Brett Lee: You might pitch a ball on the off stump and think you have bowled a good ball and he walks across and hits it for two behind the midwicket. His bat looks so heavy but he just waves it around like its a toothpick?

4. Sir Don Bradman: I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two... his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel

5. David Boon : Technically he stands out as the best because of his ability to increase the pace at will

6. Steve Waugh: There is no shame being beaten by such a great player, Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don

7.Barry Richards: Sachin is cricket's God

8.Sunil Gavaskrar: India's fortune will depend on how many runs the little champion scores. There is no doubt Tendulkar is the real thing

9.Jeff Thompson: Sachin is an attacker. He has much more power than Sunny. He wants to be the one to set the pace. He has to be on top. That's the buzz about him

10.Dennis Lillee: If I've to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard

11.Steve Waugh: You take Don Bradman away and he is next up I reckon

12.Shane Warne: I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player

13.Shane Warne: When it comes to judging the best among these fabulous band of batsmen, my vote goes to Tendulkar. He has an uncanny ability to come out on top under different circumstances and under different conditions, whether it is Test cricket or one-day internationals. And more importantly, he has done this so young

14.Michael Kasprowicz: Don't bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours

15.Allan Border: Hell, if he had stayed, even at 11 an over he would have got it (after India won the Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah)

16.Greg Chappell: He is a perfectly balanced batsman and knows perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive cricket. He has developed the ability to treat bowlers all over the world with contempt and can destroy any attack with utmost ease

17.Mark Waugh: Sachin's better; Lara is more risky outside the off stump.The pressure on me is nothing as compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin, like God, must never fail. The crowd always expects him to succeed and it is too much pressure on him

18.You have to decide for yourself whether you're bowling well or not. He's going to hit you for fours and sixes anyway. Kasprowicz has a superior story. During the Bangalore Test, frustrated, he went to Dennis Lillee and asked, "Mate, do you see any weaknesses?" Lillee replied, "No Michael, as long as you walk off with your pride that's all you can do"

19.Mark Taylor: He's a phenomenon. We have to be switched on when he plays allow him no boundaries, for then he doesn't stop

20.Ian Healy: Tendulkar is the most complete batsman I have stood behind. I saw the hundred in Perth on a bouncy pitch with Hughes, McDermott and Whitney gunning for him — he only had 60-odd when No 11 came in. I've seen him against Warne too

21.Richie Benaud: He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling

22.Glenn McGrath: I still think Tendulkar is the best batsmen in the world ahead of Steve Waugh and Lara

23.Geoffrey Boycott: Technically, you can't fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow — nothing is a problem

24.Peter Roebuck: Sometime back I had written a piece that said that Sachin's the master and Lara a genius with his head high up somewhere. That's it

25.Eddie Barlow: He is Sachin Tendulkar. I hope he stays Sachin Tendulkar. We need a new player, a player in his own way. He has a technique which is the hallmark of a great player. Everything indicates that he will be a great player and I am sure he will prove me right. Reminds me of Barry Richards

26.Paul Strang: What we (Zimbabwe) need is 10 Tendulkars

27.Wasim Akram: Cricketers like Sachin come once in a lifetime and I am privileged he played in my time

28. Gary Sobers: I have watched a lot of Tendulkar and we have spoken to each other a lot. He has it in him to be among the very best

29.Viv Richards: He is 99.5 per cent perfect. I'd pay to see him

30.Hashim Amla: "Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it." - South African batsman, reassures himself as he boards a flight

31.Yaseer Hamid: "Sometimes you get so engrossed in watching batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job."

32."To Sachin, the man we all want to be" - What Andrew Symonds wrote on an aussie t-shirt he autographed specially

33.Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives " BBC on Sachin

34."Tuzhe pata hai tune kiska catch chhoda hai?" Wasim Akram to Abdul Razzaq when the latter dropped Sachin's catch

35.Brian Lara: Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal

36.Mark Taylor: "We did not lose to a team called India...we lost to a man called Sachin" - during the test match in Chennai (1997)

37.M. L. Jaisimha: "The more I see of him the more confused I'm getting to which is his best knock."

38.Glenn McGrath: "The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual,"

39. @Wife Anjali: "I can be hundred per cent sure that Sachin will not play for a minute longer when he is not enjoying himself. He is still so eager to go out
there and play. He will play as long as he feels he can play,"

40.Kumble: I am fortunate that I've to bowl at him only in the nets!

41. Navjot Singh Sidhu: India me aap PrimeMinister ko ek Baar Katghare me khada kar sakte hain..Par Sachin Tendulkar par Ungli nahi utha Sakte..

42. Waqar Younis: He can play that leg glance with a walking stick also

43.Allan Donald: Sachin Tendulkar has often reminded me of a veteran army colonel who has many medals on his chest to show how he has conquered bowlers all over the world

44. Wasim Akram: has predicted that Sachin Tendulkar will easily break all international batting records. "He has everything a top batsman needs. Tendulkar is a classic example of a player being so good that his age is an irrelevance" Akram says in his autobiography titled "Wasim". He also stated a number of examples when he and his team were frustrated by Tendulkar's batting prowess.

45. Ted Dexter: (who chaired the panel, the Coopers & Lybrand award as the International Test player of the year) "This year Tendulkar has been the batsman nobody wanted to bowl at. He took Shane Warne apart in India, which illustrates his genius."

46.Allan Donald: I was bowling to Sachin and he hit me for two fours in a row. One from point and the other in between point and gully. That was the last two balls of the over and the over after that we (SA) took a wicket and during the group meeting i told Jonty (Rhodes) to be alert and i know a way to pin Sachin. And i delivered the first ball of my next over and it was a fuller length delevery outside offstump. And i shouted catch. To my astonishment the ball was hit to the cover boundary. Such was the brilliance of Sachin. His reflex time is the best i have ever seen. Its like 1/20th of a sec. To get his wicket better not prepare. Atleast u wont regret if he hits you for boundaries.

47. Peter Rebouck - On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt in one of the stations.The train stopped by for few minutes as usual.Sachin was nearing century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century.This Genius can stop time in India!!

48.NKP Salve, former Union Minister: This was when he was accused of ball tempering "Sachin cannot cheat. He is to cricket what (Mahatma) Gandhiji was to politics. It's clear discrimination."

49. Andy Flower: There are 2 kind of batsmen in the world. One Sachin Tendulkar. Two all the others.

50. Shahrukh Khan: quoting Shahrukh from an interview
Que: Who do you think as most important celebrity ?
Shahrukh: There was a big party where stars from bollywood and cricket were invited. Suddenly, there was a big noise, all wanted to see approaching Amitabh Bachhan.Then Sachin entered the hall and Amitabh was leading the queue to get a grab of the GENIUS!!

51. Cricket Historian Vasant Raiji: "I have always felt C. K. Nayadu was the best. I now think Sachin has the honour of being the most outstanding batsman of all time."

52.Mike Selvey: "Tendulkar is the supreme right-hander on the planet, a focussed technician who offers a counterpoint to Brian Lara's more eye-catching destruction."

53.The fact of the matter is that India still need Sachin in a big way.All this talk of the youngsters talking over is very foolish.The reason why Tendulkar is so important for the team is because of his ability to inspire others and make them perform under pressure. - Times of India

54. Asif Iqbal: (after India won at Sharjah) "He has given a new dimension to batting. Such dominance can break the heart of the best of bowlers. I was never tired of watching this wonderful batsman."

55. Shane Warne: Nothing affects Sachin, Brian lets things bother him.

56. Lalchand Rajput, Former Mumbai captain: "Even as a teenager he always seemed very focused and alert on the field. He learnt his lessons fast."

57. Tony Greig: "He is cool, has magnificent temperament, and is so mature you tend to forget his age. I can't think of any other example of a player who has so dominated the world before the age of 25."

58. Border: It's scary, where the hell do we bowl to him.
Ian Chappell: Yeah mate, but that's with all great players.
Border: Well yes, but imagine what he'll be like when he's 28.
Greg Chappell: I'd like to see him go out and bat one day with a stump. I tell you he'd do okay.

59.Australian Media: "The most exciting batsman of his time because he finds the right balance between reason and passion, technique and power, nerves and placement and judgement that applies to all tastes."

60.Ravi Shastri: "We always knew that Sachin Tendulkar is a great cricketer, but after the Coca-Cola Cup here, we have seen the birth of a legend. I can't think of anybody who has batted more authoritatively in one day cricket for India, or even in the world except for Vivian Richards."

61. Ajay Jadeja: (after India entered the Coca-Cola cup final in Sharjah) "I can't dream of an innings like that. He exists where we can't."

62.Rahul Dravid: "Playing in the same team as Sachin is a huge honour. His balance of mind, shrewd judgement, modesty and, above all, his technical brilliance make him my all-time hero."

63.Navjot Sidhu: "His mind is like a computer. He stores data on bowlers and knows where they are going to pitch the ball."

64. Mohinder Amarnath: "A complete batsman- he's the best in the business."

65. Prof. R. Shetty, Secretary MCA: "We are proud to possess him due to his commitment to Mumbai and Indian cricket."

66.Raj Singh, President Cricket Board: "I was very impressed the first time I saw him bat as a little boy at the Cricket Club of India."

67.Kieth Fletcher: A little genius. Reminds me of Sunny Gavaskar

68.Paul Wilson: He's better than Ben Hur

69.Mike Coward: Sachin's the best. I've had this view since I saw him score that hundred in Sydney in 1992. He's the most composed batsman I've ever seen

70.Ian Chappell: Harder he works, the luckier he gets

71.Desmond Haynes: In terms of technique and compactness, Tendulkar is the best

72.Mohinder Amarnath: A complete batsman — he's the best in the business

73.Barry Richards: Destined to be a great

74.Greg Chappell: Sachin carries a weight of collective expectation to the crease that few can comprehend. Bradman would not have had the weight of expectation that Sachin has on him every time he went out to bat

75.Many hold Tendulkar's mastery of the craft high above anyone else in the modern era. Even the great Sir Don Bradman saw Sachin as his closest replica, indirectly branding the batting maestro better than Gavaskar - Times of India

76.Matthew Hayden: When Tendulkar goes out to bat, it is beyond chaos -- it is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man

77.Shane Warne: You have to watch India in India truly to appreciate the pressure that Sachin Tendulkar is under every time he bats. Outside grounds, people wait until he goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer
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Best ones:

78. Cricket is religion and Sachin is the God. Team India without Sachin is like Temple without God.

79.Matthew Hayden: "I HAVE SEEN GOD, HE BATS AT NO.4 FOR INDIA"

80.A banner in one of the games - " I will see GOD when I die. Till then I will see SACHIN.

81.Bookmakers would not fix the odds - or a game - until Tendulkar was out.

82. Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord will be gone to watch his batting!!

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Sachin on himself:

"One should not compare me with anyone. I have my own shots and the way I go out to play. I have my own game and the way to score runs.'

"When I'm in the middle, the only thing that comes to mind is that I'm a batsman and the team expects something from me and I should be able to live up to my teammates' expectations."

" I (Embarrassed laugh) am a normal person who plays cricket. I am nothing more than that." - Sachin Tendulkar