Me....... without coffee?

Sorry, I couldn't resist telling you that coffee is a big part of me (may be, you as well).  The caffeine kick .... wow!  My laptop is not just supported with the mouse, but along with my work, a cup of coffee adds to my working ambience.

"Drinking coffee lifts my mood, or a mood triggers me to drink coffee", I was sharing my views with my family circle in a domestic function recently.

I continued: "My coffee should have that golden brown color or I loathe drinking it.  I like the strong smell, the brew, the bold taste, the flavour.  I never liked drinking coffee in big quantity in one go; rather, sip in small  measure with  regular intervals.  There is nothing like freshly roasted coffee. I don't prefer the mug or the cup-n-saucer (may be okay for tea); but the steel cup ( baitu- filter-kaapi in typical Bangalorean lingo)".

My sister, just then, interrupted: "The coffee beans should be ideally the big ones; grind the beans as close to the brew time as possible;  use a coffee filter; don't use  a percolator or  clothes to filter. When you pour boiling water, make sure the coffee decoction drips very slowly, literally drop by drop .  A drop of decoction when touched with the right thumb and point finger should have a sort of semi-solid feel.  The coffee powder should have a blend of Plantation A and B".

Joining the conversation, my wife: "You  can add a small percentage of chicory and a pinch of salt for achieving the strength.  While the hot decoction is extracted, boil the milk simultaneously.  Add half-a-tea(coffee?)-spoon of sugar for a cup of coffee.  Importantly, to have a better taste, sip the coffee in steel cup."

"Most important thing, before I forget, NEVER RE-HEAT COFFEE" , your moods become insipid; also coffee poured from a flask will not give you a grade-1 aroma, at times it even renders a stale taste"  raising  her voice, she dutifully scored a point.

"Anybody can drink coffee anytime for any reason" my brother-in-law opined, adding that "if you are a good coffee drinker, it is difficult to accept mediocre quality".  True. I reckon many a time  that it was safer to compromise to drink tea, than to gamble with second-grade or poor quality coffee.  It is hard, at the same time, to resist  good coffee. In some restaurants and homes, you get light anemic colour coffee, milk diluted, coffee decoction carelessly or ignorantly prepared, with heaps of sugar mixed, -  all makes you feel ' why at all I asked for the beverage'. Bangalore, by and large, is the best Indian destination for coffee-lovers, while there may be good coffee-joints in patches elsewhere. It may not be overstating the fact that coffee and  South Indian (Bangalore and Chennai, in particular) are made for each other!

It is a pleasure to use all our senses to enjoy the coffee.  Even if your eyes are closed, the aroma will entice you to the beverage. Once the coffee is served, the frothy golden brown color is visually perceived. Hold the cup towards your lips, gently slurp (don't swallow straight away!),  mix with the taste-buds and the flavour reaches all areas of the tongue. Observe the mood. Now let the coffee gently trickle down the throat to complete the true spirit.  The quality of the coffee is also determined by the duration of the lingering of the flavour; the longer the better.  I have seen some people gulp it as if a ritual, without appreciating the art of sipping good coffee.

A characteristic Bangalorean will easily teach you how to have a bite of dosa and alternate it with a sip of coffee.  Agreed. That is the way you should enjoy your breakfast to be experienced!

A recent study claims that drinking coffee can help one live longer, though too much  caffeine is not advised.  I also learn that those drinking 2 - 3 cups a day were 10 per cent less likely to die from ailments like heart disease, respiratory disease, injuries, diabetes, infections ....., those drinking 4 - 5 cups per day were 12 per cent less likely to die, than non-coffee drinkers.

Why take a chance, go and grab your cuppa, right away!

Your feedback is welcome:  krs1957@hotmail.com

Respected Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Please accept my hearty greetings on your 80th birthday. Each birthday means exercising extra care.  I will still admire you no matter what others say about you. You have reached the top  slot among many of your political colleagues who have not even entered the school gates.

Sir, you are personally respected for the credentials of your technocracy.  Not many can boast of  a “Padma Vibushan” award (1987) in one’s Resume*, which is the most impressive list of awards and accomplishments.  While many economies around the world crashed, we are still relatively strong, fairly because of the economist, Dr. Manmohan Singh.  At the same time, “the load of degrees and awards is enough to be a good leader?” – a frequently echoed query.

Sir, the country is passing through a very critical phase.   It was disturbing to read a news item recently reported by “The Washington Post”: “An honourable, humble and intellectual technocrat (who) has slowly given way to a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government”.  It is open that we are suffering through a period of corrupt rule. It is sad that you have to extend kindness to kleptomaniacs.

Sir, doing a crime is punishable, but abetting a crime and/or being a mute spectator is much more severe, true?  The anguish is that a good, simple and honest man is regrettably restrained by the most corrupt and greedy. And, now acting as a shield to all the powerful backstage actors.  By the time we could arrive at the figure of 2G license scam of Rs.175,000 cr. (around USD 33 billion), the “Coalgate” popped up with an even more a staggering figure of Rs.185,000 cr.(around USD 37 billion)

Is that all? In one of the lectures I recently attended, the speaker, former Lokayuktha, Justice Santhosh Hegde  said that “in 2008, Govt. of Switzerland made a public statement that banks in Switzerland has US$1,456 billion of Indian deposits.  Interest on this total deposit alone can wipe out Indian budget deficit plus all our foreign debt, in 24 hours. Supreme Court directed  the Government of India to take the money out, noting nothing much happened after it”. That is on the enormity of the stash money.

Sir, we are concerned as to why you don’t directly speak to the people as often as you can. We are not interested if you are not a great political orator, but the nation believed that you carry conviction of the contents you convey.

Sir, your recent speech betrayed the hope when you failed to make any candid confession about the series of scams accounting for a mammoth loss to the exchequer – the financial resources much needed for the developmental activities plan.  Probably a student would say: “We know, 'money does not grow on  trees'.  Instead, you could have referred to the monstrosity of  corruption that are steadily eating into the vitals of the economy”.  The quantum of scams is seriously and severely threatening to slit your image, whose integrity was never dared to be questioned hitherto, while it is public knowledge you are the architect of reforms initiated in 1991.

Recently, I received a joke, courtesy social media: “A dentist advising the PM ‘ At least in my clinic, please open your mouth”. Another one: “ Attendees in meetings were urged to put their phones into Manmohan Singh mode”.  It pains that you have been used as an object of rididcule.   Sir, you have never been questioned of involvement in allegations.  “Silence is golden” is an outdated adage.  Silence is also inferred as consent- consent to the dealings and happenings around you.

Sir, can we expect that with your profound wisdom and meaningful  experience you will accord top priority to the most pressing problems like corruption and inflation?

What is to be done?    You know!

Why it is not done?     We don’t know!

Wishing you sound health, peace and success in your responsible work in the days to come,

Yours respectfully

C.S. Krishnamurthy

*http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/09/resume-of-dr-manmohan-singh.html
http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/07/say-no-to-corruption-says-justice-hegde.html

Resume of Dr. Manmohan Singh

Resume of Dr. Manmohan Singh

http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/09/respected-dr-manmohan-singh.html

DR. MANMOHAN SINGH

PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

                                                   

                                                  ACADEMIC RECORD 

  

1962

D. Phil., Nuffield College, University of Oxford.  Topic: India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth.  [Published by Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1964]  

1957 Economic Tripos [First Class honours], University of Cambridge  

1954  M.A. Economics, Panjab University – First Class with first position in the University

1952 B.A. Economics(Hons.), Panjab University – Second Class with first  position in the University  

1950 Intermediate Panjab University – First Class with first position in the University  

1948  Matriculation, Panjab University – First class  

                                                  PRIZES AND AWARDS 

   

2000  Conferred  Annasaheb Chirmule Award by  the W.LG.  alias  Annasaheb Chirmule Trust setup by United Western Bank Limited, Satara, Maharashtra  

1999   Received H.H. Kanchi Sri Paramacharya Award for Excellence from  Shri R. Venkataraman, former President of India and Patron,  The Centenarian Trust  

1999 Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi.  

1997  Conferred Lokmanya Tilak Award by the Tilak Smarak Trust, Pune

1997  Received Justice K.S. Hegde Foundation Award for the year 1996  

1997  Awarded Nikkei Asia prize for Regional Growth by the Nihon 

Keizai Shimbun Inc. (NIKKEI), publisher of Japan’s leading business daily  

1996   Honorary Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi  

1995  Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science 

Congress Association for 1994-95  

1994 Asiamoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year  

1994  Elected Distinguished Fellow, London School of Economics, Centre  for Asia Economy, Politics and Society  

1994 Elected Honorary Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford, 

Oxford, U.K.  

1994  Honorary Fellow, All India Management Association  

1993    Euromoney Award, Finance Minister of the year

1993   Asiamoney Award, Finance Minister of the Year  

1987  Padma Vibhushan Award by the President of India

1986 National Fellow, national Institute of Education, N.C.E.R.T.  

1985  Elected President, Indian economic Association

1982   Elected Honorary Fellow, st. John’s College, Cambridge,

1982  Elected Honorary Fellow, Indian Institute of bankers

1976 Honorary Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

1957 Elected Wrenbury Scholar, University of Cambridge, U.K.

1955 Awarded Wright’s Prize for distinguished performance, &

St. John’s college, Cambridge, U.K.

1956  Awarded Adam Smith Prize, University of Cambridge, U.K.  

1954  Uttar Chand Kapur Medal, Panjab university, for standing first in

M.A.(Economics), panjab University, Chandigarh

1952 University Medal for standing First in B.A. Hon.(Economics),

panjab University, Chandigarh  

Recipient of Honorary Degrees of D.Litt. from :  

- Panjab University, Chandigarh  

-  Guru Nanak University, Amritsar  

-  Delhi University, Delhi  

-  Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi  

- University of Bologna, Italy  

-  University of Mysore, Mysore  

-  Chaudhary charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (D.Sc) 

- Kurukshetra University  

-  Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, patiala (D.Sc)  

- Nagarjuna University, Nagarjunanagar  

-  Osmania University, Hyderabad  

-  University of Roorkee, Roorkee (Doctor of Social Sciences)  

-   Doctor of Laws by the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada  

- Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University (formerly Agra University) - Doctor Letters degree  

- Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad (Deemed University)  D.Sc. (Honoris Causa)

- Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur  

                                  WORK EXPERIENCE AND POSITIONS HELD

       

May 22, 2004 – till date:   Prime Minister of India

March 21, 1998 – May 22,2004: Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha (Council of States) Parliament of  India

June, 2001:  Re-elected as member of Rajya  

Sabha for a Term of six years  

August 1, 1996 - Dec 4, 1997:  Chairman, Parliamentary Standing

Committee on Commerce, Rajya Sabha 

June 21, 1991- May 15, 1996:  Finance Minister of India  

June, 1995:  Re-elected Member of Rajya

Sabha for a term of six years  

September, 1991:     Elected Member of Rajya Sabha    

March 1991-June 1991:     Chairman, University Grants Commission  

Dec 1990 – March 1991:    Advisor to Prime Minister of India on

Economic Affairs

August 1987 – Nov 1990:       Secretary General and Commissioner,

South Commission  

Jan 1985- July 1987:      Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission

of India  

Sept 1982 – Jan 1985:        Governor, Reserve Bank of India

April 1980 – Sept 1982:       Member-Secretary, Planning

Commission, India  

Nov.1976 – April 1980:           Secretary, Ministry of Finance  

Dept. of Economic Affairs,  

Government of India  

Member [Finance], Atomic Energy  

Commission, Govt. of  India

Member [Finance], Space 

Commission, Govt. of India  

1972 – 1976:          Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of

Finance, India    

1971 – 1972:        Economic Adviser, Ministry of

Foreign Trade, India  

1969 – 1971:        Professor of International Trade, 

Delhi School of Economics,

Delhi University, India    

1966 – 1969:        UNCTAD, United Nations Secretariat,

New York  

Chief, Financing for Trade  Section

1966 : Economic Affairs Officer    

1957 – 1965         : Panjab University, Chandigarh 

 1963-65 : Professor of Economics

 1959-63 : Reader in Economics 

 1957-59 : Senior Lecturer in economics

     

                                                  OTHER ASSIGNMENTS

                                                 

Leader of the Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Cyprus (1993)  

Leader of the Indian delegation to the Human Rights World Conference, Vienna (1993) 

Governor of India on the Board of Governors of the IMF and the International Bank of Reconstruction & Development (1991-95)  

Appointed by Prime Minister of India as Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (1983-84)  

Chairman, India Committee of the Indo-japan ;Joint Study Committee (1980-83)

- Leader, Indian Delegation to :  

Indo-Soviet Monitoring Group Meeting (1982)  

Indo-Soviet Joint Planning Group Meeting (1980-82)  

Aid India Consortium Meetings (1977-79)  

- Member Indian Delegation to :  

South-South Consultation, New Delhi (1982)  

Cancun Summit on North-South Issues (1981)  

Aid-India Consortium Meetings, Paris (1973-79)  

Annual Meetings of IMF, IBRD & Commonwealth 

Finance Ministers (1972-79) 

Third Session of UNCTAD, Santiago (April-May 1972)

Meetings of UNCTAD Trade & Development Board, 

Geneva (May 1971 – July 1972)

Ministerial Meeting of Group of 77, Lima (Oct.1971)

- Deputy for India on IMF Committee of Twenty on  

  International Monetary Reform (1972 – 74)  

- Associate, Meetings of IMF Interim Committee and Joint  

  Fund-Bank Development Committee (1976-80, 1982-85)

- Alternate Governor for India, Board of Governors of   

  IBRD (1976-80)  

- Alternate Governor  for India, Board of Governors of the

  IMF (1982-85)  

- Alternate Governor for India, Board of Governors, Asian

  Development Bank, Manila (1976-80)  

- Director, Reserve Bank of India (1976-80)  

- Director, Industrial Development Bank of India (1976-80)

- Participated in Commonwealth Prime Ministers Meeting,   

  Kingston (1975)  

- Represented Secretary;-General UNCTAD at several  

  inter-governmental meetings including :  

       Second Session of UNCTAD, 1968  

       Committee on Invisibles & Financing Related to Trade, 

       Consultant to UNCTAD, ESCAP and Commonwealth 

       Secretariat  

- Member, International Organizations :  

Appointed as Member by the Secretary-General, United Nations of a Group of Eminent Persons to advise him on Financing for Development (December, 2000)  

        PUBLICATIONS

(i)         Author of book “India’s Export Trends and Prospects

            for Self-Sustained Growth” 

            [Clarendon Press, Oxford University, 1964]  

(ii)        Have published a large number of articles in 

            economic journals  

            S/o. Shri Gurmukh Singh  

            Born on 26th September, 1932  

            Married in 1958 to Smt. Gursharan Kaur  

            Have three daughters

http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/09/respected-dr-manmohan-singh.html

Money and Happiness-Friends or Foes?

At an all-you-can-eat-buffet dinner in a star-hotel,  the resplendent  sight of dishes – the display of the quality, quantity and variety – psychologically  puzzles and we end up eating  less than we had mentally mapped.  Similar was the state when I stumbled upon the caption “Money and Happiness”, the main article carried by "Deccan Herald" (13/09/2012).  My instant thoughts were abundant to dabble with, but, for a moment, just drew a blank.

Check it out; if there are  a million volumes and materials on “Why money makes you happy?”,  even more are there on “Why money makes you unhappy?”  Internet imparts you good and bad  information according to your choice. A knife can chop the vegetable,  ladies’finger,  as well as  the finger of a lady.  You also know money can be used for giving charity as well as abetting crimes.

The two words, money and happiness – the spice and soul – should always be refreshing and inspiring.  While economists have given different definitions of money, the one I remember from my college days is the easiest and comfortable one: “Money is what money does” (Prof. Walkar). True?

You need money from cradle to the graveyard. If anyone says “I don’t want money”, the whole world  will be one  in dubbing him a “macro-mad”, or he is the biggest liar of the universe.  But if you have more money, you are more happy?  If there is no money, will  there be less corruption?  If some one says money may not buy happiness, I would sure like to try.  Even God gives “special appearance” only if I buy a special entrance ticket.

How much is too much?

Or how much is “enough” to attain happiness? If you specify a figure, do you have the courage to stop it at that?  Or if you don’t achieve the mark, will you be endlessly chasing the target? Finally, when you give up, you may wonder “OMG! I forgot to live”.  If a person is pessimistic and/or neurotic, no  amount of money will help him/her to be happy.  Happiness is probably a feeling you get when you are doing what you really want to  do.

Also, it is part of our psyche to always compare ourselves with others.  Thus, if I make a few hundred dollars more than my nephew or neighbor, I pretend to be happy.  But there will always be somebody who makes more than I do, and I will always find a reason to be unhappy.  May be chasing money for its own sake is destructive, but isn’t it equally damaging to have such a powerful instrument in your hands while pretending it has no importance?

Again, can money buy happiness?  Well, it can help put the right conditions in place. Is it easier to be happy if you have food to eat, clothes to  wear and a home to live in?  Name any valuable goal in your life, and a little imagination will tell you that money might help.  So earn money in a healthy, satisfying way, and spend it wisely, and you have a better chance to be happy.

I wish to share a passage from an article appeared in “Business Insider”:

“As an illustration of the striking disconnect between money and happiness, the average life satisfaction of Forbes Magazine’s 400 rich Americans was 5.8 on a 7-point scale.  Yet the average life satisfaction of Pennsylvania Amish (a religious community which shuns the conveniences of modern society to live a simpler life) is also 5.8 despite the fact that their average annual salary is several billion dollars lower”.

Happiness is, the cliché-ridden “state of mind”.  Tempted by the sight of something, we create a desire within, which in turn disturbs our otherwise calm mind.  When the desire gets fulfilled, the mind again becomes calm, not durable, but  lasts only as long as the next desire springs up.  However, since we don’t have a fixed list of wants, we can’t decide how much money is enough.  The wild goose chase goes on ……………

As some one said, "Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail".

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/278318/money-happiness.html

=====================================================================================

Your thoughts are welcome:  krs1957@hotmail.com

   

Freedom of (Sup)press(ion)

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Expression

Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi arrested

                                                 

THE TIMES OF INDIA

C.S. Krishnamurthy (Bangalore)

Cartoon is an essential and artistic ingredient of free speech. Cartoonists are obvious part of the free press. The arrest of Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi on “sedition” charges is not a mere arrest, but a loot on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. A painful reminder of the fight for press freedom in India which goes back to the days far beyond the freedom struggle. It was not an accident for many of the stalwarts in the freedom movement to be writers and journalists. They meant and showed “pen is mightier than sword”. The Indian national press emerged gloriously out of the bitter struggles for freedom. The Imperial regime directly targeted top freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak amongst others for their allegedly “seditious” articles, and slapped other laws to shackle the fighting press, though is now history, nevertheless a part of human memory.
The real tragedy is that the government of free India instead of scraping the anti-press laws is still actively pursuing its anti-(ex)press(ion) stance. The Indian press continued to face onslaughts from the government and other quarters. To remind the history of not such a distant past, the infamous 1982-Bihar Anti-Press Bill not only sought to deprive the freedom of speech and expression to journalists, but also the right to information. The Bihar government introduced the black law because of its commissions and omissions like the leadership’s corruption including mortgaging of railway platforms, atrocities on the Dalits, the Bhagalpur blindings, the exploitation of adivasis, mafia in the coal collieries … to name a few, were exposed by the print media. 
For the sake of his own survival, the then Bihar CM Dr. Jaganath Mishra thought it better to gag the press. The Press hit back, became conscious and blatantly refused to submit to the dictates and encroachments, any more. I vividly recall that senior journalists like Arun Shourie (Indian Express), M.J. Akbar (The Telegraph) ….. and many more created the right momentum to the cause. The post-independence euphoria of attacking the Freedom of Press continues in different forms like selectively withdrawing government advertisements, imposition of levy on the newsprint …… The attack on the Kanpur cartoonist is the latest victim in the list. The struggle for the press freedom started with its birth. With all its pangs, it continues…. 
The press should grab it as an opportunity to stand like a garrison squad, gear up to fight the fresh encroachment bid. A very good space to redefine and enhance the level of Investigative reporting. The extra advantage we now have in relation to the earlier fights is the electronic and the social media who can play an even more a decisive role to expose the atrocities of those at the helm. If this freedom is to have more than just a symbolic meaning, its problems are worth sensible discussion in terms that the masses will believe, appreciate and understand.
 The PRESSing need!
(Ref.article: Aseem Trivedi's arrest shows how colonial-era sedition laws lend themselves to abuse http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Aseem-Trivedis-arrest-shows-how-colonial-era-sedition-laws-lend-themselves-to-abuse/articleshow/16341516.cms
http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/07/aversion-to-cartoons-publish-and-be.html http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/07/say-no-to-corruption-says-justice-hegde.html

All The Best, Sachin!

All The Best, Sachin!

THE TIMES OF INDIA

C.S. Krishnamurthy (Bangalore)

Sourav Ganguly: "It's not the first time he has been bowled.". True, but we have not seen the Master getting bowled with such consistency.
Dear Sachin, a disconnect, it appears, is developing between your mental agility and physical stamina. May be I am wrong, age and reflex apart, is it that you should play more matches with more regularity than pick and choose if you have to be in the thick of action.
It is more nostalgic that when you got out, others would follow you, leaving a sapping morale in the dressing room. Individually it is a nice feeling to reflect on your inevitable magnificence. You are the only batsman who had kept the scorers, nay statisticians very busy for nearly two decades. But are the latter relaxing now, when you walk in the middle?
Today, it is a different scenario. You are consciously aware that Team India are developing to win games without you or your performance. I even brush aside someone's outburst: "We should introspect, what was their main wish, joy of Sachin's 100th 100 or sadness of losing to Bangladesh and losing the Asia Cup". I responded to that comment that it is left to you to ponder about the mixed feelings of that particular match!
I am not interested to know if BCCI has got guts to coax you to retire. I reject the suggestion that BCCI is rendered spineless because of the amount of income generated by you through your top-notch performances. What worries me is that your mentor Sunny Gavaskar has started worrying about your way of getting out. I certainly don’t want to see you being made look silly by bowlers you would have pelted in your deep slumber about 5 years ago. Each time, these days, you get out, the respective rival bowler’s premium obviously keeps rocking up . We have seen you only a hero, but I am afraid if you have started creating heroes in the rival camps.
I don’t want some one to ask, Sachin or ego, who is bigger; I also don’t want some one to kickstart a debate, “Sachin is bigger or the game of cricket is bigger”. Lastly, I don’t want, least of all, Arjun asking “Pappa you are occupying my place?”. You have set such high standards, it doesn't seem possible for any one in the foreseeable future to come anywhere closer. No one can deny that you have the privilege to play as long you would prefer. Perfect. But selection committee has a task to select a team based on the current form and merit. I am not going into the topic of whether they are spineless or as Jimmy Amarnath once termed them as “a bunch of jokers”. 
The best remedy: Take a decision. Don’t take too long. Stop while the audience is eager to hear you more. I don’t know if this also applies to sportsmen. We know Sachin as a top batsman! We are in the wait to see Sachin a top sportsman!! You love challenges. Many like me want you to take a challenge of grooming one more Sachin, if not more! All the Best, Sachin!
(Ref. Article: Sachin Tendulkar will combat slump and respond, says Sourav Ganguly - TOI, Sep. 8, 2012)http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/sachin-tendulkar--an-indian-icon/top-stories/Sachin-Tendulkar-will-combat-slump-and-respond-says-Sourav-Ganguly/articleshow/16303469.cms

http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/06/open-letter-to-sachin-tendulkar.html http://kmurthy608.blogspot.in/2012/08/catches-win-matches-yet-fielder-is.html

The Real Gold - Saina Nehwal

The Real Gold - Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal 'gifts' Girisha Rs 2 lakh from own earnings (Times of India, Sep. 7, 2012)
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal has announced that she would be presenting Rs.2 lakh to H.N. Girisha, who won a silver medal in high jump at the London Paralympics.  Saina informed The Hindu that she felt it was an incredible achievement by Girisha and deserved recognition.  “I am moved by his success and wish to donate personally the amount to him,”  she said.

Recently I read a story, a passage thereof I wish to share: "Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees." 

Saina, many congratulations. You have given the copper coin and led the way. Let's see what those with gold coins do! Though you won a bronze, your gesture of helping others is no less than a gold.  Gold is appraised by its purity.  You are evaluated by the purity of purpose. You have, more than all, won the hearts of the entire country. You have demonstrated that it requires a large heart, not a large ego. You have poked the guilt in others, other sportsmen in particular. 

You have set the trend!


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