Score-cards, Statistics and Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most written about, and the 486-page title “Sachin Tendulkar: Playing it my way - My Autobiography is all about how many runs he scored, the landmarks reached, how he hauled the bowlers, the injuries, how unlucky he was due to some umpiring decisions….  Feedback by now would have enlightened the cricketer that writing is an altogether different format, as the bulk of the book is a perfunctory recall of matches, prima facie has no grip or the punch. If you  believe the icon  pursued the game with impeccable passion, the life story had to be equally riveting.

The “Childhood” chapter makes a joyful read in an otherwise dozy and prosaic printed pages bound together.  The sulking child getting the bicycle he wanted from his parents by adopting  adamant pranks, …having scored 24 runs and ‘acceded’ with a reporter to make it  30 to abet his name appearing in print … all appeared to blend the reader with reality, though the bond was short-lived.

After reading his debut against Pakistan, the rest of the matches sounded more like running –commentary.  “In the Final at Wankhade on November 6 (1996), I scored 67 in our modest 220, with Jadeja adding 43, and it was all down to Anil Kumble, who took four wickets as we bowled the South Africans out for 185….”.  You are hacked when you turn page after page with something of this sort moving at a listless pace.

For youngsters, the  memoir could motivate how hard-work is key to success, amid series of injuries suffered.  A broken finger, fractured toe, tennis elbow, groin problems...  “The injection, which was pretty painful, was the first of a hundred or more cortisone injections over the course of my career”, said the cricketer of records, the excruciating details about the injury-ridden career reflecting his unflinching focus.

The normally restrained Sachin shows his other dimensions …

Greg Chappel,  Ian Chappel, Kapil Dev,   Rahul Dravid’s  declaration at Multan, how taking losses so personally that affected Sachin’s captaincy…  BCCI held in high esteem  and on administration … Shhhh…. 

Sachin will always be hated for not standing by Saurav Ganguly when ‘Dada’ spoke against Coach Greg Chappel.  All the news that Chappel came to India to destroy Indian cricket or with some motive is a far-fetched logic, as we are only too familiar that most Indian cricketers don’t retire on their own, but compelled to do so.  While some of Rahul Dravid’s  gem of the innings hardly gets noticed, the autobiographer was generous in devoting three full pages ranting about the ‘controversial’ declaration, which  provides fodder for those who say Sachin plays for numbers.   His fascination for statistics is, nevertheless, more obvious in his writing. 

The master also blasted Ian Chappel for criticising his form and urging him to hang the boots. Back in 2007, Ian Chappel had written that Sachin should look at the mirror to query himself if he is good enough to continue playing cricket. “I showed him the size of the mirror in 2008 when we toured Australia.  He should have realised that the man he is asking to stand in front of the mirror has played more cricket than him”, Sachin settled through his memoir.

While the tidbits of how he faced a particular tactic by a fast bowler, attacking Shane Warne, mastering Dale Steyn, the mind games played and strategies adopted to outthink the opposition … makes up interesting reading, he doesn’t reason why his attacking instincts subdued in the later side of his career and the thread that accompanied it. 

He talks about his love for cars, but  silent on the red Ferrari issue.  His relationship within his family, with his team mates, his love for food, besides very few anecdotes are broadly the highlights. There is an overdose of Anjali’s sacrifices,  and repetitions galore in an otherwise first-person chronology of his career.  The finer points of his batting technique might interest the keen followers of the game and the pictures studded can be a collector’s delight.  His ‘stint’ as a Member of Rajya Sabha does not find any marked mention.

More score cards, less substance

The bulky book is woefully thin on many intimate moments as much as the title also seriously suffers from poor narrative pacing.  Incidents like his encounters with Glenn McGrath, his IAF captain’s status, MSD’s leadership ability, 1999 World Cup disaster, …. failed to find space under the maestro’s pen, the holistic silence on “match-fixing” the most startling. Even if it is conceded that he had little knowledge of the corrupt activities of some his own team-mates, it is deplorable that he doesn’t have an opinion on it either.

If Sachin preferred to keep mum on international players, at the least, he could have shared his deeper thoughts on his relationship with his own team mates and the  dressing room aura, tone and mood. Probably, is it because nobody expects a person who has steered of any controversy during his playing tenure, to create one at this stage.  An exclusive chapter deals with the way pressure built up on him due to the evading milestone of the 100^th 100.  He vividly remembers his hero Sir Viv Richards for the inspiration to continue when the trying times of retirement contemplation haunted him.

Bits and pieces

• Arjun Tendulkar doesn’t like his father to be criticised.  When a school friend blamed Sachin for India losing, ‘Arjun punched the boy and told him not to say anything bad about his father again”.

• A foodie, Sachin learned how to use “lettuce leaves to construct a wall so that the size of the bowl which was normally two to three inches tall increased to five or six inches.  We would then fill it with as much salad as wanted”.

• “I was hurt when BCCI sacked me as a captain”.

• Kapil Dev’s thought process was limited to leaving the running of the team to the captain, and hence he did not involve himself in strategic discussions that would help on the field”.

• “Every time I look back at the footage of my first century, I realise that celebrating was not something that came naturally to me”.

• Sachin reveals how an IPL team owner lets his priest decide which players leave the hotel rooms first on match days, while another has dressing rooms arranged in Feng Shui style.

• The batting hero shares that one day a stomach-upset prompted him to play with tissues inside his underwear.  Destpite (t)issues, he went on to score a patient 97 against S/Lanka.  (I hope no hardcore Sachin fans start worshipping those ‘fragrant’ tissues!).

Last word on the Co-author

Boria Majumdar failed to ferret out the best out of the life story. The what, where and when have been accorded the priority over the why and how. The ghosted autobiography read more like a flawed document, failing to escort the reader.  The historian should have enlisted the  services of a good sub-editor and trimmed the book-size to at least half, if not less.

 “Amazon” ensured their quality delivery, but Sachin …

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The death of Phillip Hughes and the dilemma of a fast bowler

Photo credit: PTI

To sad, too soon... accidents arrive unannounced

Phillip Hughes’ death undoubtedly rocked nations, borders and cultures.  The news produced a deep hurt among all cricket lovers, while it is extremely sad that such a promising player had been cut short in his prime.  Freakish though, as reports suggest that the hit “millimeters either side could have saved him with a mere concussion”.  The leather ball, weighing 160 grams, was travelling at 135 km speed when it left the bowler’s arm to strike “Hughes under the helmet behind the left ear”.  Some biomechanical experts say the impact is “similar to being hit by a bullet”.    

While it is sad day for the game for sure,  a section of the media and cricket fans, as expected, have kickstarted the debate if the “bouncers” (known as “bumpers” in the earlier days) should be banned.  There are cries for the bouncer to be outlawed, and on the face of it, the arguments are compelling.  But one of the reasons Hughes’ tragedy has hit home so hard is its rarity.  Bouncers are used  tactically to drive the batsman back on to his back foot if he has been freely playing his front foot shots.  To this end, they are more or less directed at the line of the batsman’s body, which is not illegal provided the ball bounces on the pitch. Aiming the batsman’s head without bouncing on the pitch is “beamer”, which is illegal.

Momentary reactions should be kept at bay

As former England captain Michael Vaughan recently said: “The bouncer is such an important part of the game.  It is a test of mental toughness.  It is designed to put the batsman off his game, upset his front foot movement and get his head in the wrong position, which is what batting is all about.  I hope that does not change”.  The essence of good batsmanship is the ability to stroke and defend, both off the front foot and the back foot.  Banning the bouncer would produce more kids and less cricketers.  A debate, nevertheless, would continue in the coming days, but it is ill-advised to make snap judgements. 

Any attempt to redefine “the bouncer” would be a major regression to the game, which is already pro-batsman (with fielding restrictions, power plays, limits on number of bouncers in an over, high quality bats ….) than it ever used to be. Again, forbidding bouncers would be ineffective, because occasionally a bowler would accidentally at least, break the rule.  Also, coming generations may not learn how to avoid being hit in the head or the rib cage …; where it would make injuries more likely, not less.  

Batsmen in the pre-helmet days relied on agility and a good eye.  All glory to those stalwarts like Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards, Gary Sobers, G.R. Vishwanath ……  Same delivery. Some defend.  Some hits six.  Some gets out.  Some injured.  In some sports, dire risk is a constant companion.  A single punch in Boxing at the wrong place can kill.  In F1, a miscalculation can decimate in seconds. 

Mark Boucher, Stuart Broad, Raman Lamba
Photo credit: India Today

Australian duo, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, and the Caribbean pacers of the seventies and the eighties were allowed to bowl all day with barely any one, not even the umpire, took any objection.  Viv Richards underwent psychiatric treatment after being at the receiving end of Lillee and Thomson in 1975-76, while Don Bradman said it was “a wonder more batsmen were not seriously injured”.

Aussies, Proteas ….take great pride in the bouncy nature of their wickets.  This  meant that a ball that normally would need to be pitched quite short anywhere else in the world to come up to the head height, can be pitched just short of a length on most Aussie/South African pitches.  Means the ball is going to gear up at an awkward angle in Oz.  It is time some parameters are in place regarding the hardness of the pitch.  It goes the other way in India with the ball hardly going over ankle height!

The game should go on

The simple fact is Hughes’ death was the culmination of numerous factors that cluster to create the perfect storm.  Replays suggest that Hughes head had turned away from the ball as he was still playing the hook.  Had he kept his eye on the ball, at worst, the ball would have hit him on the grill, rather than on neck.  According to Kevin Pieterson, “He (Hughes) did not have a classic batting technique, but he was able to score runs his own way”.  The game of cricket tests everything of a batsman, bouncer inclusive, only then the comprehensive ability is best ascertained.  The helmet manufacturer has reportedly said that Hughes was not wearing the latest version which is far more protective.

A fast bowler would probably say that banning bouncers is akin to banning cover-drives. It is part of the game. In cricket, fielders are also prone to serious risk. Raman Lamba, Mark Boucher, Saba Karim instantly comes to mind. What one would question though is the quality of the pitches, helmet designs, player’s behavioural pattern (like sledging, verbal intimidation….) Sledging that involves threats such as Michael Clarke advising an opponent that he is about to get a broken arm should be outlawed, as it sends a wrong message to youngsters that it is okay to break some one’s arm in the name of sport.

Photo credit: Telegraph

In the modern version of the game, the batsman reverse-sweeps, scoop-hits (Dil-scoop) – and can miss and get gravely injured.  The game is played across the length and breadth of the country in grounds and gullies, with inferior gears, poor pitches and no first-aid, and one can even without bouncers, get hurt. 

If cricket is  not prepared for the funeral of a 25-year old Australian batsman, who was in the process of returning to national duty, then the process of feeling “normal” about cricket will take longer time. To sum up, in the words of Australian pacer Stuart Clark, “as a fast bowler you’ve got to intimidate. That’s part of the game.  It’s been part of the game for a long period of time now and I hope it will  always be”.  

A tiger without ferocity, a cobra lacking venom, and a fast-bowler sans bouncer is not in line with established nature.    Improving the helmet design and better coaching on how to negotiate a raising delivery are a more logical response to the tragedy.  The cricketing fraternity, in the meantime, should wholeheartedly support the cause of restoring Sean Abbott’s normalcy,ensure his return to the run-up with the new ball, and delete the dilemma of a fast bowler.

Making childhood safe for children is becoming an overwhelming task

Bangalore again. The garden city first turned to 

garbage city and now becoming infamous for 

rape city.

Image courtesy: www.exclusivenews.co.in

A three-year-old girl child in Bangalore was allegedly sexually abused at the private school she attends. "We have registered a criminal case late Tuesday (Oct.21, 2014) on a complaint by the victim's father that his young daughter was sexually abused in the Orchid International School premises," said Police Inspector TC Venkatesh. "We are checking the footage of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the school and questioning its staff and faculty," he added.

According to the police complaint filed by her father, the child "had signs of fever and complained to her mother that she was physically abused by someone she did not know or recognize."

The public anger of the Bangalore VIBGYOR High (School) rape incident reported about a couple of months ago is still lingering, while more grisly spectacles make a beeline to grab the pungent headlines. It is bad enough that the alleged rape occurred in the  campus sanctity, the accused, yet again, a staff.  Are more students being raped?  Are more rapes reported?  Has the definition of rape become diluted that more incidents being red-flagged? Is rape avoidance a feminine responsibility?  Or, are we failing collectively?

How is it that a three-year old tot was left alone for this to happen at any given point of time while at school?  Even when the child has to use the rest room she must be accompanied by a helper staff.  Someone knows the answer there.  Fortunately, the abuser cannot invoke the familiar defence that it had been consensual sex. 

While the recent beastly Delhi gang-rape is not yet fixed, more such heinous crimes are unfolding all over the country.  While the current laws and the concomitant loopholes enable abusers to escape punishment, many rape cases fail to result in rape law enforcement, thanks to the systemic inadequacies that render the criminal law ineffective in responding to and preventing such violence.  To get a conviction, current law requires prosecutors prove a suspect acted with “depraved indifference”, which is a high bar to clear, especially since most child abuse takes place in private.

A less-scrutinised explanation may be  the campus  grievance process itself  oriented towards the protection of perpetrators than the vindication of survivors. While the child abuse is more than a passing issue to be bantered about by talk show hosts, the community leaders must come up with preventive strategies.   It is not enough to warn a child to keep off strangers.  By now, we might have told our children about “good and bad touches”, but don’t miss to caution that it is often from someone we know and trust.  Keep an eye on a lesser known but growing category of molesters – children who perpetrate sexual crimes  upon children younger than themselves, as  nearly half of all sex offenders are juveniles. 

The common trouble spots include lack of a sexual assault response policy and underreporting of campus crime statistics.   Studies also indicate that victims who have not come to terms with the abuse they suffered as children, will, in time, repeat the same destructive patterns.  The educational institutions should adopt some promising practices to prevent and manage sexual assault.  The campus  programme should include comprehensive education about rape myths, common circumstances under which the crime occurs, prevention strategies, rape trauma responses….. along with a sexual assault policy clarifying all forms of sexual misconduct, and provide  reporting options. As campus grievance procedures are civil in nature, the sexual offenders are found “responsible”, not “guilty”.

The strongest punishment schools can deliver is to expel a rapist from campus which can be valid for cheating on a Physics final, not for a felony on par with murder.  Campus judicial systems aren’t designed to address that sort of defence.  A system run by corporates will always try to  put the school’s interests above that of the victims. Probing sexual assault complaints and meting out punishment should be a police matter, handled by personnel trained to deal with such highly complex cases, as these are tough crimes to investigate, as rape is more than a violation of campus discipline.

Students should be surveyed annually about sexual violence on campuses and the results made public and present a more accurate picture of campus life, while they  also must take responsibility for protecting themselves and be mindful that alcohol and drug use can lower their defence which can target them easy prey.

Beware of illusions

We owe it to our children to remember that the next generation of molesters is emerging from this generation.   Become aware of our own bias – our illusions that cloud our judgement by making us believe that we live in a much kindlier and gentler world than is really the case.  “Rape culture” is deemed as the set of widely held social and cultural beliefs that tend to make sexual abuse invisible and inevitable.  

Image courtesy: The Hindu

Few campus rapes are reported, fewer prosectuted. National Crimes Bureau Annual Report confirms that “rapes are committed in all states as well as the rapists belong to all castes, communities, colours and regions of India and abroad”, adding that “a woman is raped somewhere in India every 20 minutes , and the number of children raped has increased by 336 per cent  in the last 10 years”.

It is disturbing that our children are so trivialised  as to become the objects of exploitation and their innocence is sought to be destroyed for perverted greed.  When sexual violence occurs on campus and authorities fail to adequately respond, there is a fundamental breakdown in educational mission.  Men who treat women with respect can play a big role in preventing the crime.   Human Rights activists who fight capital punishment should propose meaningful inputs.  The children need to be protected, not labeled as tramps.

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The hypocrisy of ''statutory warning''

“Tobacco means only death.  I have seen this closely, effects of tobacco as an ENT surgeon” Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.  “From April next year, 85% of space on both sides of cigarette packs and other tobacco products will have to be mandatorily covered with pictorial and text warnings ….”, said a Health Ministry notification reportedly carried by Times of India under the caption “Warning to cover 85% of cig packs” (October 16, 2014).  

“Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.” “Smoking is addictive.”  “Smoking may cause impotence.” While there is no dearth of “statutory warnings”, days were that, for many,  college days remained incomplete without the smoking adventure. Boys and girls smoke to impress their peers and flirt  with the forbidden – a sort of heroism. Some puff  because they enjoyed. They may ask, why would people quit something they enjoyed.  One person tells me, “I smoke. Why not non-smokers respect it?  It is not easy to stop smoking”. 

If the product is evil, why not make it illegal? A common-sense query, but uncommon among our law-makers!  Tobacco kills up to half of all users. Statistics screams that 100 million deaths were caused by tobacco in the 20^th century.  If the current trend continues, there is likely to be one billion deaths in the 21^st century, while a third of the world cigarettes are smoked in China alone.

Even if a cigarette packet that recites a health warning every time you open it (similar to the one used in musical cards), there may be  few takers.  A long-time smoker of over three decades, over an informal chat,  confirms, “You slap a 100 per cent tax on the tobacco product and display the goriest image of a dead body on the cigarette box in support of the “warning”, it will not deter me to stop smoking”.  An addict shared that “nicotine helps to focus”.

How many smokers "quit" by seeing the "warning" label?  No smoker ever argued that smoking is not harmful to health, as their brain can process this information. The knowledge is there, yet it is more about giving into the addiction. But as Mark Twain said, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world.  I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.”  

“Statutory” doubts

Warning labels on cigarette packs may stir the emotions, but never drive them to quit. How does the psychology - selling cigarettes and also "warning" about the ill-effects of smoking tobacco  - work?  Does the law forbid cigarette brands from sponsoring sporting and cultural events?  I wonder why no tobacco industry representative has seen it as a curb on its right to free speech?      Smoking is being singled out in a way alcohol consumption, or fast food for that matter, is not.  You don’t see images of obese people on potato chip packets, nor liquor bottles  show images of diseased livers/drunk driving accidents.

It is not the same craving for chocolates that can be applied to craving for cigarettes.  “Drink responsibly” is different from “smoke responsibly”.  If smoking is so evil and dangerous, causing illness and death, why the government fails to criminalise tobacco, and in fact makes money from the sale of the anti-health product.  Does that make the government an  abettor to the crime? Why something so demonstrably damaging is legal?  It tantamounts to “we think this product is so awful but we will let you buy it”, hypocrisy generously flamboyant.

What does corporate social responsibility signify? 

The tobacco industries are clever, and they have resources.  They come up with new ways to get around bans, they are canny about it.  It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.  Not a single prosecution has ever been brought for selling tobacco products to minors, not one.  How could any shareholder in the tobacco companies  not feel sorry for what they promote?  Why tobacco manufacturers didn’t think of any other business alternatives? Anti-smoking segments may be thrilled with the invention of “talking” cigarette packet.  However, without the government intervention, cigarette manufacturers will pay no heed to the request and continue to use the tiny-lettered health warnings on the cigarette packets. 

“Drinking” has seen a lot of regulations and bans.  Unlike cigarettes, is it possible to consume alcohol safely?   Can people drink socially without damage, and can be positive one in moderation?  If you want to discourage tobacco use, attack the source.  Tell the young smoker the truth – they look insecure and immature, when they light up.  We don’t need statutory warnings for that.  People choose to do things that are unhealthy all the time, and they are aware, they have to at some point of time accept the consequences of their choices.  The Turks in the 18^th century threatened death to smokers. Hardly a few were executed, but smoking continued to become number one drug of use in Turkey. 

If the government put a tiny ‘warning’ message, it is the least they could do, and it is the least they have done.  Graphic and grisly images are steadily losing their “shock” value as people become desensitised to grotesque images. Not once have I heard the medical and health professionals say “Ban it completely”. There is none so blind as those who will not see.

A seasoned smoker shares, “The only time I stopped smoking was for six months when I had to look after my first grandson, emotional reason clearly paving the way to keep tobacco product at bay.  To a fair extent I could maintain the same arrangement with my next grandson as well”.

Dear Doctor/Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, yet, where is your prescription for smoke-free lungs?

Skull and crossed bones, nevertheless, get my vote.

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You are here: Home » Panorama » Blowing the cover of whistleblowers will harm democracy

Blowing the cover of whistleblowers will harm democracy

By C S Krishnamurthy, Sep 25, 2014 :

The recent suggestion of the Supreme Court asking the Centre for Public Litigation to reveal the identity of the source that provided the visitors’ diary at the residence of CBI director Ranjit Sinha dilutes the purpose of The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 enacted last year. 

While anti-corruption activists campaigned long for its enactment, the government passed a resolution in 2004 under which the Central Vigilance Commission was empowered to protect the whistleblowers. As sources of information, whistleblowers often face serious consequences if their role is disclosed either through legal process or more commonly through internal investigations, which include termination or detriment in their jobs, prosecution under civil/criminal laws or even threats to their safety. 

A growing number of countries have adopted whistleblower protection laws. The right to protection of sources is well recognised in international law, more specifically by the United Nations, and it is an integral part of freedom of expression. The UN Commission for Human Rights resolution in 2005 stated that it was “stressing need to ensure greater protection...for journalistic sources”. The ‘sources’ may have data valuable to the public discourse, yet each may be willing to share only in confidence to whom s/he trusts, either due to excessive caution or fear of reprisals.

Journalists have defied court orders and have been jailed, rather than compromise their ethical duty. It is nothing new that government officials attempted to get journalists reveal their sources by obtaining subpoenas and compelling testimony. While every social communicator has the right to keep his/her source confidential, the fundamental free expression philosophy is that source protection is basic condition for press freedom in democratic society, else the vital watchdog role would be neutered and the public receive less information of news value. 

There is a symbiotic relationship between whistleblowers and journalists. Strong legal rights for whistleblowers enhance journalists’ ability to gather information by strengthening rights of anonymity, while sources will also be more willing to speak more publicly if they believe they are protected. Nevertheless, these legal and ethical protections are challenged in many jurisdictions by police, lawyers and judges who demand that journalists provide information to assist in investigations and proceedings. 

These disclosures are often the means for news feed. The quintessential case on protection of sources is the famous US Watergate affair, where the reporters exposed the abuses of power of US President Richard Nixon and his staff which led to his resignation and imprisonment of many officials. The most significant consequence of forcing to disclose the source is the effect it will have on the ability to obtain information. The sources will not trust them, as journalists’ reputation will be changed from that of an independent gatherer of information into that of an arm of authorities-that-be. Unfairness would go unremedied and misdeeds in the corridors of power – corporate or in government divisions – would never be known.

The potential source would choose between risking exposure by giving information or avoiding risk by remaining tight-lipped, while another facet is whether the regulations on protection of sources are a right or duty for the journalists. In Sweden, for instance, the law on freedom of press, a part of the Constitution, makes it a criminal offence for the journalists to disclose a confidential source. 

Battling dilemmas

The tension between protecting their sources and being able to defend their stories create basic dilemma for journalists, and they must often choose to either follow their ethical obligations or defend themselves from unjust law suits. The law that is meant to protect the whistleblowers, who reveal misdeeds, is supposed to keep truth-tellers from being punished for having spoken up. Libel and defamation laws can also be triggered to threaten to deter whistleblowers from making disclosures. 

Though whistleblowers tend to be viewed by their co-workers as traitors, when however conducted in a fair manner could save their organisations from an unfortunate predicament. When you suspect that your employer is skirting safety or environmental rules, cheating on taxes, violating government contracts, committing financial fraud or breaking the law, and if the boss is a crook, speaking up is never easy. 

While its time that those who harm or threaten to harm the interests of the whistleblowers faced sanctions, the media and NGOs should dish out a ‘how-to’ guide for whistleblowers to ‘blow’ right, which is vital for a country like India, given the backdrop of massive corruption, waste, fraud and abuse. In a world where corporate corruption is rampant and taxpayers are often left with enormous bills as a result, understanding and protection of ethical corporate whistle blowing should be an even more important education and policy issue. Though it is hard to manage subject matter, it gives a good sense of how invaluable whistleblowers are to the fundamental underpinnings of democracy itself. 

Common man too often find his life and career turned topsy-turvy because he is honest enough to “commit the truth” after witnessing corruption in high levels. They are on last line of defence when those in power decide the rules need not apply to them. From threats to our food supply to 2G to 3G to healthcare fraud to corrupt politicians ....whistleblowers are the source of our learning. Though statistics are not available, their effort to report crimes, fraud and dangers to public health and safety have saved hundreds of lives and property. 

Whistleblowers, also known as, persons of conscience, are the people who alert the public of an impending disaster, substandard healthcare, unfair elections, banks going to meltdown.... Think of a world where Enron had been prevented, where FBI stopped 9/11, where the Challenger had not blown up... Prevention saves trillions. Few whistleblowers succeed in effecting change, fewer regarded as heroes or martyrs.

(The writer is a former banker and social researcher)

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Visit to Human Brain Museum, a memorable experience

“Don’t you have brains?” “Use your brain before you talk”.  We have been frequented many times by such comments.  How does it feel when you hold the real human brain on your palm?  That’s precisely what you would experience when you visit the brain museum.

India’s only museum of its kind, dedicated to the “grey matter” - the Human Brain Museum, is located in the sprawling premises of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans), Bangalore.  The museum showcases about 600 samples, brains acquired after the death of donors with the permission of family relatives,  for the cause of scientific research.

What is there inside the head, let’s take a look outside, too

When you enter the museum hall, you wonder that those “objects” displayed were once living and thinking, and currently become a subject for thinking. Whatever we think and do is directed by the brain, but how it operates is an unresolved mystery.  It is at this point Dr. S.K. Shankar, the  Head of Department of Neuropathology, Nimhans, comes to our rescue.  Even before you walk along the display where you would notice some samples marked with diseases, Dr. Shankar was all excitement to help us hold a real human brain in our hands and pose for the image, which can be cherished as a souvenir.    Simply point to the specimen, and Dr. Shankar is only too happy to share his insights.  Each brain has a story to share, be it tragic or fascinating. 

A sample shows how the brain was affected by head-injury, due to the person not wearing the helmet.  This would spread awareness about using helmets and seatbelts. While he explained the parts of the brain that affects memory, emotion, dreams …, he also warned how the habit of cleaning of one’s ears with pencil/long sharp object can produce boil in  the brain which is capable of killing a person.  An unhygienic swim can cause dangerous bacteria entering your brain through nose, which can ultimately damage vital parts of the central nervous system.   Another infected brain related to the tapeworm eggs found in coriander and raw vegetables  was depicted by small holes all around.  “This does not mean that you should not swim or eat chaat, but only ensure the pool is clean and the coriander is washed”, a reassuring Dr. Shankar said.

Specimens of brains infected due to various diseases like tuberculosis, meningitis, dementia, Alzhemeir’s, brain tumour ….had their own details. Though “schizophrenia” is a mental disorder often characterized by abnormal behavior pattern, the sample looked like a normal brain showing no external manifestation.

Brains apart, a selection of heart, kidneys, livers, intestines,  were also on display.  Brain specimen of rat, cat, duck and monkey also added to the variety.  About animal brains, Dr. Shankar says they too have emotions as humans, but the number of neurons and connections vary.  While a human adult has 8.6 b neurons, rats have 200 m and monkeys have 6,000. Monkey brain, curiously, looks similar to human brain, but has different interior connections.

Dr. Shankar not only educates about the complexities of the brain, but also relates that many of these conditions are preventable through early diagnosis.  The narration of how different organs are connected to the brains sans overlapping is not only amazing, but makes us regret how we abuse our body.

Dr. Shankar’s sparkles during the chat

• The standard adult brain weighs between 1.2 kg and 1.4 kg and weight has nothing to do with intelligence.  Intelligence is nothing but capacity to solve a problem.
• Everyone in the world uses brain. Gender has nothing to do with the brain.   The brain never relaxes, and active from birth to death.  If the brain is silent, the person is dead.  Brain can be active without blood only for 15 seconds.  Brain never feels the pain, but only interprets pain.
• All animals see only in black and white.  Dogs face severe ear pain when crackers are burst.
• All our lungs are black in colour, thanks to pollution/smoke.
• There is tremendous amount of competition between twins in the mother’s womb.  One steals more food from the other, and one kicks the other, because of which the psychological development of the twin-babies are not the same. 
• Cancer doesn’t have permanent cure.
• If the mobile is hot, switch it off.
• Brain transplant is not a possibility, as there are billions of neuron connections.  Even if one connection goes wrong, it would be a major catastrophe.  Japan, however, continues its research work on some animals.
• Gossip helps to stimulate the brain.
• Grand parents should tell stories to grand-children, as it helps the former to "recall" the nitty-gritties of the story.
• Omega-3 rich food – fish, almond, walnuts are recommended in the daily intake.

Thank you, Doctor

Dr. S.K. Shankar, the brain behind the Human Brain Museum, Bangalore

The interaction with Dr. Shankar reflected his unflinching passion for spreading the knowledge and intending to achieve social goal, his academic excitement intact.  The diverse collection of samples is a clear evidence to show scientists are convincing to encourage people to donate their brains for research purposes. I am grateful to  Dr. Shankar for taking us through the  stimulating brain journey.

Also, my thanks to Mr. R.G. Subramanyam and Mr. Surendar for arranging the appointment and extending transportation courtesy, respectively.

Happy Teachers' Day, Sir

In conjunction with Teacher’s Day, I dedicate this post to Mr. Narasimhan a.k.a Narasimha ”Vaadhiyar” of our primary School in Chennai. “Vaadhiyar” in Tamil is synonym for teacher. 

Rewind 1966/67, I don’t precisely remember the year.  I was in  the Fourth standard.  The morning school assembly was on.  Narasimha "Vaadhiyar" (NV), the powerful  “Sir”, more a terror,  always conducted the assembly.  Students and teachers were terrified of him, as he used  to mercilessly cane and won't spare even the tender children. I don't remember even parents  making any fuss about it.   Of course, there was a Headmistress, a holy cow. NV was making various announcements about exams and holidays.

Finally, as is the daily ritual, the students and teachers sang the National Anthem.  In the process, I was "humming" the musical version of the Anthem, without lyrics.  Our class teacher curiously observed it and dutifully reported to NV after the assembly, which I was not aware of. (By the way, “Teacher” then was a reference to feminine gender and “Sir” to the masculine counterpart).  After the National  Anthem was over, we moved in line towards our respective classrooms. 

The next day: the assembly, as usual started.  Announcements were made.  Before the National Anthem was sung, to my utter disbelief (and to the joy of many other students and teachers), NV throated a sarcastic reference about me, in his customary high-decibel pitch.  I thought for a moment that he was showering good words about me, which added to my confusion.  Finally, slowly but surely, he exploded that  I made “fun” of the National Anthem the previous day by singing the “musical version” sans lyrics.  True, I hummed but never in the least meant to make “fun”,  as screamed by the NV. And I was lifted aloft by him as if he held the “World Cup” in his hands, taken around the assembly arena twice to make sure that everybody gave a scornful look at me, and ensured I was sufficiently embarrassed. 

Aged nine then, even had I explained my position, I would have only been thrashed, probably for back-answering.  And I was never naughty, least of all at School (I know some of you finding it hard to digest it).  When I give a nostalgic rewind, apart from discarding the NV’s understanding of the whole issue as ignorance, I wish to know:  Is it wrong to play the National Anthem in musical version?  It is pleasant to hear the Anthem even on Guitar.  Is vocal rendition mandatory?  Playing of the National Anthem by way of musical instrument is not an offence.  The Indian Armed Forces Band have performed the Anthem in official musical version. 

All said and done, you are my teacher, nay, Sir. Teachers are role-models. I believe so.  To be so, it is a huge responsibility  There are no doctors, engineers, architects ...... without teachers. There is more to teaching than just impart the lessons of the curriculum, and the gap between a teacher and an educator is really, really massive.  We can't do away without teachers.  The best way to test is abolish education and see what happens in the next 10 years. 

"The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires". - William Arthur Ward, Author

Happy Teacher’s Day, Sir, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh26zOjIh9I