Friday, February 17, 2006

A game of Soccer

I am writing this blog with sore muscles for I just returned from my first official soccer game ever (Yes ever). The only bit of soccer i have played before is the one with no rules and the one not played in a soccer field !!

We had a team of people who are much of a sport and decided to enroll in the Men's Soccer League. One of them was in a high enough position to sponsor our outfit. Totally lacked practice, but you cant expect that in this hectic professional life. No strategies except play hard, run hard, keep it simple (whatever that meant). I knew from little practice that i am a terrible shooter, so i opted to stay at defense and midfield. Many guys (bloody europeans, south americans) were good at it.

When it was time, we walked across the field to the player's deck. If anything would be apt introductory music it would have been the Ride of the Valkyries. And at the end of the first half we were even at 2, a bit tired but not too much as we kept rotating the players. I realized i wasnt quick enough, let the ball past me a few times but never ending up in goals thankfully.

Second half was crazy. Probably the opponents got us all figured out. Brits and Italians gave a tough fight only to end up losing. Not to mention our opponents were second generation Indians !!!.

However it was a game well enjoyed. Looking forward for the rest of the games.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Inquilab Zindabad

"hum ek paav rakte hain past mein, ek paav future mein, isi liye hum apne present par moot rahe hai"

A very intense dialogue uttered humourously by Aamir. The movie was great. The movie Rang De Basanti is infact all about that.

The story begins with a narration of the bloody past @ Jalianwala Bagh. Then the events leading to the capture of Bhagat Singh and his associates. The autobiography of the British official describes the courage, patriotism but more importantly their commitment and nerves of steel. "I knew of two kinds of people - people who die silently, and people who die screaming - Until i encountered the third kind".

Inspired by her grandfather's diary, the british lady stumbles upon the young characters from Delhi univeristy for her documentary. While playing their roles that were little known to them, they slowly begin to relate to the present (after it impacts them personally) and together they decide to take on the current problems in their own hands, thus reviving the "Inquilab Zindabad" slogan.

Fuelled by the past, they feel a sense of revolution and kill the corrupted Defense minister for authorizing purchase of cheap/faulty parts for the MIGs. The movie ends tragically when they are shot by the cops inside the radio station where they go live with their intentions. They die in a similar fashion as their past heroes.

Key characters from the past:

Bhagat Singh - Runs away from home to escape marriage and joined the revolution. Was arrested after he and his associates bombed the assembly and killed Saunders - Superintendent of Police. He was hanged and he was only 24.!

Chandrashekar Azad - He is Bhagat Singh's mentor. He founded the Socialist Revolutionary Assoc. and was involved in the assasination of Saunders. He shot himself after futile attempts to escape from the British. He was 25 at that time !

Ashfaqullah Khan - He is one of the masterminds in the Kakori train robbery in which Azad participated. He was then captured and sentenced to death. He was 27.

Ram Prasad Bismil - Planned the Kakori train robbery with Ashfaqullah Khan. He is a poet and is famous for the following words
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai,
Dekhana Hai Zor Kitna Bazuea Katil Mein Hai


Shivram Rajguru He is a close associate of Bhagat Singh and Azad. He was involved in the assasination of Saunders and captured later along with Bhagat Singh.