Clean Bowled

Clean Bowled _{But still batting}

Everyone would agree that The Pursuit of Happyness was one heck of a movie. The movie, even though not among the elite in IMDB, is deeply emotional and highly motivational. Something that is greater than the movie itself is the fact that it is a true story. Sadly, that story also proved that money is important for a man’s happiness.

Today we might go on echoing about following one’s passion, one’s deepest desires of the heart, blah blah blah. But the hard fact is that money is needed to meet a human’s needs. So if any person concedes his passion for the sake of himself and his dependents; that’s purely understandable. But, what’s not understandable is trading the thing which you are supposed to be passionate about in spite of having more than enough money in your kitty.

They say cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. I doubt if it’s a game of fixed uncertainties. With the version being short, T20 was, is and will always be giving close encounters. But, with the recent rise of the spot fixing scandal more matches and players will be open to suspicion. The fact that BCCI is the richest sport organization does not help the cause either. It’s really appreciable how BCCI handled the cricket marketing over the past decade but one might wanna ask them ‘How much is enough?’

It’s a pity to note the extent of stupidity the players are baring in going for a few extra bucks via spot fixing. I mean, even if all they want is money, IPL is like a golden goose paying bucket loads every year. Spot fixing and getting caught is like killing the goose. When tempted with money some thoughtless fools are always going to fall for it. They better be ready for some tough action ‘cos BCCI has been ducking some bouncers of corruption of late and may be this time they will have to face it head on.

The call is for strict laws on fixing and betting which is very conventional. Why not go for the clear opposite. I mean, why not make betting legal? I just feel cheesy that I cannot brag this idea as my own paradigm because it’s been suggested by some already. Okay tears apart; let’s see what legal betting might bring to the game apart from money.

To start with, those who might oppose legal betting might sort the example of lottery tickets which is banned in 17 states of India. Oh yes, laws on betting are at each State’s government’s disposal. Lottery system did have an adverse effect on the middle class and the lower class. It made everyone to wait for some distant luck that never seemed to come. And also with my personal experience the state of Tamilnaldu has been doing much better without lottery. But, sports betting on the other hand, is a different ball game. Plus, horse betting and casino gambling is legal as they are considered “game of pure skill” and according to early constitution it’s legal to bet on “game of pure skill.”

No idea where that came from.

Legalizing cricket betting with modified set of rules such as

Licensing of approved bookies and betting houses.

Cap limit on the percentage of one’s income that can be placed as bets.

Levying higher tax on the winnings.

Am not qualified to give opinions on law, but, the above seem kinda good. Added to these the government can bring out certain other rules to sort out the legal ramifications involved. It will give the government extra income, the bookies will be under the radar and fixing can be reduced even though not completely eradicated.

Cricket comes pre-installed in all Indians from birth. In spite of the recent dents that cricket acquired due to spot fixing, I believe cricket craze will not diminish because when you love someone or something very much, after the storm is past, you will always overlook the bad qualities in them or those. Two best teams of this year’s IPL are facing off in today’s final. Let us hope yesterday’s controversy does not hinder the best of the best to come out on top.

Swasthika Sang

Boom

News about bombings and assassination attempts in some part of the world reach our ears every day or the other. In fact they have become part of the regular routine that when we feel indifferent, we enter into a situation of questioning our very human motives. Upon lighter thought one might be ascertained to think that the concept of terrorism is an irrational folly. But a little investigation will tell you that organized terrorism is nothing but rational.

It is intricate to interpret terrorism. How the word was perceived a couple of decades ago and how they are connoted now is very different. Something that is still in common is that there was and is a lot of loss of human lives. Freedom fighters, independent units formed to fight the colonial surge of another country, guerrilla units and a lot more were called as terrorists. Today’s terrorism is a lot more streamlined towards an express group of people whose motive is to disrupt normal human life.

The origin and rise of the Al-Qaeda will shed some light on Terrorism Begins. In the eighties when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, the locals fought back. The US funded these locals as at that time they always had this anxiety that the Soviets might gain on them. The funding from the West and the Sheiks of Middle-East helped them secure even foreign recruits to their militia. Later when the Soviets had their own struggle and split, the war was over. The militia, which mostly consisted of uneducated and orphaned men, had nothing else to do, or, more appropriately, knew nothing else to do. There later amongst a few conflicts of interest between the West and Middle-East, arose a notorious man called Bin Laden. Rest is history.

Last month’s Boston Marathon Bombings was in contradiction with the other terrorist plots. The investigation gone so far has revealed the involvement of a few scattered individuals. One can say that the irrational minds of a few young people lead to it. But an act like this will need serious planning over a long period of time which does not go well with irrational minds. If a few irrationally rational minds are capable of such things, then what more peril awaits this world?

One more very disturbing and even more unfortunate thing is that most of the terrorist activities are attributed to people who follow Islam. While I am most certain that most Muslims would want to lead a calm and peaceful life like any other faction, there is this small portion of Muslims who are made to believe that there is a conspiracy going on against them on an international level. These people with their poor understanding of certain fundamental principles of their religion carry out the acts of terror.

While I am no master of any religion or religious belief, it is my understanding that people follow religion to keep themselves aligned to some principles. Principles that might lead someone through a path of spiritual, emotional and physical goodness to them and to those around them. What am sure of is that no religion would preach hatred and violence as that goes against the fundamental principle of human well-being.

But how and where it went wrong for Islam? The best explanation I can give is the wrong interpretation of the word Jihad. It means struggle. The misunderstanding came in the understanding of what struggle Jihad means. Most scholars feel it’s the struggle within the self to follow the righteous path shown by the almighty. A few others feel that it’s the struggle against those who oppose Islam. I am not sure if deeper investigation into this term by me will bring clarity or obscurity. These fewer Muslims are not helping themselves or their community as many hate crimes are targeted against other righteous members.

Religious writings were meant to serve humans barring time. But that does not mean that they can guide us all the time. This is a time when individual right to freedom comes second to nothing. Some of the religious myths of the yesteryears cannot be imposed at present. People of all groups and factions have to reconcile and words like dominance, hatred and ego should be kept lying in the dictionary alone. This new world we live in is very much powerful and if not treated right we shall lead it to destroy us. Universal harmony is the Need of the Hour. Love All and Hate None.

Swasthika Sang