.. of a lot more than just bricks and mortar.

I read a wonderful piece on Dravid recently. I agree that he probably needs to be "rested" for a while. But I also feel that he's a great cricketer. And while you're wondering if I'm being diplomatic, you should know that I'm a huge admirer of Dravid.


Yes, Dravid has never been diplomatic. What's my point? It is that he's one of the most rational cricketers we have in world cricket. A man who made the most of what he had while he had it, a man who lived (and still lives) life on his own terms. A team player, a visionary, a leader, a pragmatic man, and lately - an ascetic. He had been a combination of all these qualities right through his career. We may not have been listening carefully to what he has been saying, probably because we're a nation of RDB and Chak De and not so much Swadesh.


Just when the W word was assigned to him with much celebration, he shrugged it aside and said, "I'm just doing my job. And I know that when I hit a bad patch, you'll say - The wall has crumbled." While the world has become about Pontings, twenty-twenty, and thirty six runs an over, he has remained a fan of Steve Waugh. I suspect that he always knew that it will come down to this some day, and that's probably why he went back to first class cricket without much fuss. The feeling of having contributed gets charred when it's discussed too much. Dravid belongs to the same school of thought, which is why he is able to stroll into the cricket ground with the same approach, whether it is a high profile international match, or the recent Ranji season. And as I write this, I understand even better why he is a fan of Steve Waugh.

While I admire how celebrities and sportsmen re-invent themselves, the old-fashioned values of consistency of approach still strike a chord with me. We as a generation as probably still caught between the new and old school of thought. There was a lot of debate about the way our team played their cricket in the T20 tournament. Aggressive, and in-your-face attitude was the order of the day, and they did a fine job. While a part of our subconscious feels that that is not the Indian way of playing cricket, there's no denying Indian cricket needs to change - from being fantastic underdogs to fearsome, consistent leaders.

What we need to learn from men like Dravid is the art of bowing out gracefully when time calls for it, without losing hope of making a come back. After all, that is what Dravid said - "I love competition and challenges in life more than than I love playing cricket".

From Psued to Psued-Real

I entered into a really neat meeting room in my new office. A few glances through the window, and i was immediately reminded of the pressure i'd felt a few months ago, my nervous self being grilled with questions on ESOPs and how in some vague way, they ought to reflect a transition from capitalism to socialism. Those windows were saviours, because i could gaze across without having to look at the interviewer, and at least look smart, if not answer the question.

Putting those thoughts aside, lest they add to the pressure of the first day of work, i leaned across the table, and shook hands with the few others who were joining with me.

"So, First job?"

"Yes"

"Are you from DU?"

"Yes"

"Which College?"

"(Does it matter?).. Hansraj"

"You don't look like a Hansarian.."

"(Man.. and you look determined to leave a first impression!).. Really? Well, i guess i didn't spent too much time in college, so you may not have seen me around. You from Hansraj, too?"

"No"

Anyway, we get done with our awkward one-liners and move to the induction room.

"So, this is the real stuff, huh?", I tell myself while we enter. I am tired of living theories, both at class and in life. This is how I'd like it - down there, doing the real stuff. Learn, grow and get real... or so I'd like to think.

Now, almost two years down the line, I'm still writing papers and making presentations which just about look attractive. I try to get to the premise of each issue, whether it is setting up an appropriate recruitment procedure for my division or explaining how cultural issues impact international ventures. But the bottomline is, it's never the entire truth. There's always something more that needs to be considered.. always!

I haven't yet reconciled to the fact that that's the closest you can get to doing the "real stuff".