5 Achievements That India Really Needs

Piggy-back Oscars and Beauty crowns ... is this India's claim to fame.?

You may disagree, but I think this is a shame (Wow! Poetry: Fame ... Shame!)

Now here's what I would like to see India /Indians to achieve...

Pot full of Olympic golds in every Olympics till it ceases to be front page news any more.

At least one Fields Medal in the next 5 years. (I could even settle for a Millennium Prize or two)

A Nobel prize in any one of the sciences every few years till it becomes a habit.

An Oscar for a Mainstream Bollywood masala movie.

At least one world class software product or application. Just to make myself clear here ... No! Infosys is not a software product! I am looking for something like MS Office, SAP, Google, Twitter, Facebook, Linux, ... I could go on and on. Let's say something like Hotmail.

A technology company that rivals Apple or Intel in innovation.

I think I will be satisfied with 5 :-)

Would you like to add to this list? Name your country and go right ahead.


Picture courtesy: Svilen Mushkatov

I Don't Care About Slumdog Millionaire

All I care about is Gulzar.
Not about Slumdog Millionaire.
Not about AR Rahman.
Only about Gulzar.
He should get the Oscar.

Not that he needs recognition from Hollywood. Rather the whole world needs to be introduced to wonderful poetry and lyrics of Gulzar.

In the crazy, madcap world of Mumbai masala movies, Gulzar has been the sole voice of reason. His lyrics are the bright spot of any movie, whether the movie itself is a hit or a flop. The sheer poetry of his lyrics can shred your heart to bits and then at the next moment make you smile with the drop of tear still clinging to your eyes.

I first heard Gulzar when I was small. Aandhi was the movie and the songs were captivating. The music of RD Burman and Gulzar mesmerized a nation.

I could go on and on about Gulzar but then there is lot more information on Gulzar on Internet.
Instead go to Youtube and just immerse yourself in what can only be termed as ecstasy.
Go here and here. Even if you do not understand Hindi, you will love the song. (By the way, the movie is directed by Gulzar)

Given a choice I would only listen to Gulzar songs. Here is one more of my favourite. And oh yes, Lata Mangeskar - the Nightingale of India - lends her voice to all three songs. Let me know if you liked the songs.

And you know what?
If Gulzar wins the Oscars, AR Rahman will win too. And so will Slumdog Millionaire.

Picture Courtesy: Ilker

The Greatest Indian Sportsperson Of All Times

He has been playing and winning since the age of 14. He has been among the top 3 players for the last 12 years (only recently did he drop down to number 5).
He has won the World Chapionship four times.
He is the original blitzkrieg guy - the term "master blaster" is only a derivative.
He has won the Oscars 5 times.
He is likely to win it this year too.
He is humble.
He is the greatest.
He is Viswanathan Anand.
And he today is the reigning world champion.
He made Kramnik eat his words (something like 'the title is on loan to Anand and I will get it back').

Three cheers to Anand!

Now, can we expect his book My Best Games of Chess to become a best seller in India?