The day Sir MV blackmailed DVG

Recently one of my close friends sent me an email which impressed me a lot. This is what it says

The real greatness of a city is measured not only by its monuments, institutions and infrastructure, but also by the greatness of the people who have been nurtured on its soil, and who, in turn, have contributed to its growth and identity.

You might know of a road in Basavanagudi called DVG Road. It is named after a man of rare character: D.V. Gundappa. We had written about him in our last column of Snippets, but for those of you who may not remember, we'll repeat a few salient points.

D.V. Gundappa, born in 1889, was a matriculate who started working as a journalist at the age of 16. Two years later, he was publishing his own newspaper. He went on to become a titan of Kannada literature, writing on subjects that covered philosophy and literature, sociology and history.
Those of us who consider citizens' initiatives a modern day phenomenon, should know that DVG was a passionate activist, ever ready to give his time for a worthy cause. He was the moving spirit behind the Popular Education League and the Social Service League. In 1945, he set up the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs, a forum intended to awaken national consciousness among people. He was also the Founder-Editor of the Institute's journal, Public Affairs.

It so happened that one of DVG's
closest friends was the famous engineer-statesman, Sir M. Visvesvaraya (Dewan of Mysore between 1912-1918). They met often and, over filter coffee and vadais, would have long, intense discussions. Most of their conversations covered matters relating to the state and its development—subjects close to both their hearts.

Sir MV sensed that although DVG contributed generously of himself to the community, on a personal level, his friend lived in near-penury. Wanting to help, Sir MV pointed out that their discussions were invaluable to him in the discharge of his professional duties as Dewan. He would, therefore, like to make DVG's contribution official by appointing him Consultant to the Kingdom of Mysore.

DVG refused to consider the idea. "My vritti dharma (vocation) is writing and journalism. I cannot take money for conversations with a friend", he said. Unable to persuade him otherwise, Sir MV agreed to go along with DVG's decision—on condition that they discussed only personal matters henceforth. A sort of blackmail, so to speak!

For a man of DVG's wide-ranging interests, this was as hard a punishment as could be imposed. And as Sir MV expected, DVG capitulated after a few meetings and reluctantly agreed to be a Consultant. The Mysore Treasury issued him generous cheques at regular intervals. Sir MV felt pleased that his friend was enjoying a few justly earned rewards.

Time passed. DVG died in 1975, about fifty years after the incident which we have just recounted. Amongst his few possessions was a steel trunk. When family members opened it, they were shocked to see a stack of cheques of the face value of Rs 1200, Rs 900, Rs 1400… amounts that would have added up to the equivalent of several lakhs in 1975.

All the cheques were issued by the Mysore Treasury, paid to DVG for his services as Consultant. Not a single cheque had been cashed. Despite the fact that they came at periods when he had suffered dire monetary difficulties.

Sometimes the greatness of a man can be measured not so much by what he does, as by what he doesn't do.

Test Cricket

In the recent times there has been huge talk going on cricket game and its future. The most commonly asked question is “Why cricket is not so popular as other games like Soccer”. Some efforts are also made to popularize it by introducing the Twenty20 cup.

The question that comes to my mind is why is cricket game compared to sport like soccer when there are so many other games to be compared with. Some of them being Nascar, Baseball or the American football. Which are played mostly by one and only country united states of America. None of the Americans are worried saying that these games are not followed by other countries and no effort is being made to popularize these games in any other country.

For me Test Cricket is still the best form of the game. When compared to the new form of cricket Twenty20, test cricket brings out the best skills for display player than the hit out game of Twenty20. For even today test cricket and the one day international games are very much popular in test playing countries and generates money and also provides entertainment. Cricket is game of patients and skill, which can be seen in test match than any other form of the match.

I would rather say still twenty20 games can never bring the best in cricket, rather it would change the whole cricket game and the actual cricket game would be lost.

Top 10 English Songs

I just though of sharing my top 10 english songs

1. Hotel California - Eagles
2. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
3. Hello - Lionel Richie
4. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
6. Top Gun - Joe Satriani
7. Maria Maria - Santana
8. Nothing else Matters - Metallica
9. Wish you were Here - Pink Floyd
10. Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Taare Zameen Par

It was a great show, it was a movie not just for kids but for everyone who loves kids. The narration of the movie has been wonderfully crafted. Full credit goes to Amir Khan and co. No doubt this movie will be liked by one and all.

The first half of the movie shows how a boy (Ishaan) can be cornered from the society for no mistake of his. The feeling of such a rejected boy are depicted very well. Second half shows the recovery of the lost boy and how Amir helps this boy in that cause. I could catch glimpse of my own story, and it would be the same for others too.

The movie can be viewed from more than one prospective. From a parent’s prospective it shows how we can some times put our kids under pressure and make them looser. From a teachers view, not always the same kind of teaching works out. We as teachers must have different ways to help the students solve their problems.

Although the music does not seem to be very catchy, but it goes along the movie so well, and its been part of the story narration. The song that comes after the Ishaan was dropped to the hostel revels the feeling a child undergoes when he departs from his mother. A feeling that could never be expressed. The line “Kya itna bura hoon main ma” almost set me to tears. There were many such lines for which a knot tightened right inside my throat.

The characters for all the roles have been very well chosen and presented. Dhansheel Safary has done an excellent job. I was really amazed to see his expressions through out the movie. Amir has done his role as actor and director with great amount of zeal, passion and showed a purpose. Sachet as his helping brother, Tisca Chopra as strict father and caring Vipin Sharma as mother have done total justice to their roles. But Dhansheel Safary steals the show.

I feel it’s a must watch movie. It will go down as one of the best movies I have watched so far.

Master Blaster

Who says Master Blaster should retire? Seeing the way he is playing now in England on one can say that he is out of form.

Sachin is still the greatest batsman for India . Many have been thinking that he must retire. Even if we think that he should retire, have we found a some one who can replace him? I think there is no one out there in the whole country who could replace him. There is no one currently an in form batsman(younger one) in the team who can play up to the way Sachin is playing now ( not to the best of his form) . When the situation is like this how can some one expect Sachin to retire. Without hesitation I will say for sure Indian cricket will go for dogs if he retires with the current Indian team. Putting it the other way , I will be happy to see Sachin retire from his game when India have found at least some promising young cricketers.

Sachin may not be playing the way he used to play in 1990's . But even tough he is not playing to the best , he is still the one among the top three run getters for India in the resent past. If we see the records he averages 41.x in one days in the year 2006 and also was the second highest run getter in that calender year. I would love to see this Cricketing GOD in the international arena for another couple of years at least.

Free Four

The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.

Life is a short, warm moment
And death is a long cold rest.
You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye:
Eighty years, with luck, or even less.

So all aboard for the American tour,
And maybe you'll make it to the top.
And mind how you go, and I can tell you, 'cause I know
You may find it hard to get off.

You are the angel of death
And I am the dead man's son.
And he was buried like a mole in a fox hole.
And everyone is still on the run.

And who is the master of fox hounds?
And who says the hunt has begun?
And who calls the tune in the courtroom?
And who beats the funeral drum?

The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom in the sickroom
And talk to yourself till you die.

Orkut Community

Orkut , an online community for people to stay in touch with distant ones and also to makes onces social life more active, has no doubt been a great contribution to the modern society where people live far from family relatives and friends. But there is one thing that always pricks me and for which I had thought about to write an article for quit some time. Today found some time to put it on paper.

I came across many communities in orkut which are religious based , I am not talking about religions at higher level like Hindu, or Muslim or Christian , but I am talking about the sub castes that exists in the Hindu society. Even today , most of the people who are leading a very good professional life, have written in these communities such as "we are the most superior caste" , or "Our cast rules the world" etc. I also came across a couple of communities where there was statement that other communities should be deprived of certain privileges just because others are from lower caste. I was stunned by this. I would rather say these communities should come up with sharing their best practices so that other can learn from it instead of criticizing and creating disparity among the communities.

After having looked into these things I some times wonder is education really helping to get rid of some of bad evils existing in our society.