Am I the reason for India's loss????

This is for those who don't know how to read Kannada. This is the English translation of my previous blog.

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I am one among those cricket crazy fans of India. I have seen people performing pooja’s, homa’s and yagna’s to worship lord for the sake of cricket in this country. I don’t know if it’s my bad luck or the spirit of the opposite team or poor performance of our team, India always looses whenever I see a cricket match on the TV. It happened so many times that my friends started believing that I am only responsible for India’s loss in matches. It was India’s first match in World cup 2007 against Bangladesh and India was down to dust.
To my bad luck again, I was watching the match. It made such an impact on me that even I started believing that I am only one responsible for India’s loss.
India’s next match was against Srilanka and it was ‘do or die’ match for India. The loss means they are out of the world cup. It was Friday, 23rd March holding crucial match between India and Srilanka. Just like all fans I desperately wanted India to win the match.
With the fear that India will loose if I watch TV, my friends send me to Bangalore’s Majestic theatre to watch ‘Duniya’ movie (Such a good friend’s right?). With all the excitement around, I was just watching the movie with all my attention towards each ball bowled and each run scored. I switched off my mobile thinking I might call some one to get scores. It was 10:30PM when the movie got over. Srilanka had completed their 50 over of batting and had set a target of 255 for India to win. With a strong batting line-up that India had, I was dancing with joy that India could chase that down easily. In a few minutes India started chasing the target. I didn’t go to my room, instead sat in the garden in front of my room biting my nails. I couldn’t resist the excitement and went inside the room to watch TV. As soon as I stepped in, our Uttappa sir gave return catch to Chaminda Vaas and started walking towards pavilion. I cursed myself and came back to garden. After few minutes, with fear that I might eat up my fingers, I walked into the room again. Now this time it was Dada (Ganguly)’s turn. He drove hard, gave catch to Muralitharan and headed straight to pavilion. I looked at my friends who were staring at me with the eyes turned red and teeth crushing against each other waiting to bite me, I returned back to garden. How many times can anyone stop a crazy guy from watching a match that he loves most? I entered the room again. Now those who don’t believe in fate or superstition will start believing. As soon as entered the room, I think Tendulkar sir some how got to know that I have entered. He raised the bat to let the ball hit the stump Might be he wanted to test the accuracy of Dilhara Fernando :). The ball did the damage and Tendulkar sir started moving to pavilion without scoring a run. Within few minute of this, phone calls started pouring into our mobiles. Every one had only one question to ask ‘Is Damodar sir watching the match?’. As soon as we could say ‘Yes’, the instant reply was ‘We knew this guy is the biggest bad luck to the Indian cricket’. (See the mountain dew respect I have and how people praise me). With pain and frustration I slept without having food. The history was written the next morning. India was out of the world cup in first round. After reading these tell me what you guys feel. ‘Am I the reason for India’s loss?’ I am sure your reply would be ‘Damodar, please don’t watch TV when India is playing.... right?????

ನಾನು ಏಲ್ಲರ ಹಾಗೇ ಭಾರತ ಕ್ರಿಕೇಟನ ಹುಚ್ಚು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ. ತಮ್ಮ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ದೇಶ ಗೆಲ್ಲಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸಿ ಹೋಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಆದೇನೊ ನನ್ನ ದುರಾದ್ರುಸ್ಟವೋ, ಬೇರೆ ದೇಶದ ಉತ್ತಮ ಅಟವೋ ಅಥವಾ ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದ ಆಟಗಾರರ ಕಳಪೆ ಆಟವೋ, ನಾನು ದೂರದರ್ಶನ ಮೂಲಕ ಕ್ರಿಕೇಟ ನೋಡಿದಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಭಾರತ ಸೋಲುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇದು ಎಸ್ಟೊಂದು ಸಾರಿ ನಿದರ್ಶನವಾಯಿತೆಂದರೆ ಭಾರತದ ಸೋಲಿಗೆ ನಾನು ದೂರದರ್ಶನ ನೋಡಿದ್ದೆ ಕಾರಣ ಎನ್ನುವ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಗೆಳೆಯರು ನಂಬಲಾರಂಬಿಸಿದರು. ೨೦೦೭ ವಿಶ್ವಕಪ್ ಕ್ರಿಕೇಟನ ಮೊದಲನೆ ಪಂದ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಂಗ್ಲಾದೇಶದ ವಿರುದ್ದ ಭಾರತ ಹೀನಾಯವಾಗಿ ಸೋತಾಗ ಕೂಡ ನಾನು ದೂರದರ್ಶನ್ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಮೇಲೆ ಇಸ್ಟೊಂದು ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಬೀರಿತೆಂದರೆ ಭಾರತದ ಸೋಲಿಗೆ ನಾನೇ ಕಾರಣ ಎಂದು ನಾನೇ ನಂಬಲಾರಂಬಿಸಿದೆ. ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾ ವಿರುದ್ದ ಮುಂದಿನ ಪಂದ್ಯ ಭಾರತದ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ �ಮಾಡು ಇಲ್ಲವೆ ಮಡಿ� ಎಂಬ ಪರಿಸ್ತಿತಿ ತಂದೋಡ್ಡಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಪಂದ್ಯ ಸೋತರೆ ಭಾರತ ವಿಶ್ವಕಪ್ ಪಂದ್ಯಾವಳಿಯಿಂದ ಹೋರಗುಳಿಯಬೇಕಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದು ಮರ್ಚ್ ೨೩ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ, ಭಾರತ ಹಾಗು ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾ ಪಂದ್ಯ. ಎಲ್ಲರ ಹಾಗೇ ಭಾರತ ಗೆಲ್ಲಲಿ ಎಂಬ ಬಯಕೆ ನನ್ನದು ಕೂಡ. ನಾನು ಮ್ಯಾಚ್ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತ ಸೋಲುತ್ತದೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಯಂದಿದ ನನ್ನ ಗೆಳೆಯರೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸೇರಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನಾ �ದುನಿಯಾ� ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ನೋಡಿಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಮೇಜೆಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಚಿತ್ರಮಂದಿರಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿದರು (ಎಂಥಾ ಒಳ್ಳೇ ಫ಼್ರೇಂಡ್ಸ ಅಲ್ಲವಾ?). ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ನೀಮಿಷಾ ಕಳೆದ ಹಾಗೆ ಪಂದ್ಯ ಎನಾಯಿತು ಎಂಬ ಕುತೂಹಲ. ಕುತೂಹಲ ತಡೆಯಲಾರದೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಕೋರ್ ಕೇಳ್ತಿನೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಯದಿಂದ ಮೋಬೈಲ್ ಸ್ವಿಚ್ ಅಫ಼್ಫ಼್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ. ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಮುಗಿದಾಗ್ ರಾತ್ರಿ ೧೦:೩೦ ಘಂಟೆ. ಶ್ರಿಲಂಕಾ ತನ್ನ ಬ್ಯಾಟಿಂಗ ಸರದಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಹೆದರುತ್ತಲೆ ಸ್ಕೋರ್ ಕೆಲಿದೆ. ಶ್ರೀಲಂಕಾ ನಿಗದಿತ ೫೦ ಒವರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ೨೫೪ ರನ್ ಗಳಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಭಾರತದ ಬ್ಯಾಟಿಂಗನ ಭಲ ನೋಡಿದಾಗ ಗೆಲ್ಲುತ್ತೆ ಎಂಬ ಭರವಶೆ ಇಂದಾ ಕುಣಿದಾಡಿದೆ. ಕೆಲವೇ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತದ ಬ್ಯಾಟ್ಟಿಂಗ ಶುರುವಾಯಿತು. ನಾನು ಮಾತ್ರ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋಗದೆ ಮನೆಯ ಮುಂದೆ ಇರುವ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಉಗುರ ಕಡಿಯುತ್ತಾ ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಯದ ನಂತರ ಕುತೂಹಲ ತಡೆಯಲಾರದೆ ಮನೆಯ ಒಳಗೆ ಹೋದೆ. ನಾನು ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಹೋದಿದ್ದೆ ತಡ ನಮ್ಮ ಉತ್ತಪ್ಪ ಸರ್ ಚಮಿಂದಾ ವಾಸಗೆ ರಿಟರ್ನ್ ಕ್ಯಾಚ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಮನೆಯ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಡಿದರು. ಮತ್ತೆ ನನ್ನನು ನಾನೇ ಶಪಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಮರಿಳಿ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್ನಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಇನ್ನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತು ಕುಳಿತರೆ ಉಗುರು ಕಡಿದು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಬೆರೆಳು ಹೋಗತ್ತೋ ಎಂಬ ಭಯದಿಂದಾ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಹೋದೆ. ನಾನು ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹೋದಿದ್ದೆ ತಡ ಗಂಗುಲಿ ಸರ್ ಮುರಲೀಧರನ ಗೆ ಕ್ಯಾಚ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಮನೆಯ ಹಾದಿ ಹಿಡಿದರು. ಇಷ್ಟೆ ಸಾಕು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುವ ಹಾಗೆ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಗೆಳೆಯರನ್ನು ನೊಡಿ ಹೆದರಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರಿಳಿ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್ನಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕುಳಿತೆ. ಕುತೂಹಲ ತಡೆಯಲಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಷ್ಟಾದರು ನಾನು ಕ್ರಿಕೇಟನ ಹುಚ್ಚು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಮನಿ ತಾನೇ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಎಂಟ್ತ್ರಿ ಹೊಡೆದೆ. ದುರಾದ್ರುಸ್ಟವನ್ನು ನಂಬದವರು ಕೂಡ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನಂಬುವ ಹಾಗಾಯಿತು. ನಾನು ಮನೆಗೆ ಹೊದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ನಮ್ಮ ತೆಂಡುಲ್ಕರ್ ಸರ್ ಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾಯಿತು ಅನಿಶುತ್ತೆ ನಾನು ಬಂದಿದಿನಿ ಅಂಥಾ ...ಫ಼ರ್ನಾಂಡೊ ಬಾಲಿಂಗನಲ್ಲಿ ರನ್ ಗಳಿಸದೆ ಬೊಲ್ಡ್ ಆಗಿ ಮನೆ ದಾರಿ ಹಿಡದೆಬಿಟ್ಟರು. ತೆಂಡುಲ್ಕರ್ ಔಟ್ ಆಗಿ ಎರಡು ನಿಮಿಷಾನು ಆಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅನಿಶುತ್ತೆ..ನಮ್ಮ ರೂಮಿಗೆ ಪೋನಗಳ ಸುರಿಮಳೆ...ಎಲ್ಲರದು ಒಂದೇ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ �ದಾಮೋದರ ಸರ್ ಟಿವಿ ನೊಡ್ತಾ ಇಧರಾ?� ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ರಿಸ್ಪೆಕ್ಟ್ ನೋಡಿ. ಹೌದು ಅನ್ನೋದೆ ತಡ �ನಂಗೋತ್ತಿತ್ತು ಅವನು ಭಾರತಕ್ಕೆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಶನಿ ಅಂಥಾ� ಎಂಬ ಹೊಗಳಿಕೆ ಮಾತು. ಸಂಕಟ್ ತಡಿಯಲಾರದೆ ಊಟ ಮಾಡದೆ ಮಲಗಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟೆ. ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಎದ್ದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಇತಿಹಾಸ್ ಬರೆದದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಓದಿದ ನೀವು ಇಗ ಹೇಳಿ : �ಭಾರತದ ಸೋಲಿಗೆ ಯಾರು ಕಾರಣ ಅಂಥಾ?�. ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತು ನೀವು ಕೂಡ ಅದನ್ನೆ ಹೇಳಿತಿರಾ....�ದಾಮೋದರ ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನೀವು ಇನ್ನ ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ಮ್ಯಾಚ್ ಇದ್ದಗಾ ಟಿವಿ ನೋಡಬೇಡಿ ಅಂಥಾ� ...ಹೌದಲ್ವ????

Funny/emberrassing moments of my life.

Smile and shyness appear on the face at the same time when we think about those funny/embarrassing moments we have passed through. I too have share of these moments which I would like to share. Here are they:

1. While I was in fifth standard, I wrote this entrance exam for getting into Navodaya Vidyalaya.
By God's grace and my sincere efforts I cleared the exam and got into this fantastic school that changed my life. It was my first day in the school and every one including girls were standing in the queue to get evening tea. I got pressure to pee and as I didnt know where to go, I just moved few meters away and started peeing in front of every one. Looking at me peeing in front of every one, the guys started screaming at me. Without any impact I just turned around and yelled at them 'Hokkorle makkal re hokkori'. The craziest part was a staff of the school was standing in the queue. From that he used to call me ''Hokkorle makkal re hokkori'. :)

2. I was in 8th standard and was writing the annual exams. It was 50 marks Kannada paper and we were supposed to finish it in 2hrs. The exam was being conducted in school dining hall which had capacity of 100 students. I completed 44 mark answers in 1.5 hrs. We were supposed to write a Kannada 12 line halegannada poem for 6 marks. I wrote those last 11 lines but was not able to recall that first line. Unsuccessfully I waited for few minutes to recall the first line. Then I gave up and some crazy idea got into my head. I told my exam in charge staff that I need to go to toilet. He permitted me. I went to the toilet room with Kannada book in my hand. I looked into that poem and recalled that first line. I got out from the toilet with book in my hand. The staff that permitted me to go to toilet was waiting outside the toilet room for his turn. He looked at me with Kannada book in my hand. He asked me 'You haven't finished your exam yet, then why are you holding that book?'. He took me to the exam hall and told every one what I did :( I was totally ashamed/embarrassed. That thought me a good lesson and I never copied in my future exams.

3. We had severe scarcity of water in our school and used to take bath whenever we get an opportunity. I had this habit of taking bath at 5 in the morning as that was the only time the water tank used to get filled. Most of my friends knew about this. One fine day some of my friends (Mahammadrafi/Surendra/Vinayak) woke me up and told me that it is 5 in the morning. Without looking at the clock I just took my dress and headed straight to the tank. The guys too followed me and acted as if they too are taking bath. I took off my dress and sat below the tap to take bath. The guys started laughing and I had no clue what was happening. Then one of them showed me the time. It was exactly 12 mid night :) I took bath at 12 and couldn’t sleep till 5 in the morning.

There are lots of funny incidents that still bring smile on face even now.
I miss those golden days of my life.

My sincere thanks to Navodaya for making most of us what we are today.

Life is nothing without you

I felt life is nothing without having that someone 'SPECIAL' in our life.
Life is really worth living when we start feeling that exitement to talk to him/her, the crazyness to wait for him/her to come online, the foolishness in thinking that they too should feel the same.

This poem is dedicated to that some one 'SPECIAL' :

Life is nothing without you....

Feeling like everything is empty,
And nothing seems to remind.
Just getting too crazy,
With your thoughts all over mind.

Feeling like I am floating,
And you have taken me away.
Just want to come back,
But you have left me no way.

Feeling like I am totally lost,
And everything is turning blue.
Just enjoying every bit of it,
As if life is nothing without you.