Champions!

86 is when I was born. Not grown up enough till 92. So the 1996 cricket world cup is the first world cup that is still very much there in my memory. And yes, even if I was just a 10 yr old then, Sachin had become a God for me. I still have some amazing memories of that world cup- going to my uncle's place and watching the matches with everyone, that old logo of star sports, and then sometimes falling asleep on the sofa during the middle overs of the afternoon innings. It was great fun until the semis, when the legendary Indian batting collapse made sure it was curtains for us. Elders at my place say I had wet eyes while the match was being called off at the Eden gardens and SL being handed over the victory. This was the 1996 world cup. An unrealised dream and a shattered heart.

Then came 99 - got cable connection for the first time at our home- especially for the WC and the event began with Hansie and his formidable (now they are called Chokers) side rated as the favorites.And they were the fav acutally.All of us knew. And for India, it was the three legends- Ganguly, Dravid and Sachin.It was all about them. And they did their bit too. The enormous sixes by Ganguly in his 183* at Taunton are still afresh in my minds. The understated Dravid had two of his best innings in that world cup. And Sachin's solid hundred after coming back to the team after his father's unfortunate death. India went into the Super sixes but in the end could not tackle the fierce Aussie attack in a crucial match, to be then thrown out of the tournament and the WC dreams over.

2003 -the team looked like they were on a mission under Dada's leadership and Sehwag's attacking presence in every match helped us reach the finals- yes, the Finals of the world cup. We were almost there. People had already bought their quota of beer, drums were almost taken out, newspapers headlines about India's triumph were almost ready.Almost.Until Ricky Ponting happened. The punter smashed us all over the ground and ruthlessly. His 100 is still a nightmare for many. The Aussies took the WC away from us in the first innings itself.The beer was unused,the drums unused and the headlines modified-now talking about India's end.

2007 -India did not participate in the 2007 WC for unknown reasons. :P

So finally it all came down to 2011 - back in the sub-continent and more special because it may probably be Sachin's last world cup and a victory at Wankhede would not only fulfill the nation's unfulfilled dream for last 28 yrs, but also be an ideal farewell for the Little Master. Under Dhoni's leadership and some really good team effort-where everyone contributed, India crossed some major hurdles (read Australia and Pakistan) to reach the Wankhede for the final crash with SL.The match turned out to be a game worthy of a WC final and Dhoni's six over long-on to seal India's victory was carved in our memories forever.

The jubilation began -on the field and on the streets- streets all over India- and outside India too wherever there are Indians. It was for something we have been waiting for years. People even had moist eyes when they (including me) watching Bhajji, Yuvi and Sachin cry on screen. I called up all my friends/cousins to share the experience. Everyone was elated. Everyone was on cloud nine. The internet was full of celebratory messages. It was a great feeling. It was something about which we had only heard from elders and the 1983 WC winning players' interviews. It was something that we would make us feel we are the best. And we are the Best! Officially now.2011 WC champions- India!

As I said, the hi-fis, the dance, the celebration was all over the place-everywhere. People took to the streets in thousands (and even in Lacs at some places) and with Tri-colour in their hands, chants of Chak De India, Sachin, India, Bharat Mata ki Jai were shouted by one and all. It was amazing. It is amazing. The scenes of celebration will remain in my memory for life time!

For many it may just be a WC trophy but for us Indians, it is much more than that. It is glory. It is emotions. It is pride.

Ending the note here.. as I again watch the highlights of the final on Star Cricket.

Cheers

KU

The Dance class and the French class

It was actually since my FE at VJTI that i hav been longing to perform (read:dance) on stage.When it was the first time I attended our college fest Pratibimb, I was completely in awe of the event and was amazed by how people dance on stage - may be because it was the first time I had witnessed such an event live.

I would imagine myself doing the same at the next yr's Pratibimb.

During next year, I thought as I was just in second yr and  it may be a bit awkward to perform(what the hell was dat! even i dont knw).

I would also like to mention abt two of seniors(hostel+nagpur) who used to dance like anything and watching them dance ignited my passion for dancing even more.(dont u dare say that one who didnt even had the guts to dance is talking abt dance as his passion! ;) )

So the next yr, I finally decided to do some dancing.Luckily even my classmates were interested and even a choreographer was planned to be arranged.A mini-audition followed.( I think it was Dhoom's title track)

But for reasons still unknown ,things didnt worked fine and eventually it was only the girls of our class that performed.So that takes to Pratibimb 2008- final yr.

Meanwhile my desire to dance to various songs continued as I kept on listening to new and newer tracks on FM radio.

Now generally very few final yr students perform at the event and as you must have guessed till now, I was among the usual ones- that is- non performing ones.

So here it was finally.Completed my graduation and was still only 'thinking' of dancing !

So life moved on to 'job'!

And here, as we now had our own TV at our apartment , I hooked on to TV for hrs together after office, almost daily.And I started watching a television dance show called Dance India Dance(DID). I followed it religiously(and still follow it) and fell in love with the performances shown there.It inspired me even more to join a dance class.

So finally it was in April last yr that I decided to break-free and joined Shiamak's dance classes.It was gr8 fun going to the class and shaking legs to the beats of different bollywoood numbers.If only some friend too had joined, I would have enjoyed more.But nevertheless, it was a really nice experience joining the class and then performing (group dance) in front of a large crowd in an auditorium.Shiamak himself present at the event was the highlight.Hrithik Roshan had also come(although i didnt see him.may be he left early.)

So finally I had started dancing.Finally.

But the sad part is I havnt been able to continue with it.The second-level class that I joined was immediately after office hrs so couldnt attend.Hope will join soon whenever possible.The passion continues.

This was the Dance class story.

Now.. I'm afraid the French class story is not this long.(did u say Thank God! :P )

here is another of my desire -to learn any foreign language. 

and for reasons not even known to me- French.

May be because I see many ppl flaunt their foreign language knowledge on TV,may be because a bunch of my class mates at VJTI learnt German or may be just because I want to do it.

So I searched for several classess here in Mumbai and was sad to know that none of them were on weekdays.So I could not join.I searched again this summer but again the same.

So basically this is still 'unfulfilled'- the French class.

P.S: Dancing ke thode touch me toh mai hoon hi. Two weddings at my place recently.And two more coming.So four sangeet nights in all. :)

More later.

maja aaya ye sab likhne me aaj..

cheers

KU