ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು

You'd love to be here. Where else?! It's none other than ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು!!

From Jaipur to Johannesburg

On April 3, 2008, Ashish Kaul, Executive VP, Zee Network had said," The matches will not affect our soaps because firstly, Indians do not associate with domestic cricket. Secondly, IPL has become a big product only because Shah Rukh is endorsing it. Sans SRK, it is just a inter-corporate match between Anil Ambani, Mukesh Ambani and Vijay Mallya’s teams. Thirdly even if there are cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, how many of the 59 matches will they be actually playing? In a 20:20 format each player will be on field for about 10-15 minutes. Their fans will watch them play and come back to their favourite soaps,” is his firm belief. In fact, he contends that the impact of these matches on the soaps will be less than 1 per cent, “assuming there will be an impact”.

A few weeks down the lane, the IPL witnessed a whopping TRP rating of 7.3, way ahead the second placed Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (4.5) and the third placed Saat Phere (4.3). Milking the cash cow was official broadcaster SET Max, whose market share leapfrogged to 28.8% from a measly 5.7% just a few weeks ago. One of the dipstick poll respondent Lata B, whose favourite team is the Kings XI of Punjab, "Usually, when I surf in the evenings every channel has soaps running. But now with the IPL matches being telecast, I find it makes for a good break from my regular viewing." Sensing the threat posed by the IPL, some sought to admit the hard fact. Anirudh Pathak, Creative consultant for fiction with a channel, says IPL has affected their prime time slots. "And now, as teams get more popular, the audience is watching these matches with increased interest. But thankfully, the IPL is happening at this time of the year; this is the season for weddings and power shortages, so we were prepared for lower TRP ratings." he says.


The IPL certainly has its reverberations crossing the boundary lines. Having treated the viewers worldwide to intense moments of thril, agony, drama and excitement, the league now acts as an international stage for the widespread promotion of the game, which still is largely unpopular in several countries. Apart from the usual rollicking stuff displayed on the telly, IPL seeks a new dimension to the game to make it commercially more viable, morphing the format from a Test to a T20. Now that the IPL has stamped its authority on the sports market, the challenge ahead for the organizers is to press home the advantage of the popularity to introduce the game to virgin territory. Barring a couple of countries, the whole of Africa and large parts of America are unfamiliar with the game that has been worshipped in Asia. With the commercial clout backing the organizers, IPL and ICC have a distinct advantage which can be used wisely to mark cricket on the global platform. PC was spot-on to call it a shrewd combination of sport and business.



The shifting of IPL away from India is quite unfortunate, but there's every bit of wisdom involved in that decision. It is tacit to face tremendous difficulties for a parallel run of the two most rivetting events in India, with the threat of inadequate security looming large over the entire couple of months. Conducting IPL in India during such a period would only make the nation more vulnerable to ugly scars of terrorism, and the incidents like the one which happened in Lahore recently. It would be extremely foolhardy to politicize the decision, which naturally drew angst from millions across the country. What fails to be seen is the fact that IPL's sojourn to countries like South Africa or England will help our domestic players earn some valuable experience of playing abroad and expanding their cricketing sense to employ the best measures in dealing with the best international cricketers involved. And how often do our domestic cricketers have the opportunity to call around abroad shores?




Paying paramount importance to the interests of the spectators and the franchisees, IPL organizers now face immense pressure to alter the existing logistics to conduct the tournament in a successful way. They seem confident enough to call it forth in the same way as the last year's edition. And what better place than South Africa, the nation which has firm roots associated with India.


Johannesburg or Jaipur, India will always relish the flavour of IPL, the only one of its kind....

On The Red Carpet

February 22.

Kodak Theatre, Hollywood.

Hugh Jackman. The Australian singer will definitely not feel at ease with millions of viewers watching him host the 81st Academy Awards. And being a novice certainly doesn’t help. With names like Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Richard Jenkins, Brad Pitt, Anne Hathaway and Kate Winslet sizzling the nomination charts, the evening is set to witness some emotions- of joy and of disgust, of shock and of surprise and above all, a load of expectations from India.

We are the proponents of a script, seemingly unusual, which relates to Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the entire nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”. What happens next is well known.

Danny Boyle got his men to depict much more than the sheer logline. Slumdog is a movie which is delicately woven around the threads of imagination, innocence, adventure, misfortune, mercilessness and of course, the rugged realities dwelling in the discarded sections of Indian society. Our nation is home to several Jamals, Latikas and those who are impatient enough not to throw it away. Boyle’s efforts bore unprecedented fruition when he successfully transformed the harsh cruelty of the initial part of the movie to a heart-touching romantic fable which illustrates how an impoverished can overcome all odds and find true love. Before the movie culminates to a blissful ending, it underscores the moral associations of innocent love and wilful diligence, often disregarded in reality.

Despite some flaws, Slumdog Millionaire resembles an inspirational fairy-tale which arouses moments of intense passion and the trauma experienced before the conquest of glory. And that has been the struggle felt by the movie itself. Had it not been for the Fox Searchlight which came to the rescue, the movie would never have been released, let alone the prospects of reaching the Oscar Screen. Having emerged as the underdog Oscar nominee only in late 2008, Slumdog now severely threatens to romp its way to the Oscar triumph. Will the movie make it? Come February 22, 2009.

Irrespective of all that, a hearty congrats to Boyle, Kapoor, Rahman, Patel, Frieda, Gulzar and all those who strove hard to place the movie on the coveted Red Carpet.

We Render Sehwag

The curators at Chepauk wouldn’t be surprised to find some blades of burnt grass at the end of fourth day of the 1^st test between India and England. They’d recall finding similar stuff when India last played a Test here. There was something common on both the occasions. Not with the matchstick but a dreaded piece of a willow in the hands of a man less famously known as the Multan Marauder or Nawab of Najafgarh. And for all that glorious cuts- uppish and square, the man under focus is the innocent soft-spoken-yet-demolishing Virender Sehwag!

A target of 387 is not for nothing noted as a record target. And did I say that we were batting a fourth innings against the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar on a cracking fifth day track at energy-sapping Chennai? Not tough enough to stop Sehwag from making merry. And that’s exactly what the he did. Result- the English Team was driven to a state of autism.

Team India was clearly nowhere near the mark for the first three days. Perhaps the Mumbai affliction had hit us hard. A tinge of rust on the attitude was almost noticeable. Having conceded a crucial lead of 75, the English had slipped from 43-3 to 172-3 at stumps on Day 3. An air of defeat loomed large and we hoped to salvage a well-saved draw. True, Kirsten was confident, but that sounded a bit too optimistic. That was till Sehwag came out to bat.

Earlier on the 4^th day, England had crawled woefully in the 2^nd session to notch a paltry 57 in 22.5 overs. As if to remind them of what scoring rate is in conventional sense, and what it could be during his reign, Sehwag started flaying the wood at leather in his singular fashion. On Sunday noon, Chepauk was the place to be; with the deafening decibel cheer of the crowd resonating with the bat speed of Sehwag, as the ball made several trips down the ground, on the offs, off the legs and an aerial route for change. The delightful hits were the on their ground journey, the off-side being the most preferred direction. The flight became a regular spectacle, not off the bowlers’ hands but off the bat, with as many as four of them being sent straight to the throngs watching in awe. As KP watched, he’d have felt philosophical of the afflictions faced by bowlers who wither under the Sehwag agony. That is our Viru in his zone, a zone that is completely his own. On one instance, as Cricinfo put it, “A full toss from Monty Panesar was clipped through midwicket so precisely that the fieldsmen running across the rope met each other just as the ball squeezed past them and over.” Elsewhere on the screen, something read,

“ 11.2. Panesar to Sehwag, SIX, it’s so easy for him, just sizes up the length and goes downtown against the spin with a stunning six over long-on, man oh man oh man....”

57 runs were up by the 38^th delivery of the innings. There’s nothing much a bowler can do under such circumstances. Neither the history of the game nor the reputation of the bowler matters; either great accuracy or Sehwag’s misfortune can bring an end to such electrifying drama. Talk of bowling, Sehwag’s here for the grind.

Eventually, when he got out after a swashbuckling assault of 83 off 68, talks of a memorable Indian victory had gained momentum on and off the cricketing arena. The job was done, and perhaps, in the best possible way. Some balls were lost and some were torn. This was an innings which undid the effort of the team which remained on top for 10 sessions of the test.

An exact contrast to the theory of non-violence. The English would stop learning history after this.

This was the Test that will be remembered for many reasons other than cricket. There are few Tests which have no losers and this was an example of one such contest. The English know that it is their courage and the belief in Indian values which brings them here. We, as Indians, are mighty grateful to the trust they instilled in us, to bail us out of the dark terror-struck times. It’s great to see them cooperate with us to revive the class of Test cricket, perhaps at the time when it required the most. England can take solace in the fact that it is their presence here, which heals us and restores normalcy. People are talking cricket again. Sachin is playing for the nation more than ever. Can there ever be a better revival? This is the Test of the times. Cheer up England. Well done India. You guys contrived well to present me a high successful chase as my birthday gift.

India Battles Atrocities

Before anything, a mighty salute to the brave martyrs of Mumbai Rescue Operations- Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Gajendra Singh, Rajeev Khandekar and several other officers who laid down their lives for the greatest cause ever -India.

We strongly condemn the heinous atrocities committed by those who never valued anything except terror.

At the time of writing, the death toll at the Mumbai war siege reads 183. More than 350 are still fighting the battle of war and death amidst intense pain.

For 60 hours of intense operation in the southern Mumbai, the breath of a common man was shockingly bated in what can be described as a carnal ransack compounded with conflagration of terrorism. It was not only the financial capital, but the entire world minus the terrorists, which came reeling under the the banal cloud of terrorism. A cataclysm of blood at the heart of Indian economy has left a scar on humanity and its beautiful essence.

The scenes of terrorists running mayhem was the least thing Indians expected to come across right at the start of the day. A relaxed and serene restaurant quarter at Colaba turns into the epicentre of terror and bloodshed. The police get on their feet to counter-attack the menace. Within minutes, Nariman House, Hotel Taj Mahal and Trident Oberoi become the cynosure of eyes filled with tears and grief. The press crew lines up to bring a comprehensive picture. Even as the world grapples with the agony of ruthless cruelty, India summons its power to send its best soldiers to halt the terrorists on their blood-shedding spree. Finally, after 3 nights and 2 days, India succeeds in its effort to run the terrorists out of their steam and breath. After a daylong siege the soldiers took control of the building, but unfortunately it was too late to save the hostages, all of whom were found dead. Indian commandos killed two militants in the luxury Trident-Oberoi hotel on Friday and rescued nearly 100 people. After evacuating around 400 people from The Taj, our forces cleared the militants and rendered the place free of terror.

The harsh reality left behind by the series of attacks is that the criminals were almost omnipotent: They could strike where, when and -almost -whomever they wanted. Terrorist attacks have riddled the nation more often than ever in the current year. Not long ago, it was Jaipur which came under fire. Just a few months ago, Bangalore and Ahmedabad were raided in a span of two days. Shortly after, Delhi witnessed a series of attacks. And then, it was Guwahati. What was less frequent has become a matter of familiarity in recent times. Just a few weeks ago, an explosion rocked the city of Malegaon in the state of Maharashtra. The Indian police and paramilitary force is the biggest security force in the world, but given that India's population hovers around 1.2 billion, it is still much too small. But whatever be the siege, Indian soldiers have gallantly lived up to their duty of rescuing India from any terror threat.

The world today needs to join hands to erase this canker which threatens to disrupt the society in its wanton fit. But over the last few days, Indians has shown the world that they are not the ones going to be cornered by nefarious minds. We stand up to salute the nation which has given us everything. Bravo India...!!

The Royal Bengal Tiger- Saurav Ganguly

"The Prince of Calcutta. Two of his special qualities are his intelligence and articulation, both of which have helped him immensely in the world of contemporary cricket." -Geoffrey Boycott.

"The great thing about Saurav is that he doesn't let any criticism bother him. He is his own man, and an intensely determined one. He always speaks his mind. His batting is a unique mix of touch and power. When he plays those drives, it's all touch, all elegance. Timing is his gift. He has the ability to not only clear the ropes but even the stadium. Against spin, my god, he is really a murderer! One thing I'd love to have from his game is his the ability to clear the ropes. As a captain, he is always encouraging his batsmen, reminding them of past successes. Sourav is among the best one-day players I have seen". -VVS Laxman.

"A quality batsman. There are a couple of things I like about his batting. He is right up there on my list, as far as offside play goes. The other thing he excels at is his use of feet to spinners. He keeps his head down, has nice footwork and a lovely long follow-through. I really enjoy it when he comes down the track to spinners. In fact, you can safely bet that it would go for a six." -Ian Chappell.

"The great thing about Saurav is that he doesn't let any criticism bother him. He is his own man, and an intensely determined one. He always speaks his mind. His batting is a unique mix of touch and power. When he plays those drives, it's all touch, all elegance. Timing is his gift. He has the ability to not only clear the ropes but even the stadium. Against spin, my god, he is really a murderer! One thing I'd love to have from his game is his the ability to clear the ropes. As a captain, he is always encouraging his batsmen, reminding them of past successes. Sourav is among the best one-day players I have seen". -VVS Laxman.

"Ever since Saurav became the captain, I do not feel like a youngster in the team any more. Everybody is treated equally and Saurav himself is extremely approachable and a pillar of strength. Saurav stood by me when I was struggling. I owe a great deal to him for standing by me at the most important time. I can't express my gratitude to him in words." -Harbhajan Singh.

“On the off side, first there is God and then Saurav Ganguly.” -Rahul Dravid.


There once was an Indian team, a team which represented us in the Wills World Cup 1996. Azhar and his bunch of men were just about there, relying heavily on the young shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar. The common dictum was that India would stay in the hunt till Sachin stays at the crease. Too much for an expectation really. Sachin needed a partner and there was one such in a young person of a joint-family of 50 residing in The City Of Joy- Kolkata. [A record, Saurav Ganguly-Sachin Tendulkar ODI partnership measures 8227 runs in 176 innings at an outstanding average of 47.55, Cricinfo]. For a person who wanted to be a footballer- understandable given the knowledge of the intense passion of football in Kolkata- he took up cricket because of brother Snehashish's liking for cricket. And much to the awe of cricketosphere, it still remains a mystery how Saurav could take up left-handed batting despite being a natural right-hander during his childhood!!


His first international appearance dates back to 1992- ODI against West Indies at Perth- where he failed to leave his mark. But that we know Saurav for his qualities today, it's not surprising that he fought his way back to the team by consistent domestic performances. Some were concerned about his problems of attitude and haughtiness, but that apart, Saurav was special in his sense of batting, which enabled him to score a century against England at Lord's in 1996. Alongside came Rahul Dravid, and in the coming years, Indian was cricket built around the core of this strong batting triumvirate.


Though Saurav Ganguly had a decent Test average, it was in the ODIs that he shone to his acme. His best performances have come all around the globe, with Toronto being a paradise for him. It was here that he tormented Pakistan both with the bat and the ball. Coming to Dhaka next year, his 124 was the cornerstone of Indian victory, chasing 315 to take home the series. And then came the belligerent 183 off 148 balls at Taunton at Sri Lanka in '99 World Cup, where he sent several balls drowning into the nearby rivulet. At Adelaide against Pakistan in 2000, Ganguly cruises to 141 displaying a hunger to feast on anything pitched off. These were the knocks which brought Ganguly to the doorsteps of captaincy when India were left reeling under the dark clouds of match-fixing scandal. Tendulkar had faltered in his role as a captain and Saurav was here, raring to go.


It was under Ganguly that the players transmuted from being a mere group of cricketers to Team India. Known for his aggressive style of captaincy, Ganguly's tenure at the top is marked by several accomplishments. A series victory over Australia in India, which included the famous Kolkata victory, in 2001 is regarded to be India's best performance. The remarkable transformation of an under-confident team to a team which reached the World Cup Final in South Africa, 2003 and a series victory over Pakistan in their land remain the most notable achievements of Team India under Ganguly. Players like Sehwag, Laxman, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Zaheer were groomed well to hold the position that they now play for. A veritable master that he is, Saurav still commands the distinction of being the Most Successful Captain of Team India.


He still is game for come-back, as he famously did once. Over the past couple of years, his Tests average is much better than that of Dravid or Tendulkar. [Test best of 239 against Pakistan in Bangalore, 2007] The selectors might have problems with him, he might not be comfortable against the bouncer, there might be a slow runner in him or a slow fielder, but Saurav still is the architect of the success which Team India now thrives in. There is a great amount of difference in the style of the game being played on either side of Saurav's tenure. He will be missed a lot during the coming days. Team India today has terms such as 'The Fab Four' or 'Team Huddle', contrary to the terms like 'Little Master' before 1996. That alone tells us the impact Saurav, as a captain, has left.

Mysore Dasara- Taking Karnataka To The World

It is that part of the year again, when the evening crowd is at its feet, busy shopping for the upcoming festival. The posters hang around evey arcade, attracting the buyers with large discounts, mega-bonanzas, bargains and other exciting offers. The newspapers aren't spared too, for they are less of news but more of advertisements and business promos. Bangalore Times, a popular supplement of Times of India, contains 4 additional sheets of such promos, with players like Big Bazaar, Brand Factory and e-Zone filling the most of it. My nearest market at Jayanagar 4th Block, which happens to be an ultimate shopping destination for most of the South Bangaloreans, is all illumination along its corridors. Ganesh Chaturthi concluded recently, but the buzz was replaced by a month-long preparation for our Nada Habba Dasara. Karnataka is in its colourful elements, with the state romping in its characteristic grandeur.

Mysore. The Royal City of Karnataka has been the capital of several dynasties from as early as 1400. Known for its overwhelming heritage, a sight of Mysore during Dasara can actually cure you of sore eyes. The Navaratri glory begins on Mahalaya Amavasya, and runs in full splendour for the coming 9 days. With the Royal Family of Mysore inaugurating the festivals by performing special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari, a host of cultural activities are arranged to mark the tradition of Dasara, which celebrates and commemorates the triumph of truth over evil. Programs like Wrestling Competition, Sports, Poet's Meet, Film Festival and Food Festival are attended by large number of people.


The Gombe Habba, a festival in which several dolls are arranged for display and good wishes being shared, is definitely worth a watch. The Mysore Palace, which was once owned by Wodeyar rulers, is being converted into a museum, which treasures royal costumes, paintings and jewellery. One wouldn't miss the sight of the jewel-studded throne of the Wodeyars kept at display at the Durbar Hall. The doors, decorated with taste, open to luxurious rooms which displays several paintings and royal craftwork. As many as eight portraits of Goddess Shakthi and an original painting from famed painter Raja Ravi Verma are displayed.


Vijaydashmi is the tenth day of the festival, which is also the day of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge and learning, known to bestow wisdom to worshippers. The auspicious day is also known Ayudha Puja, on which the workers must worship their tools. This day in Mysore, the celebrations reach their peak with a glorious procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari through the city streets. Starting from The Palace, the procession concludes at the Banni Mantap. In the past however, the 'Jumbo Savari' used to carry the Maharaja through the streets but this practice was modified recently. The procession is followed by the torch-light parade and a splendid display of fireworks which dazzle the night sky.

The Dasara festival at Mysore certainly reflects the culture and tradition of Karnataka. Every day in Mysore during the festival is fantastic, given the rich heritage of our state.

Left-handed Legerdermain

During those murky days of 1975 in England, as the crowd clad heavily in thick jackets and watched the game, the batsmen relaxed in the middle, enjoying the mild zephyrs crossing the park, seldom rotating the strike and changing ends. A run rate of about 3 rpo was the norm, and anything above 4 rpo never fell short of deserved eulogy. There was a certain Vivian Richards, known for his ability to send the ball out to tremendous distances, but a player of his caliber was too occasional and hence, outstanding. The better percentage of the deliveries were left for the wicket-keepers behind to collect, and if there was a wicket to fall, it mostly would have been a nick to the slips. More than half of the softest dismissals in cricket belong to those days of yore.

Two decades later, things were markedly different. The overall run rate jumped considerably to over 5. In came a new brand of cricketers, whose natural prowess belonged to their left arms. These were cricketers who perhaps drew inspiration from legends like Gary Sobers, who excelled in many sports along with cricket. Sobers played soccer, golf and basketball for native Barbados. You would be mighty surprised when looked into his bowling options. Left-arm-fast-medium, Slow-left-arm-orthodox and Slow-left-arm-Chinaman. Any thing else?

In the case of left-handed batting, one can actually notice that the striking arm is the right arm. And vice versa.


Sultan(s) Of Swing. The Dire Straits found a better match for their name in Wasim Akram. Very few know that Wasim Akram was struggling to make it to his college team. Gracious indeed. How can someone miss a cricketer of the highest embodiment? Wasim Akram, is known for his tremendous left-handed dexterity. That he could swing the ball either way, off or leg, change of pace, cut, length and angles is absolutely unprecendented. In the 1992 World Cup final, the two deliveries he produced to get rid of Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis were almost unplayable. His bowling statistics speak for themselves. Not only this, he also has a Test best score of 257*, better than that of Sachin Tendulkar. Wasim is an inspiration for younger quicks who include Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan.

The most notable of the batsmen is the ever-damaging and punitive Sanath Jayasuriya, who single-handedly threatened to finish the game in a jiffy. His aggressive batting is one of the cornerstones of the birth of a new cricketing strategy, which was to be carried successively in the later years. A virtuoso performer that he is with the bat, his off side flicks which send the ball over the ropes are the shots which any aspiring batsman would love to emulate. Those shots defy the laws of gravity and projectile motion, else why would Jayasuriya be the lone man to hit them? And if the batting is not sufficient, Sanath possesses the ability to choke the run rate with his slow left arm tweaks. His form is perhaps, getting better with his age.

Around this time in Perth Down Under, Adam Gilchrist was gradually making progress from an ordinary wicket-keeper to a specialist one endowed with fantastic batting abilities. Spending couple of years with the domestic Western Australia Warriors, Gilchrist successively topped the seasons most dismissals by a wicket-keeper. Initially being tried at the number seven position, Gilchrist went on to score at a brisk pace which prompted the think-tank to promote him to the opening order. In the 1999 World Cup Final, Gilchrist slammed Shoaib Akhtar's express deliveries to all corners of Lord's to script an emphatic victory. And in 2003 World Cup Final, Gilchrist rubbed into Indian woes by striking a well-timed 57 at the top. More was to come in the 2007 World Cup Final, when he lambasted a potent Sri Lankan attack to rip 149 off a mere 104 balls. Perhaps, bigger occasions ignite his spirits. GIlchrist is equally punishing in his white jersey. The distinction of being the first person to club hundred sixes in test cricket will always remain in his name.

Kevin Pietersen's switch-hit may have caused controversies but given the power he can derive, one can fairly give him the license. It is after all, not an easy shot to play. To swivel the arm in the reverse direction and pull is quite innovative.

Other names such as Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Matthew Hayden, Marcus Trescothick, Kumar Sangakkara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Graeme Smith, Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Andrew Strauss have all carved special niche for themselves in the world of international cricket.

Left-armers have not dominated only cricket. Ask John McEnroe. One of the most prolific tennis player of his time, McEnroe had an odd technique which added to his strength of hitting the ball a considerable distance as early as the age of 4, which was the result of an extra-ordinary combination of hand-eye coordination plus power. Same with Martina Navratilova, her angle asked new questions to those facing her at the opposite end. Former Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic is another in the list. Not surprisingly, many of the guys are ambidextrous today. One of my pals named Praveen (Blogspot), bowls left-arm and bats right-arm. It definitely is worth a try. The left armers have a special charm arising out of the difference they create.

Delicious Delights of Andhra Cuisine

Someone who has travelled far and wide across India would definitely have experienced this. And those who have not would still find it easy to imagine. The South of India is visibly distinct when compared with the Northern half. The difference you notice when your train changes borders from UP to MP is not evident as it is when you chug across a South Indian border. The change of language can be a decisive factor though. Apart from language, all the 5 states have multifarious culture, lifestyle and traditions. While Kerala takes your memory to a series of regatta amidst verdant plains and water yards, Tamil Nadu reminds you of the temples of Cholas and Pallava dynasties, apart from hill stations and beaches. Karnataka, as I wrote in my previous topic 'One State, Many Worlds', is an assortment of various colours of life in the plateau. Historical temples, breath-taking green farmlands, thick jungles, gorgeous waterfalls, dry plains, everything except for desert and snow. And then there is Andhra Pradesh, the culture of which is a motley of Coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalseema. Arising from its broad demographics is the variety of lifestyles- as reflected in the styles of cuisine and language. Before the prelude runs into a long one, let me converge to the topic. The taste of Andhra Cuisine.

Andhra cuisine, is notably known for its hot and spicy delicacies. Having influenced by the Hyderabadi and the original Andhra styles, the cuisine highlights the common thread of two cultures- spice! The speciality of this cuisine is that it does not take much time to pique the sense of taste buds. Hyderabadi Biriyani is a case in point. Known for its richness of spice and flavour, the Biriyani is one of the most sought after main course at any Andhra restaurant. The frond leaves used for serving just add to make the desire more ineluctable. Rice being the staple crop in Andhra, it's not a surprising thing that most of the Andhra delicacies are made of rice. The dishes are always accompanied by pickles/chutneys called as Patchadis. Herbs add to the seasoning which is served with the hot curry. Desserts include Kheer and Savayin (Vermicelli), prepared mostly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A wide range of dishes are prepared during Makara Sankranti.

Some of the popular vegetarian savouries include the famous Pesarattu, which tastes like Upma eaten with chutney. Dosas and Tamarind rice are the most common breakfasts in Andhra household. The Gongura chutney is a famous pickle, which is a must for any meal.

At least half of the 6.2 million denizens of Bangalore would have relished the Andhra cuisine, at famous Andhra style restaurants lines of Nandhini, Mayura, Amravathi, Nagarjuna Sagar etc. It's conversant to see many people choose Andhra meals for lunch and dinner. In terms of business, this cuisine has been comfortably cruising ahead as compared to other menus such as Chinese or Thai. Currently catering to the Deccan region, the cuisine would not take much to dominate over other recipes. Hyderabad House, plans to take the cuisine to Sydney, Australia and The Gulf. Andhra cuisine finally romps abroad and why not, after all, there's no paucity of admirers of these victuals.......

China, Phelps and Bindra Sizzle in Beijing

The 08-08-08 event was the most spectacular and awe-inspiring of recent times. The artistry, creativity and elegance put up by China was all there to see. Beijing was the cynosure of all eyes as the Bird's Nest basked in resplendent colours that evening. The sky lit itself to reflect the pomp unfolding beneath as the onlookers rejoiced every single moment of it, taking in all the pulchritude of the event. And those who thought China was sultry and dull in its appearance had several questions eating their minds. It was as good as a Peking Manchow served to a hungry man, unsettling the bitter prejudice surrounding China and leaving him crave for more. As an emerging nation, China made several strong statements, leaving everyone spellbound. Such was the specialty of the ceremony that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had to withdraw his earlier decision of not touring China. The West had to open itself to accept the staunch truth- China's Rising Power. George Bush and Vladimir Putin never complained in the end. President Hu Jintao later was to tell,"The World had never needed mutual understanding, mutual toleration and mutual cooperation as much as it does today".

In the news for all the good reasons, it is the 25 year old Indian shooting ace Abhinav Singh Bindra who ended the country's long wait for its first ever Olympic Gold in an individual event. India's last Olympic Gold came when our hockey team emerged triumphant at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In Beijing, it was on this historic day, August 11, 2008 that India finally found its answers in the 10m Air Rifle Event. The young lad deserved this after several years of rigor and practice. An Olympian breaking into tears of joy at the medals podium is such a familiar sight. After all, it is the ultimate honour of human endeavour in any field. Surprisingly enough, Abhinav never expressed a flinch of tear or excitement. His gentle smile while accepting the coveted Gold perhaps arises from his strong belief of reaching heights by diligent workmanship. Finnish Henri Hakkinen, who was leading Bindra comfortably till the penultimate round, was all praise for Abhinav's consistency and his temperament of relentless fight. Hakkinen and China's Zhu Qinan, holding the first two spots after the qualification round were left trailing by Abhinav's accuracy. Bindra's last shot of 10.8 was just too good to be beaten by Hakkinen's listless 9.7. Abhinav's achievement adds the much-needed fillip to Indian Olympic circle, which was to a great extent, nominal in its cause till now. London now awaits Bindra for yet another gold, but let's hope he does not lose sight of his aim like Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Medal, Glory, Encomiums and lots of Hope rest on Bindra post his golden feat. Lets cheer him up for more.

At the time of writing, the shark had successfully achieved its 6th Gold. And wait!! He is not done yet. With 12 Golds in his name, American Swimming Sensation Michael Phelps is all set to finish Beijing off with two more. During 2004 Athens Olympics, Phelps had 6 Gold and 2 Bronze medals under his name. Today, he is reigning the All Time Olympics Medal Chart with 12 Golds. Michael Phelps has more than compensated for sister Whitney's injury that rendered her unfit to swim just when she was on the verge of making it to the national squad. Phelps is now all set to overtake Mark Spitz record tally of 7 Gold medals in a single Olympic Games.That shouldn't be a difficult task for him. He's been on song right from day 1 when he pocketed a Gold at the 400m individual medley, setting a World Record of 4:03.84. His feet have been referred to as 'fins' by the media, because he wears a shoe sized 14. His wing span, said to be at almost 6.5 ft, coupled by his 6' 4" height makes it ridiculously easy for him to transfer large amounts of water behind him. His hands and feet are like paddles in water and has an incredibly powerful kick. Having shown his ability to dominate in any swimming event, Phelps is special for his signature butterfly stroke. Says U.S swimming coach Bob Bowman,"I think if it were all over today, he'd be the greatest Olympian who ever lived".

China have been dominating hosts overall. They are comfortably placed at the top of the table at the moment, and are bound to finish on a high. The USA is far behind them with only eleven golds so far, and when you realize that Phelps alone has notched 6 of them, you know well.