ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

The title of this post might surprise you, but, it is an

opinion on the hottest topic of the moment 'fan loyalty' that's caused a major issue with RCB fan club too apart from the KKR supporters.

If you say that you would prefer good governance over governance by a particular political party then you are likely to understand my opinion.

As expected, auctions happened and IPL teams got restructured. What was unscheduled was the fact that RCB has got an entirely new look team apart from Virat Kohli and Abhimanyu Mithun. Now this reshuffling has created mayhem among the fans. Some people have declared that they are leaving the fan club whereas a lot of others have been very vocal in their criticism and expressing dislike about the new team.

My question is, who exactly left the club? Were they RCB fans or were they fans of individuals? I would say that only the latter have left because RCB is a sports club and not a 'player fan club'. When I gladly claimed and got my tag of 'RCB Fanatic Fan', it was not merely because I am a big fan of Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid, but, I got it because I loved the team and I supported it wholeheartedly. In the IPL, it didn't matter to me whether Dale Steyn took a wicket or Praveen Kumar, whether Kallis hit a six or Uthappa. What mattered to me was RCB got a wicket or got a six added to its score. I praised Robin because he played for RCB and not vice versa.

If I go on chasing my individual favorites then I would have been forced to support MI, KXIP, Raj Royals, DC, RCB, DDR and even CSK which is one team that I really despise. I am sure most of you would be faced with such a situation if you were to support your favorite cricketers. Afterall, who doesn't like Dravid, Sachin, Sehwag, Watson, Warner, Yuvraj or Raina? Apart from these few I also enjoyed the performances of Saurabh Tiwary, Dirk Nannes, RP Singh and Lasith Malinga.

What one should understand as a fan of a sporting franchise is that the support should be to the team and not to the individual player. I wish my favorite batsmen like Rahul and Sachin loads of luck, but, I won't pray for them to help their teams defeat RCB. That's how it works and that's how it should be.

In my opinion, this spate of desertion, criticism is good for RCB. It is a part of the process of evolution and those who now remain with the club are likely to remain with it irrespective of who plays and who doesn't. Those who used to say that RCB one day will become the equivalent of Man U in cricketing circles must know that Man U is all about the club and not an individual like Wayne Rooney or anyone else. Its fans have shown the maturity, love and support over a considerable period of time to make it what it is right now. Wishing RCB a similar future and always an RCB Fanatic Fan, I welcome the new team and look forward to some exciting moments.

The past was good and the future shall be better!

Friendship Verses

Friends, Friendship is the most sublime, selfless and purest of all human relations. Friendship is all about giving, revelling in his/her success, celebrating life’s most trivial moments and successes both real and imagined, standing by each other in times of need and being each other’s pillar of support, agony aunt, strict disciplinarian, armchair critic, comic and friend, fellow and benefactor as the case may be. Let’s all celebrate this emotion and reach out to our friends through an evocative collection of verses dedicated to yaari, dosti, dillagi aur zindagi as we know it. Tera Mera tera mera pehlaa yaarana, kyaa kehnaa, kyaa kehnaa.     

Your birthday is a perfect time
to stop and reminisce
About the many hours we've spent
Discussing that and this-
The laughs, the smiles
that we have known
The wonderful things we've done
That make the friendship that we share
A very special one!

You are my friend of friends, my confidant, my closest companion
You are the one I turn to for comfort when my heart is heavy
and the first one I run to when I have good news to share.
Through seasons and years, you've grown nearer to my heart,
and I want you always to know, my friend, how much
I love you

Some of the happiest times of my life
Are times you and I spend together.
For deep in my heart I've considered you special-
One of my dearest friends ever...

Time after time I've enjoyed your nice company,
Warmed by your closeness we share,
And when there were days
That I needed encouragement,
I knew you'd always be there…

Time and again I've been ever so grateful
For having a good friend like you-
A friend for all times,
To confide in, to count on, and treasure
A whole lifetime through.

You're a friend .For all times

*

When it comes to having friends
There's quite a few about
But (name) you're the very best
Of that I have no doubt
We've been good friends a long long time
For nearly (number) years
We've held each other's hands and hearts
Through laughter and through tears
You're very, very precious,
You're solid platinum
In fact you're decked with diamonds
My very special chum
Today's a time to celebrate
And I just want to say
I wish you every happiness
Have a very happy day

*

Into every life a little rain must fall...
...Call me any time you need an umbrella!

*

A friendship is a bond you have with someone else.
A friendship is special just like one's gift.
A friendship is a time to share your feelings.
A friendship is something very remembering.
A friendship is something I truly have.
A friendship is something everyone should want to last.
A friend is there to be by your side.
A friend is there to tell you everything is going to be alright.

*

God knew what He was doing
when He sent a gentle breeze
and brought a beautiful butterfly
to set my heart at ease.
The happiness of your friendship
and the gentleness of your words
have touched my life in a special way
and now I feel assured.
Thank you for your encouragement
and your thoughtfulness too
God knew what He was doing
when He sent me a friend like you.

*

I have a list of folks I know...
all written in a book,
And every now and then...
I go and take a look.
That is when I realize
these names...they are a part,
not of the book they're written in...
but taken from the heart.
For each Name stands for someone...
who has crossed my path sometime,
and in that meeting they have become...
the reason and the rhyme
Although it sounds fantastic...
for me to make this claim,
I really am composed...
of each remembered name.
Although you're not aware...
of any special link,
just knowing you, has shaped my life...
more than you could think.
So please don't think my greeting...
as just a mere routine,
your name was not...
forgotten in between.
For when I send a greeting...
that is addressed to you,
it is because you're on the list...
of folks I'm indebted to.
So whether I have known you...
for many days or few,
in some ways you have a part...
in shaping things I do.
I am but a total...
of many folks I've met,
you are a friend I would prefer...
never to forget.
Thank you for being my friend!

*

There's a miracle called Friendship
That dwells within the heart,
And you don't know how it happened
Or when it get its start.
But the happiness it brings you
Always gives a special lift.
And you realize that friendship
Is God's precious gift.

* 

Everyone hears what you say.
Friends listen to what you say.
Best friends listen to what you don't say.

* 

Count your life by smiles, not tears.
Count your age by friends, not years.

*

A friend is someone who chooses you...
...out of a whole world of people.

*

When hands reach out in friendship, hearts are touched with joy.

*

A friend is someone who understands your past,
believes in your future, and accepts you today

RANDOM THOUGHTS

LOAD UP ON GUNS BRING YOUR FRIENDS
IT'S FUN TO LOSE AND TO PRETEND
SHE'S OVERBOARD MY SELF ASSURED
I KNOW I KNOW A DIRTY WORD
HELLO, HELLO.....

WITH THE LIGHTS OUT IT'S LESS DANGEROUS
HERE WE ARE NOW
ENTERTAIN US
I FELL STUPID AND CONTAGIOUS
HERE WE ARE NOW
ENTERTAIN US
A MULATTO
AN ALBINO
A MOSQUITO
MY LIBIDO
YEA

I'M WORSE AT WHAT I DO BEST
AND FOR THIS GIFT I FEEL BLESSED
OUR LITTLE GROUP HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AND ALWAYS WILL UNTIL THE END

HELLO, HELLO......

WITH THE LIGHTS OUT IT'S LESS DANGEROUS
HERE WE ARE NOW
ENTERTAIN US
A MULATTO
AN ALBINO
A MOSQUITO
MY LIBIDO
YEA

AND I FORGET
JUST WHAT IT TAKES
AND YET I GUESS IT MAKES ME SMILE
I FOUND IT HARD
IT'S HARD TO FIND
OH WELL, WHATEVER, NEVER MIND

HELLO, HELLO........



I FOLLOW THE MOSKVA DOWN TO GORKY PARK
LISTENING TO THE WIND OF CHANGE
AN AUGUST SUMMER NIGHT SOLDIERS PASSING BY
LISTENING TO THE WIND OF CHANGE

THE WORLD IS CLOSING IN DID YOU EVER THINK
THAT WE WOULD BE SO CLOSE, LIKE BROTHERS
THE FUTURES IN THE AIR I CAN FEEL IT EVERYWHERE
BLOWING WITH THE WIND OF CHANGE

TAKE ME TO THE MAGIC OF THE MOMENT
ON A GLORY NIGHT
WHERE THE CHILDREN OF TOMORROW DREAM AWAY
IN THE WIND OF CHANGE

WALKING DOWN THE STREET DISTANT MEMORIES
ARE BURIED IN THE PAST FOREVER
I FOLLOW THE MOSKVA DOWN TO GORKY PARK
LISTENING TO THE WIND OF CHANGE

THE WIND OF CHANGE
BLOWS STRAIGHT INTO THE FACE OF TIME
LIKE A STORM WIND THAT WILL RING THE FREEDOM BELL
FOR PEACE OF MIND
LET YOUR BALALAIKA SING
WHAT MY GUITAR WANTS TO SAY


MAMA, SHE HAS TAUGHT ME WELL
TOLD ME WHEN I'S YOUNG
SON, YOUR LIFE'S AN OPEN BOOK
DON'T CLOSE IT BEFORE IT'S DONE
THE BRIGHTEST FLAME BURNS QUICKEST
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD HER SAY
A SON'S HEART'S OWED TO MOTHER
BUT I MUST FIND MY WAY

LET MY HEART GO
LET YOUR SON GROW
MAMA, LET MY HEART GO
OR LET THIS HEART BE STILL

MAMA, NOW I'M COMING HOME
I'M NOT ALL YOU WISHED OF ME
BUT A MOTHER'S LOVE FOR HER SON
UNSPOKEN, HELP ME BE
OH YEAH I TOOK YOUR LOVE FOR GRANTED
AND ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID TO ME
I NEED YOUR ARMS TO WELCOME ME
BUT A COLD STONE'S ALL I SEE

LET MY HEART GO
MAMA,LET MY HEART GO
YOU NEVER LET MY HEART GO
SO LET THIS HEART BE STILL

NEVER I ASK OF YOU
WHAT NEVER I GAVE
BUT YOU GAVE ME YOUR EMPTINESS
I NOW TAKE TO MY GRAVE
NEVER I ASK OF YOU
BUT NEVER I GAVE
BUT YOU GAVE ME YOUR EMPTINESS
I NOW TAKE TO MY GRAVE
SO LET THIS HEART BE STILL

VIOLENCE

THERE'S A BOY WHOSE STORY YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW
FUCKING CRAZY HIS LIFE, IT WAS NOT AHOW
VIOLENCE ALL HIS LIFE WAS WHAT HE SAW
GREW UP BETWEEN GUNS AND BOMBS, NOT ANY SEE-SAW
AT SIX HE LEFT THE CITY WITH HIS FAMILY
WANDERED AROUND LIKE A REFUGEE
WITH JUST TWO BAGS AND A SUITCASE,
HOW FAR COULD THEY GO???
AND THEN CAME THE BOLT FROM THE BLUE
A BOMB RIPPED UP HIS DAD, HE HAD NO CLUE
THE BOY GREW UP, TILL HE WAS EIGHTEEN
BLOOD IN HIS EYES, HE WANTED TO KILL' EM
REVENGE WAS WHAT HE LIVED FOR
HE WANTED TO KILL HIS FATHER'S TORMENTOR
FOR GODS SAKE PLEASE STOP THE VIOLENCE
BECAUSE IT KILLS THE INNOCENCE
SAVE THE WORLD, I SHOUT TO THE HEAVENS
WHY HAVE I BEEN FORSAKEN???
I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING AN ANEURYSM
I SLASH MY WRISTS, GOD DAMN
TIME STANDS STILL AS I LOOSE MY SOUL
WAS THIS MY ULTIMATE GOAL????


SO CLOSE NO MATTER HOW FAR
COULDN'T BE MUCH MORE FROM THE HEART
FOREVER TRUSTING WHO WE ARE
AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

NEVER OPENED MYSELF THIS WAY
LIFE IS OURS, WE LIVE IT OUR WAY
ALL THESE WORDS I DON'T JUST SAY
AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

TRUST I SEEK AND I FIND IN YOU
EVERY DAY FOR US SOMETHING NEW
OPEN MINDED FOR A DIFFERENT VIEW
AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

NEVER CARED FOR WHAT THEY DO
NEVER CARED FOR WHAT THEY KNOW
BUT I KNOW

SO CLOSE NO MATTER HOW FAR
COULDN'T BE MUCH MORE FROM THE HEART
FOREVER TRUSTING WHO WE ARE
AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

NEVER CARED FOR WHAT THEY DO
NEVER CARED FOR WHAT THEY KNOW
BUT I KNOW

SO CLOSE NO MATTER HOW FAR
COULDN'T BE MUCH MORE FROM THE HEART
FOREVER TRUSTING WHO WE ARE
NO NOTHING ELSE MATTERS


LIFE IT SEEMS, WILL FADE AWAY
DRIFTING FURTHER EVERY DAY
GETTING LOST WITHIN MYSELF
NOTHING MATTERS NO ONE ELSE
I HAVE LOST THE WILL TO LIVE
SIMPLY NOTHING MORE TO GIVE
THERE IS NOTHING MORE FOR ME
NEED THE END TO SET ME FREE

THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE
MISSING ONE INSIDE OF ME
DEATHLY LOST, THIS CAN'T BE REAL
CANNOT STAND THIS HELL I FEEL
EMPTINESS IS FILLING ME

TO THE POINT OF AGONY
GROWING DARKNESS TAKING DAWN
I WAS ME, BUT NOW HE'S GONE

NO ONE BUT ME CAN SAVE MYSELF, BUT ITS TOO LATE
NOW I CAN'T THINK WHY I SHOULD EVEN TRY

YESTERDAY SEEMS AS THOUGH IT NEVER EXISTED
DEATH GREETS ME WARM, NOW I WILL JUST SAY GOOD-BYE  

ODE TO LOVE

From the depth of seashore,
where the waves roar
Down she came with a majestic smile,
couldn't hold myself, I stood a while.
She made my heart stumble 
and I just turned so humble,
all I can just make her feel
yes I LOVE YOU with zeal.
She made me dream and,
made me adore,
for all that I allure.
She is just like FREYA
and this poem is for the beautiful
SHREYA'.


THE S(H)OCKING BEAUTY
Miles of iron strips, beneath my feet,
Rolling wheels, sounds erupting from beneath,
Strange faces gazing everywhere,
Smell of sweat filled the air

La Belle, she came,
with a bagful of socks she played a game,
A game that I could never understand
never in my life I had a feeling so grand

My sorrow it went up in smoke,
In a matter of minutes I got soaked
in drops of joy as I closed my eyes,
all my pain eased deep inside

As she moved on,
I stood still, as I watched her gone
my sojourn had come to an end,
Was the Shocking beauty Godsend???


WHEN I HELD YOUR HAND

WHEN I HELD YOUR HAND, THE SUN SHINED
MURKY WATERS GLISTENED, I WAS VERJOYED,
ECSTACY CREPT IN, NOTHING ELSE MATTERED,
STILL REMEMBER THE DAY, I WAS IN TEARS

WHEN I HELD YOUR HAND, OUR HEARTS CAME CLOSER,
IN YOUR MYSTIFYING EYES, I HELPLESSLY WANDERED
AND I DANCED TO THE TUNES OF LOVE,
THERE WERE MOMENTS I TRULY SAVOURED

WHEN I HELD YOUR HAND, I SAID A SILENT PRAYER,
THAT WE WOULD BE TOGETHER AND TOGETHER, FOREVER
YOU GAVE ME A REASON TO SMILE,
ENRICHED MY LIFE AND MADE IT WORTHWHILE

AND AS I STILL HOLD YOUR HAND
AND WALK OVER THE GOLDEN SAND,
I MAKE A PROMISE, SHREYA, I'LL HOLD YOUR HAND
AND WALK A THOUSAND MILES TILL THE END.......

MOMENTS

I MISS THOSE MOMENTS SPENT TOGETHER,
UNDER THE SHADES OF BARISTA IN NOT SO PLEASANT WEATHER.
I MISS THOSE HANDS THAT HELD ME TIGHT,
AND THE WAY THEY GUIDE ME TO THE RIGHT.
I MISS THOSE CAR RIDES,
WITH YOU LOOKING AT ME FROM THE SIDE.

I MISS THAT KISS,
WHICH WAS JUST A MERE TOUCH OF LIPS,
I MISS THAT "BABY",
WHICH YOU USED TO CALL ME LIKE A LADY.
I MISS THAT TIME,
WHEN YOU HELD MY HAND AND TOLD ME, 'YOU ARE MINE'

I HAVE TRIED TO POUR MY HEART OUT,
WITH THIS LITTLE POEM WHICH SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT.
I AM SORRY IF I DISAPPOINTED YOU IN ANY WAY,
BUT TRULY I'VE PRAYED FOR YOU TO ALWAYS BE HAPPY AND GAY
I KNOW ITS GETTING A BIT BIGGER,
MAY BE I SHOULD STOP BEFORE YOU PULL ON THE TRIGGER.
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST
EVEN IF THE WORLD CEASES TO EXIST,

I LOVE YOU......N I ALWAYS WILL!     

DEAR RAILWAY MINISTER

Dear Mamata Didi,
                             The incident that

SECOND FREEDOM STRUGGLE

April 5,2011 will surely go down as an epochal day in the annals of Indian history as the septugenarian Gandhian, Shri Anna Hazare began his fast unto death at the capital's hotspot for political agitations namely the ubiquitous Jantar Mantar. This fast unto death for increasing the participation of the civil society in the war or jihad against corruption has certainly caught the fancy of both young and old and has the powers that be sitting up in consternation and going round the bend in their efforts to find a formula with which they can save face and emerge from this sticky situation with their honour intact.
The fire has spread far and wide and what began as a spark on April 5 has now turned into a full fledged inferno that threatens to engulf everybody who is not in conjunction with the collective outpouring of repressed angst and anguish against this monolithic monster of corruption that threatened to do away with all the gains made in 64 years of independence. Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jammu, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Saddi Dilli have become the epicentres of this volcano which seems all set to usher in an era of honesty and transparency in all walks of life in the very near future.
1975 was the last time that the common man poured into the street while paying heed to Gandhian Jai Prakash Narayan's clarion call to overthrow the then corrupt and authoritarian Indira Gandhi regime and citizens from all walks of life irrespective of age, caste, creed, sect, religion and political lenaings participated in the movement that brought the mighty Indira Gandhi to her knees and 1975 and what is collectively and popularly being called India's second war of independence is unfolding before our very eyes at this moment when most of us are safely ensconed within the air conditioned confines of our offices or lounging rooms instead of venturing out into the blazing sun and strengthening this movement which really is a movement of the people, by the people and for the people in the truest sense of the term.
The organisers of the protest rally and fast unto death have been candid enough to confirm that they did not expect this kind of overwhelming support from the common man or 'goongi jantaa' as the politicians condescendingly choose to refer as, as one of the organisers succintly remarked, "we were expecting around three or so thousand people to turn up and support us in this noble venture dedicated to the cause of the much abused aam aadmi buth were completely overwhelmed and humbled when more than 30,000 people turned up to support us on the opening day of this fast unto death".
More than three hundred people are sitting with the people's icon Anna Hazare willing to risk their life and limb in the cause of the betterment of the common citizen and the organisers only expect this groundwell of support to go into lakhs on the weekend that begins from this evening i.e. April 8,2011 onwards. Corporate head honchos, Industrial Technology Professionals, Bollywood stars, media czars, advertising acolytes, retired ambassadors and civil servants, housewives, college and school students and even toddlers have poured out into the streets in a collective outpouring of support for this fast unto death undertaken by a true people's leader ANNA HAZARE.
This unassuming activist hailing from Maharashtra's backwaters has suddenly donned the mantle of the people's icon and provided the populace with the leadership that the people were so eagerly and impatiently looking for, one did see a similar mass movement taking shape after the tragic events that unfolded on 26/11, but the same dissipated into nothingness in the absence of a credible leader who could give shape to and carry forward this spark which fizzled out before it could assume the form of a raging inferno.
Anna Hazare has rekindled the ray of hope both in the hearts and minds of millions of Indians and given them the hope of a corruption and graft free India where merit and only merit will determine your net worth in society.So let's all add our voices to the clarion call "ANNA HAZARE AAP AAGEY BADO HUM AAPKE SAATH HAIN." more power to his elbow. JAI HIND, VANDE MATRAM.
SUNDEEP CHOPRA.