Hot Wicket

We've all been there, it's a Saturday afternoon and all you want to do is enjoy some easy viewing television pleasure, possibly something that you could eventually have a snooze to. However, in your search for such perfection all you find is Songs of Praise, Location Location Location, Horse Racing, maybe a 1940's classic on channel 5 and a cricket match; which unfortunately is a sport that you really do not know enough about to endure several hours of. On the other hand if there was a saucy film on about seduction, about temptation, about lust and that also incorporated sport, maybe you'd persevere, or moreover be encapsulated by it. Previous films such as Jerry Maguire, Feverpitch and Any given Sunday all followed this seductive method. The female co-star has played a pivotal role in alluring the viewer's interest and with this allure has also increased box office profits. So your probably wandering, what relevance any of this has to do with critcket or why on earth am I even discussing sports (it's clearly not my area of expertise)...let me explain. The other week, I was on one of my many monotonous and lengthy bus journeys, (This time I was on my way to visit some family in Gondal, which is in the state of Gujarat). To make the journey more pleasurable, I had enlisted the help of my favorite Indian current affairs magazine 'The Sunday Indian'. It was whilst reading that weeks issue I stumbled upon Sunil Melwani's (A reader from Pune) letter to the editor. It was regarding the previous week's issue of 'IS OVERKILL KILLING CRICKET', or in laymans terms, why do people change the channel as soon as they see cricket? He expressed the following:

"The system of cricket can be compared to that of a wife, the mistress and the street hooker. Test cricket was the wife and then we got seduced by the mistress (limited lovers). Then came the street side hooker which represented T20. In T20 bowlers are restricted by absurd rules and fielders by the power play. Like a hooker who looks for money. T20 is about cricket without soul. Test cricket is about the real battle between the ball and the bat. We need to go back to our wives and mistresses and let the hookers starve."

As you can imagine my post article mood was somewhat different to the prior. I was quite puzzled with Sunils opinion; was he talking about more than cricket, was he having women trouble or was he just a die-hard cricket fan. I decided the best thing to do was to have a second read and attempt to understand Sunil's point of view. This read in turn highlighted the following; firstly; I didn't believe that a Sunil Melawani from Pune would actually come up with such a comparison, secondly; why was such a derogatory and sexist opinion allowed to be published (I mean come on, from a country which boasts Indira Ghandi, Sonia Ghandi, Shabana Azmi, Mayawati, Pratibha Patel and prides itself of respectful values and beliefs systems. Are there not guidelines and restrictions to what can and can't be published?). Thirdly, in some astonishing change of perspective, I was amazed, why hadn't somebody thought of this earlier?

India is currently one of the fastest developing nations in the world; these developments are not only stuctural, financial, industrial, it's more than that. it's the people. Thats the truth, as everything else develops so do opinions and views; and India's are developing at a rapid rate. Sunil Melwani's opinion is gold dust, its absolutle ingenious. For a second imagine, if Sunil's view (however sexist, traditionalist, outlandish it may be) of the dying sport of cricket were to be incorporated into a Bollywood or even a Hollywood film, coupled with an alluring beauty, with a storyline as tastefull and well composed as Water or Warth. I think we would have ourselves both a gripping and thrilling insight in the 'crazy' world of cricket and one which would prove to be far greater than the likes of Dil Bole Hadippa or Victory! I'm not a huge cricket fan. I'm not a huge Bollywood fan, I'm also not a huge sport fan, but I do know that both sex and sport sell well and that crickets only option.

Meet Sunil, the Legend!

Meeting up with friends is always something to look forward, especially when you have some juicy gossip, some secrets to share or maybe a really good laugh. However meeting up with friends abroad is something else. I met Sunil only a few months before my trip at mutual friends’ barbecue. It was during the "What do you do?" point of the conversation, we both realized we'd be in India together and decided to meet up once we got over there.

Sunil is on a four month internship with an IT firm based in the satellite town of Gurgoan (no, there are not satellites everywhere, its just a modern suburb of New Delhi) and shortly after he is going to be cycling through some parts of Africa for a further several months. (and here I am simply gallivanting aimlessly though India with no care in the world)

If you think the previous makes Sunil quite the legend it gets better. In my second week I clumsily dropped my camera at a place called ‘Peace Park’. I was supposed to be watching a short film on self enlightenment, and decided to answer my phone, the camera slipped out of my lap and crash landed to a dark death. (I think that was gods’ way of giving me a sign.) Anyway, I went to Cannon to have it fixed and was speaking to a Mr Raj, who said that it would take up to a week to fix my camera and seeing as time was off the essence my only other option was to pick it up from 'a satellite town of Gurgoan' (Enter Sunil).

At this point I felt like a total prat! How can ask someone to collect and pay for something when I hardly even know them? I faced a predicament, I couldn’t be without a camera for three months (my memory was not that good either.) So I did what I had to do, I phoned him. Sunil courteously agreed to collect and pay (I would transfer funds) for my camera and assured me that it would be safe.

Definite Legend

When we finally got round to meeting one another, I had just finished my third week at the Ashram and was in dyer need for some company. We decided to meet at Lodhi Gardens, close to parliament, ( in short a much cleaner part of town). Lodi Gardens contains the tombs of the late Mohammed Shah's and Sikander Lodi. The architectural work is of the 15th century Sayyid and Lodis, a Pathan dynasty which ruled much of Northern India during the 16th century. I don’t know what I was expecting aesthetically, because it seems that it gets to point when one garden doesn’t really differ from the next, although to my amazement not only did the gardens have character, history and shade, it also had a bird sanctuary.

Here are some Photos

Sunil studying the very incorrect bible

The Tomb

A man’s best friend (and he’s not really a fan of dogs)

Me

Sunil and I mooched around the park for some time and we didn't quite make it to the bird sanctuary. Don't think I'm the bird watching type and anyway the local amusement arcade had far more on offer. I’d forgotten how entertaining they actually were, we sat and played the one driving game several time before I was summoned by my aunt for shopping duty. Anyone who knows me, will know that I love to shop, however shopping for Indian clothes, as gifts has to be the most monotonous shopping experience in the world and because I’m so lovely I took Sunil with me. I think it’s safe to say that the day was truly over at that point.

So, to conclude never be pessimistic about meeting a friend abroad, you never know you just might surprise yourself.

Rajasthan

The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.

W. Eugene Smith

An Episode

Life is a drama, its like Eastenders An episode It's not everything, the be all The end all Deep in you, is your soul, In the depths of your mind The soul is immortal, everlasting. Engaging and listening with Your heart, your mind, your soul, Will help you to succeed. Look out for the omens of life They are everywhere We ignore them everyday But, but if your silent and observe You'll see them And your dreams will unfold in front of you Like a tribesman to an oasis Have faith, and you will find your peaceful place Its in you

India Music

I have compiled a play list of songs since the start of my trip; some of which have made me smile, some made me sing in my 'best' voice (baring in mind, I can't sing) some have sent me into deep wonder, others have made me jump up and dance and some struck me as quite a surprise. So here it is 'Anjli's India Top 10 ...so far

1. Sweet like chocolate (Shanks and Big Foot)
2. Indestructible (Matisyahu)
3. D.A.N.C.E (Justice)
4. Do you really want to hurt me? (Culture Club)
5. Don't make me go (Jonnie Cash)
6. This old heart of mine (The Isly Brother)
7. Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam (Nirvana)
8. Powder your nose (Doris Day)
9. Tempted to touch you (Marcus Houston)
10. Don't you want me baby (Human League)

I have been in India for about three weeks now and apart from the umpteen amount of mosquito bites, repetitive bowl problems and general things going wrong! I'm actually beginning to understand why its such a loved country.

My view from the Ashram roof in Rajouri Gardens, Delhi

Solar panels are every where and predominately used to heat the water and backup for lights in the evening, although to be fare it does not always seem to work, I think I experienced at least 10 lengthy blackouts. Oh well!

The city of Delhi holds such an extensive history, that one week really is not enough to explore the depths of it, nonetheless I did my best. Along with two sisters and brothers from the Ashram I set about the experience some of Delhi's many sites.

My first stop was Buddha Park

Initially, I imagined the park to be an exquisitely serene and sweet environment, filled with exotic flowers, nature trails, Tao-chi, yoga and meditation. I couldn't have been more wrong!

The park seemed as if it was an urban mating ground, it was filled with young lovers, who were doing a lot more than your expected flirtatious smiling and cuddling. Behind every cove, under every tree, on every bench; romance really was in the air. On the other hand what could I expect, I'm in India, having any sort of mixed sex relationship before marriage is seen as taboo and is not tolerated by society and moreover parents. So, yes maybe the young, sexy and single need a mingling haven of their own,

However, it was not all that bad, when I finally arrived at the Buddha statue, I was speechless.

Wise Words.

Our next stop on the itinerary was Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Previously, the residence of Raja Jai Singh Amber of Jaipur, the bungalow welcomed religious gurus from all around India and has since assumed sanctity for both Hindu as well as Sikhs. From the moment I entered the Gurdwara, I become fascinated with the pure modesty of all the volunteers. When I handed my shoes over to the cloak room, they were polished upon my return; the nurturing touch of mothers preparing Prasad (blessed offering) with military precision, the businessman taking time out from his schedule to ensure that no worshipper leaves without a glass of holy water. The service that each person provided was essential to ensure the smooth running of the temple, but moreover it was done with devotion and no expectation.

In life we are continuously ducking and diving, rushing to get somewhere, the roads are winding, sometime they take us left and sometimes right and some other times we don't even know where we’re headed, but there is always a destination. I don’t know if the British Empire new what their final destination actually was. The India Gate was built as war memorial for the 90,000 soldiers that lost their lives fighting in the British Indian army for the Indian Empire inWorld War I and the Afghan Wars. Following India's independence, India Gate became the site of the Indian Army's Tomb. Once I’d passed the insistent nagging of photo touts and food vendors, I eventually made it to the gate. The first thing that struck me was the sheer enormity of the monument. Like most things, on a postcard they don’t look that large but standing side my side, I really did feel four foot nothing.

A view of Parliament Street (the building right at the back is the presidents abode)

India

After months of continuous planning, saving and moaning that I was unable but any new shoes, I finally made it to India and wow, what an exquisite place it is. Prior to my departure I was advised on the do's and don'ts of India, my haggling technique was put to the test and off course gaining a standard level of spoken Hindi was of grave importance. However, what I found to be most interesting was people’s first experiences of India. Many friends informed me of 'a distinct and vulgar smell' that would hit me as soon as I disembarked the airplane, others said I would feel sad and may even want to get the next flight back home. The rest simply said that India felt like home and I too feel at home. Which ever country you may come from, which ever faith you may have, which ever creed you may be, India has a certain residing strength and humbleness which instantaneously puts you at ease and makes you feel at home. I have yet to discover what it is about this wondrous place that makes you feel at such ease; however I think the next few months will unravel the mystery. I am currently staying at a Brahma Kumaris Ashram in Delhi (the capital). Both my Uncle and Aunt are devout Brahma Kumaris and it really is a blessing, not only to meet them for the first time in my entire life, but to also have them share their pious knowledge with me. My Hindi has improved vastly by spending time with all the sisters in the Ashram; I am now able to have full 3 minutes conversation without any hesitation (my next aim is 5)