The title of this post might hurt many cricket fans, but they must read on to take a positive stand on everything whether right or wrong.
When Indian cricket team was ousted from the World Cup 2007, several demonstrations were staged throughout the country, some even went hostile and violent. 2-3 people lost their lives due to heart-attacks or suicides and players’ personal properties’ like their restaurants and homes were attacked and damaged by the angry fans. An estimated Rs. 2,000 crore of losses were visualised in the economy mainly by the advertising and travel industry.

But lets see the scenario from a completely different view-point. Though recreational activities are essential to keep ourselves productive, but an overdose of it is more counter-productive. I myself stayed awoke sticking infront of the television sets throughout the matches which used to continue upto 3.00 a.m. in the morning most of the time. Again, I was not spared from my other daily responsiblities and had to report to my work early in the morning. Insufficient sleep made an adverse impact on my performance round the day. But in the evening I am again watching another match. I really got tired of this routine. One of my friends took a whole month off from his office to watch all the matches and not even miss the “extra-innings” and analysis by experts! I think he was more wiser than me. But imagine if it happens in all the 80 million cable TV homes in India! Whole of the country’s economy will come to a grinding halt. But its true for atleast 5-7% of the cable TV homes keep their sets on till the match is over. Eight hours innings are equal to a whole working day. Think how many man hours are wasted. Yes, I’ll say “wasted” as I don’t feel this matches to have any positive impact on our productivity. It comes to 32 million man hours @ 5% for a single match. Its more than Rs. 400cr of productive hours per match! Add to it the electricity consumption of around 3 units per TV set and take into account the consumption of other simultaneously running appliances. But this will not be the case any more as Team India is already out and most of the Indian Team’s fans will be spared of taking so much pain to watch it perform. There will be no more cardiac arrests, suicides and public outburst of anger. It will also relieve a lot of pressure from the State Electricity Boards which are always short of power. And most importantly, the saved time will be productively used in meaningful activities.

And for the remaining and more ardent fans, there is another good news. Travel packages to West Indies are down. Yesterday only, I received an SMS from Yatra offering 8% discount if Bermuda wins and India moves to Super 8s. But now when Bermuda has lost, discounts will definitely get better and better.

So, dear cricketing fans CHEERS! Indian team has lost in the first stage itself. Remember last world cup? We had to wait till the finals for the same result! Well done Team India!!!

You might have participated in some kind of religious ceremony with bhajans & kirtans being sung on some popular film music. Its not a parody but some sincere words as prayer to the Almighty. The advantage of it is that most of the people assembled there can recognize the popular album’s music and can sing together.

But I always avoid to participate in such gatherings because whenever any religious bhajan is played on a popular filmy music, my mind is diverted to that album or original song from the religious theme or atmosphere. And secondly it seems to be inferior or cheap act as it is a copy and lack originality. But I have never registered my protest against it as it seemed to me that many others pretend to benefit from it.

But here is an interesting news going around these days. A Delhi based Art Gallery viz. Sriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra had sued International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for Rupees Two Lakhs compensation for staging a Ram Leela, the traditional play on the life of Hindu Lord Ram, based on its script! The script of the play was specially written for the shows at the Kala Kendra and was a unique artistic creation & the ISKCON had hired some artistes, who had been sacked by the Kala Kendra, to stage the play, said the petition. The Delhi High Court in its decision this Monday imposed a fine of Rs.50,000 on the ISKCON for copyright violation.

But I think this copyright was not vioated for any commercial use. Is religious or public cause or issue too vulnerable to coprights? Interestingly the court directed the Kala Kendra to donate the amount of the fine in two weeks to the Delhi government, as prayed by both parties, towards mid-day meal expenditure in schools.

What do you think about this?