Commonwealth Games 2010 - Did we fail?

“Montego Bay (Jamaica), Nov 14 (PTI) India Friday outpolled the Canadian city of Hamilton 46-22 to earn the right to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.”

... It was indeed a historic moment for all of us, Indians, when we won the bid for hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010…!!

“India was the front-runner because it never previously staged the prestigious event and voters clearly were sympathetic to complaints from New Delhi officials that wealthy countries are picked too often.”
…this win established… that majority of the 72 member countries believed in our potential to be able to host a truly international event… that we are evolving and emerging on the world map… and that we could no longer be ignored…!! We are only the second Asian nation –after Malaysia - to be hosting this prestigious event...!!

After winning the bid, Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi had told the reporters. “It means a lot to us. We feel this will change the whole perception of the Commonwealth.”  

...and nearly 7 years hence… and with the total expenditure (including the non-sports-related infrastructure development) in excess of 70000 crores… we have occupied the centre stage of world’s attention... but all for wrong reasons…!! Now counting days … rather hours… to the start of the costliest commonwealth games ever …we have indeed taken the world by surprise…!!   

India's bid motto was New Frontiers and New Friendships. I am not sure about the new friendships…. but ‘frontiers’… yes… we have definitely reached and crossed new frontiers of… corruption… mismanagement…lack of accountability and involvement… not owning up our responsibilities… inefficiency… and above all … shamelessness…!! 

There is no doubt that the India’s reputation has been severely damaged by the messy preparations and the taint of corruption in managing the funds…!! Member nations are not confident in sending their contingent to India… they are not sure of security… of hygiene… of accommodation and of the so-called world class venues where sports events are to be held…!! 

Unfortunately… the CWG 2010 made to the headlines mostly for wrong reasons… the world press is abuzz with the stories of missed deadlines, athletes of Indian CWG squad failing the dope tests, “unliveable” condition of the accommodations, thumbs down for Rehman’s CWG anthem, collapsing infrastructure, security threats, high scale corruption in managing the funds, controversial remarks from one of the brand ambassador of the games, dengue threat and what not…!!

Majority agrees – unanimously- that we should not have bid for the games in the first place… and that the money would have been better spent on education, health and basic sports infrastructure…!! I am not sure… if we would still host the games… and if we indeed host… then would we be successful at that… but I am sure of one thing… that CWG has only brought shame to India and that we have failed… and we have failed in full public view…!! 

 

And miles to go before I sleep...

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. 

- by Robert Frost

This is a beautiful poem and very meaningful too...but the last four lines are especially close to my heart...!! I am so hooked to these lines - my favorite quote for a long time now...!! I am not sure where and when I read these for the first time but ever since... I have absolutely loved these lines...!!

Robert Frost is a great poet and he has beautifully captured the true meaning of life in just the four lines...  simple yet superb... really brilliant!! 

Yes... life is a travel... through and through... ever continuing... never stopping...!! Isn’t this ‘continuity’ the very soul of living...??

 

I love you, Dominique...

The Fountainhead (By Ayn Rand) is one of my favorite books till date. This book is very close to my heart ... as it resonates with my own opinions and personal philosophies...!! I have read this book umpteenth times... but every time I read this book... I learn/realize something new...!!

There is this one conversation where Roark (the protagonist) confesses his love to Dominique (the heroine). When I read it for the first time.... I was bowled over by the depth and sincerity of the feelings conveyed..!! His definition of love is so divine... so true... so perfect...!! And definitely... this is the only way I wish to be loved :)

“We never need to say anything to each other when we're together. This is for the time when we won't be together. I love you, Dominique. As selfishly as the fact that I exist. As selfishly as my lungs breath air. I breathe for my own necessity, for the fuel of my body, for my survival.

I've given you not my sacrifice or my pity, but my ego and my naked need. This is the only way you can wish to be loved. This is the only way I can want you to love me. If you married me now, I would become your whole existence. But I would not want you then. You would not want yourself-and so you would not love me long. To say 'I love you' one must first know how to say the 'I'. The kind of surrender I could have from you now would give me nothing but an empty hulk. If I demanded it, I'd destroy you. That's why I won't stop you. I'll let you go to your husband. I don't know how I'll live through tonight, but I will.

I want you whole, as I am, as you'll remain in the battle you've chosen. A battle is never selfless. [...] You must learn not to be afraid of the world. Not to be held by it as you are now. Never to be hurt by it as you were in that courtroom. I must let you learn it. I can't help you. You must find your own way. When you have, you'll come back to me. They won't destroy me, Dominique. And they won't destroy you. You'll win, because you've chosen the hardest way of fighting for your freedom from the world. I'll wait for you. I love you.

I'm saying this now for all the years we'll have to wait. I love you, Dominique.”

Love

Beautiful Cacti...

From childhood... cacti plants would catch my attention and make me curious. My mother would tell that cacti are plants only... just a bit distinct and unusual... and she would also warn me to not go very near to the cacti plants... as cactus spines can cause painful injuries..!!

Aren’t the spines central to the identity of a cactus? Somehow I find cacti plants very beautiful... in a unique way...!! That leaves of cacti have evolved as spines to support its survival in the surrounding environment teaches us a lesson – Adaptation!! :)

Golden Barrel Cactus

Brain Cactus

Mammillaria bombycina

Old Man Cactus

Saint's Cactus

Eriosyce sp.

Agave Cactus

Cleislococlus winleri

Hatpin Barrel Cactus

These photographs were captured at United States Botanic Garden, Washington DC on 28/03/2009.

The perfect match...

I was looking through some old cards and letters… and I came across a letter (dated 31-03-2004, 5.40 pm) that I had written to him (now my husband) after I had finished the book ‘Gone with the wind’.

I finished ‘Gone with the wind’ today and I was surprised at its relevance even in today’s society. Every Scarlett needs a Rhett Butler to make her realize what love is. We have some stupid ideas of our dream lover and we are so occupied with these that we do not let the truth enter our mind. 

Nothing is ideal… neither the surroundings nor us…then how an idealistic approach to your life partner serve the purpose? You are going to spend your whole life with him. You could pretend for a while or at the maximum for a few years... but for the whole life… can you?? 

If you have to think before telling something to him… then what is the purpose of his being in your life… and sharing your life…!! Love is respect… Love is friendship… Love is companionship… Love is support…!! How can I respect a person when I don’t know him well? How can I be friends with him when I cannot trust him completely? How can we be companions when we cannot relate to each other? How can I be a support when I do not understand his needs? 

You do not need a perfect person… but rather you need a perfect match…!! Perfect match for your thinking…, your attitude…, your ideas… and your way of living…!! A person has to be practical in selecting his or her life partner…!! 

You can NEVER get a person who has only the desirable qualities… he or she will definitely have some flaws… some demerits…!! In the beginning of any relationship … when you are in the dreamland… no fault of his appears intolerable…!! But life is no dream… it is very real… and very practical…!! So one has to think proportionately whether one could actually bear the flaws of the other person or not…!! Don’t ignore the negative points because someday you will have to face these … so better face these today when you still have time… and a way out…!!

Togetherness !!