Budding Engineers and Architects at Play

 I was out on my walk when I saw these three kids of the watchman at a new construction site playing in the sand. I noticed that they had made pretty good looking structures with the sand - I am comparing them to me - I am hopeless in that department. Good work kids. Super stuff.

And I can only wish that they do not lose the enthusiasm to bid things like this - for fun - and not get too serious about life.

Darkness - Bharati Mukherjee

 It is a collection of 12 short stories about immigrants to the US and Canada. I normally try to recollect the stories which is an indication of the impact they have made of me. There was a story of a father who hits his young daughter on her womb - they are immigrants but he still has his honour I guess. One about Sikhs in California - a young boy who talks to his grandfather who talks to him about assassinating Gandhi on October 2, 2948 (wasn't that his birthday? I missed the context is there was any). 

One about a young lady who marries a perfect catch in the USA and is looking for a dalliance. One about an affair caught by the wife - an old man and a younger lady. One doctor called Manny Patel who appears in two stories who is rich but goes for young women and gets blackmailed once. A story where they call Hindi as Hindu. A bunch of cooks who resist the cops and get shot.

Stuff like that.  I am not a very good short story reader I think.

A Story of the Legendary Holkar Cricket Team - Dr Avinash Chitale

This is an important book because it places on record the story of the Holkar team which came into existence in 1943 and played in the Ranji Trophy 14 times, making it to the final on ten occasions and winning it on four, which is a pretty strong record. The book traces the Holkar team's history, key players and their statistics and bios. The cover of the book has the insignia of the Holkar kingdom perhaps, Jai Malhar, and pictures of the two men who were instrumental in making Holkar the force it was - Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar and Cattari Kankaiah Nayudu aka the legendary CK Nayudu. 

The Maharaja was the patron and CKN, the visionary. The author Dr Avinash Chitale, is an avid cricket fan and a former University and first class player who went for the Combined University selection from Rajasthan University and played one first class match for Madhya Pradesh in 1961-62. It's obvious that he had ample skill as a cricketer but it is his great passion for the game and for Holkar and Indore cricket that is most endearing. He is a highly educated man who did his BE from BITS Pilani, ME from MS University Baroda and PhD from DAVV Indore. He served the SGS Institute of Technology as HoD, Production. The book places on record financial support in its publication to her Highness Maharani Usha Devi Holkar, Satish Chandra Malhotra and the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Educational Trust. 

The story begins in 1923 when, CK Nayudu, born into an affluent Telugu family from Nagpur (his father was Chief Justice of Indore for some time), and known for his cricketing prowess, was invited by the Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar to coach his son Yashwantrao Holkar. The 28 year old CKN took up the assignment, was made Major in the Holkar Army and went about playing cricket, becoming the first captain of an Indian team and winning many laurels. Fit, disciplined and immensely talented, CKN retired from the game at 57 years of age in 1952 - and - made a comeback at the age of 61. His career lasted 50 years! The Nayudu family was full of cricketers - CK's son, CN Bobjee Nayudu, younger son Prakash Nayudu, brothers CS and CL Nayudu, grandson Vijay Nayudu - all played first class cricket, his nephew Govind Raj played for India and his daughter Chandra Nayudu was the first woman commentator.  

But it was only in 1943, when CKN was 48 years of age that the thought of putting together a Holkar team came up. on the request of the Maharaja. CKN put together a core team consisting of himself, CT Sarwate, Hiralal Gaekwad (Nagpur), Nimbalkar, Kamal Bhanderkar, Sanjay Dhanwade (Maharashtra), Rangnekar (Bombay), Arjun Naidu, Kuppuswami Naidu (Rajkot) Mushtaq  Ali, JN Bhaya, MM Jagdale (Indore) and others such as Ramesh Pratap Singh, Devi Singh Dahi, Salim Khan, Nivsarkar, Kunzru, OP Rawal, Ravi Vaid, Shungloo, Sayed Ibrahim Khan, Kanta Swarup Bhatnagar. As mentioned earlier, in its 14 years, this team won 4 titles and made the final ten times. CKN led for 40 games and Mushtaq Ali for 10.

The author has profiled all the major players in great detail, analysing their technique and temperament which adds a refreshing dimension to the book. Interesting vignettes of how Mushtaq Ali was known as a 'balle ka jadugar' (magician with the bat) with his vast array of shots many of which were unconventional, the ambidextrous Rangnekar who could play cricket and badminton at national level, CS Nayudu who played for 8 states and led four of them, are interesting to read. It was a team of all rounders that could bat till number 10, relied on its batting strength (only one pure bowler). Mushtaq Ali was the only one who played all 49 games for Holkar. Their opposition ranks included players of the calibre of Hazare, Adhikari, Gul Mohammed, Mantri, Umrigar, Phadkar, Pankaj Roy and others.

Dr Chitale analyses the various schools of cricket in India - zone wise - and the Holkar school of cricket which he says is bright cricket, based on discipline and hard work. He profiled players in the post Holkar era for the state of Madhya Pradesh - players such as Bhagawandas Suthar,  Ramesh Bhatia, Balkrishna Kher, Manohar Sharma, Sanjeev Rao, Amay Khurasia. He considers Captain Manohar Sharma as the foremost in this lot, as someone who had made it all the way but to the national team, by dint of his own hard work. Captain Manohar Sharma was known to me as a senior administrator. He was my manager in the Under 25 tournament at Madras in 1984-85. I knew him well as a pleasant, dignified and supportive gentleman who knew his cricket, but knew little of his history and wish I had read this book when he was alive. Captain Sharma led Vikram University, played Ranji for three states - MP, Services and Hyderabad, Zone and played for the Board President's XI against Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find my name mentioned in the book based on my blog about my manager Captain Manohar Sharma. Though I did mention there that I would like to visit the various grounds when I visited Indore I did not, primarily because we stayed on the IIM campus which is far away from everything. But next time, with Dr Chitale, I hopefully will! 

Mention - and interestingly Capt Manohar Sharma is also in the pic to the right

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. I am very impressed by Dr Avinash Chitale who put together this valuable book at his age, inspired he said by the one and only Sushil Doshi. Dr Chitale's enthusiasm is evident from the fact that he called me and told me of his book and I ordered it online. I got a signed copy by the author himself. Thank you so much Dr Chitale and my congratulations to you on writing such an important book. I now carry lots of memories from the book of the players, the place and the culture. Wishing the book and you all the very best and hoping to meet you sometime.  

Thought for the Day - Mindfulness is Actually Bringing More of Us In

 Mindfulness is being mindful. Our mind keeps wandering away into the past and future and the idea of mindfulness is to bring it to the present so the mind is present. When the mind is present, we are present. And when we are present, we bring more of ourselves into the work we are doing.

No wonder our work is normally not fully there - because we only bring some part of ourselves to it. When we keep our mind present, we bring our entire self into the act. Our body is fully there, because our mind is fully within our body.

It's a nice practice - to be fully present as I type, as I listen, as I sit, write, read. I can see a sense of deliberateness coming into the act. A quiet. A care. Love even.

Mindfulness at work. Mindfulness is love perhaps.  

Pushpa The Rise - Movie

Pushparaj is a coolie, born out of wedlock to a rich man, who rises from the ranks of a coolie to become the chief of the syndicate that is controlling the smuggling of red sandalwood from Seshachalam Hills in Chittoor district.  What is impressive is the nativity of the region that's been so well captured - something that's been missing all this while. Suddenly we are seeing our land in so many hues - Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Badrinath, Chittor district. Allu Arjun completely dominates the show with a superb performance and despite my reservations about movies based on gangsters, I must say this one was well crafted. I liked it.

  

No Time to Die - Movie

 Bond dies in this movie. I could not figure what he was trying to do etc so I was happy to let him go. There was nothing Bondesque - the villain is sad and not threatening, Bond looks like he will cry any moment, the heroine is never in a swim suit and is crying most of the time. Why would Bond marry? I am glad they killed him off.

Avoid.

Canteen Fundas - Art of Making Connections and the Power of Vulnerability

 The power of vulnerability in making genuine connections!

https://www.edexlive.com/news/2022/feb/24/e-canteen-fundas-vulnerable-highest-form-being-yourself-make-you-a-better-leader-27603.html

E-Canteen Fundas: Being vulnerable is the highest form of being yourself and can make you a better leader


To make genuine, wholehearted connections with others, be seen as you are. To be seen as you are, have the courage to accept your imperfections



Be vulnerable, be you | (Pic: Edexlive)


‘I’m amazed at how easily Sujith connects with people,’ said Rinku. ‘I wish I could connect to people like that. It’s a great quality for a leader to possess.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Rahul. ‘Some people connect easily while some struggle. Wonder what the trick is.’

‘You should watch this TED talk by Brené Brown on The Power of Vulnerability,’ said Rakesh. ‘It throws up some interesting perspectives.’

‘Vulnerability?’ asked Rahul. ‘That’s the farthest thing from leadership, isn’t it? Vulnerable people are like cry babies, no? People don’t like cry babies, bhaiyya.’

‘According to Brene Brown, people who make connections easily have certain characteristics that those who experience disconnection do not,’ smiled Rakesh.

‘What are those, bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku. ‘Don’t tell me vulnerability is one.’

‘Let’s look at those who feel a disconnection first,’ said Rakesh. ‘She says those who experience fear of disconnection come from a space of shame. They feel they’re not worthy of connection, not good enough to be seen as they are. Naturally, they struggle to make connections.’

‘Oh,’ said Rahul. ‘Does that mean that we’re not feeling good enough about ourselves and that’s why we are not able to connect as well as Sujith? But we’re quite confident and self-assured, no bhaiyya?

‘Yes,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘But obviously, you need more than that to connect. And sometimes Rahul, our confidence and self-assurance can put people off.’

‘Oh and those who make connections, bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku. ‘What’s their mindset?’

‘Those who make connections easily have a sense of worthiness, a sense of love and belonging,’ said Rakesh. ‘As simple as that.’

‘So, the next question is obviously this,’ said Rinku. ‘How can we improve our sense of worthiness so that we connect easily to others?”

‘Ms Brown has identified four qualities,’ said Rakesh. ‘They are — courage, compassion, authenticity and vulnerability.’

‘Courage?’ asked Rahul. ‘As in brave? Out there? Lead from the front? Larger than life? Confident?’

‘No,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘Courage as in simply being okay with who you are, warts and all. The courage to be imperfect. When you’re good enough for yourself, you become a wholehearted person. You feel worthy. You’re someone others find easy to connect to, because you are human.’

‘Oh,’ said Rahul. ‘And how do we use compassion to connect better to the team?’

‘Genuine compassion comes from those who are first compassionate to themselves,’ said Rakesh. ‘When you are compassionate with yourself, you can be genuinely compassionate with others. You reach out to others at an energy level, making it easy for them to trust you, and consequently, connect.’

‘And authenticity, bhaiyya?’ asked Rinku. ‘We all are authentic aren’t we?’

‘We are, to a large extent,’ said Rakesh. ‘But we all hide some parts of ourselves which we are not sure of. Authentic people are what they really ‘are’ and not what they ‘should be’. They are not playing a role. Others can feel the gap when we are not fully ‘there’. Just as they sense the openness to connect when we are who we are.’

‘I know,’ said Rahul. ‘I show only my best side and hide certain aspects from others.’

‘I get courage, compassion and authenticity,’ said Rinku. ‘But how can being vulnerable help in making connections. Like Rahul said, aren’t they like cry babies?”

‘No Rinku,’ said Rakesh. ‘Being vulnerable is the highest form of being yourself, of being seen as you are without feeling shame or inhibition. Without that feeling of ‘not being good enough’. You are vulnerable when you are yourself despite knowing you could be rejected and hurt. Wholehearted people embrace vulnerability, despite feeling unsure. They believe vulnerability is what makes them beautiful and human. Look at the people around you, stories you hear, movies you see — you realise that it’s to those who are willing to be vulnerable that you feel connected to, that you want to help. And vulnerability is not being a cry baby. It just means you are enough as you are — crying or otherwise.’

‘Hmm,’ said Rahul. ‘But bhaiyya, this is very different from my understanding of leaders? Does it work to be so vulnerable?’
‘It works not just for leaders but for everyone who wants to feel connected,’ said Rakesh. ‘Being vulnerable is being secure with your imperfections and trying your best. It’s honest. It creates a safe environment for everyone because people don’t feel threatened. We think of our leaders as perfect pillars, smooth and strong. But we cannot make a genuine connection when there is no crack to hold on to. If we try, we simply slip and slide off. Such leaders are inaccessible. But if the leader is vulnerable and shows a crack, an imperfection, it gives us an opportunity to hold on, to connect. To help.’

‘Hmm, makes sense,’ said Rahul. ‘Any other advantages apart from making connections?’

‘It’s the easiest way to live,’ said Rakesh. ‘When you’re vulnerable you love without guarantee, can be who you are without holding back. Being vulnerable is being fully alive because you let your walls down and allow life in. You trust life. And by simply believing you are ‘enough’ as you are, you listen empathetically and are kinder and gentler — qualities any human can be proud of. Be vulnerable and watch how it works wonders.’

‘Thanks, bhaiyya,’ smiled Rinku.

Pro Tip: To make genuine, wholehearted connections with others, be seen as you are. To be seen as you are, have the courage to accept your imperfections, be compassionate to yourself first and then others, be authentic as you are and most importantly, be vulnerable, which allows others to connect to you.