Akela Diaries - Nature Knows Best (Or Rather, Akela Knows Best)

 Akela got some infection on its tail. With Anjali now in Delhi we now have to  look after it - and I must admit I am not very good with it. But I noticed it gnawing away at its tail and went and took a closer look and found that it had some infection on it and it turned black. I sent a pic to Anjali and she contacted the vet and they said - bring her in asap.

I know what to do!

The good vet told me that it was an infection probably caused by a flea bite and which Akela aggravated by biting and scratching. He cleaned it up and gave medicines and a collar to keep it from scratching the wound. It should heal he said, but tails are always tricky since there is less blood circulation there. If it not get better they will have to debraid it or something, which meant taking off the dead skin which they said would be a painful affair and would involve multiple dressings etc. The last option was to amputate the tail.

By the next visit the tail looked worse. The doctors seemed in favour of an amputation which we said would be the last option - let's try all else before. We went back home fearing for Akela and its tail. It did not look good.

Told you didn't I?

The next morning I woke up and to my horror found that Akela had somehow got her collar off which means that she would have scratched or bitten her tail. I checked the tail and found raw, pink skin instead of dead skin.  did not know what it was - good or bad - though it looked good. I took a pic and sent it and then took her to the vet.

'It's healing nicely,' he said. Akela seemed to have figured that we would in all likelihood mess it all up and somehow got her collar off and self-medicated herself. She is much better, the tail does not seem under threat and I suspect that in a few days her collar will be off and she will be fine.

Nature, knows best.   

Thought for the Day - Stress and Understanding Responsibility

 Everything about stress is about understanding what we are responsible for and what we are not. In a way, it is about clarity about what we are supposed to be doing (what we are responsible for).

For example, our team is playing and we feel tense and stressed out. It makes no sense because we are not responsible for how they play. Whatever had to be done until then had been done and the team is now playing. Whether they play well or not is upto them, a factor of their preparation. It has nothing to do with you. You are only responsible for what you are responsible for - your thoughts, your actions. Support your team, believe in them, encourage them whatever the outcome. That's all.

Same with parents and children. Whatever had to be done is already done. Its now up to the child to practice what he or she has learned. Let the child practice, fumble, fall, get up and grow. Don't feel responsible for that and stress yourself out.

Most of us however feel we are responsible for every action of theirs, every mistake they make, every failure of theirs. No your responsibility has ended as a coach, as a supporter - now just send them good wishes and enjoy the game. Don't stress yourself thinking you are responsible for things beyond your control.  

The world keeps going whether we get stressed or not. We are not responsible for it. So chill.

Darshan of Khairtabad Ganesh

I have known my friend Ravi for more than four decades now and for most of this time he had been asking me to come and witness the fervour of Ganesh  immersion at Tank Bund. As the owner of Ravi Cranes, he and his team has been handling the transport of the Bada Ganesh at Khairtabad, at times, the largest in India, to Tank Bund and the subsequent immersion. I have for so many years stayed away from the Ganesh Immersion for reason unknown (perhaps Bada Ganesh did not feel I was ready), but when he called yesterday and said I should come I said I would.

Khairatabad Ganesh

So I headed out at 11 pm to Khairatabad hoping to walk around Tank Bund and see some fervour and noise from the devotees. Having been cooped up all these years at home I was not prepared for what I saw. Right from my home, there were trailers and trucks going in processions towards Tank Bund on the Main Road with people dancing and celebrating. Many wore coordinated clothes, had music (not very loud though thankfully). An the number of police on the road was crazy.

Perspective of size

At Khairatabad the road to Imax over the flyover was shut so I headed towards Secretariat and took the Mint Compound road as advised by Koni. I found a crazy amount of people there and somehow managed to squeeze the car into a parking lot by the road. Then I called Koni because they had shut the road to the Khairatabad Ganesh - darshan over. 

Khairatabad Bada Ganesh - Puja

Koni however was operating the crane so they allowed me in. There were a lot of police there, the crane and trailer operators, workmen, some devotees. The work of dismantling the structures around the 69 foot idol was going on. 

Flower bedecked trailer

I could hear names like Shakeel, Yousuf and asked Koni whether many workmen were Muslim and he said yes.

The crane 140 ton

The Khairatabad Ganesh holds pride of place in all the Ganesh pandals in Hyderabad for sheer size. Singari Shakaraiah, a freedom fighter and corporator, started the Khairatabad idol in 1954 with a one foot idol to emulate Tilak's idea of fostering a spirit of community. From then on it grew at the rate of one foot per year until 2014 when it grew to a height of 60 feet. In 2019 it was 61 feet and was then the tallest in India. Though there is a High Court order restricting the height of idols to 20 feet, it stood at 69 feet this year.

On Tank Bund

The theme this year was Operation Sindoor and Vishwashakti and Mahashakti. They say that the budget is about a crore. The size apart, the Khairatabad Ganesh was also known to have a laddu in its hand. Until 2009 it ws a 50 kg laddu and between 2010 and 2015 it grew into a 500 kg laddu and at some point the makers from Tapeshwaram Sweets made a 6000 kg laddu. It seems to have settled between 500 and 1000 kg now.

Cranes on Tank Bund

I watched the puja, the removal of the bamboo supports. The police sent away the small crowd of devotees, less than a hundred, and the decommissioning began. I left and drove into Tank Bund where there were many idols being immersed and lots of crowd. It was past one in the night but it was like  a festival. People in cars with open boots, two wheelers, on walk, on trailers were all over. In Secunderabad processions kept coming one after another, 100 meters apart far as the eye could see.

Procession going towards Tank Bund - at James Street

The entire city was filled with a festive fervour and even at 215 when I reached home, the action was very much on. Ravi told me that the idol will start from Khairatabad at 6 am and travel the distance of 2.4 kms in five hours before immersion at 1130 am. 50 k idols are supposed to be immersed in Hussain Sagar lake today.

The color, the pomp, the energy, the planning, the devotion...its just crazy. One should certainly go and just hang in there and watch. Its just so beautiful. So Indian. Thanks Koni. Next year I will stay all night brother.           

And Some More Good Words - From Mr Maheshwar Singh

Tarun sent me a link this morning titled 'Well Done, Ravi Teja and Selectors'. I opened it and found that it was written by Tarun's uncle and a highly respected figure in Hyderabad's cricketing circles Mr Maheshwar Singh who had been a first class cricketer and selector and continues to be a coach.

In fact Mr Maheshwar Singh was a selector when we won the Ranji Trophy in 1986-87, Hyderabad's last win at that stage. I had played the first two games in that season and was dropped for the third after a rather uninspiring show (I will attest that myself). But what I will always remember of Mr Maheshwar Singh was that he called me at my home residence number and spoke to me. He told me that I should not feel dejected and should work hard and come back. I did not heed his words and went on to study Engineering but to this day I remember that he called me. It showed a human side to an otherwise heartbreaking time for a sportsman - competitive sport is ruthless. I aspired to be someone like that as a selector - but sadly I am not. Another aspect of Mr Maheshwar Singh was that he was always approachable with a warm smile and an open heart, had no agenda and was always keen to give good feedback to help you improve.  

So when someone of his stature and understanding of the game writes some good words about your work its worth its weight in gold. I remember how keen a student of the game he remains - just a few years ago when Mr Baig was coaching in ML Jaisimha Academy, Mr Singh came one day to ask a few technical questions and discuss the same with Mr Baig. They were almost contemporaries, perhaps Mr Baig was slightly older and perhaps more experienced as a coach, but the humility with which Mr Maheshwar Singh approached him and the intense conversation they both had was worth recording. 

Anyway, here's what he wrote about the Hyderabad team's performance so far in the Buchi Babi tournament where they have entered the finals. All pertinent points, expressed articulately, fearlessly.

https://orangenews9.com/well-done-ravi-teja-and-selectors/

I called him up and spoke to him and told him that he was one person who would understand the pains of selectors. He was modest as always - said he wrote what was factual. In a world where we are used to people twisting truths, stating facts is an act of rebellion. We had a nice chat.

Thanks Maheshwar Singh sir. And thanks Tarun for sharing.

Some Good Words

 And finally some good words for our work...I'll treasure these

https://orangenews9.com/is-hyderabad-cricket-finally-limping-back-to-form/

Anjali - Om

 From the day she joined Obul Reddy Public School and started taking the bus to and fro, Anjali found a new bus friend - Om. Om lived near Czech Colony so he would sit at the back, and Anjali would join him and they generally got along very well together. As they grew older and more familiar, it was common for Anjali to say Om was coming and they were going to eat Shawarma (Shobhs saved Om's number as Om Shawarma - that's how much Shawarma they would eat).

Om and Anajli

Om had a Bullet and would ride it to school and stuff. Anjali would hop on with him. My concern was that he probably did not have a license but that did not stop him. They shared an easy friendship. He would drop by at home and hang out - they would draw, sketch, dance sometimes, just poke fun. Then she would go to drop him on the Kinetic.

Anjali's way to handle any off day was to take out the Kinetic and say - I'm going to meet Om. It was Paani Puri or something and then she would come back when she felt better.

Another one - maybe Student Council days

In the second year Anjali became Head Girl and Om became the Sports captain of their house. And they were part of council and its many politics so there was always more activity and intrigue. More friends came and went but Om remained constant. I'd tease Anjali about Om but then would be assured that if she was with him she was fine. When Anjali had to apply for Delhi University he was with her helping her.

Almost prophetic

The two years seemed to fly and it was time for Anjali to go to Delhi. Om had got admission in BITS Pilani, Dubai. Anjali was pleased as punch when she heard that. As the days for Anjali's departure to Delhi grew closer Om would drop by. One day he apparently just sat with her in our front room and sketched a few nice pics of their time together in the last two years. Just quietly sketched them and went away.

He came when she was packing and they both did a good job of it. And then the D Day when other friends showed up - Mohnish, Tanmayee, Mansi. Om had originally planned to get his car but then could not, so we asked Shrinjay and Shashank to help us along with their cars. What are nephews for if not to help out? 

At the airport things were a bit intense as Anjali started bidding farewell to everyone - to Ram, Shrinjay, Shashank, then hugged her cousin Vajra who she is close to, and they both broke down, then Mansi and  last of all, Om. I was tearing up too, seeing them all like this so I looked at my phone busily to hide that. As we left, Om gave me a hug as well - perhaps he sensed my distress as well.

Om met us when we came back after settling Anjali in Delhi and once more before he left for Dubai. Shobhs was teary - you're all going off - she told him. I gave him a couple of my books which I said he could read in the new place.

Om and Anjali

Of all the images I have, the one that most moves me is the one of Anjali and Om hugging at the airport. There's something about it that brings to life all that's pure, innocent, idealistic and youthful.

Good luck you two.   

Talk at Sports Meet of National Public School, Gopalapuram, Chennai

I was invited by our good friend Lalitha Das who is Senior Principal of National Public School, Gopalapuram, Chennai to be the Chief Guest at their 56th Annual Meet. I agreed immediately. I always enjoy meeting up with Lalitha, Anil and Nandita, having known them for over thirty years now. Lalitha said there would be about a thousand children parents, teachers, Principal Ms Sujatha and CEO of the NPS group Mr Hari Krishnan. 

Welcome - Mr Harikrishnan, CEO, NPS, Ms Sujatha, Principal

Mr Harikrishnan and me

Sports Meets normally are rather noisy because they are outdoors and also because there are large numbers of children. So when I told Anjali I would give a short speech because no one would listen, she said that as a student who had attended many school sports events, she expected me to to give a message that is relevant to students. Most students like to listen to good words of advise. She also told me to take my time, pause and stuff like that, which I know I normally do not do. Hopefully someday. But most importantly, make the messages relevant to them and their life.

A lovely gift

And flowers - Lalitha to the left

Thanks to Anjali's direction, I wrote down my speech and made it more student relevant. I added two or three things - one was that imagery and famous people and incidents to drive home a concept, another was to share an insight into an abstract concept and most importantly how it can help them.

So the speech began with me congratulating the school on organising such a large and elaborate event (it really was done very well) and that its one of the big lessons that sports teaches us - team work. The Indian cricket team can achieve great things only as a team - not because of one or two stars. Anything big can only achieved as part of a team - so it makes sense to be a team player. How do they relate to this - the common dilemma of should I play for myself or for the team is easily addressed here - play for the team and your performances get better and bigger. More importantly, when you play for the team there is less stress on you. So lesson number one from sports - play for your team if you want to achieve anything big.

A very cute event

Another one

Another one

Second lesson was about the concept of winning and losing in sports. Winners are those who prepared better for this day. It does not mean that the losers can never win. The losers have to prepare harder and better and come back to win. Our results are all about our preparation. Preparation includes - physical, skill, mental and emotional preparation. So don't take a win or a loss as a final thing - it is about today and only today. One win or loss does not define you. You can go back and prepare and come back. Nothing to feel bad about or give up on. Just about preparation. (I had Sachin Tendulkar as an example of preparation, but I forgot to mention his story).

March Past

March Past

Each house being marked for March Past

The third lesson to take from sports to life is resilience. All champions are champions because they lost more times than they won. (I had Michael Jordan in mind and forgot about him too) The only difference between them and us is that we give up but they keep coming back. Do not let a failure or a rejection bother you. Come back and try harder the next time and in time, you will also win. Winning is all about coming back and not giving up.

Flag Hoisting

Speech

Winners

We are all blessed with different talents - some are good at running, some at cricket, some at studies, some at art, some at dance - find your passion and give it your 100%. Enjoy the process, give it your best shot and results will show.

A lovely performance

Pyramid show

Another formation - awesome stuff

My congratulations to the winners and my best wishes to those who participated. You are all champions inside - all you need is to play for your team, prepare, never give up and give your 100%. No one can stop you.

Thank you

Winners

It was a lovely program and I ended up staying from 830 am till 130 pm - till the every end of the program. The students were fully engaged in their house competitions and I had a great time. I hope they did too.

And again

 And thank you Anjali for a timely piece of advise and also for making one important aspect of public speaking fall into place for me. Make it relevant to the audience. Give them insights. Take yourself seriously. Present it so they remember the points. I visualised speaking to myself when I was their age in school and perhaps having lost a race and spoke to that me. I think that will work every time going forward.

Thank you NPS. And thank you children. Wishing you all the very best in your future.