Menstrual Hygiene: Addressing the elephant in the room

As a 10-year-old, I had no idea whatsoever as to what menstruation meant. Funnily I thought, ‘why should a guy be interested of what happens to a woman’s body?’ It was innocent then but in hindsight it seemed insensitive. But frankly everyone should know what transpires when a woman goes through that pit of pain and the agony that surrounds it.

So, here’s how my experience unfolded. As a child there are vivid memories of watching ads on television by Whisper and Stayfree. Most of the boys I knew had a gala laughing at these ads but I failed to decode how was it helping women!  Growing up, for some strange reason I was always inquisitive about these so called ‘pads’, in women’s purses and bags. Perplexed, I used to ask my sister, ‘what is this, a fragrant powder or a sports wear?’ You can roll on floor laughing, I was a kid 😊

Mistaking my naivetés for rude-fun my sister warned to tell our father if I spoke about it once again!

Never a man to mess with my father’s temper, I quietly obliged.

The second instance though was in fact, sad and worrisome. Older women in my family scolded me to not to go near my mother for a few days for god forbid, unfathomable reasons. Now, why would women have a problem with another woman? Men are the prima facie causing discomfort to women, right? Well some feminists still maintain this cliché 😉 Coming back, those were days filled with immense confusion. But forget comforting my mother, something else made me sick to my stomach as a kid. Lying in the corner of a room, quietly all by herself, it seemed like she bore a punishment. No one went near her, food was given in different utensils and so were her clothes washed off separately. And after a couple of days normalcy resumed but next month, the same story again unfolded. Raging with fury, I told my mother, ‘why do they do this to you?’ She responded, ‘I can’t tell you beta, let’s just say, we will talk when you grow up’. Now when I know the truth, I feel sorry for my mother and even more so for thousands of women across India. Treating women as untouchables during her menses has been prevalent across almost every home. More than education, sadly common sense has failed to evoke understanding among people. Women are made to work, cook, clean, comfort her man, run the show, perform every role in the book without having the luxury to say NO. Let’s accept the fact, coming from women, monthly cycles aren’t pleasant! They prefer being quiet, some like to vent, some talk, some lay still in their beds, some indulge in binge eating, hordes of things that they do and it is completely fine. Considering how much balance they bring to our life, we too can become accommodating and endure her mood swings, right? 😊

Among many a problem that leave women red faced are, lack of hygienic washrooms, insensitivity from their family/society when they menstruate, lack of rest, availability of sanitary napkins in rural areas and lastly little or no education on menstrual hygiene.  Period Leave has long been talked about, but little has been done by corporates or government on the same. Yes, women do become grumpy, during these times, but wouldn’t it help their cause if we altered our lifestyle, the system in general, so that these painful couple of days can be peacefully endured? Barring women from visiting temples and performing rituals, confining them, behaving weirdly when it is perfectly normal for her to have such an experience, making her to walk the extra mile when we know, that their body can’t take it, is asking too much from them.

Menstruation can be a tough time for a woman, with cramps,bloated stomach an anxiety, ut an endurable one, subjected that significant emphasis is laid upon to educate girls from a young age on how important is it to have menstrual hygiene.

They need to be enlightened that it is completely right to take rest, to go see a doctor if pain persists, not to be ashamed that such a phenomenon occurs every month once in their body. It is not a TABOO! 

Light should also be thrown upon boys and even adult males who despite being aware of the situation fail to help the women in their family/life during such privy times.

Is it too much to ask for? Can't men bring some respite and joy to the women in their lives even for a single day?

‘That time of the month’, a topic still considered a taboo to be spoken of, a gravitas still left unresolved, a pain that a woman alone endures. It is an irony, in a country where we worship women, we fail to make her life comfortable and less distressing.

I feel now is the time to openly speak about menstruation and stamp the fact for once and for all, that red is the color that glorifies a woman.

Here’s an excerpt from one of my poems dedicated to all the women. P.s. without you, there will never be any of us. You are the reason for our existence. A big thank you and love to all the women around.

She wears sindhoor on her head, she colors it red,

The why is menstruation a taboo, why isn’t she subjected with flair?

NO HOLDS BARRED LETTER TO DEEPIKA PADUKONE

Dear Deepika,

You are amongst the biggest names in the country today. We are well versed with you being the highlight of the Hindi film industry. Now I have some real issues with you. First being the controversy on your cleavage show by the Times of India, second your recent video for women empowerment by Vogue India. In both the cases I smell nothing but a rat. You come out with your sleazy movie songs, your cleavage being the focal point of attraction that is (not my observation but the obvious) and then u make a distinction between your professional and personal life. You call out the Times of India and tell them, 'yes I am a woman, I have breasts and that I am not ashamed'. Fair enough. But isn't your so called body the single point of attention at fashion shows and photo shoot's too? Remember Harper's Bazaar or Kingfisher Calendar Girl? You cross all the limits that are ceded in an anti-men campaign. This attempt at showcasing the downside of men and portraying them as the antithesis of the opposite sex like you are trying to be is appalling. Such a mediocre attempt at trying to cash on in your popularity. Second, your video for women empowerment “My Choice”.
I don’t remember the last time I had seen something as absurd as this. Full points to you on promoting a negative propaganda. Now, I am all for women empowerment but the video was like hypocrisy at its best. You talk about being caged, you speak up about your choices between what is right and what is wrong,your indifference's, your prerogative in huge depth. You say and I quote,”You were my choice and I am not a privilege". I mean what are you trying to convey, women are that rare diamond and men are all for nothing but leftover scrap. Why the fuck are u trying to incite hate?
You yell, 'my choice to have sex at all or not have sex or have sex in a marriage or outside a marriage'. What would u say when men do the same? , Going by your current theme, you would rip them apart to pieces judging them calling them a douche bag or Casanova. If u can do whatever you wish to, roam naked, call men a piece of shit, shout on top of your voice, 'my choice, my choice so can men'. You rant, 'it was my choice to pick u up from 7 billion choices'.Jeez, menopause seems to have struck you early. You advocate that women are the snowfall and not the snowflake. That we men, are only a choice. I mean how ridiculously you stereotyping men as anti-women.

Like all men aren’t the same all women aren’t too. Nobody is perfect. This incessant attempt to grab the attention of the elite in the society, craving for power, simply put up, disturbing. The noise which you made about being depressed as a public figure, I respect you for that. Depression takes some serious balls to speak on. Although moving on, many women might label me as an idiot, a scumbag, abuse me, call me a male chauvinist but unlike them there are many that might support me as well. Not all women agree with what you are trying to convey or force upon, simply put up.

Yes you empower women, respect them, treat them with dignity, let them be who they want to be :) But why the negation, why try to commercialize or glamorize the subject? Yes, men have been terribly at fault. Abusing women, hurling insults at them, molesting and raping them, It is indeed a serious matter I am not entirely supporting the male community out here. But you are typecasting men as inferior to women. If women can be a slut so can men be a gigolo :D If u say women can cheat so can men, if you are not ready for a baby or you want to prioritize your career, then so can men. Remember, #MyChoice? ;) This tirade you have brought, bears more than whats meets the eye. Instead of showing your bra for a second that was cute but totally irrelevant in the video u could have stood up for education and hygiene awareness among women in the rural areas. Miss you are a celeb,a public figure. Ever wondered how much influence you garner? The kind of impact even your single word would create, could herald a storm of change. Why not lit a candle when all you doing is switch all the available light off. star. Empowering women should have been your primary motive encouraging them to follow their dreams, to dress they feel like,to stand up against male domination, to live freely, not get affected by the society. One of the most important thing that you could have done was to stop women from demanding empowerment but instead earn it. Why said women can't do what men can't? Maybe a different tonality could have won you fans instead of haters.

You have failed miserably Miss Padukone. The daughter of Prakash Padukone, you almost make me feel like comparing you with Vindoo Dara Singh. Both daughter and son of respective legends, both faggots.You cannot stamp things on our head like we are the snowflake and you are the snowfall.
So much hate, negativity that is almost unbearable. Both sexes are equal both should have equal rights. If you have a choice so do we. This urbane video that you have come up with has really made me angry and start writing again to retards like you.Yes I called u a retard#mychoice what u gonna do about it? My choice, if I like fucking other women when in a relationship with other women. My choice if I want to work or sit at home using your income, my choice to do whatever I want. Don’t try to sensationalize the battle of the sexes. Let's just say, blowing off the other persons candle, won't make yours shine any better!

Please enroll for women empowerment classes, maybe I will join in too. A matter of such importance can only be dealt when both men and women endorse each other and not fight each other.

Adios

Have we really moved beyond the Gujrat Riots?

Syed Ahmed Bukhari,Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid raised a lot of eyebrows few days back for refusing to invite the Prime Minister of India for his son's anointment ceremony.(God knows what that is) But what is even more outrageous is him inviting the Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif. As stupid as it sounds the reason he gave for not nominating Namo was that PM Narendra Modi was primarily responsible for the Gujrat Riots. He says, 'Modi hasn't reached out to the Muslims since the riots ran havoc in Gujrat'. When the apex court in the country has given him a clean chit, mind you The Supreme Court doesn't bend for anyone. Why still blame Namo? Now, am not telling he is a saint either, much could have been done to prevent the riots. Fact is, politics and conspiracy has always gone hand in hand.

Since 1967 there have been 58 communal riots in India. Of the majority of these riots have taken under the regime of the Congress Government, the Samajwadi Party and the President's Rule. Riots as big as the Sikh Massacre and Kashmiri Pandits killings were on a massive scale but the victims are still seeking justice for their loss. Zero accountability. No one blames the Congress or the other ruling parties in whose regime these events occurred. In a country like India where people have a short memory, blaming blatantly and criticizing comes endlessly.

Pseudo intellectuals, till today have only one thing to talk about, the Gujrat riots. Where was the so called big heart and love of the Kashmiri's when the Pandits were massacred. They are till this age and time, a refugee in their own land and yet no one talks about it. People don't even have the slightest clue of the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit. Lakhs of Pandits have fled Kashmir seeking asylum elsewhere. Since 1948 they have been tortured still has there ever been call of sympathy for them.?Another example of our nation filled with hypocrites is their failure to take responsibility or talk about the Sikh Riots in 1984 across India. Almost 8000 Sikhs lost their lives including women and children.The reason for the riots, Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards murdering her. The mob went into a frenzy and started killing as many as Sikhs as they could. It was brutal, the records say the mob was rewarded handsomely in cash to kill the innocent Sikhs.What about them has justice been given out to the Sikhs? There are many unanswered questions. The Congress was in rule at that time around and still it talks of the BJP instigating communal riots for even a minor scuffle between people. Ministers like Jagdish Tytler & HKL Bhagat,Sajjan Kumar yet to be convicted. These people are rarely discussed or even put across by the media till today. Everyone knows there are certain sections of the media owned by the Government. Vote Bank Politics and appeasing a certain section of the society has been the focal point of the political strategy since decades in India. Sikhs in various parts of India, Pandits raped and slaughtered. One will surely blame the other, it's a cycle and that is how it has always been. The point is if we are to talk about violation of human rights, atrocities against children, women raped, then there has to be a collective scrutiny. Every community must accept it's failure to tackle the communal clashes be it the Hindus, the Muslims,the Sikhs or the Christians. People should have the guts to take responsibility for their actions or of the community which they belong. Yes, the Gujrat Riots were an unfortunate event which could have been possibly prevented if not entirely but that doesn't justify sympathizing with an Afzal Guru being pardoned? Constantly talking about it as if it was the only instance where people lost lives or there was damage to public & private property .As a matter of fact why can't a Hindu have a go at the Hindu's involved in Sikh killings or the Muslims at the militants? Problem lies on both the sides. Pointing fingers is easy but what is difficult in accepting, that the community to some extent has failed as a whole. No criminal act can be justified. A loss of human life is gruesome, be it the Hindu or a Muslim. It is painful when innocent lives are taken irrespective of their faith or community. This is to all those people who keep bringing the Gujrat Riots, 2002 back again and again. Have the balls to stand up for the aggrieved which don't give you fame or because you are too scared to be labelled as an opinionated individual when it comes to matters of religion. Looking back won't help but looking for answers within will definitely.
Every nation is like a big house and all the different communities have their rooms installed in them. If each community only takes care of its room, the house will fall down. Similarly if all the communities take care of the nation as a whole not just their religion or sect members, only then can we move forward..The Nation is above all and as far as Mr Syed Ahmed Bukhari is concerned sir  you aren't the External Affairs Minister of our Nation. You can rot in hell or go to a country where they will appreciate your love for your religion more than the love for your nation.

Jai Hind

WHO IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE OF ALL TIME?

An opinion that can cause a war among of all sports fans. Who is the the Alpha and the Omega among in all of sports? 

It is almost humanely impossible to name one athlete as the greatest of all time. But the fact is different sports have produced many a legends to cement their place as an all time great.

The parameters considered by me to measure the greatness of the sportsmen/athlete are:

1:Longetivity

2:Statistics

3:Clutch Performances

4:Comebacks/Injury

5:Impact/Legacy

6:Championships

7:Consistency

8:Fan Following/Influence

9:Domination

10:Work Ethic/Attitude

The following sportsmen/athletes are considered in the league of greatness:

1.Tennis-Roger Federer

The kind of dominance & class that Federer has shown on the court is unmatched.17 grand slam titles,77 career titles,302 weeks as world no.1 besides achieving many more feats,Federer is widely considered as one of the most complete & greatest tennis players of all time.The Swiss ace became one of the few players from Switzerland to excel at the big stage.He has excelled at  having an injury free career,being at the top for long,dominating his opponent at will,playing for almost 15 years non stop,a fan favourite.He is a class act & a Champion,one of the most graceful & humble sportsmen..But his game did take a hit as years went by & his inability to defeat Nadal on claycourt is a major drawback.

2.Baseball-Babe Ruth

The man considered to be widely the greatest baseball player &  prolific hitter of all time,Babe Ruth has excelled in all departments of greatness be it longetivity by playing 22 seasons,fan favourite,clean career,record setter besides revolutnarising the game of baseball.A kind hearted champion,flamboyant personality,surely one of the greatest atheletes to have ever graced a sport.Legend in his own right.

3.Boxing-Muhammad Ali

Undeniably one of the greatest athletes & boxers ever,Muhammad Ali has seen it all & done it all.A hall of famer,ferocious competitor,heart of a champion.A popular icon as well as a polarising figure among the masses,Ali has inspired a whole lot of generation.He has been an  inspiration to millions.He is widely considered to be the greatest heavyweightboxer & as one of the greatest atheltes ever.He won numerous matches with his sheer ruthlessness & brute power,phenomenal work ethic,dominanance,mind games with his opponent,he was a tantalising figure to say the least.The adversities he faced,the way he made is comeback after hiatus from injuries & personal reasons is aweinspiring.His work ethic,attitude,legacy,dominance,big time performances are simply terrific.The values that he displayed were exemplary.

4.Swimming-Michael Phelps

One of the most decorated olympian of all time,Michael Phelps holds the all time record for most Olympic Gold medals won @ 17 & 22 medals overall..He has been  one of the most successful athletes of his generation.He has dominated the arena of swimming unlike any other swimmer has.He has shattered numerous records & won many awards for his achivements.

5.Golf-Tiger Woods

Only Jack Nicklaus is a legitimate contender when it comes to matching "The Tiger" on the golf turf.World no.1,highest paid athlete,79 PGA titles,14 majors,big time performer infact crunch time performer.One of the big names of golf for nearly a decade he had a hugely successful career until his infidelty & sex scandals broke out.It dented his public image largely & impacted his game & fan following.

6.Basketball-Michael Jordan

As written on his bio on the nba website,"By acclamation.Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."He revolutionarised the game unlike any other player.Yes he had a long career,he was a dominating performer,was outstanding under pressure,huge huge fan favourite.Perhaps one of the few lucky athletes not to be abused or booed anywhere.He was loved by the fans wherever he went.Iconic figure, he still is hero worshiped today.His work ethic is unmatched. He made basketball popular in the mid80's with his prolific scoring,terrific defense,insane leaping ability,jaw dropping moves & set of skills that only immortals like him could possess.He made the game popular with the massses & thus established himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

7.F1-Michael Schumacher

There are very few sportsmen who possess all the records that are meant to be in the book, most of them quite frankly.Michael Schumacher has almost all the records that one can think of.He has won 7 world championships,91 wins,155 podiums,68 pole positionsHe dominated the sport for almost 2 decades.Was a champion,fan favoutite & a popular athelete.You name them & he has won them all.He was a thorough dominator on the track.Won countless championships for successive years & also 13 wins on a trot.He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula1 drivers ever to grace the sport.But his career has been subjected to many controversies like dangerous driving,not following team orders,dangerous overtaking.

Very few athletes have dominated & been as consistent as a peformer like Schumi has been over the course of his glorious career.

8.Football-Pele & Diego Maradona

What is even more subective than deciding the greatest athelete of all time is the greatest footballer of all time.Pele & Maradona were both in their own right two of the greatest footballers to ever play the game of football.Gods of Football they can be addressed as.Numerous records,insane fan following & set of such rare & unique skills that very few possess.Both were in their prime one of the most potent & efficient footballers.Both inspired a generation of brasilian & argentianian people to take up the sport..Both were subjected to criticism as well.Pele's records are a source of question & general legitimacy & Maradona's off screen & on screen conduct & behaviour was abysmal & proposterous.

9.Cricket-Sir Don Bradman & Shane Warne

This may be a matter of huge debate because the game of cricket has seen many cricketers who were exceptional & legendary in their own right but none of them & i mean none of them can match the cricketing ability that Sir Don Bradman or Shane Warne possessed.Sir Don is  widely considered to be one of the greatest batsman of all time.In the history of cricket, no records can match the records that "The Don"had set.His long career,more than awe inspiring batting performances,no dip in performance his career,clean& injury free career,ridiculous batting average of 99.94 is considered as one of the greatest sporting achievements.Shane Warne on the other hand was another iconic figure who revolutnarised leg spin bowling,brought crowds into the stadium,won countless matches for the team on countless occassions.Fan favourite & considered as one of the greatest bowlers & cricketers of all time his career had few controversies with drug abuse & scrutiny of his off field antics.

10.Athletics-Usian Bolt

"Superman" or "Superhuman" both of these words truly describe the Fastest Man on the Planet,Usain "Lightning Bolt".He is a world champions,IAAF sportsmen of the year,Olympic Champion.He holds the 100m,200m records for the fastest time ever set by an athlete.Gold medals won at world championship,world athletics meet he has emerged as a huge crowd favourite.He has shattered numerous records,displayed the identity of a complete competitor,incredible work ethic.Many people feel the 100m record set by him in 9.58 s is almost impossible to breach.Dominating performer,likes to compete against the  best & beat the best he is one of the greatest athletes ever.

CONCLUSION:

All athletes have been spectacular in their respective field but the athletes who truly deserve to be in the final discussion for the debate of the greatest athletes ever are:

1.Michael Jordan-G.O.A.T.(Greatest of all Time)

"MJ" for the  fact  in my opinion is the greatest athelte by far ever to have graced any sport. Just have a look at his statistics, career at large, work ethic, display of skill and talent. Gunning for glory, dominant throughout his career, clutch performer. Jordan truly stands out from the rest. He is the best from the rest. He was such an iconic figure that he revolutionized the sport of basketball, brought back crowd in stadiums and television ratings soared .He left behind a legacy that inspired modern day greats like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony & every other kid from the street to take up the sport of basketball. People believed in him, fans loved him. He was the Master. Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan became a household name. He played despite injuries, flu, constant public pressure.The expectations before every game was such it could leave any mortal man to flop when it counted the most. In the very prime of his career, he left basketball and opted to play baseball instead. Realizing, that his true love resided for basketball, he came back and how! 3 more consecutive NBA Finals, 3 more NBA Championships and Finals MVP. Realizing, his body couldn't take the grind like it used to, he retired only to make a comeback a few years later with the Washington Wizards. Once again he put up astounding numbers and displayed his diminishing but set of great skills that once used to awe people. He played basketball till the age of 40. He had the finesse, aggression, focus, discipline and determination. He won 6 NBA championships with The Chicago Bulls, 5 NBA Regular Season MVP, 6 Finals MVP, 10 Scoring Titles, 14 Time All Star, NBA Defensive Player of the Year & the NBA Rookie of the year. What truly seals an athletes greatness lies not only in his statistics but also how many championships he won, his impact on the game & his ability to do something out of the box & rarely fail when it comes to count for the team. Jordan made the impossible seem possible.Michael Jordan did truly that & in my eye is the greatest athlete of all time.

END OF AN ERA

To me & millions of Indians, Sachin Tendulkar is a hero,an inspiration, an idol,superman to be precise.He has given the people of India a hero to look upon.No matter how grave the situation is in the country,when Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar bats the nation watches.We have been awestruck time & again by the little master.It might rarely happen elsewhere that when Sachin bats the nation comes to a standstill.The joy & smile he brings on the faces of people even after 24 years is overwhelming.His humility,modesty & the way he has handled the adulation for so long is commendable.Little Master,Master Blaster,Little Champion or Tendlya what ever one might call him to us Indians he remains our hero,our superman.The feats that Sachin has achieved over the due course of his career are legendary & outstanding.He has seen & done it all.Yes we did have heroes & idols like Lata Mangeshkar,Amitabh Bachchan,Sunil Gavaskar,Bhagat Singh,Sardar Vallabhai Patel,Mahatma Gandhi,Sarojini Naidu,Kapil Dev besides others but with Sachin Tendulkar people could see an enigma in the making.The people of India finally had a champion who would tall stand(even though he was short in stature)to the mightiest of fast bowlers,immense pressure,scrutiny by media,criticism from various sections.Sachin captured the imagination of the public who were looking for a hero,an inspiration and he did that.It is difficult to assess the kind of pressure he had to cope up with, when people were expecting a century from him everytime he went out to bat.Every time Sachin went out to bat,devotees expected their "God" to score a century & Tendulkar didn't disappoint them to an extent.He carried the burden of the team solely on his shoulder for over two decades,never once complained about lack of team talent,assistance or anything else.He is like an old warrior who refuses to give up,who refuses to budge down,refuses to slow down.His will to play & win matches for the team is jubiliant.He also took up captaincy when he was asked to do so,not once but twice.When in swansong people shower their love & praises on the Little Champion & when he doesn't perform well the same people criticise him  but he never complained.Playing for India was all he wanted as a child.A dream fulfilled as the Little Master went on to have one of the most successful cricketing careers in the game of cricket.Besides his achivements, his modesty & humility are known across the globe.The likes of Roger Federer,Michael Schumacher,Usian Bolt,Don Bradman,Sushil Kumar,Andy Murray,Boris Becker,Martina Navratilova,Amitabh Bachchan are not only fans of his cricketing talent but also the way in which he handles public pressure,scrutiny,criticism,expectation of a billion people.His attitude of playing the game in the fair way,respecting the opposition team & players most importantly his love & passion for the game is endearing.When the team fails or the nation fails,Sachin quitely did his job,he always let his bat do the talking.He always brought cheers & joy across when ever he came out to bat.If the Americans had Michael Jordan,F1 had Schumi,Football had Pele & Maradonna,Boxing had Muhammad Ali,Baseball had Babe Ruth ,Tennis had John Mcenroe,the cricketing world was priveleged to have "Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar".His courage,his heroics with the bat & ball,his discipline,his focus,dedication & respect for the game he loved & fans that adored him is bravado.His child like enthusiasm & approach for the game is still talked about.He has always played throughout injuries,which defines his gritty character.His ability to dominate,be in control of his innings,shape up the course of the match is oustanding.Yes he is not perfect he isn't the same dominant cricketer that he was before but it is a fact that he gave all that he could for the nation.He has his share of criticism & rightly so no one is perfect,not even Tendulkar but the thing is we are happy to see Tendulkar happy & doing well.Yes one could also argue with the fact that he wasn't a match winner,got out under crucial circumstances or didn't sail through the victoey for India.One of the reasons being lack of support for Sachin at the other end,he was always the "Last Man Standing".It is right to fault him that when the heat was really on he lost his wicket.Yes he isn't that big of a match winner or dominates the game the way Brian Lara,Ricky Ponting,Jacques Kalllis & others did  .But the thing is Sachin was always under pressure to perform & rightly so because he was Sachin Tendulkar.That is how big his contribution has been to game of cricket & the team.He is the real "Ratna" or "Gem" of the nation.It is a treat to watch Sachin bat & even better is when he scores a hundred & looks upto the heavens and waves his bat in the memory of his father,followed by God & his fans.It is funny to see that even though Sachin doesn't bat or bowls people still chant his name.

He is childhood hero,he still is one & would remain one throughout my life.I like to refer him as "The Master".His contribution to Indian Cricket has been astounding.The man holds a horrendous record of 69 International Cricketing Records..haha..difficult to name all of them.He has bought pride & glory for the country.The madness with which he is worshipped is incredible.Yes the Master Blaster is retiring but he is retiring after giving the nation & public a heroic service for 24 glorious years.He is not bigger than the sport but he is what that completes the sport.People have went on to quote that,Cricket is my religion & Tendulkar is my God.It is difficult to measure Sachin's greatness.He has the ability to lift the nation from any crisis or depression.He is a living legend,having carried the hopes of the nation of a billion people is no joke.A very fine batsman & an even gentle & nice human being.Amidst the love he gets,the fame,money & support he has remanined the same Tendlya we saw bat when he scored his first International Century against England @ Old Trafford,1990.A simple,shy,reserved character whose passion for the game he loved is commendable.Sunil Gavaskar summed it up perfectly,he said,"India's fortune will depend on many runs the Little Master score".As the Master bids adieu ,farewell to the game of cricket for the final time i can only say thank you for the memories Sachin,#respect.The SRT straight drive is surely going to be missed.I can go on & on & on about the Master,he is perhaps one of the greatest cricketers & athletes ever to have ever played the game of cricket.The chants of Saaaacchiiinnn......Saaaaccchhiinnn are surely going to be missed.Its is definately end of an era,end of an illustrious hall of fame career,perhaps one of the greatest ever in any sport.#ThankyouSachin for the memories,you are a hero,or as MS Dhoni summed it up the true "Mr.India".Jai Hind

My Sachin Moments

As the glittering hall of fame career of Sachin Tendulkar comes to an end it is time to rewind on his most famous memories that he has bestowed upon us.Here is a list of my most memorable Sachin moments:

1.Sandstorm Innings,Sharjah,1998

The Master Blaster  was at his imperial best in the two innings he played against the mighty Aussies in Sharjah. Little Master scored two back to back hundreds with scores of 143 in the semi final & 134 in the final to win it for India.It is unarguably one of the finest dsiplay of dominant batting one could witness.The memory stays intact with all of his fans & the nation.The sixes that he hit of Moody,Kasprowicz,Warne & Fleming were amazing.Both innings played under immense pressure as India had to chase a total in excess of 270 both the times.Sachin was on a different zone during this period,he dominated the game of cricket in the 1990's like no cricketer  did.

2.Demolishing Pakistani Attack.World Cup,2003

The six that Sachin hit of Shoaib Akhtar's ball in the group match, in the 2003 World Cup remains one of the most memorable sight for a cricket fan.He cut him hard over backward point,the ball travelled a long distance & went for a huge six.The crowd at Centurion Park erupted in a frenzy.Fans in the stadium went mad.Sachin demolished the likes of Wasim Akram,Waqar Younis,Abdur Razzaq,Shahid Afridi & particularly Shoaib Akhtar as India beat Pakistan in the match.

3.Six of Andrew Caddick,World Cup,2003

India Vs England it was in the group match,Sachin was batting & Andrew Caddick was bowling.Caddick bowled a bouncer & Sachin pulled him for a wild six.Yes the bowl sailed out of the stadium.It was a massive massive six.Tony Greig's commentary on that particular shot made it even more memorable.

4.Rivalry vs Warne

Two of the greatest cricketers ever, went head to head several times in the prime of their careers.It was a joy to watch Sachin bat against the Wizard of Spin,Shane Warne.Tendulkar dominated Warne like no other batsman did,eventually always got the better of Warne.His best shots against Warne were the inside out ,hitting sixes & fours right over Warne's head,dancing down the track & hitting him for boundaries.It was the most exciting battle in cricket.Sachin gave us plenty of memorable moments during his duel with Warne.

5.29th,30th,34th,35th&50th Test Tons

I made a point to point out these particular hundreds of Sachin for the simple reason:

29th Test Ton against West Indies-equalled Sir Don Bradman's record of 29 test tons

30th test ton against England at Leeds broke the Don's record

34th test ton against Bangladesh, equalled the previous world record of 34 test hundreds by Sunil Gavaskar

35th test ton against Sri Lanka at New Delhi,The Master finally broke Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 test tons 

50th Test ton-Perhaps the most memorable hundred for Sachin & his fans.To score 50 test hundreds is a gigantic feat.None could dream,achieve or think that it was even humanly possible to scale 50 test hundreds.These tons have been memorable not just to me but millions of his fans.

6.Winning the World Cup,2011

This was perhaps the last chance the Master had to cherish his unfulfilled dream of winning the most prized possession in cricket,every cricketers dream,to win the cricket World Cup.The Master after playing for almost two decades & losing in the 2003 World Cup Final had his moment under the sun.India finally won the cricket world cup after 1983.Sachin batted beautifully throughout the tournament,he was the second highest run getter in the tournament.A very emotional moment for the master as well as his fans.

7.103* vs England @ Chennai,2008

One of his best innings in test match cricket.The match was played in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks that took place in Mumbai.The Indian team was to chase 387 on the last day.Sehwag,Yuvraj & Tendlya did it for Team India.For those who criticise that Sachin didn't perform under pressure,this was The Master's answer to his critics.Indian won the nail biting contest in a thrilling manner,Tendulkar score a magnificent hundred.One of his best innings & surely a memorable moment for his fans.Tendulkar scoring a hundred & India winning.

8.200* vs South Africa @ Gwalior,2010

I will quote Ravi Shastri's commentary here,"First man to score 200 & he is the Superman from India".It was one of the most defining moments for Sachin as a cricketer as no cricketer had ever scored 200 in an ODI.Sachin scoring the 200 made us even more proud for our hero.It was an amazing & memorable moment for Sachin fans.

9.Heroics in T20 Cricket

The Master Blaster people knew was back & back with a bang.Few could belive Sachin could play dominating cricket yet again.The fours & sixes he hit was a treat for the fans.Vintage Sachin in action yet again thrashed bowling attacks in the IPL.He was  the highest run getter in IPL  for a brief period & also won the IPL,Champions League & did the unbelievable, scoring a ton in T20 cricket.It was fabulous watching Master bat the way he used to bat in the prime of his career.

10.Retirement from International Cricket

Carrying the hopes of a billion people for nearly 24 years,bringing smile & joy on the faces of countless people,Sachin Tendulkar quitting from International Cricket after his last test against the West Indies is a sad day for cricket.But for his biggest fans "Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar" would always remain their hero,idol,inspiration.Hail the God of Cricket #ThankYouSachin for the memories you have given us over the years.

GREATEST COMMENTATORS OF THE GAME OF CRICKET:

Cricket is a game watched by millions around the globe.Fans either watch it live in the stadium or watch it live on the television.But what brings alive the game of cricket on television is the cricket commentary,commentated by the greats of game & other individuals.Being an ardent fan myself & following the game of cricket for long now,i feel cricket without commentary on tv would be dull & unentertaining.The commentators by their unique style speak,discuss,debate,elaborate & even enlighten the audiences & fans with their expertise,voice,sense of humour & analysis.Their contribution is of supreme significance.So here is my list of the  10 greatest  cricket commentators of all time:

1.Bill Lawry

Former Australia batsman & captain is by far the most entertaining cricket commentator i have ever listened to.I still remember waking up at 5 in the morning because the Australian matches were broadcasted early in the morning in India,just to listen pre match analysis by Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud,it was a lesson in cricket for me.I had pay to listen to Bill Lawry & Richie Benaud when they spoke,such was their greatness when they spoke.His knowledge of the game,his reactions,his impromptu response to crazy match situations & his fairness towards the game of cricket makes him my most favourite cricket commentator of all time.

2.Richie Benaud

Many would rate Richie Benaud as the finest cricket commentators of all time.His immense knowledge of the game of cricket stands out.Richie Benaud,himself being a successful member of the Australian Cricket Team,is also the most respected & famous cricket commentators around.His robotic voice was legendary to say the least,his observation of every player,every team,every situation,they way he described it,gave his opinion,it was an absolute honour to listen to Richie Benaud.

3.Harsha Bhogle

He is a cricket fan's delight when to comes to listening quality,unbiased,witty yet incredible commentary.Harsha Bhogle is a rarity.His knowledge of the game considering the fact that he never played professional cricket is outstanding.His opinion & thoughts on the game of cricket is amazing.The thing with Harsha Bhogle is one can never get bored of him,the more he speaks the more do people want to listen to him.He has a real connect with the television audience.He is time & again voted as  the favourite commentator by the fans.

4.Ravi Shastri

One of the most popular & successful cricket commentators in recent times, Ravi Shastri or "Shaz" as people may refer him in the commentary world is excellent when he speaks in his trademark fashion.His style,the way he speaks it is incredible.He is witty ,has an amazing sense of humour & speaks fiercely.Himself being an accomplished all round cricketer,Shastri is a real treat for the tv audience.He isn't afraid & speaks his mind.

5.Tony Greig

Along with Richie Benaud & Bill Lawry if there has been a crickter who has been covering the game of cricket for so long,then it has to be Tony Greig.Unfortunately he succumbed to cancer earlier this year of cancer & died but he had a distinguishing career as a cricket commentator.His voice was instantly recognisable with the fans,especially when the Little Master,"Sachin Tendulkar"used to come out to bat.His cricketing skills were terrific coupled with his knowledge of the game & outstanding voice & biased free opinion contributed his success as a  great cricket commentator.

6.Ian Chappel

He can be rightly named as the"Guru" of cricket.A ferocious captain of the Australian Cricket team & a fine batsman,Ian Chappel is also one of the most recognisable cricket commentators in modern day.His knowledge of the game of cricket is incredible,it is like an ocean,deep.He is a cricket expert in real sense.Being a student of the game of cricket i can proudly say the youngsters have & can learn a lot from him.His observation,analytical abilities & description of the game is phenomenal.Like Shastri,Ian Chappel too is fierce & speaks his mind out.

7.Sunil Gavaskar

One of the all time cricketing greats,Sunil Gavaskar has been a veteran of cricket commentating since two decades now.Gavaskar,like Ian Chappel is a student of the game,his obersvations,analysis & opinion on the game of cricket have been terrific.I always made a point listeining to cricketing pundits like Sunil Gavaskar,Richie Benaud,Ian Chappel & Ravi Shastri especially for their immense knowledge of the game of cricket.Masterclass,one could say. Gavaskar, though has been accused a bit of being biased towards the BCCI nonetheleast he is one fine cricketing brain to listen to.

8.Navjot Singh Sidhu

If there is anyone & i mean it any one with such a great sense of humour,proverbs,impeccable hold of grammar & vocabulary in English at same time in Hindi & is incredibly entertaining to listen to it has to be Sherry Paaji.It is always a joy to listen to Sidhu.The way he describes the match, ball by ball,situation by his proverbs,thoughts & his antics they are a thorough treat for the tv audience.Loved by all,Sidhu's hold on language & his understanding of the game is incredible.What is even better is his analysis & the way he describes it.One can die with laughter when Sidhu holds the mike at the same time one can also learn alot about the game & life when Navjot Singh Sidhu speaks,pure class.

9.Danny Morrison

One of the  most entertaining commentators in recent times,Danny Morrison is insanely funny yet charismatic.His witty nature instantly connects with the audience & he can make people laugh anytime as per his will with his antics..one could actually say lol that was insanely funny Danny :D

10.Nasser Hussain

A thorough gentleman on and of the cricket pitch,Nasser Hussain has gained popularity as a successful cricket commentator.The former England Captain has a simple approach,his simple yet fluent style suits him well & his anaylsis & opinion of the game are outstanding.He speaks like a thorough gentleman,someone one would like to listen to.Speaks his mind,is unbiased & fair in his judgement.Nassau pinpoints terrific detail about the game which leads fair discussions & debates.