Sehwag shows his class with his triple ton

Virender Sehwag once again showed his class in the longer version of the game and when situation demanded a strong reply from India, he rose to the occasion and came up with an unbeaten triple century.

The stroke-filled ton is the third fastest double century in the history of international cricket in terms of balls faced (the record for second fastest ton is also in his name). Sehwag completed his 200 in 194 balls. The world record is in New Zealand's Nathan Astle's name who hit a double ton on 153 balls against England.

Such was Sehwag mastery and savagery with the bat that he totally dominated the day. Of the India's score, he had more than 2/3rd of runs scored by him alone. Wasim Jaffer gave him an able support and his 73 proved valuable for India.

With Twenty 20 changing the cricketing world, it was suddenly a different sport when Indian pacers held the ball on the first day of the Chennai test against South Africa. No one denies any of the achievements of the younger lot but the fact remains that when it comes to the five day game, the test cricket, India needs experienced hands like Virendra Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who have together tens of thousands of runs under their belt.

It was Sehwag's 14 test century. No mean achievement considering that he has long overtaken Asian run machine Zahir Abbas and is now at par with GR Vishwanath as far as Test centuries are concerned. This is the second triple century of his career that puts him in the elite club of Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara, both of whom have two triple centruies each to their credit.

Another kid falls in borewell hole: Lucky Vandana rescued

Once again the nation remained glued to the TV screens as yet another operation was launched to rescue a kid who had accidentally fallen into a deep borewell hole, which was lying uncovered.

The girl, Vandana, a mere two year old, was trapped deep down, 45 feet below the ground. And it was just a 1-1/2 feet wide hole. At last, after an effort of 27 hours, the Army men succeeded in rescuing the child. The incident occurred in Tehra village in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh.

Ever since she had fallen into the pit, the oxygen supply and other things like eatables were sent down. It was a delicate operation but at the end, the girl was safely brought out. There were prayers on every lips.

The holes are dug and when water doesn't come out, rather than filling covering such risky holes, they are simply left open. But how long will such incidents keep happening. It's simply our national syndrome: Carelessness (The, who cares! attitude). Don't we all remember Prince (Kurukshetra) and many similar kids who fell in such holes, some survived, others didn't.

At the moment, at least, it's celebration time. But there must be a resolve and TV channels should spread the message that wherever there are such holes, residents must try to fill them.

Shahrukh-Saif's abusive and indecent remarks at Filmfare award function

It's a bit late to write about the indecency of Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan at the Film Fare Award function, but I feel it is important to write about their poor conduct.

They not only hurled abuses openly but almost spelt out 'maa-behen ki gaali' to critics (saying the first half until maa ki and then stopping short, as everybody cheered).

The issue is not that who they were abusing. Everybody present in the hall seemed amused when they behaved disgracefully. The Urdu word Fakhr (pride) was spelt jokingly to mean the four letter word (fuck).

Shouldn't we expect the so called rolemodels to be civilised. Their behaviour was disgusting but it seems there is nobody willing to say that. Not even critics. Who can risk falling out of favour of these 'King Khans' and 'Chhotey Nawabs'?

And that's the tragedy our times. The dumbing down of generations is complete. Vandana K Mittal wrote about it on Merinews.com. "Shahrukh was out for settling scores and humiliating everyone he had some grudge against. There was no humour there, only poorly veiled animosity. " She wonders if he is so blinded by success and 'power'?

I agree. Shahrukh was cheap. With success a man must get graceful and then only he earns respect. He is yet to learn that and the incident shows him in very poor light. Preferrably he should apologise for making cheap fun of some many actors and actresses from Bachchans to even Vidya Balan.

Hold Chhat puja in Mumbai: After all, Holi-Diwali are now celebrated in South, Durga Puja & Ganeshotsava reach North India

The merchants of hate and division are creating a needless controversy over Chhat puja in Maharashtra. MNS leader Raj Thackeray has dared Lalu Yadav to perform the puja in Mumbai, after the latter announced his plans with an eye on North Indian votes.

Now the poster girl of Hindutva in the past, Uma Bharti has openly supported Yadav and said that she would also perform the puja. She has challanged Raj to dare stop her from the ritual. At one level you find it all, a non-issue, blown out of proportions.

But the fact is that there should not be any objection to Chhath in Mumbai. Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated Ganesh Puja in Maharashtra, which was not just nationalist but also had communal overtones. It spread across the state and has in recent years entered Uttar Pradesh and other regions.

People in these states hadn't seen the Ganesha tableaux and the festivity, were surprised but never opposed this 'new culture'. They didn't feel threatened. Similarly, the Durga Puja has now become a national phenonmenon and it is not just Bengalis who participate in it.

Muslim artisans make the idols and people of various religions and regions are part of the celebrations. Until a few years back Holi and Diwali were not celebrated in cities in South India. And if you were in Bangalore or Chennai on Holi, you had a strange feeling.

But North Indians have reached there and now you hear sound of crackers and also colours of Holi splashed in Hyderabad and other metropolitan areas. But when it comes to the most cosmoplitan city of India, the retrogressive and divisive Shiv Sena, and its off-shoot Navnirman Sena, show their xenophobia.

Maharashtrian culture is threatened by Chhath. What nonsense? The culture of Maharashtra is not so weak. The problem is with the governments, both State and Centre.

Those spreading hate, even if they are politicians, should be booked and charged with anti-national activities. The groups and parties who create this atmosphere need to be dealt firmly.
[Photo Chhat puja on Juhu beach courtesy Mumbaidailyphoto]

If the Congress has the guts, it should book these sort of troublemakers and band of goons under the MCOCA because it is organised crime. If one is a leader or member of a political party, he doesn't get license to spread hatred and must not be treated above the law.

But Congress and other parties are equally to be blamed. For pushing its own agenda, it likes to have creatures like Raj Thackeray, who make Shiv Sena and the BJP uncomfortable. That's where lies the failure of Indian political class and our society.