That's the way Mahi way!

Watching 'M. S. Dhoni: The untold Story' is a wonderful experience. . It is rightly said that we knew the man, but we did not know the journey. It really goes deep. It is not only his journey, but also in a way our own journey. Because legends such as MS or Sachin are not only individuals, they are collective phenomenon. It is not only that Sachin plays for 24 years, it is also that I live for 24 years where Sachin is a very much part of my life. This movie gives that wonderful experience- once up on a time again! It just relives you those memorable moments. . .

. . . My first encounter with M S was in December 2004 when he was playing his second or third ODI in Dhaka and he hit his first six. Then I watched a first class game of cricket, first time in my life, on 21^st January 2005. It was a first class match in Deodhar Trophy in Nehru Stadium, Pune and players such as Sehwag and Kaif were playing. Of course, M S was largely unknown to me. When I entered the stadium, I was amazed to see that environment. I was too desperate to see the likes of Sehwags and Kaifs. My friend suddenly pointed out to one man who was running on the border of the ground, look, he is Dhoni! I looked, but did not know whom I was looking. . . Then his 148 runs against Pakistan and his 183* against Sri Lanka announced his arrival. . .

Such legends are part of our lives also. So when I look back at my famous M S moments, one more moment pops up from his early career. His strike against Dave Mohammad in a test match in West Indies! I clearly remember up to mid 2006, his ODI batting average was around 53 and the strike rate was 108! Even in the era of Tendulkars and Sehwags, it was extremely astonishing! It was said that he had just one gear- the fifth gear. . . Of course it was not too long when his poster arrived in my hostel room. अनहोनी को होनी कर दे होनी को अनहोनी ऐसा है धोनी!The epic moment of India winning World T 20 under him! His advertisements from 'On drive, off drive, now long drive' to 'let me remind it!' His persona, the charisma, the calmness...

But coming back to the movie, it gives great insights about the man and the journey. We knew the batsman, the captain cool, the wicketkeeper and the brand. But we seldom knew the man from within. This movie is certainly part of the elite class of movies such as Bhag Milkhaa Bhag and Mary Kom. It is very easy to see, perceive and respect the peak, but it is rather difficult to grasp the dark valleys from where such peak emerges. Therefore we should be thankful to this movie.

It is very easy to forget the morning sun when it is twilight. It is very easy to criticize in the context of downfall. Not only public, but our memory also is short in this regard. But if we allow our heart more space than our brain, we would deeply cherish innumerable M S moments of our life. In this sense, this movie serves as a great reminder to open our eyes and really see the legend which is now inevitably fading. Our memory is not a great device to understand deeper phenomenon. Our memory always moves ahead and shows us further journey. Time may be just a term for some, like they say age is just a number. But certainly time fades our memories. It blurs our vision. We tend to overlook and neglect the old for the attractive new. But something is necessary to help us improve our vision and correct our perspective.

When we try to see the complete picture, we realize that we were missing the actual person, the man hidden behind all glamour. It is easy to criticize defeats and losses. But it is rather difficult to see the efforts, the preparation, the journey out of the darkness. This movie is presented so well that even if you do not know cricket, you can still relate with it. As M S always says, it is the process which matters.

This movie really helps us to keep aside the statistics, the numbers and the glamour and see the core of M S Dhoni with open eyes. We always say that we should never forget our roots, we should remember where we belong to. This movie helps us understand how a champion arises, where he or she really belongs.

This movie gives clear messages regarding sport culture of our nation, the infrastructure and the struggles. Not only for emerging players, but also for well established players. One has to say that it makes certain bold statements such as case of dropping those stalwarts who are no longer good fielders. This movie does not shy away from making such bold and out of the box statements.

 

I have followed Dhoni's career closely, but still I felt good that the movie has shown minimum of his career and it has given more focus on the achiever than the achievements. One can criticize that the movie only shows M S and hardly gives any room to Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguli or Dravid. It is true. But their tales are well known and the movie brings forth the untold story.

And most importantly, although this movie revolves around one legend and one person, it is basically universal. It is the tale of everyone. Like one dialogue says, M S, you do not always get those balls which you can hit, you sometimes get bouncers that you have to duck. Therefore, in the deeper sense, this is untold story of everyone, all of us. Everyone has to go through similar circumstances.

One more aspect that I liked very much regarding this movie is that it is based on a very contemporary topic. It is not a movie which is related to some ancient king. The movie is related with the present times. M S is still playing cricket and is still the ODI captain. He is here and now. Therefore the movie helps us understand this here and now in a subtle way. This movie helps us remain in the present.

Beautiful moments... Beautiful life...

This is high time to write something special. Very special.

It is particualrly related to this generation and this India. This is the generation, this is the India which has grown up having some beautiful moments which ultimately make a beautiful life.

It all started in 1989. No, it was neither Globalisation- Liberalisation- Privatisation nor terrorism. It was something different and it is something different. It can be said in two words, just two words, but it requires more than two decades to understand those two words. Sachin Tendulkar.

Cricket is a religion in India and Sachin is the only God of this religion. This God has been a great icon. He is such a great cosmos that words cannot describe Him. He is the matter to feel and to fill energy from within.

Yes, Sachin Tendulkar. Just two words. This generation has been living on this fabulous fuel.

This is so extreme, that as long as Sachin Tendulkar plays cricket, this generation will enjoy its childhood, the same pleasure without any stress of life. Yes, if one want its proof, one can just experience it.

And if ever there is any stress in life, if ever there are any blockages, then there is another inspiration. This is a role model of how positive attitude should be possessed, how uncluttered mind can be obtained, how unaurthodox i.e. out of the box and yet greatly efficient can be become, how this whole mess of universe can be simplified to straight forward attitude.... This is the inspiration called as Virender Sehwag.

This generation has been fed on Sachin Tendurlakr and it has received timely updates from Virender Sehwag. As long as Sachin plays cricket, this generation would keep enjoying its childhood and at the same time as long as Viru plays, this generation would enjoy its early college days. This is for sure. Because life is not counted in terms of years, months or days or success or achievements, it is counted in terms of moments. And these moments are really beautiful moments... 

Surrender to Virender !!

Surrender to Virender: वीरेंदर सेहवाग

जो लोग क्रिकेट जानते है; उन्हे वीरेंदर सेहवाग के बारे में कुछ भी बताने की आवश्यकता नही है । नाम ही काफी है । आधुनिक क्रिकेट खेलनेवालों मे दो बार 300 से अधिक रन्स करनेवाला तथा तीन बार 290 की दहलीज तक पहुंचने वाला; शीघ्र गति से सभी प्रकार के क्रिकेट में बल्लेबाजी करनेवाला; "चौका"नेवाली कन्सिस्टन्सी से सभी परिस्थितियों में रन्स करनेवाला और आज सबसे ज्यादा आकर्षक शैली के लिए जाने जाने वाला यह एकमेव बल्लेबाज है । कहना पडता है कि वीरेंदर सेहवाग बिलकुल मूल स्वभाव का (Indigenous) बल्लेबाज है । जैसे कहते है; महाभारत में कृष्ण ने अर्जुन को कहा था 'यह सूर्य है और यह जयद्रथ;' उस प्रकार सेहवाग हमेशा यह बल्ला; यह गेंद और यह सीमारेखा; यही ठान के रन्स ठोंकता है । वीरू; उसे सार्थ रूप से कहते है ।

सेहवाग की महानता इतनीही नही है कि वह श्रेष्ठ बल्लेबाज तथा खिलाडियों की श्रेणि में आता है । सेहवाग एक सोंच है । सेहवाग एक दृष्टिकोन है । कैसी भी परिस्थिती हो; उसकी सोंच स्थिर रहती है । उसके मन को दबाव दबा नही सकता; उसके मन को uncluttered अर्थात् खुला; किसी भी तरह के पूर्वग्रह न रखनेवाला; अपनी शैली से ही निरंतर खेलनेवाला इस तरह से जाना जाता है । यह निश्चित रूपसे ही एक महान गुण है; जिसकी सराहना ही नही; अनुकरण किया जाना चाहिए ।

सेहवाग एक प्रतिक है जो सिस्टम के विरुद्ध जानेवालों का प्रतिनिधि है । कहते है; सेहवाग को पैर हिलाना नही आता; उसका फूटवर्क ठीक नही है; वो किताबी तरिके से नही खेल सकता । मानते है; पर उससे फर्क क्या पडता है । यहाँ पर एक अलग मुद्दा आता है । हम किनको ज्यादा महत्त्व देंगे ? जो किताबी तरिके से खेलते है; तंत्रशुद्ध तरिके से; निर्दोष तरिके से खेलते है उनको; या जो सबसे अधिक प्रभाव के साथ खेलते है; जो अधिक परिणाम देते है और सकारात्मक सोंच दिखाते है ? टेक्निक सेहवाग के पास भी है; किताबी तरिके से वह भी खेलता है; पर उसका खेलना सिर्फ उस ढाँचे में नही बैठता । उससे अलग है । जाहिर है कि कई परिस्थितियों मे उनका खेल खतरे से भरा होता है । अनिश्चितताओं के मध्य चलता है । पर उनके इसी खेल के कारण भारत को विशेष विजय हासिल हुए है ।

सेहवाग का महत्त्व यह भी है कि वह खुद की सोंच से चलनेवालों का उदाहरण है । परिस्थिती कितनी भी विरान हो; प्रतिकूल हो; उसे फर्क नही पडता है और नाही उसके खेल पर फर्क पडता है । आज कल जमाना स्टिरिओटायपिंग का है । कहते है ना; आज सफल होना है; तो ये ये करना पडेगा; डॉक्टर, इंजिनिअर, एम.बी.ए. बनना पडेगा; ये ये एक्साम्स देने पडेंगे; ये ये क्लासेस लगाने पडेंगे। इस तरह की अवधारणाएँ समाज मानसिकता में व्याप्त है । पर वीरू इस मानसिकता से हमें बाहर लाता है । कुछ अलग; खुद के मन का सुनते हुए करने की प्रेरणा देता है ।

जैसे क्रिकेट में सेहवाग है; उस तरह उसका रोल करनेवाले की हर क्षेत्र में आवश्यकता है । सब लोग सिस्टम के साथ जाने लगेंगे; तो सिस्टम बिगड सकता है; और उस तरह जीने में मजा नही । जो सभी कर रहे है; हमेशा जैसे होता है; उस प्रकार से न चल कर कुछ अलग करनें मे; खुद कुछ प्रयोग करने में; खुद की खोज करनें में अधिक संतोष मिलता है और सेहवाग इसका सर्वाधिक प्रभावशाली उदाहरण है । आज जो मूल्य आदर्श माने जाते है- स्वाधीनता; खुद की सोच से चलना; दवाब के आगे न झुकना; किसी भी परिस्थिती में अपने दायित्व पर डटे रहना; संघर्ष करना; सातत्यपूर्ण रूप से कार्यरत रहना; विशेष प्रकार से परिणाम लाना; दीर्घ समय तक जुझना आदि मूल्य एवं आदर्श सेहवाग में ठूस ठूस के भरे है । इसी लिए हमें अपने अपने क्षेत्र में वीरू बनना चाहिए; वीरता उसी में समायी है ।