Apart from the heat about which I crib to all and sundry, life after the vacations is back to normal. I am introspecting and also taking some other measures which I would not like to elaborate at the moment but which I am sure will enrich my family’s life in the days to come. Its back to my dance lessons and newsreading :-), cooking ( I made a new fish curry recipe this weekend shared by a friend and it turned out good so my creative juices continue to flow), working out which is taking a backseat for now apart from the regular walks and following IPL matches and election news on TV.
IPL matches – I am not much of a sucker for TRPs; apparently have better TRPs than last time. Having been in Marketing and Brand Mgmt earlier, I used to doubt the TRPs a lot and their use as such and I continue to hold that opinion. Anyway, I feel this time’s IPL matches are thanda and only partly due to the cold weather in South Africa. There are numerous rain breaks and in a 20-over match, it leaves nothing to watch. Besides, we miss the large, colourful and noisy Indian crowds, the prayers must be missing them much more. The timings are bad, many matches going on till almost midnight which are a strict no on weekdays.
Set Max coverage is a circus. They have these dumb duds sitting in India talking about all the possible things except cricket. Mandira Bedi with her new short hairstyle and slim look and equally ghastly clothes has nothing new to offer. They ask the most inane of questions to the cricketers. Really, can they find better anchors, its so putting off.
Then again, the pitches in SA are very different so no run fests like we had last time in India. With teams collapsing to 2-figure totals, it is not very viewer friendly. I can’t imagine for the life of me why someone would dole out $1.5 million for Pieterson and Flintoff. They seem to be sleepwalking through their roles. Somehow, it is not as addictive or as much fun as last time. Maybe the momentum will pick up in the days to come.
Elections – yes, it’s all over. Bangalore – some parts goes to polls this Thursday. Please VOTE, everyone. It takes very little. We come under Bangalore Rural constituency, yes we live in a gaon :). So read up about the candidates, make informed choices and go out and vote. This is the second phase of the General elections. I am switching myself off from election debates. This time I am hopeful that we will force the parties to see that the educated in this country are not elitist, bhashanwadis but people serious about their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, we continue to enjoy no powercuts but only till the elections :). After that water scarcity and power shortages will be back with a bang. In a country, with 600 million people still having no safe sanitation and 250 million living in abject poverty with illiteracy and low rights to women, we have to ask our leaders to make more inclusive policies to ensure that our country as a whole prospers. I have a lot of hopes with these elections. I just pray that it won’t be too fractured a verdict and we can leave the crazy leftists out of this government.