India makes it to the finals

India is so synonymous to its festivals that each and every element of it can be closely consorted with the festivals that are celebrated in plethora. No wonder, I started this blog of mine associating India's miraculous run in Lanka with the festival taking place back home.  Just like in Shraavan, people fast and get spiritual, the Indian cricket team cannot afford to fast but definitely needs spirituality to overcome its ongoing slaughtering at the hands of the Lankans and the kiwis. The test series culminated on a very blissful note for the Indians as they managed to clinch victory from the clutches of defeat. But the one day series has taken aback the Indians by surprise as the famous pitch in "Dambulla" is making the Indians look "Dumb". Wickets tumbling, batsmen getting flummoxed by the swing and bowlers suffering the agony of the batsmen unable to put a big score and to add to it some horrendous decisions from the umpires.

But India has finally jumped out of the precarious situation by beating New Zealand in the last preliminary match. This time around the Dambulla wicket turned gold for India as its bowlers ripped through the batting line-up of New Zealand. After setting a mediocre total on the board (mediocre not on the funky wickets in lanka), India had the odds in its favor considering the moist wicket. And the edgy batting line up of New Zealand crumbled like a pack of cards. The beauty of the game is clearly depicted by this match, a few weeks ago, the skipper was complaining about the dodgy wicket in Dambulla but now the same pitch has worked in its favor.

As the Indians get all geared up for the finale against the Lankans, I hope this time around the skipper does not have any qualms about the wicket and simply concentrate on the game. As we could infer from the New Zealand game that a positive mind-set overshadows all the external factors.

Waiting to see the Lankan wickets getting rattled and the Indians back home celebrating Shraavan after demolishing the Raavan.

"CHOR GOVINDA" UNVEILED

DEAR FRIENDS,

As I promised that I would keep you abreast with the latest developments both in my personal life as well as the political circuit, I am bringing to you "CHOR GOVINDA" an initiative by Aditya Shirodkar & Ajinkya Naik of the MAHARASHTRA NAVNIRMAN SENA, headed by Raj Saheb Thackeray. Mumbai is not only the cosmopolitan but also the festivities hub of India as it plays hosts to people of diverse caste, creed, mileu and what best to kick start the season with "Janmashtmi" popularly known as Dahi Handi or Govinda ( Not the Ex-MP from North-Mumbai). North-Mumbai constituency is where we are waiting to make inroads soon. 

Several people might get flummoxed trying to gauge the actual interpretation of "Chor Govinda". Some might think it as abducting or stealing Dahi Handi, some might believe the actor Govinda has manufactured a new business of theft, but these are absolutely wrong connotations of the word. "CHOR GOVINDA" is a dress rehearsal before the actual event that would commence on the 3rd September. In traditional terms, CHOR GOVINDA" usually falls on the day of Raksha Bandhan where the Govinda Pathaks congregate for rigorous training.  

The Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena has organized the "CHOR GOVINDA" at Worli, Mumbai on the 28th of August, 2010. The event is the brain child of Aditya Shirodkar and myself under the bolstering leadership of Raj Saheb Thackeray. It is an avant-garde activity which would showcase Govinda Pathaks surfacing out from diverse pockets of Mumbai like Parel, Lalbaug, Sewree, Byculla, Worli etc. Unfortunately, Mumbai has been gripped with Malaria and we sympathize with the people suffering from it. But this is what makes Mumbai anomalous and a notch ahead of other cities, its called the "Spirit of Mumbai". Be it natural calamities, terrorist activities, epidemic outbreaks or any such catastrophes, Mumbai rises in Like a Phoenix from the Ashes. And the MNS which is synonymous to Aggression wont let Malaria play spoilsport. The Govinda Pathaks would lead their way for the others to follow as they would construct pyramids aspiring to reach maximum heights. 

The event would also witness the popular MLA's from MNS for the likes of Bala Nandgaonkar, Ram Kadam, Nitin Sardesai and others. Ram Kadam is the one who played spoilsport for a certain MLA defiantly promising to take oath in Hindi. To add icing on the cake, several Marathi Celebrities would also illuminate the occasion with their presence. 

So pull up your socks and get ready for the festive season to kick start as the MNS gets equipped to set the stone rolling. The chants are already buzzing through and I can hear the echo, "Govinda Aaala Re" in distinct MNS style.

Jai Maharashtra

Blessed with Marathi

It’s a new commencement. It’s an inaugural of a new era. It’s a dawn of a new beginning. You can call it as an incarnation of a new body, a new aura which had never terminated. It was hushed and reticent evaluating the things occurring around. It’s like an empire which provided identical opportunities to all. Now this empire has reached its crescendo. It says, “Khup sahan kele aamhi" in Marathi Devnagari Manuscript. There is an upsurge, an avant-garde upsurge. Yes it’s the Maratha, the Marathi, the Maharashtrian and now universally called as "Marathi Maanus". The last 4 years has seen colossal changes not just in and around Maharashtra, but genuinely in the scruples of a true Marathi Maanus. Why do I keep calling "Marathi Maanus" because yes we are run of the mill people, we are ordinary but with certain extraordinary potentials and traits. The word "Marathi" itself is such a paradigm, yet it’s a paradigm with its feet planted on ground. There is a new current of air blowing across common Marathi Maanus and now it has transformed into a breeze. It was a wind which provided warmth to everyone around, but somehow the wind itself was being choked in its own domain. This won’t occur in recurrence. Now it’s a storm, a storm of another eureka. It’s a Eureka of Marathi people, Marathi culture, traditions which were breathing lonely so that the people around it take pleasure in the bliss of a good siesta. Now it says enough! Our breath is being choked, choked by the same inhabitants for whom we cared. We are alive, awake and kicking.

Most of the credit goes to Mr. Raj Saheb Thackeray, not for taking the onus in his own hands, but for showing his hands to the people in Maharashtra. His hands are the hands of a Marathi Maanus. A sole hand can incalculably contribute to infinite things around the globe. Just envisage so many hands coming together for a new awakening. Who says Marathi Maanus cant do anything. We have our aroma spread all over. Who is Sachin Tendulkar? M for Master Blaster or M for Marathi Blaster. He has so many well wishers and an equivalent number of critics including Marathi people, because we are fair people, objective ones. Sorry we were objective people. If a cricketer from a certain state gets dropped from the team resulting in a bedlam in his own state, outbreaks into a revolt, why cant we stand by our own cricketer. He is not just a cricketer, but a Demi-God, people pay adulation to him. Even the Britishers are considering him for the title of "Sir". Who took Bollywood to the Oscars, is it Mr. Ashutosh Gowarikar, again a Marathi?; the person who made Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar casting people from different milieu and religions. Did he ever think about having a Marathi cartel in his films? The answer is No. Then why stereotype Marathi people as being filthy policemen, down market maids, fraudulent politicians. Why that bigotry, that prejudice? Who is Lata Mangeshkar, an icon in Indian Cinema. Isn’t she Marathi? Did she only sing for Marathi Films? Here comes the catalog of some Marathi achievers, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shivaji Maharaj, Lokmanya Tilak, Dadasaheb Phalke, V Shantaram, Tatya Tope, Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, etc and many more.

Is verbally communicating Marathi in Maharashtra becoming a Problem? Where is your identity? Is Marathi idiom synonymous to abuse? Where were you born Mumbai, Satara, Saangli? Then why can’t you speak Marathi? We just asked someone to make their name plates in Marathi. Was there any reason to create a ruckus? Someone said "We respect Marathi Language, but we are not going to upload our boards in Marathi". Who is this person? Are we telling everyone to carry out their business in Marathi, no we don’t. I am not a pioneer, neither a thinker; I am just yet another Marathi Maanus who has woken up, woken up from my slumber and death. Rightly said by Mr Raj Thackeray, "In a group of 10 Marathi people, if 3 are Non-Marathis don’t converse in a language apposite for them, rather educate them for speaking in Marathi". These are all micro things which can lead to a malice macro grand environment. We are not forcing them to speak Marathi in their homes, but atleast in public places. If the Government of Karnataka can force the people from Belgaum district to speak Kannada against their desire, then we are just urging them to make efficient use of Marathi.

If there is a dim of light which has enlightened me, then it can enlighten each and every Marathi Maanus. Maharashtra is yet to see several generations. I was myself a very subdued person taking minimum interest in politics and its principles. I bestow Special Thanks to Mr. Raj Thackeray for bringing about an amendment, taking an initiative. He is now my idol, philosopher, guide, and friend. Be it political reasons or personal gains, the Man is ready to wrestle and take a stand. Why can’t we all do it? " Jaaga Marathi Baandhvaano, Mitra and Maitrinino". We all have it in us. This is just a first of many more things to come from my side in the form of blogs. I want to finish up saying "Maharashtra Navnirman Sene cha Vijay Aso". "Jai Hind", "Jai Maharashtra"

Welcome Note

Dear All,

I procrastinated a lot hitherto realizing it was imperative for me to pen down my conviction, credence and my scruples. It was important for me to have a chinwag about my city, my hometown, my state, my country and most significantly me as an entity.

I am not a Shakespeare, neither I am an aspiring one. I am just a run-of-the-mill personality willing to come out of his ivory cocoon and make inroads into your spirits.

I have an ordinary life which I would love to share it with all my friends. I do not want to choke my views by wrapping them inside a diary, when the buzz of Social networking has taken a plunge enormously.

I also take this as a platform for pouring out my idiosyncrasies in case I never shared it with you. And as a token of appreciation, I would want to see your feedback coming in without any prejudice, bias and with a lot of transparency

All the views inscribed by me are purely my personal opinions and do not intend to hurt the sentiments of any of my beloved friend, colleague, neither do I wish to contravene any kind of customs, traditions or laws.

With Love,

Ajinkya Naik