Pushkar Pens

I was not born when 375 miners had died in the flooding of an IISCO coal mine in Chasnala (Dhanbad) in December 1975 . It has been the deadliest mining accident in India. And being born in Bokaro, just 40 km away from Dhanbad, our childhood was too often privy to discussions around the disaster. The tragedy was immortalised by the Amitabh Bachchan starrer ' Kaala Paththar ' in 1979. With big names like Shatrughan Sinha, Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Yash Chopra and Salim-Javed to boast of in its team, it has become a classic over the years.  The basic causes of accidents and injuries in underground mines are unsafe conditions, unsafe acts or both. A little bit of Google search shows that mining disasters occur as a result of large mine fires, powerful mine explosions, violent rock gas outbursts and water inundations. All operating mines have to contend with the real danger of being overtaken by one or more disasters at some point of time during their lifespan.  Though fatality ...

It's 20 years overdue.  Yeah, 20 years. 23 March 2003 I was a young Captain in the Indian Army, posted in Rajasthan. Just a couple of months back, we had returned back after a prolonged 1 year+ deployment on the borders in Operation Parakram. It was a very difficult one year, perched in whatever could be called a living space amid harsh conditions, between the Border fence and Anupgarh Branch of the Indira Gandhi Canal.... and any avenue of enjoyment and recreation was welcome. World Cup Cricket in South Africa had come at the right time to provide that succour. We had a good, young and energetic cricket team, led by a Maverick Ganguly. Sachin was in top form. Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra were doing really well. Rahul Dravid provided good balance as a Wicket Keeper. We won against everyone in the league stage except Australia.  And then we met them again in the Finals But India were playing up against the best Australian team ever , which had the likes of Ricky Ponting, Matthe...

02 April 2011 India had won the WC defeating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede. Virat Kohli was 23 years old. Just three years playing ODIs. Not yet made his Test debut. It seems metaphorical that Kohli hoisted Tendulkar on his shoulders for the lap of honour at the Wankhede after India's World Cup win.  Kohli would then say on camera, poetically, about Sachin : “He has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, it was time we carried him."  05 Nov 2023 12 yrs down the line, at the iconic Eden Gardens, as he turned 35 today, he has equalled his idol in ODIs Centuries, and given us so many beautiful memories in the process. Cheers for him.