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.

 *Movie : Tejas* It starts with some real promise of being a trail blazer... hat-ke movie. Ends up being a multi messaging platform... Naari Shakti, Atma Nirbhar Bhaarat, Naya Bharat (Remember "ये नया भारत है" dialogue from Uri, be ready for an advanced version here.) Little bit of too many things . Our Government's decision to induct women as fighter pilots was historic to say the least. It has been more than five years since Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi made history by her solo flight of a Mig-21 Bison. The Indian Navy followed suit two years later in its Dornier maritime aircraft. Indian Army has started inducting women officers in Combat Arms. But does this all mean, that you have to wear an-all-too-forced patriotism from head to toe as a girl to be called a hero. Our Women-in-Uniform need to be celebrated in movies, but it is better done by keeping them as real life characters with their flaws and finesse and human frailties. "Tejas" aims to inspire our ...

 *Cricket Trivia : India vs New Zealand* New Zealand is the team which has shut our doors in two World Cups (across formats) and in one World Test Championship final in last four years. That's three ICC Trophies lost to them in four years. And for those who care to recollect, one of those three matches ended up as the last time MSD was in action in International Cricket. But still there is never a frenzy created around India vs New Zealand. The Kiwis are always taken as the nice guys whom you do not mind losing to. You must have done something wrong to lose. As we play against them once again today (against the picturesque Dhauladhar backdrop), it is interesting to note that India last won against New Zealand in an ICC World Cup match (any format) in 2003.  Cheer for the Men in Blue, but Kiwis are good boys. 😊

We moved in to our new house today. No, not in some newly purchased flat in a state-of-the-art apartment among the swanky towers by a Page 3 Builder.  I am presently posted in Binnaguri.... You are not to blame at all if you have never heard of it. Well, it is a seemingly nondescript Cantonment close to the Bhutan and Nepal border, in the Dooar region of West Bengal. There is a grass called Binn and it is said that Binnaguri gets its name from this grass where 'Binn' stands for the grass and 'Guri' stands for the particular places. Mesmerizing view of the Teesta River,  backdrop view of the lofty mountains, astounding beauty of charismatic tea gardens all around and an invisible serenity of the Samchi Monastery close by...  So, basically, Binnaguri is not exactly nondescript in true sense. That's where I had been staying in a Guest Room for last one month... Till yesterday, that is. Meanwhile, Standard Operating Procedure of applying for a Government House and wait ...

My earliest tennis memories from the Doordarshan days have Pete Sampras as my idol. The silent assassin with a broad grin. He was never into any tantrums on the Court... Turn up, play, win and leave. The theatrics were all left for Beckers and Agassis .  The female circuit had the ultimate oomph defying Steffi Graf .  They were the epitome of Tennis, idols of millions of our generation and no one could get better at the game. Pete ended up with 14 Grand Slams, while our "Golden Slam" girl went on to win 22 Slams, last one in 1999. That was the 90s. The new millennium raised the Bar with Roger, Rafa and Serena. Somewhere in this melee, a tall and lanky Serb, with a war torn childhood, decided to change the game forever. Just when you think that he can't get any higher, Novak Djokovic does it again. At 36, he won the US Open Championship defeating Andre Medvedev in a riveting final last night. This epic win is not only his, but a treasure of tennis fraternity overall.  N...