"Blood" Vaibhav Suravanshi NOW !

 In recent years, the Indian cricket team has emerged as a dominant force in white-ball cricket, with their prowess in the shorter formats proving nothing short of spectacular. A wealth of young talent is clamoring for spots in both Test and limited-overs cricket—so much so that even stars like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal often sit out of T20 lineups.

While the T20 format may not thrill purists, it's a massive money-spinner for cricket boards, delivering high-octane entertainment in a compact package. It turns matches into celebrity-like spectacles, where fans boast about stadium attendance like they've rubbed shoulders with the elite. Undeniably, the IPL and T20 leagues have transformed ordinary cricketers into millionaires overnight.

With Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav now reaching ages considered "old" for T20, it's the perfect time to blood 16-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Pair him as an opener with the dynamic Abhishek Sharma to unleash his potential. Just as Sachin Tendulkar debuted at 16, we must give Vaibhav his shot on the big stage in international tournaments now—lest we risk losing another dazzling star on the horizon

Leave Kaavya alone

Considerable white space has already been consumed by Ms Kaavya and suddenly this young 19 something, has become world (in)famous ! Ironically but sadly, the amount of good publicity her original work has brought or would have brought her is nothing compared to the noise, Opal Mehta's kissing work has created for her.
In India , plagiarism often goes unnoticed or probably knowing the legal machinery and the attached costs and pressures , one does not really take on a copier head-on . In educational Institutes , be it report writing or submissions or even books , plagiarism is in a way a part of life often going unnoticed. However, Kaavya should have known better (being in US ) than anyone else, that she was likey to be "caught" stealing - her apology notwithstanding. Like many others including Salman Rushdie or Shobhaa De, , I too dont buy the theory that she is innocent or it was a mistake or was done out of naiveity. Atleast some who has some best sellers to her record should have assiduously eschewed the copying. Nonetheless, one feels extremely sad for Kaavya for more than one reason. Firstly , she has Indian roots so we all genuinely feel for her. Second , she has done a mistake , admitted it and paid a price by being lambasted and has become infamous over the world. She has learnt her lessons at 19 , and would definitely never ever do such an act again. Lastly , and more significantly, people have committed more horrendous crimes from murder to other acts of cruelty and barbarism and yet are walking freely in society. In this context Kavya's "crime" pales into nothing ! Spare a thought for this Indian daughter. Everybody is going for her - some had to be a devil's advocate.

Surya's death - Very very tragic !

In this hour of grief when entire country is mourning Surya's death , comes a pot boiler straight from a Telugu movie. This 'second' wife story of Surya is all sham . Does the birth certificate show that she is Surya's child ? Where was this woman all these months ? If the marriage is not registered it is no marriage and the child cannot be considerd as a legal heir of Surya . Its really really tragic and one feels extremely sorry for Surya's 'real' wife and children. The Indian Government has always been seen as soft targets and Indian Government must show its teeth . India is becoming soft target in the hands of fundamentalists. India must take a leaf from Israel and as Mr KPS Gill said , we must not negotiate with militants .

Reservations for OBCs and the Singh Parivar

With every good comes bad , and vice versa.

India has a glorious history of Singhs - many good , intelligent , many many brave and several competent and charismatic . The list is too large to mention among them being Indian PM Manmohan Singh, Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh, Swaran Singh, Hockey players Balbir, Surjeet, Ajit pal Singh, writer Khushwant Singh, spin wizard Bishan Singh Bedi, ghazal king Jagjit Singh and so on and on.....Indian history has a long list of respectable Singhs.

But probably with such good Singhs, we get a few black sheep as well.

Natwar Singh has already prided himself to be in this list of ignominous and tainted Singh parivar , recently .

And one would have thought that former (sick) PM VP Singh does not exist any more . However, he chose to raise his ugly head once again and along with another notorious Singh ( Arjun) is now rekindling the issue of reservations for OBCs once again in IITs and IIMs . One wonders with his selfish motive of becoming PM accomplished , whats left now that he is once again trying to make waves . This former PM , VP Singh is responsible for the death of so many students who immolated themselves because of his push for reservations through the recommendations of the Mandal commision.

These selfish self seeking politicians have no real love for OBCs or the downtrodden . Ask any 1984 gas-leak affected Bhopal resident and he will tell you that that first one to flee Bhopal in Dec 1984 when the Union Carbide gas leak happened was none other than the then CM Arjun Singh.

With such "lofty" credentials , he dares to make such moves and meritorious students are the sufferers.

Merit and merit alone should dictate admissions to educational institutes - not any other criteria . Its time to rise and take the bull by its horns.

Are Mumbai Pedder Rd residents First grade citizens ? Others Second Grade ?

The city of Mumbai is going through very high levels of noise pollution. The decibel levels are crossing the normal prescribed limits (55 db) and there is very scant respect by everyone - affected or those responsible- for maintaining noise levels below the prescribed limits. The marriage season in April and May will worsen this situation . The police force has the responsibility of maintaining noise levels below the standard limits but unless a complaint has been made one can expect little or no action from the police. The 10 pm deadline is also not being honoured by the law beakers . The worst affected are the students and the senior citizens but those who perpetrate this are so much engrossed in their enjoyment that their misdemeanour seems to have little impact . It is important for a vigorous awareness campaign to be initiated so that those who are unaware are sensitized to problems faced by common man in Mumbai .
Recently, we have read reports that the Peddar road flyover project will go ahead . It is a happy augury. But to appease few well known personalities ( Bharat Ratna Lataji) who have been protesting against the fly over, and threatening to relocate out of Mumbai, there is a move to import and install sound absorbent boards ( silencers) which will reduce the noise levels . The noise generated by vehicles plying on a flyover are not a fraction of the noise levels in VileParle- Santacruz area close to the airport. Are n’t the residents living in these areas not human beings ? Have they no right to expect that sound control boards are first installed near the airport before they are commissioned on Peddar road ? Perhaps if Lata Mangeshkar or some celebrity relocates near the airport , silencers may be commissioned there ?

Pramod Mahajan shot at by sibling

It is shocking to know that Pramod Mahajan was shot at by his own brother . The lawyers comments were irresponsible and was clearly trying to shield Pravin the accused