Perceptions.

A lot depends on how we perceive the world. Our reaction to anything is basically a reflection of our perception. As C.S. Lewis says, what we see or what we hear depends on what sort of person we are. Hence our perception of others is in fact a reflection of our own self.

We never like or hate something or someone. We create an image of that person or that thing in our mind and like or hate that image. Now take example of Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. Talk of Deen-e-Ilaahi or the lore of Jodha-Akbar (controversial?? ) and you can imagine Akbar as a hero, a protagonist. Now remember the Akbar-Birbal stories we have read in childhood. What is the image of Akbar now? Most probably he will appear as an old man who is quite a simpleton. Now remember the epic cinema Mughal-e-Azam.  Hows the image now? Is it a stubborn, ruthless villain who disapproves of Saleem and Anarkali’s love? So we basically know three different Akbars. A hero, a neutral person and a villain. Why? Because as per the given context, we perceive him differently, and contrastingly.

Our perception is a function of the information we have, our ability to analyze and utilize it and our past experiences, biases and prejudices which impact the images in our mind. Every person has a mental framework of past experiences in which we try to fit in the information obtained using our analytical skills. This happens subconsciously most of the times. Wrong perceptions can therefore be created because of a problem in any of these three attributes.

There exists an intricate link between perceptions and rationality. A more rational mind tries to filter out only correct information, uses analytical skills sharply and minimizes the prejudices. Thus, the real issue is not perception, but how personal the perception is. Our perceptions are always influenced by external factors. These biases come mainly from the cultural underpinnings. The perceptions are created and distorted in a quite strange way!

    Most of our mistakes are in fact mistakes of perception. This is especially true for errors in interpersonal relations. We handle our emotions within the frame of our perceptions.  The ability to handle our emotions is nothing but Emotional Intelligence. What complicates the discourse is the fact that emotions are often registered as patterns. And a slight change in perception can cause huge repercussions on the patterns of emotions.

    We need to understand that the perceived world is different from real world. This alters human actions significantly. In Human Geography, there is a classic case of a horse-rider who rides over a huge expanse of snow only to know later that it was a frozen river. He would have not crossed it had he known the truth. But this is how perception works. Many feats of bravery have been performed under a wrong perception.

It is said that there are three truths- your truth, my truth and the real truth. Because of perceptions, we try to identify with one truth somewhere between this continuum. Its upto us that how rationally we perceive the world and then react accordingly.

     “The world isn't just the way it is. It is how we understand it. And in understanding something, we bring something to it. Doesn't that make life a story? You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.” ~ Yann Martel, Life of Pi.

Graduation Goggles.

There are certain phases in our life where we are restless, unhappy, often cribbing. We feel like getting through such phases as sooner as possible. But then, towards the fag end of these times, we start to view them with a different frame of reference. Somewhere, our mind starts yearning for the good things that happened. Even more, we start to miss the supposedly unpleasant things to which we are well attuned. And we start missing that time like anything….
          I got this term "Graduation Goggles" from a sitcom HIMYM. It basically means the relief and nostalgic feeling one has about a time in their life when it is about to end, even if the time was completely miserable. It’s nothing but a manifestation of human psychology. We humans can’t just leave anything outright, even if it is unpleasant or undesirable. The term “Graduation” suggests the nostalgia when one leaves college after graduation. And “Goggles” simply stands for a perspective different from the routine one.

                Yet, it’s different from nostalgia. Nostalgia is simply missing certain people, things or times. But “Graduation Goggles” suggest a change in perspective for a short time. This feeling is temporary one. Sooner or later, we return back to the initial view, and things become the same again. It’s not that we develop a feeling of love or liking for that time or place. We just start to see the past in an altered, positive light. And this is the best part about it!! We see even the most unpleasant times through a positive prism, appreciating that everything has the “other” side too…

                “Graduation Goggles” need to be overcome. For some things must fall apart to make way for better thing. One can’t get stuck in the memories instead of moving on. That’s why one needs to be cautious about “Graduation Goggles”. They can’t be relied upon. One might end up taking an emotional decision under its influence, only to repent for it later.

                I feel the other reason behind this behaviour is the fear about the uncertainty of life. We all are afraid of moving on, for future is not familiar to us. Hence we like to delve into the past, which is familiar. But then, life is about moving on!! So let’s enjoy the “Graduation Goggles”, overcome them and move on…

               

               

Travelling through the misty mountains-2.

THE LIGHTS.

A chilly winter night.

Time- Somewhere around 11.00 pm.

Location- Somewhere on Mall road.

Your 'dinner and walk' programme has gone late. You are walking along the Mall road (which is quiescent by then) with friends, busy chitchatting. Somehow you manage to get the attention out of the leisurely winter walk to look down to the scene visible down the valley. And suddenly you shriek out- Aw mannnn!!!! Whatta scene!!

 You can see the entire expanse of Dehradun down the hills. Its glittering! One is ought to be awestruck looking at such pageantry of golden yellow and white lights. It feels like the entire galaxy of the sky is being reflected in a vast ocean. The chitchat suddenly turns into a eulogy of the spectacle…

                Then you happen to look at the hills above. The sight of Mussoorie is equally astonishing. The lights here are primarily white. The scene looks as if the hills are adorned with a glittering diamond necklace, wherein every diamond bead is shimmering with maximal intensity. And the stray, isolated lights in the neighbourhood give a feel of some diamonds which have been unchained from the necklace. Just look at the valley!  Its still and calm as a meditating sage…

                And then, your mind starts diverting towards the bookish stuff of human encroachment on nature. The scene you are enjoying now turns into a crisis in making. The horrors of over-possibilism seem real now. The unending festival of lights down the valley turns into an imagery of urban sprawl. The glowing hills turn devilish. You start to foresee possible hazards of this human bravado. From an aesthetic site-seeing chap, you turn into an environmentalist, worried about the future of humanity.

                Meanwhile you reach your destination. Your mind is now engrossed into the “what next” conundrum. The thoughts about human encroachment, future of humanity are now being gradually subsided. You start focusing on new challenges presented by the moment now. Life moves on. The environmentalist goes into deep hiding now. And all the bookish stuffs returns to the books now, with a fragile hope of entering somebody’s mind again…

               

YE INDIA KA CRICKET HAIN...

I am an Indian. So obviously, there’s a huge probability of me being a cricket fan- or even better- cricket devotee. Well that’s very much genetic. When I was a fetus in my mother’s womb, my Mummy spent time watching the 1987 World Cup. So I have been watching cricket even before my birth, I would boast!! :-)

 My first acquaintance with cricket was the 1996 Wills World Cup. Those were the days I struggled to understand LBW or Stumpings. But still it was fun to watch and play. That was  the era when Australia’ domination in cricket had just begun. Those were the days when the post-apartheid South Africa started choking at crucial moments. These were the times when Sri Lanka was a new star in cricketing world. And that was the epoch when Indian Cricket Team meant only one thing: SACHIN!!!

  As I look back to my childhood, I can relate it with the cricketing history of India. My generation has seen the rise of Indian cricket from chasm to climax. We have seen the rise of Dada, The Wall, Sehwag, Yuvi, MSD and Kohli. We have seen the passing of the legacies: Azhar to VVS in wristwork, Kumble to Ashwin in Topspinners, Sehwag to Dhawan in explosive openings, Srinath to Bhuvaneshwar (via Zaheer) in cutters. While summarizing the paradigm shift in Indian cricket, few moments come into my mind. I’m fortunate enough to find some pictures to revisit these memories. I consider these moments as the ten most defining moments of our times.

(Almost all the pics here are relating to batting. That shows how batting dominates the scene. Even today, its more of “Batting me Jalwa and Bowling me Halwa” for Indian team… :-))

1.       The moment-1983.

Well, this is the reference point for me.  No need to describe this one. 25^th June 1983: India wins the World Cup.

2.       The tearful exit.

Sri Lanka 251/8. India 120/8 in 34.1 overs. The team fumbles from 98/1 to 120/8 after Sachin gets out, which was quite usual those days. Eden Garden is seriously infuriated by this collapse. The crowd vents the disgust by setting fire in some parts of the stands and throwing some items on ground. The match is awarded to SL, who march to Finals. Vinod Kambli, like the Indian supporters is unable to hold back his feelings.

3.       The desert storm.

Its Sharjah.  The April of 1998. Australia seem to be in a great position to win the Pepsi Cup. But one man has other plans: Sachin Tendulkar! He hits 143 in league match to help India qualify for finals and then on his 24^th birthday, gifts himself and his team a brilliant 134 leading India to win the Finale and take home Pepsi Cup. This is the same series in which Shane Warne admitted his ‘Sachin Nightmares’. The last league match mentioned above also saw the desert storm in the stadium when all other players and umpires were searching for cover but SRT stood firm amidst the firm. No metaphor can describe the resolve and character of this little master better than this incident!!

4.       The VVS-Wall show.

Kolkata. 2001. Aussies, who are on a 16 match winning streak, are leading the series 1-0. In second match too, they lead India by 274 runs after first innings. Well, the series seems sealed in Australia’s favour.  But VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on a mammoth 376 to set up a stiff target for the Kangaroos. Turbanator continues his dream run to get Aussies bowled 171 runs short of target. History is created.

5.       The broken jaw.

One of the most respected cricketer from India- Anil Kumble- further increases his reputation by bowling with a fractured mandible bone. He leads his team’s quest for victory against the Caribbeans on their home ground with his dedication and commitment. And to make it even more commendable, he picks up Brian Lara’s wicket too!

6.       The flying chase and the flying shirt.

2002 Natwest series final on Lords. Nasser Hussain leads England to 325. India slide to 146/5 after a fantastic start by skipper Ganguly. Not many spectators hoping for India to win. Two young men viz. Yuvraj and Kaif add 121 in no time. Kaif continues with the tail-enders and dives on the third ball of the final over to make it 326/8. India win. Celebrations start on the field. But ohh… There’s something going in the Lords balcony too! Aw mannn… That’s Saurav Ganguly taking off his shirt and flying it frantically in the air. An answer to Flintoff’s shirtless celebration in India earlier. A gesture full of aggression from a captain who taught Indian cricket team to play aggressively!!

7.       The era of T20 arrives.

Its 2007 monsoon. People are skeptic about this T20 thing. This won’t be a success in India, many feel. There is a gloom after 2007 World Cup debacle. Plus Sachin, Saurav, Rahul decide to skip T20 World cup. Young MS Dhoni is given the reins. Still people aren’t upbeat about the tournament. In the first match played, India tie with Pakistan and win in the shootout. One fine evening, Yuvi hits 6 sixes in an over. Then India defeats mighty Kangaroos. And in a dream finale, India win the heart-throbbing and nail-biting contest with arch rival Pakistan to lift the trophy. This is new age cricket. This is new age Indian team!!

8.       The newfound aggression.

The youngsters are now knocking doors. They have a different cricketing culture as compared to their seniors. They are aggressive, with rush of young blood. They run hard between the wickets. They dive around like its routine.  They respond rough talk from opposition by hitting six sixes in an over. They answer bowler’s sledging by looking into his eyes before hitting his ball out of the field. They don’t get pressurized even if the target is 350 of 50 overs. This is the generation of non-conformists. For instance: Yuvi’s cameo versus Australia in 2011 World Cup quarter final or Virat’s annihilation of Sri Lanka when India chased down 320 in 40 overs.

 9.       The moment of glory.

Well, I would just quote a piece of commentary from Cricinfo.

"48.2 India need 4. Kulasekara to Dhoni.  INDIA WIN!! A stunning, crashing blow to achieve it.  It was a full delivery and Dhoni has sent the white ball flying over long-on. Indian contingent have gone mad. The dressing room erupts with joy. Dhoni had a poor batting record in World cups. 34 was his highest. And what does he do? He promotes himself and has played a fine knock to pull this off. Yuvraj envelops him with a hug. What a knock from Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni. Spare a thought for Mahela Jayawardene who unfurled a sublime knock to set up this target. It's Dhoni’s night though. Its India’s night. The Indian huddle is on the ground. They hop and jump in joy.  The players have tears in their eyes. Last time Sri Lanka won the tournament, and beat India, one Indian cricketer left the arena in tears of sorrow. Now it's the opposite. Meanwhile Tendulkar is being carried on the shoulders of the players. What a moment!!"

10. The era ends.

15^th November 2013. Sachin Tendulkar is carried on the shoulders of Indian cricketers once again. One last time. The master blaster retires. An era ends. A new era begins…