Great Cricket Test Match-South Africa vs. India-Eden Gardens-1996

As they say test match is the great game. And when it is a true test it shows why still, to any avid cricket spectator will always put it above any other forms of cricket.

There were many great test matches. But the one I will cherish will be the 2 ^nd test in 1996 between South Africa vs. India t in Eden Gardens. A game that will always be remembered for the ephemeral cricketer, Mohd. Azharuddin. He was player like very few. A true believer in destiny. It did not matter what were the circumstances. If he believed it was his day, he will play as if it was his last. His wrist work was legendary. I am sure the wristiest player I have ever seen. And if one was looking for a good example of his true class and also his character than this would be the game.

I still remember where I was. I had permanently started staying at our new house. And with its little or no infrastructure, the only means I could follow the game was via radio. With the game being played in Eden Gardens, all of Calcutta was as excited as if it was the second Durga Puja in a month. The game was played from Nov 27-dec 1. But the most important reason I will always cherish the game was as I mentally saw the game, in RADIO. I say it as I always felt when you are listening to radio, with your imagination doing the seeing; it elevates game to almost ephemeral proportions.

For Mohd. Azharuddin he already lost his captaincy. Many were feeling it was the end of his career which was already 12 -13 years of some great cricket. It certainly seemed especially with coming of the new crowd of batting talent in Sachin, Dravid, and Ganguly & Laxman. But for his entire fan, this will be his phoenix rise, a display of what it meant to Azharuddin. And where else this rise could be besides his favorite venue, Eden Gardens. He comes to crease when all the top players were lost to certainly one of the best fast bowler of all times, Donald. Even in the dead pitches of India he ransacked the top half of Indian batting. India was 7/116 with South Africa already scored 428 in 1st Innings. Donald had already scrapped off the big shots and Azhar had to come back after being retired hurt at 3/87. Luckily Donald had to take off because of being hurt. And in this precarious situation Azhar comes to pitch. And what a game it became. Azhar massacred all the bowlers but especially the new debutant Lance Klusner. His innings was 0/95 after 14 overs, with one over where he was smashed for 4 fours. Azhar scored 106 and with him and Kumble they took India out of certainly a follow-on and innings defeat. 

But for lot of us who liked him, the 2nd innings showed why we like this enigmatic guy. 2nd Innings is very similar to 1st innings. India already has lost all the top line except Dravid with score at  4/28. Azhar joins Dravid. They score a good 60 runs, with Dravid scoring 21 in 121 balls. With his departure and with Klusner showing his mettle, Donald never played in the test again, the onus was with Azhar. But it was Azhar; he was still swash bucking as if he could push India out by his swagger. And this time it was Klusner's turn. And with Azhar gone India lost by 329 runs.

Though India still lost the game, as Klusner who was certainly one of the better fast bowlers showed his mettle in the 2nd innings when he got 8/64, . But for Azhar fans and especially people from Calcutta it was one of the greatest innings we would ever see.

You tube video of Azhar's 1st innings -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4MCwlGi-Mo

Tendulkar Retiring or Is It My Affair with the Game Ending?

It had been on the horizon for a while, but when the news finally came, it was still hard to process. Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketing icon who had been a constant presence in our lives for over two decades, announced that he was going to retire. It wasn’t immediate—he hadn’t retired yet—but the mere declaration that it was coming felt like the end of an era. For many of us, his retirement had been an unspoken truth, something we knew would eventually happen but could never fully imagine.

How could the man who had been a fixture of our lives for so long simply walk away? The thought was overwhelming. Our generation had grown up with Tendulkar, watching him rise, struggle, and eventually dominate the game. His journey had been interwoven with ours in ways that were almost inseparable. To think that he was stepping away felt like the end of not just his career but of something much deeper—an end to the connection we had with the game itself. Our maturing as individuals seemed so tied to his career that his departure felt like we, too, were being retired from the sport we loved. 

In many ways, Tendulkar’s retirement symbolized a personal loss. It wasn’t just about cricket; it was about an entire era of our lives. His career, alongside the careers of other stalwarts like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, had been emblematic of the post-1991 transformation of India—a country emerging from its economic slumber and beginning to rise as a global power. The "India Shining" days, as espoused by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, mirrored the growing confidence of the country, with cricket serving as one of its most visible symbols of success. Tendulkar and his peers were more than just cricketers; they were the living symbols of India’s rise. 

However, as the global landscape shifted—especially with the 2008 financial downturn—the connection between these sporting icons and the India they represented became more poignant. India, along with the other BRICS nations, had weathered the economic storm, but the effects were still felt. It was during this period that we began to notice the retirements of some of these greats, and it felt like more than just the end of their cricketing careers—it felt like the end of an era. 

Tendulkar’s retirement, in this context, wasn’t just the departure of a cricketer—it was a farewell to an entire phase of India’s transformation. The post-liberalization, "India Shining" era that had begun with economic reforms in the early ’90s and accelerated through the new millennium had culminated in a golden period of cricketing success. But now, as these players retired, it seemed to signal the closing of a chapter. The transition was painful—not just because we were losing our heroes, but because their departures mirrored the fading of an era that had shaped our identity as a generation.

For us, the end of Tendulkar’s career wasn’t just about cricket—it was about the end of a time that had defined us. He and the other greats had not only represented Indian cricket on the world stage; they had also embodied the dreams and aspirations of a nation coming into its own. Their retirements marked a symbolic break from the "India Shining" days—days when we, as a country, felt on top of the world.

The moment Tendulkar announced his retirement, it was more than just a man walking away from the sport he had made his life’s work. It was a poignant reminder of the passing of time—of how, as individuals and as a country, we had matured alongside him. His departure made us confront the fact that we, too, were leaving behind an era that had been so central to our lives, and in some ways, that left us feeling unmoored. 

Tendulkar’s retirement wasn’t just his affair with the game ending—it was our affair with the game, and with the version of India he helped represent, coming to a close.

Hollywood and the war machine - Empire - Al Jazeera English

Hollywood and the war machine - Empire - Al Jazeera English

Watching Sachin maybe for the last time!

It is Feb 23, it is 1st Test-2nd day's Tea, between India vs Aus in Chintambaram stadium. It is Indian batting after Aus made 380sh. Importatnly the guys in the middle are Purjara and the great Sachin. They are 84/2 with both the batsmen in their 30s.

For Indian cricket fan there is certainly no better series than India vs Aus, especially when they are playing in India. Aus pitches still are a big hard for Indians. Not as bad as SA, but still not in the comfortable bracket. But for me as for many other cricket fan of my generation, it is all about Sachin. Sachin is 39, few months away from his 40th he is only a year away from the oldest player for India, Vinoo Mankat who played till 41 years. But unlike none to what I know he has over 23 years of international play. From Nov, 1989, when he was 16 years. So in a sense with 23 years in cricket makes him favorite amondg every generation of criket fans. To comprehend how long Tendulkar has played can be asertained that his batting partner Pujara, though 25 year was only a year old when Tendulakar played his first game. More interestingly in the current squad except Dhoni, Sehwag and Harbajan all others where less than 5 years old/and one Bhuvanesh was not even born. But that long tenure has its donwside. Sachin has reitred from both T20(2010) and ODI(Dec 2012) but none of his contemprary have long retired. His 3 year junior Saurav/Dravid have reited over a year back. And it is jsut matter of time that he is going to retire.

What makes Sachin-sachin is so many years of great criket he has givne to Indians and all the cricket lovers. He with the three other Titans (Dravid/Saurav/Laxman) made Indians a powershouse for over two decades. Mind wanders back to the great inning tbat Sachin played. The super 140s in Sharjah, or the magial 80s in the boucy New Zealand grounds. The fact remains for many of us who started watching cricket along with him, Indian cricket always had Sachin as an impotatnt ingedient in the team. With him gone, which will happen  very soon it would be a big lss.

For me with Sachin the same age as me, and with the other three it gave me so many hours of entertainment. And amny of them besides ODI innings it were the test matches. And the India vs Australia in India would certainly be the best among his innings. The best certainly would be the 1997 tour. Wiht likes of Warne and McDermott Sachin Devasted the Australian attack especially Warne, ending up with an avaerage of over 110 runs. Sachin was at his prime, actually scored max 100s during the period. And with some great innings including the 2nd innings where he with Azharuddin made 418 runs in 104 balls.

So with the evening setting in Chennai, and last few overs remaining of the day, and with Sachiin in his 60s, there is an aprehsension f wherhter he could get among his last centuries. Who knows how lng will he play. But as of tonight, I had time, and was able to enjoy his Innings, maybe my last. 

Is Indian Food Muglai? How Wrong could that be

Though had thought about it many a times but when I was talking about it with an old friend, it just refreshed it.

Everyone knows lot of people like Indian food. And as Healthy diet is becoming cooler so is the vegetranian or lean meat diet of Indian food places are pooping up everywhere. Back in hte old days, to what I saw and more importatnly what I heard from other immigratns who came before me ( SU Librarbian who came in 1960s), Indian food if you wanted it. It meant you make it. Or just make a trip to the Indian ghettos to NY city. There was no Little India in LA and nor the Silicon Valley's so called MG Road (aka El Comino Real). And certainly not the Huston and Dallas Indian grocery stores and resturants and dance halls which are like regular american Superstore. The Indo -Pak less than a mile away can be easily be mistaken as a small Supernarket Chain Grocery Store.

But still one thing that has not changed is the Indian food. Back then as today when you talk Indian food it is usually Muglai food. And that is where a serious anamoly comes in.

Muglai food is a delicacy. An extreemly spoisticated cooking that demands a lot of knwoelge of Indian spices which was perfected in the 18th centruy Landlords of Lucknow, the Nawabs. See Story of India- discussion of it. (Episode 6 - The Freedom - see from 18 minutes). Also see the PBS resource. A  ulmination of Spice capital of world and the Persian artsy culture. No other guess Taj Mahal is certainly the most famous of this mixing of oceans -Majma-ul-Bahrayn (The mingling of Two Oceans)), as Dara Shikoh talked about the culture and religion that came out of it also.

But Muglai food needs a lot of effort. Haven seen been done in my relatives who were once Landlords from the Licknow-Awad land.

So who then eats this food. Before the coming India and US market got hold of powdered easy to make Indian foods, I would say really few. Atleast I did not know anyone. You needed to be a true Bawarchi to make a Biryani. And for reagualr Mortals, to eat all that. If in Lucknow we had to go to Hazratgunj and if in Calcutta go to Lahore or places like that. Funnily hte reason why Calcutta came to know of how to make Biryani, it was because Nawab of Oudh aftre 1857 debacle was moved to Calcutta as was the last remining family of Tipu Sultan.

Indian food is more differnt and much more vibrant. It could be the true Punjabi rustic village food of "Roti and Sarsoon ka Saag" or Hindi Belts "Saabzi-rd spicees fresh watmusting a Persian word meaning a stoow). Be it Begali's Mustated oil Fresh water Hilsa to Goan fishy NMacarel amde with cocunit- portuguese breading and gaon kokum. From Vegetrarian Gujrati food using wheat and barley to South Indian all rice based food. And I certainly can not include the Kasmmire food or Bamboo shoot delicaies of NE or Tibetian food if you still feel it has some connection with India.

Yet when you go to

2:37pm

It is by Vani Subramanian...

Talk to you later! Have a good night...

Read about and saw a small exceprts of it.. I really think a true point.... To be frank so few makes or even can make Biryani or other epscial Muglai or Hyderabadi dishes at home.....

But when you call Indian food the first thing that comes is the extremely eloborate.. which I think is impossible without the powedered package to make all the espcial dishes

Muglai food is the eiptomthe of the 16th 17th century luzuries of the elite of the richest county in world... The Muglai India world

I am sure when in 200 years ppl look to some food of NY or western life style they might think the same

but a real good movie...

in case if you know if they might show it around TX tell me would love to see it

FYI a nice article on it

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/watch-your-diet/975262/2

By the way my best regional inidan food is the Konkani food.... thought originally from the famous Muglai Lucknow... I can never handle the over spiced Muglai food

LOL
TTYL