Waka Waka - This time for Afrika

Football Mania 2010 has gripped the whole world. In this times, when we all are busy sorting our own problems out, we have a gaming event which has untied us all in its passion, its action and its enchanting liveliness. Yes, world cup 2010 has perspectives as it never had before. Few of the reasons I feel this world cup is closer to me than any I have ever witnessed :
1. This is a trying time for all of us. We face terrorism, nuclear warheads, poverty, energy crisis, crime rates and what not. It seems that the end of the world is near and in such a time, we are witnessing an event which has brought us all closer to each other. We are here crying together over a missed goal, shrieking with joy over a head butt and groaning together each time there is a near miss. How beautiful it is to hug a stranger from a different continent sitting beside me without any prejudice or ill feeling.
2. This time for Afrika - Africa as a continent has been neglected for too long. Whoever went there, it was only for the continent's abundance. Aids, famine, poverty, lack of education, health issues...... these are few of the grim realities of this beautiful continent. World Cup 2010 has brought a pride to this land. They are hosting a world event and now getting the attention of everyone to their problems. One goal - eradiaction of poverty through education is a cause which is synonymous with this year game.
3. Players and History - It has been a long time since we have seen the likes of Maradona or Pele on football ground. The whole world is waiting for another legend and wishing that this world cup gives birth to one. I have my prayers too.. Amen. :)
4. Reach - This is the world cup with maximum reach ever. Internet and 3G networks along with satellite TVs have made it possible for everyone to follow this fever.. whatever be the time zone. And being in India where the match timings are usually past midnight, it has become very easy to watch the best moments without missing out on work.
5. The biggest reason of it all - I am missing any kinda action and nothing is better than Football to make my adrenaline rush :).

Mamta Banerjee - A new hope for West Bengal

This post has been inspired by the recent debacle of left in Kolkata Muncipal elections. TMC has come out as a force to reckon and more importantly is the "People's choice". Personally, I interviewed atleast a dozen of people belonging to very low income group and found that they were unanimous in their decision. Why? And pat came the answer - "Mamta di amar kashto boojhbe"; "Didi amar sonkat door korte hobe".. all eyes are now on "Didi" to fix things up. Being a non-bengali I had to take some time out to analyze what goes beneath this trust. Is it for real and deserved or just a reaction to apathy of the left.. ?? I am here on an exploration trip and would try to do justice to my journey.

Mamta Banerjee - Iron lady of bengal, was born on 5th January, 1955 in a not so affluent family in erstwhile Calcutta. She joined politics as a youth leader for Congress in 1970s. She quickly rose to higher ranks and in 1984 became one of the youngest parliamentarians after beating Somnath Chatterjee. She has remained highly visible in the national political landscape since those times.

Now, a bit of analysis - She has time and again, vociferously protested against whatever she thinks is not ideologically correct. She is seen as a "Clean" and "Honest" politician, a feat achieved by very few present day leaders. She chooses to live simply and has gone against her own party (most of the cases it was Congress(I) or NDA ) to ask for what is right.

Will she be able to live upto the promises Mamta has made to the people of bengal and to India? Only time will tell, but people of kolkata have given out their verdict They want to give an eccentric, vocal but honest leader a chance to change their state. More than three decades is a long enough time for left to prove it could not help bengal much.. now its upto Didi to show what her true mettle is.

PS: The analysis is far from over. For more on politics in West Bengal, look out for posts soon.