THE ART OF BEING REPUBLIC

(Nitisha Thakwani)

Many of us still consider 26th January a mere holiday. Folks, put your hands on your heart and ask yourself did you regret that 26^th January was a Sunday? Even the CM of Delhi considers the republic Day celebrations for some 200 VVIPs. Why do we systematically try to under carpet the fact that people in rural areas still collect in large numbers to get a glimpse of these celebrations in their tin sized televisions.

This time, I had the privilege to witness the Republic day Parade live. During the course of the celebration, I was virtually transported to the period of 1950’s. I lived each and every moment and was gripped by the feeling of patriotism. People of all age groups, ostensibly from humble background wearing smiles on their face, walked tirelessly just to witness this two hour celebrations. They possessed indomitable spirits.

Finally the much awaited celebrations began. It seemed as if I was watching the parade with my brothers and sisters. All the unknown faces around me seemed to be my long lost family! Even a toddler stood in rapt attention during the national anthem. People thoroughly cheered and seemed to motivate the participants. It was a great event indeed.

Friends as our country is heading towards a bleak future, thanks to the policymakers, everything is still not wrong. I spotted a spark today among the people at the Republic day celebrations. A unique sense of bonding prevailed among them. A desire to change the politics was what I sensed. Arnab Goswami, editor in chief of Times Now has rightly said ‘The loopholes in the existing system are so big that even a truck can pass through it.’ A desire to repair these loopholes was what the public seemed to achieve. Such was the mood today. The policymakers are systematically playing with the mood of the public, in order to retain power. They are indulging in vote bank politics. An ’aam aadmi’ would be quite apprehensive to be governed by ‘self confessed anarchists’.

Seeing this feeling of frustration and despair in the people, I would like to appeal to the people of India that we all should rise above from the boundaries of caste, religion, region, gender etc. And join hands for better India in the future. I would like to quote Shah Rukh Khan’s epic dialogue from Chak de! India ‘mujhe naa kisi state ka naam sunai deta hai naa kisi region ka, sirf ek naam sunai deta hai I-N-D-I-A’. This is the feeling which we need to evoke in ourselves only then we can go from strength to strength. As an optimist citizen of this country, I feel that a ray of hope lies at the end of tunnel. When winter has come, spring cannot be far off.’

(The writer is the blogger's friend who watched the Republic Day Parade live, edited by the blogger itself)

END OF AN ERA?

As the world gears up for the first grand slam of the year commencing in Melbourne on 13^th January, a big question is abuzz in the tennis world. ‘Is this year going to be ROGER FEDERER’s last on the tennis court? Especially in Singles?’

The question being raised is not surprising at all. It’s no secret that his game has gone down, his ATP ranking is 6 (out of the top 4 for the first time since 2003), he last one won a grand almost 18 months ago( Wimbledon 2012),he has had shock defeats to unseeded players(second round defeat against Sergiy Stakhovsky), had back problems and what not. But the fact remains he still remains a crowd favourite. Like Sachin was to cricket, Muhammad Ali to boxing, Pele to football, Federer is to Tennis. I would go miles to see him play and his one handed backhand is one of the best in the game which is very pleasing to the eye. He has been a true gentleman for the game and that is why people love and respect him so much.

My favourite Roger Federer memory will be of the year 2009, though it’ll be difficult to choose between the French Open victory or The Wimbledon victory. In 2009, he won his first French Open Title by defeating Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4. It was the first time that Nadal had lost a match at Roland Garros. The emotions after that match were very high, after losing year after at Roland Garros he had finally won it. It was as if a kid had convinced his parents to buy a particular toy. I remember Federer collapsing to the court and crying uncontrollably. It was a huge moment for him, one which he would most likely cherish throughout his lifetime. But I think the moment that will trump that memory would be that of winning the record 15^th slam and breaking his Idol Pete Sampras’s record of 14 slams. I remember that match very clearly. It was a 5 setter and the 5^th set ended at 16-14 in favour of Federer. Luck was also on Federer’s side that day. I think no matter what, he was destined to win that day. Andy Roddick's serve was only broken once in the whole match. And once when it was broken, he lost the match. . Federer won 5–7, 7–6^(8-6), 7–6^(7-5), 3–6, 16–14. The celebration after winning that match were huge and it was even more so because this final was a more hard fought one than the one at Roland Garros. Roddick was playing at his peak in the entire tournament, and defeating him required some luck which he had. That day in London probably lay to rest the debate of the greatest tennis player ever.

No one can deny the fact that he has to go, but everyone wants him to go out on a high and winning all the four slams in the year would be fairytale ending but it’s not necessary that it’ll happen. He has to make sure that he at least reaches the semi-final stages of all the majors and then see what happens. Having said that, Federer seems to be in no mood to bid goodbye to the love of his life, he has made it amply clear that he’ll call it day when he feels he no longer enjoys the game. He’s trying to make amends in his game by now using 98inch Wilson which gives him more power and more forgiving on mishits. He has also roped in former world no. 1 Stefan Edberg into his coaching team. He also made a statement that he’s still good enough to take down Djokovic, Nadal and all other contenders. This makes it very clear that he’s up for a fight and it is good for the tennis world. But his job of winning the slam is going to be very tough considering his draw. He has been placed in a tough draw in which faces Duckworth, Stepanek, Verdasco, Tsonga, Murray, Nadal/Del Potro, Djokovic courtesy him being the sixth seed.

My favourite to win the tournament is going to Britain’s No.1 Andy Murray. He now has got the monkey of his back by winning the Wimbledon(2013) and The US open (2012) and is under less pressure as opposed to say 2-3 years ago. He just seems to mentally strong and for this the credit should go to his coach Ivan Lendyl. He now looks a stronger player physically as well with all the shots coming off.

My second favourite on form will be Rafael Nadal. He has had one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of sports by winning the The US Open last year. He looked a shadow of himself in between 2012 and 2013 and had suffered from a serious knee injury but the way he played the US Open seems he’s back in business.

But as I am an Indian (and a huge Federer fan), and for us Indians emotions do mean something. So for emotional reasons I would like Federer to win all the 4 majors this year and especially defeat Nadal at Roland Garros.