Aneela Nike Post: August 2022

Tuesday, 30 August 2022

The man who was called Tiny!

The man who was called Tiny!

In the early years before independence in the forties, India had two fearsome world-class genuine fast bowlers in Mohammed Nissar and Amar Singh. The opposition were vary of them and their bowling prowess and skill. But after their retirement India couldn’t produce any fast bowler of repute, pace and skill. In the coming years, India was fully dependent on spin bowling. And India had world class spinners like Subash Gupte, Bapu Nadkarni and others; then came the spin quartet of Bedi, Venkatragavan, Prasanna and Chandrashekar.

The present generation must have not heard about Tiny in Indian cricket. He was tiny but his achievements were big. He was small but large-hearted. He brought something special and fearsome into the Indian team of that era. Finally the Indian team felt they could give back to the foreign teams what they were made to face during the matches overseas. Ramakant Desai was an Indian fast bowler, who stood 5 feet 4 inches tall, earning him the nickname "Tiny". He made his Test debut against West Indies in 1958–59 took 4/169 in 49 overs.

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In those years and later, most youngsters and cricketers who came into the limelight were either batsmen or spin bowlers. Medium pacers as a mere formality were used in matches to open the bowling and remove some shine of the ball, after which the spinners were given the responsibility of restricting the runs or taking wickets. There were times when Pataudi and Kunderan bowled to remove the shine on the ball. This was the story of Indian cricket. It was more like not losing a match and end it with a draw. It was difficult to force a win without genuine fast bowlers. If the pitch was not helpful to spin, then the opposition batsmen would plunder runs and it was difficult to stop the flow.

The situation got so bad that since there were no quality fast bowlers, Indian batsmen struggled against genuine pace bowlers as there were no fast bowlers to test them in local games. So they were easy prey for foreign teams loaded with a battery of pace bowlers, most of them really quick. In a desperate move, the Indian board invited and included four West Indies fast bowlers in four of the major Ranji Trophy teams so that top Indian batsmen get a chance to play quality pace bowlers which would help them to face foreign teams packed with pace bowlers like Australia, England, West Indies and New Zealand.

Then as a ray of hope, came a young 19 year old man by the name of Ramakant Desai. He was small, slim and just 5’4”. He had a smooth run up and was fast and had a knack of bowling deadly bouncers, surprising the opposition batsmen and putting even reputed batsmen on their back foot. He was noticed by a cricketer bowling in a local game. He was fast, accurate and showed promise. He passed on a word about this rare talent.

He hadn’t played any first class game or even Ranji Trophy. Word spread about his fast bowling in cricketing circles. He was picked directly to play for a side game against a touring West Indies side. He had an excellent game taking wickets and showed great promise. The selectors showed courage and foresight and picked him for the Test match against the touring team. Rest is history.

Ramakant Bhikaji Desai was this Indian cricketer who represented India in Test cricket as a fast bowler from 1959 to 1968. Ramakant Desai was a fast bowler, who stood 5 feet 4 inches tall, earning him the nickname "Tiny". He made his Test debut against West Indies in 1958–59 took 4/169 in 49 overs. He was a permanent member of the Indian team.

He troubled the batsmen with sharp bouncers, which was unusual for an Indian bowler at the time, given his size and built. Most of the batsmen took it easy but soon realized after facing him, what he is capable of. He would make the best batsmen hop or put them on the back foot or even duck. People who have seen him play say he was quick and accurate, often surprising the batsmen.

He toured England in 1959, West Indies in 1961–62 and Australia and New Zealand in 1967–68. Against Pakistan in 1960–61, he took 21 wickets in the series. At Bombay, he scored a quick 85 batting at No.10, an Indian record, and added a record 149 for the ninth wicket with Nana Joshi. His best bowling performance in Tests was 6 for 56 against New Zealand at Bombay in 1964–65. At Dunedin in 1967–68 his jaw was fractured by a ball from Dick Motz, despite which he added 57 runs for the last wicket with Bishen Bedi.

In his first year in the Ranji Trophy, he took 50 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 11.10. It is still a record for Bombay. It included a performance of 5 for 10 and 6 for 28 against Saurashtra. In the Ranji Trophy final in 1960–61 he took 7 for 46 and 4 for 74 in Bombay's victory over Rajasthan. Two years later, also against Rajasthan in the final, he scored his only first-class century, 107, in another victory. In his 11 years in the Bombay team (1958–59 to 1968–69), he never finished in a losing side. Desai announced his retirement at the prize distribution ceremony of the 1968–69 Ranji Trophy final.

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Since he was the only pace bowler in the side without any support from the other end, he had to bear the extra work load. He bowled with the same zeal, skill and aggression. There was no much money in the game or media limelight nor glamour. But he continued undaunted on unresponsive Indian pitches. It was a routine back-breaking job bound to affect the body in the long run.

As the only bowler of pace in the Indian team, he was perennially overworked. When Desai retired from regular first-class cricket after the 1968–69 season, when still only 29 years old, P.N. Sundaresan wrote that he "bowled his heart out on the dead pitches in India ... A more judicious use of his talent both in the Ranji Trophy and other matches could have preserved him as a penetrating bowler for a longer period.

Desai was the chairman of selectors from 1996–97. He resigned the post a month before his death. He died four days after being admitted in a hospital in Mumbai from cardiac arrest.

When most cricketers reach their peak at the age of 29 years with rich experience behind them, he retired from cricket leaving behind a void which was filled many years later by another young man from Haryana.

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Saturday, 27 August 2022

Flying for the first time? Keep these things in mind.

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Flying for the first time? Keep these things in mind.

Boarding a flight has its fair share of rules and formalities depending on the country you are travelling to. You should reach the airport at least two hours before your flight time. And for international travel, ideally you should reach the airport at least three hours before your flight time. This helps you to avoid traffic jams and complete the formalities comfortably without having to rush through...

Most people have travelled by inter-city buses and railway trains, where one has to book the tickets, and on the day and time of travel, one has to go with his luggage and board the bus at the given bus stop or the railway station closest to you and travel to your destination. Travel could be for few hours or a overnight journey. It’s as simple as that. But flying by plane is a bit different and especially for people travelling by air for the first time.

Travelling and boarding a plane for the first time is an unique experience. It’s exciting, a bit confusing and overwhelming seeing the big airport, display boards, counters and crowd for the first time. You are thrilled and anxiously waiting for the day of travel. Unlike boarding a bus or train, boarding a plane is a bit different as one has to complete a few formalities for both domestic and international flights. Domestic and international formalities and documents vary a little bit.

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Firstly you have to book your flight tickets online or through a travel agent, preferably in advance. F or domestic travel you may book one way or two way tickets. For international flights, visitors and tourists normally need to book two way tickets unless you wish to proceed from your destination to some other country. Apart from tickets, you need a valid visa for the country you are visiting.

Normally for domestic travel, the luggage rules are check-in baggage allowed is 15 kg and handbag 7 kg per person. For international travel, generally the baggage rules are for check-in allowed is 25 kg and hand bag is 7 kg per person. So don’t over-pack. You will be charged penal charges for every kg of additional luggage. It will be expensive, so keep it within prescribed limits.

Kindly note, you must carry your laptop, mobile phones, charges, power packs and other electronic gadgets and accessories in your hand bag. Don’t put them in your check-in baggage. If anything allowed is not found in your suitcase, you will be asked to open your baggage and remove it and also give an explanation at the scanning point. Also make note not to carry foodstuff, drinks, knife or spray bottles in the hand bag. Every airline has a strict luggage policy and go by it.

While entering the airport, you are required to show the relevant documents, get your luggage scanned, then check-in, submitting the luggage and getting the boarding pass. Next undergoing a series of security procedures to check no unauthorized item gets through. Hopping on a plane is not as easy as getting into a bus or train, it’s a bit time consuming.

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Domestic travel – it is mandatory to carry the following documents. Flight tickets, identity card and health certificates. For international flights, you are required to present flight tickets, valid visa, passport and health certificates.

Remember not bringing any of the documents may land you in trouble and you may not be allowed to board the aircraft. Always carry both original and a photocopy of the documents. Presently due to the pandemic, all passengers are required to wear mask in the airport and inside the aircraft during flight.

For international flights, apart from the above mentioned routine formalities, you have to go through immigration check. Here the official checks your passport, visa, etc and stamps your passport with the date of departure. Immigration check is done at both points, at the departure point and the place of arrival. Keep your passport handy in the hand bag so as to remove it easily when required. When abroad it is advisable to carry a photocopy of the passport when you are out sightseeing.

After you have checked-in at the airline counter and deposited the luggage, collected your boarding pass, through with the security check and putting your hand bag under the scanner, the next step is finding the gate mentioned on the boarding pass from where you will board the flight. Once to reach your gate you relax on the chairs opposite the gate. When it’s time to board the flight, an announcement would be made for passengers to stand in the queue to board the aircraft.

Once you are airborne, you can relax on your seat or take a small nap. On reaching the destination, after getting down from the plane you will have to collect your bag from the respective luggage belt. From here you can take the way towards exit to take a taxi or get into the waiting car.

It is advisable to wear loose fitting clothing. Sitting on the seat for a long time or few hours of flight makes it an easy and comfortable journey. Tight clothing makes your travel uncomfortable. Wear proper footwear as you will be sitting for a long duration without much movement in the plane.

Nowadays most of the domestic airlines have done away with meals, snacks and beverages. Though you can order in flight and pay for the items you order or you may carry dry snacks to eat during flight. International flights offer you the choicest meals and snacks, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food during the flight. They also offer juices, cold drinks, beverages and alcohol making your travel pleasant and enjoyable.

If you have found this blog informative and useful, do comment below and forward it to your friends.

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Tuesday, 16 August 2022

The man with a Midas Touch!

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The man with a Midas Touch!

It’s said that Tata's Titan Company made him wealthy. He first purchased the jewellery and watch maker's shares in 2002. His other stock holdings from Tata group were Tata Motors, Indian Hotels Company and Tata Communications. He also multiplied his investments several times in stocks such as..........

He is often called India’s Warren Buffet, Jhunjhunwala has an estimated net worth of around $5.8 billion according to Forbes magazine. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was an Indian billionaire business magnate, investor and stock trader. He began investing in 1985 with a capital of Rs 5000, with his first major profit in 1986. His estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, made him the 438^th richest person in the world.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was born on 5 July 1960 in Hyderabad. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and married Rekha Jhunjunwala. The couple had three children, Nishta, Aryaman and Aryavir Jhunjhunwala. His two siblings are, Raju and Rajesh Jhunjhunwala. After an eventful and successful life as an investor and stock trader; and the recently launched airline Akasa Air, he died suddenly on 14 August 2022 in Mumbai at the age of 62. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala expired due to cardiac arrest as per the information last received.

It’s said that Tata's Titan Company made him the wealthy. He first purchased the jewellery and watch maker's shares in 2002. His other stock holdings from Tata group were Tata Motors, Indian Hotels Company and Tata Communications. He also multiplied his investments several times in stocks such as Lupin and CRISIL. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's first successful investment was in Tata tea in 1986, where he bought 5,000 of its shares at Rs 43, which later rose to Rs 143 in three months, giving him over three-fold returns.

Mumbai-based Akasa Air was launched exactly a week before his death on August 7, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight, which would also be the billionaire's last public appearance. He invested $35 million for an estimated 40 percent stake in the airline.

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(A reader sent this interesting interview of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. I am not aware as to where and when was it published. But it makes interesting reading and a food for thought. Wish to share it with my readers).

Some of his answers to an interview...

1. I realise that I have far less wealth than people think I have, but far more than what I actually need.

2. Money is the harsh reality of life. Some love for it, some die for it, some use it well, some waste it, most fight for it, but most others desire it.

3. After having earned so much, I have realised one thing -- that money cannot be an end to itself.

4. Money has got five crore good things, just one really bad thing: you can't take it with you.

5. I belonged to a middle class family. When I was young, I had very rich friends. But my father taught me: Always aspire, never envy. So, if you meet someone who is rich or powerful, always aspire (to be like them), but never envy. Because envy causes anger and disputes.

6. When my father came to know that I was among the Forbes list of billionaires, he said, "I am very happy to know that you are on the list. But aren't you shameful? You have billions of dollars of money, but you can't give away a few dollars in charity? Go and die in a pail of water, today I donate 25 per cent of my income to charity.

7. What has money done for me? It has allowed me to travel in a Mercedes instead of a Maruti car, I live in a 5,000 sq foot flat instead of a 1,000 sq feet flat. In place of smoking a Four Square cigarette, I now smoke India Kings, I drink Blue Label whiskey instead of Diplomat. Besides that, money hasn't made much difference to my life.

8. Let it not change you as a human being. Let it not change your attitude towards your friends, family and the people who you've grown up with. The things money can buy are certainly important, but the things money can't buy are the most important in the world -- integrity, love and happiness. What else can I say about money? Strive for it, fight for it and use fair means. Love, but don't love for it.

And the last one - Today, I have far better things in life than money, but not health. God has given me everything -- wealth, success, a good wife and good friends. I wish He gives me good health.

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