Ruminations

A fortnight ago I read in news papers that Karnataka CM Sadanada Gowda said he would persuade  Maharashtra CM to release water from Koyna dam for  North Karnataka districts which is reeling under drought.He even asked the opposition leader Siddharamiah to use his influence  with congress CM in Maharashtra to get water for North Karnataka.After a week same Sadanda Gowda says in another press meet that not a single drop of water was released from KRS to Tamilnadu and informed people not to believe such rumours.Seems Gowda forgets what is sauce for goose is also sauce for gander .Water should be declared as a national resource  soon  and  governments in states and center should find out ways to have a national water grid and share water resources across the nation. Else this could become a cause for a strife between neighbouring states and could lead to unpleasant incidents,since our politicians would continue to play for the gallery and would never rise above petty regionalism.

Press council Chairman Justice Markandeya Katju has said the Bharat Ratna should not be awarded to Sachin Tendulkar.He also said the demand for Bharat Ratna for cricketers and film personalities spoke of the " low cultural level in this country ". I beg to differ with justice Katju.Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of this country .I hope Justice Katju would agree that Sachin is a civilian.Bharat Ratna means the jewel of India or the Gem of India .Surely Sachin is a gem of India and is a gem to lakhs of followers of the game  world over.When M.S.Subbulakshmi Ravishankar Lata  Mangeshkar Bhimsen Joshi and Bismilla Khan are awarded Bharat Ratna why not Sachin Tendulkar.By no means, I am belittling those greats .They were greats in their own chosen field .Similarly Sachin is an all time great in world cricket.Until now  only people who excelled towards advancement in the field of art, literature, science and public service were considered for the award.Now it has been amended as recognition of exceptional service/performance "in any field of human endeavour". This amendment is done precisely with Sachin in mind.Nothing wrong in making  these changes in the criteria for the highest civilian award.With pressure mounting on government to give Bharat Ratna to Sachin,people have started to make demands for a posthumous Bharat Ratna for Dhyan chand,the hockey wizard.Dhayn Chand is surely an hockey wizard who earned three olympic gold medals.No doubt Dhyan Chand is a hockey great of all time .Dhyan Chand  statues can be seen in Vienna and Austria . Hitler and Bradman were impressed by the way Dhyan Chand played hockey.A tube rail stations has been named after Dhyan Chand in London in start up preparations to the July 2012 London Olympics .Many past and present olympic heroes are being honoured by London olympic authorities .Dhyan Chand is one among them. .A Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand may be appropriate with the revised guidelines.But in our country people overdo everything and overindulge .Government should be wary of such chauvinistic and jingoistic demands .But deserving candidates should not go unnoticed in the process Fanatic demands should not prove justice Katju is right.If we don't honour our gems who else would do it ?

The world chess champion ship has started at Moscow from May 10 . Viswanathan Anand and Israeli Grandmaster Boris Gelfand will vie for the title in the 12 match tournament .Anand has drawn the first two games and has shared the points with Gelfand ,Now the points are level at 1-1. The player who earns 6.5 points first will be declared the winner .The prize money is 2.55 million US Dollars.The winner gets $1,530,000 (60%) and the loser $1,020,000 (40%).If Anand wins the title this wouldbe his fifth world championship title .In 2000,2007,2008 and 2010 Anand held the world champion title .For the first time Anand is playing the world title against  an opponent who is one year older to him .Anand is 42 now and is considered the oldest world champion now.The  Indian Chess wizard has won against greats like Karminik and Toplov in 2008 and 2010.The all time great Gary Kasporov had once said " It would be difficult for the younger generation to Push Anand aside " . Gelfand will be trying for the elusive title once again at 43.Will Anand be able to hold on to the title ? Hope Anand's experience and his preparations with his second GM S.S.Ganguly  would help him to earn the title for a record fifth time .It is said he has been preparing for the last 6 months in an undisclosed place.Anand is known for his match  preparations .He always comes out with unexpected innovative moves . But Anand has gone on record that this time he would be playing against one of the best prepared players in world chess today. Surely it would be a battle of nerves . The winner would surely be the cool guy who is able to hold on to his nerves.By the end of the month we would come to know if it is going to be a fifth time champion or a first time ever champion for the 2012 world chess  championship title .