The Indian Wedding!!!

They say marriages are made in Heaven, so why not make it an exotic lifetime affair!!! That's what usually happens at weddings in this part of the world.

Indian weddings especially have a traditional flavor to it and are much filled with rituals and celebrations that continue for several days. Imagine the groom exchanging vows with his beloved, decked like a princess against a palatial backdrop and the elegantly decorated & well lit stage that offers a grand welcome to all the guests who come in to bless the newlyweds for them to embark on a new journey together in style. It’s an experience, which will be unparalleled, take my word for it.

This picture taken on the day of my sister's wedding brings cherished memories to all our hearts. It's where all my cousins came together once again sans their busy schedules with the guys wearing conventional dhotis & silk shirts and girls clad in silk saris - a trademark in south Indian weddings. The very sight of the colorful picturesque suffices the moment of joy. Towering brothers and pretty sisters!!! We feel lucky to have been growing up together.

This is all the more special since we hardly get to meet everyone these days, unlike our childhood days where we get together on every summer vacation.

The Indian Wedding that is just splendid and makes everyone stop and take a look!!! 

A cricketing prodigy!!!

When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race an F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, and Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact; USSR was one big country.”

It seems while Time was having its toll on every individual on the face of this planet, it excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.

- IBN Live

Journey of a little boy to a legend:

The 1990s was a time of awakening for the Indian economy. It was a time of VCRs, Walkmans and Maruti-800s. It was an age when still cameras needed roll-films, the sensex was under 750 points and petrol was priced under Rs.10. It was also the start of an era of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Blessed with the keenest of cricket minds he has been the most complete batsmen and the most prolific run-maker of all time. 

The beginning of his career was marked by courage. Facing lethal deliveries on his test debut and battling it out with a blood soaked shirt against the most dreadful attack ever, he made a mark as a gritty young lad willing to take on the best in the world. The nation saw hope in the little genius. Records galore followed suit. The rest is history. For Sachin, failure was not an option. While he was at the crease there was always hope. India found a player who went after the impossible. Aged prayed for him, executives skipped office, and an entire generation of youths dreamt of becoming cricketers. 

He made seeming progress with his batting which won him accolades. Time and again, testing times gave critics a crevice for target but then he made all the talking through his super-heavy bat, synonymous with the burden of the nation he bore. He proved a nightmare to bowlers which gave opponent captains sleepless nights. Memories of the desert storm in Sharjah is still afresh where he single-handedly destroyed the Australian attack, his favourites - the most dominant team of his era. 'Aussies Destoyed' said a tabloid headline, 'Hail Sachin' said another. "We lost to Sachin," said Steve Waugh. With time, India has become a global giant, while the Little Master has become a legend.

It would be no exaggeration to say that Tendulkar's landmarks put him among the very top echelon of sports persons across diverse fields. He's probably got the most flawless technique, something beyond scientific measure. Something that has allowed him to to roam a territory of sport that  even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. Perhaps it is a testimony to greatness that can never be challenged by even the most ardent critic.

"To play for India" has always been his desire in life. Somehow, when he says it, you know it's not just a platitude but a heartfelt truth. Cricket has always celebrated Sir Jack Hobbs for scoring 199 first class hundreds. But of course there's difference. Scoring 100 hundreds in international cricket is a feat that has once and for all set Tendulkar apart from his predecessors, contemporaries and probably even generations of future greats to come. The only batsman against whom Sachin can truly be benchmarked is Sir Don Bradman. But then Bradman never played with the pressure of carrying the hopes of a billion-plus people on his shoulders, never had to deal with a situation where a loss was similar to a criminal conviction with the world's second-most populous country sitting in collective judgment. Bradman played a sport. Tendulkar is the presiding deity of a nationally-unifying religion called cricket. 

He has always had a rousing reception every time he has stepped out on the cricket field. And right through his career, he has had to deal with great pressure that only a few could sustain. The crowd usually gets so loud that it adds to nervous tension that makes things difficult to concentrate to even the greats. But again, he has had his own technique to counter just like he would counter the most deadliest deliveries. 

"Whenever I found the crowd too loud I decided to walk down the wicket and tap it for a while, giving myself an extra 15-20 seconds to adjust. I'd be hoping that in this extra time the crowd would mellow a little and settle down." Sachin has said. 

He will have to perform this ritual in two more Tests. And it's certain that the crowd will not settle down in 15-20 seconds. The applause and cheers will reverberate around the world non-stop. Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede in Mumbai could as well turn electric and find itself in History books as these venues will host India's two Tests against West Indies in November, which will mark the end of Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year career. We may get to see the legend play for India one last time. He has made his peace with the fact that there is life after cricket. He has called it a day as arguably the greatest batsman and inarguably one of the finest gentlemen to ever grace a cricket field.  But millions of fans will be consumed by a feeling of hollowness as they try to come to terms with cricket without Tendulkar. 

- DC

Courtesy:

Sachin Tendulkar retirement - Cricketcountry/ IBN Live. Tendulkar's 200th Test set to be in Mumbai - Cricinfo. The Rise Of Sachin Tendulkar - TOI. Sachin Tendulkar will play his 200th and final Test match - Sun.co.uk. Sachin Tendulkar to declare at 200 - TOI. Tendulkar to retire after 200th Test - Cricinfo. 

The Comeback Man!!!

There are only a few who can hit the cricket ball as clean and hard as Yuvraj Singh does. When in rhythm he can tear apart any opponent with his effortless yet brutal hitting. A nightmare to the bowlers, a treat to the viewers, he made a mark in international cricket with his very first innings - a match winning knock of 84 against the mighty aussies. He hasn't looked back ever since. A multi-talented cricketer, he has always been more prolific in  limited-overs cricket, than in Tests for whatever reasons. His athleticism, aggression and his wily left-arm spin made him a dream one-day player as Indian cricket found a potential all-rounder.

His ODI career is full of highlights. Elegant sixes, flamboyant drives, breathtaking catches, acrobatic run-outs could all be associated to Yuvi. Be it his heroics in the 2002 Natwest final at Lord’s, his six 6s to Stuart Broad during the T20 World Cup in 2007 or his double Hat-trick in IPL 2009, Yuvi has given us several unforgettable moments throughout his career with the biggest impact being his contribution to India's World Cup triumph in 2011, where his all-round performances won him the "Man of the Tournament"- 362 runs, 15 wickets, and four Man-of-the-Match awards in all. 

He had certainly got to the peak of his career and then, quite suddenly, it turned into a downward spiral. Came the biggest challenge of his life, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which required a ten week treatment in the USA. 

He won his personal match too, this time braving past the dreaded disease and making a full recovery. The ordeal had left him a changed man. He was fairly confident that he could resume his duties on the cricket field reasonably quickly. After a stint at the NCA, Yuvraj staged a heroic comeback to international cricket when he took on the Kiwis in a T20I in Chennai where he scored 34 off 26. It could have been the start of a more consistent dream but this time, inconsistency posed a massive challenge, especially with lackluster performances in the World T20 tournament  and then he had to put in his best efforts for a comeback into the national side. Again. 

Yuvi has stormed back into the national side after some solid showings against West Indies A, and the Challenger Trophy. Dropped for several months and confined to the sidelines, he spent the summer in France to take part in a rigorous fitness regime that lasted 6 weeks. Though there were doubts as to whether he was match ready, he was seen much leaner, fitter and younger. The training proved worthy as he made a grand come back to cricket. 

In his first competitive knock since the IPL, Yuvraj blazed 123 off 89 balls against West Indies A in a one-dayer, and followed it up with two more fifties in the next three innings. And then, with a couple of all-round displays - which has become a synonym to him, he led India Blue to the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, thereby letting his presence known to the selectors who made the right call of getting him back to the Indian squad for the upcoming series against the aussies. 

Lofty highs as well as despairing depths, he has seen it all. Not one to give up, he has never lost hope and continues to be a man who seeks to write new chapters with his courageous self. For now we may expect him to do what he does best on the cricketing field. 


- DC


Courtesy: Internet

Attitude is Altitude

If you think your life isn't desirable or you've failed, think again. Perhaps you might have everything in it to cherish but just dint realize yet. Life has its ups and downs and everybody experiences success and failure. Society doesn't reward defeat, and you won’t find many failures documented in history books. The exceptions are those failures that become steppingstones to later success. 

If fear of failure or inferiority is the hurdle that's stopping us from moving forward, it is time to look up to these personalities on how they coped up with the so called failures and succeeded in life.  If we fail and never try again, that is the real failure. Many of us avoid the prospect of failure. In fact, we’re so focused on not failing that we don’t aim for success, settling instead for a life of mediocrity. When we do make missteps, we gloss over them, selectively editing out the miscalculations. That is where change is required. Most often we think that success has a different route but fail to realize that failures are just the pivotal junctions along the same route that lead us to success. Those are just the necessary struggles called learning. “Failure and defeat are life’s greatest teachers”, it is said. An open mind to learn is the trick to succeed.

We all have areas in our lives that need improvement – careers, relationships, fitness or just overall mental and emotional state. Making changes to these may seem huge but it all starts with taking that first step and making goals. Like we all have heard, it is always the first step that can lead you to your destination. Of course we need a little bit of inspiration before we can take any steps. That's when real life achievers come to the core. Not just names as big as these, you could as well find a lot of similar personalities around you that could inspire you. Like mentioned earlier you haven’t probably realized yet or just aren't looking closely.

Optimism, hard work, self-belief and above all a “never-say-die” attitude is what makes highly successful persons what they are. Always remember Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.

“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only this time more wisely”

- DC

Leander Adrian Paes: Making Indians proud since 1991

For people who have not yet watched a certain Indian tennis player in action, it can be said without a shadow of a doubt that they have missed out on witnessing one of the greatest tennis ambassadors to have ever graced the court. 

It can be said with utmost certainty that they have missed out on seeing a person who in the true word is an epitome of patriotism. 

And above all, it can be said with paramount inevitability that they have missed out on witnessing the never-say-die attitude of a true fighter who is always willing to give his 100% even when his body does not allow him to. Behold Leander Paes. 

It's not often that the sporting fraternity gets to comprehend such a player. The world has indeed seen its share of tennis legends, but when a phenomenon called Leander Paes walks out, every Indian in the world can stand tall with their heads held up high to cheer a player who has sacrificed his entire life just for the sake of the game. 

He has indeed given his all and there isn't an iota of doubt in the minds of fans about Leander's willpower, dedication and commitment towards his country. 

He's had his share of ups and downs though. Let's face it; things don't come easy for a sportsperson. Just because someone wants something it does not mean that it will be handed to them on a platter. 

One needs to work hard for it and that's exactly what Leander has been doing. Ever since Leander stepped on to the tennis circuit, he's been a name to look out for. 

Paes substantiated his claim to be looked upon as a dominant force in the tennis community when he became the World No. 1 in junior rankings at the age of 18 by winning the Junior US Open and Wimbledon titles. 

This was followed by probably his greatest achievement ever when he clinched the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, losing to eventual gold medallist Andre Agassi in the semis. Paes has hardly looked back since then and for the sake of tennis in India, let's hope he doesn't ever. 

When Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won the US Open men's doubles title on Sunday, Paes became only the second tennis player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam at the age of 40. 

Incidentally the first person to have achieved that feat was Martina Navratilova, who did that partnering Paes in 2003 at the Australian Open. 

Even though it was Navratilova's moment, the fact that Leander was involved in the proceedings was again a truly proud moment for every Indian on this planet. 

Leander's US Open triumph was his third at the Flushing Meadows. To many, it was just another feather in his cap. To his fans, it was his eighth doubles and fourteenth overall major title. 

But to Leander himself, it was an achievement like no other. Not because the win would set him amongst tennis's all-time greats and the finest that India has ever produced, but it was simply the fact that he had emulated Navratilova from whom he draws inspiration. 

He had proved to the world that "age" is indeed just an impediment that needs to be tackled in the mind. And most importantly, he had proved to his critics that his policy of portraying undying allegiance towards tennis is what matters the most to him. 

It is Leander's ruthless desire to win that has helped him overcome things in life that many people shy away from. In 2003 when he was suspected to have a brain tumor, which later turned out to be Neurocysticercosis (parasitic disease of the nervous system), it was this same ruthless desire to win that helped him bounce back. 

And in 2012 when the whole AITA-Olympics controversy broke out, he never compromised with this principle of always keeping his country before his personal needs or betterment. 

Leander Paes is probably India's greatest tennis player till date. There have been arguments in the past and there will definitely be heated debates in the future. 

But what all Indians can agree in unison is that even though a day will come when he will walk off into the sunset to end his glorious career, his legacy will be something that will live on and be cherished by fans not just in India but across the globe.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/us-open-2013/indian-challenge/Leander-Adrian-Paes-Making-Indians-proud-since-1991/articleshow/22437658.cms

Ant and the Grasshopper!!

Ant and Grosshopper - Indian Version of story - too good and fact

Original Story:

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and
laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool
and laughs dances plays the summer away. Come winter, the Ant is warm and
well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the
cold.

Indian Version:

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and
laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool
and laughs dances plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands
to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others
are cold and starving.

NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper
next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with
food.

The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor
Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that
Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter .

Mayawati states this as 'injustice' done on Minorities.

Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticize the Indian Government for
not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the
Grasshopper (many promising Heaven & Everlasting Peace for prompt support
as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .

Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for 'Bengal Bandh' in
West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.

CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in
the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and
Grasshoppers.

Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway
Trains, aptly named as the 'Grasshopper Rath'.

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the 'Prevention of Terrorism Against
Grasshoppers Act'[POTAGA] , with effect from the beginning of the winter..

Arjun Singh makes 'Special Reservation' for Grasshoppers in Educational
Institutions in Government Services.

The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left
to pay his retroactive taxes, it's home is confiscated by the Government
and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV, BBC, CNN.

Arundhati Roy calls it 'A Triumph of Justice'.

Lalu calls it 'Socialistic Justice'.

CPM calls it the 'Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden'

Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.

Many years later...

The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar
company in Silicon Valley ,

100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere
in India ,

....AND

As a result of losing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the
grasshoppers, India is still a developing country...!!

N.B.: I have no idea whose creative mind this has come out from, but this piece is awesome

Courtesy: Sathish Pathak. FB

Women are hard to please!!

A store that sells “New Husbands” has opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates: 

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increases as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help with Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!' Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor number 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please!!!
Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. 

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a “New Wives Store”
just across the street.

The 1st Floor has wives that listen to men.

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th,5th and 6th floor have never been visited by men.

- Courtesy: FB

Know your restaurant bill

It's a Friday evening and you're in a restaurant. You just had a nice, full course dinner. You even checked the prices prior to ordering. However, you are taken aback by looking at the bill. The numbers do not match with those in your head till you came across a few terms called service tax and service charge which inflated the bill by about 15 to 20 per cent. What really happened?

Since you are no mood to ruin your evening by taking time off for due diligence, you just pay it off. Many of us often feel that the added amount is high but don't question it.

Simple thing made complicated.

We have an uncanny ability to deconstruct simple things and make them complex. Taxes and charges on seemingly simple things like food and drinks are areas where customers are taken for granted. Understanding a few of these terms is important.

Here's all you wanted to know about various charges/taxes associated with restaurant bills:

1. Service charge

This is charged by the restaurant for rendering its services to you. This money goes to the restaurant. The establishments are free to charge any amount as service charges as there are no guidelines provided by the tax authority on this. The charge varies from 5 to 10 per cent. Few restaurants don't charge it. This is equivalent to the tips people usually give to waiters. If you are charged service charge in the bill, you need not pay tips as this charge is supposed to be shared among the staff.

Most of us don't bother even when we feel the charges levied are higher. One common reason for this is we don't think anything can be done about it. Secondly, you don't want to spoil an evening arguing with a manager.

However, the ground rule is that if the menu mentions service charges, you have to pay. If it doesn't, you can question it.

2. Service tax

Many people confuse service tax with service charges. Service tax is tax levied by the government on the services rendered by restaurants. Also, same service tax is applicable in all states. It is 12.36 per cent on 40 per cent of the bill, which includes your food, drink and the service charge. A restaurant must be air-conditioned for service tax.

The problem here is that most of the customers are taxed at the full bill and not on 40 per cent of the bill as directed.

To make things simple, service tax should be 4.94 per cent (12.36 per cent of 40 per cent) on your total bill. Hence, whenever you see service tax on the total bill clearly exceeding 5 per cent, you can question it.

3. Value Added Tax

Commonly known as VAT - that is state-specific. These rates can be as low as 5 per cent and as high as 20 per cent depending upon the state you are dining in. Moreover, VAT on food items is different from that on drinks. Many restaurants often club food items with drinks, and charge a flat rate on the total bill. In such cases, it is good to ask for separate bills for food and drinks. This should clearly show the different VAT for both the items.

Now, let's look at an example to understand all these more clearly:

Suppose you have dined in an AC restaurant and the price of food items is about Rs. 900. You will be asked to pay service charges, which goes to the restaurant, VAT and service tax, which goes to government.

Items  Amount

Total bill of food items  900

Service charge (assuming 6 per cent)  54

Sub-total  954

Service charge to be levied on (40 per cent of sub-total)  380.60

Service tax (at the rate of 12.36 per cent)  47.17

VAT @ 12.5 of sub-total  119.25

Total amount to be paid  1120.42 Many a time, restaurants charge the highest rate on the total bill. You can find out about it if you understand these terms.

Conclusion

Most of the times, we cannot do anything about restaurants overcharging. The reason for this is not only our unwillingness but also ignorance of restaurant managers. In many cases, though, you can question these items and get your bill corrected. Please remember that this will not be easy. However, you can always question and explain this to the restaurant manager and get your bill corrected. There have been cases where customers were able to get their bills reduced.

http://profit.ndtv.com/news/your-money/article-3-items-that-may-inflate-your-restaurant-bill-by-20-325586

The GOD of Cricket !!!

Sachin Tendulkar has been the most complete batsman of his time or perhaps of any time, the most prolific run-maker of all time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon the game has ever known. His batting is based on the purest principles: perfect balance, economy of movement, precision in stroke-making, and that intangible quality given only to geniuses - anticipation. If he doesn't have a signature stroke - the upright, back-foot punch comes close - it is because he is equally proficient at each of the full range of orthodox shots and can pull them out at will.

There are no apparent weaknesses in his game. He can score all around the wicket, off both front foot and back, can tune his technique to suit every condition, temper his game to suit every situation, and has made runs in all parts of the world in all conditions.

Some of his finest performances have come against Australia, the overwhelmingly dominant team of his era. His century as a 19-year-old on a lightning-fast pitch at the WACA is considered one of the best innings ever to have been played in Australia. A few years later he received the ultimate compliment from the ultimate batsman: Don Bradman confided to his wife that Tendulkar reminded him of himself. Blessed with the keenest of cricket minds, and armed with a loathing for losing, Tendulkar set about doing what it took to become one of the best batsmen in the world. His greatness was established early: he was only 16 when he made his Test debut. His first Test hundred, a match-saving one at Old Trafford, came when he was 17, and he had 16 Test hundreds before he turned 25. In 2000 he became the first batsman to have scored 50 international hundreds, in 2008 he passed Brian Lara as the leading Test run-scorer, and in the years after, he went past 13,000 Test runs 30,000 international runs, and 50 Test hundreds.

He currently holds the record for most hundreds in both Tests and ODIs - remarkable, considering he didn't score his first ODI hundred till his 79th match. Incredibly, he retains a divine enthusiasm for the game: at 36 years, he scored the first ever double-century in one-day cricket. In 2011, he achieved a feat which had eluded him for years - The World Cup which was apt in his hands. In 2012, when just one month short of his 39th birthday, he became the first player to score 100 international centuries, which like Bradman's batting average, could be a mark that lasts for ever. Later that year, though, he announced his retirement from ODIs. 

Tendulkar's considerable achievements seem greater still when looked at in the light of the burden of expectations he has had to bear from his adoring but somewhat unreasonable followers, who have been prone to regard anything less than a hundred in each innings as a failure. The aura may have dimmed, if only slightly, as the years on the international circuit have taken their toll on his body, but Tendulkar remains, by a distance, the most worshipped cricketer in the world. 

- DC

Courtesy : Cricinfo

Dada - The man who changed the face of Indian cricket

Some felt he couldn't play the bouncer, others swore that he was God on the off-side; some laughed at his lack of athleticism, others took immense pride in his ability to galvanise a side. Sourav Ganguly's ability to polarise opinion led to one of the most fascinating dramas in Indian cricket. Yet, nobody can dispute that he was India's most successful Test captain (until the rise of MSD) - forging a winning unit from a bunch of talented, but direction-less  individuals - and nobody can argue about him being one of the greatest one-day batsmen of all time. Despite being a batsman who combined grace with surgical precision in his stroke-play  his career had spluttered to a standstill before being resurrected by a scintillating hundred on debut at Lord's in 1996. Later that year, he was promoted to the top of the order in ODIs and, along with Sachin Tendulkar, formed one of the most destructive opening pairs in history.

When he took over the captaincy after the match-fixing exposes in 2000, he quickly proved to be a tough, intuitive and uncompromising leader. Under his stewardship India started winning Test matches away, and put together a splendid streak that took them all the way to the World Cup final in 2003. Later that year, in Australia, an unexpected and incandescent hundred at Brisbane set the tone for the series where India fought the world's best team to a standstill. Victory in Pakistan turned him into a cult figure but instead of being a springboard for greater things, it was the peak of a slippery slope.

The beginning of the end came in 2004 at Nagpur - when his last-minute withdrawal played a part in Australia clinching the series - and things went pear shaped when his loss of personal form coincided with India's insipid ODI performances. Breaking point was reached when his differences with Greg Chappell leaked into public domain and his career was in jeopardy when India began their remarkable revival under Rahul Dravid.

His gritty 30s at Karachi, when India succumbed to a humiliating defeat in early 2006, weren't enough for him to retain his spot and some felt he would never get another chance. Others, as always, thought otherwise and they were proved right when he was included in the Test squad for the away series in South Africa in 2006-2007. And he did what he does best - come back from no where. He ended as the highest Indian run-scorer in that series and capped his fairytale comeback with four half-centuries on his return to ODIs. He continued his fine run in England, where he finished as the second highest scorer in Tests, and went on to slam back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan at home, the second of which was a glorious 239 in Bangalore. Ganguly was surprisingly omitted from India's ODI squad for the CB Series in Australia and had been out of contention in the one-day squad since. After a poor Test series in Sri Lanka, there were reports of him considering retirement but he was given a lifeline in the Tests against Australia at home. Two days before the first Test, he said the series would be his last.

- DC

Courtesy : Cricinfo

11 easy steps to get out and stay out of debt

In spite of steady, regular income there are so many individuals who live paycheck to pay-check  carry their credit card outstanding, and fail to save anything for life after retirement. If you are one of them, now is the right time to take action to come out and stay out of debt.

It is not only possible but also very much achievable.

Discussed below are a few easy steps you can use to get out of debt:

1. Make a list of all your debts

You need to take a good look at all your loans. It could be credit card dues, personal loan, car loan, housing loan, education loan, loan from FD, loan from insurance policies, loan from your employer, hand loan, and so on. For each and every loan you need to note down basic details like how much you owe, the current interest rate, EMI amount, number of months (tenure) etc.

2. Negotiate for lower interest rates

If you could negotiate the interest rate and bring it down, you can come out of debt faster. Most of the credit card companies come forward for negotiation if you show interest in repaying. They need not run after you to collect the debt. They will be happy to negotiate as this will, in fact, reduce their expenses. Balance transfer offers from credit cards are also a good way to reduce your interest rate.

3. Refinancing and consolidation

Replacing a loan with another is known as refinancing. Getting a refinance should reduce your interest rate and bring down the time you are in debt. But people more often go for a refinancing option  that provides them with lower EMIs, increasing, however, the time they stay in debt.

4. Categorise your debt

A house loan can increase your net worth over a period of time. This kind of loan gives you tax benefit also. For a businessman, car loan provides some tax benefit. Each one of your debts needs to be categorised based on such factors. This will help us in comparing different loans.

5. Prioritise your debts

After sorting out various loans, you can comfortably prioritise them. This will be based on the interest rates and tax benefits. At times paying off a small loan first can give you a lot of motivation to get out of your overall debt.

6. Creating and executing a debt payoff plan

You need to create a debt payoff plan with different scenarios, so that you can find out how some more savings or a different repayment order will help you to get out of debt faster. When creating a plan, you need to choose one which is comfortable to your attitude. Otherwise, you may not be able to execute it properly.

7. Keep yourself from taking fresh loans

You need to make a vow that you will not be adding any fresh loans until you come out of all your debts completely. Think, for a moment, how you will feel when you become debt free as this will give you a lot of positive energy to come out and stay out of debt.

8. Postpone buying major assets

Buying property or any other major asset needs to be postponed until you get rid of your debt. With your new ownership comes the new - probably large - and unpredictable expense. This can make you deviate from your debt payoff plan and, at times, make you bear unpleasant and uncontrollable consequences.

9. Stop using your credit card

When it comes to using credit cards, there are broadly two kinds of people: 1) who use credit cards responsibly; and 2) who don't. Poeple of the responsible kind repay their credit card dues in full on receiving the bill. The other kind, however, would pay the minimum due amount and carry forward the remaining sum.

If you belong to the second group, you need to stop using credit cards - at least - temporarily. Take out and put your credit cards in a locker. You can start using them again once your financial situation and buying habits improve.

10. Change your spending habits

Being in debt obviously means that you have been living beyond your means. The solution is very simple: spend less and you will get out of all your debt soon. You need to change your spending habits. If you buy things you don't need, you soon end up selling things that you do need. Don't save what is left after spending; instead, spend what is left after saving.

11. Involve your family members

You need to inform all your family members and dependents about your debt status. This way, you will be able to take decisions with much more clarity. Moreover, if your family members know about your debt, they will also change their spending habits and support you in getting out of debt faster.

Consider the example of a postage stamp. The usefulness of a postage stamp lies in the fact that it sticks to one thing till it reaches its destination. Similarly, you need to stick to your debt pay off plan till you get out of it.

Courtesy: K. Ramalingam is a certified financial planner of Holistic Investment Planners

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