The start of the month of August has seen action in a variety of spheres but two spheres have dominated the rest, the political sphere and the sports arena. The fast onto death by Team Anna members and the exploits of team India at the London Olympics have hogged the headlines.
The "Fast onto Death" campaign against Corruption and a stronger Jan Lokpal Bill by Team Anna in Delhi caught the eye balls of the masses but in the end turned out to be a damp squib. This turn of events happened exactly an year after the first phase of "India Against Corruption", initiated by Anna Hazare and his team, reached a crescendo and got the support of most Indians. Whereas the last time Team Anna was able to rally thousands who identified themselves with the movement, not only in Delhi but also in all parts of the country, this time neither that the supporters came in hordes nor was there any palpable energy amongst those who came. The end result, Team Anna went the way that will further alienated a large number of its supporters, the Political way. Instead of remaining a social movement as was envisaged, the India Against Corruption movement has announced its political aspirations in the 2014 Indian General Election. As for Team Anna, which once stood as a beacon of hope for innumerable Indians who were fed up with Corruption in everyday life, it was promptly disbanded by Anna Hazare after the unsuccessful Aug12 campaign. So, a movement which caught the imagination of the Indians, a sure winner if channelized properly became a cropper. The reason?
Saina Nehwal, the ace shuttler from India created history at the London Olympics when she defeated Wang Xin to win the bronze medal in Women's Badminton event. She became the first Indian to win a Badminton medal in the Olympics. Though Saina beat her opponents hardly breaking a sweat in the preliminary rounds, she was beaten in the semi finals by Wang Yihan, her higher ranked opponent. Now, if she had to realize her dream of securing an Olympics medal she had beat Wang Xin. In the bronze play off as well, Saina seemed to be all at loss against the all conquering Chinese. A sure loss seemed imminent. But she won (though her opponent retired). The reason?
There is an English adage "Strike when the Iron is Hot" and that is the reason for the failure and success of Team Anna and Saina Nehwal. Team Anna had all the winning cards with it. The sympathy of the masses, the righteousness of the path chosen, a leader of Anna Hazare's impeccable honesty and simplicity and a government which was on a "political suicide" mission. The masses shared the team's ideology and wanted the team to spur into action to delivered them from the mess that day to day life had on offer. The Team dithered and gave the forces opposing them ample time to re-group and devise a strategy that actually put the main points of the movement in to cold storage. So, the Hot Iron was put into a Cold Storage and the result is for everybody to see.
Saina on the other hand had good fortune on her side as well. Nearing the end of the first game, the Chinese hurt her leg but was back on court after some medication and even won the first game. Saina seizing on this god sent opportunity, started playing shots that put more pressure on Wang's injured leg. The result, Wang retired hurt and the medal was for Saina to take.
For all Blue Caramelers, the simple thing to learn from these two incidents is when you get an opportunity, you have to make it count. If you dont strike the Iron when it is Hot, you will repent the day, when the Iron which you could have molded in anyway you wanted, puts you in despair for its rigidity!
The "Fast onto Death" campaign against Corruption and a stronger Jan Lokpal Bill by Team Anna in Delhi caught the eye balls of the masses but in the end turned out to be a damp squib. This turn of events happened exactly an year after the first phase of "India Against Corruption", initiated by Anna Hazare and his team, reached a crescendo and got the support of most Indians. Whereas the last time Team Anna was able to rally thousands who identified themselves with the movement, not only in Delhi but also in all parts of the country, this time neither that the supporters came in hordes nor was there any palpable energy amongst those who came. The end result, Team Anna went the way that will further alienated a large number of its supporters, the Political way. Instead of remaining a social movement as was envisaged, the India Against Corruption movement has announced its political aspirations in the 2014 Indian General Election. As for Team Anna, which once stood as a beacon of hope for innumerable Indians who were fed up with Corruption in everyday life, it was promptly disbanded by Anna Hazare after the unsuccessful Aug12 campaign. So, a movement which caught the imagination of the Indians, a sure winner if channelized properly became a cropper. The reason?
Saina Nehwal, the ace shuttler from India created history at the London Olympics when she defeated Wang Xin to win the bronze medal in Women's Badminton event. She became the first Indian to win a Badminton medal in the Olympics. Though Saina beat her opponents hardly breaking a sweat in the preliminary rounds, she was beaten in the semi finals by Wang Yihan, her higher ranked opponent. Now, if she had to realize her dream of securing an Olympics medal she had beat Wang Xin. In the bronze play off as well, Saina seemed to be all at loss against the all conquering Chinese. A sure loss seemed imminent. But she won (though her opponent retired). The reason?
There is an English adage "Strike when the Iron is Hot" and that is the reason for the failure and success of Team Anna and Saina Nehwal. Team Anna had all the winning cards with it. The sympathy of the masses, the righteousness of the path chosen, a leader of Anna Hazare's impeccable honesty and simplicity and a government which was on a "political suicide" mission. The masses shared the team's ideology and wanted the team to spur into action to delivered them from the mess that day to day life had on offer. The Team dithered and gave the forces opposing them ample time to re-group and devise a strategy that actually put the main points of the movement in to cold storage. So, the Hot Iron was put into a Cold Storage and the result is for everybody to see.
Saina on the other hand had good fortune on her side as well. Nearing the end of the first game, the Chinese hurt her leg but was back on court after some medication and even won the first game. Saina seizing on this god sent opportunity, started playing shots that put more pressure on Wang's injured leg. The result, Wang retired hurt and the medal was for Saina to take.
For all Blue Caramelers, the simple thing to learn from these two incidents is when you get an opportunity, you have to make it count. If you dont strike the Iron when it is Hot, you will repent the day, when the Iron which you could have molded in anyway you wanted, puts you in despair for its rigidity!
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