RAHUL DRAVID: THE GOLIATH OF INDIAN CRICKET

The thought of Rahul Dravid brings to our minds a lucid picture of a highly composed cricketer defending a rising delivery with assurance. The impact and contribution of this batting great, who served the Indian cricket for 16 long years and retired from International cricket in 2012, is astounding, especially when India played on pitches outside the sub continental. Rahul, as a cricketer, was a workaholic and always tested his skills to the limits when playing for country and is acknowledged to be a humble and intelligent person, off the game.

Dravid has scored over 23,000 international runs and stands next only to Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time Test batting chart. The greatest days of his career, that is remembered by one and all is the come-from-behind 376-run partnership he had forged in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in March 2001, with another batting great Laxman, to turn a losing game into a winning one against the all-conquering Australian team led by Steve Waugh. He was one of the stalwarts of Indian cricket whose contributions were responsible for India to become a number ONE test nation, alas for a brief period. He is a role model to many young cricketers like Rahane and Pujara, to name a few.

Like any other cricketer, he had his highs and lows but stood tall in all adversities. Unfortunately, he never had the luxury of choosing tours, ala Sachin and could not command unwavering support of Indian fans and Indian cricketing officials alike when it mattered for him, at certain crucial phases in his long International career. Interestingly, his timing of retirement from International cricket was as precise and crisp as it was with his cuts and drives on the cricket field.

Rahul has left a strong legacy for all budding as well as young international cricketers to emulate his technique, hard work, passion and love for the game and take the Indian cricket to greater heights. Indian cricket has the opportunity to simultaneously honor itself as well as the batting great by utilizing his cricketing intelligence and experience to unearth and nurture talented youngsters as well as in the game’s administration for chalking out pro-active measurable goals for Indian cricket and implementing them.

As an admirer of his cricketing skills and persona, I wish him numerous successes and accolades in his future roles and ventures.

NAGARA SANKEERTHANA IN SECUNDERABAD ON APRIL 1, 2012

Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Hyderabad chapter, organised Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra , under the stewardship and guidance of His Holiness Sri Datta Vijayananda Tirtha Swamiji with the blessings of His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji, in the city of Hyderabad on Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Around Six thousand Datta devotees and citizens of twin cities took part in the Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra which commenced (5.30 AM) and concluded (8.30 AM) at Sri Agrasena Bhavan, Near Paradise circle, Baalamrai, Secunderabad. The devotees and participants of Nagara Sankeerthana traversed a distance of circa 7.5km along some of the streets in secunderabad rendering the Bhajans composed and sung by His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji.

The programme was organised to uphold and upkeep the ancient Sanathana Dharma traditions established by Sage Narada, Lord Hanuman, Prahalad, Dhruva, Annamayya and Tyagaraja who had walked around streets in the ancient times, in the early hours of the day, singing compositions in the praise of impersonal Godhead behind and beyond the manifest universe.

Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra culminated with a Homam as well as Sri Seetha Ramachandra Archana followed by an insightful discourse by His Holiness Sri Datta Vijayananda Tirtha Swamiji. Sri Swamiji had stressed the importance and benefits of upholding Dharma in the present times and ways and means to enhance peace and harmony in the world, as prescribed in the Vedas. Sri Swamiji also stressed the importance of helping the poor and needy, contributing to the restoration of dilapated temples including distressed school buildings and importance of looking after one’s parents with utmost love and affection. Sri Swamiji has declared that next Nagara Sankeerthana will be organised in Mysore on June 4, 2012, as a culmination to His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji’s 70^th birthday celebrations.

Free prasadams and Panakam (Special drink prepared for Sri Rama Navami) were distributed to all the devotees and participants. The kolatam (a local folk dance) performed by devotees from Krishna and Godavari districts, all along the yatra and after Sri Swamiji's speech was appreciated by Sri Swamiji as well as the fellow devotees.

Nevertheless, Nagara Sankeerthana presented an indelible as well as a memorable experience and gave immense spiritual happiness to all the participants.