We were happily talking over a cup of coffee, in the evening, just over three days ago, little realising that our happiness of the moment was just short lived by an interruption in the guise of a tele call.

She was a tele caller from a reputed National Bank who called me up over my mobile, around eventide. Introducing herself as Sheela from S..., she said, "Sir, we are calling from S..., and congrats sir, you have been conferred the privilege of Gold ... Customer, and as such you are entitled to an insurance for five years. You need to pay only for the first year. There are a lot of benefits accruing to you cos of this insurance, and you need to pay only for the first year. The rest of the years you need not pay.. bla bla bla... "

Finally she concluded her first phase of talk by saying,

"Sir, shall we freeze Rs.4300/- from your credit limit for the insurance?"

I said, "No madam, look i've to consult my parents, since i dont take decisions on my own, as i am not married yet"

She said, "Oh sir, your parents will definitely not stand in the way of a nice policy, and that which comes with a lovely offer."

To which i said, "But still madam, i'l just talk to them, and then give my consent."

By this time it was a solid 20 minutes by my watch, and prof.Dany & co were passively watching this tele caller trying to catch hold of a 'gullible' customer.

Then, she said, "Ok sir, pls wait, while i pass on the call to my Customer service representative."

Now, the customer service person sounded very polite in his talk, as he began with a word of praise, saying,

"Sir, i've been hearing your conversation all along, and i really appreciate your regard and respect for parents. Even i too have got five policies, but i've consulted my dad all the time, before taking each and every policy."

"Thank you" i said, happily, relieved that here at last there was a person who understood my words.

But then it was that he started his rhetorical tactics cum verbal antics to persuade me gently by saying,

"Sir, but do you think your parents will stand in the way of something good happening to you?" Do you think they will prevent you if you are getting some prize money.. Tell me sir.."

I said, "nope, but still i feel that i need to consult my parents."

He did not leave me at my words there.. He said, "Sir, just answer me.."

Now, Dany sir, seeing my plight, got the mobile from me and cut the call... and said, "rufus, we'l see if he calls back again."

No wonder, this time it was Sheela who called up and said,

"Sorry sir, i think he confused you a lot... but you see it's quite simple..."

Now, i disconnected the call.

The tele caller called back again, but in vain.

I felt i was relieved.

But my relief was only short lived. Cos, the next day, around twelve noon, Sheela was there with her kitty of verbal antics, to clown me again. This time, i picked up the call and said, "Sorry i'm not interested."

But she said, "Sir, we'll just send you the brochures home, and you'l have a full twenty one days time to peruse it and cancel it any time you wish to."

I cut the call..!

Later, pondering over the whole EPISODE, (rightly so, cos it continued to the next day,) I felt that I had 'wasted' almost forty minutes of my precious time on 'nothing.'

This leads me to pose a question to the Bankers of Repute, "SHOULD YOU PEOPLE OF GREAT REPUTE, STOOP TO THIS DEMEANING LEVEL, TO CONQUER?", thus COMPROMISING YOUR OWN MANNERS IN WINNING OVER A CUSTOMER?."

The next day, even as i went to the same bank to transact some business, i saw Gandhiji's quote where he calls the client to respect the customer. I thought that it would do more good if the Bank officials hung another lovli quote by the FATHER OF THE NATION,

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use...!"

Ever since India's fiasco at the hustings this World Cup, many heads have rolled, and much water has flown under the bridge.

But the question remains... Do our sportsmen really merit all the attention they get? or is it that the media is blowing the whole thing out of proportion by magnifying the whole hype and hoopla...

i thought of giving it a 'thought' - mulled over it.. and hence am keying out here...

Not because my Grandfather was an army officer, but because common sense demands it... and we've ample reason to vindicate it...

Soldiers of a country are expected to stand ready to defend their country's territorial integrity.

They consider it an honor and their revered duty to preserve, protect and defend their beloved country.

One of the manuals that I came across recently, prescribed the duties of a soldier thus:

"Every soldier has certain duties, responsibilities, and most have some level of authority. You should know what these are and how they apply to you. One of your obligations as a soldier is to carry out your duties to standard and the best of your ability. Bear your responsibilities knowing that you are part of a great team that only works well when each of its members do their best. If you are in a leadership position, exert authority to build the team and develop your soldiers. Your fellow soldiers are depending on you each and every day to make tough decisions based on your rank and duty position."

Being a cadet in the National Cadet Corps for three long years, i've had the privilege of being trained under the mighty seniors and military personnel. The first thing we were taught were, i still remember, Obedience to Orders. Strict obedience to orders. Second was, Discipline.

A person who serves the country as a soldier, has to undergo a lot of routine work outs, and strenous exercises, rigid discipline frameworks, etc for one avowed purpose: PRIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

In war or peace, the Soldier doesnt get his recognition at all. How many armed personnel get killed everyday in escalating tensions across the country. Still, how many have been recognised? Just a handful.

What about the thousands of perishing soldiers who die for the sake of the country....

Just because Tendulkar blasts a century against Kenya or Ireland, he adorns the front pages of all newspapers, and the media give him that extra coverage, asking him how he was able to perform this 'wonder', and he attributes it to the 'guys'.

What is the sacrifice that these sportspersons make for the country that they deserve this unneeded hype?

On the other hand, soldiers sacrificing their lovli lives at the feet of their nation, rendering families homeless,  not caring for any fame or name, but just the 'spirit' and the 'pride' for the country.... what recognition have they merited... except a small column which discreetly mentions,

FOUR SOLDIERS KILLED IN AMBUSH - atleast four soldiers were killed and fifty others injured in an ambush, twelve kilometers north of Kashmir. The condition of ten of them is stated to be out of danger. AGENCIES

Is this the tribute that a soldier who has sacrificed his life for his beloved country gets?... Is this the recognition they deserve for forgetting their families, their beloved friends and well wishers, their home town etc etc., and stand out in the battle field?

The sportsman who retires from "ONE DAY CRICKET'" gets the prominence that only a few can expect to get. He gets another reem of articles devoted to him singing his praises, his triumphs, his 10 wicket hauls etc... Later, after three or four years, the same guy retires from "TEST CRICKET" and another reem of articles flood the media. He is praised as a disciplined, sincere, hard worker, etc etc...

Forget the countless sponsors, the paraphernalia, the govt houses, govt land and other accolades that take many sizes and shapes, the sportsman has got himself a pride of place that rightfully the SOLDIER deserves...

I Humbly but strongly FEEL THAT THE SPORTSMAN, ( in INDIA, the cricketer) has usurped the name and fame of the SOLDIER...!

With the LAST WORKING DAY of the current Academic Year drawing to a close here at MCC, I look back, and ask myself, have I done my job to my utmost satisfaction? (forget the Head!)

Have I addressed all the anxieties of the student, dispelled his doubts, clarified his confusions etc etc etc. A lot of things I had in mind for my classes were unfulfilled.. for example, the formation of a Book Club, the Performance of a Play in Class by the Students, Special Lecture series by distinguished alumni and reputed Scholars, etc, remained only a fragmented reality.

I am to blame for the lacunae... Call it my lackadaisicality or lethargy... whatever... But I have one consolation, and that i find in the poetic diction of James Russell Lowell,

Life is a leaf of paper white

Whereon each one of us may write

His word or two, and then comes night.

'Lo, time and space enough,' we cry,

'To write an epic! ' so we try

Our nibs upon the edge, and die.

Muse not which way the pen to hold,

Luck hates the slow and loves the bold,

Soon come the darkness and the cold.

Greatly begin! though thou have time

But for a line, be that sublime,

Not failure, but low aim, is crime.

These lines do indeed invigorate me, and so I wish, in the words of Milton,

"To scorn delights, and live laborious days;"

for the sheer love of my profession.