Eight ain't a good number just for Chinese any more. For Michael Phelps in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, 8 attempts, 8 golds, 7 of them with a world record!!
The number of Olympics gold medals he won in 2008 is equal to the total number of golds won by India (a country with a billion people) in its entire Olympics history. Also, the total number of Olympics medals (gold + silver + bronze) won by him (16) is greater than the total number of medals won by India (15) up to this point. This is a good wake up call to us (Indians).
With uncorroborated glory in our rear view mirrors, we (typically) quickly jump with a laundry list of excuses for our abysmal performance in sports - if not for the British, if not for poverty, if not for population.... Folks, our destiny has always been in our hands. As Albert Payson Terhune said win without boasting and lose without excuse. The first step for growth is recognizing its need. The problem with the psyche of well-fed middle class Indians is, everything is fine and dandy all the time. We just can't solve a problem that we don't see.
We grossly misinterpret the key saying in Gita (do your best and leave the rest to Me - God) and assure ourselves that as we are "detached", and hence any outcome is AOK - బాధే సౌఖ్యమనే భావన రానీవోయ్ type of attitude:-)
We (including, yours truly) need quotes like win, or die trying, with a Lombardi riding on our backs 24/7! One might say, let's zip it and move it! Action certainly is better than words. But words are better than no words, no action. Historic events like French Revolution probably would not have started, if not for ranting and raving of bourgeois reaching a crescendo in street Cafés (or places like that). There is nothing wrong with poor performance. But it would be unwise to step into something, and suck in it big time (that too, pretty consistently!).
The solution to our problems? Obviously, not easy, and there is no quick fix. I think we should try to find a way to produce sufficient proteins for the unfortunate janata, to replace a portion of the massive amounts of carbs we consume (for the lack of affordable healthy alternatives). In spite of all the economic growth, only a few of us (may be 40%?, I guesstimate) can afford to consume dal or dudh on a daily basis. And those who can afford these, neglect to consume a healthy diet. The carb-overload shocks the system of pretty much half-a-billion people, making them less productive, to say the least. My solution may seem laughable. But a quick review of performance and dietary patterns in the world should validate my thoughts, at least in part.
4 comments:
Very interesting, Gopa. Thanks.
Since i can only speak for myself, i pledge to get into the zone as soon as possible and give it my best shot.
Not just in sports, but in whatever i do.
Raama, Excellent commitment! You are one of the few I know who have consistently been in the zone.
I am not talking just about performance, success, etc. I am talking about maintaining high ethical standards.
The lying (false advertisement) and cheating (fake resumes, bending rules) done by so many desi multi-nationals which are run by highly educated, god-fearing professionals is unbelievable. Unfortunately, we allow ourselves to stoop so low, under the guise of doing things temporarily for mere survival.
Soon after watching Phelps' 8 for 8, I started blogging with an intention of merely taking my hat off for him. But, I had plans for doing so many things (cleaning, ironing, repairs,...) yesterday and I did zilch :-( I decided to veg out and watch TV instead.
That, kind of translated into blaming a billion people for my shortcomings! However, I did mean what I said, and I am standing by it.
as soon as aishwarya rai and sushmita sen won miss universe title cosmotic products sale rose significantly.but later no body got the crown.some say those two titles were mere gimmick to ensure sale of cosmotic products.what u say.
now after bindra's show its time for rise in sale of rifles in agra and other parts.buying a rifle is not an easy one for middle class leave alone training and sponsoring.
the gold and the rest of the medals and totally unexpected ones.while the well publicised heroes failed totally.look at this incident of sania refusing to wear a sareein the opening cermony (reason may be religious)and another incident where sonia was offerd a vvvip gallery and down in the dumps mr.manmohan singh adjusted himself.
this kind of discussion about our performance will start every time in the middile of the olympics and dies down after the olympics.
-sai
Sai, thanks. Even though we fared poorly, I think the medal winners deserve commendation.
It is hard to excel with so many things working against the (lack of compitition, training, no freely-accessible resources, etc.)
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