Bajirao Mastani movie review

Bajirao Mastani (BaMa) is a successful attempt to illustrate a larger than life portrait using a free hand abstraction. Visual presentation on the scale of Raja Ravi Verma’s grandeur artsy style coupled with a Picasso’s free strokes abstraction. Marathi Bakhar and Powada were all presented in the magnanimous style of presentation. SLB has done ditto to this art, going by his strength and skill.

Kamal Amrohi wanted to make Bajirao Mastani, Manmohan Desai tried it. Muzaffar Ali almost enrolled Big B, Rekha and Smita Patil. SLB himself wanting to work on this script for 12 years. I am not disappointed with his attempt to recreate the lost glory and historic piece of the great Marathas. Just can’t imagine Bajirao done by Salman or SRK. Ranveer Singh looks solid within a limitation of a script.

Every frame is grand, every color is artfully picked, every lighting piece is uniquely positioned, and every dialogue stems off an orator’s literary pitch. BaMa is a magnifying, stunning and artful treat of color, lights and sound.

You better know, that to know a history, the right place is a book store or library and not a Bollywood movie theatre. Plug that mind-set and I guarantee that you will love this drama presentation.

India is familiar about Prithviraj Chauhan, Maha Rana Pratap, Shahenshah Akbar and Chhatrapati Shivaji but not Bajirao in that likes. He stands tallest in this order in maneuvering large scale army expeditions on a largest political platform. Making his job difficult, he was dealing with similar religious and caste zealots that still exists in our current times. 

Battle of Dabhai (April, 1731): One of biggest missing pieces of SLB’s BaMa was a Trimbakrao Dabhade, the commander in chief of the Maratha Army. Dabhade rebelled against Chhatrapati Shahu while forming a largest antagonist’s clout along with Nizam and Bhosale from Kolhapur. This event entrusted a launching pad and the first test for Peshwa’s hold on Maratha Army. Without winning this battle, Bajirao would have never been successful and neither his king Shahu. Thereafter Senapati (Commander in chief) became just a titular command while Peshwa held all pros of powers in the likes of today’s India’s parliamentary system where President holds just a title and PM executes all power.(ref: page 258 https://archive.org/stream/historyofmaratha02kincuoft/historyofmaratha02kincuoft_djvu.txt)

Personally, I enjoyed this movie and admiringly indebted to SLB for bringing Bajiaro out of lost pages of history books. This could be a new start to Indian cinema where portraying historic legendaries will be new found formula and the day won’t be far when someone like SLB creates a spirited cinema on none other than Bajirao’s inspiration and my most favorites of history – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I wish, I had a connection to the likes of Benioff and Weiss, Apted, Scott, Gibson, Howard and Spielberg. RGV?

You must see Bajirao! Entire starcast has done fantastic job. However, its Kashibai from Priyanka Chopra who will just linger with you for long time. In her rightful limited space, she has delivered a stunning performance. I will own Blueray for her Peshwin Bai.

The struggle of India.inc

India, the latest buzz in information technology business. The only offshore where all technical services hits the shore. The land of peace loving citizen, the land of 5000 years of history, the land of Buddha, Ashoka, the great Akbar, the land of spices and curry, the land of festivals, culture and where unity is seen in diversity and yes its intellectually represented on Miss World diaspora and recently the land of "Jai Ho", oscar winner. This is the land of Gandhis and Nehrus who gave India independence and spent their life in the welfare of India and promoted peace and non-violence. The secular and socialist republic houses today largest democracy in the world. India the home of "Slumdog of Millionaire" and land of Yogis and Rishis is one of the religiously diverse nations of the world. The land that gaves two of largest epics in the form of Ramayan and Mahabharat.

The above introductory para is a candy wrapped bullshit marketted on an international platform. If every Indian look into each others eyes and read above para loud and clear, see if thats what you want to know the world about your country. India.inc has been a big failure as a nation and the national community. Thanks to same Gandhis and Nehrus, it has been dragging at a dragging elephant's speed on its nation building program. The most popular three things that India has engrossed into are Bollywood films, Corruption and God fearing sainthood. On the hierarchical cone of needs, the nation still struggle to fulfill the basic 3D picture - food, water and power to its general citizens. Its resources are underutilized, the lack of employment, health and the education are still its main courses sold by its Babus and Gurus. Thanks to computer science and disparity in rupee-dollar exchange rate, India.inc is now English speaking factory warehouse of computer programmers. This is not the wolf cry.

This land emphasis on lot of preaching, teaching, rich culture & traditions, books of morality and equality but the same land struggles to keep its citizens well served, well fed and well protected. This is a big mass of confusion and has lost direction for last 100 years. All seeds were bowen by its true secular so called leaders who tried to be saint without having an abundance. These leaders taught to pray than working hard, they taught to pratice sainthood than fighting for their survival, these leader fooled the whole nation because aristocracy can be sold under the sweetener democracy. The whole agenda of who "WE" are was thrown into stupid moral principles and sainthood. The whole world applauded for their sainthood but none acknowledged its core principle because of its lost sense.

From the times of Afghani, Tughlaq and Timurid rules, this country and its native Hindu rules allowed the violent spread of Islam. Had there not been British rule this country would have housed the largest Muslim population in the world instead of Indonesia. The country witnessed mistake after mistakes undertaken by its fragile rulers. First came Arab traders and then came Portuguese, Dutch, French and the last but conquering the powerful English. Had all the rulers fought under the flag of Hindu religion, no foreign traders would have been able to establish its rule in India. Anyway, you cant change the course of history but here came the momentous time in 1857 and then 1930 that was pushed with "selfish Congress agenda" to 1947 that could have whitewashed all the sins and mistakes. We could have re-launched, re-vitalized, re-structured the fractured backbone of this countrymen. But instead, we created the biggest hypocrisy of all times. Instead of building a strong nation with its powerful standing army, long-term industrialization program, tapping its natural and human resources - we just created the nation and pushed it into the genesis of corruption and stupid secularity chantings.

India.inc after gaining freedom from British got itself into the trap of Netas and Babus. Mr. Mohandas. Mr. Jawaharlal and Mr. Muhammad - the MJM-triangle thrown this nation into the crisis for their own political mileage. Even thought the nation got independence, these three musketeers lost a big battle up for coming years and centuries. Mr. J - the center-piece, self-motivated statesman, guided by his scholarly mission of creating another ruling dynasty. He none the less was blinded by his zeal for an national and international recognition. Mr. M1 - a big lawyer who came to India when he was not needed and applied all non-sense outdated principles when his countrymen were exploited by then English oppressive power. He tried to be great saint and statesman but alas at wrong times. He was an indeed the social worker like Vinobha Bhave but alas he practiced his non-sense in Indian politics and inter fared politically whenever it was not necessary. He blackmailed entire masses especially week, poor, exploited masses of Hindus for his own personified outdated principles. He proved himself as non-violent and co-operative machine-in-man for British.Inc. The third edge of this triangle was wide angled M2 who masterminded and capitalized the other two weak sides of this selfish triangle. He orchestrated the design that generation to come will curse on its course of action. The weird fact of this triangular offense was that Mohandas cemented the foundation for the likes of Nehru and Jinha. However, when the ceremonial toast was hoisted at Red fort and Islamabad, it was Mohandas who found himself alone battering on his own corrupted principles. He was fooled by other two sides. He proved unwanted in post-independence era and so his outdated principles.

All the battles, sacrifices, all deeds of those who faced gallows and prison were whitewashed by this triangular mission. The entire trajectory of the ship named India.inc was above to change by these three selfishly motivated musketeers. There will be times when the history will be re-written and then these three prophetic men of god will get what they deserve to be. What Muhammand created mess with the help of Jawaharlal & Mohandas is an irreversible loss to the generations of India.inc. The nation lost great opportunity to bounce from what it has lost for nearly 800 years. We had ample resources and man-power to build a nation named India or Bharat. Instead, the legacy of Jawaharlal continued chanting the names and sacrifices of Mohandas thus started the new ear of modus the operandi called the corrupted India.inc. His dying to the bullets of Godse was carry forward as a marketing piece to the likes of Christianity in Jesus times. Gandhi died for his country and its men. Instead Gandhi was killed by his own countrymen. The later does makes lot of sense.

As a nation, the largest fractured democracy is not permanent member of United Nations Council. The much hated communist secular nations like Russia and China has the seat but not the great peaceful, non-violent country. Thanks to Information technology, we now has some presence. Our secular ideas and protested talks about what goes in Mid-East warfare falls on deaf ears of Superpowers. Clinton dancing on Rajasthani folk lore splashes big news. As a nation, we have been begging for others to solve our own created problem. We still cannot direct our import and exports thanks to China ruling market. Our democratic elections are held by aristocratic means where the party leader has always been from the Nehru dynasty. We still believe in charisma and its royal house but not the talent. Its literacy program are fractured at its grass root. Spoken English has become a vedic mantra thanks to service industry. Our merits are not by what we act on but what we speak. We have all becomes Rajputs who lost their valour and courage but for royalty of the house of Mughals. Where is the true India and why its not entering into the main stream of what goes in the whole global village? Our competition is not Pakistan or Sri-Lanka or Nepal.. we are the power-house that has capacity to take on likes of United States and China in upcoming years. We are now part of BRIC and so does now come another opportunity to rise from the ashes. Lets not waste it this time.

Suns - Spurs (Blood and Thorn) Series - Prediction

The great rivalry in basketball continues with 2010 playoff series between Suns and Spurs. Here I am with its predictions. Thanks to ESPN website that allows you to put your comments before the game starts in conversation section. Most of the predictions came close..some very close.

1st Game: 3rd May, 2010 (click on image for larger view)

2nd Game: 5th May, 2010 (click on image for larger view)

3rd Game: 7th May, 2010 (click on image for larger view)

4th Game: 9th May, 2010 (click on image for larger view)

Gandhian Farce called Non-violence

Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth", Albert Einstein stated on the occasion of Gandhi's 70th birthday (1939). There is no cruel intention of defaming two famous human beings in the history of mankind. It is to shade some light over factual things looked from a different angle. Probably, it was Einstein who lauded Gandhi for non-violence and his apparent success against bringing the downfall of British Empire in India. We all forget that same Einstein who was a renowned scientist those times ran for his life leaving for United States. Didn't Einstein or someone of that era thought of employing non-violence against Nazis? So if non-violence was a kiss of death to be practiced against Hitler why it was "successfully" employed against British foreign power in India. Does that mean British were civilized oppressive power than Germans? Concentration camps were first used by the British in the IInd Boer War in Africa around 1900. At least 30,000 people, mostly children, died in these camps from sickness or hunger. Shortly after 1857 rebellion was crushed, the British sent thousands to the gallows, hung them up from trees, or tied them to cannons and blew them up. Those who survived were exiled for life to the Andamans to sever their connections with their families and their country. Did Congress regime allowed fellow Indians to know about concentration camp called Kala Pani at Andaman cellular jail? When the revolutionary group at India house, London paid tribute over silver jubilee of 1857 war of independence there was one person who had nothing to do with this group. Mr. Nehru was probably been occupied in hosting toasts while joining the British who were celebrating triumph over 1857 revolutionaries.

I strongly believe non-violence was a Gandhian political agenda sided by British that worked for his benefit, for his sole political mileage and misused for the cause of independence. Gandhi asked people to not to fight while taking self-inflicted violence on them with any line of defense. He tried becoming another Jesus Christ to die for people without a punch. Only difference Jesus acted by setting an example. On contrary, British soldiers never touched Gandhi as if there was some special understanding behind the protested scene. What response Gandhi had for General Dyer massacring more than thousands innocent Sikhs in Jalianwalla Bagh? Contradictory, why did Gandhi condemned some extremists Indian attacking British? Why did Gandhi ignored and failed to bring teachings of Chanakya in his principles? Why didn't he practice what Krishn played role while siding the good-side Pandav against bad side Kaurav at any cost? Krishn didn't preach morality or ideals but worked relentlessly in bringing defeat to bad Kauravs. When Duryodhan cursed Krishn for cheating and maneuvering victory against Kaurav's every front leader; be it Dron, Krupa, Karn. Krishn simply replied back saying " He was fighting for good side and not demostrating any morality". On moral ground, Kaurav's military strength would have roled over every Pandav. Infact "Abhimanyu" was a victim of an immoral act.

Why did Gandhi simply failed to understand Hindu's base preaching. Numerous Hindu Gods are decoated with every kind of weapons in hand. May it be Durga Kaali, Dashaavtaar Vishnu, Angry Shiva, the list goes endless. What does Hindu mythology demostrate through these weapons in Gods' own hands? Is it the violence or self-defiance? Gandhi succeeded in playing sentiments with raw illeterate masses whose hope for independence was blunt and damp due to severe mass exploitation of lower class and brain-white-washing of upper class. If he considered "the messiah" of mankind, why he didn’t asked or taught British the "ahimsa". Back in history, when a Hindu ruler embraced Buddha's "non-violence", the other neighbour states took disadvantage and dethrone the ruler and soon Budhism became extinct from India. Ashoka's self realization of "ahimsa" was based on his own violent actions. Non-violence is a preventive step before causing any hurtful action and cannot be considered the basis for reaction when someone is inflicting repeatative hurt and pain upon you. If Gandhi was "Mahatma", why did he fail in teaching non-violence to British officers? Why did he choose innocent, illiterate Indians? And those who were literates like Nehru, Sardar and others were nothing but band of political soldiers only becoming active after independence for the pound of flesh. Where was Gandhi principle hiding underneath violent sheet of World-War I when he paraded himself in villages asking Indians to join British army? Didn't he know that he was sending these men to die in battlefield for his own political mileage, for building his relations with British? Where was same Gandhi when Bose was recruiting men for building INA? We all say because Gandhi had his differences with Bose. Does that mean Gandhi was close to British than Bose's agenda of "Total freedom"? No nation can be built on the hypocrisy of truth and non-violence. Nations are built on the sheer military strength, mass industrialization and national will-power.

Gandhi wanted freedom but only by his own way, without comprising his mediocre philosophy. He was blinded and guided by his own principles. Had his primary vision was for "Purna Swaraj" he would have sided anyone fighting for independence?After all what is non-violence according to Gandhi? Some texts say the elements of Gandhi’s non-violence philosophy were rooted in the Indian religions of Jainism and Buddhism. Both of these religions advocate ahimsa (non-violence), which is “absence of the desire to kill or harm”. The Acaranga Sutra, a Jainist text, describes the fundamental need for non-violence: To all, life is dear” . Ahimsa (non-violence) is a way of living and thinking which respects this deeply. These two religions came in existence when Indian land was politically stable and prosperous. On the other hand Buddhism primarily got extinct within few centuries due to its fractured practical sense. History repeats. If we believe Gandhi taught non-violence then why his principle was trashed aftermath partition times. There was a huge slaughter on both sides with no accurate records kept so estimates vary wildly from a low of 200,000 to a high of 1,000,000. Gandhi being a Hindu didn’t employ "Bhagwat Gita" in his actions rather he tried creating his own version of false Gita. How could someone think about some outdated principles against an oppressive power that inflicted war after war before finally making a colony out of your motherland? Why on the planet, India is the only country that didn’t win freedom on the face of battlefront? Was it Gandhi who freed India or the British government rusted with World War II had lost control on International politics and supremacy?

Practicing Non-violence against an oppressive power brings nothing but the violence. If the country is ruled by its own democratic, people-elected government then employing non-violence makes all the best sense. British attacked, beaten, tortured protestors who were on streets by the orders of "Mahatma" got nothing but violence. In fact when Gandhi fasted on the name of disagreement, he inflicted violence on his body. Didn’t he caused a big violence on himself and his inner being while bringing composure to his face? Why did Gandhi mislead Indians when the most developed nations were busy in Industrialization and militarization? What examples he put forth that we Indian see them fruitful and practical even after 50 years? We are still developing country competing for our lost International existence. Why did he put "charkha" as an obsolete symbol for development? Why did he bring confused masses to pray than take the arms in the war of independence? How many times he publically lauded the efforts from 1857 freedom fighters? On purpose he did not. Because by his theory they inflicted violence on British.It was all his Congress who misled the country and still doing so. With Lokmanya Tilak' s death, Gandhi came to political platform. I shall credit Gandhi for fighting for freedom but reverse he politically plotted for the Independence. When someone noted like V.D Savarkar who was equally highly ranked intellectual, was put into prison and then exiled out of politics with the helping hand from British. Why Gandhi didn’t side Savarkar? Why Gandhi didn’t side Subhashchandra Bose? Because he was all violently blinded by his practice called the stupid non-violence. If he was a barrister and studied law school, why he didn’t fight against British's oppressive policies against those 1857 revolts' soldiers and many others who has extremist ideas. Instead of siding to his fellow Indians who had the same objective of gaining Independence why did he compromised with British. Is it because these extermist, "freedom figheters" didn’t align to his crazy, nonsense principles? On the contrary he tried to become Mahatma at wrong times. In any case, I do not wish to discredit Gandhi for what he has done for India. In Gandhi I do see the successful political player but failed nation builder. I think Gandhi should have been born after independence that his principles could have been very effective against India's corrupt Congress Government. We Indians on a majority still don’t know who killed Subhashchandra Bose. We still don’t have answer why Gandhi didn’t fight for Savarkar's jail terms. In this times a stateman like Gandhi could inspire people to fight for the better governance but alas its very unfortunate for him to be born when someone like Tilak, Savarkar, Bose could have lead the country in the most valiant way. Munnabhai MBBS movie exhibits the same notion how Gandhian principles can be effective but in today's times but not when we were colonized and brutally forced into slavery on our own lands.

What Einstein stated in the first line still holds true. Because any literate self confidence patriot will not believe that someone with such a upright principles but applied them at wrong time has walked on this earth with a farce story of independence. The cost for his "non-violence" was rampant on violent scale. 1 million had already perished in 1857, hundreds of thousands hanged tortured prisoner, 1 million died in partition plus two wars with Pakistan. It was far from the likes of Garibaldi, Napolean, Washington, Shivaji etc. It’s not long time until one day someone will tell a different story about Gandhi' reality and his hidden political agenda and thy shall shock the nation and bring shame to the Congree ruling party.

Phoenix wins without Nash

I almost was to give up on Phoenix this year also. But watching couple games Suns playing I picked up games on television. As of now, I wish to go back to those glory days where Phoenix use to fight for wining night after night.

Finally, I saw the same zeal of lost years. On Feb 23rd, after winning last 2 games the coach decided to rest Nash when visting Thunderous Thunder. Thunder riding on 9 winning streak was almost looking to stay afloat on 21 yreas old Kevin Durant's 25+ points for last 20+ games. Without Nash its was very obvious for Thunder to get 10 win's stretch after long time. However, no one realized how stiff rest of the roaster on Suns can be on given night. They have had good reason to prove without Nash and specially veterans likes in Hill, , Richardson and first time starter Dragic. Guess what, the veterans with their new point guard did well in hanging with Thunder until Kevin and his company took over the game with ten points lean with less than 4 minutes. No one really expected Suns smelling the win instead Oklama City's arena was counting on minutes to finish off the game.

Coach Gentry called the timeout at stop clock halted at 3.40 minutes. The game was re-drawn with different strategy. The control was given to the veteran who had more to prove as his game and popularity was sliding down with gravity. Richardson took the to its new heights Suns will cherish for long time. Richardson connected on a floater from the foul line with 0.7 seconds Phoenix snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder's nine-game winning streak with a 104-102 victory on Tuesday night. Refer the chart for what happened in those last 3 minutes.

The most important thing is I came very close in predicting Sun's win by 5 points against all odds. I felt gratified, happy and blessed. Thats how Sports can be so much joy to watch and follow. Go Suns!

You must watch IT - DID Season II

I have never seen such a fair quality of dance on television. Indian Television programs quality had always been inferior to movies. I never took Indian televised programs any serious as most of them alway lacked grand phenomenon presentation, they lacked public taste, excitement, pounding prouduction sets. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa was showcase to this frame but then after some time, it got montonous. That's always the case of single solo performances. When I watched Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan singing under Rehman's music direction, it was very good to watch them. However, when I saw Amitabh Bachchan dancing on the same platform, it was grand, astonishing fever spread all over the arena. It was marvellous feeling of being part of something , breatheless performances.

So, here comes the television program that will hit your right straight to your taste. Lets not make a drama between traditional dance and westerns. We can put them in same bucket or weight them on same scale. Watch Dance India Dance season 2 and you wil grow young and young. It has great performers, judges in popular Indian choreographers Terrance Lewis, Remo D’Souza and Geeta Kapoor. Grand master Mithun Da' sits on the grand chair. The Gujarati chocolate boy Jay Bhanushali and the sexy, beautiful popular radio jockey Tarana Raja are the hosts. Beautiful girls, charming handsome boys comprises the hard working contestants. Its eyepoping, nerve cracking, heart pounding, head shaking, blood rushing performances.

Watch Dharmesh Sir (Nagoba) and your stress will be dancing out of your door from this Govindaish dancer. Watch him dancing with beautiful Binny on Marathi song "Bhilan Chi Naagin". Watch all those style coming alive on the stage. Its just fun to watch these dances. I never thought something would really be admirable to compare against ABC's Dancing with Stars. I would say good and bad, but the presentation matches its aura and aroma. Disco, Hip-hop, Bollywood, Ballet, Broadway..are all the styles. Dont go on Season I. This is something different in its style. Finally, quality productions are knocking the doors. This will be a serial killer for those foolish drama dragging waste of times. Let me not make it hoop and hoopla. Do yourself a big favour. Watch DANCE INDIA DANCE. Something really pleasure to watch. US guys if you dont have Zee channel, get and watch IT.

Who says eXp-rience should count?

Many times in our lives, we value for success. But does that success always gets us the reward. Some successes proves to be punches and some are dragged towards its end. I guess the most pounding success is that event where you are given a chance without looking at your experience or background and you prove yourself worthy. How many bench players plays to their best of ability when given a chance? How about a coach has a game against the best opponent team and his best player gets injured. Having nood good choice, coach has puts one of his bench warmers, a rookie on the floor. In return this rookie who mostly warming the chair, gives his coach the astonishing victory. That's what I call "the punch". Its not seen very often but stands talls in everyone's stack of successes.

Yesterday, what happened at Salt lake City, Utah. With the half of NBA season over, Cleveland Cavs proving their first rated calibre team playing against sloppy sliding Utah Jazz. Game is in 4th quarter and Jazz calls for 20-second timeout. Cavs leading 96-94 and five seconds left for game close. Its almost over for Jazz as their star players are burning the benches. Power forward Boozer is fouled out and point-guard Deron Williams sprained his right wrist. The rookie Sundiata Gaines enteres the game for Deron Williams. He had least minutes played amongst all his team-mates. Players comes on the court, pass is made. Ball goes to Ronny Prince (Jazz) and he tries to penetrate but end up in circling around himself but locates Gaines positioned behind the perimeter arc. Gaines collects the ball and now has the role of playing for his life. Every eyes inside the arena is lasered on him with 2 seconds left on shot clock. He leaps a jump, raising high above the opponent Anthony Parker's hands near his face and makes 26-footer 3-point shot just before clock hits eternal 0:00 count. He was racing against the shot clock, racing against his coach's expectation, racing against his life. He must not have realized that second he made a shot of his life time. The entire stadium errupted in joyous victory while he was fallen down in completing the shot. What a performance !!! Jazz winning by 1 point. Who is this punch gunner Sundiata Gaines?

• It was the first career 3-pointer for Gaines
• Rookie was just signed last week to a 10-day contract.
• He was playing only his fifth NBA game.

Not always experience counts or our age or maturity counts. What counts is the punch-line performance that Sundiata Gaines delivered at Energy Solutions Arena, home for Utah Jazz.

Leading ways

When I watch the game of 48 minute basketball, I get to know many more aspect of the game and its character. This guy is a playmaker and makes everyone around him worthy of playing. All the player has to do is to get into best position and leave upto this guy to find him. The tempo, rythem, energy, momentum, all thats required is orchestrated by him. No offensive fouls, no grudges, no chest pounding gestures. His aggression is reflected in his game. His reading of game and floor, breathtaking passes, circleling down past the rim, soft touching floaters. When in trouble just count on him, he will deliver, he will create miraculous shots, he will not let the team down.

Many times, I have seen him executing with same zeal even if game is almost out of his reach. Most of the teams cool off when behind by 10 point in last few minutes. Its no surprise that all teams do not relax against him until the game is over. He has proven record to chase you down until his last drop of sweat. Many analysts will agree that he is the coach on floor. His coach takes the job when players hit the bench and he takes his coaching facts when player hits the floor. Many team players have excelled in his free spirited, co-operative empowerd company. His acute concentration and understanding of the game has made him powerful player into the midst of rough plays. Count on his foul-less game clean moves. No body falling on body, no brushes, no side tricks. All you see is sheer atheletism, pure sporting skill and his ability to lead from front. Two time season MVP and still he is playing like MVP at the age of 37. Having grown up playing soccer, he employs all his acrobatic skill, eyeing the playmaking passes in basketball court. Once asked, how does he get those things on the floor and he humbly credits his soccer skills. The commenter smiles back with saying "He is lying". His fitness in the game, his appetite for rising to the occasion despite suffering from a medical condition called spondylolisthesis which causes muscle tightness and back pain. Due to his condition, when he is not in the game, rather than sitting on the bench, he lies on his back to keep his muscles from stiffening.

On offcourt, he is involved in charity and humanitarian work. In 2006, Time named him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Everytime he walks on the floor, the commentors refers him to be future hall of fame and basketball coach. He is the face of Phoenix, he is the playmaker of Phoenix, he is one the finest point guards on the floor. only the second point guard to win the MVP award multiple times and the third guard in NBA history to earn back-to-back. He was rated as the best passer of the ball and the player possessing the best basketball IQ. Part of the reason that he's so good and so effective is that the guys like playing with him. He creates an atmosphere where they win games.
Steve Nash is an outstanding person while leading his play. Every time I watch him playing basketball, I am immensely inspired by his leading the ways.

Leave GOD alone in heaven

One of the spirtual preacher deciphered the abbreviated form of God. G...O....D god. G one who generates, O one who operates and D one who destroys. The fundamentals of these three devine powers lies in the bedrocks of Hindu culture. Brahma is the name of power that generates life, Vishnu is another name of power who operates or maintains the life and third name is Shiv who destroys the life. The philosophy is laid on the three primary phases of life. As humans gained knowledge and so power the philosophy of God transcandented into different paths, shapes and forms. Man with his superlative, genius power created God who slowly turned on a curve only to replace his creator. God defied Man and thus man lost the battle until today. Even though man has shown intellitect and composure has never been successful to unsettle the seat of God. Its not the man who defied God, its God who defied man, his father.
Dan Brown quotes "The only difference between you and God is that you have forgotten you are divine". Slowly man started loosing trust in himself knowing very little about his powers, his brain and his achievements. Even though man went ahead in making progress, inventions, discoveriess. The concept of God saw this as threat and thus started mingling into the walk of mankind. Man made many things automated , machanized and programmed. But alas, he couldnt replace the God who just sits in our mind without proving his existence, without doing anything. God is just playing by our minds and in hopelessness the human brain watches his defeat day after every day.
Those who failed, those who lost faith in themselves started using bedtime stories, books, epics and poems written by intellectuals. They started worshipping the feet of God, making him stronger and stronger and thus God created a company of all no-doers and failures. On the contrary few offshoots of MAN battled in open, creating kingdoms, wealth and prosperity. Even these great men couldn't succeed in dethrowning the GOD. Atlast man gave up and thus started the legacy of the GOD, making him supremo of us all, the remote controller, few called. The intellectuals will never buy this theory because the divine power that sits utop within our skull is the brain, the actual God. It is no irony that "tilak" or "bindi" is marked on the forehead of Hindu as true symbolism of acknowledging the divinity of human brain. It is sad to see the masses buried under the pile of holy scriptures, epics and poems spending time and resource in chanting the texts. In the modern time, its shameful to see man started looking for peace, happiness in hollow temples, churches and madrasas. Masses felt in love with prayers and bringing feel-good peace to their modernized lifestyles. Man lost the memory and appetite for his divine powers, his supreme legacy of creating God.

It is sad to see human masses galvanized by some miracles and some sensational event. We look for God in the midst of miracles at the same time we forget the miraculous activities performed by a living machine called brain. Time and again MAN proved his superiority over the philosophy of God. Science is the evolution of our creativity and divinity. The society of science made a big sprint creating multi-million miracles and sensational event. In the modern digital era, man creates miracle almost every one and other day. Men of science who scripted religious books within scientific model were ambushed by those who had nothing to do or nothing to contribute. The text books became chanting material instead of study material. Thus formed the legeacy of lazyboys who wanted fame and name by telling stories of miracles and fictions. They amassed wealth and fortune in the name of philosphy of God giving it shape, color and form. The seeds of running away from active life were bowed deep into the heartlands of masses. Poeple find harmony in not doing peaceful life than doing violent life. Hundreds and hundreds of years passed and this legacy of God was taught from one generation to another slowling shifting the tide from science to story-telling scriptures. Thus the land of fortune lost its appetite for knowledge and created society of preachers, followers, and pessimists. No new invention came in, no new science was developed all in the name of bed time stories of God and his kindness. We celebrate festivals on these epics and its characters but not our intellectuals. We create feast and dance around in the name of fiction same time forgetting our true achievements.

We forgot the power of our brain, using to our advantage by forcing our hearts being faithful to the philosophy of God that we ourselves created. This single philosophy has now turned itself into a gigantic tree of multiple branches. Each branch has its own followers cursing and fighting those siting on other branch. We created Ganesh, Hanuman, Ram, Krishn, Shiva, etc forgetting the true essese of living life, learning in life and findings in life. Its like who remembers writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Dikto for creating "Spiderman". On the similar lines, we forgot the powerful narration of Ved Vyas and Valmiki but celebrated the characters of Ram and Krishna. How many of us treat Mr. Vyas and Valmiki above Ram or Krishna? Let me appeal to your curious minds and reminds you few Indian names that you will sound it for first time.

• A Mathematician named Pingala (c. 100BC) developed a system of binary enumeration convertible to decimal numerals [See 3]. He described the system in his book called Chandahshaastra.


• Panini (c 400BC), in his Astadhyayi, gave formal production rules and definitions to describe Sanskrit grammar. Starting with about 1700 fundamental elements, like nouns, verbs, vowels and consonents, he put them into classes


• The development of the notion of zero began when three mathematicians Brahmagupta, Mahavira and Bhaskara tried to answer these in their treatise. In the 7th century Brahmagupta attempted to provide rules for addition and subtraction involving zero.

The list is endless. Now if I dare to ask, how many Gods do we know. The list of these fiction charaters is endless. We live in the minds of Spidermen, Supermen etc. It is shameful that we lost major portion of work by Arybhatta while preserving and chanting Tulsidas's Hanuman chalisa. Under the pile of epic characters, we lost our interest in reading the books on Charak Samhita. We lost what Valmiki had depicted strong social message by creating quintessential character in Ram, protective brother in Lakshman, honest character in Bharat, faithful wife in Sita, a learned powerful but oppresive Ravan, devotee in Hanuman etc. We lost the essense of Valmiki's writing but went on brandasizing his characters like Disney's characters. Similarly, Ved Vyas is treated by failing to acknowledge his great piece of writing Bhagwat Geeta but pasting his characters all over the walls of house and temple. Ved Vyas is man like us and his characters are piece of God. Think, who should be treated in high norm; Man or God? I treat Bhagwat Geeta as dialogue between devine Brain (Krishn) and dutyful Body (Arjun). Hindu temples are always ornamented and lavishly designated "kalash" as if Brain is being acknowledged as a supreme devine. In fact I visualize "Aum" as a tangled symbolism of forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.

Past five hundred year, we have been fighting on the name of this concept that very much we created. The wars and violence has the deep rooted cause in the name of stupidity named God and still in the churches and temples we pray for bringing peace giving single shot of one of the funniest videos of mankind.

Then, why did Man created God. When man finds hopeless, he created a medicine of thoughts to stay composed and calm so that his next decisions are made in wise manner. This is like when you hurt your leg, use the stick. The sad thing is that this same "stick" became regular tool of daily lives. This stick which helps great when man is handicapped made him handicap all through his life. He lost his rythem of walking alone, his courage and fortitude of believing in his decisions. Man became crippled by his own invention, by bringing God as regular tool instead of significant event based tool. I dont believe its wrong idea to believe is some supernatural power but alas it should not have got name, fame, shape and sound. We all should have believed it in one-ness under one umbrella under one spiritual class. We wouldnt have lost many live on the name of God, we wouldnt have died on the name of God. We would have lived more peaceful and meaning without having God in our lives.

Life could have been simple, sound and straight without the concept of God. Probably, every pocket of human species would have invented electricity, phones, aircrafts, medicines, computers, new languages, literature, cultures and much more to our progress, for our betterment. We would have spent resources at our developments than guttering them into the no-doers forums. We would have felt peace and happiness by working and acknowleding our achievements. Our happiness and sadness would have been revolved around our success and achievements. Probably we must have already been talking with our neighbors in our galaxy. We would been far ahead in our race. We made a big mistake by bringing this concept of God to facilitate our race but alas it boomranged on us. Its too late now to remove God from our lives. Each one of us will die chanting his name and praying his fame in the sad defeat of MAN and his kind.

3Idiots

We all have seen group of gutsy guys in National Film Award winner “DCH” with lovely hearts lead by “A” character in 2001. Again same “A” character led another band of five PDIs (Passion driven individuals) in India’ official entry for Academic Awards “RDB” struck with MiG-21 in 2006. And its repeat that third time another group of 3 Idiots (Individual Drowned in Oppressive Tutelage) lead by same “A” character is a sweet coincidence. All three cinematic stings had in “A” charismatic character and brilliant actor in common. It’s also undisputed fact that all three productions on the floor bear AAA rating. Isn’t that all three “A”s in combine? These movies are joyous, entertaining and though provocative in edutainment for all cinema goers. For those in US, this movie also tinkers different thoughts. You will find so many "Chatur"s travelling in and out of India.

Screenplay is loosed based on Chetan Bhagat’s Five point someone and is must to watch. Its lively frames and dialogue all have sensible humor and proves laugh buster. Bits and pieces of social preaching wrapped in rich and healthy diet of comedy, 3Idiots is well made movie. I wonder how Handsomely Rich Khan would look as college lad. But the guy is still good looking and girls including wives will have their eyes rolling on and on. Boys, husbands keep watching the movie c’ze you might miss be the plot.

I won’t paint the movie’s canvas to be flawless. It has some flaws but shadowed by its classy momentum and pace. Scene of delivering the baby, Rancho’s having every wining moments and probably there should have been roller coaster ride between him and ViruS. The movie is painted black and white, good and bad, stupid and talented, etc. With every win of Roncho’s sterling white moment, Chatur’s face gets black-washed. Anyway, nothing to take away credit from quality production and different treatment. Here comes Indian Cinema on the verge of change and lets welcome and rejoice the change. The movie is fantastic treat to cinematic world giving noteworthy social message may be it in movie style. Campuses across academic institutions will tarnish “come on! it’s just a movie”. However, everyone will agree to its true essence and the movie certainly triggers the different thought. Haven’t we seen some social impact “TJP” illuminated on the urban education ground? Another “A”s brilliance. 3Idiots gives thumping social message using the most strongest and effective media out from Bollywood studio that itself doesn’t host and nest such honest experiments. Time again viewers have voiced and choiced quality screenplays nevertheless Bollywood studios consistently creating rusty, filmsy, distasteful melodramas or overdramas. Here we watch the screenplay in complete harmony with its cheerful characters, authentic story line and nerve catching cinematic scenes. It opens a think tank for your-self and others. 3Idiots makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you to think while giving you smooth joyful scenic roller coaster ride. It’s not a text book that satisfies all your cravings but it certainly tastes new style of cinema. Its script throws many magical, eye-popping, busting, hilarious frames and moments.

Hold on. I am not finished. Three I’ys (I call it) came close to my heart and its script kicked me with its “All Izz Well” into my past “Idiot” days.. I have no intent to exaggerate and overrate my experiences. I find no cruel interest to draw any parallel lines to Roncho who is portrayed genius. I was no genius for sure. 3Idiots with its three powerful batteries flash-backed into my lost days when I struggled and suffocated with the system into the midst of rusty Bookism. 3Idiots opened my closed book and placed me into the class where I stood in silence when my Physics Professor halted my lecture on “Lasers” and embarrassed me in front of my M.Sc. classmates. He was technically correct in banishing my teaching style that was “outside the book” (OTB) elements but loosely based on simplicity. He failed to see that it was one of my honest efforts to present “how to teach” things.

Going back into flash, I stood in class XIIth students if they have seen JJWS; another “A” brilliant movie. Students were all curious what makes a teacher to speak about a movie in such a great taste. Few moments after they understood I was making them to understand a non existing centrifugal force. I witnessed same flash of curiously in their eyes when I asked them how many can fly kite up in the sky. The class discussed about each other’s kite flying experience until I uplifted their sporting spirit to be able to understand actual “lift” in accordance with Bernoulli’s principle. I tried liberating physics from the jargons of texted notes on Bookism and made the concepts simpler to understand while explaining and drawing analogies from science’s daily life application. End result: The tuition proprietor slapped me with relocation notice saying my teaching style doesn’t suits to his student who pays for notes and in return of high graded marks.

One more flash into back. Another bookmark where my college buddies frosted me for attending “Applied Electronics” lectures where attendee to the class was just me with rest all bunking the “boring” lecture. Days I made fun of my “academically attentive abused” “AAA” rated classmates juggling through last minute-notes before exam while I felt wicked pride in reading Times of India up in the morning. Thanks to my friend Salil who always brought my M.Sc result marks sheet. Not that I wanted to see my score but to see if there is any dropped subject that will put me back on the paddle of wheel for writing the paper again. One day, I feared that my radical approach towards education system will cause me harm and make me fail to even get past my M.Sc. program. It would create a social shame screenplay. My classmates will giggle in their victory parade nailing me to the cross of big failure as if to show-cause the evil consequences of defying the preaching of Bookism. I would become a subject of flagstone of failure and escapism. This screenplay scared a big crap out of me and provided big impetus for preparing and passing exams with 65%. My face smiled not at my score but on the inept education system that I manipulated successfully. Finally, I was out of this rat race. While another part of me was disappointed for failing to show-cause my “actual” education.

Few reals back and I was struggling in front of examiner board to convince about my six month M.Sc. project at IUCAA, Pune where I studied organics of Stellar Spectra and computing world. My project lacked functional elements such as circuit boards, sensors or any operational tools. I had none or less evidences to produce about my joy of learning science at one of prestigious research institutes of India. My examiners were not in mood to listen to my filmy scripted ecstatic run in torrid rain to phone call Mr. Gupta telling him in rejoice about “I found it”. You will find them in cinema halls and not in institutes for lauding for such fairy tales. Mr. Gupta was a fellow research faculty at IUCCAA and mentor to my academic project. The project was to analyze Fortran programming code changes to compares stellar spectra with its reference library. My project book didn’t tell about what I built or created. Narrating my four months of weekly visits to IUCAA was like adding childish glittery to my fairy tale. No institute official wanted to calibrate my aptitude, hunger, strive for studying numerous books on Stellar Spectroscopy, Astrophysics, Statistics, Unix, Fortran, computer and spectral simulation software. All these subjects were foreign elements to my M.Sc program. I worked with undying passion to decipher 20,000 lines of Fortran code and solving mystery that challenged me every day. I couldn’t express in words to my examiners of that evening when I found the change in Fortran program was just “one liner”. I couldn’t document and present those days, hours, every Sundays I spent at IUCAA library deciphering the code jinx, teaching myself varied subject of Spectroscopy with never done before UNIX, Fortran like computing world and finally breaking the “CODE”. I witnessed multi-fountain joy that erupted from every fiber of my human spirit; No scoring or exam system even to the extent of granting me 200 out of 200 grades will be able to match up my spirit, my self-perpetuating chase for success to educate myself to hunt one line of code. My project was indeed “One line change”. The line that changed my course of educational life.

Do yourself a favor in 2010. Watch 3Idiots!

Battle of Pratapgarh - A Management Case Study

Many historians and writers have tried capturing the correct history on Battle of Pratapgarh and few succeeded in sequencing the event of meeting between Afzal Khan and Shivaji Bhosale at the footsteps of Pratapgarh. History or the story forms one of the most inspiring and daring tales on Shivaji and his times. It is still performed as popular ballard (povada) all across rural and urban parts of Maharashtra and constant subject of inspiration, films, plays and school text books. Without inviting any debate on its correctiveness and completeness I wish to draw few positives and learning lessons from this sensational event. I seek no desire to be accurate in portraying Shivaji as hero and neither I intend to beat the drum for his greatness.

* History : Here is brief details for those who have little knowledge about this event. Shivaji’s movement for creating home-rule independent state ‘Swarajya’ had became the most critical issue at Adilshah’s Bijapur court. Shivaji had captured few strategically importants hills and forts and also recently looted Kalyan town. Afzal Khan led sizable army into the Western Ghats region to crush Shivaji. his men and their dreams. He stationed his troops at Wai in modern district of Satara. From May to November 1659 Afzal engaged his army in attacking open plains to find Shivaji and also enticing him for coming open in battle but Shivaji retreated to Pratapgarh with large part of his garrison. Khan employed best of his men but with over-confidence and constantly worked on capturing Shivaji but saw no success. On the other hand, Shivaji was limited by the size of his army and resources. He didn’t budge to any of Khan’s tactics or pressure and stayed most of the time behind fortified walls of Pratapgarh. Seeing his operation extended, Afzal Khan broke the muzzle and opened negotiations talks and agreed to meet Shivaji at the footsteps of Pratapgarh. Khan desired to get Shivaji close at meeting and either capture or kill him by false play. On the contrary, this was a place in dense forest strategically favorable for Shivaji and his men. =

The meeting was setup under a truce that two would meet under an enclosure virtually alone. Consuls from both sides discussed and negotiated on certain terms. Afzal had track record of breaching the truce and committing false play and so was Shivaji had planned. The actual battle never took place until final hours of Nov 10th, 1659 between noon to evening. As the two men entered the tent, the 7′ tall Khan embraced Shivaji, tightly holding Shivaji’s neck under his arms, he struck him with a dagger in the back. The dagger was deflected by Shivaji’s armour and Shivaji responded by inthrusting his dagger and using tigger-claws opening and tearing Khan’s bowels. Afzhal Khan who was strong and sturdy but injured by this time, struck his sword on Shivaji’s head almost killing him. Khan rushed outside shouting for help, and thereupon his bodyguard Sayyad Banda moved inside the tent but before he could strike on Shivaji, Jiva Mahal Shivaji’s personal bodyguard who had positioned himself in the tent before Sayyed, cut his hand with a Dandpatta (Patta- a medieval weapon) and before the surprised Sayyed could know whoms who, Jiva’ second blow was fatal to Banda. Afzal Khan managed to hold his gushing entrails and hurtled, faint and bleeding, outside the tent and threw himself into his palanquin. The bearers hastily lifted their charge and began moving rapidly away down the slope. Sambhaji Kavji Kondhalkar, Shivaji’s lieutenant gave chase and beheaded Afzal Khan. Thus, Shivaji nullified first serious threat to his ambition of creating autonomous state from the pockets of Bijapur kingdom. Some historians, scholars claims for a conspiracy on Shivaji’s part but it was a shear military and diplomatic tactics employment for nearly six months that shifted the final result in Shivaji’s favor. Its a mix of bright leadership and dare-devil diplomacy that you will find it thirlling, interesting and thought stimulating.
Afzal Khan’s CV at the time of battle :
Afzhal Khan was the most prominent general at Adhilshahi court. He was famous for his astoshing physical strength and shrewed military commander. Presumely he was 50+ aged, he was riding high on peak of his career at Bijapur court. He was known for warfare skills as well for negotiation tactics; have had won many battles on the face of Karnataka and Maharashtra. A faithful follower of Islam, he also had good relations with many Maratha local landlords sardars. From Shivaji’s link he had killed his elder brother Sambhaji Bhosale and paraded Shahaji Bhosale (Shivaji’s father) once in the streets of Bijapur. Now this same man was supplied 10-15,000 cavalry, 10,000 infrantry, 1500 musketeers, 100 elephants and 1000+ camels. His artillery was supported by 100 long range heavy cannons. He was given full command with a single goal of delivering Shivaji dead or alive to Bijapur court. All important Maratha Sardars serving at Bijapur were asked to join the force making it one of the most dreaded army to walk . Big plus, Afzal Khan was already Subehdar of Wai (near Satara) and well known to local area and infrastructure. From these facts, his resume looks strong and Adilshah wouldnt have asked anyone than Afzal Khan to suppress the rebellion of Shivaji and his men.

Shivaji Bhosale’s CV at the time of battle:
By 1659, Shivaji was 31 years old have had captured or repaired few forts and had established his authority around Pune region with a capital built at Rajgarh (30 miles from Pune). His dream of establishing ‘Swarajya’ was at very infant state. Recently, he had attacked and looted Kalyan (near Mumbai), one of few rich habitat towns of Bijapur kingdom. He was son of Shahaji Bhosale who was high ranked noble at Bijapur court. His province was initially limited to small pockets of plains around Pune that he inherited from his father. However, he and his men started expanding at the cost of Bijapur province. Shivaji was a rebel against political oppression, religious intolerance, social injustice, and cultural supression, rampant under the Muslim monarcies of Deccan. He hadn’t fought any major battle on open ground, mostly he captured or plundered wealth on guerilla warfare while winning the help and trust from Maratha men. His CV shows no experience on large battle and mostly depended on handful of dedicated band of an individuals ready to live and die for his dream. Shivaji was the face of their strength and fortitude and to have seem him charge in the battle, was the favorite boast of his troops. His military strength was around 7000 cavalry and 3000 infantry and Battle of Pratapgarh was Shivaji and mens’ first major life threatening battle.

Projected Presumtion:
Shivaji was no match for Afzal Khan’s CV. Odds for Shivaji were almost nothing. So how did Shivaji manage to inflict defeat on strongest commander of Bijapuri forces? The article doesn’t focus on rebuilding historic pieces of this event but to draw corporate management and leadership lessons from the available sources.

1. Mission Possible The moment news from Bijapur reached Rajgarh, Shivaji and his men were caught offguard and alarmed by this tense situation of facing full force of Adilshahi army. Shivaji commenced a meeting with his commanders at Rajgarh to discuss and address the issue. Everyone realised the threat was a deadly and there was no secret to understand that facing Afzhal was suicidal and catostrophic. Afzal Khan left Bijapur with a promise to put end of Maratha rebellion. Against few suggestions, Shivaji decided not to throw himself or his army in the open battle. Shivaji was also aware of the fact that before Khans strikes invasion, his army will face torrid monsoons and that would guarnatee Shivaji substantial time for the preparation. Shivaji decided to wait and watch as events progresses and possibly gain time to accumulate resources by delaying the face to face battle.

Wisdom: (Project Integration Management)

• Shivaji opened a mission critical (project charter) to deal directly with the threat of Afzal Khan.
• The events opens up to the fact that he was clear in defining preliminary scope statement to battle by guarilla modus operandi going by his strength.
• Facing powerful Bijapur army on open plains was his no choice and hence out of scope subject.
• Shivaji appears to understand the boundary conditions, constraints and limitations against Khan’s super-powered army.

2. Prepare and Plan Shivaji issued order to fortify and strengthen Rajgarh and nearby important forts with soldiers, food and arms supply. He organized most of his contigent close to Rajgarh. Intelligence units operated right at the time Adishahi forces left plains of Bijapur. Some of his spys even got enslisted into Bijapur force as Khan recruited army on his march to Deccan trying to defect Marathas from Shivaji. Afzal succeeded winning few Sardars on his side either on the edge of his sword or promises. Shivaji appointed veteran Sambhaji Jedhe to negotiate the support from few maratha chiefs (jahagirdars) and stopping them from aligning to Afzal’s camp. The last thing Shivaji expected was to face Afzal Khan on open battle. He issued orders across the jahgir not to take any confrontation with Khan and even join his army if that saves them from persecution and destruction. Having spent time on plains of Wai, Afzal Khan knew how difficult it was to move and control big army on the rugged terrains of Sahyadri. However, he was simply in hurry to complete the mission critical. On the way Afzal attacked Hindu temples like Tuljapur and Pandharpur plundering and ransacking sanctity of Hindu’s divine gods. After Pandharpur, Khan changed his route and moved turned towards Satara. This move surprised and alerted Shivaji and recognizing Afzal’s vast experience as Subehdar of Wai, Shivaji devised a plan to destroy the Khan and his forces. He selected strategic location that he recently built in Koyna valley surrounded by ‘Javali’ deep valley dense jungle. One of his team mostly senior brigade was set-up to counsel Rajgarh administration and he took young brigade with him to Pratapgarh. On the daily basis his informants kept feeding him intelligence on every move on Bijapur’s camp. Same time, Shivaji sent greetings with lavish gifts to Aurangzeb who was pre-occupied in securing Mughal crown at Delhi. While he was busy at Pratapgarh in devising the plan, a personal tragedy stuck his as he lost his beloved wife due to her pro-longed illness.

Wisdom: (Scope management)

• While Afzal Khan was busy planning on dreamy simple objective, Shivaji meticulosly invested his time and resources in analyzing Afzal’s moves. He had collective intelligence unit working round the clock in and around of Afzal’s army capturing details on every possible move. These details proved significant source of information for his actitvity definition and planning and proved upper hand to Khan’s traditional model of military tactics.
• Shivaji’s initial actions and reactions indicates clear-cut scope planning and definition. He came up with a strategy of using dense forest, Pratapgarh’s location and rugged terrain against any direct attack from Adilshahi forces.
• His planning was 180 degree opposite to Khan’s traditional one. His plan was based on live details supplied by his secret services. By no means Afzal Khan was a bonehead but a experienced commander. However, his tactics and preparations shows overconfidence, lack of analysis and relying on old fashion archieved data. Many times applying environmental factors and past processes on completely new constrasting service or product proves fatal to the project and its timelines.
• Whereas, Shivaji was busy in planning scope and creating rough layout of the plan. Khan never realized or understood on what Shivaji and his men were working on.
• His quick realization of negative stakeholder in Aurangzeb is a bright example of understanding the boundaries and vision of the scope.
• Khan’s old stratgy of enticing Shivaji into open battle field by attacking and humiliating Hindu deities at Pandharpur and Tuljapur didn’t work.

3. Fort PratapgarhAs monsoons faded within few months Adilshahi army stationed at Wai and Afzal Khan’s army attacked plains around Pune, Saswad, Shirwal and some parts of Konkan. His execution was based on simple plan to engage Shivaji on open ground but his armies met no fight or any opposition and didn’t find Shivaji. Khan got puzzled with this outcome and as time progressed his frustration turned into desperation. Also, he realized it was no good allowing Shivaji more time to prepare for the battle and push the outcome. Meantime, while Khan was moving towards Wai, Shivaji decided to shift to Pratapgarh. It was Sept 5th 1659, Shivaji met a personal tragedy of losing his beloved wife who was ill for sometime at Rajgarh. He was deeply sad for losing a wife and mother of his very young son. However, as next events unfolds, his move to Pratapgarh proved the most vital and counter-attacking but Khan failed to analyze by calling it defensive on the contrary it was the most daring and attacking move from Shivaji. Also, few months before when Khan was on his way to Wai, Shivaji had to heavily bribe one of the Adilshahi commanders to rescue his brother-in-law Bajaji Nimbarkar who was captured at Phaltan and Afzal Khan ordered for his execution. Shivaji was causing no trouble, no battle and no action against any of Khan’s plans. Shivaji’s band had villagers from Javali region as his spies, labours etc. He acquired new arms supply that he raided recently from Kalyan and worked on fortyfying Pratapgarh’s walls and enriching his infantry strength.

Wisdom: (Develop Project Management Plan)

• Shivaji’s preperation is nothing short of good project planning. As against to Khan’s plan, Shivaji’s plan was based on progressive expansion of the project charter and his preliminary scope statement. His appetite for capturing details shows his ability and capacity in executing an exemplary leadership role.
• Employing right resources, tools and in-house assets at right time proves most productivem efficient in the course of project implementation. Opting for Pratapgarh was a building stone in defending against Afzal Khan and also using it as defensive wall against Khan’s large army.
• Pratapgarh was very close to monitor the events in Khan’s camp at Wai. The fort was built by Shivaji just 3 years before the battle. His men who engineered and constructed the fortification were in close nit in Shivaji’s force. Having their skills proved valuable as expert’s opinion to define and control activity sequence and estimation.
• Pratapgarh had its strength on its double line of fortification that wasn’t easy for anyone to attack. Fort construction was on a flat-topped high round rock at the head of densely forested Koyna basin (modern Satara district). Due to hostile topography, Bhorpya (old name) hill and its surrounding valley was little know in Afzhal’s camp. Using small army against the fort was suicidal as against large army with heavey artillery was difficult to maneur and control from the dense forest and rugged terrain.
• Shivaji’s shifting to Pratapgarh agitated Afzal Khan but before he realize the shift of a balance of power in Shivaji’s favor, it was too late. Shivaji’s knowledge of the terrain, his reliance of realistic data elements proved decisive strategy in the later times of battle. On the contrary, Afzal Khan rushing and racing for the results proved tragical in the end for himself and his sultanate army. His assumptions were shalow, his project plan was lousy and dreamy and there was hardly any decomposition of his scope statement. He just lived and died with a simple project plan of capturing Shivaji dead or alive.
• Shivaji had clear-cut cost control management plan. Initially he spent on capturing details and acquiring arms supply. As time came, he rushed for bribing and thus saving his brother-in-law. He saved not just his close reletive but prevented having to witness his close relative’s executive and most slashing his men’s spport and moral.

4. Bloody white flag of amnestyWith no actions, no results from Pratapgarh, Afzal Khan and his lethargic army got frustrated. Finally, Afzal Khan broke the silence and sent his consul Krishnaji Bhaskar, a hindu brahmin by caste. He desperately wanted Shivaji to meet him climbing down the fort and also have his consul climb the fort and able to vaguely inspect, comment on the fortification of Pratapgarh. His shift to this alternative plan paid a big buck. Shivaji hesitantly but finally agreed on meeting him. Hungry for results, Khan and his commanders celebrated for the outcome. Soon Khan’s counsul Krishnaji Bhaskar was admitted inside the Pratapgarh and his underlying inspective plan didnt fail to notice strong and deep fortification as if Shivaji prepared for the major battle. Every portion of the fort was heavily armed with men and artillery. Shivaji greeted him with all royal treatment and respect and lavishingly showered pricely gifts and articles on this Adilshahi counsul. Khan’s letter was mix of truce invitation and also sort of threatening. However, Shivaji brought it to Khan’s consul’s attention about his father Shahaji Bhosale and his position at Bijapur while opting for truce. On one hand, Krishnaji Bhaskar was concerned on Shivaji’s fortification but other hand he was impressed by Shivaji’s hospitality and personality.
On his reply, Shivaji sent his consul in Pantaji Gopinath, the intelligent and cunning skilled negotiator. Pa’nt Gopinath was assigned one and only one task of negotiating Khan on his demands and alluring Khan leaving Wai for Pratapgarh. Shivaji realized Khan’s race to results and acted quickly in setting his plan in action. All leaders assembled and brainstormed at Pratapgarh while Pa’nt Gopinath negotiated Khan and his consul. Beside Shivaji meeting in person, Pa’nt Gopinath offered huge offer to Khan for Shivaji’s life, his safety and saving him from Adilshah’s anger. Pa’nt brought Khan’s attention to Shivaji’s concern on his treatment at Bijapur court once Shivaji joins Khan’s forces. Khan already got details from his consul on Shivaji’s luxirous bounty. Khan saw this opportunity of profiting himself in addition to Adilshah’s reward on Shivaji’s head. In his letter, Shivaji acted small, humble, obedient and begged for mercy amplifying Afzal’s confidence and carelessness. Over his stay for few days, Pant Gopinath didn’t leave any stone unturned and succeeded convincing Khan and his group that Shivaji indeed in need of truce. Khan smiled and acted to forgive Shivaji’s mistakes and finally offhandenly agreed on meeting Shivaji outside Wai. He moved one step further towards his guillotine by agreeing to meet at the foothill of Pratapgarh. It was discussed that Shivaji would setup a open place in agreement to the truce and soon the date of meeting will be finalized. Khan’s resume was already red-marked specially on his meeting and its outcomes. Kasturi Ranag from Shire was killed in meeting, Khan Muhammad one of Adilshahi Sardar met the same fate and Shivaji couldn’t forget his elder brother Sambhaji Bhosale was killed by Khan in the recent past. Pa’nt Gopinath delivered big diplomatic punch of the times.

Wisdom (Change Control Management plan)

• Afzal Khan and his army were blinded by dreamy project plan. Under his traditional lousy plan, he entirely missed critical risk fracture-lines. Lack of understanding on Pratapgarh’s landscape made his risk management plan nothing but mere hollow checklisted document.
• When Khan saw his initial plan to bring Shivaji on open field failed, he quickly turned and invited Shivaji for the truce shows his reckless desperation for completion. Saving the face of failure, he had no attitude or altitude to analyse alternative plan’s impact or scope. Rather he painted and tainted his project plan with fatal strokes.
• On the contrary, Shivaji’s expanded and accomodative new gathered inputs. He had nothing to rush for its completion as he worked on pushing the schedule ahead saving cost and winning time. Fortifying Pratapgarh and its surrounding area proves his vision for big blacket cover for multiple strategies.
  Khan’s quick alternative plan had no control management plan on scope-creeping neither there was any decomposition of his work. Again, he traditionally devised a shallow and hollow statement for bringing Shivaji for meeting.
• In this short period of negotiation with Pa’nt Gopinath, Khan and his plan saw many new change request in the form of greed, money, respect, etc. Initially he tried getting Shivaji to Wai but when he saw something working to his advantage, he quickly scrambled in agreement to meet near Pratapgarh. There was no change control process put in place to investigate new change impact to the project. His greed of seeing working results in actions blinded his eyes to notice sharp blade of his guillotine.
• Khan failed to realize that leaving Wai for Javali’s thick jungle would limit his human and artillery resources. He cannot carry whole army bandwagon to footsteps of Pratapgarh. Afterall, it proved for him the same army size redundant and dispensable as Shivaji was coming un-hurt in open arms. No impact analysis, ignoring and avoiding all thats necessary to accommodate surprising change requests to the plan.
• On the other hand, same change request was a strategy on Shivaji project plan. In fact, some part of his project plan was setp in wait of this decisive moment. When Khan accepted the truce, Shivaji orcenstrated the daring sequence of activities in the most controlled operated model. All his forces were informed about this check-mate movement and soon the work-breakdown structure started the chain of tasks and responsibilities.

5. Neck of the Woods( incomplete… to be continued)