Wednesday, July 30, 2008

I MiSs MaThs!!!

1 plus 1 is equal to 2.

1 minus 1 is equal to 0.

1 into 1 is equal to 1.

1 divided by 1 is equal to 1.


This is probably how it all started ….

And went on…..


2 plus 1 = ???

2 in the mind...plus 1 in the hand….is equal to 3.

2 ones are 2..

2 twos are 4..

2 threes are 6..

…………………

………………….

………………………and from there began my fascination…my fascination for my favourite subject…My Fascination For Maths!!


Yes… That was when we added and subtracted single digit numbers with the one of them in the mind and the other in the hand and when we recited tables in the class [in a particular tune which I can’t forget for a lifetime…in fact no 1 can]

…..when we used checkered note books writing a single number in different squares and those plain short “horizontally used” note books….

That’s when I fell in love…madly in love with this amazing subject…..


The way each and every concept came through was really magical because I loved each one of them…

From simple addition to Calculus…all of them have always intrigued me inturn bringing in the urge to know them properly..


Throughout my schooling and inter college…Maths was somehow the only subject which made me work hard, probably because it was the only subject I like….. the only subject I thought was worth working hard on…



Be it doing simple additions…subtractions…multiplications or divisions…

Calculating L.C.M and H.C.F…

Pondering over prime and composite numbers…

Or the number line…

Breaking the fractions down or rounding off decimals…

All of them were truly fascinating and unlike many I enjoyed doing them….



WE moved ahead and many more concepts came in which took my love for the subject to new heights….

Square roots and cube roots…Exponents and Radicals…Simple Interest and Compound Interest…Heights and Differences…

At that point of time, when I thought I probably couldn’t have loved the subject any more than I already was, in came Geometry and Trigonometry....which went on to prove me wrong……Maths seemed better than I always thought it was…



From Angles and Point of Concurrence to some really fascinating Sin and Cos functions….and to the most interesting Progressions….

They interested me more than anything else in the world then…


Inter college brought in more wonderful topics and I loved them as well….

In came topics like Probability…Permutations and Combinations…and most importantly CALCULUS…..



Some of my friends thought I really was insane and some thought I was bluffing when I said I love Calculus….

Of course I loved it …..every single bit of it….Limits….Differentiation….Integration….


Maths goes down as probably the best subject I’ve learnt and worked out since U.K.G…

It probably is the only subject which brings out the hidden geek in me….


Call is heredity or whatever...I’ve enjoyed each and every maths class I’ve attended…every sum I’ve solved..every sum I’ve solved FIRST….and every sum only I’ve solved[Not many …but yeah…they do exist]


Missing too many things at the same time hasn’t really been easy…and Maths being included in it is even more painful…yeah I miss the only Subject I have ever loved ….and I probably will forever!!!

***** P.S- I’m sure I did not mention all the topics I had ….but I love all of them…yeah..ALL OF THEM….and yeah…My mom will love this post ..hehehe!******

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

We Rule....!!!!!

After being a part of it since class 5,I should have written about this long long ago…

Anyway I’ve taken it up now….

Yeah….I’ve been a backbencher...since class 5…A blacklisted backbencher at times[hehe]…


Sitting behind in those magical last two rows we’ve done it all….

Yeah…we are the ones who sleep in class without getting noticed…we are the ones who play kiddo games ….Hollywood Bollywood….Pen Dash…Book cricket…Name Place Animal Thing…You name it and we’ve played it…..we are the ones who manage to send sms from behind there and yet we are the ones who come up with the maximum number of doubts…Multitasking has been our forte forever now…

We have been so attached to those last two rows that there is no force in this big wide world that can get us to the front….

We will go on to occupy those last two rows even if the class is EMPTY….

Most importantly …the last two rows has those students who never in their respective lives have ever been a Nerd….we have always been the “lastminutestudy” gang…and we really are proud of ourselves for it….

We are the ones who check the time more than five times in an hour waiting for the bell to ring….[hehehehe]…

We are the ones who plan to bunk each and every day…we do end up doing it occasionally …actually more than that[hehe]….its one of our prime qualities…

We are the ones who have upto date information on the movies releasing every Friday and about the theatres they run in…


We sometimes tend to be a nuisance in class but we know where to draw the line….Yeah we really do…

The lecturers to whom we’ve been a menace might agree as well….

A class without Backbenchers might end up being monotonous and even boring to an extent….

Yeah….what’s a class without interruptions…without the ‘outofthetextbook’ doubts…without those petty little games…without constant giggles…giggles turning into intentional laughter….What’s a Class without uS….

Am really sorry Frontbenchers but I really can’t help it…We are just too good…and we are the ones who know to enjoy school/college life….

So…cheers to all the backbenchers throughout the world……we form the most important part of any classroom…..

We really RULE!!

The Gilly Wall!!

The Gilly Wall on my wall!!!



Friday, July 18, 2008

ThErEz OnLy 1 FeDeReR!!!


Yeah...There really is only 1 Federer in this world....simply because of the fact that there can be no one as good as him...and when I say good , the word ain't restricted to his winning spree/records...
I haven't really followed Tennis as much as I have followed cricket [I'm an Indian Afterall]...or probably even Soccer....but then the game is really amazing to watch...so eventually I started watching and in the process loving the game...

So....the following is how I look at the game....at the genius of the Game...RoGeR FeDeReR...
I haven't really known much about him or any other tennis player....but the way he played...the way he reacted to different situations ...the way he porved his genius was surely awe inspiring and I'm sure it will go on to be like this till he plays and beyong that as well...

And since then I have been a RoGeR FeDeReR fan....and have watched many of his matches like billions of us watch a cricket match....cheering....hoping...praying...celebrating....

Coming to Fedex....I was talking to a friend of mine who knows a lot about tennis and plays it himself....I was telling him how his ability to not show any extreme emotions in crunch situation really inspires....that is when he told me a little about Federer....something I din't know...

There was a time in Federer's life when he was arrogant and unsportive[it came as a shock to me...can't even imagine him like that] till 1999....
Then he lost his coach in an accident which affected him very badly....he went on to lose a lot of matches and couldn't focus at all....he then played the game like it was his business...just come out ....hit a few balls and go back....no emotions of any sort...he played without even enjoying the game....

Then came 2001 Wimbeldon...Federer was to face Pete Sampras in the round of 16....Sampras was at his prime form then and was looking to seal his 100th wimbledon victory by defeating Federer.....but things had to change....and for me, they changed for the better...

Sampras had never lost a game going into 5 sets....but that changed as well....
A young Roger Federer defeated Pete Sampras 7-6 5-7 6-4 6-7 7-5
This reignited Federer....he longed for the right attitude on the court and worked hard on it...

Came 2003...and Federer was a different man...a different Player...a champion player....a 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3) over Mark Philippoussis gave Federer his first major title...

After the amazing victory... Federer said "I've always believed, but then in the end, when it happens, you don't think that it is possible. It's an absolute dream for me. I was always joking around when I was a boy: 'I'm going to win this."

With the Trophy cradled in his hands, Federer's voice cracked and he cried some more....."You see the trophy, and it's so beautiful.....Gold.....You don't have golden trophies very often...Just the way when you look at it, and when you hold it -- it is something you've always dreamed of. So right then, you feel like: 'Am I dreaming? This is true right now?"

2003 Wimbledon was his 1st major title victory and as cliched as it could get..It WaS JuSt ThE BeGgInInG...

2004 was a magical year for the Maestro....he won 3 out of the 4 major grand slam tournaments and did not lose to any of the players ranked top 10....He won his first Australian Open by defeating Marat Safin in straight sets and eventually succeeded Andy Roddick as the Numero Uno...World Ranking #1....and has been right up there since then...In the same year he defeated Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final to defend the title...so 2nd wimbledon title in a row ...way to go feddy boy...he also won his first US open ....defeating Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets...


I can go on and on about this great player but it will never end....and that's exactly why he is such a genius...

2005 and 2006 were good as well and he went on to clinch another two Wimbledon titles...defeating Andy Roddick yet again in a wimbledon final in 2005 and Nadal in 2006 in four sets...

Came 2007 and Federer had a chance to level Bjorn Borg's record of 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles....and as expected he did....it was one of the most memorable matches which went on till the 5th set and i should say Nadal should really be appreciated for the way he played as well...in the fourth set Nadal had some injury problem and by the end of the fifth set Federer had leveled Borg's record by beatin nadal 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2....

The moment was truly emotional and all the Federer fans throughout the World rejoiced...They rejoiced for the champ...for the feat the champ had just achieved....I felt like I was celebrating Indian victory in a World Cup final...or probably something more than that....

2008....This was the year Federer had a chance to surpass Borg's record.... a chance to set a new World record ....a World record of 6 consecutive Wimbledon Titles....

RoGeR FeDeReR v/s RaFaEl NaDaL ....that was the match.....THE match I was waiting for...

With less than an hour into the game NaDaL sealed the first set 6-4 ....crap...i felt something strange in my stomach...I said to myself...relax man...Federer will come back....as I expected he did....2nd set he lead 4-1 ...but then what I dint expect happened as well....Nadal bounced back too....winning the second set 6-4 ....Double Crap....I really wanted to switch off the T.V and get some sleep but then there was something that kept me from doing it....it was the way Federer reacted to each and every point Nadal won...each and every error he made...each and every unforced error he committed...everything...with such serenity of mind....there was no way I would leave Federer midway....so I sat on....and in the middle of the third set rain interrupted play....after a long time play resumed and Federer went on to win the third set on tie breaker....Federer still din't show any 'outoftheworld' emotions...so I thought I'll do the emotions for him...so from the fourth set... for every ace...every amazing drop shot..every perfect forhand or a backhand stroke ....I jumped....punched the air...and shouted out...I emoted for RoGeR FeDeReR....4th set was a nerve cracking one....going into the tie breaker was very scary ....and at Nadal leading 5-2 was even more scary....but he committed a blunder...a couple of double faults from him and some amazing play by Federer saw him pull of the 4th set ...

So the scores stood leveled....6-4 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-7(8-10)...

Federer had just bounced back after going down in the first two sets....it felt strange to jump around at half past 1 in the night but I did not hesitate a bit...I was celebrating....celebrating Federer's sheer brilliance...his unusually composed mind....his approach....everything about the great man made me jump with joy...

5th set ....Nadal seemed desperate to win....playing it harder than he did in any of the previous 4 sets....Why God Why? ....is all I could mumble....but Federer was doubly determined to win the title....THE Wimbledon title for 6th time in a row...

This set was supposedly the best of the match.....with Federer and Nadal winning on respective serves....it kept going like that and at one point of time I thought this match wasn't going to end at all....but ....unexpected things had to happen....and this time it was unwanted as well....Nadal managed to break Federer's serve and eventually won the title...Federer lost ....lost in a Wimbledon final without dropping a single set throughout the whole tournament....he still remained serene...I expected tears from his eyes but not a drop came out...he was as composed as he could be as he took his bag ...and walked in....there were tear drops....tear drops that trickled down my cheeks...I decided I have to sleep over it...

Commenting on Federer's year through the Wimbledon final, Pete Sampras said "Contrary to what a lot of people are saying, I think Roger is having a good year, it's just that he's set such a high bar for himself. But can anybody say he's fallen off the pace, or that his game has holes in it? No way."

The next morning was one time when I did not want to watch any news channel....for obvious reasons...BUT....Federer was still the best and still my favourite....

There will be people who say Federer has lost his touch and all such jazz....but Im sorry people ...there is no way in the world because of which I cannot agree with the legendary Pete Sampras....

Federer is the best of the game today...and will remain the best till he plays and even beyond...Apart from his talent and skills in the game....his ability to keep serenity of the mind...his approach to each and every game...his dedication....all this is truly inspiring and I wont hesitate to say again and more than just again that FeDerEr iS tHe BeSt aNd ThErE CaN't Be AnOtHeR fEdErEr....He is the one...and he is the best....

------P.S : I realised I love Roger Federer as much as I love Adam Craig Gilchrist...-----