The Year of The Challenger

This year’s Wimbledon final was everything a tennis enthusiast could have wished for. Never have I seen such ruthless display of power from both sides of the net simultaneously. Let alone my short span of tennis viewing; people who are ardent followers of tennis for decades, are declining to compare this finals to any other. For them, and for me of course, this is by far the best grand slam final ever.

After the annihilation of the annihilator Roger Federer in the French open finals by Rafael Nadal, and both setting up another showdown in Wimbledon final, the expectations were quite high from of this final. That is because Rafael Nadal is in a form of his lifetime and Roger Federer, for the champion he is, he never gives up till the last shot.

Well, among Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, I was rooting for Rafael Nadal. And the first two sets made me comfortable in my seat. When Rafa had three break points in the third set, I thought it was all over, another one sided show in Wimbledon final. But already I had witnessed something so spectacular that I was satisfied. I couldn’t have been more wrong about one sidedness. To my despair and to joy, Federer produced some bamboozling shots down the line and grabbing the third set on tie breaker. Rain twice interrupted the proceedings making it a good 7 hour long match.

All I did was sit in my seat and watch it on t.v, still I was so exhausted. Both the players made life hell for each other. Fourth set too went into the tie breaker. This time Rafael Nadal got the upper hand, and two championship points. But Fedex wanted to roll on a little longer. Consolidating both, he managed to bag fourth set as well. Now that both the players were on the same step, there was a new stride in Federer’s game. It was not till 7 -7, we got to see a break of serve. Rafael Nadal was soon serving for the championship. For me the next game was the most thrilling of all. Roger Federer dragged Rafa to all parts of the court and made him win every point. This was a game that would have kept even the best of astrologers confused. After more than 4 hr and 45 min of some amazing tennis, at last, Rafael Nadal was able to close it out.

The Challenger is now the Conquerer.

We have a New Wimbledon Champion.

Is This The Best Time To Be Alive?

I’ve learnt a lot about our past and I’m hearing a lot about the future. Our past was marred with fights of man with man, inequality and low life. And our future seems to be heading towards another clash, this time man and nature. Seems like nature will make us answerable to all the misdeeds that we have carried upon it.

Thus I believe that this is the best era to be alive in, but some people think otherwise. They give me examples of global democracy, injustice, plight of women and poverty to back their point. I agree with them that these are prominent troubles that are pinching our society. But these problems were there in earlier days as well, far greater in proportion than they are present today. And there were worse problems in our past.

Let us look at it from women’s perspective. In which period of our past, did women have so many rights and thought to be equal to men. Even in the so-called developed western countries, their condition was nothing less than miserable. But today, even the third world and Arab countries too have reserved rights for women. In today’s world women are becoming parallel to man in every respect, they are no more hidden in the layers of pardha (veil), can carry themselves without the support of their men folks, knows how to earn a living with dignity, and are gaining prestigious position whether in corporate of in prliament. Isn’t amazing.

Horrified by the thought of being of women in the past century? Imagine being ill. Epidemics and plagues were rampant thought the world, infant mortality rate were heart wrenching, number of hospitals and the facilities provided in them was pathetic. Add to that no antibiotics, And the scenario of a living hell is complete.

Today most parts of the world are virtually free of many killer diseases like the cholera, polio etc. The life expectancy has never been better. But then there are diseases like AIDS, that still remind us that nature is the one running us, and not the other way round.

Then they argue that we are the most indecent and ill-mannered society.
Oh Please! Let’s go back a little bit to the 1950’s. What do you see? Racism at its peak, caste wars, ‘No Black’ sign boards outside hotels and restaurants, no looking in the eye of higher caste people. Do that today and you are game for several years of free hospitality behind the steel bars.

No matter what others think, I truly believe that is, without a doubt the best time to be alive. Enjoy every moment of present, coz’ you really don’t know when the future begins.