Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[jks61]

Well !! that is real. In this day and age, it looks rare but read this piece.
****************************************************************************************************************
http://www.deccan.com/Sports/Sports.asp#Bring%20us%20glory,%20say%20villagers%20to%20Munaf

Bring us glory, say villagers to Munaf
 
Mumbai, March 6: People started flocking his residence once Munaf Patel’s name was announced in the Indian squad for the second Test against England. “We have arranged a grand send-off for him. The villagers will accompany him to Baroda airport (some 50 kms away) till he boards the flight to Delhi,” Maqbool Ibrahim Khankhara, the Ikhar sarpanch (the head of the villagers) told this paper. “Why shouldn’t we give him something special when he has brought the name of this village on the international map?” he asked. “Bands and drums have started playing at his residence since last night.”

Though Munaf is yet to get a feel of international cricket, he is touted as one of India’s pace hopes. “In Ikhar, he is known more for his batting. We knew he was a good batsman, but being called for the Team India for his bowling is a big surprise.”

Sarfaraz Patel is one of Munaf’s victims, but is proud and happy for his tormentor. Sarfaraz’s family spent Rs 30,000 on medication and surgery after he was hit on the face by a fiery delivery. Mention the word cricket and he looks around. Only in Munaf’s absence does Sarfaraz pick up the bat to join the nets occasionally. Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah’s son Jaydev too was injured and suffered a fracture while facing Munaf in an under-25 match between Gujarat and Saurashtra.

Munaf Patel is the only Indian cricketer without a telephone and TV at home. “After Munaf hit the limelight, they can certainly afford it but the orthodox family did not buy a TV,” the sarpanch added. Perhaps now after Munaf’s entry into international cricket, a TV will be an immediate necessity.

[jks61]

We talk so much about technology, bells and whistles, computers, video feed, spot analysis, special graphics, print outs, psychologists and what not...amazing isn't it? Munaf not seeing a match on TV....Well !! hopefully, this will be story of raw talent that has flowered.

[kban1]

jks61:

Good post (applause for you  )

This is surprising. I would have thought his exploits on the cricketing field would have at least ensured a TV in his household or maybe that says a lot about TV coevrage for domestic games in India.

Speaking of no telephones, in 2005 there was a newstory in Yahoo about a parish / county in Louisiana I believe (but may have been another Southern state) which became the last county in the United States to get a land based telephone line, almost 50+ years after all the surrounding areas got their telephone lines. (I know I saved the story, but cannot find it right now).

[jks61]

jks61:

Good post (applause for you  )

This is surprising. I would have thought his exploits on the cricketing field would have at least ensured a TV in his household or maybe that says a lot about TV coevrage for domestic games in India.

Speaking of no telephones, in 2005 there was a newstory in Yahoo about a parish / county in Louisiana I believe (but may have been another Southern state) which became the last county in the United States to get a land based telephone line, almost 50+ years after all the surrounding areas got their telephone lines. (I know I saved the story, but cannot find it right now).

kban1. I am surprised. Afterall, a TV comes under 10k in India. I think, these days you get much more than that in 1 Ranji game (gone are the days, when they paid 1000 Rs for Ranji game). If my memory is right, a player makes 25K for each Ranji (need to check this but I vaguely remember reading this some where).
More than anything else, how can anyone miss the opportunity to see a McGrath or a Lee bowl? But I guess, such things are for lesser mortals like us; not for the Munafs, who somehow seem to know it without all these gadgets. But I am still not convinced. These gadgets provide you the kind of seasoned background, upbring that can sustain you for long in today's world. Imagine Munaf addressing a press conf...well !! whatever..who cares.. I need to see the England tail's stumps cartwheeling !! as long as that happens, nothing else matters.

[devatha]

A portable black & white branded TV comes for Rs.2000/-. An assembled one, you can get it for Rs.1000/-. But not buying a TV was a superstition for his family, as has been said in the article itself.

[k-slice]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

[achutank]

dude i say all the bums need to head for the beach dude. surf on dude.

(sala you have got me to do this duding thing too)    

[k-slice]

achutank
we are reintroducing the cool quotient into a golden oldi like you dude. dude dont be so pessimistic. dude some day i hope to see you hanging ten while the surfs up and then sitting on a shiore getting the sand outta your Ass!!
dude the shades are a sure sign of your coolness dude.
hahaha
aur mujhpe chad ta tha jab mein dude kehta tha

[aggarwald]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

I think we all have become so materialistic that we can't help thinking this way - "if one doesn't have a TV/cellphone/etc., he must be poor". I know many Europeans who didn't have TV by choice when I was doing a Ph.D. with them. And I also know many Americans who didn't want to have cell phones because of the nuisance value. And btw, has anyone  heard of the "Amish"?

[achutank]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

I think we all have become so materialistic that we can't help thinking this way - "if one doesn't have a TV/cellphone/etc., he must be poor". I know many Europeans who didn't have TV by choice when I was doing a Ph.D. with them. And I also know many Americans who didn't want to have cell phones because of the nuisance value. And btw, has anyone  heard of the "Amish"?

i know one Mr. Amish Patel. we used to know a lot of amishes. but this mr. amsih patel really stood out. We used to always refer to him as THE AMISH among all thos amishes. are you refering to him by any chance?

[achutank]

achutank
we are reintroducing the cool quotient into a golden oldi like you dude. dude dont be so pessimistic. dude some day i hope to see you hanging ten while the surfs up and then sitting on a shiore getting the sand outta your Ass!!
dude the shades are a sure sign of your coolness dude.
hahaha
aur mujhpe chad ta tha jab mein dude kehta tha

dude uhn what's this hanging ten uh like you know uh mean uh like uh.

[k-slice]

hang ten is a surfer term dude
its when you have all 10 toes sticking off a planker(a surf board). usually happens when the surfs up. also the name of a popular clothing company.

[aggarwald]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

I think we all have become so materialistic that we can't help thinking this way - "if one doesn't have a TV/cellphone/etc., he must be poor". I know many Europeans who didn't have TV by choice when I was doing a Ph.D. with them. And I also know many Americans who didn't want to have cell phones because of the nuisance value. And btw, has anyone  heard of the "Amish"?

i know one Mr. Amish Patel. we used to know a lot of amishes. but this mr. amsih patel really stood out. We used to always refer to him as THE AMISH among all thos amishes. are you refering to him by any chance?

Yeah, you izzzzzz right izzzzzzz  Amish izzzzz a nice boy izzzz knows you also.

[toney]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

I think we all have become so materialistic that we can't help thinking this way - "if one doesn't have a TV/cellphone/etc., he must be poor". I know many Europeans who didn't have TV by choice when I was doing a Ph.D. with them. And I also know many Americans who didn't want to have cell phones because of the nuisance value. And btw, has anyone  heard of the "Amish"?

Aggarwald,
Amish families not only avoid TVs and cell phones, they dont use cars, electricity or any of the modern day comforts. That is different from Munaf's condition. His family probably considers that TV brings with it the possibility of tainting innocent minds with evil, hence the decision to avoid it even when they could afford one. It is a little strange though that people choose to avoid the many benefits that TVs offer.

[aggarwald]

did all of you miss the point that they dont have a TV thanks to their beliefs rather than lack of money?
hell i guess if they can produce a munaf without a TV all families should get rid of their TVs and ask their kids to play outdoor games

I think we all have become so materialistic that we can't help thinking this way - "if one doesn't have a TV/cellphone/etc., he must be poor". I know many Europeans who didn't have TV by choice when I was doing a Ph.D. with them. And I also know many Americans who didn't want to have cell phones because of the nuisance value. And btw, has anyone  heard of the "Amish"?

Aggarwald,
Amish families not only avoid TVs and cell phones, they dont use cars, electricity or any of the modern day comforts. That is different from Munaf's condition. His family probably considers that TV brings with it the possibility of tainting innocent minds with evil, hence the decision to avoid it even when they could afford one. It is a little strange though that people choose to avoid the many benefits that TVs offer.

I know Amish families don't use any modern facilities at all. But my point was that the headline implied that he is from a very poor family and some people were also discussing about his financial well being.

[natty]

Have you guys watched "Iqbal"

some similarities.. except for the deaf and dumb part.

jks61:

Good post (applause for you  )

This is surprising. I would have thought his exploits on the cricketing field would have at least ensured a TV in his household or maybe that says a lot about TV coevrage for domestic games in India.

Speaking of no telephones, in 2005 there was a newstory in Yahoo about a parish / county in Louisiana I believe (but may have been another Southern state) which became the last county in the United States to get a land based telephone line, almost 50+ years after all the surrounding areas got their telephone lines. (I know I saved the story, but cannot find it right now).

[Sahir]

There are similarities to "Iqbal" as far as the background is concerned-- maybe the stadium should play that song "aashaen" when he's getting his Test cap

[achutank]

aasahen is composed by sharosh and kedar who were part of the hangout gang in college. sharosh used to play sessions for asha bhosale and have seen him at a concert jamming with trilok.

[Sahir]

aasahen is composed by sharosh and kedar who were part of the hangout gang in college. sharosh used to play sessions for asha bhosale and have seen him at a concert jamming with trilok.

Hey-- that's pretty cool

[dextrous]

Is it really that strange in India to have no phoneline?

We didn't even have a phone wire in our district for a long time, until maybe I was 10-11. Now, it's true, I lived on the outskirts, still, it wasn't that strange. Maybe things have changed with the arrival of cell phones across India and what not.

[k-slice]

dex where did you live dude?
in the boondocks of UP? or up in the himalayas?!!

[dextrous]

Ranchi.