Street Kids and Underarm Cricket.

Last weekend while visiting one of my friends place I came across bunch of kids playing on the street. They belonged to the slum near the road and most of them seemed to be around six to eight years of age. These kids where so talented that I had to stop and watch them in amazement. There was this kiddo who was continuously kart-wheeling on the road. His entire body had turned into a wheel with his hands and legs doing the role of the spokes of the wheel. Then there where two other kids jumping from the side wall performing somersault in air before they could perfectly land on theirs legs. All this made me wonder why India has never had a good representation at gymnastic at international level? This was same as asking why a country of more than a billion population was not able to produce a decent football team of 11 players.

As I came out of my thoughts I realized that the kids had divided themselves into two groups and were now ready to play gully cricket. These kids had found new format of underarm cricket by mixing cricket and football. The bat was replaced by leg. The batsman (or the leg-men) kicked the ball thrown at him by the bowler. These kids had learnt to have fun with the limited resources they had.

I continued my walk but only to take myself back in time to sweet old childhood memories of underarm cricket. Underarm cricket is a fun form of cricket with no written rules. That is what makes it very interesting. The rules are usually formed depending on the number of players and the area you are playing in. Only strict compulsion is that bowling should be done under the arm which is opposite to the rule of standard cricket.

There are some common rules which prevail at most places though. Like scoring a sixer is considered out. This means there is no scope for budding talents who aspire being Yuraj and Sehwag in this game. Also reinforces the fact that there are no ‘chakkas’ allowed in this format of the game. To make things worse for the batsman if he scores a six and the ball goes too far he is made to get the ball himself. One more rule which make life difficult for batsman is ‘one-tup’ catch or one bounce catch. Batsman is declared out even if the fielder catches the ball after one bounce.

But it is not that most of the rules of underarm cricket are against the batsman. There are rules which support the batting side as well. Firstly the boundaries are very close, so scoring four runs is easy. If there are places in gully which are difficult to reach or say there are thorny bushes near the play area, those places are marked restricted. Which mean if the ball goes in those places, declared one run or two runs is given directly without batsman having to actually run. Also usually there is no batsman at non-striker end, if a batsman scores one run or three runs he has to walk back to the striker end to face the next ball. Incase there are less players, wicket keeper’s role is usually avoided from the game. In this case no runs are allowed if ball is hit behind the wicket.

Infrastructure required for this format of the game is cheap and easily available. Ball used is a rubber or tennis ball. So this small change gets rid of pads, helmet and center pad as well. Bats vary from proper wooden ones, ‘piddo’ (midriff of coconut leaf) or a bat created at home from piece of wood. Scooter or car tyre or a wall with three lines drawn on it makes the wicket at the striker end and a large stone or brick forms wicket at the bowling end. Since the stone is quite low in height many times concept of ‘current’ is used to get the batsman run out. According to this rule if the fielder touches his leg to the stone and catches the ball in his hands then it is considered as good as ball touching the stone.

Single innings of underarm cricket varies from five to ten overs. This extra short format of the game brings in few interesting strategies and feelings as well. Most kids want to be a batsman, so if the batsman on the crease is not getting out you’ll find your own team mates hoping you get out soon and they get to bat. Bowling side also plays clever, if they find that a batsman is not able to hit they’ll try not to get him out and waste overs with him. You’ll see catches being dropped on purpose. Setting the fielding is usually not a problem because of the small size of the playing area.

This underarm cricket is real fun to play. After writing all this I miss my childhood even more. Is anybody game to play it?

Builder Mhojya Mama by Janardhan Goltekar.

I read the below konkani song on great singer Remo Fernandes’s Facebook page. This song is created by Janardhan Goltekar. It is a very nice improvisation of an old goan folk song “Undrea Mhojya Mama”. Remo has shared it to help spread this important message. Hope I am able to contribute a small bit from my side by posting it on my blog.

Builder mhojya mama aani haav sangta tuka..
Builder mhojya mama aani haav sangta tuka..
Aamchya Sobit Sundor Goyan tuji kai goroz na aamka..
Aamchya Sobit Sundor Goyan tuji kai goroz na aamka..

Builder mama aailo aani ministerfatlyan liplo..
Builder mama aailo aani ministerfatlyan liplo..
Aani zhada-Peda kapun Goyche vaat lavpak laglo..
Aani zhada-Peda kapun Goyche vaat lavpak laglo..

Vachoya goyak hya..
Vachoya goyak hya..
Vachoya goyak hya..
Vachoya goyak hya.. :-[

Good work Janardhan! But hope this message reaches across the masses and we don’t loose our beautiful Goa to builders.

Oh Ri Duniya…

Hi fellas! This song is inspired by ‘Duniya oh duniya’ song from movie ‘Gulaal’ and dedicated to my friends from IT industry. If possible please try to read this to the tune of song mentioned above for better effect 🙂

Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya
Aye 201R Bus Route Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Ghanto Traffic Jams Mein Fhasse Rahne Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Binna Meter Rickshaw Chalne Wallo Ki Duniya Oh Duniya.

Wending Machine Ke Karab Coffee Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re
Baking Soda Wale Canteen Lunch Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re
Aye Week End Pe Cheese Burst Pizza Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Bugs Se Bhare Code Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Tight Estimates Aur Aggressive Schedules Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re
Late Working Hours Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai? Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Weekly Status Reports Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Bi-Annual Appraisal Process Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Recession Mein Zero Increment Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re
Pending Promotion Back Logs Ki Duniya Oh Duniya
Ooooo…Oooo…Hoooo…Hooo…Ooooooooo…
Management Ke Cost Cutting Bakwaas Ki Duniya
Layoff Ke Bhay Se Bhari Ye Duniya.
Company Mission Aur Vision, Aur Uske Beech Ka Difference Samaj Ne Ki Duniya!
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai? Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Weekends Toh Aisse Hi Chale Jaate Hai Hai
Reh Jaata Hai Woh Public Holidays Ki Intezar Mein
Vacation Ki Approval Workflow Ke Chakar Mein
Jaisi Bacchi Hai Waisi Ki Waisi Toh Bacha Lo Yeh Duniya
Apna Samajh Ke Apno Ke Jaisi Utha Lo Yeh Duniya
Shopping Mein Credit Limit Khatam Ho Jaati Hai, Sambhalo Yeh Duniya
Share Market Crash Mein Savings Gayab Ho Jaati Hai, Sambhalo Yeh Duniya
Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya
Woh Kahen Hai Ki Duniya Yeh Itni Nahi Hai
Shopping Malls Se Aage Jahan Aur Bhi Hai
Yeh Hum Hi Nahi Hai, Wahan Aur Bhi Hai
Hamari Hare Ek Baat Hoti Wahin Hai
Magar Project Plan Yeh Bigad Jaata Hai Jo
Woh Kehte Hai,
Client Jo Kheta Woh Ishwar Hai
Client Jo Kheta Woh Allah Hai
Client Jo Kheta Woh Issa Hai
PL Yeh Kheti Tab Team Members Se Ki,
Tumhari Hai Tum Hi Sambhalo Yeh Duniya
Yeh ‘IT’ Ke Maare Chand Baasi Charago
Tumhare Yeh Kale Future Ki Duniya.
Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya Hoo Ri Duniya.

<!–[if !mso]> <! st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } –>

Hi fellas! This song is inspired by ‘Duniya oh duniya’ song from movie ‘Gulaal’ and dedicated to my friends from IT industry. If possible please try to read this to the tune of song mentioned above for better effect 🙂

Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya

Aye 201R Bus Route Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Ghanto Traffic Jams Mein Fhasse Rahne Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Binna Meter Rickshaw Chalne Wallo Ki Duniya Oh Duniya.

Wending Machine Ke Karab Coffee Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re

Baking Soda Wale Canteen Lunch Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re

Aye Week End Pe Cheese Burst Pizza Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Bugs Se Bhare Code Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Tight Estimates Aur Aggressive Schedules Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re

Late Working Hours Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai? Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Weekly Status Reports Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Bi-Annual Appraisal Process Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Recession Mein Zero Increment Ki Duniya Oh Duniya Re

Pending Promotion Back Logs Ki Duniya Oh Duniya

Ooooo…Oooo…Hoooo….Hooo…Ooooooooo…

Management Ke Cost Cutting Bakwaas Ki Duniya

Layoff Ke Bhay Se Bhari Ye Duniya.

Company Mission Aur Vision, Aur Uske Beech Ka Difference Samaj Ne Ki Duniya!

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai? Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai?

Weekends Toh Aisse Hi Chale Jaate Hai Hai,

Reh Jaata Hai Woh Public Holidays Ki Intezar Mein,

Vacation Ki Approval Workflow Ke Chakar Mein,

Jaisi Bacchi Hai Waisi Ki Waisi Toh Bacha Lo Yeh Duniya,

Apna Samajh Ke Apno Ke Jaisi Utha Lo Yeh Duniya,

Shopping Mein Credit Limit Khatam Ho Jaati Hai, Sambhalo Yeh Duniya,
Share Market Crash Mein Savings Gayab Ho Jaati Hai, Sambhalo Yeh Duniya,
Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya,
Who Kahen Hai Ki Duniya Yeh Itni Nahi Hai,
Shopping Malls Aur Complexes Se Aage Jahan Aur Bhi Hai,
Yeh Hum Hi Nahi Hai, Wahan Aur Bhi Hai,
Hamari Hare Ek Baat Hoti Wahin Hai,
Magar Project Plan Yeh Bigad Jaata Hai Jo,
Wo Kehte Hai,
Client Jo Kheta Woh Ishwar Hai,
Client Jo Kheta Woh Allah Hai,
Client Jo Kheta Woh Issa Hai,
PL Yeh Kheti Tab Team Members Se Ki,
Tumhari Hai Tum Hi Sambhalo Yeh Duniya,
Yeh ‘IT’ Ke Maare Chand Baasi Charago
Tumhare Yeh Kale Future Ki Duniya
Oh Ri Duniya, Oh Ri Duniya Hoo Ri Duniya.