A visit to Karnataka

Have been on a field visit to interior Karnataka for the past week or so to study the operations of a micro finance organisation. Its been one hectic trip full of learnings and experiences. We used to get up early in the morning to attend meetings of borrowers. These meetings usually begin around 6-6.30 am and last for around 30-45 minutes. The borrowers are poor women, eking out a living through agriculture, animal husbandry, running petty shops and small time businesses. Getting a loan of around Rs 10K means a lot to them. It can help them buy that cow which would yield milk that they could sell. They could buy a couple of sheep or goats, breed them and sell them at the weekly market in town. A bullock would prove very handy to till the small pieces of land that they have. It would provide crucial working capital for the small corner shop that they run. People line up to borrow as less as a thousand rupees. Yes they are poor. But the hope that flickers in their eyes is to be seen to be believed. Years of isolation and negligence have not dampened that hope that there might be a better tomorrow. And they are prepared to toil for it.

Thriller at the Oval!

What a humdinger! What a contest! Right down to the wire. How many of us honestly expected India to pull it off after watching Mascarenhas smash sixes off the final five deliveries of the 50th over? Not many I would presume. All credit then to the old firm of Ganguly and Tendulkar who batted as if there was no tomorrow. And Robin Uthappa, of course! Imagine being a passenger all tour and then being suddenly thrust into the role of finisher for such a crucial game. The daggers would have been out, and a bit justifiably too, had he failed and India goofed up the chase. But Uthappa justified the faith shown in him by his captain. Ok, more than a couple of edges flew behind the stumps for boundaries, including an inside edge off Anderson that practically shaved the leg stump. But there is some truth in the adage that you create your own luck. Putting Uthappa down as one of the young turks to watch out for during the World Cup, I had then noted how he seemed so composed even while hitting outrageous shots over the infield. There does not seem to be even a hint of desperation in his hitting which reminds me of a certain Virender Sehwag at his peak. When he hit the fine off drive that took India to victory, Ravi Shastri was so overcome with emotion he hollered, "Uthappa you beauty! You deserve ten dosas!" Well said Ravi. And add an extra helping of chutney too, for Uthappa really spiced things up at the Oval on that wonderful evening!