Conversation, coffee, chemistry and rendezvous is how many of the German Bakery goers best described what the bakery meant to them. Filled with a never ending enthusiasm and a pool of colorful people at any given time it was a place to unwind, read your book, catch up with an old friend or a colleague, it was a place for the agitated to vent out their daily woes, for the regulars for their regular fix of the bakery, for the debaters to do what they do best-debate and for the clueless to just catch up with friends over a cup of coffee or a bite of tart.

A mention in Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, alongside Café Leopold brought the small classic café to fame attracting foreign nationals and the local crowd likewise. It was unarguably the most popular place in Koregaon Park.

German Bakery was known to be popular across ages and nationals. You could easily spot an 80-year old man sipping on his Earl Grey tea in the afternoons or a group of 20-somethings sipping on masala chai or cappuccino. From followers of the Osho Ashram, to foreign nationals residing in the city, to the college going crowd alike graced The German Bakery.

A hit amongst the youth it became a part of routine activity to go grab a Danish pastry or a carrot cake at K.P.’s very own German Bakery before proceeding for a gig or maybe hitting a club later every weekend. Being easy on the wallet it fit in perfectly within the budget of a person with an average income.

Known for its unique accommodating ambience, The German Bakery gave you comfort of a shack on the beach so much so that people agreed when told that excluding a visit to this eatery from their weekend list of dos was just impossible.

A gourmand’s paradise complete with cakes, tarts, brownies, coffee and tea, a variety of omelet’s for the perfect Sunday breakfast German Bakery was indeed more than just ‘a bakery’.

Whether you went there with an agenda to catch up with an old friend, or meet an office colleague to discuss work or just sit by yourself with a book, German bakery didn’t in the least disappoint.

After having surveyed what exactly drew such an extraordinary clientele to a rather ordinary bakery one comes to the conclusion that was indeed a culmination of several factors. The location, the ambience, the food, the smiling faces of the waiters and the consistent quality did the charm. It brought to life a different world the minute you stepped in.

Whatever may have been the reason for your visit to German Bakery, it has indeed succeeded in etching a lasting a mark on everyone’s hearts. The rather unfortunate and tragic end met by our very own German Bakery not only shook the entire city but also took along with it the numerous joyous moments it gave us. For many, it was a second home. From all of us, German Bakery, we wish you a ‘speedy recovery’.

Madhur Advani

[ratings]

13th February confronted panic and confusion as Pune’s most cosmopolitan and up market area of Koregaon Park was plunged into disarray. A blast took place at around 7:00 PM in German Bakery, a café frequented by foreigners and youngsters, and raised consternation and foreboding when the road was splattered with blood and strewn limbs.

Recollect November 2008, when Mumbai’s Leopold café was targeted, foisting a cultural shock on the city’s inhabitants. Pune’s blast has inflicted a similar trauma and secured international attention with 3 of the 9 deceased being of Italian, Iranian and Nepalese descent, and rest from Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.

Pune was recognized as a possible centre for Jihadi activities in March 2002 when Abu Zubaidah was found to have studied computer science from Pune before joining Al-Qaeda. In October 2008, four members of the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen were convicted, three of whom were residents of Pune. Sources from the Intelligence Bureau have revealed that Indian Mujahideen is responsible for Operation BAD (Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi).

As we brood on the intricacies of the blast, we discern a parallel to Delhi’s synchronized blasts of 13th September 2008. Both the blasts eventuated on the 13th. Further, not only is the mode of packing and placing the bomb unattended in a bag akin to the IED’s deployed in the Delhi blasts; the nature of the explosives is selfsame. Investigations resolved RDX, ammonium nitrate and metal pieces as the prime constituents of the bomb. Now it is moderately well established that usage of RDX points an accusatory finger at Pakistan as all Indian terrorist groups acquire RDX from manufacturing units in Pakistan. Of late, hefty amounts of RDX are being imported into India under the disguise of cement import. Further, no traces of RDX manufacturing have been discerned till date in India. Although the bomb was dated a day after Pakistan agreed to India’s offer for foreign secretary level talks, we must refrain from jumping to claims of indictment before further investigations take place.

Intelligence sources have kept David Coleman Headley under strict surveillance. Tracking records prove that he had the Jewish religious centre Chabad house and Osho Ashram, both frequented by foreigners, under strict observation. Why then was the German bakery attacked? It is clear that German Bakery was not the first choice but on most accounts, unable to intercept the sites, the terrorists changed venues as security was beefed up owing to intelligence alerts.

IM’s earlier attacks have been against sixty years of Muslim persecution, and India’s support for the United States policy on the war in Afghanistan. Is this blast a similar instantiation? Or could it be against the gunning of Shahid Azmi, a lawyer lately involved in cases for SIMI? The blast was timed a few hours after the lawyer’s funeral. LeT founder Hafiz Saeed’s brother in law Hafiz Makki was heard stating in the Muzaffarabad conference that three Indian cities including Pune would be the target for Jihadi activities in the near future. As LeT is run by the Indian Mujahideen, it can then be safely surmised that the Indian Mujahideen is a likely suspect for this blast. Why then has IM not yet been banned as a terrorist organization?

As is being said, with Pune it was not a matter of if, but of when. Could things have turned out differently if further precautions were taken? If insurgents can sweep terror across the globe using similar tactics, can not their attempts be predicted? However, what should be instilled in each one of us is the strength to play past the blasts so that we let not insurgency overpower us.

Tejal Johri

[ratings]

Copenhagen, the picturesque capital city of Denmark, is the most environmental friendly city in the world where 38% of the population commutes on bicycles. Could there have been more apt a place to host the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 15? But, what are we looking at after this conclave; another protocol, unfulfilled promises, the hegemony of the annex-one countries, stanuch resistance from the annex-two countries, scientists trying to prove a point and ‘sceptics’ brazenly denying any apparent controversy? Will Copenhagen try to overcome the insurmountable that Sydney failed to do?

The Climate Conference will take place in the Bella Center at Copenhagen from Dec 7th to the 18th. Governmental representatives from 170 countries are expected to be there during the days of the conference accompanied by other diplomatic representatives, NGO’s and journalists. All in all, an approximate of 8000 people are expected to attend through these 12 days. Reason: In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate change and global, expires. To keep the process on the line there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol. At the conference in the Danish capital, the parties of the UNFCCC meet for the last time on government level before the climate agreement needs to be renewed. Though the debate here, runs much deeper – despite all the statistics indicative of a “meltdown,” is it really a feasible solution to cut down on emissions at the cost of rapid modernization and industrialization?

The UNFCCC’s landmark achievement saw the first international treaty setting down legally-binding targets for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. It was signed as a “framework” accord in 1997; its complex rulebook was completed in 2001 and it took effect in early 2005. It has been ratified by 183 countries plus the European Community (EC). Kyoto set down commitments for industrialized economies that would reduce overall emissions of six categories of greenhouse gases by “at least” five percent by a 2008-2012 timeframe compared to 1990. Rich countries could trade in emissions or invest in cleaner-energy projects in former Soviet economies or developing economies in order to gain “carbon credits” that they could then offset against their quota. Poorer countries had no such binding emissions targets. They made a general pledge to avoid pollution. Yet, the Kyoto Protocol had been grossly violated, not just by the absence of the United States which signed but refused to ratify the pact, but also by massive overshoots in carbon emissions by Canada and Australia.

The BASIC countries-Brazil, South Africa, India and China, have decided to counter the rich nations by coming up with a draft that will be presented at the conference. China, which initiated the exercise, will present the draft of the developing nations at COP15. The draft goes onto saying that developing nations will also not accept any pressure from developed countries to establish legally binding emission targets at Copenhagen. India wants to be allowed to reduce emissions voluntarily and take “nationally appropriate actions”. At a press address in the national Capital, Union Minister for Environment, Jairam Ramesh said, “India will under no circumstances accept the concept of a peaking year” under which each country will have to indicate on what date they will reach the highest level of pollution before beginning to come down. New Delhi has made it clear it will not accept any unsupported mitigation actions without any effort by developed countries to provide funds and technology support to improve environment in developing nations.

Questions lie thus – is there more to this conclave than meets the eye? Can all carbon footprints, so created, be made worthwhile? Will Copenhagen give way to more balanced policies? Can India and China put their foot down to apprehend the moves of the Annex-one? Will the conclave prove and equitable platform for all participating nations?

Will Copenhagen prove to be, yet another conclave in futility? An “inconvenient truth” or “Hopenhagen” ?

Anagha Mahajan

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://wikipedia.com]

India took a giant step towards broad mindedness, when the Delhi High Court delivered a historic judgment to amend a 149 year old colonial era law and decriminalized private consensual sex between adults of the same gender. But are we liberal enough to accept homosexuals in our society just yet? Perhaps not. How else does one justify the murder of 55 years old, Hiralal Valecha who was found dead in his house, Ahmedabad, his throat slit with a sharp weapon?  “I still don’t know if I can come out as gay, I still don’t feel safe,” said 34 years old, Nagesh Mathur, software engineer, Mumbai.

India is a young nation in all the various aspects of growth and democracy. It is yet involving in the fields of journalism, economics as well as its social outlook. India still suffers from the age-old malaise of illegal prostitution. Women take to prostitution often, not by choice but per force. Yet, legalizing prostitution seems to be a distant dream. “My family won’t accept me, I won’t get a job, I can’t marry, and I have no way out. I was only 15 when I was pushed into a brothel. I wish I had some kind of hope,” said a young Reshma, who has now spent 4 years in a brothel in Budhwar Peth, Pune. She now works with the NGO Saheli in helping others of her kind. But she still feels nothing can be done since people’s attitude towards sex workers seems governed by traditional societal norms. This, since approximately a dozen sex workers were molested and then beaten up on the outskirts of Sasaram town. “Sex workers all over the nation are abused and often by the officials themselves,” said Ms. Sarika Patil, Project head of the NGO Saheli that deals with the upliftment of sex workers.

India is progressing at breakneck speed, with spiralling GDP figures and other positive indices reflective of the same. Yet, among other issues, birth control and family planning seem to be two major issues India finds itself grappling with. The 1970s witnessed a forced sterilisation program by Sanjay Gandhi. Many young men, men with two children and several others were known to have been sterilized per force. The program backfired and Sanjay Gandhi came under severe flak for having hampered the family planning policy in India.

A similar coercive method was instituted in China as well. Its’ “One Child policy” that was implemented as a temporary measure, now continues for a quarter century after its establishment. China being a communist nation, forced this policy on the Han community living in the urban areas of China. The rural areas however, are free from the policy of family planning. The end result? About 40 million births went unreported in the census following the policy’s implementation.

In India, the visual medium has always served as the most explicit of all media to convey socially relevant messages. Films form an essential part of such conveyance. Yet, it’s not just about churning out box-office hits. The likes of Nine months, Salaam Namaste, throw light on a very narrow aspect that constitutes the subject. While live-in relationships as a concept is still nubile, its arrival has mostly been concentrated to a very narrow section of society. Yet there are the likes of My Brother Nikhil and Phir Milenge, which make the audience sit up and take notice of issues that go deeper than we know them to be.

The Censor board still remains close to the portrayal of nudity and sex, since the mindset of the average Indian is what it primarily takes into consideration, not to mention the influence of regionally chauvinistic political parties that wreak havoc when such films hit theaters.

Yes, the Indian mindset still remains archaic, governed by rules and customs that only a small percentage of people have come out of. The rest remain shackled by myths and stigma that promise to bind it for time immemorial, should adequate information systems not be put into place to pull them out of such murky waters.

Sanyukta Iyer

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://wikipedia.com]

“The greatest products never need advertising. Does Google advertise?”

- Mr. Prasoon Joshi, Advertising Guru.

Google has become the largest search engine on the web. Since its inception, it has symbolised standards par excellence. Its biggest strengths lie in being able to accommodate several file types simultaneously such as PDF, DOC, PS and many others. Google also has the access to innumerable databases such as Google Groups, books, news, directories, archives and indexed web pages that include the URLs and picture database.

A website that will enable internet users throughout the globe personalized search results based on the user’s social network; such is Google Social Search. This latest outcome of the Google experimental labs now connects us to any user or blog on the internet. It acts as both a profile search engine as well as a recommendation engine as it also enables the user to connect with secondary contacts i.e. “a friend of a friend.” The Google Social Search follows the default search operation of multiple search terms and phrase matches. It also uses automatic Boolean searching that enables a user to connect faster to another user on a different social network despite the use of a dissimilar profile.

“We’ve taken steps to improve the relevance of our search results with personalization, but today’s launch takes that one step further,” read the Google Blog representing the Google Experimental Lab.

Google Social Search is still in the evolution process. Of the other applications that Google has launched in the recent past, such as the Gtalk, The reader, Gmail and Friend Connect, most have proved successful, while its Social Search application still lies unfinished. Google Social Search still seems unpolished, say the Google experimental labs. It is unstable and needs improvements architecturally.

The term “search” seems to be undergoing redefinition rather rapidly and it looks like we are going to need to buck up to stay apace with the changes and even more likely, the rumored changes.

Sanyukta Iyer

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://mashable.com]

In the recent years the Indian cellular market has seen a proliferation of the Chinese mobile phones. Not only have these cellphones meandered their way to being a favorite amongst the consumers in the market but they have also been successful enough in attracting a loyal clientele for themselves.

Commonly know as the “Chinese Shanzai” handsets in the Indian cellular market, they sell like hotcakes all over the country. Since selling these cellphones is illegal they are found to be sold only in the grey markets across India; the most common ones being the  National market or Burma Bazar in Bangalore; Heera Panna in Mumbai; Gaffer Market, Palika Bazar and Nehru Place in New Delhi; Abids in Hyderabad and Chinoy Trade Center in Secunderabad. After conducting several researches regarding the reason for the popularity of the Chinese handsets, it was realized that there was not one, but several factors that contributed to their success amongst the masses. Of the many, a few prominent ones were superior infrastructure, cheaper labor, and its pool of highly qualified English-speaking personnel.

However according to reliable sources one major aspect that seems to be posing  a threat to the sale of these much sought after cellphones is the fact that over 240 lakh mobile phone handsets are expected to be rendered “useless” in the near future. This, since GSM service providers like Vodafone and Airtel are most likely to plug off their services from unbranded China phones that do not have International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, since they are likely to cause fatal security risks.

Owing to the terror strikes that have taken place in the recent past, it only makes sense for the service providers to take this step apart from the fact that the government also has to take note of the existing handsets in the Indian market.

But the consumers do not seem to be in anyway affected by that very piece of news. Testimony to the fact above is the data given by the telecom ministry, which says that nearly 30 million subscribers use mobile handsets from China, which accounts for nearly 8% of the total subscribers in the country.

In an interview given by the president of the Indian Cellular Association, Mr. Pankaj Mohandroo to a leading newspaper, he said that nearly 800,000 illegal Chinese flood the Indian market every month.

A very pivotal question that seems to be plaguing researchers is – will these Chinese mobile handsets become history or will they continue to remain an intrinsic part of the Indian cellular market? All we can do is keep a close watch on the course the Chinese Shanzai handsets maps in the market in the near future.

Madhur Advani

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://bit.ly/5BAQ2u]

“You and I in this beautiful world”, of course who doesn’t know the Vodafone track, with reference to the youth “I” refers to the “User” and “You” refers to- no! Not the pug, or anyone else but the “Beloved Cell Phone”. Suddenly parents and new friends are a button away, choices are made more quickly and new sets of relationships emerge.

Be it a student or a teacher, a vegetable vendor or a restaurateur, a milkman or a salesman, the youth or the old, children or parents, a manager or a trainee ,whoever it is, needs a cell phone now a days. It’s not just a status symbol or sign of superiority like in the good old days when only the Manager had the cell and his colleagues envied him or like several years ago it was nothing more than a regular landline phone except you could take it with you.

The impact of cell phones on today’s youth is astronomical. Cell phones are becoming to today’s youth what rock and roll was to the youth in the 1960’s. A study reveals that the 18-25 age group, spends between 90 and 125 minutes every day on their phones, using them to read books, chat with friends, surf the Net, or listen to music.

A report out of Australia reveals some teens are so dependent on their mobile phones that they see them as an extension of themselves and experience a sense of dread when they are separated from them. The youth survives on SMS. It has become a mandatory thing with the students and working community to talk over SMSes since it is affordable and also user friendly – things which cannot be conveyed personally can be well conveyed through the SMS (I said it right, right guys??).

We all have become “nomophobes”(obsessed with the cell phone). “Getting married, starting a job or going to the dentist” have long been recognized as sources of great stress. But it seems they are now matched by a new, peculiar, latest 21st century’s affliction to our lives – the fear of being out of contact with the mobile phone. Millions apparently, suffer from “no mobile phobia” which has been given the name “nomophobia”, one of the weirdest and most bizarre of phobias.

It’s very common with everyone today and specially the youth that we are taking up an addiction with the phone today. It’s observed that people start getting uncomfortable, rather restless when there is a delay or when there are no phone calls or texts or even no coverage.

Whatever it is people now make sure that their cells have credit currency; so much so, that the youth have cut down their coffee intake for the sake of the currency in their cell. And believe me; the student community doesn’t spend even a part of their pocket money on eating or other necessities like stationery. Instead, a major portion goes to the recharge.

You must have been bombarded by your parents with the question “Where does all your cell balance go so fast? Hadn’t you recharged it yesterday itself?” Now who on earth would explain them where it went? I mean it’s the era of communication, with Saif and Deepika engraving it in our minds through their movie-Love Aaj Kal. But our parents won’t understand it; rather they don’t want to understand it.

Well, young people, in their insatiable quest to embrace the new, have quickly adopted these devices into their lives in ways that emphasize the unique experience of the phone. The youth today believes in socializing, making friends, making so called “contacts” in this money-hungry, competitive world.

Blame it on service providers, who’ve made it extremely convenient to get a recharge – like vouchers and coupons starting from 10 INR, which enables anyone to get it done, various college special schemes, for low call rates, free SMSes, national-local calling, calling cards, MMS, GPRS, online-recharge and now even credit recharge. What more is needed for enticing people? Why won’t people turn into nomophobes?

An add on to this enticement is the need for communication in the fast and stressful lives of the people. What’s better than a cup of coffee and a long chat with an old friend or even chat sessions over the SMS with your spouse after a troubled, polluted, busy day?

Cell phones have revolutionized wireless communication and have broken geographical barriers and shrunk the distance involved in global communication. They have changed the socio-cultural-economic dynamics of communities and countries. Cell phones are enabling people to create their own micro-cultures; they are changing cultural norms and values, and demonstrating the consumer’s ability to modify and repurpose technology for their own use. On that note we sign off. Rather, switch off!

Zeeba Baig

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://flic.kr/p/6ZY971]

Today, the White House shall celebrate after losing out on the 2016 Olympics bid. President Barack Obama has just been announced to this year’s winner for the Nobel Prize for Peace. But was he really a deserving a candidate?

Twitter user, Anantpal Saluja makes a stark comparison of this event with the International India Film Awards which has become a regular platform for awarding the Bachchans. Though, the Nobel Prize committee mentions Obama got the award “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Amit Paranjape makes a point that since when did they start giving out awards based on hope and a promise for a better world?

An online article stating the common misconceptions about the Novel Prize mentions that peace, human rights and democracy efforts often awarded before hand to encourage those who receive to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.

The twitter world is mixed with emotions, some obviously happy and some perplexed over the announcement. We wonder how this is possible as the nomination deadlines were the 1st of February, which was hardly a month since Obama took over the office.

Human right activists like Hu Jia in China and Afghanistan and political figures in Africa were seen as the likely candidates for the Peace prize.

Weeks of abstinence and finally after dangling the proverbial carrot in front of hardcore football lover’s, starts another season of Premier League Football and along with it comes the plethora of views of pundits and critics and football lovers across the world analyzing every nook and cranny of every team. For what it’s worth, they do a mighty swell job at it and I for one love it.

Traditionally been regarded as the Big Daddies of English football, the Big Four, which are Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, have many fans across all demographics spanning many geographic locations. But who is to say that you limit your choices to just these? Aston Villa and Everton put up a good show last year. Harry has done a mighty swell job with the Spuds this time around and the team that has by far hogged most of the limelight this season, Manchester City. So that is eight teams vying for that ‘Top Four’ tag and better still, a place in the elite of Europe.

Arsenal has a young team with a smart manager. And even after losing Adebayor and Kolo Toure to big money spender’s City, he brought in only Vermaelen and how well that signing has turned out for him. Wenger seems to be placing too much faith in his young squad and boy-oh-boy do they deliver the goods. They have had a blow-hot-bow-cold start to the season losing to both the Red and the Blue halves of Manchester but thrashing Everton opening day and also showing Wigan the right way to play football. As always is the concern with Wenger’s squads, injuries plague their limited squad and a puny bench only reiterates that the season is going to be a long one for them.

Liverpool seems to be the hardest hit out of the big four in the transfer market losing their midfield engine, Alonso to Madrid. They got Aquilani in, a poor man’s replacement by any standards to the player they lost. Glen Johnson the only other notable addition to the squad. And they have struggled. Yes the season is still in the nascent stages but Rafa seems to be feeling the heat already.

Chelsea by far remains the team unchanged with Yuri Zhirkov the only notable addition to the London based team. And with Ancolleti brought in by owner Abramhovich, they seem to have regained that streak of brilliance and poise that was lacking the Londoner’s for many years. However if they are unable to overturn the ban on buying new players by FIFA due to their escapades, they are going to well and truly suffer.

Manchester United lost their biggest player Ronaldo to Real Madrid in a big money move and then Tevez also moved to across town rivals. And the Gaffer brought in Owen, Valencia, Obertan and Diouf as replacements to shore up his squad and none of them seem to have made the sort of an impact that we thought they would. 22 years at the top does get in that sort of confidence though and if the Gaffer is happy with the squad, dare we question him? United have undoubtedly struggled in life without Ron and Tevez albeit getting the results that matter. Remains to be seen how the season will pan out for the Champions of three years. Burnley did give the Champions a kick in their teeth with a defeat early in the season and that seems to have woken them from their slumber for they have been up and running since, across town rivals City, their latest conquest.

Everton got pounded by Arsenal opening gameweek and it seems to have gone downhill for them hence. The sale of Lescott hasn’t gone down too well with the team and is going to take Manager, David Moyes all the skill and composure to pull the Merseyside team out from this rut. And Aston Villa too have had no notable conquests this season until now. Going by numbers from the last few seasons, I expect both these teams to bounce back from this debacle. But still can’t help exclaim, “Was it all a farce?”

The biggest shockers for me this season have been Spurs under Harry. They have been playing well and had a 100% win record including the defeat of the Scousers till United defeated them and then they lost to Chelsea. Still, taking nothing away from them, another North Londoner team that looks impressive this season and they have played three already out of the eight big games already so we can expect to see more from them..

And for the biggest party-poopers of this season, City manager Hughes seems to have done a great job at angering a lot of teams across the Barclays Premier League. Sparky has been labeled a renegade in the Red half of Manchester and that seems to have given him that extra boost to prove his detractors wrong. And though he lost the first battle, he will be looking to right the statistics. With big Arab money backing him, Sparky lapped up Tevez from United, probably the most inciting of his transfers. Then he got Adebayor and Toure from the Gunner’s, hooked Lescott from Everton and then snapped up Santa Cruz from Rovers and Barry from Villa angering both Villa and Liverpool in the process. He was bold enough to try and poach Terry from Chelsea too. Sparky surely has made more enemies than friends this season. As for the record, City seems to have done a great job till date, playing good football and demolishing traditionally strong teams like Arsenal. They fell short by a whisker and perhaps bad luck to their biggest rival’s United but they seem to have found that perfect balance of attack and defense. Is Manchester City the next big thing in England and Europe?

This season is going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride and you are not going to hear me complain. I love to see the competition and if the ‘Big Four’ remains the same or does change, hell, I love the football way too much to really care.

Mark Rodricks, Guest Correspondent

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://flic.kr/p/6CB6Eo]

The Nehru Cup is back to Delhi and it has brought back the hopes and expectations of the 2007 edition that India nicked, against the then favorites Syria. Team India is expected to do well on their home turf under the stewardship of coach Bob Houghton who has been a lucky talisman for the underachievers of Asian football since the past two years.

The Nehru Cup hosted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has seen India take the top honors on just one occasion in the past in 13 tournaments spanning from the year 1982 to 2007. A lot depends on Houghton to right these statistics, and he has been working tirelessly towards that end.

The 2009 edition of the Nehru Cup, from August 19^th to August 31^st, will be played at the Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi and will have five teams vying for top honors namely: India, Syria, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka in a round-robin format. AIFF has dropped Palestine for saying they would send their ‘B’ team for the competition.

Kyrgyzstan ranked 160 in the world are the lowest ranked team in this edition. Sri Lanka ranked 156, and hands down the tournament’s push-over team, would look at this edition to try and make a mark on the Asian footballing circuit.Lebanon at world ranking 148 come into this tournament with the intention of making the Asian footballing  power-horses believe that they are a team that cannot be taken lightly. Physically strongest in the edition, Lebanon take pride in their Chelsea ‘diamond formation’ style of play and will clearly be very tough to beat. Syria at world ranking 95 is the tournament’s highest ranked team and clear favorites to take the title. Coach Fajr Ibrahim has vowed to take India to the cleaner’s especially after they were beaten 1-0 by the hosts in the previous edition.

The hosts India, ranked 156, go into the competition on a high after training in Dubai for 10 days and then participating in a fitness camp at the Mecca of Football, ‘The Camp Nou’ home of Barcelona Football club for a month. Bob Houghton is upbeat about the progress of the team and fancies his chances at the title after the training away from home soil. India has all first choice players fit and at Houghton’s disposal and should come up with the goods when asked for. After the Rs 25 Crore grant sanctioned by the BCCI for the Indian football team, the Nehru Cup will be a yardstick to measure all future successes.

India lost 0 – 1 to Lebanon in the opening fixture but still have a chance of making it to the finals if they can take 7 points from their remaining games. Here’s wishing them all the very best!

On a personal note in favor of football I quote the footballing genius Bill Shankly, “Some people think football is a matter of life and death… I can assure them it is much more serious than that.”

Mark Roddicks, Guest Writer

Ed – note: The Tossed Salad team wishes Team India all the best, may the victory be ours!

[ratings]

[image courtesy: http://bit.ly/11L97B]