Top memories of 2008 – Part – III
MEMORY # 5 (for memories 3 & 4 ) – Chandrayaan – Indian mission to the moon
- Lift off of Indian mission to the moon – A cracking real rocket for Deepavali
Chandrayaan is the Sanskrit word meaning moon vehicle. This vehicle was special. Indian scientists working from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Sriharikota about 80 km north of Chennai successfully launched the India’s first unmanned lunar exploration mission on 22 October 2008.
Though, USA had sent man to the moon almost 40 years before (in 1969) this achievement by Indian scientists is very creditable and pushed higher in the knowledge map of the world.
Interestingly, the scientists spent less than 5% of the budget allocation made over three years. Times of India cheered this achievement with a headline story “How India flew to the moon economy class“.
The vehicle to the moon costed half the price of a jumbo jet.
As the scientists leaped in joy after the successful launch and positioning of the vehicle in the orbit, a statement was made to the world that India has truly arrived as an important force in the space research. Mr. Mylswamy Annadurai (joined ISRO in 1982) was the proud project director for the mission and had worked with former President of India Mr. Abdul Kalam (don’t know if Mr. Annadurai was mentored by the great man).
It is noteworthy that while many of his batchmates had taken up jobs abroad after completing their engineering graduation, Mr. Annadurai decided to serve the country and joined ISRO despite having the opportunity to go abroad. He and his team (who were no less contributors for the success of this project) deserve all the applause for this fantastic achievement.
MEMORY # 6 (for memories 3 & 4 ) – Sports, it is not just cricket
In sports there were several unforgettable moments to choose from.
In Cricket, the auction of players for IPL 2008 which saw a staggering price of US $ 1.5 million paid for M S Dhoni for playing in Chennai Superkings team, Indian and South African team’s victorious run chases in Chennai and Perth respectively, India’s 2-0 triumph over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the advent of a freakish spinner in Ajanta Mendis for Srilanka, his decimation of Indians in the Asia Cup and the subsequent test match series, retirement Anil Kumble and the colorful Saurav Ganguly come to mind.
In other sports, there was this epic Wimbledon Men’s singles final between Raphael Nadal and Roger Federer that was exciting, nail biting and breathe taking at the same time. Not since the clash between Bjorn Borg and the mercurial John McEnroe (1981) in my tennis watching career (!) I have seen a match of this class and competition.
Then there was the crowning glory of Indian Chess Maestro Viswanathan Anand winning the world crown in Tennis.
To pick a single unforgettable moment among all of this makes me fumble with choices and finally I narrowed down to three (I am sorry that I could not choose only one from these three).
a) The retirement of Saurav Ganguly: India’s most successful and most aggressive captain ever Saurav played the game with true emotion. When he was leading the team, it was as if all the Indian cricket fanatics were compressed into his figure and sent out to play the game. In my memory, no one else from India played the game with such emotion and never say die spirit.
- Saurav Ganguly removing and waving his shirt from Lords Balcony
He was written off as a goner after that forgettable spat with the then Indian Coach Greg Chappell. But, a true fighter that Saurav is, he wowed to quit the game on his terms and high glory. When he was reinstated back into the team there were rumours that no player was willing to even speak to him fearing BCCI backlash.
I personally thought that he was reinstated (in the middle of the South African tour) with a specific purpose to seal his future once and for all. No one would have thought then that he will use that opportunity to come back into the Indian team and play like he did till his last test series.
Sourav Ganguly will be missed on the cricket field by all of us. I personally will never forget the “shirt removing act” from the balcony of pavilion of Lords in 2002. But there are several fans with memories of other fabulous moments in his career. Read some of them here. And also read this moving post of tribute for Saurav Ganguly.
b) Sachin Tendulkar’s century in Chennai: Sachin Tendulkar, the demigod of Cricket in India, had scored 40 test match centuries till he walked out to play in the Indian second innings (fourth innings of the match) against England. Many of those 40 centuries also had contributed in Indian victories.
- Sachin, sweeping for a four, winning the match for India & shaking off the cross he bore for 40 centuries
But, all through his illustrious career, till that Chennai test match, he carried the cross that he never scored a hundred when it mattered most, that is, when India was chasing a score to win a match. All those tons that he had made and the tons of runs that had flowed from his bat mattered little when someone placed a counter about the lack of a winning ton in the fourth innings.
He had come close to achieving that in an earlier match in Chennai, when he had almost taken India to victory against Pakistan in 1999. He had to wait for 9 more years before the cross was off his back.
A remarkably crafted century in the Chennai test against England ensured that after 32years India once again came victorious chasing a 350+ total in the fourth innings of a test match . True to his nature, Sachin Tendulkar dedicated the century and the victory to the Mumbaikars slowly recovering from the wounds of the deadly terror strike of 26/11.
The previous occasion and till date best for India is scoring 406/4 to beat the West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1976, two little masters, Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath threw their weight and scored centuries to snatch that victory for India. I remember hearing the recorded radio commentary of that in the early hours of the day as there was no television at that time to see the match or the highlights. 
I however, re-lived that glorious win of 1976 watching the score card of that match again here.
Vishwanathan Anand, the mighty King on Indian Chess board
c) Brain crown - Viswanathan Anand’s world championship win in Chess: It was in early 80s when I first heard about Anand. My classmate in eleventh standard, Vasu, who had more than a passing interest in chess (he was actually playing tournaments in Mikhail Tal Chess club in Chennai), mentioned about Vishy. At that time Anand was a budding star and my friend was amazed by the range that Anand had and his rapid fire moves.
Speed is Anand’s strength in chess. He could beat the best in the game in lightning chess (also known as fast chess or blitz chess) even if he was half asleep. When asked about why he made his moves so fast, he is said to have replied “if I think on the moves, I also give time for my opponent to think”.
Another time I heard about Anand was when I went to see my batch mate in CA at his house. My friend’s father was a famous astrologer and worked for the railways where Anand’s father was also working at that time. My friend’s father, known as “Pulipaani Jothidar” showed us a small photo of Anand to us and told us that he had predicted to Anand’s parents that his son would scale much greater heights and win world titles in the years to come. Anand had already crossed some great milestones by 1985 (when I met my friend’s astrologer father) but the predictions were made when Anand was much younger.
I kept following Anand’s progress in Chess through the years as I liked not only his style of play and but also his totally disarming smile and humble personality. Then, I had the privilege of flying with him to Chennai. Not that I knew him pesonally. But, I was flying from New Delhi to Chennai and Anand was the co-passenger sitting next to me in that flight. I think it was 1989. He was his humble self and was more keen on sleeping durign the flight than involving in petty talks. All I could achieve in that pleasant encounter was getting an autograph of him.
In my view, Anand’s achievement in Chess is much greater than what is achieved by the more glamourous Indian cricketers, simply because he excels in an Indididual sport and which involves thinking and strategy. He might not have got as much publicity in India that he deserves but he is certainly revered by many Indians in the same silent and humble manner that Anand carries himself.
His winning the world championship title in 2008 beating the Vladimir Kramnik is the crowning glory for India in sports. He richly deserved the reception he got on his return to India after winning the title.
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