Dec 2009
We are back with our second issue in the month of December.
December is the month when we recap the good and the great moments that left us by.TheBanyanTrees keeping in tradition has made “Reflection” the theme for this month.
Happy Reading! You can read the magazine by clicking on the issuu link below or by clicking on the article links that are listed .
Buy the print version from here
Short Stories
Some Salt,Some Lime, A Song and A Wedding.
What is a wedding without some innocent pranks? Sirpy Jayaprakasam weaves a funny story amidst the backdrop of a good old south Indian wedding
Downcast
The rains bring memories, and Asha walks home drenching in the rain ,carrying the rain drops that seem to grow heavier with each drop.
I watch
A short story by Dhivya Arasappan about the life of a woman as seen by the most unusual member in her life.
Upon Reflection
A short story by filarial about a student, his teacher and his dangerous quest to find the ultimate truth!
Series
Draupadi
“Manasa starts episode 1 of her running series Draupadi. She leaves you gasping for more,yearning to know the secret that Draupadi learns on her death bed.”
Sports
Twenty…on to thirty
Karthik Krishna reminisces about God’s incarnation in the cricket field, Sachin Tendulkar, on his twentieth year in International Cricket.
Poetry
Yet Another Monsoon Rain
Anuradha Chandrasekaran looks back at the wonderful memories she created during the monsoons through this poem
A day that approaches…
Raghuram Godavarthi in this poem ponders about the inevitable
Travel
A Path to Heaven
Prajakta Bhasale describes her trip to the beautiful, serene and unblemished northeastern states of India
Columns
Dude! Where is my coffee?
It is all about finding your prince/swan among the sea of frogs and ducks. Dreamvendor talks about wading
through dozens of frogs and ducks before you find your prize catch in his column
Entertainment
Pearls Among Swine
Aditya Srikrishna evaluates the 5 movies that have been the most underrated in bollywood in 2009
Book Review
Divya Ramachandran reviews the book “The case of the missing servant by Vish Puri”.
Science
Scientifically Literate
Dhivya Arasappan talks about the 5 most intriguing discoveries of this year in the world of science
Refreshing Rendezvous
Students recounting their once in a lifetime meeting with India’s former president. Dr.A.P.J Abdul Khalam
To check out our photography section, check out the web version by clicking on the magazine link above.
Twenty .. on to Thirty
A straight batted solid tap past the bowler, a quick run and punch in the air brought up his 43rd century and 30,065th international run for India. Roll the clock back 20 years and 6 days. A firm footed on drive of a steamy Waqar delivery to the boundary. A curly haired sixteen year old Sachin in a white helment had just scored his first runs in international cricket on a dry-brown Karachi wicket. What about that mighty square cut of Akhtar during the knock of his life at the world cup in South Africa? What about the lightning quick pull shot for six of Andrew Caddick? What about the mighty lofted back-foot straight sixes of Kasprowicz? What about dancing down the leg side to heave Shane Warne over the Anna pavilion at Chennai and the many paddle sweeps? What about that mighty googly to Moin Kahn and that unforgettable three wicket last over in the Titan cup against South Africa?
From there to the deserts of Sharjah, the highlands of South Africa to the shores of Chennai, Sachin has revealed his master class to everyone who has watched him play. Remember his century and 90+ innings in the VB series finals, remember his 175 against Australia a few weeks back. From his first run to most recent, every run, fifty and century he scores to every time he takes the field there is something special – there’s something “Sachin” about it. Is it the effort? Is it the experience? Is it the class? Is it the talent? Surely, Sachin isn’t getting older, he is just getting better.
The quick hands, the ever fast feet, the steady head or the heavy bat haven’t changed and neither has his humility, simplicity or level headed behavior. One thing though has definitely changed – expectation.
That first boundary off Waqar, no one expected. His one run and that punch in the air – a billion did. For the masses, every century becomes an “I told you so” event. Perhaps his greatness and genius lies in this fact that he has higher expectations of himself than what a billion people have of him. His confidence, focus and self-belief every single time he steps on to the crease are unparalleled in the cricketing world and are perhaps thereason he is the most respected cricketer to date. Never in cricket history has someone been so feared and so respected at the same time by opposition teams.
Very rarely in sport is a person lucky enough to serve his nation in such high standing, but in Sachin’s case perhaps it is India that has been lucky enough to have his service for twenty great years. Many a player has become famous just for the fact that they have been associated in some form, even negatively with Sachin. Kasparowitcz is perhaps the greatest example. What is remembered of him is the trashing he got from the great man in Sharjah – Sachin’s own Operation Desert Storm. Maybe the secret to Sachin’s longevity, fame and success is his love for the game. Doubts were raised when Sachin couldn’t score a century early in his career, doubts were raised when he went down with a tennis elbow, doubts where raised when he lost his captaincy, doubts were raised when one saw Sachin in every other ad on TV. His answer was always the same – more RUNS!There is something in a Mcenroe that isn’t in a Borg. There is something in a Woods that isn’t in a Singh, There is something in a Federer that isn’t in a Roddick. There is something in a Schumacher that isn’t in a Hakkenien. That something isn’t talent, it isn’t class, it isn’t confidence – it’s beyond all that. That something is indeed what separates the good from the great and the great from the demigods. If you ever have doubts about Sachin’s demigod status – just ask Warne, McGrath or even Akthar!!
Don’t count the twenty years….If Amitabh and Abhishek can act together, why can’t Sachin and Arjun one day play together? I am sure Sachin can 
Karthik Krishna
