As this week draws towards its end, various events flash across my mind. Notable among these are the India's dismal performance in the World Cup Hockey, the shameless and mindless violence in Gujarat, and India's loss to Zimbawbe in the First Cricket One Dayer. Last but not the least, was my viewing the movie "Ek Doctor ki Maut".

A question then immediately comes to my mind. Are these events anyhow related? Prima facie, there seems no evidence between sporting losses, religious riots, and medical discoveries. The disparities in these topics notwithstanding, my heart laments that there is a connection, a connection that I can only feel, but cannot state.

Before I continue with this hypothesis, first let me express my deepest regret on all these events. The hockey team went to Malaysia with great expectations. In the end however, it came a dismal tenth. More than the loss, what I feel is that Indian hockey suffers because of its past, a glorious past, a past which somehow seems nowhere in sight. The situation is similar to a great sporting champion reproaching his son for not living up to expectations for which he was once famous for. In such a scenario, does the fault lie with the child who fails to live up to expectations, or the father who carries such unrealistic expectations. Burdens of expectations can be highly detrimental to growth. And I fear Indian hockey has to grope with this problem. In the process, more important issues like discussing strategies is relegated to the backburner. Thus, whenever India is one goal down, the fear of an ignominious defeat haunts them. And this fear inevitably leads to doom and defeat.

The cricket team is no different. It is however fortunate that it does not have to carry the baggage that the hockey team carries. Still, losing to minnows like Zimbawbe, that too when their last three batsmen muster more than sixty runs in last six overs, is tragic to say the least.

I am no expert of either hockey or cricket to ascribe reasons to the defeats. But what I can definitely say is that we flounder in the basics. That we fail to learn from our mistakes. And commit the same mistake again and again.

And this statement leads me to the violence in Gujarat. First it happened during partition. Then it happened again in 1992 when Babri Masjid was demolished. And now the horrendous demon has raised its devilish head again.

Every one bemoans the killing. Every one finds it tragic. But it has happened again and again. There was some justification when it happened during partition. The event had ruptured a country and it was natural that the land would bleed. But in 1992, was it justified? And for a moment, if we accept that with a heavy heart, can we do the same for the latest event too?

I am engieer. My foreign client, who is scheduled to come to India, asks me what is happening in Gujarat? What answer do I give to him?

What is most ironic about this is I fail to understand that as a nation, what are our priorities? People might argue that the common man becomes a puppet to the machinations of shrewd men, who do this for money, power or pelf. But where is this common man? Who is this common man? And if there exists any such entity, when will that entity take control over his actions. When will he stand up and say that I cannot be manipulated.

Having said many things, I come back to the connection. The connection is in the lack of discipline. An indiscipline that manifests in everyday life. I come out of the parking lot, only to bring my car to a screeching halt because another driver is heading towards me, wrong-side and head-on. I disembark from my car, and reprimand the driver for his errant behavior. He pleads that he does not know, knowing well that it was those few seconds that he was saving. Some other day, another driver may come his way. That driver may not take the pains to get down. The driver may be knocked. He may die. But the indiscipline will continue.

Do I sound cynical? Do I sound incoherent? I don't know. But there is so much to say. So much to rectify. So much wrong to be undone. A beginning has to be made. May be this weekly, fortnightly or monthly report makes a difference. Just that little difference.

Wait for more.