ERP Assignment 1

I was ten when it happened: Father was diagnosed with cancer. The disease was in its third stage, with half a chance of abating. It was proverbially a bolt from the blue. Our family was leading a happy life, with no experience of any form of dearth and no shortages of small luxuries. Life was like a bed of roses for us, but when the sole breadwinner of the family became ill, this was to change.

Father's medical bills were initially taken care of without much hassle as he was a scrupulous planner and had saved a quarter of whatever he earned ever since he started working, all for a rainy day. However, this was not for long. Three months and various palliative treatments later, his condition did not improve. To add insult to injury, he would be on no-pay leave from then on until he came back for work, as he was absent for so long.

The ill-effects hit home when no car came to pick me up from school. My doting and jovial father always picked me up, ever-smiling while asking, "How was your day?" All this ended when the car had to be sold to meet expenses. More such instances were to come. I started seeing a lot less of Mother, after she took up a job. Piano and tennis lessons were stopped. Small luxuries, such as sweets and gifts, began to get rare. Mother had explained the gravity of the situation before, but I could not adjust with the sudden depravation. Every evening after Mother came home, I used to rant about the difficulties I encountered, and all she could do was smile sadly.

The list of complaints was also repeated during the daily visits to the hospital. Father's hair had disappeared, and his haggard face looked at me intently whenever I spoke. He never let me see the pain he was going through; he was always smiling and trying to look normal while asking the usual question. But it pained me to see him in such a condition. We always stayed by his bedside until he slept, and we always returned home teary-eyed.

It was a relief when he got well enough to come home. Despite his weak state, he made it is point to go to work at least thrice a week to make life comfortable once again. Mother tried pointlessly to stop him, often resorting to screaming- after all, Father winced whenever he walked and incessantly coughed. Although the tough times were still not over, he kept surprising me with small treats that had become non-existent when he was in hospital. I realized that he was trying to give me back whatever I had missed during the nine months. This was clear one resplendent afternoon, when I saw a car coming to pick me up from school. Father had rented a car right after I mentioned that grievance, and the look of accomplishment on his face as he asked "How was your day?" became indelible in my memory. That incident pulled both of us closer than ever before.

The tough times eventually disappeared with all its effects, but only one effect remained in the family- we became closer to each other in a way we would never have been without experiencing the adversity.

Avishek Mondal (2)

3I

IPL- To move, or not to move?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has now made a habit to come up with a series of 'firsts'- first domestic Twenty20 tournament, first tournament in cricket to replicate the glamour of the English Premier League, and now, the first service to be outsourced out of India. The hit cricket series that dominated TV channels in the subcontinent is being shipped out of the country to South Africa. This has led to an outcry from millions of Indians who have rallied around this matter in far greater numbers difficult to replicate in the upcoming elections. While the organizers have set about making the public see reason in their decision, only one thing reverberates in every Indian's mind- what is Indian should stay Indian.

Envisioned by the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI), the IPL is tailored to equal the greatness of the English Premier League (EPL). In its inaugural season in 2008, it put US$1 billion into the BCCI's coffers. However, this year, this tournament is being moved to South Africa and this has incensed many Indians. I myself am enraged with this decision, especially after realizing the reason given by the tournament organizers is fallacious and the potential negative consequences.

The only reason given by the organizers for this almost heretical move is the lack of security that can be provided to the players and spectators of this tournament. The IPL coincides with the general elections of the world's largest democracy, and policing this mammoth exercise will be hundreds of thousands of police and paramilitary forces from all states. This leaves precious few armed forces for safeguarding the tournament. Security of cricket cannot be taken for granted anymore, not after what happened to the Sri Lankan players in Lahore, Pakistan. Gunmen open fired on the team bus carrying the players, something unprecedented in the history of cricket. With little security forces present to stop any armed psychopaths from coming to the matches, the organizers have reasoned, the IPL could be a killing ground if it is hosted in India, and shatter India's global image, as compared to a mere smear with the IPL moving out. However, this is a sophistic subterfuge, and in my opinion, shows the unwillingness of the organizers to go the extra step for the IPL. The lack of state-sponsored security can be compensated by installing private security arrangements. The IPL funds will definitely allow this to happen, but it is not the easier way out for them. The delusional excuse of the dearth of security arrangements is an attempt by the incompetent organizers to mask their apathy.

There are several arguments why this tournament should not have moved out of the country.

The main argument for not moving the IPL out is that, by moving the IPL out of the country because of the fear of terrorist attacks simply sends the message that the inhumane tactics of terrorists are working. The main aim of terrorism is to create terror in people's minds, by blowing bombs and killing people in front of them, so that they cannot carry on with their lives normally. Their success lies in the failure of people to carry on with their daily tasks. The IPL was what all Indians followed, because it is a home-grown tournament made by Indians for Indians and it was a gem of India. They took great pains and pride to follow this tournament, and this was part of almost every Indian's daily routine. This failure in carrying out a part of the daily routine occurred because of the actions of terrorists, and this is where the schizoids can claim their success. So, in effect as it can be seen, by moving IPL out of the country because of terrorism will disrupt something that was done regularly by Indians, and send the message that terrorism actually works in the country.

The second argument is something more pragmatic and something more down-earth. By moving the IPL to South Africa, the tournament will make less profit. This is because of two reasons. Firstly, there would be a loss in revenues. To South Africans, cricket is simply a pastime, and to Indians, it is religion. Therefore, South Africans are much less inclined to spend their money on watching matches live in the stadiums. So, ticket sales in South Africa can be called to a drop in the ocean of money Indians would have been willing to spend on ticket sales. In addition to this, money made from broadcasting this tournament will also be much lesser compared what it would have been had the IPL been hosted in India. This is once again because South Africans will be unwilling to spend money subscribing to channels that show the IPL. Besides this, TV viewership from India will also fall, as a result of the time difference the two countries have. Because of these two collective causes, the IPL will get less revenue. The second reason to a smaller profit would be the increased expenses. The causes of this are many, ranging from increased tax and broadcasting rights rates to moving the entire competition, its players etc, to another continent altogether. Thus, as it can be seen, downsized revenues and inflated expenses will reduce the profits the tournament makes, and this will be detrimental to the future of the competition.

Although for now Indians will have to say alvida to the IPL for now, this should not have happened. The reason given by the organizers is ridiculous; what is claimed to be problem is evidence of dispassion on their part. When the IPL moves, it will bring along with it many problems, and leave behind some benefits. This move is detrimental not only to itself, but also to India. It is a score for enemies of the state, by successfully disrupting one aspect of almost every Indian's daily routine. All in all, the tournament should have stayed in India.