My Top 10 Books - 2021

 Hello Everyone

It’s that time of the year when lists come out, whatever it be about it has to be a list. I just thought this year I too would do a list. Why not? So here it is, my list of top 10 books that I have read this year.

These are not the books released this year but the books I have read during the year irrespective of when they released. Many you will know that I have a personal goal of reading 36 or more books in the year. These consist of books (as we know them) kindle editions and even audiobooks (my new muse). I am picking my top 10 of the year for you. If you have already read them and have an opinion, feel free to share with me, and if you have not read but the review does interest you then add it to your reading list for 2022.

The top 10 List for 2021: (Ratings are purely mine and have no external benchmark.) 

 

•   The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah- Rating 9.5/10 - Paperback 

My Review: A book I read a year after I was gifted the book and what a read it turned out to be. What a story!!!. A tale based on real incidents, one that had to be told and made me think why more people have not written about the role women played in the second world war. The women had an equally important role to play, and they also truly served those who remained behind and truly lived through the war. If you (like me) cry while reading the books, then last 50 pages will need many a handkerchief. Heartfelt yet tough yet tender. All I can say is if you have not read it then go for it. Make it a definite read.

•   The Spy and the traitor: The greatest espionage story of the cold war by Ben Macintyre – Rating: 9.5/10 -Audio Book 

My Review: If you have grown up reading thrillers, let me assure you this real-life story beats all thrillers hands down. It is a true story and yet you are on the edge almost every page you turn. A part of history, an event like very few others in the history of espionage. Hats off to MI6 team for standing by their man till the end. If you want to begin your audio book journey this can be a perfect first book. In real life when you think you have a fairy tale ending think again for we all have our own ideas about how we would like it to end.

•   Real Life by Brandon Taylor - Rating: 9/ 10 - Paperback 

My review: A book that must be read many times as once is not enough. I say this because book is layered multiple times over. It has layers of race, sexuality, aspiration, friendship and relationships. A book about struggle of knowing and finding oneself. A book that shares as much as it is silent about. A book that is restless yet moves at its own pace. A thinking person’s book that will give a lot to you yet take something away as it touches you.

•   Anxious People by Fredrick Backman – Rating: 8.5/10 - Hardback 

My Review: A book about nothing yet everything. A story that is about randomness and the chaos it seemingly creates but as they say in chaos and randomness lies the order for those who have the ability to see it. An interesting bunch of characters that make you laugh, frustrate you, excite you, are wicked and mean and yet when you look back you can see the connection which always existed. If you are a Blackman fan it’s time to pick it up if you have not yet. (For the uninitiated he is the same author who wrote - A man called Ove)

•   Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance – Rating: 8/10 – Audio Book 

My Review: I have been wanting to read about Elon Musk for some time and after some finding decided to pick up with book by Ashley Vance. I am so glad I did. This book will absolutely open your mind and inspire you to dream. It is a book about dreaming big, challenging the norms, about Elon’s conviction in self. A fair representation of Elon’s challenges, his dreams, his self-belief, his idiosyncratic attitude, his erratic way of working and yet his clarity and mantras of success. It also left me with a question- Do  successful entrepreneurs need to be brutal? Go read it if you want to know about the man who has the power to influence the fortune of almost everything by a measly tweet and is also the Time Person of year 2021.

•   Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski -Rating: 8/10 - Kindle 

My Review: It’s a book that had been on my Wishlist and wanted to read for many many years and finally one day I just got to it or as I opened my kindle it just called out. A story set in cold war era Poland depicts the challenges life and forbidden love faces in communist Poland. It details how life was behind the iron curtain but is a love story and not a political essay. A prose that is beautiful to read, lyrical at times and truly heartfelt. Written in the voice of the protagonist yet holds the reader at every page and is like a journey where survival triumphs love.

•   Alchemy: The surprising power of ideas that don’t make sense by Rory Sutherland- Rating 8/10 Paperback 

My Review: A book about stories of interplay between logic and behavioural patterns. It talks about kinds of logic, when to do more and when to do nothing at all. It is about sitting up, reading, noticing things around you, paying attention to ideas and patterns that make absolutely no sense yet can be the answer to the questions we all are facing and would make life easier for you and me. Challenge yourself go read it. Will surely make you think more and observe more.

•   Still Life: A graphic Novel by Anoushka khan – Rating: 8/10 - Hardback 

My Review: I have discovered the graphic novels in last 18-24 months in a big way and this one truly stood out and moved me by the power of storytelling. A story so simple, told with emotions and pain and so so much longing that it tugs you. A love story that says so little, leaves so much unsaid and yet the reader knows it and feels it.

•   American Kingpin: The epic hunt for the criminal mastermind behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton - Rating: 8/10 -Audio book 

My Review: A book as you keep reading you keep saying could not be true, did this actually happen, how come I never heard of it earlier? You marvel at the story and question it at the same time. I could not decide if Ross was a mastermind or just plain naive and idealist? Am still left with many questions like why did Ross not vanish, or give up or go away? This is one book where I wish Ross Albright would one day write his side of the story and answer the questions. It made me follow him on Twitter despite him being in prison.

•   Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start-up by John Carreyrou - Rating: 7.5/10 Audio book

My Review: A story about a start-up, its rise and rise and rise and then the mighty fall. Unbelievable and so unreal that it amazes you that it actually happened. A female founder who is feted and celebrated by the world as a star only to be surprised by the blackholes. A real-life story of fake it till you make it at its best. Also, a superb example of how and when founders lose their moral compass. Read it for knowing how you can fool all the people and almost, just almost get away. A tad too long for comfort but then investigative books do go into details. You can also follow the Trail of the founder currently underway in US courts 

 

As I started to write I thought I would struggle to find my top 10 and now I am struggling to limit the list to top 10. If you want to know, more feel free to go to Goodreads and look up my list.

 

Thank you for reading the blog and wish you a super reading 2022.

 

 

 

Goodbye Sir!

Dear NNR,

Its been 13 days today and I have thought of you every day. Ever since I heard the news I was like wish I had another chance to speak to you. I know it is not possible to have that conversation so instead I have decided to write a letter to you hoping that it will get to you. 

I still remember the day you had first come to campus to administer a test for placement and I was a hopeful student sitting in the hall writing it, hoping to make it. As president of the college body I did get to interact with the SB team (Yes I had joined when it was still SB) but don’t remember if I had any conversation with you in specific other that you were an alumnus.

We started to interact after you had returned from Thailand stint and I was doing the HR manager role for north sales. Then one day I got to know that I will be working with you directly in the HO doing a role I knew very little about. Those 2 years were great learning and you like true leader gave me the opportunity to do some path breaking work. You shared my disappointment when I was told due to my grade I could not go to the HR offsite to Colombo though I had done all the work for the HR survey that was the basis of the offsite. You like a true leader not only ensured credit came my way despite my absence but also convinced the Sri Lankan Head of HR that he should offer me a project assignment  to work with Sri Lankan business. My first overseas journey and work experience. The joy in my eyes was truly reflected by your smile on seeing it. You have no idea what impact this one thing has had on me and I have paid it forward many a times with many young people in my team.

Our mutual liking for Thai food has been a reason for many meals we shared. Those were times when we spoke openly about issues, views and what we actually thought of people always wishing no one overheard us. Our discussions, jokes, funny anecdotes and stories always made us look forward to next meal as soon as one ended.  Every time I have a good Thai meal I have remembered you and in our next conversation told you about it and even going forward I don’t think I will ever eat one without remembering you. I hope they serve good Thai food in heaven.  

As a leader I still remember our discussion about work like balance wherein you would and I would discuss our views which greatly differed at that time of no laptops and email on mobile times. I later on many times told you how I had modified the thinking and you quietly smiled as if saying I knew experience will bring you around. But thank you for letting me go swimming in the evenings, on the Rooftop of the plaza tower office and then letting me finish work in my tracks post that.

I hope you have had a chance to meet Princess Diana in the heaven. Our mutual liking for her has been only between us and a little known fact. Next time when you speak to her please do tell her about me (I am sure you would have already done). I have had that silver spoon with me for years, the one you got for me when you had gone to London and visited her grave. I have made many visits to London and been thinking of doing the same but never got to. I always said to myself I will also get something for you when I go there but it was never to be. Anyways now that you are a fellow traveler with her enjoy the time and company.

NNR I still remember the conversation you and I had when I was deciding to take up the Aviva Job of Head of HR.  You ended by saying 2 things – its time Amit for you to take that step and do the big job and remember I am there for you 24X7 if you ever need me. I did call you within 45 days feeling lost about an issue and you were in Guhwati and made time to have a long late night conversation. When I took over the business role you told me that’s the way to go and telling me people who get Head of HR jobs early can only do it for a certain period of time. When I called to tell you about the CEO role, I could hear the joy and pride in your voice. Like always, you and I agreed to have a Thai celebration once covid was over and I owe that party to you. 

Diwali will never be the same for us. Having breakfast at your place had become a ritual that all of us Surbhi & boys looked forward to. I know you also looked forward because every time I called before to fix, you would just say yes on Diwali day and that was it. It was like you always telling us, you are family and we always felt it.

You were always so proud of Sandeep and Monica. Every time we spoke you would fill me in on them and I loved to see the father in you always. My constantly teasing you of the time you would not let Sandeep drive the Audi, you in your own way sharing without saying how you missed both kids as they were away from home and finding their own path. 

Not many have known of us to be really close. Its something both of us never much talked about with others. Both of us liked to keep it that way and as I now think back as to why? I have no answer and actually don’t need one too.

I am sure that heavens are treating you well and looking after you.

Its time to let you go NNR, to let you know that you will be missed and remembered. I will cherish our times together always.

Goodbye my boss, my guide and my friend. Till we meet again on the other side for a good Thai meal and long conversation.

Rest in Peace.

 

The President America will never have – HRC!

American Elections are over and in Donald Trump they have their 45^th President Elect and it has been a week of everyone asking how? How did Trump win? More importantly, how did Hillary lose?

Let me begin by confessing upfront I have never been to USA but let me also share that I have been following American politics from 1985 and I have called every election starting 1992 when Bill Clinton won. I have got only 2 elections wrong, first was in 2000 when Al Gore lost to George Bush and now in 2016 when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump but to my credit both time the losing candidate did get more popular votes even if not the politically managed electoral college.

Much has already been written about Hillary’s loss and correctly so because it was her election to lose and she lost it. Yes I am saying it – she is to blame for her loss. Not Donald Trump for calling her lair and threatening to put her into Jail, not the FBI director by his raking up her email controversy a week before voting when everyone thought she had buried it, not the republicans for they were lost themselves and not the chanakya fish which predicted a Trump win.

She did not lose the election in the last week, I think she got it wrong much earlier but did not know it then. In hindsight it’s easy for many like me to give discourse on appear know it all and I plead guilty, still here is my take on 5 key reasons I think why she lost purely based on what I have seen and heard on TV and read about:

• First and foremost as a leader people want to know what you stand for. Hillary always spoke about what she did not stand for. She spoke about what was wrong with Donald, she spoke about why America should not elect him but she did not focus why America should elect her, what she stood for and what an average American could expect of her as a president.  Her campaign slogan – “Stronger together” was fuzzy, unclear and people did not know what to make of it in comparison to Trumps – “Making America Great Again”. Another one “Love Trumps Hate” was more about Trump than her.

• She focused on diversity and forgot about being inclusive and played the woman card a tad too much. Agreed she was the first woman nominee of a major political party and that should have just been that. In her bid to woo the women voters she forgot the American men and they don’t like being ignored. White or black both men did not vote for her and unfortunate for her women did not come out in huge numbers to vote for her too. 54 % women voted for her and 41% men. As an HR person I can tell you for diversity to be successful you have to be inclusive and that clearly means taking men along.

• She was proud of being the establishment and the insider. Her campaign spoke about her experience in the government, her career as a senator and secretary of state and not to forget the FLOTUS. She misjudged that Americans did not want an insider. Barack Obama was not exactly an insider. She lost to him in 2008 and yet did not learn. When an average American has an all time low trust in every American institution today, why would he/she elect an insider? Again her calling Trump the proverbial outsider worked for him and against her. She took the fall for all that is wrong with America today.  As I see it, a choice she made and paid for it in the end.

• She never spoke truly and from the heart. She was never Authentic. In all the debates and rallies that I listened to, while I hated Trump for saying what he said knowing he meant most of it, if not all, I never connected with all the right things she said. They all came across as correct things to say but somewhere seemed to be just words. I have followed her career for long but never heard her talk about Monica scandal, how she felt as a wife, why she stood with Bill (most believe it was for the ticket and donors) how did she feel when she lost to Obama and why she agreed to work with him (her book does not share her true feelings) and on many other occasions when she could have including the email scandal. I think her concession speech was her finest in a long long time where we saw the woman Hillary was and the woman she wanted Americans to vote for. But it was too late by then

• She could not be Trusted.  Yes that is a fact. 70% Americans said they did not trust her and 50% said they hated her in the run up to polls. Her hope was they hated Trump more but alas it was not to be. They chose to forgive Trump and not her. Her manipulation of the nomination race through super delegates, her bad judgment and questionable ethical record which Trump kept harping upon rally after rally in all swing states to rake up his electoral college numbers.

It’s time America had a woman president, after all 240 years is as the saying goes ‘one hell of a long time’ and yet the wait continues. I think sooner than later a woman will hold the oval office but one thing is clear that woman will not be Hillary Clinton. I admire her for coming so close, for her public service, for all the work she did to break the glass ceiling, for being the person she is and I know she will be remembered in history for a president America never had, yet I think she was the “wrong woman” even though the time seemed right. 

Dream comes True - An underdog Wins

World loves an underdog yet till the underdog is sure of winning not many take cognizance. This is true for many of us football lovers who followed the English Premier league this year. 

Leicester City or the Foxes are the champions- New and more importantly first time. Their best result I am told was to be ranked 2 in 1929.  What happened yesterday is a story that happens once is many many years but am sure will be spoken about for many more decades to come. After all 87 years is a long wait to move from best of no 2 to be the champions finally! Before the Harvard's or the Insead's get into trying to know what happened and more importantly how it happened and write case studies I want to share with you a few things that as per me clearly stand out.

• Focus on task at hand – Last year fearing relegation Raneri focused on the task of saving the club from relegation as he took over. He just worked to ensure the club won 7 of its last 9 matches and lived to play in the league this season. Clear lets ‘save the day first’ attitude achieved by going about focusing what to do immediately.

• Build the Dream step by step – I confess I don’t know if, when the season started Raneri had the vision of winning the league but I hope like all coaches he did have it as a dream.  If what I have read can be believed (I am quite trusting of the press here) Raneri first focused on beating the relegation this year. Once that was achieved and during the journey club had defeated some big names did the team actually started to believe they could be in the top 5. When they realized there was a wave they went about riding it as nonchalantly as possible by doing all the right things. A journey of small steps to achieve the dream

• Execute day in and day out – Excellence is not a flash in the pan. It is doing the things right every time. The team did just that. They came out, played like a unit, were brilliant at the basics and whenever a crack appeared whether in their defense or attack it was quietly filled and everyone focused on the job at hand.  

• Team is bigger than an individual – We have seen it so many times (India world cup win 1983) that a group of passionate, determined individuals come together and create history. Same happened here. No big signings, no big names, no big egos and no big dramas just one common purpose and it seemed they had lot of fun playing together.

• Don’t listen to the Naysayers – When Raneri was sacked from Chelsea in 2004 club owner Abramovich claimed to have seen in the future by predicting that Raneri would never win a title in his lifetime. When a lot was written about the great coaches Raneri was talked about a man who was in the game for many decades but had a bare trophy cabinet with nothing to show for. Yet the same man has come from behind to win it all in form of one of the biggest prize game has.

This is the romance of the sport and this victory is magical. Many of us followed the club week on week from it’s a flash in the pan, to disbelief, to it can happen, to its happening and finally to Yeah it has happened set of emotions. A lot will change for Leicester city in next 12 months starting from I don’t think they will be champions next year and will also not be fighting relegation anytime in near future. Their key players like Vardy will be bought by the big boys I mean clubs with deep pockets. Raneri will in a few years be back at another top club / national team. But that is for tomorrow.

Today is all about celebrating, romancing the dream, applauding the victors, believing that fairy tales happen and wishing the team all the very best as they take their rightful place in the Champions League.

Raneri and Boys take a Bow, for you have reinforced in people like me the belief that miracles happen and dreams do come true however impossible they may seem in the beginning. Thank you for that. 

Re-WiRiNg the rules of EnGaGeMeNt

People entering the work force in last decade have forced organizations to think out of the box to engage and connect with them.  Today’s diverse workforce comprises of four different generations namely; Veterans (entering workforce around 1945), Baby boomers (1960), Gen X (1980) and Gen Y (2000). Most Veterans have retired, baby boomers are on the verge of retirement and Gen X likely to retire in another decade or so making Gen Y future of work force.  It is estimated that Gen Y will make 75% of Global Work Force by 2030.

Till date organizations have been dependent on lucrative compensation packages, flexible work arrangements, management support and developmental programs to engage work force. In ever changing organizational fabric there is a shift in outlook and expectations regarding values, ethos, culture and career aspirations. The youth today, in addition to the above mentioned qualities also expects empathy and an intellectual connect from its employer. At the same time, there are ample opportunities available for talents across industries making retention number one priority for most CEO and HR heads.

In this era of digital activism the young talent is adept at using internet technologies. Some are digital natives and some digital adapters but for all bogging, tweeting, sharing ideas and collaborating over internet for solution is an everyday phenomenon.

Given this, it is important to understand that work life balance has now evolved into work life integration wherein employee needs the option to decide from where to work and when to work. This makes it imperative for organizations to adopt latest trends be it access to office intranet, work platforms from remote locations, or BYOD: Bring your own device. Similarly in today’s era, where everyone is hard pressed on time, having tele- presence in office for meetings across locations present a good option of saving employee travel time. Another option is using Skype or Google hangout to conduct meetings, these again provide flexibility in a manner that employee can be a part from home, café etc. Apart from leveraging technology, social media tools can also present an opportunity to develop HR programs which suit the employees’ needs and help develop a bond between the organization and its workforce. As most studies reflect, the attention span of any student is about 2.5 hours. Given this, our Learning & Development programs must change from full day programs to smaller bite sized, customized online learning modules. Organizations must use web chats, video/content sharing to deploy training modules. 

Also, professional networking websites like LinkedIn provide opportunity for organizations to internally know, understand and then leverage skills, qualifications and experiences of current employees to search better opportunities for them across functions within the company. This concept is a clear example of HR looking outside –in for talent development and management of its current workforce.  This could be a game changer in engaging work force, improving productivity and retention.

Going back to Maslows theory of motivation, self-esteem and appreciation are strong motivational forces. Workforce today is no different; they want to share their achievements and recognition's with the world. For employers, therefore, reward & recognition programs have to take a next generational leap by starting to recognize employees over social media. This will boost their self image and desire to showcase to the world. An endorsement of their LinkedIn profile will go long way to build their bond with the organization.

I, personally am against censorship of social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Linked In in office as this tends to suffocate employees, and weakens their bond and loyalty with the organizations.  The risk of misuse of these liberties by employees can be taken care by formulating strong and effective policies.

Workforce today demands clear direction, accessibility to technology, instant feedback and instant gratification making work a means to an end. Achievement of this end be it personal goal, professional achievement, community objective is critical in retention of employee and organizations have no choice but to embrace technology to make it happen.

Parts of this article were published in Times Ascent 

Mentoring: Reverse is the new forward

Mentoring: Reverse is the new forward

Today while watching the India Vs South Africa match my 11 year old son asked me “how come all of a sudden Paytm has become so big?" The question took me back a couple of year’s when my son then 7 year old asked me for my credit card so that he could buy an online game when till that day I had not paid online to buy an application. Upon being pushed by him and questioned ‘why not’ I decided to learn about online payments and challenged self to let go of my old notions shrouded in fear of online fraud. Once I embarked on journey of online payment there was no looking back and am sure that has been a similar story for many of us. 

It made me search and learn the new ways of doing thing and a whole new world opened up which unlocked many new idea beyond digital world and into my own domain of Human Resources. In my line of work I also needed to understand how my internal and external stakeholders were changing and what was it that was important for them. I knew time had come to acknowledge that I needed a young person to guide me. I unofficially appointed my young colleague as my mentor and thus began my journey.

Reverse mentoring is a topic which excites many and at the same time eludes many. My own reverse mentoring experience has clearly showed to me that days of traditional mentorship where in information flow was unidirectional with older or senior person telling younger or junior person how to succeed and helping the mentee to network with few other seniors folks are over. Today’s business challenges need young millennia’s ideas. These cannot be overlooked and reverse mentoring is one of the ways to bring those ideas in forefront with perspective.

If you are still reading, it clearly means you are interested in the idea. Before you embark on the journey, let me list a few pointers from my experience for you to consider:

Need to be ready- Mentee (senior person) has to know that it is not only about learning but can be an opportunity to solve real world problems in non-traditional ways. It requires for mentee to be open to being challenged and also to be able to critically view his/ her approach to things and thoughts. Simply put “mentee should be ready to be pushed out of one’s comfort zone”

Choose a Curious Mind as Mentor- Pick up bright people with curious bent of mind who display voracious quest for knowledge. People who are good at sharing and take pleasure from discussions. Someone who is not afraid to ask the old mentee “to dissolve the box let alone break it”.

Be Honest – Both the parties needs to be absolutely clear of what they are in for and why. It is important to talk about differences since different generations have different views, paradigms and even different communication styles. State the rules of engagement ‘openly’ and work towards establishing ‘trust’

Business Challenge- One has to be cognizant of the fact that this relationship needs to bring in ideas to solve business challenge. Mentoring needs to be productive, add value and build new perspectives for both otherwise this has potential to very quickly degenerate into a fad that is good to talk about

Be prepared to teach- Ensure mentee  teaches the mentor (young person) through his / her experience, build perspective for the young mentor thus benefiting both. This can be done by putting ideas into systems thinking without judging and shutting down. Ensure that young mentor gets business knowledge, learns how to distill it, values the connections and is able to build the picture by translating the information into valuable strategic capability

Don’t make it too formal- Start with a conversation and build into a relationship characterized by respect, sharing and fun. Remember it is not another HR exercise focused on documenting, capturing ideas in a format etc. for then you run a risk of over structuring it and killing the essence

Cut the Ego- Ensure ego is cut down by both Mentors and Mentee. Mentee should let go of the “I know it all , been there done it attitude” and Mentor should not become vain by virtue of teaching a senior leader . It is never about us versus them from either persons perspective

Your organization does not have a formal program? It doesn’t matter. A sure but small first step is to take time to hang out with young people. Ask them those questions you are struggling with and listen. You might just be surprised. 

In the end all I can say is that reverse mentoring is an opportunity to co-create something that will potentially be superior in value.

* Parts of this post have been published in Economic times as part of a self-authored article by me. 

Beer & Football or Football & Beer ?

Friday 6 June at  Marlyebone café , Baker street , London around 7 pm 5 guys were having a discussion on football world cup about to begin in a few days. 4 of the 5 were second generation British, what I mean is one was Indian origin, two Chinese Malaysian, one American who lived in Australia for a long time yet all were British citizen. 5^th person was an Indian visiting London. All 4 British citizen were realistic to agree they will not win and kept on discussing challenges their team faced including educating the visitor that Bale did not play for England but for welsh.  Upon being challenged by the Indian visitor that England’s chances of reaching last 16 were bleak they all came together in national pride to challenge the Indian and conversation went something like this:

“Where is India in the world cup?”

“India does not play football, we are not a football crazy nation. We are a cricket crazy nation and we are the world champs”

“Oh really! Anyways we also won in 1966”

“That was 66 dude! We won in last cricket world cup”

“Ok, Ok . We will make it to the quarters. I am absolutely sure”. This making to quarter final made them agree more in national pride than confidence in the team.

“Wanna bet that you will not make it?”

 “Sure done. Next time be ready to pay for the bet.” Post this usual banter we all moved to the next beer.

If you have not guessed, that Indian visitor was me. On the flight back I replayed that conversation and was clearly surprised not by their reaction but with the thought how England had been able to unite them in pride for the team. That I thought was the magic of football and the most followed game in the world. I started to think.

As life takes turns, you grow up , get a job , get married , some again get married , have kids , travel the world, earn name and fame and hopefully money , some get old and some always remain young  thus many things change but among few things that remain constant is the team /s you follow and support be it any sport.

When your team wins you are ecstatic, when it loses you come to work next day, shrug your shoulders say few inane things and get on with life. Yet next time you are in front of the TV set cheering it on and life goes on. Life is going to come to a standstill for many millions around the world beginning 12 June and will turn in ecstasy or pain depending upon how their team does and finally on 12 July everyone will move on. 

Football is supposedly the most followed game in the world so emotions will run high. Even if their country is not playing people have their favorites and passion flows. Fandom is much much bigger than the game itself.

This blog is my analysis of teams and people who matter and a tribute to the fandom of football from a guy whose country has not qualified for many many years and does not look like it will for at least next 20 years. What the heck! Who says I have no right to opine on it anyways.

What better place to begin than current champions Spain. I think their Hero is their Coach Vincente Del Bosque. The man who is known for Tiki Taka style but ensures his team has more to offer. He is the man who has worked hard to unite Spain and its many clubs into a national force. He has brought the Catalans, Basques and Castilians to play for ‘La roja’. Inesta did score the winning goal in last final but the person behind it was Del Bosque. Man who has been able to get Xavi and Cassilas to recognize strength of friendship in national team above the animosity of Barca and Real Madrid.

If I talk about Spain and its clubs How can one not talk about Messi? I surely think he is the ‘Messiah’ Argentine is looking towards for salvation. Their best player since Maradona but has a looked a pale shadow of his great self in last one year. Some say he is keeping his best for the big stage, others feel he did not play his best because he is not wanting to be injured and stories go on. No doubt Messi is great because you do not win 4 ballons D’OR and that too consecutively. What will be important to see is how he along with Aguero, Di Maria, and Higuain is able to create the magic that Argentinians love in their heros and football. If these four fail team has not much to offer and we are staring at a national mourning in the South American nation.

Next I want to mention man who has been I feel for years ignored and never got his due- Andrea Pirlo. The Italian who was the architect of 2006 Italian victory at 35 this is surely his time to take the centre stage. He has won the world cup so knows about the madness and also knows this is his last chance. The man who plays to pass and set up shots for others will surely want to ensure he gets the free kick to seal it off. After all he practices the free kick leaving nothing to chance. Italy can never be ruled out in the WC no matter how bad the team is and this time they look to have a balanced squad and the effervescent Mario Balotelli. So rule them out at your own peril.

Cristiano Ronaldo! My Favorite footballer. If he continues to be in the form that has been all season then all Portugal have to do is let him weave the magic. There will be a few grumpy faces made for the camera, few growls of pumping the adrenalin, few looks to opponents , many pleads with umpires on being wronged but then what is football without its share of Drama and who better than Ronaldo and what better a stage then a WC in Brazil. Imagine having a team of Ronaldo, Pepe, Alves, Patricio, Nani, and not being a tournament Favorite. That has been the story of Portugal. Falter to deceive at the big stage.

That takes me Neymar Junior and Brazil. Next Pele? I don’t know but at 22 he is surely an outstanding talent and the only reason or hope that Brazil remains excited about this WC. If he wins it for Brazil all protest that we have been watching on TV will have been forgotten. He plays as a Brazilian with his dribbles and amazing ball skills and of course style. Being awarded Golden Ball in Confederations cup and winning it at home for his country ensures that he keeps Brazil as a big favorite in this WC too like it has been in many others.  

England. They still have to overcome 2 things before they can be champions. One they have to wake up and realize that this is 2014 and not 1966 anymore. Second they have to realize Penalty shootout are a part of the game and they can win a shootout. For a team that has lost six out of seven shoot outs in almost all major tournaments it is natural to be in fear. When supporters talk about goals and heroes and Rooney and even 1966, the heart misses the beat to ask “what if it goes into penalty shootout”. I am sticking my neck out to say they will not make it beyond group stage. If they make it to the Quarters its time Queen declared a national holiday.

I don’t think I can write about all teams and before you run out of patience (if not already) let me sum up a few other teams.

Germany looks to be most well balanced team with experience and youth and have been preparing hard but this is South America. Do they have it in them? They will have to dig in deep and give it their all. Joachim Loew has a big task at hand but never say never. It’s the Fatherland.

France without Ribery is not an exciting proposition but they have Benzema , Giroud and other players to take them the distance. It’s a wait and watch for them.

Netherlands were runners up last year and face Spain in their first match. Robben and Van Persie will have to set the tone if their campaign has to impress.

Next I was thinking who will be the surprise package this year. Well there quite a few contenders in Colombia, Belgium, Russia and Bosnia – Herzegovina. Watch out for Belgium this time.

So in the end what does all this come to? I think two words: National Redemption. 

Any team that wins it will in some way or other redeem itself and the nation in this time where every country has very little to give it hope and rare moments for people to come together and celebrate their nationhood. 

Fandom will translate finally into Nationdom! That is a good reason to cheer. For people like me we will cheer for a hope that someday India will participate. Till then let the beer flow...

Thank you: Kunal, Daniel, David and Alan for great evening guys and for giving me my first blog of 2014.