The Complete 'IPL On The Web' Guidebook

It takes 93 international centuries, 20 years and counting of dedication on the field, many comparisons with God and one with Bradman to become the most powerful person in Indian sports. Any guesses what it takes to come at no. 2? Starting an annual cricketing event. It helps if that's called IPL. You can check with Lalit Modi, the 2nd most powerful person in Indian sports according to the Sports Illustrated.

Two summers back when this advertisement about Mano & Ranjan started doing the rounds, there was heavy skepticism about the connect this weird new format of the game will have with the lovers of the gentleman's game in India.




How will we, a nation of cricket fanatics who have cheered the national team through years and decades suddenly develop a passion for funnily named teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings? If the puttar of Punjab is donning the colours of Mumbai, and the Mallu 'Dance Lord' joins the team from the land of mustard field, who will be rooting for whom? After this incident it was quite certain that Mr. Singh had become the bad boy of Punjab and the bad boy from the backwaters was the little child the punjabi kudis were trying to console.




It's IPL time once again, and for the next month and a half we are going to obsess over who received more hugs from Preity Zinta ? Will Warne still look at his memsaab the same way now that she is married? What's the correlation between the amount and time SRK dances at Eden with KKR's victory? How will Gilly's Hyderabad Boys cope with the pressures of being the defending champions and not getting to play in Hyderabad at all?

Most of us will spend insane amounts of time in front of the computer, digging out information, trivia and most importantly following the matches live! Here's a guide of how you can keep up with all the IPL action on the net.


YouTube

For the first time you can watch all the matches Live on YouTube! Yes, live, as it happens, when it happens!




All you need to do is go to the Official YouTube IPL channel and all the matches will be going on there, live! Also, if you want to watch highlights from previous matches or an entire match that has already been played that will also be available on the Official YouTube IPL channel (www.youtube.com/ipl). Special packages like all the 4s, 6s, wickets etc. will be compiled and uploaded for viewing as well. This is what it looks like.

Orkut

Who wants to just watch cricket and not talk about it? We, Indians don't for sure! So after you have seen all the matches and the action is far from over. Orkut has come up with it's Official Orkut IPL Community and you may want to join the same! You can in fact watch the matches live here as well, as the YouTube feeds will be streamed here simultaneously. Besides you can discuss the match and add your expert comments and opinions in the discussion forums. So, you can head of to www.orkut.co.in/ipl This is what the experience will be like.

facebook

Just like on Orkut you may want to hop over to our other favourite social networking site Facebook Official IPL Fan Page. You can discuss your favourite stars, matches, catches and action here. Besides the official Facebook IPL fan page (www.facebook.com/IPL)  is also updated regularly by snippets of information and votes and polls. Here's what the experience is like.

Official Team Sites

Most of the team have their official web sites as well, as does IPL. Here's where you can follow the teams of your choice, see their exclusive pictures, videos, read interviews and interact with some of the players.

Offical IPL Website


Team Sites (North to South)


Kings XI Punjab


Delhi Daredevils


Rajasthan Royals


Kolkata Knight Riders


Mumbai Indians


Deccan Chargers


Bangalore Royal Challengers


Chennai Super Kings


Twitter

And finally, if you want up to date information, team news, gossip, message from the players and owners don't miss out on following them on the micro-blogging site, Twitter.

Official Twitter Accounts


IPL


Lalit Modi


Preity Zinta (owner KXP)


Shilpa Shetty (owner RR)


SRK (owner KKR)


Harsha Bhogle (presenter, commentator)


Here's also a list of cricketer's who are on Twitter, this list is edited constantly as more and more players join Twitter - Twitter Cricket List


If you know of any other ways of keeping up with all the action on IPL please do let me know and I will update the blog accordingly. Here's wishing everyone a fantastic 46 days to come and may the best team win!

One Night At The Chat Centre

It was one evening, dead of the night to be precise, in the autumn of 2006. I was doing my usual online 'jaagte raaho' routine, ensuring the safety of the web while others slept blissfully. I received a ping from a stranger on my online messenger. 

I am providing the entire transcript of the conversation that ensued without any edits, besides the names of some people and organisations for privacy issues. Also, I have changed the web alias of the 'pinger' to abcd to provide anonymity. Finally, I publicly apologize, something I have wanted to do for more than 3 years now, for my somewhat thoughtless and (what appeared at that time to be) very funny action.

[Thanks to Abhishek for reminding me of this conversation and asking me to post it here.]

(00:26:54) abcd: my qualification is ca inter may i know ur

(00:27:34) Suhel Banerjee: I have done a double PhD in Molecular Biology and Gothic architecture

(00:27:52) abcd: oh!

(00:28:15) abcd: what is the duty in g*****

(00:28:24) Suhel Banerjee: and before that I did my homeopathy medicine and ayurveda

(00:28:38) Suhel Banerjee: and then went to the US for my Phds

(00:28:57) abcd: what is the duty in g****

(00:28:59) Suhel Banerjee: I am a Creative Maximiser in G*****

(00:29:24) Suhel Banerjee: and I have to look after the creative wing of G***** and also the real estate

(00:29:28) abcd: that mean pls dont take it serious

(00:29:46) abcd: i want to learn 

(00:30:05) Suhel Banerjee: excuse me, I didn't get you. what would you like to learn?

(00:30:57) abcd: what is the work i had understood but what r the duties u perform

(00:31:31) Suhel Banerjee: well, so what kind of responsibilities are you looking at?

(00:31:54) Suhel Banerjee: Mine includes making the posters for G***** and also the building structures in the various G***** offices around the world

(00:32:11) abcd: for the ca inter what r the job

(00:32:25) Suhel Banerjee: that's a lil out of my realm

(00:32:34) Suhel Banerjee: so are you interested in architecture?

(00:32:40) abcd: yes 

(00:32:48) abcd: definitely

(00:32:59) Suhel Banerjee: what kind of buldings are you interested in?

(00:33:28) abcd: r ufrom hyderabad

(00:34:11) Suhel Banerjee: no, I was there when I was building the office there, it is a water proof building and the only other such building in India is in Jaisalmer.

(00:34:41) abcd: water proof building?

(00:35:14) abcd: technology had reached to that level

(00:35:16) Suhel Banerjee: yeah so the walls do not let the raindrops stay, we used some of the latest molecular technology to make it like a turtle's back where the waters drops just slide past

(00:35:30) Suhel Banerjee: but what kind of architecture are you specialising in?

(00:35:58) abcd: iam just intersted but no qualification

(00:36:33) Suhel Banerjee: so you have a house of your own? and did you take part when it was built?

(00:36:44) abcd: s

(00:36:53) Suhel Banerjee: you mean yes?

(00:37:00) abcd: yes

(00:37:27) abcd: it is my father

(00:37:34) abcd: house

(00:37:54) Suhel Banerjee: so right now we are constructing a building with Artificial Intelligence which will regulate the temperature and will also get the rainy and windy 'feel' when the atmosphere gets stuffy

(00:38:08) Suhel Banerjee: so no need of air conditioners and heaters from now

(00:38:18) Suhel Banerjee: by the way have you studied the architecture of the char minar?

(00:38:19) abcd: have u saying real

(00:38:37) abcd: no

(00:38:41) Suhel Banerjee: of course I am!! You think I'm kidding and they are paying me to joke?

(00:39:23) Suhel Banerjee: you should come to jaisalmer to check the latest G***** office

(00:39:35) Suhel Banerjee: do you come here for business purposes?

(00:39:41) abcd: no 

(00:39:49) abcd: iam in andra

(00:40:07) Suhel Banerjee: yeah, that's fine, by the way how is the homeopathy industry now in andhra?

(00:40:21) abcd: i dint know

(00:40:55) abcd: excuse me all the things earlier u r told is really possible?

(00:41:02) Suhel Banerjee: so you are a Chartered Accountant by profession?

(00:41:08) abcd: s

(00:41:14) Suhel Banerjee: I guess you are not much in touch with the world of architecture

(00:41:19) abcd: s

(00:41:23) abcd: really

(00:41:37) Suhel Banerjee: don't you subscribe to architecturemag.com?

(00:41:43) abcd: no

(00:41:55) Suhel Banerjee: you can check the latest versions here: http://www.architecturemag.com/

(00:42:21) abcd: k

(00:42:26) abcd: definitely

(00:42:42) Suhel Banerjee: By the way I am sure you have heard about Daniel Libeskind

(00:42:57) abcd: who is that one

(00:43:19) Suhel Banerjee: hey he is the greatest architect, he made the imperial war museum in Manchester

(00:43:37) Suhel Banerjee: and he will be probably rebuilding the WTC

(00:43:53) Suhel Banerjee: anyway it seems you aren't that much interested in architecture

(00:44:32) abcd: interested but i did'nt know the source of knowledge

(00:44:48) Suhel Banerjee: so are you more interetsted in molecular biology?

(00:44:59) Suhel Banerjee: hey, I have some latest e-books on MB

(00:45:06) Suhel Banerjee: do you like reading them?

(00:45:13) abcd: s

(00:45:13) Suhel Banerjee: and did you check my site?

(00:45:21) abcd: no

(00:45:49) abcd: ur name pls

(00:45:52) Suhel Banerjee: so, what are your interest areas

(00:46:01) Suhel Banerjee: excuse me, I thought you knew me!

(00:46:19) abcd: yes

(00:46:42) abcd: have u irritated of me

(00:46:53) : Buzz!!

(00:47:24) Suhel Banerjee: no, not irritated, why do you ask so?

(00:47:50) abcd: just

(00:48:24) abcd: in g***** if there r vacancies

(00:48:31) : Buzz!!

(00:48:46) Suhel Banerjee: yes of course, we are looking for people in this project of ours

(00:49:03) Suhel Banerjee: do you have a blog of your own/.

(00:49:04) Suhel Banerjee: ?

(00:49:15) abcd: for the qualification of ca inter

(00:49:26) abcd: any vacancies

(00:49:33) Suhel Banerjee: so do you have a blog?

(00:49:38) abcd: no

(00:49:46) Suhel Banerjee: intersted in blogging?

(00:50:10) abcd: s

(00:50:31) Suhel Banerjee: great, so anyway did you read the article about me in the architecture blogs?

(00:51:00) abcd: no

(00:52:06) : Buzz!!

(00:52:13) Suhel Banerjee: so what are you doing now besides CA?

(00:52:29) abcd: nothing

(00:52:51) abcd: u r genius 

(00:52:54) : Buzz!!

(00:53:16) Suhel Banerjee: oh no, I am just a normal uber intelligent scientist

(00:53:32) abcd: ru scientist

(00:53:37) abcd: oh!

(00:53:56) Suhel Banerjee: yes, I am a architectural and molecular bilology scientist

(00:54:05) abcd: iam just 18 yrs old

(00:54:53) Suhel Banerjee: oh really, I had just started my first PhD project at 18

(00:55:44) abcd: what r the directions u wish to give

(00:55:55) abcd: to a young aspirant

(00:55:59) : Buzz!!

(00:56:33) : Buzz!!

(00:56:33) Suhel Banerjee: well I can tell you about the requirements in the field of science and technology, I have no ideas about CA and commerce and the rest. But I am sure you will do a great job:)

(00:56:46) abcd: thnk u

(00:56:54) abcd: so sweet of u

(00:57:10) abcd: have u had any sons

(00:57:19) Suhel Banerjee: no, I just have a daughter

(00:57:33) Suhel Banerjee: she is nine years old

(00:57:42) abcd: k 

(00:57:57) abcd: she also a scientist?

(00:58:25) Suhel Banerjee: nah, she is a student in the third grade in new york

(00:58:57) Suhel Banerjee: Anyway here is an article reuters brought out on me a few days back, you can read about me here

(00:58:57) abcd: she is studying in new york 

(00:59:00) Suhel Banerjee: A Biologist And An Architect - The G***** Way September, 1 2006: Suhel Banerjee, the pioneer in Molecular Bilogy and the recent phenomenon in the world of Architecture is now in India working on G*****'s project to build it's state of the art Artificial Intelligence induced office in Jaisalmer.

The office will give you a feel of the winds and the rains even when the outside temparature is hovering around 50 degree celsius and there are desert storms in full flow outside.

Mr. Banerjee has just come down from NASA and is putting up at a high security scientific camp in the desert. He will be overseeing the project till the end.

Reuters.

(01:00:31) abcd: oh! i really saying i had not talked to any great person till now 

(01:01:00) Suhel Banerjee: oh no, I am nothing that big at all, just a scientist

(01:01:26) abcd: u at that stage till taling with me 

(01:01:35) abcd: sorry talking

(01:02:12) Suhel Banerjee: actually I have just come to India, and getting used to the place. So a little less busy nowadays, but always a pleasure talking with youngsters like you

(01:02:24) abcd: iam like a son of urs 

(01:02:54) Suhel Banerjee: oh yes all Indians are like my sons, all the time in the US I wanted to do something for the youth of India

(01:03:12) abcd: thnk u 

(01:03:40) abcd: but our environment will not permit the growth

(01:03:54) Suhel Banerjee: Why, why do you say so

(01:03:59) Suhel Banerjee: let me tell you my story

(01:04:13) Suhel Banerjee: I was born in a small village in West Bengal called Naxalbari

(01:04:27) Suhel Banerjee: and at that time there was a huge uprising in bengal and many youth were arrested

(01:04:33) Suhel Banerjee: and the naxal movement came about

(01:04:45) Suhel Banerjee: my school was set on fire and so many friends lost their homes

(01:05:03) Suhel Banerjee: and then I fled to manipur where I continued my education in a governemnt run school

(01:05:25) Suhel Banerjee: and then I was awarded a scholarship with which i started work on my molecular biology project

(01:05:26) abcd: u then why went to us if india is developed?

(01:06:15) abcd: all youth of india want to go us then how will india be developed

(01:06:55) : Buzz!!

(01:07:10) Suhel Banerjee: I did not go to the US to help them, but as a part of our National South Pole Expedition and Molecular Biology programme

(01:07:20) Suhel Banerjee: and I spent all my time in researching

(01:07:25) abcd: had i hurted ur feelings

(01:07:56) Suhel Banerjee: No I am made of stronger material

(01:08:05) abcd: what is ur age now

(01:08:09) Suhel Banerjee: and then I spent sleepless nights researching on various forms of mitochondria

(01:08:48) Suhel Banerjee: I am 33 years old, my birthday is on the 6th of september, 1973

(01:09:13) Suhel Banerjee: actually I just turned 33

(01:09:20) abcd: if u permit me i will add u in messenger list

(01:09:57) Suhel Banerjee: sorry, i cannot do that because of security reasons, the Indian governemnt checks the meseenger list on a daily basis, and I cannot add new members myself

(01:10:17) Suhel Banerjee: in fcat I will be leavig for the himalayas tomorrow morning for some research and will be back only in 2007

(01:10:45) abcd: oh i was really shocing 

(01:11:04) Suhel Banerjee: you were shocking?? I thought I was!

(01:11:50) abcd: but if i want to talk to u how

(01:11:55) Suhel Banerjee: anyway my team members have come back from the desert just now, I will have to get to the laboratory to start my experiments

(01:12:39) Suhel Banerjee: I will be online at times through my mobile phone, but I am not sure if I will be able to chat

(01:12:50) Suhel Banerjee: in fact it was after years that I chatted for this long with someone

(01:12:55) Suhel Banerjee: it was nice talking to you

(01:13:00) abcd: see talking with scientist like u wil be great boost for youth like me nevver 

(01:13:15) abcd: under estimate chatting

(01:13:51) Suhel Banerjee: I wish you and the youth of india all the very best in whatever field they take. I am sure I will hear about you in tV and newspapers. I will have to leave for now

(01:14:03) Suhel Banerjee: make india proud of you

(01:14:21) abcd: see i will become great 

(01:14:22) Suhel Banerjee: I will have to bid good night now, have an early morning helicopter ride

(01:14:29) Suhel Banerjee: bye

(01:14:35) abcd: but anothe time talking when

(01:14:52) abcd: treat as me ur family member

(01:15:23) abcd: talking to family member is essential know

In Conversation With Arnab Ray (Greatbong)

In the Indian blogosphere, Arnab Ray better known as the Greatbong, has attained an almost mythical stature. The blog has been painstakingly maintained with content of the utmost high quality for close to 5.5 years now and I am yet to come across anyone who reads Indian blogs and hasn't heard of the Greatbong. A lot more people are perhaps aware of his work but not his identity due to the many posts of his which do the rounds of uncredited 'forward emails'. I have been an ardent fan of his for many years now, and am glad that I can count him as a friend now. And if you thought his blogs were long but amazing, you should talk to him on the phone, he does better on both counts!

Anyway, Arnab is in India to launch (and promote) his about to be released first book 'May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss'. If you are in Delhi or Kolkata you may want to attend the book readings on the 5th and 19th of March respectively. 

Initially, before I knew him personally, I was very intrigued by this phenomenal blogger from Kolkata, settled in the US who knew more about anything Indian (Cricket, Bollywood, Religion, Sexuality or Mithunda) than most of us Indians living in India do. A lot of people I know, who read his blog, also had a similar curiosity about him. After getting to know him, he seemed equally interesting a character, so I decided to do this email interview with Arnab. Posting it in an as-is fashion, completely uncut!

Suhel: Greatbong has become a big brand by now in the world of Indian blogging. Can you share the early days with us? How did it strike you? How were the initial months? Years?

Arnab: I started blogging once I went to a city after getting my PhD, a place where I was cut off from my old social circle. I had a lot of time and no one to talk to. The blog solved the problem of "time-pass" and jabbering all in one fell swoop. Early days my blog had the look and feel of West Bengal industry. Little activity, no buzz and no hope

In spite of living so far away from India and for so long how do you keep yourself uptdated with all the goings on in the country and have such insights on most topics?

The net of course. I find myself reading more news about India when I am in the US than when I am in India. I may live far away but my heart beats only for India. Correction. Beats only for India TV.

How long does it take you to write a post? What's the process like from the concept till the posting? Also, how much time do you spend on average on the blog per week?

Varies. I usually get an idea, think about it while driving back from work, and organize the post while stuck in traffic. Then its all about coming home, and typing it out. Of course I sometimes do get stuck even there and then I again think some more. I havent calculated how much time I spent on the blog per week mainly because it is difficult to define what "time spent on a post" is. Is it the just act of writing or does it also include thinking ? What about time spent in reading the news article or watching the cricket game(s)/movies that inspired the post?

How similar/different will May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss (MIHYAP) 

be from Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind (RTDM)?

I guess you will have to find that out.

What according to you is the most compelling reason to buy MIHYAP?

Stimulate the economy. Stimulate my economy. Plus its a little different than most books you have seen. I know all producers say this before their film's release. But still this is the best I can come up with. At least I havent used the word "hatke". Wait I think I just did.

What would be your advice to all the bloggers (and non bloggers) who also aspire to become writers?

Write the book you would like to read but havent. And make detailed chapter outlines once you start writing.

And now something about Arnab Ray, the person. A 500 character bio (or in 3.5 tweets!)

Born in Kolkata. Spent childhood in four places---Australia, India, US and Canada. Computer science researcher by day. Wannabe writer by night. And day also. Interested in most things under the sun. Has strong opinions, expresses them strongly and does not apologize for them.

On rumours about your shifting base to India?

Totally baseless. India and I are just good friends.

On a serious note, I think I said, during the online interaction I had as part of my pre-launch publicity, that I am not averse to returning if a suitable opportunity in the media presented itself. Since that has not happened at the time of writing, no plans of re-locating either.

On rumours about your being the Fake IPL Player?

Totally baseless. FIP and I are not even friends. I hardly saw his shadow and that too once. Now on the basis of that, these press-wallahs start writing all anaap-shanaap.

What about the legendary collection of incisive and apt photos with the posts? Sources?:)

I wish I had kept the sources. That was bad of me. What happened was that over the years I had developed this habit of saving "interesting" pictures whenever I came across them online. When I was designing the kitschy, loud blog headers for RTDM, I needed to look no further than my library of stored images.

Any interesting incident(s) which happened due to/because of the blog so far?

Getting a book deal I guess!

Favourite blog post till date.

All of them. But if I need to select one, I would say the letter from Andaman Jail holds the most meaning for me.

140 characters on Prabhuji (Mithunda for the uninitiated).

God. Repeat above till no_of_char==140, Then Re-tweet.

Where to from here?

Hopefully more books. But very different in tone and structure.

One last plug for MIHYAP:)

Buy it I say.