CRADLE OF INDIAN TEST CRICKET

Ranji Trophy 

Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship in India played by teams representing different states and regions. Organised by the board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Ranji Trophy is undisputedly the most important tournament in India's domestic cricket season. It is considered the "cradle of Indian Test cricket", as the finest talents from its matches are selected for the Indian test cricket team. The tournament, which was launched in 1934, is named after Ranjitsinhji alias Ranji (1872 - 1933), an Indian prince who played test cricket for England and who is regarded as one of the finest players of all time. 

Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, to give his full name and official title, was born in Kathiawar in British India. As a child, he was chosen as heir to a distant relative, Vibhaji, the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. He studied at the Rajkumar college in Rajkot and went on to Trinity College, Cambridge. Here he gained a place in the Cambridge University cricket team, becoming the first Indian to win a cricket Blue. In 1895, he began playing for Sussex. In 1896, he made his test debut for England against Australia. In a test career spanning 15 matches, Ranjitsinhji scored 989 runs including 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries, with an average of 44.95 runs and a high score of 175 runs. He also played 307 first-class matches, scoring 24,692 runs that included 72 centuries and 109 half-centuries, with a high score of 285 not out In 1907, he became the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. In his political role, he was Chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes and represented India at the League of Nations. He died in 1933. The following year, when the BCCI decided to start a domestic tournament, the Maharaja of Patiala offered to donate the trophy which he proposed should be named in honour of Ranjitsinhji. The first Ranji Trophy winner was Bombay, who defeated North India in the final. 

Although Ranjitsinhji never played for India and and considered himself an English cricketer, he was remembered as the first famous cricketer of Indian origin. 

A SHORT MORAL STORY

Two Basket Weavers

A wealthy king decided to hold a contest among two highly skilled basket weavers. Ultimately, he wanted to determine who could weave more baskets in a day. The two women would contest for the fastest weaver, with the winner to be awarded a large sum of money as a prize.

It started early in the morning, on the day of the contest, with the two women set to weave their best.

However, one of the women seemed faster than the other, and in only five hours, she had woven two baskets. Meanwhile, the other woman became jealous as she was still on her first basket. 

Shorty, the king came to inspect the two busy women. And then, quite unexpectedly, he said to the faster woman.

"Your baskets are a bit smaller than the required size. You didn't follow the contest rules, therefore you must start all over again. Remember that you don't have much time left"

The jealous woman was so gladdened by what the king had said and she silently mocked the faster woman. She knew it was a great opportunity for her to win the contest.

However, the faster woman wasn't discouraged by her plight. With so much determination and commitment, she started all over again, hoping to achieve success.

By the end of the day, the two women were made to stop weaving as the contest was over. It was time to know the winner.

The other woman had excellently made ten baskets. Everyone was impressed by her skills.

But to the greatest surprise of all, the woman who was made to restart hers, had woven eleven baskets. She still won.

The king who couldn't contain his astonishment and curiosity, asked the faster woman. 

"You had very limited time. Come on, tell me how you won?"

The woman smiled and said. 

"Magic starts to happen once you start believing in yourself"

Many of us tend to give up when things get too hard. We allow disappointments to cripple our self esteem and kill the passion to pursue our dreams. We are afraid to start all over again as we think it's always too late. However, we need to understand that the moment we start believing in ourselves, we start creating confidence. And with confidence, we can do anything in life.

DO YOU KNOW

Who controls the internet?

The internet is a decentralised global network owned and managed by governments, private companies, non-profit organisations and individual users. It is not controlled by any single entity. The internet's technical infrastructure is maintained by organisations like ICANN for domain names and IP addresses and RIRs for IP address allocation. ISPs provide internet access. 

Internet governance involves multiple organisations and entities globally and nationally. The IGF facilitates policy discussions, while governments and regulatory authorities have jurisdiction over internet-related matters within their territories. However countries may have varying levels of control and regulations over internet access and content. Some impose censorship and surveillance. In summary, the internet is a complex network with a collaborative governance structure involving numerous stakeholders. While decentralised,  individual countries have different degrees of control and regulations over their Internet environments. 

SPORT WITH MUSIC AND DANCE

Bossaball

Bossaball is a unique and dynamic sport combining elements of volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, capoeira, music and dance. It was invented in Spain in 2004 by Filip Eyckmans, who sought to create an engaging and entertaining team sport.

Bossaball is played on an inflatable court that features trampolines on each side of the net. The court is divided into different zones, including the attacking and back zones. The objective of the game is to score points by hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent's court in a way that the opposing team cannot return it. Teams consist of three to five players on each side, with one player positioned on the trampoline to gain height and perform aerial acrobatics to spike or block the ball. The other players on the ground use any part of their bodies (except for their hands) to keep the ball in play, combining elements of soccer and volleyball. 

What makes Bossaball unique is the incorporation of music and dance. Each team has its own designated "Samba referee", who provides the rhythm with musical instruments and leads the team in dance moves during the game. The lively atmosphere created by the music adds to the fun and excitement of the sport. 

AFRICAN STORY

"This is good"

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" to which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and ordered him to be sent to jail. 

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should never have entered. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they were about to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. 

As he returned home, the king was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. 

"You are right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. 

"And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad of me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good! If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you."

PLANTED IN A CONTAINER

Bonsai

Bonsai is a Japanese term which literally translated, means "planted in a container". It originated in the East about 1000 to 500 BC. This Eastern art became more prevalent in the Han, T’Sun and the Tang Dynasties in China. Tomb paintings depict the Crown Prince Zhang Huai having movable landscapes carried around for his personal enjoyment in 706 AD. Bonsai was a sign of wealth and royalty. It was initially introduced to Japan by the Zen Buddhist monks from mainland China. The art was elitist among the rich where the art was perfected over many years. It was only after World War II that the art of bonsai was adopted by Western culture. Bonsai uses only plants species where the trees’ leaf size shrinks and reduces if the trees’ roots are limited to a smaller space. 

Fruit on a bonsai doesn’t reduce in size. The small bonsai is capable of growing normal-sized fruit because it’s genetic.

Different pots are used for different bonsai styles. Pots are not readily available at shops and nurseries. 

Bonsai Styles

Yose-ue (Forest style): Multiple trees and their root systems grow together. The most developed tree is in the middle of a large, shallow pot.

Hakidachi (Broom style): These bonsai are normally shedding trees with fine, straight branches. They grow at a third of a tree’s height. They form a ball shaped top in winter.

Chokkan (Formal upright style): Branches are grown to taper off. This is important as it must be clearly noticeable. This style often occurs naturally in nature.

Moyogi (Informal upright style): This is a very common bonsai style where the trunk is manipulated to form an s-shape where branches extend at every turn of the trunk.

Shakkan (Slanting style): The bonsai is meant to depict a tree, leaning in one direction to show the natural forces of wind.

Kengai (Cascade style): Some trees grow downwards, often due to snow or rocks in nature. This bonsai needs a deep, tall pot as the trunk grows downwards below the soil line.

SekiJoju (Growing on a rock style): The bonsai grows on rocks as it moulds into the cracks of the rock.

Han-Kengai (Semi-cascade style): This is similar to Kengai cascade style, but the branches don’t grow below the container.

DO YOU KNOW

 What happens when you sneeze?

Sneezing is your body’s way of expelling foreign matter such as dust, pollen or smoke from the nostrils to prevent them from travelling to the lungs and causing harm. When the delicate lining of your nose detects one of these contaminants it instantly sends an electrical signal to the brain. 

The brain sends signals to all the parts ofthe body that are needed to help you sneeze. Your chest muscles, diaphragm, abdominals, vocal cords and the muscles in the back of your throat all work together to help expel the irritant. 

In most cases, your eyes are forced shut, the tongue moves to the roof of the mouth and the muscles brace for the sneeze. 

Sneezing pushes water, mucus, and air from your nose with an incredible force and in the process the foreign matter is removed.