Touristic & General Information on Russia

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Many of the tourists who take the tour with us love the Indian songs. They have many Bollywood favourites which they have heard while growing up in their own countries. In UK, Israel, Russia, Middle-East, Africa.. Talking about Music will eventually lead us to the favourites of our visitors. They do mention names and hums tunes which unfortunately do not ring any bell for us in the begining. Here is the story of one such often mentioned song, "Killing Me Softly with his song.."

Lori Lieberman, a young lady in her early twenties, went to the Truberdor Bar to listen to this particularly talented young man who played there and was becoming popular with his style. While she was there the young man, who was Don McLean,  played his melancholy and heart pulling number "Empty Chairs.." which took young Lori's heart for a ride. She felt his words were straight out of her life, he was reading her letters loud, she felt feverish and embarassed and wished he would finish but kept right on...

The next day Lori discussed her experience with her associates  Charles Fox and Norman Gimbley with whom she was discussing the making of a record. Norman took the clues from her talk and wrote the song giving the title "Killing me softly with his song" which was inspired by some Blues singers whom he met earlier who sang songs like "Killing me softly with his Blues". They recorded the song which Lori Lieberman sang in the year 1972.

Roberta Flack, an already established Afro-American singer, was on a flight when she heard this song on the airplane's song collection. She was so struck by the song, she asked the stewardess to replay that song for her repeatedly while her musical mind took down the lyrics and made mental correction and adjustments to the Lori's song.

Immediately after she got off the plane, she called Quincy Jones to contact the writers of the song and request the permission/right to sing the song. She started practicing the song with her band at Jamaica, the way she wanted it to be played but did not record it. While performing on stage for an organiser, after her set encore, they asked her play something new if she had. She said, yes, there is a song we are practicing and gave it a try.
The audience went berserk after listening to the song and their reaction prompted the organizer to comment, " Baby don't you play this song ever again, before recording it".

Within a month the song was recorded and released and rose to the status of the most popular song of the year and one of the few all time hits.

Thus, Lori Lieberman's emotions while listening to a Don McLean performance became the most popular hum of a generation through another singer's voice while Lori's own song was sideline. One can imagine what it would have done to a sweet young lady like Lori, emotionally. She kept on with her writing and composed and song many other songs and albums though she left the space for a long time after the "Killing me softly with his song.." experience. 

An year without Maradona

 Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 and her nationally televised cremation ceremony was an event which was watched by our whole nation, it was more or less an introduction of the visual media and TV to our nation.  Many of us did not have TV then, we walked miles and went to those houses where they had. Everybody co-operated.

I was in my school final in 1986 when the world cup came. By then we had a black and white Keltron TV that came in a case with shutter. It was on that TV our generation watched and experienced the first global event – The FIFA world cup of 1986.

That was undoubtedly Maradona’s world cup. With his game, talent and spirit he won us over and made us a fan of him and his country, Argentina, a country we had not heard about. Maradona became our hero. Excessive fouling and harsh man marking did not let him be as successful in 1990 world cup as he was in 1986 and in the one that followed in 1994 he was disgraced and banned for use of unacceptable drugs.

For the way he made us feel and experience the peaks of joy and excitement in 1986 he stayed in our heart as our hero and we went through all the bad news about him with a sad heart and kept only the memories of the game he once played.

It's going to be an year since he is gone, but the memories will not go away from our hearts till we die.

Thank you Diego, for your life and making that fleeting part of our lives in 1986 when the way you played football ruled our hearts and made it the best times of our lives.

IPL 2026 Final

The 19th edition of the IPL belonged to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

RCB successfully defended the title they had won last year—their long-awaited first after years of being one of the finest yet unluckiest teams in the competition. This victory was not merely another trophy. It was the confirmation of a champion side that has finally learned how to convert promise into silverware.

At the vast Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with nearly one lakh ten thousand spectators filling the stands and millions more watching across television and digital platforms, the stage was set for a memorable final.

RCB won the toss and chose to field first.

Gujarat Titans, so composed and commanding against Rajasthan Royals in the first eliminator, could not find the same rhythm on the grandest evening. The pitch offered a sharp, tennis-ball-like bounce and GT never quite settled. Their innings struggled for momentum as pressure steadily mounted, and they finished with 155 runs from their 20 overs.

The chase began with authority.

Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli gave RCB the kind of powerplay start finals demand. Venki played with intent and confidence before falling in the fifties, leaving the game delicately balanced.

For a brief while, RCB seemed uncertain.

And then experience spoke.

Virat Kohli (75 from 42) did not chase headlines; he guided the innings. With maturity, composure and the calm of a man who has seen every shade of cricketing pressure, he steadied the ship and carried his side through when nerves threatened to take over.

Some titles are won through brilliance.

Others are defended through character.

RCB's second consecutive crown felt like both.

New Academic Year

After the joyful summer holidays, we return to schools and colleges with new hopes and fresh dreams.

Best wishes to all teachers and students.

May you have the grace to use your opportunities and time wisely, and may this academic year be filled with learning, growth, and success.

POST MATCH – RAJASTHAN ROYALS

What we witnessed tonight was heartbreak, but not humiliation.

To lose yet another playoff battle is painful for every Rajasthan Royals supporter. But let this also be said clearly, this young side did not collapse, did not surrender, and did not fall like a junior team. They fought.

Two hundred and fourteen runs in a playoff match is no small statement. Gujarat Titans chased with authority and deserved the victory, but Rajasthan walked away having battled with courage and intent.

The truth is, this match carried the same question we asked before it began. Could the young shoulders carry the pressure?

And they did.

Our hearts go out to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Jofra Archer, Donovan Ferreira, Jaddu, and the rest of the squad who fought as one till the very end. Let us forget the dropped catches and remember instead the fight.

As for the stars and senior shoulders who could not step up when it mattered most — that is a conversation each man must have within his own heart.

This team is still young. Still learning. Still searching for its finest chapter. And for RR supporters, hope remains stitched into memory.

We remember Shane Warne, the man who taught Rajasthan to dream beyond reputation and play with fearless belief. That great Warne spirit continues through Kumar Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid, the coaching staff, management, and every member working behind the scenes to keep that vision alive.

Tonight belongs to Gujarat Titans. But Rajasthan leave with something that cannot be measured on a scoreboard, spirit.

Until next season, we say this not in anger, but with affection and faith: Best wishes, Rajasthan Royals. Rest. Rebuild. And return stronger.

We will continue the effort. Please come back.

IPL ELIMINATOR – BIG MATCH, BIG TEST

What we are witnessing is anything but ordinary.

I first thought young Vaibhav Suryavanshi might be just a few-match wonder. Without Sanju Samson, I honestly gave Rajasthan Royals very little chance.

But this boy changed the script.

Along with Jofra Archer and Dhruv Jurel, he has lifted Rajasthan to a completely different level. Rarely have we seen RR play with such freedom and confidence — perhaps not even during the Jos Buttler era.

Vaibhav has carried this side to the final stage of the competition with remarkable calmness and belief. No shake. No fear. Just intent.

Without him, Rajasthan may not have seen another daylight in this IPL.

But now comes the real examination.

Tonight, they face Gujarat Titans — a side on a champion's run despite a slow start and that earlier setback in the eliminator phase. Gujarat have depth, discipline, and the experience of big matches.

And yet, this young man remains the difference.

If Vaibhav survives and dominates through the powerplay, Rajasthan Royals could well run away with this contest. If not, the rest of the side must rise together — bowling, fielding, and fighting as one unit.

Otherwise, Gujarat Titans will be all over them.

The stage is set. The eliminator waits. And somewhere in the middle of all this pressure stands a fearless young boy carrying the hopes of Rajasthan.