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By:

Amey Chitale

28 October 2024 at 5:29:02 am

Bumrah: Turning Pressure Into Poetry

The victorious strategist wins first and then goes to battle Mumbai: Two years ago in Barbados, the scars of India’s crushing ODI World Cup final defeat still lingered and the drought of ICC titles weighed heavily. India had seized control in the middle overs, only to see it slip under Heinrich Klaasen’s fierce assault. With South Africa needing 30 off 30 balls and their in-form batter at the crease, momentum appeared lost. That was when he stepped in to halt the Proteas’ surge. His spells...

Bumrah: Turning Pressure Into Poetry

The victorious strategist wins first and then goes to battle Mumbai: Two years ago in Barbados, the scars of India’s crushing ODI World Cup final defeat still lingered and the drought of ICC titles weighed heavily. India had seized control in the middle overs, only to see it slip under Heinrich Klaasen’s fierce assault. With South Africa needing 30 off 30 balls and their in-form batter at the crease, momentum appeared lost. That was when he stepped in to halt the Proteas’ surge. His spells in the 16th and 18th overs slowed the chase and turned the tide. While Suryakumar Yadav’s spectacular boundary catch grabbed the headlines, his economy of 4.5 and two crucial wickets quietly shifted the balance. India’s fightback was shaped not just at the boundary but through the calm precision of his bowling. Two years later, India were defending a towering 255 at the Wankhede Stadium. Yet, as often happens with big totals, complacency crept in and the game began to slip away. Bethell’s ferocious hitting had nearly turned the contest in England’s favour. Once again, the captain turned to his trusted lieutenant—Mr Reliable. Summoned in the 16th and 18th overs, he delivered with precision. With the asking rate nearing 14, he conceded just 14 runs. Brutal yorkers speared at the batter’s legs, leaving little room to manoeuvre. It was a masterclass in control under pressure, steadying India’s grip on the game. He stayed cool under pressure, handling the storm without surrendering psychologically. While Sanju Samson’s brilliance and Axar Patel’s composure grabbed the headlines, it was again his quiet mastery that helped India regain momentum. Over the years, he has embodied consistency and resilience, thriving when others faltered. Fame and glamour were never his pursuit, yet his presence has often proved decisive—felt in every crunch moment and crucial spell. He is not just a match-winner but a craftsman of control, a bowler who bends the game’s rhythm to his will. Among Greatest Indeed, Jasprit Bumrah ranks among cricket’s greatest fast bowlers—the unsung hero of Barbados and Wankhede, turning pressure into poetry with the ball. His spells are more than memorable moments; they are calculated interventions delivered at the precise juncture where pressure, timing and psychology shape the contest. Not merely a frontline warrior, he is a tactical commander, orchestrating the battle with precision and authority. Sun Tzu, in The Art of War , reminds us: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” The finest generals do not merely attack soldiers; they dismantle strategy. Jasprit Bumrah does exactly that—targeting the batter’s confidence, disrupting the innings’ rhythm and shrinking the time for the chase. At crucial moments, he punctures momentum with precision. Sun Tzu wrote that supreme excellence lies in winning without prolonged battle. Bumrah’s spells are not about dramatic collapses but strategic strangulation. Sustained pressure erodes decision-making and forces errors. His bowling values control over spectacle.   Shivaji Maharaj’s military brilliance lay in using limited resources with strategic precision. His campaigns relied on small, decisive strikes delivered at unexpected moments. With only four overs at his disposal, Jasprit Bumrah turns risk into opportunity—his very presence carrying the aura that, once deployed, the battle will shift. Turning Risks Just as Shivaji Maharaj’s triumphs relied on trusted commanders, India’s victories here hinged on Bumrah’s quiet precision. He was not merely a bowler in the lineup but the commander whose interventions reshaped the contest. A deeper lesson lies in these performances. In an age that glorifies speed and instant success, Bumrah’s craft reminds us that true mastery rests on preparation, clarity and composure under pressure. Success—whether in sport or life—is rarely one dramatic act but the result of discipline and the courage to step forward when the moment matters most. Sun Tzu wrote, “The victorious strategist wins first and then goes to battle.” Bumrah’s spells reflect that philosophy. His impact lies not in sudden collapses but in calculated control, where each delivery serves a larger plan. Cricket fields and historic battlefields may seem worlds apart, yet their strategies often mirror each other. Batters’ blazing strokes may dominate highlight reels, but the quiet control of bowlers like Bumrah often decides a match. He does not simply bowl; he reshapes the battlefield.

A Wake-up Call for Security in Our Public Institution!

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

A Wake-up Call for Security in Our Public Institution!

Recent incidents of sexual assault on children at a school in Badlapur near Mumbai and the rape and murder of a resident doctor at R.G. Kar public hospital in Kolkata have shocked the country. In both cases, the perpetrators had unhindered access to the public institutes and executed their heinous activities undetected.

In Badlapur, the young children only disclosed the assault after fifteen days. In R.G. Kar Hospital, the culprit murdered the victim after the assault, preventing her from reporting the crime.

The investigation of the Badlapur incident is being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), while the R.G.Kar case is being investigated by the CBI. In both incidents, the culprits chose isolated areas without CCTV coverage, avoiding detection and lacking witnesses despite being in public institutions.

In the school incident, the child’s genital pain complaint went unexamined by private doctors, missing potential evidence for legal action. The headmistress hid the information from the school authorities for three days. The school authorities also failed to report it to the police immediately, as required under the POCSO Act. The complaint was only registered after a delay of twelve hours following police involvement and a subsequent medical examination.

The suspect, a casual contract sweeper, was hired without verification two weeks prior and was allowed unrestricted access without an identity card.

The Bombay High Court ordered the police to charge the school authorities for failing to report the incident and stressed the need for better police sensitivity to child offenses. In offences against women and children, police may serve as the first responders, investigators, or officers responsible for registering F.I.R. It is their primary duty to inform victims about their legal rights. This approach is crucial for preventing, detecting, and investigating such crimes.

Many women are unaware of grievance procedures and reluctant to file a complaint due to the shame and stigma associated with such crimes. Although training provides knowledge and skills for investigation, it must also expand its focus to include attitudinal transformation as a key component. When a complainant approaches the police, officers’ behavior affects their cooperation. Training should focus on changing these attitudes.

To ensure fairness, police must follow these precautions:

• Who first receives the complaint at the police station?

• How long does it take to record the complaint?

• Is the complaint documented as stated by the complainant, or is it downplayed?

• Is the complaint recorded in the complainant’s own words and language?

• Is an audio-visual recording made of the complainant?

• Was there any demand for illegal gratification?

For every complaint involving a woman or a girl child, the DCP should verify these details and maintain a record. Additionally, awareness should be raised about the e-FIR facility under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which enables filing complaints online.

Educational authorities must assess the security requirements during their visits to schools. They need to emphasise immediate reporting of every incident against a child to the police, even if it may be embarrassing to the institution. Similarly, the policy of using contractual labour for housekeeping services must be reviewed. While it may save costs for the institute, the effect of such contractual workers’ behaviour is more damaging to the institute.

My experience reviewing the security requirements of medical colleges and hospitals in Maharashtra provides valuable insights. My recommendations included having personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) deployed for surveillance, monitoring, and rapid response. They were equipped with CCTV facilities and weapons. This system has been effective for the past seven years and should be considered for implementation in other states across India.

(The writer is a former DGP, Maharashtra. Views personal.)

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