IAS TOPPER WRITES

I wish to thank you for the invaluable guidance and support offered by your publications in preparing for the Civil Services Exam. Besides, the current issues have helped me in my Interview. I have been reading CSR for the last 5-6 years. I express my heartfelt wishes for IAS aspirants.

Alok Tiwari, IAS

NEPAL’S HISTORIC TRYST WITH DESTINY

The article “Nepal’s Historic Tryst With Destiny” published in the July 2008 issue of the Competition Success Review was an apt and remarkable round-up of the events that have unfolded in the Himalayan nation in recent times. The transformation of Nepal from a monarchy to a republic is really a welcome development, though the performance of the newly-formed government in dispensing social justice and embarking upon developmental activities would decide the fate of both the new form of governance and the government. Moreover, Maoist ascendancy would pose a two-way threat to India. First, India might be even more susceptible to Maoists’ guerilla operations in the naxal-affected areas. Also, looking from foreign policy perspective China will come closer to Nepal which does not augur well for India. The porous borders and anti-India sentiments prevailing among Nepalis would no doubt add to India’s woes.

Abhinav Tiwari, Allahabad (UP)

IPL: TWENTY20 CRICKET COMES OF AGE

Even as the curtains came down on the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, I could not help but marvel at the dimension of the revolution it has sparked off in the arena of cricket. Time was when cricket used to be all about well thought-out strategies executed over five days, lazy elegance on the field and camaraderie and bonhomie off it. The advent of ODIs changed the game a little, but the basic aspects remained largely unaltered. Twenty20, the latest version of the game, is not merely a miniaturisation of the longer formats as many would like to believe; it has much more to it. achieving SUCCESS in life. Keeping IPL was perceived by pundits as unviable in the long haul; it was thought that the Western concepts of franchisees and auctions would fall face flat in India. Given such uninspiring pre-tournament opinions, IPL’s success story has left stunned even the staunchest advocates of the slam-bang format. However, the initial doubts regarding IPL’s viability seem grossly unfounded and out of place to an informed follower of cricketing trends. This format was tailormade for success. ODIs can no longer be easily fitted into our increasingly hectic schedules, while a T20 match nicely fits into a leisurely evening. Add to it the lure of viewing stars from different nations playing for the same team, waltzing cheerleaders letting go of themselves with gay abandon, and the palpable tension that permeates into our living rooms—and we get a perfect recipe to spice up our otherwise thrill-bereft evenings. As an ardent cricket fan, I could not have asked for more.

Praveen Kr. Dutta, Sivasagar (Assam)