Let me just put things in perspective before I go on with my yapping and cribbing again.
30th Mar 2011 – Probably one of the most anticipated days in the history of Indian Cricket – or rather one of the most anticipated days in the history of Indo-Pak relations – the cricket teams from across the borders are all set to battle each other in the Semi Final of the ICC World Cup 2011 – the stakes are, as have always been, higher than the menial outcome of who is the winner – after all, there is no parallel for pride for the country men of these two nations , especially the one that comes after defeating the other in a round of a cricket match.
The anticipation and excitement generated by this encounter to be has been nothing short of a tequila shot. Indians and Pakistanis alike are all dying to be inside the PCA stadium on 30th Mar ’11. The cricket fever has probably reached its climax and may in fact, be an orgasmic feeling for several cricket followers in both the countries. The Indian Government has already played its cards by inviting top dignitaries from our north western neighbors. The game is all set to be a showdown – all things that sell in the country – Bollywood, Cricket & Gossip – have already occupied centre stage. Top ambassadors from the Indian Film Industry to be there, all news channels, radio stations going gaga over the match, people flying in from all corners of the globe to watch who delivers the knockout punch…The city of Chandigarh has already been fortified owing to security threats, I believe there are more policemen than citizens at present. The hotels are FULL…those which aren’t full yet are demanding highly escalated prices for four walls on the eve…tickets are being openly black marketed. Student tickets which were modestly priced at Rs. 250/- have exchanged hands for 50 notes of the green smiling Gandhis….
Now, I don’t intend to be a spoilsport and disrupt anyone’s reason for enjoying the game…on the contrary, I am all for fun. But the only thing that has tripped my circuits is the sheer act of feigning. All the country is high on the adrenaline today, with nationalistic fervor and patriotism flowing in full glory through most Indian’s veins. And this is the cause of my numbness towards the match. The reason why I am comparing our (Indians) attitudes to the act of feigning is the dual standards that we often display. We are at our nationalistic best on 15th of Aug, 26th of Jan and on days of a Indo-Pak clash; and yet, for the balance 362 days in the year, we don’t give a damn where our nation is headed. We act as if we are isolated and secluded from the daily happenings that are affecting our country. We bribe our way to glory, we remain apathetic to the needs of the have-nots, we continue to be a discriminating nation, and we lack civic sense…all hard but true facts…people are shelling out 100 times the price of the ticket…the same people would not have ever donated a single penny out of generosity from their big fat wallets. People are demanding half day at work, as if it’s their birth right, yet these same people will not have ever spent half a minute of their lives to understand the poor and stricken.
My earnest request to all my fellow Indians is simple – please be patriotic in spirit, please stop feigning. And as for the 30th of Mar ’11 – may the best team win!
