I'm not a sports enthusiast.... but can absolutely understand others' interest in sports (read cricket)... it's understandable.
I'm dying to go watch another photo exhibition in IGNCA, New Delhi.... so I can very well understand the passion of the masses world wide for watching sports matches etc. I can very well understand why people plan their days to be able to view their favorite match..... and it's even more apparent when the match happens to be between India and Pakistan ( I know I'm late for saying that!) .... and much more obvious when their Blue Gods are eying the ICC World Cup (or any such cup or saucer which is in vogue those days).
I understand it all. BUT, what I absolutely fail to understand is that why do we have to make a cricket match sound like some war?? I keep wondering.... and wondering..... and wondering.... just what makes people think that winning a match by any team is going to serve as an ego booster for an ordinary man on the street? Is it going to change their life in some way?
I want to ask you, the reader, have we not started making these matches a question of our self respect, ego, country's worth etc etc?
Wont' believe me? or you do?
Sample this, that some leading FM channel, says its a war out there.... and we HAVE to win.... to tell us listeners - what is your totka (home made recipe to achieve some goal) for India to win?! Helllllowwww!!! better ask for a totka to stop people jumping queues.... better ask for a totka to instantly blacken the face of the guys who trouble and harress the girls in public places.... we desperately these and many more such totkas (huff, as if they work!!! Gosh, when we really become educated?!)
Sample this, and I'm pretty sure, you have already got such SMSs and you have already forwarded them the Nth time! The SMS jokes which show the opponent team and captain in poor light, almost denigrating them on personal level. Being a public figure does not mean, they can be dragged into anything at the mass's will, come on, don't we know this??
Why are we, the ordinary people of this country, of any country, so obsessed about WINNING and not about the GAME?? This is my question to all the sports fans out there? Why can't we watch a match with the true sportsman spirit. The game should be played with all fairness and enthusiasm. Of course the aim is to win..... but the bigger aim is to be a team player.... the bigger aim is to be a student of that discipline which you have chosen for your life ( if you're a professional player, i mean).
And NO, we can't do that, so comes the COMPULSION and not the DESIRE to win... the pressure of your nation is there, so you HAVE TO win. Just why??
And, Here, I'm not even talking about the betting on teams and the huge business going on, as we hear and read in newspapers everyday.
It seems the we have not gotten over the cricket match played between Bhuvan (Amir Khan) and the British officers in the movie Lagaan.... which of course was a match which would have decided their fate - it was a question of life and death for them - I really feel, that is how generally cricket is viewed even now. We have to get over that.... these are just friendly matches...... let our egos not come in between the pure pleasure of a game.
Finally, just want to say that, let's not go mad about WHICH TEAM SHOULD WIN..... let's rise above that and say LET THE GAME WIN - LET CRICKET WIN.
RESTLESS
