India v/s Australia match ends with celebrations of the victory. But more than that, the delicious India v/s Pakistan appears to be appetizing and I look forward to it. Along with my count for DAYS TO CET, I add DAYS TO THE GAME!! Every midnight as I hear the buzz of my watch telling me that its a new day, I rush to reduce the count of days. Not for CET, but for The Game. And as I study for my Biotechnology exam, I just wonder if I could clone genes for my children!! Temperament from Dhoni, aggression from Yuvi, strength from Yusuf and skill and eternal genius from Sachin. I hope we could get all these together as a one man army for the big day. And today as Wednesday dawned, I couldn't feel the anxiety I usually have with all my tuition tests. How could I? I had to save my nails for those last overs played around 9.30 pm, to be bitten, while not even budging from the place, just so that this small change doesn't turn out to be the reason that made Men in Blue lose. Talk about superstitions with a science student. When it comes to cricket, Indians can never be beaten in craze and fever that surrounds it. How can it be? It is the only THING that unites us Indians.
You must have surely head this - "Cricket is my Religion and Sachin is my God" or "I want to see God when I die, till then I'll do with Sachin"
No festival, no religion, no political party, no national event can ever even STOMACH Cricket, let alone SHOULDERING it. Nothing reaches here...
Newspapers bursting with predictions, horoscopes, interviews, jokes, facts, SIDDHUISMS, I just wait for my test to end at 2.00 pm. This couldn't get bigger!!!
And the match starts. We start good. Blah blah blah... And we WIN!!! You know what happens even if you are remotely Indian, I leave the analysis to be done to the experts.
Zaheer's balls go unbeaten as Misbah desperately tries to build up something, to just connect the ball, as I calmly gulp up the last, 5th bottle of soft drink. Yes, there's this CET STUDENT guilt on mind of having (wasted) precious 8 hours but I'm determined to compensate for each and every second lost today. I would miss the final, not The Game!!
Match ends with huge uproar from neighboring societies and firecrackers in the sky. I and Vivek run out to Shivaji Park where we guess would the real celebrations be. On our way down we see children, youngsters, middle aged people, oldies and even people on Wheel Chair screaming and shouting their throats out.
I wondered if this is how the people felt when India got Independence? Because there's no way it could be bigger than THIS! People on bikes with flags, with Vande Mataram and Jai Hind chants, and celebrations everywhere! I couldn't help thinking that, really Cricket is THE RELIGION that unites us. I went on to the park. Hundreds and hundreds of people already down to dance to Puneri and Nashik dhol. Even I joined the crowed. I could feel something happening in my body, maybe that's what they called adrenaline rush. With my sedentary study life I always thought that the feeling of scoring 50/50 in Physics is what they call adrenaline rush. But no, this was far far far too bigger, better and AMAZING! Immediately sweat breaks in and I can already feel Tachycardia. Hehe.. It was fun. Not crooked and filthy, as Mavshi warned me, it might have been. I felt it was pure celebration of joy, celebration of victory and celebration of unity Maybe this is why Lokmanya Tilak started Ganeshotsav! But as I write this post, 1.20 am, with coffee keeping me awake and analgesic helping me sit, I feel sorry. I was naive.
I ran around streets screaming Vande Matram, something I wouldn't do this year to avoid fatigue, telling people to hold the National Flag with due care and respect. Surprisingly everybody obliged immediately. This was everything I expected from India till I heard someone saying, "Pakistan Murdabad, Bhago Saalo Terrorists" and that was it...
I immediately ran to the group to try and stop them. Yes I was worried as Vivek warned me that they looked out of control, supposedly drunk. But I had to. When I told their so called leader that it is not correct ethically and politically to demean Pakistan, the guy who was in fact a middle aged man instead told me that this the only day when they can say anything and not be questioned. Plus, according to him, everything was fair after the victory and the youngsters around were 'Bachhe' (too small) to understand. He instead shooed me off like a cockroach. And I really felt pissed off. I could no longer dance or shout the chants, I decided to go home. On my way home, I finally could realize adrenaline levels going down and coming back to normal. I could see the WORLD around. The world as it was. With 5 news channel vans parked around the park, publicity freaks could be seen lingering in the backgrounds where the idiotic reporters asked stupid questions to people who I suppose hadn't even seen the match. MNS and Shiv Sena flags amongst the tricolour and some people dancing filthily. Most of them seemed drunk. Those in cars were already enjoying their BOTTLES! The crowd at a Beer Bar and at Alcohol shop was more than the people dancing on road. Everything seemed to be falling apart. I just wanted to run back home before some reporter or a political party caught me in their procession. It was no more celebration. It was political power show off and business. I had never seen GROUP SMOKING ever, neither guys of my age drinking alcohol directly out of bottles and abusing Pakistan.
THIS IS ROTTEN HELL!! I hoped I never ran out of my house. India Tricolor lying on ground, being trampled by insane drunk dancers who joined the crowd later was just the final blow I could take.
Why all this? Why was I so excited about the match? Why wasn't I equally excited about Australia match which was better competition between the bat and the ball? What made me blind and idiotic?
Now as I write here, not only do I feel guilty about wasting the day about just another match, but also feel ashamed of having gotten into the mob psychology. That leaves no difference between me and the uneducated, misdirected people. The fever was unnecessary and so were the celebrations. We haven't won the world cup yet but the celebrations were equivalent of having won one. Where does all this stem from?
Today I read an article in a newspaper. The craze and the glamor of this match was all because the deep underlying animosity between the countries. 'Pakistan murdabad', that's what still keeps ringing in my head. Why can't we forget the past? Why can't we put behind partition and Kargil? You and Me weren't directly affected by the war. Just because hatred is instilled in our mind against Pakistan since we have started understanding world politics, it doesn't mean we should degrade the quality of sport.
I have been very happy about the positive change. India inviting Gilani for a diplomatic talk, Gandhis sitting in non air conditioned stands, were the parts that I liked. There were no harsh abuses amongst the players, instead the environment was very friendly, I felt. No bottles thrown, no stampedes, no booing, everything seemed so picture perfect. But the political parties and the media have left no chance in exploiting these situations. Crappy news shows with weird headlines like 'Pakistan ke maut ka jashn' (celebration of death of Pakistan) made me sick. This semi-final has been given more importance than it really deserved, I agree and I have been a part of this mumbo jumbo. This makes me really sad and it brings me to a question, the one which has been asked every time. Why is Cricket, above all other games, The Religion of India?
There literally have been aartis and hymns about the team, Sachin. Yes the sport brings us together, where we forget our usual caste and religion problems. But this blind hatred against Pakistan is what makes us weak and insane. International sport is to foster the friendship among the nations which otherwise wouldn't have been much on cordial terms with each other. And by calling this sport a WAR we are just demeaning the sole reason of everything.
THIS HAS TO CHANGE! And WE, I will change it. As I went on to that 'MURDABAD' person to talk, I really felt afraid. What if they abuse me? What if he hits me? But then I remembered a thought. Which goes something like this 'This world is dangerous not because of the the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of the good people'. Even Vivek knew that what was happening was wrong but he didn't care enough or rather was afraid to do anything. But I had made up my mind for any argument if any, was to happen.
As I chat with my friend Mihir now on phone and tell him about what I'm writing, I wonder if this topic really deserves all the writing. But what I think is that a single spark is what lights up the fire. This hatred is what might be sown in our future generations. This hatred is what might result into World War III. I don't know. But I hope we uproot this poisonous weed right here, right now. And its I who can do it. Its YOU who can do it. Its WE who can do it.
We wait for someone else to start. 'Shivaji janmava, pan bajuchanchya gharat' (Let Shivaji be born, but in the neighbor's house). This is the reason why we fail. And here's where Japan beats everybody.
There's lots to write about this topic. I just had to get this concern of mine out here. Now that I don't have much time, I just wanted to make a note of this somewhere. I hope someday when I complete my education I gather courage to learn political science and maybe enter politics.
I remember Anil Kapoor's Nayak - The Real Hero movie. This also reminds me of Rang De Basanti. My favorite dialogues-
You must have surely head this - "Cricket is my Religion and Sachin is my God" or "I want to see God when I die, till then I'll do with Sachin"
No festival, no religion, no political party, no national event can ever even STOMACH Cricket, let alone SHOULDERING it. Nothing reaches here...
Newspapers bursting with predictions, horoscopes, interviews, jokes, facts, SIDDHUISMS, I just wait for my test to end at 2.00 pm. This couldn't get bigger!!!
And the match starts. We start good. Blah blah blah... And we WIN!!! You know what happens even if you are remotely Indian, I leave the analysis to be done to the experts.
Zaheer's balls go unbeaten as Misbah desperately tries to build up something, to just connect the ball, as I calmly gulp up the last, 5th bottle of soft drink. Yes, there's this CET STUDENT guilt on mind of having (wasted) precious 8 hours but I'm determined to compensate for each and every second lost today. I would miss the final, not The Game!!
Match ends with huge uproar from neighboring societies and firecrackers in the sky. I and Vivek run out to Shivaji Park where we guess would the real celebrations be. On our way down we see children, youngsters, middle aged people, oldies and even people on Wheel Chair screaming and shouting their throats out.
I wondered if this is how the people felt when India got Independence? Because there's no way it could be bigger than THIS! People on bikes with flags, with Vande Mataram and Jai Hind chants, and celebrations everywhere! I couldn't help thinking that, really Cricket is THE RELIGION that unites us. I went on to the park. Hundreds and hundreds of people already down to dance to Puneri and Nashik dhol. Even I joined the crowed. I could feel something happening in my body, maybe that's what they called adrenaline rush. With my sedentary study life I always thought that the feeling of scoring 50/50 in Physics is what they call adrenaline rush. But no, this was far far far too bigger, better and AMAZING! Immediately sweat breaks in and I can already feel Tachycardia. Hehe.. It was fun. Not crooked and filthy, as Mavshi warned me, it might have been. I felt it was pure celebration of joy, celebration of victory and celebration of unity Maybe this is why Lokmanya Tilak started Ganeshotsav! But as I write this post, 1.20 am, with coffee keeping me awake and analgesic helping me sit, I feel sorry. I was naive.
I ran around streets screaming Vande Matram, something I wouldn't do this year to avoid fatigue, telling people to hold the National Flag with due care and respect. Surprisingly everybody obliged immediately. This was everything I expected from India till I heard someone saying, "Pakistan Murdabad, Bhago Saalo Terrorists" and that was it...
I immediately ran to the group to try and stop them. Yes I was worried as Vivek warned me that they looked out of control, supposedly drunk. But I had to. When I told their so called leader that it is not correct ethically and politically to demean Pakistan, the guy who was in fact a middle aged man instead told me that this the only day when they can say anything and not be questioned. Plus, according to him, everything was fair after the victory and the youngsters around were 'Bachhe' (too small) to understand. He instead shooed me off like a cockroach. And I really felt pissed off. I could no longer dance or shout the chants, I decided to go home. On my way home, I finally could realize adrenaline levels going down and coming back to normal. I could see the WORLD around. The world as it was. With 5 news channel vans parked around the park, publicity freaks could be seen lingering in the backgrounds where the idiotic reporters asked stupid questions to people who I suppose hadn't even seen the match. MNS and Shiv Sena flags amongst the tricolour and some people dancing filthily. Most of them seemed drunk. Those in cars were already enjoying their BOTTLES! The crowd at a Beer Bar and at Alcohol shop was more than the people dancing on road. Everything seemed to be falling apart. I just wanted to run back home before some reporter or a political party caught me in their procession. It was no more celebration. It was political power show off and business. I had never seen GROUP SMOKING ever, neither guys of my age drinking alcohol directly out of bottles and abusing Pakistan.
THIS IS ROTTEN HELL!! I hoped I never ran out of my house. India Tricolor lying on ground, being trampled by insane drunk dancers who joined the crowd later was just the final blow I could take.
Why all this? Why was I so excited about the match? Why wasn't I equally excited about Australia match which was better competition between the bat and the ball? What made me blind and idiotic?
Now as I write here, not only do I feel guilty about wasting the day about just another match, but also feel ashamed of having gotten into the mob psychology. That leaves no difference between me and the uneducated, misdirected people. The fever was unnecessary and so were the celebrations. We haven't won the world cup yet but the celebrations were equivalent of having won one. Where does all this stem from?
Today I read an article in a newspaper. The craze and the glamor of this match was all because the deep underlying animosity between the countries. 'Pakistan murdabad', that's what still keeps ringing in my head. Why can't we forget the past? Why can't we put behind partition and Kargil? You and Me weren't directly affected by the war. Just because hatred is instilled in our mind against Pakistan since we have started understanding world politics, it doesn't mean we should degrade the quality of sport.
I have been very happy about the positive change. India inviting Gilani for a diplomatic talk, Gandhis sitting in non air conditioned stands, were the parts that I liked. There were no harsh abuses amongst the players, instead the environment was very friendly, I felt. No bottles thrown, no stampedes, no booing, everything seemed so picture perfect. But the political parties and the media have left no chance in exploiting these situations. Crappy news shows with weird headlines like 'Pakistan ke maut ka jashn' (celebration of death of Pakistan) made me sick. This semi-final has been given more importance than it really deserved, I agree and I have been a part of this mumbo jumbo. This makes me really sad and it brings me to a question, the one which has been asked every time. Why is Cricket, above all other games, The Religion of India?
There literally have been aartis and hymns about the team, Sachin. Yes the sport brings us together, where we forget our usual caste and religion problems. But this blind hatred against Pakistan is what makes us weak and insane. International sport is to foster the friendship among the nations which otherwise wouldn't have been much on cordial terms with each other. And by calling this sport a WAR we are just demeaning the sole reason of everything.
THIS HAS TO CHANGE! And WE, I will change it. As I went on to that 'MURDABAD' person to talk, I really felt afraid. What if they abuse me? What if he hits me? But then I remembered a thought. Which goes something like this 'This world is dangerous not because of the the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of the good people'. Even Vivek knew that what was happening was wrong but he didn't care enough or rather was afraid to do anything. But I had made up my mind for any argument if any, was to happen.
As I chat with my friend Mihir now on phone and tell him about what I'm writing, I wonder if this topic really deserves all the writing. But what I think is that a single spark is what lights up the fire. This hatred is what might be sown in our future generations. This hatred is what might result into World War III. I don't know. But I hope we uproot this poisonous weed right here, right now. And its I who can do it. Its YOU who can do it. Its WE who can do it.
We wait for someone else to start. 'Shivaji janmava, pan bajuchanchya gharat' (Let Shivaji be born, but in the neighbor's house). This is the reason why we fail. And here's where Japan beats everybody.
There's lots to write about this topic. I just had to get this concern of mine out here. Now that I don't have much time, I just wanted to make a note of this somewhere. I hope someday when I complete my education I gather courage to learn political science and maybe enter politics.
I remember Anil Kapoor's Nayak - The Real Hero movie. This also reminds me of Rang De Basanti. My favorite dialogues-
Karan - Kuch future nahi hai is desh ka. Kuch hone vala hai nahi.
Ajay - Karan, door se commentary dena asaan hota, dusron ko gaali dena aur bhi asaan. Agar tumhe itna problem hai, toh tum badlo na is desh ko. Yeh tumhara bhi desh hai. Police ya IAS mein bharti ho jao, badlo cheejon ko. Lekin tum nahi karoge, kyun ki ghar ki safai mein haat gande kaun kare?
(Karan - There's no future to this country. Nothing's gonna happen.
Ajay - Karan, its easy to pass comments by sitting on the fence, easier to curse others. If you really have so much problem with this system, you bring about the change in this country. Its your country too. Join Police or Indian Administration Service, change the things. But you won't do it, because why should we soil hands in cleaning up our own mess?)
Hum badlenge cheejon ko, hum badlenge is desh ko.
We will change things, all we need is a collective effort. And it starts with ME.
Here's a song I like
FLIPSYDE - SOMEDAY
Someday we gonna rise up on that wind you know
Someday we gonna dance with those lions
Someday we gonna break free from these chains and keep on flyin'
[Verse 1]
They tellin' me it's all good just wait
You know you're gonna be there someday
Sippin' on Jim Beam ok
Gotta get these things one day
Till then do another line you know
Searching for that other high
Stop or I gotta steal then steal
Kill or I'm gonna be killed
I got a sack in my pocket
Conscious yellin' drop it
You know we're gonna lose it someday
And we tryin' to hold it all together but the devil is too clever so
I'm gonna die you gonna die we gonna die Someday one day I said
[Chorus]
Someday we gonna rise up on the wind you know
Someday we gonna dance with those lions
Someday we gonna break free from these chains and keep on flyin'
[Verse 2]
Try to lie but it ain't me Ain't me
Try to look but I can't see
Can't stop right now cause I'm too far and I can't keep goin' cause it's too hard
In the day in the night it's the same thing
On the field on the block it's the same game
On the real if you stop then it's no pain but if you can't feel pain then it's no gain
Rearrange and you change and it's all bad and you try to maintain but you fall back
And you crawl and you slip and you slide down
Wanna make it to the top better start now
So I hold my soul and I die hard
All alone in the night in the graveyard
Someday one day I'm gonna be free and they won't try to kill me for being me
Hey someday
[Chorus]
Someday we gonna rise up on that wind you know
Someday we gonna dance with those lions
Someday we gonna break free from these chains and keep on flyin'
If you know how this is
Gonna see it's not that easy
Don't stop get it till it's done
From where you are or have begun
I said keep on try a little harder to see everything you need to be
Believe in your dreams
That you see when you're asleep
[Chorus]
Someday we gonna rise up on that wind you know
Someday we gonna dance with those lions
Someday we gonna break free from these chains and keep on flyin'
