Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Heroes Return Home- Some Observations

Posted : September 27, 2007 at 5:12 am [IST]

The whole of Mumbai was on road to welcome the heroes of T20 cricket’s world cup. Some estimated it to be a million strong fans. Wankhede was jam-packed. Gifts in cash and kind were raining from the BCCI and the state governments. It appears from media reports that a single political party has managed to grab the show.

But the heroes couldn’t get the chairs in the front row of the dais for the facilitation ceremony. The politician ministers and officers of BCCI placed themselves in them, completely overshadowing the proud winners of the world cup who were seated in row behind. Dhoni was the only player in a front row seat. ‘Yuvraj Singh, assuming that his seat was in the front, came up, but had to retreat.’ Why couldn’t someone shaking off the sycophancy take the initiative and courage to advise the politicians? Could one day the people in the crowd put them in their right place?

But it was unfortunate that Modi and BJP couldn’t be prompt enough to declare the prize money to Pathan brothers and greet them. Pathan brothers are not the losers, but Modi and in him BJP has lost one more opportunity to show themselves better in this aspect of politics.

Dhoni is doing a real hero in selecting the right words too. Here is one. “We had heard that Mumbai is always on the move. Today, my team brought Mumbai to a standstill.”

And then a news got highlighted in very bad taste for the day. The newsreader showed interview of the hockey coach and his views on the grievances of the hockey players who recently own Asian cup after a brilliant performance. Does it reflect the difference between a Sarad Pawar and KPS Gill? Why can’t some corporate houses take a lead? Are the grievances of hockey justified? Was Joaquim Carvalho, the national coach exaggerating when he vented his grievances, “Why are our hockey players, who won the Asia Cup, being treated like orphans and why are our politicians biased against hockey?.” But the best was his statement, “We shall keep on playing better and better” in reply to the question “What shall you do next?”

And the Pakistan’s captain remark meant for the Muslims of the world was shocking. I think that is the difference between India and Pakistan, and how our boys get developed. India must win.

Can one day India wins GDP growth rate race and keep it winning for a decade that can remove the poverty from the face of the country? Why can’t the teaming millions and particularly the politicians work for that? And then perhaps they could have occupied the front chairs on the dais on their own rights.

- Indra

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