my thoughts in words
Words that I couldn’t write are written by someone who is paid to write (now we know why I am not paid to write cuz I simply can’t do half a good a job as this writer does):
The polemics emanating from the IPL affront to Pakistani cricketers again brings to the fore the confused morass that is the Indian psyche; a jumble of misplaced morality and mawkish sentimentalism that revels in sadomasochistic self doubt and translates into a gibberish that has no functional value.
The net result is a floundering nation unsure of how to confront the inimical forces that confront it. In simple terms, a country that is unable to make strong decisions and stick by it.
Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Shilpa Shetty unusually forthright response to the brouhaha that followed the non-selection of the Pakistani players was a breath of fresh air. She bluntly remarked: “People have to be a little more sensitive, a bit more mature. Let’s not be hypocrites and let’s not turn a blind eye to the already volatile situation. you must look at it pragmatically and see that we have had these people who are constantly threatening.
“It’s not something we hold against the Pakistani players. We completely understand the situation but as franchise owners are we willing to take that risk? If something happens to the Pakistani players, the onus lies on us and who is going to take responsibility for a situation like that? When we said ‘availability’, we wanted complete assurance that those players would be available in the country and that we were going to be able to provide security for them.”
At the outset the near unanimity of action of the IPL was praiseworthy. It was grounded in reality, made good business sense, accounted for security concerns and above all resonated with the national sentiment prevalent in the nation post 26/11.
Although the IPL refuted the charge of a premeditated conspiracy there was no denying the undercurrent of patriotic fervour. It was strong decision but subtle and hurt the enemy where it hurt most. And for once India revealed a depth to its character, an ability to stand up for itself, a new found confidence that clearly said: ‘Don’t toy with us’. But alas the satisfaction was short lived.
Soon notes of dissent surfaced with our honorable home minister and a Bollywood icon mouthing a namby-pamby view that was in line with India’s perpetual guilt complex.
There was no need to be apologetic about the IPL stance. Yet there was Shah Rukh Khan decrying the decision not with a logical counterpoint but by singing paeans to Pakistan and invoking personal ties. He remorsefully exclaimed:” It (Pakistan) is a great neighbour to have. We are great neighbours, They are good neighbours. Let us love each other.
Let me be honest. My family is from Pakistan, my father was born there and his family is from there,”Two glaring inconsistencies stand out in this remark. One, if Pakistan is really a great neighbour then I am Albert Einstein. Without mincing words let me say that Pakistan is a deadbeat nation that is nothing more than a drag on India’s progress. The less we have to do with this nation the better.
The second objection concerns the merging of private and public domains. I have no issue with Shah Rukh Khan’s personal empathy for Pakistan borne out of familial affiliations even if it cuts across hostile boundaries. But can a national icon cite family ties to influence the professional decisions of an India based organisation or to sway public opinion?
The home minister’s response too was unnecessarily defensive with an uncalled for dose of self reproach. He dubbed the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers as a ‘disservice to cricket and contended that ‘these players were coming as individuals, it was not a Pakistan team.’
Another misperception that stems from a lack of pragmatic thinking. A perusal of the following excerpt (Saba Naqvi. It’s Not Cricket. Outlook, January 25) reveals that these Pakistani players are not isolated individuals but members of a larger hate India club that is Pakistan.
‘Consider this conversation that took place in a TV show titled ‘A morning with Farah’ on ATV, a Pakistan channel. Sohail Tanvir, who helped the Rajasthan Royals win and got the highest number of wickets in the first IPL is being interviewed by another journalist while the glamorous hostess, Farah, looks on. Consider Tanvir’s remark: ‘Hinduon ki zahaniyat hi aisi hai (the Hindu nature is like that only)’ the implication being that the Hindus have deliberately deceived and humiliated Pakistanis. The journalist responds with a remark about Indians being baniyas and says: ‘bagal me chhuri/ muuh me Ram Ram’ (they are ready to plunge a knife behind your back though they will keep saying Ram Ram). The gentleman with this shocking view of Indians in general and Hindus in particular then goes on about how India is tricking Pakistan out of hosting the World Cup next year.’
This vitriolic outpouring is shocking but what makes it even more despicable is the prime time prominence given to such Hindu/Indophobic venom. In comparison, it is hard to find such rabid talk from even the far right of the India’s political spectrum and certainly not on national television. It is this stark difference between the two nations that needs to sink into the fuzzy minds of our peaceniks.
We, in India are quick to vilify those who propose a hard line approach to Pakistan that includes severing cricket ties by branding them as radical and uncivilised. We cannot mix cricket with politics is the oft quoted mantra. But what is so sacred about this dichotomy? Is it a directive derived from logic or common sense or an abstract feel good notion with no utility value? And has continued cricketing ties mitigated Pakistan’s terror shenanigans?
I would like to look at in another way. This is not about cricket and politics but cricket and humanity. I am passionate about cricket and love the game. But that is the point. Cricket is merely a game and must take second place to humane concepts.
Is it not barbaric that we choose to continue playing cricket with a people whose compatriots routinely massacre our innocent civilians? I find it uncouth when we walk over the dead bodies of the carnage of 26/11 and extend a ‘loving’ hand to Pakistan? This suggests that we care little for the lives of our citizens and more for our image and entertainment.
This train of terror cannot go on. We must draw the line somewhere and it is here and now even if it means no cricket.
very very good and thought provoking post..I am going to link it on my blog….
Exactly the same I felt….very cheated with people who sympathise with pakistan..great neighbour..my foot.
Why we become apologetic all the time..I felt very happy this time feeling that first time they have shown strength, and then started these statements.
I’d look forward to reading, a.
Excellent post, Roo. I wonder, if SRK or people like him who ‘see the bigger picture’ actually had lost someone close to them in the Mumbai blasts..would they still be so sympathetic?!
That’s human nature eh, p. When Bombay train bomb blasts happened and hundreds of ppl died, I was out for lunch with my Canadian friends who have no association with india. I was distraught when I heard the news but my friends went on with their conversation after saying something like “oh no, that’s terrible” … “how many died?” … “that’s real sad”.
I am certain that their reaction was not the same for 9/11 or London bombings. Those hit close to home.
I agree with the writer. At the same time, I think that there is a reason for the ” jumble of misplaced morality and mawkish sentimentalism” that Indians display while dealing with the neighbouring nation.
When you know the people of a nation as friends and family, it is not easy to club them with the entire Indian-hating population of that country and to hate them with the same vigour that one tends to hate people from a sparring country. You feel the need to justify your relation with them in any manner possible. Which is *probably* what SRK also did. And when you try to do that, you often ignore the history that the two nations have had, looking at things only from an individual perspective instead of a national one.
I don’t think SRK has anything but the best intentions for the Indo-Pak relations, but sometimes aman ki asha is just too much to ask for!
Yeah, nothing would benefit SRK or Bollywood more than healthy indo-pak relations but that’s besides the point.
And yes, I agree with you. I find myself muddled too cuz I have loads of Pakistani friends too who are real nice people … But still if I was srk, I’d watch my mouth … and if I was an avg joe living in india, I’d boycott him now. Simple.
Like you said, bringing personal interest ahead of national is what happened here. It was selfish, not well though out, and something that need not be justified.
I had read this article when you’d linked it first in the comments’ section. Thanks for sharing! I am very impressed by the writing. Because he has countered ‘blanket, unconditional blind (and possibly, hypocritical) love’ with cold logic. The most appropriate thing he pointed was “perpetual guilt complex”. I was pleasantly surprised to see him mention some of the points that I too had mentioned in my comments.
It is also to be remembered that when Pakistan loses a cricket match to India, the number of TV-sets they break and number of people who commit suicide is significantly greater than what happens in India, if India loses. Is this because of their love for cricket or hatred against India/Hindus?
Which brings me to another significant difference between how India and Pakistan perceive each other. For India, Pakistan is a rogue NATION. For Pakistan, India is a place where majority practice Hinduism, which is a _____ (fill in the blank with any random adjective; am not doing so because my intention is not to provoke) religion.
I think one of the indicators of what the most prevalent and influential opinions in a country are, is the manner of public protests and the causes the general public espouses. Pakistani general public has turned like a spoilt brat, who does not want any responsibility, wants to cry and draw attention when something wrong happens, hurt others without reason and AND YET, want support from others to help them survive! You could read a very good analysis of this tendency on another blog, here: http://myminddroppings.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/pakistan-wants-your-money-no-strings-attached/
Also, I have lived only in India, so I don’t know how things outside India are. Following is a blog-post, where I have linked to a few articles that specifically concern the UK:
http://ketanpanchal.blogspot.com/2009/12/holy-horror.html
The survey I have quoted in the article may not be most reliable because of the reasons pointed out by G. Saimukundhan. Since you have lived outside India, I would like to know what you feel. And before you get any sort of emotional shock reading some of the views in my comments, let me tell you I am an atheist, and most of the commentators there are also atheists/skeptics in their own way, so I didn’t really have to be politically very correct. Hope, this fact helps you in bracing if you need to, that is. TC.
Thank you for posting it.. exactly my views too and like Antarman said, there was no need to be apologetic…this was another way India was dealing with it’s hurt.. we did not retaliate with guns and yet India was being let down in many ways and finally this was one way to show it and then comes SRK…
not that one should value their words but unfortunately the bollywood heroes seems to have much power among the masses, just like another from the dynasty.. they have assumed positions and the masses adore them…
HK, I don’t think SRK’s words would really change anyone’s mind sans a few. I surely hope that most ppl know that these actors talk out of their … It’s all about their personal benefit they care for … but like you said, I wish there was a figure in India, who commanded as much powers as these actors do, doing something constructive for public than filling his own pockets. Greed sees no end sadly.
Thought provoking… maybe I need to read up all the facts before I say anything… but I agree with some points you made, which is basically that let us cut out this “friendly neighbour” theory… Pakistan isn’t a friendly neighbour.. at least politically…
But then… if we are so clear that we didn’t want them in our IPL teams… why not send out that message and not have them participate at all! Why invite them.. and then not select them??
Ss, it’s not ‘we’ who are responsible for not selecting … it is a ‘business’ organizaton who didn’t. That was their business decision. Do we go question what other private ventures do? Then why here?
As for telling them in advance, why? In that case, there’s not even a need of auction. They should decide onplayers in advance, tell those who they don’t want, and then get together to bid on those who they have pre-selected. But that’s not how an auction works. Plus why are ppl getting touchy about a private company’s private decision? I would understand the angst if govt had done the same.