Of burning desires and crackering dreams
(This article has been read 189 times)
Posted by Gursimran Arora on March 01, 2003 (Saturday)
It was a clash of the Pakistani Cricket team and the Indian Cricket team, it was a clash of the Indian flags and the Pakistani flags, it was a clash of Hindu's and Muslims - as always, fierce and passionate.
It was well obvious by the 40th over in the India v/s Pakistan World Cup Match (March 1st '03) that India is going to go back with a cheshire smile on their face. Well over 19,000 people present at the occassion were cheering on their respective favorites consistently. While Saeed Anwar turned out to be the Pakistani blessing in disguise, Sachin Tendulkar once again was the Indian star.
I too, like millions of other Indians worldwide, was glued to my tv set, fingers crossed as I watched Rahul and Yuvraj trying their best to end it soon. They chased the 274 runs target with little difficulty. As Shoaib and Wasim exchanged disheartened glances, everyone knew this was the end they were either waiting, or afraid of, depending whose side were they on.It was a clash of the Pakistani Cricket team and the Indian Cricket team, it was a clash of the Indian flags and the Pakistani flags, it was a clash of Hindu's and Muslims - as always, fierce and passionate.
As Rahul ended the game with a fierce four, the crowd went insane. Back home in India, in every nook and corner firecrackers burst like it was a second Diwali. For half an hour, everything else was inaudible - only loud crackers. I don't know what burnt with more passion - the crackers or the Pakistani dreams.
While all this happened and smoke filled the air, my mind was only clogged with one thought - why? Why did this country not respond in a similar fashion when India won the very crucial match against England? Why did India not dance passionately when Sachin made 152 against Namibia? Why did India not cheer their lungs out when India played against Australia? And why does the crowd go hysterical with every run that Sachin made or every ball that Nehra bowled against Pakistan?
I received calls half hour before the match ended to pray for India's win - I said, they'll win. Why fret? I received calls of congratulations when India won - I said, same to you, glad we'll reach the Super Six with decent points. - Super Six, they said, who cares! We won against Pakistan dammit!
Yes, we won against Pakistan. Who cares about the World Cup, we won against Pakistan, didn't we? Who cares about Sehwag's batting anymore, we won against Pakistan, didn't we? Who cares if Sachin recovers from his muscle pull, we won against Pakistan, didn't we? Who cares if Ganguly left the field without a single run to his name, we won against Pakistan, didn't we? Who the hell cares about world peace, who cares about corruption, who cares about the budget - don't you see you silly twit - we won against Pakistan!
So they are justified when they burst crackers till dawn, they are justified when they climb atop their cars and dance, they are justified when they open champagne they had been preserving forever, they are justified when they kiss their tv screens - their biggest dream has come true - their patriotism has taken color - their country has won in a cricket match against Pakistan.Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a standing ovation to the Indian Cricket Team for making this day count, please give them a big round of applause, please oh please put this day down in history as the most important day of your life, you see, Pakistan lost to India. Mock at them, make your muslim neighbour chagrined, tear some Pakistani flags, you deserve it.
And while you're at it - hear this from me... India has a lot of growing up to do...
What stayed with you?
A line that lingered, a feeling, a disagreement. Great comments are as valuable as the original piece.
Responses13
woohoo... wonderful ending.... and only the ending.
LOL Bullet - so typical of you : appreciative yet that strong essence of critique - thanks for your crisp comment!
dude i think u have to do a lot of growing up to do....see the thing is every match isnt like india/pakitan is due to the fact that there is a point to be proved... lets talk about india off the field india critizes about the fact pakistan raisin terrorists which is a fact...and even proved to the us people and what has been done about it nothing... then if india has to putr pakistan put down it has to take some form of the othr so better form instead of a war is that of a sportsmen... and well if people say its a war in the field well said...and if im not mistaken that's what killer instinct is!!! ... and if india has to grow... so does the pakis and so do u...and duide u belong to a country called india where u raise your voice with the people and not against them.... until and unless u wish to be a revolutionary
You sound like an Indian counterpart of Taliban .. Winning a cricket match is just that - a set of 11 people playing better than their counterparts on a given day. It is people with an agenda like you that seek to mar the beauty of a sweet victory with all this idiotic diatribe. So back off .. and make sure you say something only when you have something to say. Please spare us your adolescent ramblings p.s. We do not address the female of the species with a "dude"
well first of all ill also call u a dude...second of all Dude... well she knows me in person also so i have all right to call her dude... and as far as bvackingh of is concerned this is a column where youre supposed to cast your voice... and not ask people to lay down...india playing pakistan is a spirit... as far as i am concerned yes the crackers part was pretty stupid... but... then definatlely...hiow many times in life people dont just go cheer up for you being their friend and booing for your enemy if u happen to see the match apart from indians and pakistans there were loads of south african people coming for this particular match y.... i jus answered the question... rest is all a belief... u jus cant ask someone to back off like that dude
i missed out one thing... i had to say so i said... if i have to say again i will no one stops anyone its a democratic place you have the right to raise or lower you vice as and when required anything wrong is not tolerated in my country so y here too...
Hi Kreep, Thanks for saving my breath and expressing my emotions through your words - I don't know this guy in person and I have no clue why he has to comment on all my articles and expect me to reply!!? Guess sooner or later, Live2Read authorities will need to come in terms with him. Thanks again!
k...thanks...thats all i needed a reply from u....atleast now i know whom to call dude or not.... A few answers by muddy on March 04, 2003 (Tuesday) Why did India not dance passionately when Sachin made 152 against Namibia? Namibian players never used abusive language for sachin, pakistanis did. Why did India not cheer their lungs out when India played against Australia? Coz, austrailian bowlers don't say that "sachin ko dekh kar mera khoon khaulta hai" , pakistanis did. And why does the crowd go hysterical with every run that Sachin made or every ball that Nehra bowled against Pakistan? Coz, pakistani players say to each other about sachin "accha player hoga salaa apne ghar mein"
Oh alright - so the reason you people go absolutely insane and get ferociously infantile is totally because you can't stand Pakistani's abusing or passing comments! Don't you think many Indians behave the very same way when they see a Pakistani cricketer on screen - don't even try to say they don't - 'coz you and I both know how it goes... and no matter what, I still don't think its a justifiable excuse to be so very obsessed with a cricket match to the extent you make it a matter of your life and death. Hell - India Today showed people praying with cricket bats in front of the Golden Temple, I myself saw people climbing their cars and celebrating - all because Pakistani players said "Sachin ko dekh kar mera khoon khaulta hai?" Christ muddy - think over it and while you're at it, think over it once again!
u ve a gift..refreshing to see there r still some who possess such refreshing attitudes towards this infantile insanity. such reactions are typical manifestations of the elements of brute in even the purest of emotions.
Hi Aragorn, Thanks for your kind words. Its equally refreshing to see someone agreeing on this with similar perspectives :) Keep Reading!
Yes, India does ... so does the world.
On the first of March 2003 , it didn't matter if India won or Pakistan won the match.It was a foregone conclusion that it was essence of cricket that was lost . Too heavy a price,too heavy indeed.Nice to know there are people who still place the spirit of the game above other paltry issues