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...
P.S. this is the best I can do Farrukh:
I was the first one to comment on this review and highly recommend it as well. And my prophecy did come true... the bullets are flying... LOL.
But unfortunately, many people failed to see the sarcasm in your words and took the review at face value... thus understanding EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of what you intended. Sad.
You were probably trying to expose our shallow prejudices and our silly tendency to derive honour by disgracing others.
But going by the comments, I can see that people either failed to see through the irony and sarcasm or missed your real message. Some have even taken it as a ’golden’ chance to hurl around the usual ’’Islamic’’ ’’Jihadi’’ ’’fundamentalist’’ ’’fanatic’’ Muslim stereotypes... ... more hate, more prejuidice (sigh).
So, while your courageous review was intended to make readers realise that there is more to life than hating each other, that we should GROW UP from our partisan mentalities and become true citizens of the world, that we recognise the universal brptherhood of humanity... beyond nations, beyond religious practices, beyond completely futile cricket matches... while this probably was your message... a single line stating all this at the end of the review, even though in bold, probably has been overshadowed by whatever has been written above it (in sarcasm). So, agar thora sa detailed conclusion ho tau misunderstanding naheen hogee, I think.
Kyunkee, meree pyaree aur kafee puranee dost Gursimran, agar bura na mano tau mera ek nanha-sa, chhota-sa observation yeh hai ke it pays to SIMPLIFY and clearly spell out our message (like a true messenger ;-), specially in the case of sensistive issues. That way, hamari baat bhee sabkee samajh mein aasaani sey aa jaati hai aur kisi ka dil bhee naheen dukhta hai (which is not our intention when we exercise our freedom of speech).
I hope and pray that may God keep us all united as Indians, as humans, as friends, on this great site called mouthshut (Amen),
farrukh