The temerity with which IPL organisers question the legitimacy of Indian State disturbs me. Last year they sought precedence for their fixture over elections to Indian Parliament, and went their way. This year, they dirtied the Indo-Pakistan diplomatic waters, already muddied.
Arguments that there are visa concerns, and that IPL is a commercial activity, are specious at best, highhandedness at worst. These are easily verifiable and obvious stuff which even a Preity Zinta can check. If they deliberately chose to play mischief, then it is not something that Indian State can allow to pass off lightly
Who gave Shilpa Shetty the right to speak for Indian nation and its diplomatic policy? Why should bimbos rush to areas where brainy people tread with caution? By this Pyrrhic victory, who did they strengthen, the voices inimical to India or those who seek peace with India? Now we hear that Pak is planning to ban Bollywood. If they do, I will say it’s fair. At least they are transparent and decent.
Henry Kissinger infamously said 'the Indians are bastards anyway'. Modi and Co may do well to get this words etched on a silver plate, made it into a shield and kept at BCCI office. And take the full credit for it.
Georges Clemenceau, French Prime Minister when WW-I started, said it for all of us: ‘War is too serious a business to be left to the generals.”
Between India and Pakistan, cricket is war.
Arguments that there are visa concerns, and that IPL is a commercial activity, are specious at best, highhandedness at worst. These are easily verifiable and obvious stuff which even a Preity Zinta can check. If they deliberately chose to play mischief, then it is not something that Indian State can allow to pass off lightly
Who gave Shilpa Shetty the right to speak for Indian nation and its diplomatic policy? Why should bimbos rush to areas where brainy people tread with caution? By this Pyrrhic victory, who did they strengthen, the voices inimical to India or those who seek peace with India? Now we hear that Pak is planning to ban Bollywood. If they do, I will say it’s fair. At least they are transparent and decent.
Henry Kissinger infamously said 'the Indians are bastards anyway'. Modi and Co may do well to get this words etched on a silver plate, made it into a shield and kept at BCCI office. And take the full credit for it.
Georges Clemenceau, French Prime Minister when WW-I started, said it for all of us: ‘War is too serious a business to be left to the generals.”
Between India and Pakistan, cricket is war.
8 comments:
Jacob, Congratulations!
You 've touched a very relevant issue and it raises many related concerns as well.
Thanks for the thought provoking matter, it really throws many questions that are being evaded by those responsible.
Please keep sending your write ups
Regards
George
Sure, war is too serious to leave to the generals, but then who tackles war well. I don't think too many people will rush to say, "Politicians". Why can't film or sport stars talk diplomacy? The common man probably cares about what they say than about what our "leaders" rant continually about.
I'm sorry, I'm not a liberal and though I haven't followed cricket for a long time (without regret), I am not against Pakistani players not being bought for big sums to play in IPL.
I may be very wrong, but from as far back as I can remember, Pakistani players were rude on the field and never had anything good to say about India or Indian players. But apparently, neither did Kissinger! Let's just ban 'em all.
Nicely put, Jacob. The whole thing tells us how the buck stops. Not just where. You are dead on: India Pak cricket has always been war with the right noises with orchestrated modulations. War as ecstasy!!
Very intelligently put.War as well cricket swings to the the tune of megabucks.
when its the era of 2020s and 2010s patriotism is redifined.
Modi and Co. have even changed the meaning of the phrase 'to be a good sport'. This happens when corporations market leisure activities, and sports too get homogenised like everything else (how else can you explain cricket and cheergirls). I think it is a clever ploy, too, to ignite passions. A chauvinistic brand of nationalism in sport has always been used by vested interests, what with a little help from the media.
See this The Hindu article
Absence of dialogue is hurting India
Neethiman, thanks for starting a discussion. anna, my argument is simple: we need to set our agenda on the table: If we feel they are bad on court, say so. It will help noone to play mischief. Hari, the modulation is often modulated, but at some time, it is not. cricket is one such occasion when we support Pakistan against Australia. Priya, thanks for ur comment. sam, the madia man, u r right to point a finger at the media. And Joseph, thanks so much buddy, I wrote it much before a vetarl and a real authority did.
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