My Facebook Page, at a glance, represents a scene of myriad emotions. While there are some who having started praying for good weather; others for consistent performances from Indian players; and there are even those who are 'bleedin blue'; there is a set of audience which is clinically weighing India's chances tomorrow at the face - off, with our 'arch rivals Pakistan', as media describes it. Unfortunately, there are also those who have taken to demeaning the opposite side and downplaying their abilities and skills. Before I go further, I should perhaps mention that yes, I too, am one amongst this crowd - My heart skips a beat every time a tail - end batsman lifts his bat to hit the ball high and I get the feeling it's not going to go the distance!
As Rahul Bose said in a speech recently, "We are all cricket selectors first; and then engineers, doctors, chartered accountants, etc". Somehow this statement was so profound and meant so much to me! We are so pro - active when it comes to voicing our opinions about something we are so passionate about like cricket, I wonder why we remain silent when women are raped and mauled everyday, and when we all know that terms like, 'child marriage' and 'human trafficking' are very much a reality today in India. Why are we not so vociferous about these? Why do we turn a blind eye and pretend like it doesn't exist or don't care about it until it happens to one of us , or someone we know, and sometimes, even not then?
When a country of 1.2 billion individuals stands behind and cheers on a team of eleven young men to battle it out on a cricket field and turn out in thousands and shout themselves hoarse - When we place so much trust and confidence on people we don't know or have met in person, why do we not have the confidence or the guts to stand up and give voice to the burning issues in India?
On a sidenote, I hope India wins tomorrow! :)
