DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Nothing pervades the Indian mindset more than the platitude of being omnipotent, without ever making a logical evaluation of inherent weaknesses. It permeates the attitude and spirit as much as the spiritual perception of faith does vis-à-vis logic.

Perhaps, nothing demonstrates it more vividly than a ODI match, when everyone, root for a victory. A victory is celebrated passionately, bordering on mass frenzy, as though, a cherished goal in life is realized. But a very few are closely connected with the game as it is played. The celebration of the event is as effervescent as the anguish of a loss in similar contest. Indian-anglo writer Late Nirad C Choudhury described it almost very accurately, when he wrote, `fear in heart and desire (changed) in mind’.The most disturbing part of this attitude is deep faith in success, even under huge uncertainties -just like the game of cricket, which is avidly followed in the country like a religion.

The ` chalta hai ’ attitude epitomizes a perception of overconfidence, which connotes the typical approach to things, reflected in every aspect of day to day living.  Be it governance in policy implementation, reorganization of states, law and order, scams and corruption, opportunistic attitude of politicians, inflation, fiscal deficit, drain in foreign exchange, shrinking of rupee, boom in investment in gold, thriving free circulation of black money, social and economic plight of `aam admi’ , constructions compromising nature to vent its fury and last  but not the least, undertaking odious pilgrimage to perilous places against advice of impending devastation, betray a lack of seriousness in approach, contingent  planning, overemphasis on fatalistic outcome. It is the nemesis of our ambitions, which are also equally ad hoc and transient.

The fall out is apparent `national emergency’. Everyone tend to quarrel over the consequential aftermath, with a quasi-philosophical posture, without ruminating on the causes of perpetration. Why should we worry, if China gives us a frantic run for our money and we lag behind by a chasm! Do we need to ponder over seriously and come out to the streets like in Brazil for a much bigger cause than the triviality of a win in a ODI match, which might yet again cover up the scam and corruption that has eroded the credibility of the `gentleman’ game. And more worrisomely, each time such a match winning happens, it diverts attention from more serious and important issues that plague the nation and the nation drowns in the inebriating euphoria to forget the gnawing ignominy that hunger, privation and destitution could impact.

Wishing all the best for Indian Team in CT 2013 Final, as a true Indian.