There isn't a phrase more firmly implanted in my consciousness, than this. Not because, i have always believed in it but because this was a GD topic during my TAS preliminary rounds, the immediate context and provocation for which was the American attack on Iraq during the Iraq-Qatar war. The start of the third world war had seemed imminent then.
Now 19 years later, no matter how far one has come from those days and no matter just how much the whole world has evolved, there is this phrase that's resurfaced like the proverbial phoenix from its firmly entrenched groove in my head. I still remember quite vividly, arguing about not just the end of the physical world (due to the war like context) but its eventful journey into a world sans boundaries and a world devoid of tension and war. That was my little idealistic oasis, perfect and untouched by the evils around.
In early 91, no one could have imagined any other unifier. This was 3-4 years before the net became the omni-present potent force that it is today and maybe 6-7 years before the introduction of mobiles in India.
However, my inspiration to write this piece is neither the net nor the mobile. It is the IPL.
What years and years of discussions and debate could not achieve, the IPL has accomplished with ease. Who could have imagined that we would dump our own nationalistic pride and instead be rooting for a Pieterson and Shane Warne, going gaga over Malinga, Gilchrist and Gayle and applauding all the way for Ross Taylor, Kallis and Jayawardene as much as we would be appreciating our very own Sachin, Yosuf Pathan, Dhoni and Uthapa.
The world that we grew up with, has collapsed. Nationalities remain mere paper formalities and appear irrelevant. It is pointless thinking of a situation more perfect than this. Even if the motivation and driving force behind IPL was money, what it has achieved, goes far beyond. I doubt even Lalit Modi had visualised the Goliath, his baby would become or the radical changes it would unleash in the way and scale of how and what we think, interact and plan.
The other - inspiration has been the Shoaib Malik- Sania Mirza's proposed alliance - a somewhat star crossed, cross border alliance between two national stars (in their own countries) in less than perfect circumstances. Both- because of bitter inter-country tensions as also because of completely bizzarre talk surrounding his previous matrimony. If it eventually does come through and lasts, it would be perhaps real life emulating reel life (a la Veer Zara). It would set a good example of love transcending borders and mark the beginning of the end of an era of enemity, hatred and mutual disrespect and suspicion.
2 comments:
I suppose, we still have some ways to go before we, for that matter most of the world, can say we've given up the nationalistic biases.
That said, India has become more confident and less nationalistic. Which is good.
thats true sunil
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