wish everyday we could do this...see each other as Indians rather than with the colour of religion. It was spontaneous. People from every nook and corner of the country came out of their houses last wednesday to celebrate India's victory over Pakistan in the cricket world cup semis. In a giant show of oneness, Indians from various social stratas and belonging to different religions and castes celebrated together. They hugged each other. They danced together. No questions asked, no thoughts processed on whether they are dancing with someone from another religion or from a different social class. Chaiwala hugging bigshot bussinessman, construction workers dancing with software engineers, congressman giving high five to communist. The scenes were surreal. For once, a majority of India had matching thoughts and matching actions. Similar scenes were repeated on saturday too, after India won the world cup. For just this one day, I'll always be thankful to this game. How I wish everyday we could win a world cup!
At the same time, there's a diametrically opposite, pessimistic viewpoint which tells me that all this was just in the name of a game. We never come together in such massive strengths for anything else. If ever we do come together, we look at the colour of the feathers of the birds flying with us. Yes, we come together to celebrate religious festivals with our fellow believers, we come together for riots with our fellow fanatics, we come together to fight for our respective languages, we come together as congressmen and saffron brigades...We never come together as Indians, except for trivial things like sports. No, its not anyone's case that such coming together for sports is bad. Just that, how beautiful it would've been to see that togetherness in our everyday life. Alas, once we all walked back to our houses and wrapped up the tricolour and placed it safely in the cupboard(not to be touched until the next big match), our togetherness also seemed to dissolve. Dissolved in our myriad differences like a a single white drop in a multi coloured ocean...something that can be called unity (lost) in diversity.
When will we come together like Egypt or Tunisia and give it back to our leaders for looting and fooling us? Maybe, Anna Hazare's indefenite fast against corruption that started yesterday is a good starting point. (http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/). Find out the location of the fast in your city, join in for sometime and support...
Some more shots from that wild night of celebration after India's world cup win
Sachin...One billion hearts....one wish...one dream fulfilled
the joy overflows..people celebrating inside and on top of a state transport bus
Joy!Jubiliation!
the spirit..
dedicated to THE MAN! Sachin!
I can't drive anymore...I want to jump!
people greeting strangers on the streets...how cricket unites people!
Blocked!
http://www.facebook.com/myopiclensesphotography
your crusader Praveen
At the same time, there's a diametrically opposite, pessimistic viewpoint which tells me that all this was just in the name of a game. We never come together in such massive strengths for anything else. If ever we do come together, we look at the colour of the feathers of the birds flying with us. Yes, we come together to celebrate religious festivals with our fellow believers, we come together for riots with our fellow fanatics, we come together to fight for our respective languages, we come together as congressmen and saffron brigades...We never come together as Indians, except for trivial things like sports. No, its not anyone's case that such coming together for sports is bad. Just that, how beautiful it would've been to see that togetherness in our everyday life. Alas, once we all walked back to our houses and wrapped up the tricolour and placed it safely in the cupboard(not to be touched until the next big match), our togetherness also seemed to dissolve. Dissolved in our myriad differences like a a single white drop in a multi coloured ocean...something that can be called unity (lost) in diversity.
When will we come together like Egypt or Tunisia and give it back to our leaders for looting and fooling us? Maybe, Anna Hazare's indefenite fast against corruption that started yesterday is a good starting point. (http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/). Find out the location of the fast in your city, join in for sometime and support...
Some more shots from that wild night of celebration after India's world cup win
Sachin...One billion hearts....one wish...one dream fulfilled 
the joy overflows..people celebrating inside and on top of a state transport bus 
Joy!Jubiliation! 
the spirit.. 
dedicated to THE MAN! Sachin! 
I can't drive anymore...I want to jump! 
people greeting strangers on the streets...how cricket unites people! 
Blocked! http://www.facebook.com/myopiclensesphotography
your crusader Praveen
3 comments:
It is amazing to imagine what we can set about doing in unison! It is even more amazing to set about doing what we intend to do in unison!
lovely pics Praveen. truly reflects the mood of the day.
thanks for sharing the website. Looks like they have not decided on the place yet for Chennai. With the Assembly elections commencing in a few days, I wonder how people are gonna pull this off in Chennai.
As they say: Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God... :-)
Wish there were more such days
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