A Rattled Juggernaut

Of the many things that the English gave to India what remains the most successful is surely the game of cricket. No where else in the world does the game enjoy the status that it does in India. Cricket began as a boys’ game in England in the middle of the 16th century and slowly became an adults’ game in the beginning of the 17th century. This makes the game more than 400 years old. However, it was in the last thirty eight years that the game began getting the present day viewer ship as it was in 1971 that the limited over version of the game was first introduced. Once the ODI’s gained popularity, there has been no looking back for the game. This is especially true in India as it coincided with the arrival of the Television broadcast. In the early days of television in India, the whole family was hooked to the screen (as there was only one channel the good old Doordarshan) and thus the popularity of the game of cricket soar. One of the fall out of this popularity was the conversion of good cricketers into Heroes, Super heroes, Royalty and finally to Demi Gods and Gods. Of all the Cricket Governing Bodies in the world it is said that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is the richest and hence the most powerful. The ICC (International Cricket Council) cannot move a finger without the consent of the BCCI. This being the case the elections to this body is closely contested and the one in the driver's seat considers himself to be the God of Gods. Nothing is impossible in their lexicon and like a juggernaut they crush what comes in their way.

This being the mindset of the rulers of the game in India, it came as a rude shock to them when the Home Minister stated that he was apprehensive about providing security during the second version of the Indian Premier League which is to be held in the months of April and May. The Home Minister had his reasons for saying so as the event coincides with the 15th Lok Sabha elections. With almost a billion people ready to cast their votes, it is indeed a very extensive and at times difficult exercise. The Home Minister requested the authorities to reschedule the dates or to hold the tournament after the elections. The BCCI was in no mood to relent. They did an eye wash of changing a few dates and venues to which the Ministry was not agreeable. And so suddenly out of the blue they announced yesterday that they were taking the tournament outside India. They are yet to confirm the venue. I call this attitude of the organizers as being very callous. By taking the tournament outside India, what are they trying to prove? That they are capable of hosting the event anywhere in the world with their money power? To them security means just looking after themselves, most of them have their personal security guards to whom they pay a king’s ransom. As for the owners of the eight IPL teams they live in their own worlds and have no contact with the man on the street. I sometimes wonder if they consider themselves as being part of the country. Yesterday I heard them say on TV that it was fine with them to move the tournament. Would any other body in the world hold a national sporting event outside its own country or would they be involved in some mega endeavour outside their country when the elections are happening in one’s country. To the BCCI and the IPL owners the security of the common man and the elections are of absolutely no importance. I wonder how many of them will even bother to exercise their franchise. To me casting the vote is one of the most important duty of any citizen. Definitely it will not be possible for the players to cast their votes, if the voting date coincides with their game. Looks like the organizers consider a game of cricket especially the IPL what with its shrewd business aspect, to be more important than exercising one’s basic rights. It is a well known fact that the summer of 2009 would herald the general elections. The organisers should have given it some thought before planning their IPL schedule for the year.

I was happy to read that Sachin Tendulkar termed it sad that the IPL was going outside India. As for the others no body has opened their mouth. They dare not open because they are afraid of what the outcome would be. Much as I know that there is more than what meets the eye in this confrontation, what makes me happy is the fact that the Home Minister stood his ground and got the juggernaut to rattle. I am now eagerly waiting for the day when the Juggernaut would be stripped down.