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There is a famous quote by Edmund Charles Blunden, “Cricket to us was more than play, it was worship under the summer sun.” And there is no other country that has stuck by the game and religiously revered it than India. A country of 1.3 billion and just a cricket game to unite them all! To an outlander, the devotion might seem incomprehensible but to the Indian mass, cricket is a congenial creed. And over time, various people have tried to figure out the obscure love for this game and come up with myriad explanations. Today I am going to be just another brick in the wall.

It sounds improbable that a sport started by our colonial rulers just to spend their time leisurely found such a huge fan-following in India. In fact, India started playing cricket even before they gained independence. At first it was an elite sport with some Parsis and Hindus playing it to receive some prominence and stature that the Britishers attached to the game. Not only was the game one for the noble, but even the common masses seemed to enjoy playing their own bat. As such the game is challenging to play, requiring a lot of space, good pitch conditions and expensive equipments that are conditions rarely fulfilled for the average man. So why is the game still so popular? Mainly due to pride, I would say. Pride in winning, pride in the fact that our country was not only good at something but better than the rest. And pride is hard to deny. India is a mélange of religions and castes and it is this game that brings all of them together to instill a sense of patriotism towards the country. The turning point for the game was undoubtedly the 1983 World Cup win. A team of 11 players that managed to topple the big names and come out victorious-a true underdog story, it was the stuff dreams were made of. But contrary to popular belief, the team performance has not affected the fanfare to a larger extent. India has only recently become consistently competitive in cricket. Our country had already produced prodigious talents in other sports such as Dhyan Chand but somehow the gentleman’s game struck a chord with the Indian soul. Maybe the simplicity and the related cost factor added to the prominence, for how hard was it to pick up a wooden bat, a ball and few stumps, gather your friends and start playing on a ground or in a gully for that matter. It is not surprising then when people say that you will find masters of the trade playing a square cut or bowling a doosra in some of these gullies. Also owing to the crowded nature, cricket is a game that involves all the players with 3 to 4 games being played simultaneously in one open ground. The introduction of television was another boost for the game. 30 million households with a television set, all glued to the screen and waiting for the next sixer. Our population that was an environmental problem as such became an advantage now.

It was around the same time that Sachin Tendulkar came and conquered the game. When Sachin played, life happened. This article would be incomplete without at least dedicating a few lines to this genius man. With his advent to the Indian side, we started setting new records, winning games consistently and defeating some of the greatest teams with panache. People worshipped this man and many believed in him more than they did in a superpower. This type of fanatical devotion does not come easy. The introduction of shorter formats also proved to be important. People could easily keep track of scores now and it was far more enjoyable to watch a team win or lose in a day. Test matches reduced to 50 over games and now 20 over matches rule the roster. With the introduction of corporate companies, money came pouring in. Suddenly, everyone wanted a bite from the forbidden fruit. Players started to get fatter paychecks, people got more than they invested and the bubble blew up. BCCI played an important role here. Indians being the shrewd businessmen that they are became the head and ran an international body to completely change the course of the sport.

I believe that the game continues to enjoy the adulation and garner humongous proportion of spectators because it is a game that has evolved. It has kept up with the changing demands of the viewer and done that really well. But then if one looks at the amount of hard work people put in the sport, it as much feels like they deserve the glory. And yes, cricket does sidestep our national game, Hockey, but then for now who cares. It is the season of the World Cup and India has already defeated two eminent teams. The cricket fever is going to burn for a long time now. And as a part of the cricket fandom, I couldn’t be happier!

CONTRIBUTED BY:

Chandana Rao

Idler, bibliophile, side-spectator, day dreamer and an engineering student trying to find something she is good at. An average girl with high hopes and even bigger ambitions.

So this other day I was watching an episode of Monty Python and a particular quote by John Cleese stuck with me. It goes something like this,” If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at a particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.”

Satire opens up peoples mind to points and facts that they might have otherwise rejected outright. By bringing emotional humor into the picture, we shed light onto issues that otherwise remain shrouded. Therein lays the tremendous value of satire and sarcasm. It is a fun way to criticize the societal norms and slowly point out that obstinate and inept rules need to be changed. The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and even immature shows like South Park or Family Guy exemplify this perfectly. These shows have addressed some of the most sensitive topics with a hilarious take and come out victorious by generating awareness amongst its audience. From gay rights to the right to bear arms, from moot issues of politics to the omnipresent question of what came first: the chicken or the egg, all these subjects have been dealt with accurately. Back home, the faking news and Mr. Cyrus Broacha have been trying to fire-start, inform and challenge stringent ideas of politics and daily happenings in our country. Moreover, if you follow them regularly, you will be blown away by the sheer simplicity with which they present some of their views. And I personally believe that satire is a necessary ingredient to shape up the ideologies of the society. It is not always that violence or for that matter, non-violence can help oppose a prevalent idea. Sometimes, an opinion of the funny man can make you pause to reflect and reconsider. It is in these self-introspection phases that you will see the brilliance of such a fragile system.

It seems to me that we are increasingly becoming a bi-polar society with such extreme views that anything and everything seems to hit the bull’s eye. Any opinion put forward is ridiculed and every other day seems to throw up some deep-seated anger that morphs into rebellion. Out of all these zones, political imprudence reaches out to the maximum number of audience. And as long as the political systems fail to deliver, mockery will never stop. Why not, I say. If we can laugh out the follies, as Aristotle put it so eloquently, then why ban them out of existence. The mere fact that satire exists points to a free society. And in a revolutionized era where the basic human rights include freedom of speech, it is hypocritical of us to even expect that humorous takes on every topic are not required. You do not like it, do not watch or preach about it. Its as simple as that.

There was a quote I found on the internet that perfectly described the current scenario of the world, “The eruption of war after futile war, the abandonment of constitutional norms, the bungling of espionage agencies, the damage inflicted on the environment, and the Orwellian, murderous world of strutting dictators.” Living a calculated life that we do, what is the harm in bringing a satirical angle to it all. Ignorance breeds intolerance. But because it is aimed at popular theories and dogmas, these comical incursions are bound to be discouraged by a select few. The problem arises when these select few appear to be stronger than a faction of satirical people. Though the new society has shown promising response and this category is slowly blossoming, there is still a long way to go. And like all great stories ever told and all the inspiring speeches delivered, this is just another tool to inspire and educate the masses.

CONTRIBUTED BY:

Chandana Rao

Idler, bibliophile, side-spectator, day dreamer and an engineering student trying to find something she is good at. An average girl with high hopes and even bigger ambitions. 

Most of us glorify the lives of the “celebrities”. We mistake the glitz and glamour of these personalities with happiness and contentment. Just like the masses, I too, was in awe with the “life of a star”. This mirage, however, shattered after reading about a top female celebrity fighting depression.

After reading more about such other celebrities, I found that these “famous people” missed the “normal life”. Mundane activities like grocery shopping, walking on the beach or eating street food became impossible for them. It became difficult for them to step out in public without having people suffocate them for autographs and photographs. Spending birthdays and festivals with their families became rare due to their shooting schedules all over the world, throughout the year. These celebrities have fans surrounding them everywhere they go, proclaiming their love for them. But what they love about these celebrities is limited to what’s written in the tabloids and shown on screens.

In an exclusive interview about fighting depression, Deepika Padukone said “Being sad and being depressed are two different things. Also, people going through depression don’t look so, while someone sad will look sad. The most common reaction is, ‘How can you be depressed? You have everything going for you. You are the supposed number one heroine and have a plush home, car, movies… What else do you want?’”..  The perception of celebrity life equals happy life is slowly fading. We just fantasize about having an A-lister lifestyle. But do we really need a life where, what we wear and what we speak is scrutinized and blown out of proportions? Being a public figure, doesn’t mean you’re every move should be exposed in the public. Nobody wants to read about their alleged hook ups and break ups displayed on newspaper stands.

Just like the Chinese Ying & Yang, there are good and bad things associated with this lifestyle. ”Normal” or “famous”, we need to learn to be content with what we have. We must stay true to our roots and not let the material things contaminate us.

                What makes a TV show, movie or a book stand out is its ability to grip the masses with its words. These words may sometimes have a short lasted effect on the individual. But what if a person doesn’t just treat these quotes as something to just amaze about but rather something to ponder on and shape his life with. Following is a list of some inspiring quotes that can act as a life hack to help us in our endeavours.

1. “That’s the difference between you and me, you wanna lose small, I wanna win big”

We need to dream big. A man cannot expect to reach great heights of success without taking risks. The fear of losing, should never affect your goals.

2. ”Sometimes good guys gotta do bad things to make the bad guys pay”

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind has been a quote of the past. If one suffers through others’ wrong doings, he is as much guilty for the crime as the culprit. Bullying has been on rise in the past decade. More often than not, these bullies must be taught a lesson that would make them give up on this horrendous act.

3. “I don’t have dreams, I have goals”

Dreams may represent fiction that one may find hard to achieve. Goals, on the other hand are more real and plausible.

4. “The man who passes the sentence, should swing the sword”

If your actions are to have a negative impact on others, then you owe it to that person to look into his eyes and hear him out. If you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to be the victim of your decision.

5. “Never forget who you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength; then it cannot be your weakness”

There is nothing that is going to stop a society from judging and pointing fingers. Take pride in who you are and what you do. Make your weakness, your strength and nothing can startle you.

6. “Can a man still be brave if he is afraid”

“That’s the only time a man can be brave”

Everybody is afraid of something in life. But using that as an excuse is the act of cowardice. Facing your fears and tackling them head on, is what makes a man indestructible.

7. Respect is not demanded, it is earned.

The saying is synonymous with actions speak louder than words. Nobody is going to take you seriously if you don’t have the mettle to prove yourself.

Words cut deeper than sword and hence, you should think twice before saying anything. Use them to rise yourself above others, not to put others down.

We all have those days, once in a while, when all our friends/family are busy. You don’t have anybody to hangout with nor do you have any work to tend to. In such scenarios, most of us socially active people would just stare at the screen and wait for few notifications to pop up. Well, that’s just pathetic! But fuss not; I have a list of few things fit for each one of us during the solitary:

1. Reading

A quiet and serene evening is every reader’s dream. To be able to cuddle with a paperback and a mocha is pure bliss. But what about those who don’t really read? Well fret not! The internet has plenty of short stories for each one of us, in every genre. Goodreads, wattpad, project Guttenberg, etc are all good sources of book suggestions.

2. Writing

I bet you didn’t expect this, did you? Well, you don’t need to be Ernest Hemingway to be able to write. As long as you are putting your thoughts on paper, the mission is accomplished. Writing helps you to improve your vocabulary, address your insecurities, find solutions to your problems and most importantly, give words to your emotions.

3. Photography

You don’t need a 50,000 camera to click photographs. Just take your smartphones along with you and snap away! Make sure you take smartphone apps like proshot, Nokia refocus or Lumia Camera along with you and you are all set!

4. Exercise

One usually does not pay much attention to his health in this fast paced world. Therefore, it is imperative to give extra care to one’s health as and when needed. A brisk walk, climbing a flight of stairs, swimming, etc are some basic exercises one can do.

5. Sleeping

I am of the opinion that sleeping is a productive activity. One needs enough sleep in order to function properly. Sleeping endures a state of mind free from any worries of the world. It thus transports you to an alternate dimension of transcendence.

6. Travelling

Sleeping transports you mentally, while travelling transports you physically! This sensation is enjoyed more when you have your own private vehicle. You don’t need to adjust the place, your speed or even your traveling playlist as per anybody else’s preference. Just point and drive!

All the above mentioned activities give you a sense of satisfaction in one way or the another. They have a way of helping you discover things about you, you never even knew existed. Man is a social animal, but he need not base his happiness on the existence of others. There are ways of contentment a man can enjoy with himself as well.