This year IPL is over. During its phase, I called someone on one day when a crucial and an interesting match was going on (I do not know, the other side person told me so). I was asked Am I not watching ? (Cricket ? Is it still alive ?) ‘Chaitanya, office and work are not the life, you should enjoy the life to the most possible extent. My child, a 7th class student at this tender age balances the things in his life, possesses the maturity of adults’. I had got the blend of Navarasas (nine emotions) at a time and finally Karuna and Hasya rasas prevailed and appeared as a smile in my face (though that person could not watch it).
Certainly a thought flow had come to my mind: Are you lecturing me on enjoying the cricket in terms of watching IPL ? Oh! Do you know what actually the cricket is ? Do you know batting is not the only act in cricket ? Will your child switch on the TV during bowling session when India match is going on ? Do you know the enjoyment in watching the incutters and inswingers of Srinath, the astonishment with sudden pace balls from Kumble? Do you know the pleasure in batting lies in the play but not in the count of fours and sixes ? Do you know the desert storm innings from Sachin Tendulakar ? Do you know the initial day-night one day matches in the Arab land, Sharjah ? When did we have more chance of winning the world cup tittle 1996 or 2003 ? Do you know the days of waking up at 4’O clock during chilling winter season of Dec-Jan to watch the classical cricket (Tests) in Kangaroo’s land, mainly to watch that straight drive from the master ? Huh, Have you ever seen your child watching a Test match ? Do you know the days of chasing even six runs in the final over creating same kinda tension in 22 players and audience ? and those two successive cover drive fours from Klusener in 1999 semi-final ? Ah ! It is endless.
But, I did not speak out a single word as I knew the reply from that side ‘Chaitanya, Oh! Did you waste so much time in your childhood ? See my child’s dedication and commitment, he goes to Maths tuition very early morning, then to the school, sorry techno-school (IIT coaching), then to the Science tuition in the evening’. Huh, IIT is the only higher education, Maths and Science are the only subjects in secondary education. I do not want to hear this nonsense and mainly I do not want to hear the name of that techno school, so I was silent. But I have a fitting reply here too, your first child did the same and what is he doing now ? screwed up his life and studies and now the next one is also in row, but fighting for rationality with certain people is like fighting for a water in the oasis whether you win or loose does not make any difference.
satta king