Wrap-up of World cup, what followed and the usual Indian drama -

Are we celebrating the glories of cricket? What would have been our reaction had we lost – all is hypothetical of course but booing the Srilankan team, obscene chest thumping and the needless aggression does beg the question do we actually deserve this calm and composed champion team?

Starting off with a disclaimer – I for one posted on facebook “Srl can just suck it” – what I meant to allude was that their historical ritual against India of pre-match build-up and boasting and post-match over analysis with tons of excuses esp. from Sangakara, they don’t deserve any of my compassion. Even though Sanga sung praises post-match, I am not easily swayed by such sarcastic rubbish. Also they are not the second best in the world; they are just toothless outside Srilanka and are historically mere average against India at home. At least I wasn't being mindlessly aggressive and cocky consciously.  

On the win though- It bodes well for the future of Indian cricket that the next generation won us the final but can we the same for our culture? Of course these are more aggressive times compared the 80s when we first won the cup. As cricket pundits point out that was a team which beat much better teams time and again leaving more to cherish and remember. With this world-cup I for one like to believe it was more predictable and pure rationale that lead me among many to guess the journey and the final outcome; barring of course the upset by New Zealand over South Africa(not completely unexpected though).

The "faithfuls"

Coming back to the disgusting Indian fans venting their frustration publically and projecting it on others as their born right somehow I believe all the talk of India becoming a superpower, the shift in gravity towards India and China, the focus on greed and money and of course the tasteless excess of Bollywood has lead to this cultural shift from grace, dignity in the 80s to eve teasing, racism, aggression bordering on the lines of narcissism so ubiquitous nowadays.

In the end were we a long way from the stone peddlers in Bangaladesh – my guess merely a loss away. The fragile sense of self-esteem, greater sense of entitlement and the ill buffoonery – oscillating between switching off television at the slightest indication of defeat to boasting their belongingness to others are not good signs toward the wellbeing of national psyche, apparently the next superpower.

The other end of the spectrum - with frequent mood swings

Celebrating success like wins in the football worldcup is one thing, but belittling and disgracing those same “heroes” in defeat and the opposition is not way off from the rot that plagues us from within. A metaphor is celebrating Ganesh immersion or a Durga puja with all sorts of gimmicks to inhumane riots when there is a slightest bit of disconnect.