The Worst Deal or a BLOCKBUSTER!!

What would you say if I spent lacks of corers of rupees to buy myself disgrace and shame?? You would call me a moron, fool with many adjectives to follow and go away laughing, morphing the story to suit your humorous self. But wait… you are also one of me. I am talking about the CWG, the coup d’etat of corruption as our national motto.

I agree that many of you are not taxpayers, but your parents are and looking around any college campus I think I will have a ubiquitous agreement that that money could have been better spent than digging out holes in our already bumpy-roaded country. With days to go and the whole of the games and India’s pride along with it stands on a knife’s edge, with the participating countries pondering over their participation.

I know my writing the blog is not helping the games in any way. Being a B.tech engineer who has cleared all the previous semesters at the last moment studies I have a visceral feeling (with a lot of hope) that the games will be spectacular.

But I will get to my point here. This article is a reply to one which I read in recent past in the Times of India. I know the writer has a huge fan, especially youth, following but he forgot the basic law: With Great power, comes great responsibility.

Criticism of the CWG has been the only standardized quality about it. But the writer takes a step (nay leap) further, after all he has a huge fan following. Having proved in his article the futility of the Games, he calls for a mass boycott of the games.

I DISrespectfully disagree with him. Back in 2003 when India was awarded with the hosting we were filled with a sense of elation and pride and the successful hosting of the 1982 Asiad firmed our belief in a bigger extra bonanza: after all this was an era of 8% GDP India. That time the games were our pride, our show of strength and marked the arrival of India of the International Arena, to quote some archives.

Now as the ship seems to be caught in rough winds the rats are the first to abandon it, questioning its journey. Rang de basanti said: Either change or suffer, quietly. Thanks to the media, the latter part is a bit too loud but still not one cares about the change.

I have no idea what Mr. Bestselling author wanted when he suggested the boycott but as his previous reader (not fan) I was deeply offended when he offered such non-sensible advice which bears no fruitfulness whatsoever, that to when he was proving the futility of the games. If games are futile, this advice was abhorrent (on a similar scale).

I will sound very sanguine when if I say that I still believe that the games will be great, but then boycotting them will do them no good. Premchand in his story ‘bade ghar ki beti’ writes whatever be done the outsiders must never get a laugh at your misery. We can order a probe, find out culprits and all loop holes in the OC but boycott is a thwarting and weak call which delivers another SHAME, a even bigger one!

When the people of India are themselves not supportive of the games how do you generate the confidence of other countries?  This might be one of the Eureka ideas but it was quoted in The New York Times to disparage India and the Games.

Talking what is pertinent here, like a bollywood movie we are all anticipating what the result of the games will be and no one can say for sure. (Interestingly so many yogis in India who accurately foretell the result of every movie even the general elections are silent as dead).

But let us not forget that the people who come here (if they do) will be taking back human interaction and hospitality with them. The furnished stadium, fast DMRC rails, beautified city will find a place amongst their albums but the human interaction, love and hospitality will be etched in their memories. They will not remember the fact that their journey was reduced in time by the DMRC but the fact that an Indian smiled at them or helped them. The tarmac roads will not be counted if we the Indians are there to support them, share a laugh with them and make them feel comfortable. This can only be done by an enthusiastic support to the games, especially by the youth, by us. If there is a glimmer of hope let us convert it in to a opportunity, and the opportunity into a successful endeavor.

What is better an empty Bird’s Nest or a jam packed Jawahar lal Nehru stadium with people cheering their teams?

The choice is your, and it is difficult. But as father said the right choices are difficult but their paths easy. The writer chose what he fell was right, I am giving you what I think is right. The support will not be towards corruptions or the scandals but our little incentive of making this Game a memorable one.

It is the people that make a nation and for this once lets say WE THE PEOPLE….