Monday, January 30, 2012

Selective Amnesia


"CHANGE almost the entire team, 'especially the seniors'  is the cry raging the nation suffering from a malady called 'Cricket-fever'. And the anger, not unusual, as this has been demonstrated time and again after such performances by the team. Won't say unwarranted. Yet at the same time in the anger we lose rationale. Change is always welcome...and is natural, whether we wish for it or not. But the way it is proposed again brings to the fore that we prefer selective amnesia. And the repartee would be we do not live 'in' our memory. True. Yet everything is contextual. And I can speak for only myself...and that is what I am doing...as I have been...


Have no qualms in stating that when we propose things we overlook things...we prefer not to place ourselves in the position of the individuals we are painting as  villains. Hence am not bewildered as Rahul Dravid's retirement is doing the rounds. Hailed always a Wall...with a chink shown...we are ready to fell the wall. I talk specifically of him not merely because I am a fan of his...


In the test matches India played in 2011, it is I think not required to mention who held the team...and led the team's performance. You remove his scores and then you would  be facing the same situation that the team manifested in the recently concluded test series. The Wall that withstood all...when fails, everybody fells him...


Nobody continues forever...he too won't. And he would be the first one to own up the responsibility. He has always been a team man...and along with VVS Laxman, has been instrumental in most of the victories...and in saving matches. Yet when the team fails...they are held responsible and fit to be given the axe. Within the month we forget that without him the team would have faltered, as it has, with him failing to score...


Well maybe that is the price he has to pay...a Wall has to always perform as the Wall...and that he would even now...if that means Walling the brick-bats...He has given everything to the game, that has given him everything...and he needs no certificate from me for that. It is just that I felt the urge to come out with what wished to come out...for the person who has been held responsible many a times for India's failure...maybe at times more than he has been hailed as savior...and facilitator of victories...


This is the bane of fanaticism...the vision becomes too objective...while life in itself is subjective...be it the field of cricket or the bigger field of life...