I remember not even a single soul was present in my office at 5P.M on that fateful day. And I am sure so was the case with other organizations and colleges. A billion people in India were glued in front of their TV sets, biting their nails, when Vishwanathan Anand (VA) was playing his last round (finals) in World Chess Championship. And to the joy of these billion people, without disappointing them, he emerged as THE undisputed champion. Fire crackers, rockets went up in the air and it was difficult to differentiate that day with Diwali. And the joy did not end there ... what was remaining is his reception back in India. He was standing at the top of this double-decker bus in Mumbai and more than a lakh people got together on streets enchanting his names in the entire journey from Airport to Wankhede Stadium. Simply WOW ....!
'What's wrong with Subodh today?' - I am sure this is what many readers would be thinking by now. Because such a thing never happened. In fact more than half of the Indian population don't even know that VA had won World Chess Championship in 2007. And thanks to our emerging powerful media with their 'Breaking News' strategy that rest of them are atleast aware about this feat. And as far as the reception is concerned, he did get one where VA was riding over a white horse with around 50 sorrounding people greeting him. Now somebody please tell me what's the opposite of WOW???
So here is our Chess Champion and there is our Team India (referred to Indian Cricket Team) who also won the T20 Cricket World Cup in 2007. And what happened with that T20 win is already described in the start ... yes, it actually happened for our T20 World Cup finals between India and Pakistan. So even after a win which moved almost the entire population of this country, I wonder what made our Vishwanathan Anand the 'NDTV Sportsman of the year'? And the same was given to him by CNN-IBN too!!! Was it the sympathy that the entire arrangement of his reception was done by one of his sponsors which was actually demanded (indirectly) by him at the first place? Or was it the sympathy which got him the award that other sportsmen in India don't get the same publicity as cricketers get? Or was it the hatredness towards cricket by these few men just because others simply love it?
As the deciders said, it was not that M S Dhoni wasn't good enough but Vishwanathan Anand bagged the award because of his consistency which made Dhoni lose it 'marginally'. Well, I wonder how many people remember (or has even seen it) VA lifting Championship trophy but every single soul in India still remembers (and will remember for generations to come) a small fact that Dhoni took off his TShirt for a young fan. So what's the real criteria for an award? Is it that what these few people want from their personal goals or their so called statistics? Or is it the will of the Indian population?
Probably the people who don't like cricket were at the right place at right time. Probably they were thinking of carving out a hero from nowhere. Never mind ... A hero is not made from these awards. Real heroes are there in everybody's heart and at the heart of India.
Without undermining your efforts Vishy, I don't think it has really helped you. We know who should have got this award. All that you have gained is a blog post by one of your fans.
Adios and all the best for your next tournament (don't remember exactly which one you are playing)!!!
