PRITAM SENGUPTA writes from New Delhi: The decision of the selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to not pick Rahul Dravid for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan has predictably drawn more bricks than bouquets.
Fans, followers and friends have stood by “The Wall” and slammed the move. But unlike in the case of another former captain, Saurav Ganguly, there has been none of the frenzied breastbeating on the bylanes of Bangalore.
Which is perhaps as it should be—Karnataka ain’t Calcutta, but clearly some are trying.
Like comrani Brinda Karat who sprang to Ganguly’s aid, another Rajya Sabha member, this time from Karnataka, has suddenly discovered that using his vocal chords for a cricketer can be a neat figleaf to cover up for otherwise lacklustre parliamentary showing.
Arise Shri Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
The erstwhile BPL scion, who represents the Janata Dal (Secular) in the Upper House, has been generally silent on all things Karnataka, and his only question in the budget and monsoon sessions of Parliament has been, believe it or not, on gold deposits in Orissa.
But, suddenly, Chandrashekhar has shot off a missive to Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.
“A number of questions have arisen from this action of the selection committee…Rahul Dravid is a cricketer who we are all proud of and should be, because of the values of professionalism, dedication and performance that he had exemplified in recent years both as individual member of the team and as captain.
“If there is any attempt to by anyone in the cricketing establishment to cause harm to him on grounds other than professionalism, then that’s clearly unacceptable to me, people of Karnataka and cricket fans all over India.”
Doubtless, Dravid is all that Chandrashekhar says he is. Doubtless, Dravid has been a model cricketer with his grit, tenacity and intellect. Doubtless, the decision to drop him reeks of non-cricketing logic. And doubtless, every voice counts in ensuring justice for Mr Dependable.
But do we elect our MPs—even if we have no direct role in picking “elders”—to bat for our cricketers, who, in more cases than the head can keep count, reap what they sow and have made their pile anyway?
Where, pardon our asking, is the honourable member’s sagely voice while the State (through the party he represents) goes through a shameless political spectacle, pulverising voter and investor confidence?
Or when Belgaum and Cauvery, Mangalore and Bababudangiri were on slow boil?
Dozens of ordinary Kannadigas, who were promised the moon and more by the then chief minister’s grama vastavya, are still scrambling for justice. Dozens of artists and artistes are struggling to make ends meet. Where is his sense of indignation at the injustice?
Hundreds of farmers hanged themselves in the regime of the humble farmers. How come Rajeev Chandrashekhar couldn’t write to the agriculture minister about them? And why does a cricketer—a fine cricketer albeit—who earns by the crore alone tug at a crorepati’s heart?
Maybe, in some people’s books, Chandrashekhar has been smarter than other MPs in taking up Dravid’s issue. Maybe, each MP should be free to raise issues close to his heart rather than do the predictable. Maybe, urban Karnataka needs a voice, too.
Maybe, but how likely?
Get rid of all the politicians from controlling sports and see the results.
why did churumuri remove the F*** post on Lalu, did lalu read the post and and scared the shit out of churumuri , so much for democracy in India.
India is actually a totalitarian society
Dravid is most useless and extremely mediorcre captian, can one ever forgive him for our dismal world cup exit and humiliation of defeat agianst Bangladesh. His denfensive attitude in the field was like a virus spreading among all the Indian players, he should be ruthlessly kicked out of the Indian team, there is no place for such defensive people in the new Indian team , same should be applied all non performing cricketers, oldies like tendulkar – ayla , sourav all should be kicked out , they have made enough money from cricket
If we are not going to remove the big 3 from ODI, forget your preparation for next ODI and 20/20.We already know whom we are playing in 2009 20/20 world cup! The big 3 , can score runs, but they will be sitting ducks as far as fielding is concerned in 2008/ 2009. No offence meant.That’s reality. They themselves know they can’t be fit . What’s the solution? Announce farewell matches for each of them in Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkotha for ODI. Give each a fitting farewell.Make it worthwhile for them.
Then plan your nucleus around which you will pla nthe team. Vengsarkar is doing right. But grace and finnesse, is not his forte. GRV should help here .
This is what happens when you let uneducated people vote.
Is it just my eyes or is Churumuri’s worldview shrinking a bit?
By definition MPs, whether they are elected or nominated, represent the people. The people are fixated with cricket. So, for what earthly reason should MPs not take up an issue about which the people are exercised? If nothing else, at least cricket is our only “secular religion”, which the rich and poor, old and young, urban and rural all practice, religion, region, caste no bar.
The debatable question is whether Rajeev Chandrashekar should only raise the woes of cricketers from Karnataka. It’s a no-brainer taking up Dravid’s issue. But does Chandrashekar have a view on the woeful facilities across the State, outside Bangalore? Does he want to bat for non-Bangalore cricketers not getting a fair deal, etc?
Truly, the question is: How is the MPs’ performance measured? Have MPs from Karnataka, or Mysore, ever been visible for their knowledge and wisdom except for a Hanumanthayya here and a Patel there? The current LS member from Hasana even goes to the mindless extent of proudly proclaiming that he doesn’t want to waste time by attending parliament sessions because he has so much to do for the farmers of Karnataka. He is also unhappy that he gets only three minutes for his say in Parliament, a rule he considers an insult to his prestige as a former doorkeeper PM. Guess how much more lucrative easy money would be there for him if he could spend more time on the floor selling this or that fraud. Whenever people mentioned Ramakrishna Hegde (our most polished crook) and his cultured background, Gowda would say that he had no time to read or listen to music since all his time was devoted to serving his people. He has not even read the Constitution of which he was a care taker for a full ten months. Many of the farmers he served are dead; industrial robber barrons are now on the list of the people he serves. All of our politicians should be term limited or be subject to recall any time, if legislation can make recall practical and quick.
More than four decades ago, Jawaharlal Nehru got a man from somewhere in the North, A. K. Jain, elected from Tumkur. No one knows what he did for the constituency.
The BJP and J. D. (S) (Jai Devegowda Samsara) have been criminally irresponsible in sending to the Rajya Sabha non-Karnatakans like Naidu, Ramaswamy and Chandrasekhar for a handful of their dirty money.
The Congress, of course, has the sterling record of sending non performers like Selvi Das, Prema Cariappa, and many others.
Let us not even think about the hegganas representing us in the LS.