MKG Remembered. IPL ; Day 1, A Black Dog is not thrown out !

South Africa: Circa 1893.
Scene: Railway platform Pietermaritzburg railway station.

A train is halted unceremoniously, by the then white majority, and a two legged Indian, " Black Dog " all suited booted like an English Man, was unceremoniously thrown out, onto the the platform, as he was traveling in First Class.

Traveling on business, from Durban to Johannesburg, as an educated, qualified lawyer, who was then, the first so-called "coloured" lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court.
Traveling with a valid a ticket.
Still, he was shoved out of the train.

As he was then, recognized to be as good as a two legged "Black Dog" thanks to the colour of his skin!
It was not white, like the other fellow travelers' was.
Therefore, he qualified to be shoved and thrown out.
And he was!

There he was lying, on the platform.
A human being, with his pride hurt to the hilt.
Prejudice towards his skin colour, in the hearts of the then ruling white majority, had showed him this day.
He resolved here, that he would put and end to this evil.
He did so.
Through sheer grit and determination, in times to come.

That incident and several others, there after, lead to the Independence of India.
Through a unique revolution, the world later learnt, to use as a solution to all problems.
Non Violence.
Through Non Violence; India became Independent, and here we are today.
Democracy replaced colonialism.
The very colonialism that brought cricket to the shores India and South Africa, too.

For Indians; cricket is akin to religion; now.
The owners of IPL, today, are a set of proud Indians.
From all walks of life.


Indian Premium League (IPL) got underway yesterday, in South Africa.
A billion dollar extravaganza is being held on the same soil.
Where it all began.
The Indian struggle, to become a democracy has it roots in South Africa.

IPL will happen, in its completeness, in South Africa as well , in the next two months..
In all the major towns, in South Africa.

As, India is currently busy, deciding its next set of rulers, through a democratic process.
All its resources are busy too, in this very important, time bound process.

That, and the prevailing global threat of terrorism, forced Indians, to shift the IPL venues, to South Africa.




South Africa Circa: 2009.
Day one. April 18.
Scene:Inaugural Match of IPL: Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Kings.


The match has begun.
Sachin Tendukar, an Indian, recognized and respected by the world as an all time great player, is in full form and flow, and in command of the situation as well.
He is also the Captain of the Mumbai Indians.
Runs are flowing from his bat, despite his age.
The T20 Format is ideally suited for the younger players, it is said.
He is proving that myth wrong!

Suddenly, the game gets held up; as a four legged "Black Dog" enters the field and holds up the play, for a good 10 minutes!

A game that is being aired all over the globe, with millions of viewers glued to their TV sets, comes to a grinding halt!

The world sees a real four legged " Black Dog" holding up the proceedings.
Efforts are underway, to quickly get rid of the "Black Dog"!
Committees designed by organizers, for such exigencies, get into the act!

The dog is neither lassoed, nor is it thrown out!
All efforts fail.
Patience is not lost.
TV Cameras continue to record and report.


Finally the " four legged Black Dog" is respectfully removed from the scene, by a white Lady.
Using the lure of a cookie.

Not a hair of that genuine "Black Dog" was ruffled in the bargain.
It was lovingly and caringly, removed, by a white human being, in a dignified manner.
The commentator too ironically remarked, 'removed through the VIP stands' exit'!

Wow! what a change!
All of us, as humans, we witnessed and enjoyed that change.
In these past 100 plus years change has indeed, happened.
Happened for the good: to the whole world.
Apartheid has melted away completely.

How many of us remembered MKG in those tense 10 minutes?
In this light?

The respect that the dog commanded, made my mind rush back to the events, sited above.
As a comparative of life then, and life now!
Ironically speaking.

Come to think of it:
The commentator himself used the word "Lassie" and never uttered the words "Dog" or a "Black Dog."

The dog in question, indeed, had its day!
A field day, on a billion dollar field.
It never bought a ticket for this field day, and it was not thrown out!

Thanks to the humbleness of MKG. Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi.
The Father of the Nation.
India.
India:The owner of IPL.
IPL as an event.
An event that has, millions glued to the TV all over the world, and billions of Dollars being churned too, in the bargain.

Not to forget the joy that cricket, as it is, brings, to one and all!
Globally.

Cricket is indeed a modern religion that binds one and all.
It also encompasses kindness towards other creatures, as was well demonstrated by this one well viewed, incident.
It remains a gentleman's game!


MKG too was as a gentleman, in South Africa as well, but never played cricket.
Not his wicket.


All said and done: One fact gets established for sure, now that we have all seen the incident happen.



But for MKG, we Indians, would not be currently busy with our democratic process.

But for the democratic process on hand; IPL would not have been shifted to South Africa.

But for MKG; the four legged "Black Dog" would have been gagged and thrown out of the stadium, if not shot!


Under the full glare of TV Cameras.


Axee
Alias
Arun