In the city for the launch of his latest co-authored book, minister of external affairs Shashi Tharoor not only spoke of the politics and religion of cricket, but also stole the show with his sensational sense of humour.
In what can be described as the perfect recipe, Lagaan proved in 2001 that two elements that have been, are and will ever be akin to religion in India are the fight for independence and cricket. This fact was proved again at the launch of the latest literary outing on cricket, entitled Shadows Across The Playing Field – 60 Years of India-Pakistan Cricket on October 31, as the witty banter among co-author Tharoor, governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and cricket historian Boria Mazumdar moved fluently across topics of religion, secularism, sectarianism and of
course, Indo-Pak relations!
course, Indo-Pak relations!
While Prince of Cal Sourav Ganguly played spoilsport by turning up super-late…and going back to save himself the embarrassment (!) the very presence of luminaries Gandhi and Tharoor made the audience forget about that other name on the invitation card!
Dressed impeccably in a black suit, Tharoor took to the podium and dissolved any semblance of seriousness in the audience by quipping, “This is just like an Indian wedding…too many people, no one to recognise!” After a couple of minutes of waiting for Ganguly, the event proceeded smoothly with ample to talk about!
About the point of germination of the book, Tharoor, said, “The cricket fanatic that I have been, I was always an outsider, right from the days when I watched my first test match at the Brabourne Stadium. I also needed the perspective of a consummate insider to enmesh my straightforward narrative with anecdotal passages. That is where Shaharyar Khan came in, making the book work in its constituent parts and as a whole.”
India and Pakistan have always suffered and enjoyed this intense relationship when it comes to cricket. Tharoor opined, “We simply cannot escape the historical baggage of 60 odd years of co-existence…not always mutual. Likewise both the nations have a higher stake in the outcome of matches.”
Mazumdar quickly quipped, at this point, “It’s true, you can commit all the good deeds, help all the people, but watching Pakistan play India in Pakistan for an Indian and vice versa for Pakistanis can surely get you a ticket to heaven!”
With the freewheeling conversation rolling into areas of momentary seriousness, what with issues of governmental policies against terrorism being discussed, Gandhi capped the evening with arguably the cheeriest quote of the evening. He said, “I am quite an intruder in this erudite conversation! The only time I came close to wielding the rubber encased willow handle was when I faced a 90-year-old Russi Modi. My confidence shattered as he hit a boundary at the very outset!”
While the event ended on a positive note of India recognising myriad talents, Tharoor signed off, saying, “I am grateful that Gandhi was here. What would a cricket-based event be without a man clad in white!”
Name of Source: Kolkata Mirror