I was born in 80s. As argued with few of you, we are the
worst affected, but the most important brick in Indian Social evolution. We are
the one's who connect market based economy to Nehruvian one. We witnessed
subsequent decade of the century, after our births, starting with the failure
of communism and the next to that ended with the failure of capitalism. We
saw Indian politics evolution from communalism based to development based. We
have seen our old childhood playgrounds be transformed into parks with cement
tracks. Most of us must have enjoyed rides on Bajaj Chetak, on a small
children's seat in the front. We saw heydays of Indian television. We have
witnessed Indian cinema going to great depths and then rising to new heights.
And we saw things, that were luxury for our parents to become necessities of
the ones born in late 90s..
But beyond witnessing this phenomenal events and living a sort of hypothetical
life, which experienced so much; I am left with one question; what brought so
much resilience in us? Who taught us controlled aggression? What aspects of
morality have we woven our lives with?
And only answer came, its all because of our sports stars. It
could be any of them ranging from Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly, Sampras, Shumachar,
Ronaldo, Zidane....or anyone whom we saw blossom in our adolescence as rest
everyone else, in the era so far we have lived, in him had a sense of corrupt;
whether he be a political leader, religious leader and even someone in our
homes. But these sportsmen showed us the way, they exhibited aggression in
their arena and calmness outside; authority on field (against opposition) and
respect outside; caliber in their talent and admiration outside; hard work and
patience to answer every challenge and simplicity and fearlessness in the
pursuit; moreover flawless attitude in every aspect of life precisely as per
the aspect.These were the virtues through which we got our inspiration. These
people, I don't know from where they got all this, but certainly gave us a
short elaborated documentary of righteousness.
But alas! the last one of this great generation has decided
to hang his boots this November. The last of our super heroes, who taught
us so much without meeting us, will retire.
I have read many articles since the announcement, some said
its a sad day, some lets celebrate his great career for one last time, some its
good he is going. But when I reflect back, where so much has been witnessed by
us and so much is to be witnessed, I feel last of our guiding lights is getting
off this year. We all have lived and are used to live under the persona of
these greats. What will happen to us now? Whom will we look up to from
now onward's? What will happen to our resilience which we got from them, and
which is eroding quickly with growing intolerance in world? Whom will we look
up to on our failures, there no so admiring graceful soul on the TV at least?
Have we grown big enough to handle all this all alone? Would we be our own
guiding lights? Would we be able to pass on the same values to next generation
or will all these values die with us? Can we be the guiding lights for someone
else?
Yes, we have so much to think of, I am feeling insecure
already. How easy the life have been till now it seems. But certainly, we are
the worst affected but most important brick.
