Religion: The Intoxicating Truth

I am a very dormant participant in any discussion about politicians and their politics. Somehow, this topic has failed to interest me time and again. However the turn of events in the last few days prompted me to write this note on the prevailing campaign styles adopted by political parties which are abhorring to say the least. The inherent adoption of religion as a potent weapon to glorify one’s standing makes it all the more intolerable. This not only sparks communal tension but also creates a very unhealthy and sickening ambience. I won’t take the names of any party in particular as I feel that both the major political powerhouses are responsible for what is happening in Gujarat and a few other states. The hunger for the “Chair” and the power associated with it is so insatiable that one is ready to take any step right or wrong to achieve it. Making religion an issue and by targeting the minorities the politicians are actually digging their own grave as, such public outcries are bound to create a negative influence in the heart and mind of the minorities. There are a few others who try to cash in on such inflammatory remarks by their counterparts by lending their shoulder to the targeted mass to cry on. I can only say that India has thousands of problems to sort out and the glorifying or demeaning of any religion should be the last on the list of our leaders.

The Election Commission should make its presence felt by intervening in between as they did earlier by putting a limit to the amount of spending by political parties during elections and by implementing a few other steps in order to ensure a smooth and fair election. Chief Ministers and other leaders should concentrate on the development of a region or state and not in the demeaning of any minority community. By doing this they are leading by example in the promotion of lawlessness, crime and intolerance.

A Prelude to the Final Test.

The cricket caravan for the India Pakistan series has reached Bangalore, the “Beer Capital of India” and the Garden City for the third and final test beginning tomorrow. It is very difficult to give a verdict as both the teams are very unpredictable and can raise their level of performance quite dramatically on a given day. However, looking at the past series of events especially the drawn test at Kolkata, the injuries to Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Sachin Tendulkar and M.S.Dhoni, and Shoaib Akhtar coming back to full fitness, the scales are tilted towards Pakistan who would be playing this match on one of their favorite hunting grounds. Moreover, India have a very dismal record at Bangalore in test matches where they have lost four of the last five tests played here.

In spite of all these factors it would be utter foolishness to write India off as two of the best players of the world, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid would be playing on their home turf. Moreover, Sourav Ganguly, Wasim Jaffer and Laxman are in fine nick. The bowling department is definitely the weak link of India in this match with a completely new pace attack comprising Irfan Pathan who would be staging a comeback and probably Ishant Sharma who has played just one test match before this one. All said and done, if four of the top six batsmen fire and at least two of the four bowlers click, then India should be able to pull this match off. As regards the bowlers, I would like one of the spinners making it big in each of the innings along with one fast bowler. The rest can provide support from the other end by keeping things relatively tight if not taking wickets.

As far as Pakistan is concerned the dark clouds seem to have given way to rays of hope and glory. Both the “Ys” that indisputably form the back bone of their batting line up, are back in form and also the revelation of Misbah Ul Haq as a solid batsman has given a real shot in the arm to the lower middle order. The opening however looks to be the only chink in the armour as far as batting is concerned. The bowling again looks to be the weak link as barring Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria to some extent, the rest of the bowlers on display hasn’t looked penetrative at all. I believe, Mohammed Sami is going to give way to Rao Ifthikar as he looked a much better bowler during the one-dayers. The bottom line is, the setting seems to be perfect for the final match of the tour and promises to be an absolute cracker.

Let the better team win!!!