Chalo Main Baad-e-Baan Phir khol Deta Hoon Safine ka

Bekaraan Shab ke  Saile- Rawan mein,

Khamoshi  ki Allahr Maujein,

Sahil-e-Waqt ki Deewaron se,

Mahv-e-Sukhan hain, Naala-ba-Lab hain

Tariki ke Siyah Bhanwar mein,

Tooti hui ek Neend ki Kashti

Jal-Thal Chand ki Hamrahi mein,

Dhoond Rehi hai Khwabon ki Basti

Mujh ko Yaqin hai Chand Shab Pehle,

Subh-e-Fardan ke khushboo se Mehki

Khwab-e-Nau ki Bekal Basti,

Sahil se kuch Door, Yehin thi

Hain Shayad Khwab Gurezan Mujhse,

Gosha-e-Dil se Aayee Fughan

Baadal ke Sarkash Tukdon ki Tarah,

Is Pal mein Ayan, Us Pal mein Nehan

Main bhi Haarne wala Kab hoon,

Is Tilism ko Mujhko Todna hoga

Khwab, Matay-e- Jaan hai Mere,

Us Manzil ke Nishan ko Dhoondna hoga

Chalo Phir Baad-e-Ban Maine Khol Deta Hoon Safine Ka,

Ajnabi Samt mein, Tund Hawaon ke Khilaf

Phir Shru hoga Safar, Ek Nayee Umang ke Saath,

Be-Naam Jazeeron ki Taraf, Tadapti Lehron ke Khilaaf

The Big Brouhaha – What if the matches were fixed?

Why so much brouhaha about the blip of match fixing scandal recorded on the radar of our agile and vigilant police officers? The breaking news flashing across the TV channels did not bother or baffle me a bit – but yes, the orchestrated tempest in the TV studios and the red tinge of artificial anger visible on the faces of TV journalists amused me immensely. It seems so naïve to believe that extra sensitive nose of the TV journalists (claiming to know everything under the sun) could not smell the stink and rot of corruption visible to a person with a grain of common sense. It is strange but not untrue that in the age of sting operation, no media house or independent journalist ever tried to unearth the truth by dangling the bait before the scores of hungry fishes swimming freely in the blue gauzy water of five star hotels.

The handful of cricketers and hordes of sports journalists expressed their concern in the emotion laden voice about the brand of ‘IPL’ being tainted and tarnished by the alleged spot fixing scandal. They feared that, it will lose its sheen and shine rather soon. In my humble opinion, these reactions and responses of the gentlemen are overstated and is a reflection of the overarching confusion that ‘IPL is just a cricket series’. The incident has certainly highlighted the unholy alliance between cricket administrators, bookies, players and umpires but it would not impact its popularity and appeal to its avid followers or to stoic masses who watch IPL matches in ‘Mute’ mode on their television sets after returning home from hectic day today transactions.

As a dispassionate analyst, my confidence about the continued success of the product ‘IPL’ emanates from its wonderful design. It is one of most successfully marketed product that has attracted the men and women of all age groups with equal magnetic pull. It is an addicting concoction of all sellable ingredients that has captivated the imagination of Indians of all classes for the years. The chefs of BCCI are being applauded by all and sundry for dishing up the tempting cuisine called ‘IPL’, meticulously garnished with the ‘Indecent dances’ and ‘Crazy parties’. The dish has been cooked by mixing the ‘Bollywood glamour’ and ‘Passion of Cricket ‘in the slow simmering heat of ‘Humongous money of all colors (Black, white, Grey)’.

Although, I am not the aficionado of ‘IPL’ but  knowing the people’s appetite for it, I am sure that the spices of  ‘Scandalous stories’ and ‘Spot Fixing’ would augment  its flavor (if added in right proportion)  and increase the selling proposition by many folds. My sincere advice to the intelligent souls who have refused to see the difference between ‘IPL’ and a cricket series is to watch one episode of the program ‘Extra Inning’ (that precedes the matches) and measure the quantum of cricket in the razzle-dazzle of IPL entertainment package.

The writing is on the wall- ‘IPL’ will attract the eyeballs even if all the matches are fixed. This was substantiated by the responses of the crowd in the cricket stadium even after the spot fixing scandals rocked the TV studios (if not the cricket board). People come to watch the performance enacted on the ground – so what if the result is fixed. I would conclude with following ‘Reasoning and Assertion’.

Most of our Bollywood movies end on a pleasant note- hero of the movie vanquishes the villain after a nail biting fight and the exchange of powerful dialogues; he wins back the heart of his beloved after clarifying the nefarious plot of the villain, wipes out the tears springing in her eyes to live happily ever after. The end is same for most of the movies but still many of us watch, like and follow our movies and stars.

“There are too much money at the stake, some heads may roll, some souls may be silenced  – but IPL is here to stay”