Captaincy, means to an end
Narendra Modi’s rise is a wonderful story set against the odds but he has to deliver
Sometimes I wonder who is more sensitive – the people of our country or our Sensex. On Friday people thronged the streets celebrating BJP’s win. There was dancing and singing, slogans galore as enthusiastic bikers challenging the road safety rules zipped across. Responding to these scenes, the Sensex breached the 25,000 mark. It finally housed at 24,121 a rise of 216 points. As news channels aired these moments, I was busy raising their viewership entrenched firmly on a couch. Thinking and wondering.
I’m a great believer in what former Pakistan captain Imran Khan once said. “Captaincy is not the end but a means to the end,” he had remarked. He went on to note that unfortunately in our part of the world (read Asian cricket playing nations) getting captaincy means the end. Simply put, Imran meant that getting captaincy or any kind of leadership role is only the beginning of a journey and not a moment of celebration or a display of brazen power for individual glory. It is the start of a process to take a team or an organisation or a country to the next level.
Watching those people on TV dancing and leaders flashing victory signs, I was thinking Imran. Mr Modi and his team have made all the right noises so far including his inspiring speeches and accurately crafted ‘bandh galas’ and a trimmed beard. But the challenges thrown at young India are staring hard. Inflation and unemployment needs to be arrested, a corruption-free system manned by strong governance is required along with the growth of rural economy. Whether it is those celebrating bikers or me sitting on the couch at home or those victorious political leaders, the fact is that May 16 should be the starting point for all.
Now time to get away from the political playgrounds to our cricket stadiums: We play Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday. The team has changed the colour of its outfit but they remain a force as ever. I think their real strength is in their bowling with Dale Steyn leading the charge. The two leggies – one of which is my dear friend Amit Mishra – are immensely effective at home. Playing this team also gives me an opportunity to meet one of the dearest Indian cricketers and nicest blokes VVS Laxman. Lacchi bhai, as we fondly call him, is a great guy, always smiling and very caring. I know the first question that he will ask me when I meet him is: “Gauti kaisa hai? Batting kaisee ho rahee hai? Jaldi comeback karo Indian team mein yaar….” Or something to that effect. I will Lacchi bhai.
There is enough inspiration these days. Mr Modi is a wonder- ful story set against odds. How a man can touch both the chords of his emotional people and an equally sensitive Sensex.