Catalyst

In placing due importance to the the famous Independence speech by Pandit Nehru, India awoke into the pangs of ignominy at the turn of the century. A nation felt betrayed by scandals and testimonials of epic proportion in a sport which ran rich and thick through it's veins. The first man of cricket was brought to his knees in astounding revelations and it seemed as if turmoil on the political front seeped into the cricket field as well. While one end of the country was losing her brave soldiers at the high peaks of Siachen, at the other end, it's people wept and felt cheated by icons of the sport. To some, Prime Minister, A.B.Vajpayee's oratory skills provided comfort and served as a balm to soothe the pain of the causality India was suffering at Kargil and at cricket. 

But, all that was to change. Day after day, the Prime Minister's brilliant speeches and intent, created a massive ripple that gripped the nation and gave it belief, that she could come out of it scathed, yes, but stronger and belligerent. To this end, we owe a truck-load of gratitude to our brave soldiers, who survived all odds to scale great heights and stamp the authority India was to have in the high peaks of the Himalayas. As a result of this new found confidence, people across the country began to look up at the sky again. The successful nuclear tests and the long range ballistic missile tests conducted during this time further strengthened the country's might and India announced herself to the world rising like a dragon.

Over this period of excitement, every Indian citizen began his day with the hope that he too can scale great heights. It was against this backdrop that a visiting Australian team arrived on Indian shores with the dream of conquering it on the grass-fields. It was against this backdrop, that a nucleus of players with highest integrity and deepest love for the traditions of the game came together to brush away the tragic drama that had engulfed the sport. Aggressive competitors on the field with a demure persona off it, these titans performed duties battling cramps, broken-jaws, hamstrings, dehydration, sore backs, short-pitched deliveries and thrust the new found self-belief into the face of the nation and especially, it's youth. For that, this blogger will be eternally grateful.

An Indian team got up to defend it's land and protect it against the all conquering Australian team. Led extremely admirably by a captain who believed in taking the bull by the horns, it's batsmen stood up to face the heat. It's bowlers acquired new desire to run in hard and bend their backs with each delivery. It's fielders threw themselves on the ground-leaping, flying, shedding blood to blunt the opposition. In due course of time, as India became a global power who could not be ignored, an Indian team and it's brave-hearts stepped onto the play-field literally wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Not to be subservient anymore, not to be bullied anymore, but to fight and win within the
boundaries of sportsmanship.

It was against this backdrop the India vs Australia series of 2001 unfolded and will remain etched in the minds of my generation for ages to come. When every player begins to believe that he can perform beyond his potential, what transpires on the field is a revelation. Each of these players assumed a larger than life grit and will-power and gave it his all for the cause of his country. That group of players attained divinity in the minds and hearts of their supporters. Bloodied but not beaten, injured but not down, they collectively embodied a nation's calling for a shot at her destiny.

And what a legacy they left behind! One, that cannot be surpassed, not because records cannot be broken, but for the immense levels of valor that went into shaping that legacy. No one can dare put a prize to that and no one should. To exemplify the fact that, this level of greatness was achieved with the utmost humility and stood out in the standard that was maintained in keeping up with the traditions of the game is a resounding achievement. This Indian team not only protected the country's soil against invaders, but went on to battle for supremacy on foreign soil. Battlegrounds in England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia were conquered. Those present, witnessed and stood in unison to laud these legendary warriors who enthralled the audience with grit, determination, audacity, tenacity, guile, perseverance and more importantly, love for the game and respect for it's peers.

Today, as I look back fondly at this time India rose, I recall how her warriors on the battlefront and off it performed admirably. A nation's collective calling was answered by a few men who took guard against bullets and bouncers. Against bitter cold and sweltering heat. To stand up and fight did not require might but strength, did not require rage but resolve, did not require hate but skill. Today, as India pushes herself up to greater heights, I cannot help but smile at the catalyst that spurned this process. At the men, who gave their all.

"At the stroke of midnight, when the world sleeps, India awakens to her life and freedom...".