At last something to cheer about

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The last three weeks have been one of the worst in India's history. People were already saddened by the gloomy market and talks of lay-offs when the worst terror attack took place in the financial capital of the country. But yesterday's record breaking win versus in the Chennai test match gave Indians a reason to smile. Cricket is not just a game but a religious obsession in this country.

The script for the match could not have been written better for a nation which needed something to cheer about. Indian team chasing a record total and Mumbai's favourite son scoring a rare fourth innings ton. The English team had dominated the test for almost the 11 out of the 15 sessions yet they were defeated in a convincing manner. Perhaps the heavens wanted to do justice to the ordinary Indians who have gone through a lot of pain in the last few weeks.

Sachin's dedicating his hundred to the victims of the terror attack was a marvellous gesture. It proved that cutting across the sections of the society, ordinary Indians are more united than they were before 26/11. The school boyish celebration by the Master Blaster showed what this win meant to him as well as the entire nation. Cricket is a common religion in India and one rare thing that unites us amongst all our differences.

The test match had a huge significance being played after the terror attacks in Mumbai. The English team should be lauded for coming back to play the test series after what had happened. Critics may argue that it was the IPL money which attracted them to play in India but again speculations have no end. The visitors deserve to be patted on their backs for defying the terror threat and come to India. It is normalisation of life that is the best weapon to fight terror.

True this test win cannot heal the wounds of the victims but its a statement that life has to move on. It might just give a small moment of happiness to the families who have been victims of this attack. We have to look forward in life but at the same time not forget what we faced as a nation. Make sure we do not repeat the mistakes we did which resulted in the Mumbai carnage. As last thanks to our cricketers who have brought a smile in the faces of common Indians.