Malvika Singh’s article ‘Kotla’s rage of the lumpen’ IE, April 27 hit the nail on its head. Neither in cricket nor in graciousness could India match Pakistan in the recently concluded cricket series in India involving the traditional “archrivals”. This is precisely where the root of the Indo-Pak animosity rests. Every new generation is made to believe that the two countries are “enemies” and that the breach finalised in 1947 cannot be repaired be any means — bilateral talks, third party interventions, transport services, cricket, or anything else. Under normal circumstances, this undercurrent of tussle remains hidden from view, but when emotions are charged, Mr Hyde gets the better of Dr Jekyll and the manifestation is somewhat like the situation at Ferozeshah Kotla during India’s losing cause.
But where the Pakistanis restrained themselves in 2004, Indians failed miserably this month. India was disgraced before the world when fans turned into fanatics.