Do we require Mr Kalmadi and CWG?
I am often intrigued by the size and scale of corruption in a country like ours and the Commonwealth Games is no different. Make no mistake, despite the never-ending fight by the media Rajas to score a brownie point over other in exposing the scale of corruption; I can vouch for the fact that the Games will be a success.
Why and how?
Tell me one event, be it the 9th Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1982 or the Reliance cricket World Cup in 1987 or the upcoming CWG—where corruption may not have played a crucial role. As the saying goes, till you are not caught, you are safe; a lesson Mr Kalmadi is learning the hard way.
What makes the corruption glaringly visible is the size of it. Tax payers’ money has been looted as part of the Rs 35,000 crore money spent on the games. While I would not want to dwell on the nitty-gritty of the corruption as to how much an air-conditioner costs etc but the important question is—will the Games be a success and why?
Simple, we are Indians and have always been known to do things at the last moment. For example, how often in our college have we got up at 8 30 at the hostels –to take a shower, a grab of breakfast for a 9 ‘o clock class? Just an example, but it works. The last-minute syndrome has engulfed the Indians like always. The same student grows and tries the same in his office life and most of our ministers try it out in their public life. Needless to say, the Games will be a hit and the media will be pooh-poohing the organising committee.
The fear factor?
Well, every time last minute shows don’t work and don’t become a success. There is a fear factor which can send shivers down the spine of every passionate Indian. To me, a roof collapsing or a water-logging inside the stadium means not much but for a foreign athlete or a diplomat, it means criticism for the nation as a whole. To me, I do bother how other nations perceive India has and would not want thugs like Kalmadi to mess it up. NEVER!
This failure cum fear factor worries me and I only hope it flies off once the Games begin. I often ask myself, do we require these Games and Mr. Kalmadi? The polite to both is no!
Two main reasons:
- Considering the economical condition we are in, spending anything gargantuan is criminal and the country is not going to benefit anything out of it. Better if we had put the money on the betterment of facilities in all aspects for 2012 Games in London. Anyone listening?
- Mr Kalmadi or any minister for that matter wants his bank balance settled as he or she is least bothered about the so Games as its only a ‘Game’ for them or a source to mint the moolah. It pains me immensely to see our own countrymen cheating the nation and in all likelihood will go scot-free.
The biggest worry? If the Games become a huge hit, then if Kalmadi becomes an icon, it will be the biggest blot for which India will never be able to recover.
