A Tribute to Brain Lara
- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: by Srikrishna Chintalapati
A famous line from Mr. Harivansh Rai Bachan's poem reads like "Mitti Ka tan, Masti ka man-- (yahin) mera parichay" (Body that made up of CLAY .. Heart which is full of JOY and that completes my Introduction).
I couldn't put better than this—a very appropriate recapitulation struck my mind at a flashy speed, as I was watching the live press-conference of Brain Lara. As my heart and mind were full of grief and warmth, a heavy heart, teary eyes, an astonied mind, now, for the moment, refuse to move even an inch 'on' ; the insane and errant body repeatedly makes unsuccessful attempts to get tangled back into my television set; only one voice echoes and accompanies my lonely emplacement in my room "Remember me as some one who gone out there and tried to entertain".
D day has come, the legend retires, the master calls it a day, a genius adjourns. BRIAN LARA--the synonym of West-Indian batting, the run-machine, and the soild southpaw will no longer be seen in the International circuit. One short of his 300th ODI game, but never short of love, admiration from millions of fans from all parts of the globe.
A momentary ad-lib gesture at this 5 feet 6inches torso can get no great feels or perceptions but rest of the man does. Sharpy and shrewdly looks, inspiring yet refutable thoughts and tantrums, a high backlift, a strange stance, a bent right knee, brawny limbs, closed fists, eye on the ball, perfect timing and the ball flashes to boundary. Persistent hamstrings, over weight woes never been able to ebb him, though the team dynamics, financial ails, management politics did a bit.
Lara, 10th of 11 children, hailed from the banks and true beach sands of Trinidad and Tobago, moulded at clinic of Harvard Coaching, did accumulate runs and apparently big scores both at the first class and international levels at an unimaginable pace and poise. Implacable footwork, impeccable technique and immaculate adept of the game made him a superstar. Massive totals and torrent of runs not only a fortune, indeed, an essence. Constant denials of victories to strong opponents, single handed up-lifting of the game, standalone match winning ability- made him a CUT ABOVE Sachin and all other contemporaries and audaciously 'The World's Best Batsman'.
His 17 years of floundering was never at any point appeared to be a cake-walk. Plausibly enough, one moment of jubilance was always followed by an inexorable upheaval. Troubles, turmoils and tribulations did create more noise than the loud applauds he heard across the stadium whenever he clears a milestone. He lead the dying horse, threatened his own crew, entreated his own crowd, admonished his arch rivals-- some times, one at a time .. but most of the times .. all at the same time.
Perhaps, a messy run out may turn an ostensibly "emphatic" victory into a narrow defeat, a slump in form put an end to a perpetual vigor for runs, it can't take away the memories he gave us, the courage he shown, the flamboyance he executed. At the end, he is the winner, he won our hearts, and he held our dreams-- A TRUE ENTERTAINER
Ending was bad, yes it was. But wasn't that the unpredictability component of life all about ?? after all, it's a simple surprise that life really obsessed to throw at him. Thankfully, no articulation! Just a happening: Let’s not worry about the sort or state of farewell he got. A little above the kernel, it's all part of game, it's all in the spirit of the game.
At long last- it's a parting, a farewell, the road ends, you like it or you don't --it ends, finally.
Let us wish him a very happy, peaceful and successful post retirement life. Who knows, this could well be a new beginning.
After all, life is oxymoron.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Srikrishna Chintalapati(Sorry folks, I know I am late .. but too many things in life circuit ..too little time for blogging)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 | Labels: Cricket Thoughts |
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