It is one Chorus: ‘Let the Game Begin”

By Thomas D’Silva & Jimmy

India showcased its rich and diverse culture through a spectacular show during the Common Wealth Games Opening Ceremony on Sunday the 3rd Oct.2010. For the first time all Indians seemed singing in one tune along with A.R. Rahman’s India Bula liya: ‘Jiyo utho badho jeeto!’

This reporter however came across some singing off-tunes: a few volunteers and one of them an officer even! First of all the officer (who wished to remain anonymous), had a complaint against the supplied uniform, which does not distinguish a volunteer from an officer. He was certain that Mr. Subrata Roy of the Sahara Group had promised to sponsor separate sets of uniform to various categories of people involved in the conduct of the Games. “I am sure these greedy fellows have pocketed quite a bit”, said he in a sour tone.

The two volunteers, requesting for anonymity, were very pleased with the grand spectacle of the opening ceremony and proud of their own share of work they had put in. “The stadia are really world-class”, said one. And the other vouched, “The CWG-2010 will be a grand success”. On the other hand they were sad to note, “The media hyped the negatives, which has cut a bad figure for India”!

However, there was also a sour note in their expressions. They were damn sure that there is some kind of nepotism going on in the whole affair of organization. “How could a girl of about 17 years be an official or in-charge?” pointed one. And the other was even sarcastic when he said, “The organizing committee is a kind of organized mass-marriage”. When asked to explain, he wished to keep silent perhaps joining the chorus along with the President Pratibha Patil, “Let the Game begin”.