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Cricket in India



On 2/4/2016,We got an interesting online discussion by our mentor.

With reference to Cultural Studies . . .
Why is Cricket so popular in India?
Why are cricketers so rich and popular in India?
Why corporatization of Criticket in India?
Why this much 'money' in Cricket in India?

Cricket is colonial game. With political liberation of India from British Raj, almost everything that was connected with British Raj was hated. English language being no exemption form it. So, why is Cricket so dearly loved that Indians call it 'Religion' and crickets demi-gods?

As a cultural critic, we are suppose to doubt. We have to give some critical insight to the artefact under the scanner. As we know that Cultural Studies takes help of post-structuralist theories, it tends to deconstruct hegemony of one binary over the other, it tends to question the privileged position of one identity over the underprivileged.
Thus, in India, it is seen that since the days of Manu, society is divided in four Varna-system, with Brahmins at the top, followed by Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Dalits at the bottom. This obviously is very fertile ground for cultural critic to explore the possibilities of culture being constructed, promoted and naturalised by Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Kshatriyas were also in political power, the power was supported by Brahmins. So, if we question - how privileged are Brahmins and Kshatriyas in contemporary Indian society? We find that they are. Especially, the rituals (from Garbha-Sanskaar to Lagna-Sanskaar to Antim-Sanskaar) keeps Brahmins at the center of socio-cultural discourse.
With this evidence of Brahmins at the centre of socio-cultural discourse, let us examine if this has played any important role in keeping Cricket also alive - not only alive, but popular, and widely accepted colonial relic in India.
Several studies and surveys done on this prove that Brahmins players in final eleven or 15 players team were more in number than other Varnas.
Following links will help you to get a few more arguments.
https://www.facebook.com/Brahmins-Control-Cricket-in-India-172338502809310/
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Tamil-Nadu-cricket-association-filled-with-Brahmins
https://churumuri.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/just-4-of-population-but-7-brahmins-in-indian-xi/
https://dalitnation.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/the-eleven-brahmins-and-eleven-million-fools/

So, can we conclude that the power position of Brahmins, the privileged position in society has kept cricket alive , popular, rich and also respectful position like RELIGION and cricketers, GODs in India?


Well, if you do not agree with this logic or line of thinking; then, what is your interpretation of popularity and position of Cricket in India?

We had to share our views on this.
Here are my views about this discussion:-
With reference to Postcolonial perspective, we can see that though Cricket is the national game of England, but it is highly popular in India. So, it can be said that the National game of colonizers is popular in the colonized country.
As discussed in the class by Dilip sir, one of the reasons of its popularity is the Brahminical tradition or elitism. The sports culture is also controlled by the elitist. So, superior place is given to this game. While in other games, we find non-elite people. So, they are considered inferior.
IPL (Indian Premier League) is going to start soon. Many litres of water is wasted for this tournament. The area where this tournament is organised is ‘Maharashtra’ - a severely drought hit area.
So, the question is that is it appropriate to call Cricket as religion in India?
Why the so-called Nationalists are not talking about banning cricket in India?




Share your views on this.

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