Bizarre suggestion
I with my limited knowledge about cricket, considered a gentlemen's game, know that it is a team game played among the Commonwealth nations. Initially, only one format of the game existed which is known as Test Match which lasts for 5 days with a one rest day in between the match. When Kerry Packer, an Australian millionaire, introduced the white-ball limited-over format of the game, it made the game an instant hit with the spectators and also made the game more exciting and commercially more viable. It was later followed by another instant type of the cricket developed in England, the T20. This slam-bang form of the game further eroded the popularity of the purest form of cricket, i.e., Test Cricket. In the meantime, the ICC, the supreme body of international cricket, made a slew of changes in the Test cricket like abolishing the rest day, two bouncers per over, mandatory 90 overs a day, introduced day-and-night Test cricket, which is played with a pink ball, and also introduced th World Test Championship. Gradually, Test cricket has once again started regaining some of its lost popularity as the matches have become more result-oriented. But there appeared some unhealthy practices, too, with the preparation of the pitches by the host nation to suit favour their team. Apart from the pitches, the weather also played a crucial role in giving the host side an undue advantage.
To be fair to the both host and the visiting side, I feel with my limited knowledge that the Test Matches should be played in neutral venues where the pitch and the weather condition will help none. I guess the ICC is working on that module with the introduction of World Test Championship, where the final was played in the neutral venue. I feel if from semi-final onwards the matches could be held in neutral venue, we would get the world's best Test side. At this moment it looks like a bizarre suggestion, but in future some arrangements can certainly be worked out. Any takers?
Dr Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
Conflict looms large
Since 2019, the whole world has been fighting with the deadliest COVID-19. But gradually it has become an endemic. After the massive vaccination drive people have obtained the immunity to prevent the virus. But after this chaos the whole world is again going to be unstable, as bilateral conflicts have begun in
different parts of the world. The Russia-Ukraine conflict again has taken up the headlines. Russian troops have attacked different parts of Ukraine. Since 1991, when the USSR broke into 15 new countries, the new Russia has been trying to occupy Ukraine. When the President of Russia Vladimir Putin was partially successful in occupying Ukraine in 2014, the Ukrainians impeached the than President Yanukovych. After the election, again the new Ukrainian Government became an enemy of Russia. The Ukrainian Government wanted to join NATO and became an independent European country. But the Russian President warned the Ukraine Government against taking this type of decision. At last, in 2022 Russia has deployed their military forces against Ukraine. This incident recently has slowly has divided the world into two parts. The USA and other European countries have warned Russia to protect Ukraine. Probably, this incident will lead us to witness a dangerous World War-3 during the days ahead.
Aditya Ankur Nath,
Tezpur.
'Silappadhikaram'
Of the five great epics in Tamil literature, Silappadhikaram, which is known as 'Epic of the Anklet', was written in the 5th-6th century AD by prince Ilango Adigal. Silappathikaram is a story of the young merchant Kovalan's marriage to the righteous Kannagi, his love for the concubine Madhavi, and his consequent ruin and exile in Madurai, where he is unjustly beheaded after trying to sell his wife's anklet to a wicked goldsmith who had stolen the queen's anklet and charged Kovalan with the theft.
Unlike the epics of those times which mostly involve stories about kings and royals, Silappadhikaram illustrates the life of this mundane couple. More significantly, it is written in a dance-drama format and has references to the musical and dance traditions of yesteryears. Silappadhikaram reflects the deeply rooted Vedic culture of the Tamil land, right from the Sangam age and beyond. Interestingly, Silappadhikaram has its root to Jainism, as Ilango Adigal is said to have written the epic from Kodungallur region in Kerala, sitting in his abode Gunavayirkottam, which is known as a Jain institution. And the book Jain Art and Architecture - Vol 1, authored by Amalanda Ghosh, corroborates this, saying "A Jaina institution of considerable importance is mentioned in Silappadhikaram, and this institution was known as Gunavayirkottam, said to have been situated in Chera country."
Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai – 600 091
Harshest reality
After the massive crackdown on poaching, narcotics, cattle lifting, robbery, illegal encroachment, social and domestic heinous crimes, theft etc., to name a few by the present Government at Dispur, it is seen that 99% of these crimes are committed by people belonging to a particular linguistic minority community. Most of them are from sar areas of Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri, Nagaon, Darrang and of doubtful nationality. Interestingly they are the vote banks of the Congress and AIUDF, the two major political parties of the State claiming themselves be true Axomiya and they play a very vital role in all election results.
It is a very dangerous trend which is a harsh reality. Hope I shall not be branded as communal.
Dr Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.