SIGHT & SOUND
Cup of nostalgia
Amita Malik

The past week was full of momentous happenings and the momentous discussions that followed. But the rising prices, the nuclear deal, the continuing mystery of Aarushi’s murder, even the departure of our cricket team for Pakistan, mercifully, took second place when the entire nation celebrated that famous 1983 World Cup victory in England. It seemed only yesterday and not 25 years ago. With his famous Kapil-da-jawab nahin smile and surrounded by the entire team, including all the greats, beginning with Sunil Gavaskar, a whole series of nostalgic events flooded the small screen as we all relived those wonderful moments of that wonderful year.

Led by Kapil’s Devils, India achieved that incredible World Cup victory in 1983

The Indian team did not give itself even an outside chance, let alone the rest of the world, to win the World Cup. But, helped by Kapil’s leadership as well as that epoch-making score to set the team on the right course, India achieved that incredible victory at Lord’s. Every channel went to town on the celebrations. Some lined up as many of the team members as possible to relive those magic moments. Others concentrated on one player at a time and in a way those personal reminiscences added up to an absorbing whole.

Fortunately, contemporary feuds were forgotten, and to see Azharuddin among the invitees added the gracious touch which was badly required. As one of the members of the team remarked, they were all a little thinner on the top and a little heavier at the waist, but it still felt like yesterday. Among the many light touches, the one I enjoyed the most was the one about champagne to celebrate. Only one or two members of the Indian team had thought of keeping a bottle of champagne in their luggage. So, when the totally surprising victory came, they sneaked into the dressing room of the West Indians, who had been confident of victory, and started helping themselves.

When Clive Lloyd came in unexpectedly and caught them at it, he said with a smile: "Take the whole lot, and congratulations". That was the spirit those days, before sport became one of the modern forms of warfare. And the heroes? The welcome that the team was given, and the support from the Indian crowds when playing, were perhaps a shade less compared to the reception the team got on its return to Mumbai after winning the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup Championship in South Africa. It was a sight one will not forget in a hurry.

The ugly incident of Kapil Dev’s poster being allegedly blown away by the wind at the Punjab Cricket Association, fortunately, disappeared as quickly as it came, hopefully leaving the perpetrators red in the face.

One cannot really get away from sport. What a joy it is to watch Wimbledon again, with our very own Vijay Amrithraj, VJ to his western colleagues, giving impeccable commentaries with those long periods of silence when the viewers can see things for themselves instead of the loud, incessant chatter of commentators in India.

It was heartening to watch the events surrounding the visit of the Syrian President, and equally wonderful to see his highly emancipated wife, who dispelled all illusions of Arab women being backward and unable to cope with public life.

If there was one unusual face and a welcome one which lit up our screens last week, it was Amitav Ghosh, talking about his life, career and his latest book.

Always amiable and taking all questions, however off the mark, in his stride, he was a mine of information. He answered questions with grace, without a hint of arrogance or irritation. I lost count of how many interviewers and of widely different backgrounds and literary knowledge he faced. But he came through smiling, and was always accessible. It only added to the joy of the viewer.