india pakistan conflict

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United in sport, divided by politicians

December 1st 2008 22:21

It's hard to find a more complex set of political and social issues than the Pakistan-India confrontation. The partition and creation of Pakistan in 1947 was politically driven and created more problems than it solved.

I learned a heartbreaking fact a couple of years ago. When the Indian cricket team plays a Test match anywhere in the world, every cricket fan in Pakistan follows the game just as avidly as if it was Pakistan playing. They still accept, indeed take, the Indian team as their own.

If this grassroots, instinctive evidence counts for anything, it says that, 61 years after political partition, culturally they remain one nation.

But since when did the honesty of grassroots instinct and passion sway opinion in the halls of political expediency?

Recommended background reading: Deep Pencil post

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Posted By: Chris Champion - Category: India, Politics

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5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Morgan Bell

December 2nd 2008 03:42

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wow i had no idea they supported each other in cricket . . . thats very gentlemanly!

its a shame these long-standing turf wars cause so much bad blood off the sporting field!

(oh and thanks for linking to my post!

)

Comment by Chris Champion

December 2nd 2008 03:54

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I've been thinking a bit more about this since I wrote it, and it occurs to me that the man who told me this (an Indian) was in his 60s and it's therefore possible that the younger generations no longer feel the same way. But it's also possible they do. Either way, I felt the same as you - wow - to think that Pakistanis still claim the Indian team as their own in this way. It's so natural. It transcends caste, religion and politics. It's so much much more real a connection between people than the efforts of powermongering and hyperbolising politicians.

I'm wearing my anti-politician hat today

Comment by Janet Collins

December 2nd 2008 11:55

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Now that's saying something for the power of sport! Perhaps all the sportsman should become politicians as one popular cricketer did.

Comment by Chris Champion

December 2nd 2008 22:25

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Perhaps all the sportsman should become politicians as one popular cricketer did.

Give them a thick skin and a big can of Anti-Corruption-a-Guard, and it might work

Comment by Anonymous

August 9th 2009 11:30

I believe this is because when the cricket teams of every other country in the same continent fail to reach the final levels of international tournaments then people's loyalties shift to the only country of that continent that has made it.

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