There was this famous incident that became a local legend in our small town of Karkala decades ago. It remains a point of reference even today.
A rich man's daughter was getting married. The Bridegroom and his party were to arrive from a nearby village in the morning on wedding day. The small community didn't want to compromise on quality and status. It was a matter of prestige. So the preparations were going on with a lot of fanfare.
The bride's family wanted the 'Mandap' or 'Pandal' to be erected by none other than the expert carpenter of town, 'Vasachari'. He consented and started work the previous day. He had assured the completion of work in time. Next morning, he was still fixing a rod here and driving a nail there even as the groom's party arrived.
In the din of receiving guests and honoring them, the brides family altogether forgot the 'Work in progress'. But our man was dedicated to the core. His work went on and on and on even as the marriage ceremony began and was duly solemnized after prolonged rituals lasting over 6 hours.
Later in the evening, at the time of 'Bidai' or 'Farewell' ceremony of the bride; people noticed Vasachari and his disciple still working on the Mandap. He was just about giving finishing touches to his master-piece. When told that the function was long over; he reacted, "Well, my work too is over".
After this incident, if the preparations for any event got delayed; people started telling, "Oh yet another Vasachari's Mandap in the making !"
First we had CWG fiasco and now the Eden tragedy. The media would like us to believe India always manage to get into the hall of shame. But is this really so humiliating as is made out to be ?
I would say no, a Big NO !
This simply is a trait for us. Like it or leave it, this is what we are. The problem with us is that we hate to reach anywhere ahead of schedule. For the rich and the famous, that is below dignity. For small people like me, it is a way of life. Just like guzzling beer for the Aussies and worrying about the human rights of terrorists for Arundhati Roy.
But why ? Why do we hate to be early ? We all know the big people will be late. So we have to wait and wait really long. We also get caught in traffic. And never discount problems like the premature delivery of a she-buffalo in the neighborhood.
In spite of all the hurdles and hiccups, CWG went according to schedule and was a success. So it would have been with Eden if only the ICC had shown some patience. Alas, ICC is not IOC and Shashank Manohar isn't Kalmadi. Neither is he Lalit Modi, and that is unfortunate.
I cannot but suspect some politics in this. Is it to spite the Dalmiya group that the Pawar-powered ICC disqualified Kolkotta ? We still have to recover from the Dada snub by IPL. Anything is possible !
But coming back to our culture and nature, working till the last moment and even beyond is indeed our style. Starting from a simple annual day function at a Primary School to the AICC meeting at Delhi and the CWG, the preparations have to go on till the curtains go up.
What worth is any event that is not botched up in the beginning but ends up "All is Well" ? We love to overcome problems, hurdles and mutinies. If there aren't any, we love to create them and then triumph over them. Like Vasachari, we believe in working irrespective of deadlines.
Will Eden get a chance ?
S-Pun Doctor
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