I Wonder What Dravid Feels

Wonder what Rahul Dravid feels about it.

The countless newspaper columns, internet links, Facebook statuses, and perhaps most importantly, the flattering headlines.

The Wall Stands Tall.

I guess he'd be smiling. Chuckling to himself, and remembering, very clearly, how it was not so long ago. Odds are, he'll turn off the bedside lamp, say a small prayer, and forget about the praise.

Because if anyone in our country knows a thing or two about praise, it's Rahul Dravid.

The same guy who was mocked by school children all over the country over his sometimes mind numbing defensive stance in matches. I can still recall how it felt, hearing people roll their eyes when the name Rahul Dravid was mentioned. How can things change so soon?

That's the quality of our collective memory. Say hello to the 1.2 crore version of Ghajini.

We are a group of people who can criticize, abuse, mock, praise, and glorify the same person, in the span of a few years. Today's villan invariably becomes tomorrow's hero. Just ask Salman Khan. The man couldnt get half a class room to watch 7 continuous movies of his. But now, he's called theRajnikanth of Bollywood. Three movies, and the public loves him.

Of course, there's nothing wrong in critising an actor or a cricketer when they perform badly. Nor in praising them when they glow in their jobs. But why do we go to extremes? Why do we always need a villain and a hero, for every single day?

Today the hero is Rahul Dravid and the villains are Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar. The same man about whom the country was singing praises two years ago. And what happened to the Midas captain? The same thing that happened to the victims of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Many of us held candle light vigils for them three years ago. Those same candles are now taken off the shelf to be lit for Anna Hazare's candle light protest.

Sometimes it sickens me how easily we forget achievers, how easily we attack failure. How easily we take up a revolution, how easily we drop the flags and banners. Why cant our memories last for more than just a year or two?

Guess that's why we have family and friends. The handful of people who welcome us for dinner, even if you faced 100 odd balls and still scored less than ten. Or wore a laughable costume for a sword and sandal epic that even they didnt see.

Thank God we have them. Because the rest, they'll update a status about you today, and write a comment abusing you tomorrow. That's just how it goes...

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