Some of the upper middle class reactions to the CWG crisis has been weird and/or stupid- varies from person to person. Why do I think so?
1. Reaction to corruption: We all do know that corruption is something that exists & we live with it. Even in stuff as critical as defense aircraft deals, there exists corruption & sub-standard deals ! Any reason the same shouldnt be there in something as non-essential or non-critical as a CWG? There's nothing to crib about in money having been siphoned out using these games as a front. It is part of the deal for an economy like ours
2. Delays/last mile execution hitches: Again, in doing something this large scale, there will be hitches. We will have more than a developed country would have. It works that way coz it is that way. We cant expect an India to execute this kind of infra like say a USA. Not yet anyways...Blowing up every small detail on national media is just plain vanilla stupid
3. Context: Lastly, the CWG is a bygone concept. If these were the Olympics or even say something like a WC Hockey, the powers-that-be would have gotten involved earlier and ensured smoother execution. Our media doesnt have much else to report now and with every news of a snake or filth capturing national middle-class attention, they are loving increased TRPs. Some good journos in the HT have pointed how the Manchester & Melbourne editions had athletes staying in hostels ! even 8 a room..
And we dont need to make this into a "Indian image" or "India cant execute" kind of a thing. Its not really the "failure" of a nation if there are issues. Its more like a failure of that management team (whatever be the reasons, ranging from corruption to bureaucracy to inefficiency).
Well said Arvind. I completely agree. Sensationalizing the neagtives and glossing over the positives, at the expense of national image, pandering to age old stereotypes seems to be the only way to go for TRP. We need media consolidation and more responsible reporting.
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