IPL & Changing Loyalties

IPL Cricket has caught the imagination of the Indian masses and how? Its well on its way to becoming one of India's (month long) annual festivals, along with its revelry, festive clothes and fireworks! Its appeal has swept away sports/cricket enthusiasts, women, teenagers and children alike and has affected the TRP ratings of Saas-Bahu shows on TV.

Subconsciously, its also changing the way Indians identify themselves with their communities around them. Regional chauvinism is giving way to "city chauvinism" and "opportunistic chauvinism"

Over the years, regional chauvinism has given way to a pan-Indianness that has taken root in the country (the various politically motivated regional chauvinism seen in every state every now and again notwithstanding). Some of the catalysts that have brought Indians together over the years, have been - the Independence movement, Indian Cinema, Idli-Dosa & Punjabi food, the Punjabi dress/kurta, Corporate India, travel/LTA, students studying away from home, inter regional marriages & Cricket!!

Regional Chauvinism in Cricket
Until a couple of decades ago, cricket, did its bit to fuel regional chauvinism. In "katta" discussions across the country, selection of the Indian team was always considered to be favouring the "other state/s". In the 70s & 80s the domination of Mumbai & Bangalore in the national team was resented and much debated in various parts of the country. Players still came from and belonged to a "state" and played for their Ranji Trophy sides. As state cricket organizations started asserting themselves, other states started throwing up national players from their hinterlands. Thus a Dhoni, grew up to captain the Indian side from less known Jharkhand.

Over to City Chauvinism - Or is it?
The IPL teams are based on individual cities - a more modern geographical entity that is easier to identify oneself with, encompassing all elements of the "cosmopolitan" and therefore its pan-Indianness. Many players in the League are playing for teams other than their domicile states and share the dressing room with lots more players from different continents. And the team captains? Dhoni from Jharkhand is the captain of the Chennai Super Kings and Shane Warne leads the Jaipur team.

What does this leave cricket followers with? Which team do they support ? or do they support their favourite players or icons. Indians seem to have taken this challenge in their stride and are already comfortable with this dichotomy. I myself found that I started with the Mumbai Indians as my favourite side since I have had an affinity towards Mumbai as a city and some of the Mumbai Indians were my favourite cricketers. By the time they had lost 3 matches in a row, I had dumped them and started backing the Rajasthan Royals since they were an unknown team that was surprising everybody. I came back to supporting the Mumbai Indians by the time they started winning their matches and when Jayasuriya cracked that quickfire ton that I was witness to live at the Wankhede stadium.
Surprised, at my changing loyalties I checked this out with many other followers of the IPL, including kids. Many had gone through a similar path (especially the guys from Bangalore who were previously supporting their home team).

Only Winners matter?

Loyalty towards a city team is a healthy trend, throwing away the regional chauvinism of yore and replacing it with loyalty for the more "cosmopolitan city". Moreover pride for a city will help make our citizens "city proud" and therefore build communities that take part in the improvement of our cities.

However is that all that we are doing, supporting a city? or are we backing only winners or perceived winners, others be damned? In this age of the Flat World, India is becoming flat too and all internal boundaries are disappearing- success, icons, celebrities and a iconic game! are the great unifier.