World Cup Worry

Editorial:-

The traffic cops tried to throw a wet blanket over Gangtok’s celebration of the World Cup when it decided to go over-zealous in its implementation of rules and pulled down flags of world cup teams wherever they exceeded regulation size or were unfurled from unauthorized spots on the vehicles. The traffic police initiative is called “tried”, as in attempted, because there really was no need to throw the proverbial wet blanket because there does not appear to be any World Cup excitement in the capital. Sure, many, perhaps even a majority of Gangtok, are/is watching the matches, but those are at individual capacities. Soccer demands much larger, bigger group collective celebrations, an almost mass hysteria mob frenzy following when it comes to the World Cup. Think Kolkata, Darjeeling or Kalimpong and how the communities there are celebrating the game and the comatose response in Gangtok becomes stark. World Cup 2010 was a much grander affair in Gangtok, why, even the drab Governor’s Gold Cup spins more excitement in the Gangtok air. This lack of lustre would not have rankled if Sikkim was not a football-loving state; but it is a state of passionate footballers and soccer fans which is why the absence of public and community-level celebrations is not only missed, but also worrying.

It is obvious that people are following the World Cup, no one is contesting that; in most offices, the previous night’s matches are also being discussed. But the World Cup is more than that. Traditionally, colonies have adopted teams to support, taxi stands have announced their favourites, group viewings have been arranged, face painted…. There is none of that at least in Gangtok this time around. The spontaneity which one has always missed in Sikkim has amplified to a level of numbness which is disturbing. Look at it like this – one of the joys of having a family is the fun of doing things together, celebrating together. We do that enough times in life and it becomes a habit and when difficult times come knocking, the family spontaneously comes together. Traditionally, this unit has expanded to cover communities, then tribes and then countries. Spontaneous celebrations make a people stronger because it give them an instinctive sense of belonging and allows for a more open embrace of the community. Once they have done that enough times, they instinctively step up when assistance is required and make it a habit to look out for each other. That is where and how a civil society is born. In the absence of a collective, community level celebration of World Cup 2014 in Gangtok, the reasons why Sikkim’s myriad social challenges remain unattended becomes clear…