Sign of new India

It was the wildest Saturday night the country has seen. In cities across India, people danced in the streets, hugged strangers in joy, distributed sweets and waved the tricolour into the night in an unprecedented outpouring of emotion after Dhoni’s boys brought the World Cup home after 28 years. Downtown roads in all metros were clogged with revellers, many of them with faces painted in India colours. Young women danced on top of cars and auto-drivers offered free lifts to commuters as the cricket victory united the country in joy like nothing else can. Sociologist Shiv Viswanathan said in this era of scams, the World Cup victory was a rare example of near perfection in the country’s social life. “Unlike our politicians, here was a leader (MS Dhoni) who knew how to lead. Here was a coach, who happily stayed in the background. And here was a team that played like a symphony, with everyone chipping in.” Lastly, he said, that Sachin’s dream of winning the Cup had at last come true was very moving for two generation of Indians. The unprecedented celebrations, said Yoginder Singh, professor emeritus of sociology in JNU, was a sign of new India. “There’s new optimism and hope among the new generation. The people today, certainly those dancing in the streets on Saturday night, have a much more positive perception of their ability to achieve than the previous generations.”