Piyush Seth of First Medical Services is a fierce cricket fan and
player, like many in India. This is a passion that has come from
childhood, playing as Captain for his school, before competing
interstate for his university while studying engineering. Though his
career has now taken over and the majority of his time is taken up
either launching medical technology startups or spending time with his
family, he still manages to spend time playing with his local club.
This is a fairly normal attitude for Indian businessmen, with cricket being the most popular sport across the nation. As the British are fanatical about soccer, the Kiwi’s about rugby, in India cricket is the staple for anyone young boy being raised. It is sport that has played a huge role in both the nation’s culture, politics and identity.
Many consider it odd that India would take on cricket. For one it is not a cheap game, requiring both space and fairly expensive equipment, something that is not available to many average Indians. Plus, it is a game that was brought to India’s shores by a rather brutal and dictatorial foreign power - namely the British Empire. But it is surprisingly the colonial past that set cricket on its route to becoming the nation’s favorite.
As reported by the Economist, it was wealthy Indian businessmen desperate to impress the colonial masters that set this game to be the sport of the Indian elite. This gave the sport the status of being about class and superiority, something that people look up to. This then also means that anyone who exceeds in this sport professionally, not only is a respected sportsman, but also a part of an elite tradition.
These sporting legends are indeed held in esteem. One example is Sachin Tendulkar, a retired batsman, who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest honor in India; and then there is the social status and political power of men like Imran Khan in neighboring Pakistan. There are not many countries that would list cricket as a way to gain political office, but this is the reality for these two nations, both fanatical as the other when it comes to cricket.
Much of this is unlikely conscious in the mind of the average Indian fan though, with their national sport simply their favorite pastime since they were young; which is normal. But unquestionably, they do seem to be the most avid cricket fans in the world, with 400 million tuning in to watch should the national Indian team play.
It is a sport that has a long and complicated past in India, but also a game that conjures a lot of passion and love. This is why men like Piyush Seth First Medical Services continue to make it one of their favorite hobbies into their middle age, simply for the love of the sport.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan
https://www.jstor.org/stable/651075?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/02/economist-explains-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_in_India
This is a fairly normal attitude for Indian businessmen, with cricket being the most popular sport across the nation. As the British are fanatical about soccer, the Kiwi’s about rugby, in India cricket is the staple for anyone young boy being raised. It is sport that has played a huge role in both the nation’s culture, politics and identity.
Many consider it odd that India would take on cricket. For one it is not a cheap game, requiring both space and fairly expensive equipment, something that is not available to many average Indians. Plus, it is a game that was brought to India’s shores by a rather brutal and dictatorial foreign power - namely the British Empire. But it is surprisingly the colonial past that set cricket on its route to becoming the nation’s favorite.
As reported by the Economist, it was wealthy Indian businessmen desperate to impress the colonial masters that set this game to be the sport of the Indian elite. This gave the sport the status of being about class and superiority, something that people look up to. This then also means that anyone who exceeds in this sport professionally, not only is a respected sportsman, but also a part of an elite tradition.
These sporting legends are indeed held in esteem. One example is Sachin Tendulkar, a retired batsman, who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest honor in India; and then there is the social status and political power of men like Imran Khan in neighboring Pakistan. There are not many countries that would list cricket as a way to gain political office, but this is the reality for these two nations, both fanatical as the other when it comes to cricket.
Much of this is unlikely conscious in the mind of the average Indian fan though, with their national sport simply their favorite pastime since they were young; which is normal. But unquestionably, they do seem to be the most avid cricket fans in the world, with 400 million tuning in to watch should the national Indian team play.
It is a sport that has a long and complicated past in India, but also a game that conjures a lot of passion and love. This is why men like Piyush Seth First Medical Services continue to make it one of their favorite hobbies into their middle age, simply for the love of the sport.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan
https://www.jstor.org/stable/651075?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/02/economist-explains-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_in_India
