I read today that the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians are the two IPL teams that have garnered the most support here in SA. Having been to some of the games and just observing people and their opinions toward the IPL, it seems as though this is not merely a coincidence. In my opinion, this may not even be attributed to the marketing campaigns of these two teams...as the Kolkata Knight Riders have a pretty impressive marketing strategy too. In my humble opinion, being a South African Indian whose great great grandparents were brought here as indentured labourers from Chennai (then known as Madras), the thing that makes these two teams the obvious choice to support is that most Indians in South Africa have their roots in either Mumbai or Chennai. You see there exists a generation of South Africans, mostly those born in the eighties, who are proud of their Indian heritage and are desperately seeking a way back to their roots.
The IPL has showcased a brand of "Desi Cool" that has blown South Africans away. Suddenly us SA Indians are not "coolies" anymore, just COOL. To some extent it angers me (ever so slightly) that it took bright lights, bollywood superstars and international cricketers to highlight the greatness of Indians, when for years we have worked hard, educated ourselves and made the transition from worthless slaves to integral cogs in the wheel of South African society. But it also brings great joy to see people of all races cheering on the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and the like.
Thank you to the IPL for what you have done in elevating our status!
Here's hoping Chennai wins it!
No comments:
Post a Comment