"Home and the world" was one of the books, I read last year. This work of Tagore on the face of it, may only seem to be a romantic trio, where the woman happens to be caught between her husband and the new found love. Digging a little deep, you may also find allegories, that it's actually India's struggle to be on the "swadeshi" terms or to be more enlightened soul and be on the global perspective. It's not hidden that Tagore was not keen on the "swadeshi" moment and he had difference of opinions with Gandhi as well. And this work of his, I personally feel is just to highlight his point of anti-swadeshi or to profess Universalism or both. You may end up finding this book absolutely boring or too biased. All said and done it's one of my favourites.
Universalism - a world with no boundaries, no way to differentiate or discriminate one individual from the other. I always considered, myself patriotic, even if that has to be certified by trivia that my blood boils when heard something against India, that I passionately celebrate any of its victories in any of the fields and the likes. At the very same time, courtesy to my upbringing, I always despised the conceptual separation among ourselves, be it in the name of religion or caste, creed etc. The point that struck me hard, while reading "Home and the World" was that, if demarcating on the lines of worship or the traditions followed were wrong, then why limiting ourselves in the name of national boundaries should be good feel. If its only hatred, vengeance and enmity that's passed on, even "patriotism" is certainly not a positive energy.
IPL has conceptualized and materialized, too soon after I completed this book. The concept of universalism in action. The best part of the IPL was, that it has crossed boundaries and the worst part of it could have been the very same, if not for the intensity the guys showed for their respective franchisees. That went over the roof, when Sri and Bhajji involved themselves in the slap episode. Under the heavy influence of Tagore's universalism, I thought I'll find a new fun of enjoying a sport, not egging on anybody in particular. The fun of watching a game with no intense passion, a constant attitude of "who'll win?" rather than, "we'll win".
It just didn't happen. I found myself fanatic over Deccan Chargers, my home team. I was praying against the likes of Saurav, Anil, Rahul which was not possible even in dreams a little earlier. Yes, it turned to be a disastrous season for DC leaving me with a very familiar taste of "let-down", which was soon to be overcome by another very familiar feeling "oh-next-time-it's-ours". I don't give a chance for the Chargers to be crowned even this year, but I'm very sure, I'll follow them with the same intensity I support India. That, by no means, is an overstatement.
One of the reasons I enjoy IPL to the fullest, may be!
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