I am posting this piece after having read an article in today’s “Sunday Times of India” – Chennai edition, titled “Temple for Dhoni in Ranchi”. The news item has detailed that “Mahendra Singh Dhoni is all set to become the first cricketer to have a temple dedicated to him”. A dubious record that will certainly stay with him for the rest of his life. The news item had also elaborated that on Saturday, December 20, 2008, a 33 year old diehard fan of M.S.Dhoni named Jithendra Kumar Singh had laid the foundation for a temple of Dhoni and that it would have a life size statue of the cricketer installed in it.

This incident may appear trivial to most of you but it serves to help us study the psyche of the average Indian on the streets. The average Indian does not seem to know where to draw the line. Nor does he seem to know where his priorities must lie. I would have appreciated it if the said Mr. Jithendra Kumar had adopted Dhoni as a role model and had taken to heart his dedication to the game and his perseverance, thereby emulating Dhoni and becoming an achiever, if not in cricket, at least in any other field of his choice. We build temples for Dhoni without wanting to emulate his rigourous discipline and perseverance. We worship Lord Ram and buid temples for him on pavements and street corners but don’t want to live like Lord Ram.

It is only in India that you can see such fanatic behaviour from fans for whom admiration evolves into adulation and ultimately blind worship. I do not have anything against Dhoni nor am I jealous of his skills and his claim to fame but just want to impress upon you my friends the characteristics and nature of the average Indian for where else would you find a film star turning into a politician and ultimately into a Chief Minister. Who knows what Dhoni would use his fan following for; after hanging up his boots? These incidents only go to show the enslavement of the Indian mind and its nature of being unable to differentiate between fact and fiction. The problem in India is that we achieved physical, geographical & political freedom before attaining the requisite mental liberation and freedom to use our freedom properly and for the good of all.

ALL THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IN INDIA.