Cut the umbilical cord

Why don’t Parsis excel in cricket anymore? We have excellent infrastructure in the Parsi Gymkhana at Marine Drive in Bombay, and we have Nari Contractor who could help select coaches to train our youth. After Farrokh Engineer there hasn’t been a single Parsi cricketer in the Indian side. Why?

Playing baug cricket is a good way in which to cultivate an interest in the game, but once real interest is generated, players need to be trained for the competitive league. Only proper coaching can nurture their talent and provide them with thorough knowledge on all the aspects of the game so that they eventually play their way up the Under 14, Under 18, and Ranji Trophy, Duleep Singh Trophy and even aspire for a berth in the national side.

Similarly, we must motivate our youth to join the armed forces. The option of a career in the defence services is not even being considered today, though it’s any day better than a white collar job with all the hassles that go with it. Salaries in the armed forces may not be on par with the multinational pay structure, but there are other benefits. So what’s stopping our young men and women from joining? To some extent I lay the blame on the mothers of our community as they never stop the lallo-pappo (pampering) with their sons. Even today it’s common to hear a grown boy stating: "Mamma késé tau…(if mother permits)!” When will our Mammas cut the umbilical cord and let their boys grow into men?

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda

vadhakim@yahoo.com