Monday, May 20, 2013

Lesson From Sreesanth


Cricketer S. Sreesanth
How fast do turn the wheels of fortune? Cricketer S Sreesanth, who occupied a hallowed place in pace bowling only a week ago has now fallen in the gutter out which there seems to be little hope for an easy way out. In this case, however, it is Sreesanth himself who has chosen the fast lane to the dustbin of history. Not content with the match-fee which itself is many times more than the annual incomes of most of us, he chose to connive with the underworld dons who operate a parallel world in which gambling is elevated to the status of a high art. No wonder young cricketers fall victims to the allure of money and women offered aplenty to those who are willing to forego integrity.

India is a nation made notorious for its multiplicity of frivolous rules and laws which seem to control and administer all aspects of human lives. There are several regulations enacted without the slightest concern of ever implementing them. Then there are moral laws put forward by a government which purports to control the personal lives of its citizens. Betting in sports is a legal activity in most civilized countries, but not so in India. Chicken-headed bureaucrats and politicians have found it to be unethical! Don’t ever ask them what is ethics, please! Consequently, this activity is neatly taken over by the underworld and makes billions out of it. Since the industry is not regulated in a healthy way, nothing holds the hands of the gangsters who seek instant favours with players in the form of spot-fixing.

Why do we delay legalization of betting in sports? What harm can it possibly do? People with surplus cash – which means most of the middle class, though they may not admit to it – would happily indulge in some legal gambling, which is effectively regulated and taxed. In deed, this may prove to be a legitimate way of declaring one’s unaccounted money for which there is no way at present. If you are holding a lot of black money, you can declare that it was made in betting, pay income tax for it and have a peaceful sleep. The country stands to gain a lot of money in taxes for the gains from genuine betting too. So, come politicians, let’s make it legal. At least, it is not so immoral as prostitution which enjoys a quasi-legal status in most of the Indian cities.

So, let that be the lesson we learn from the sad demise of poor Sreesanth’s career.