ID :
10845
Thu, 06/26/2008 - 10:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10845
The shortlink copeid
When Indira Gandhi told Kapil: India can do it
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, June 26 (PTI) - "My slogan is India can do it.
Thank you for living up to it".
That was the simple message of the then Prime Minister,
Indira Gandhi to Indian captain Kapil Dev after the historic
victory in the World Cup final against West Indies at the
Lord’s –- exactly 25 years ago today.
Since England did not figure in the final – India had
beaten England in the semi-finals – the British press was
subdued in its coverage of India's final victory.
Reports of the event were few, but some newspapers made
amends by reporting the tumultuous scenes in India where
celebrations broke out into the streets long after the last
West Indies wicket had fallen to Mohinder Amarnath.
Starting as underdogs, India stirred up a storm in the
cricketing world by clinching the prestigious Prudential Cup,
stunning two-time champion and favourite West Indies in the
final on June 25 at the Lord's.
The 'Times' correspondent Michael Hamlyn reported the
scenes from New Delhi in a report titled 'India hails its
cricket heroes'.
He wrote: "It sounded as if war had broken out.
Firecrackers exploded in the streets of virtually every city
in India."
"Indians feel their nation has come of age with the
victory. Cricket has a much more central role in Indian life
than it does in England -– here there is no football to speak
of, and cricket provides the main spectator sport and talking
point," the report said.
The pride of the Indians was marked by Mrs Gandhi, who
sent a message to Kapil Dev, saying : "My slogan is India can
do it. Thank you for living up to it." Gianni Zail Singh, the
President of India, also sent a message.
On June 25, 1983, the day of the World Cup final, Ivo
Tennant wrote in a report titled 'Youth on the side of Kapil
Dev' in The Times: "Kapil Dev Nikhanj, to give him his full
name, will perhaps attract more attention than anyone else at
Lords's today, Richards included.
"His charismatic cricket and burning ambition present
the biggest obstacle to another West Indies victory".
Tennant went on to presciently write: "At 24, he is not
quite India's youngest captain – Tiger Pataudi holds that
distinction – but he is young enough, and at present dominant
enough, to shape the face of his country’s cricket for the
next decade."
Later Wednesday, members of India's only World Cup
winning team - better known as 'Kapil's Devils' - will return
to the Lord's to remember the final that proved to be more
than a tipping point for Indian cricket. PTI
London, June 26 (PTI) - "My slogan is India can do it.
Thank you for living up to it".
That was the simple message of the then Prime Minister,
Indira Gandhi to Indian captain Kapil Dev after the historic
victory in the World Cup final against West Indies at the
Lord’s –- exactly 25 years ago today.
Since England did not figure in the final – India had
beaten England in the semi-finals – the British press was
subdued in its coverage of India's final victory.
Reports of the event were few, but some newspapers made
amends by reporting the tumultuous scenes in India where
celebrations broke out into the streets long after the last
West Indies wicket had fallen to Mohinder Amarnath.
Starting as underdogs, India stirred up a storm in the
cricketing world by clinching the prestigious Prudential Cup,
stunning two-time champion and favourite West Indies in the
final on June 25 at the Lord's.
The 'Times' correspondent Michael Hamlyn reported the
scenes from New Delhi in a report titled 'India hails its
cricket heroes'.
He wrote: "It sounded as if war had broken out.
Firecrackers exploded in the streets of virtually every city
in India."
"Indians feel their nation has come of age with the
victory. Cricket has a much more central role in Indian life
than it does in England -– here there is no football to speak
of, and cricket provides the main spectator sport and talking
point," the report said.
The pride of the Indians was marked by Mrs Gandhi, who
sent a message to Kapil Dev, saying : "My slogan is India can
do it. Thank you for living up to it." Gianni Zail Singh, the
President of India, also sent a message.
On June 25, 1983, the day of the World Cup final, Ivo
Tennant wrote in a report titled 'Youth on the side of Kapil
Dev' in The Times: "Kapil Dev Nikhanj, to give him his full
name, will perhaps attract more attention than anyone else at
Lords's today, Richards included.
"His charismatic cricket and burning ambition present
the biggest obstacle to another West Indies victory".
Tennant went on to presciently write: "At 24, he is not
quite India's youngest captain – Tiger Pataudi holds that
distinction – but he is young enough, and at present dominant
enough, to shape the face of his country’s cricket for the
next decade."
Later Wednesday, members of India's only World Cup
winning team - better known as 'Kapil's Devils' - will return
to the Lord's to remember the final that proved to be more
than a tipping point for Indian cricket. PTI
