Bring it on!

The post on X received over 27k likes and over 5k retweets, it also received a lot of flak but the author didn’t mind it. He was looking for engagement and he got it. There are numerous handles like these who do engagement farming and monetize the same. They get their few minutes of fame (if they can call it that) and move on to the next topic for a few dollars more. Let us ignore the deliberately provocative language, it is meant to rile up emotions. Instead, let us focus on the accusation and evaluate it for what it is, the author’s personal frustration notwithstanding.

For those of us who have experienced life in the previous century, the transformation of the older, poorer India to the arrogant(!), hateful(?) Bharat is undeniable. That we have evolved is true; whether we are a hateful lot, whether we are bullies and whether the world hates us is up for debate.

What needs real examination is the change in the locus of identity, the cause and the carrier of this change.

From a community that constantly looked for approval from outside, to someone who organically rediscovered its true identity and embraced it confidently, is a transformation with few parallels in recent history. Sorry we don’t seek approval anymore; we do listen to constructive criticism but we do not value the opinion of fence sitters and hypocrites.

That the community opted to roar back and reclaim lost ground is a natural consequence emerging out of strength and a desire for self-preservation and expression. If anyone perceives it as arrogance then the onus is on the observer to study the source that triggered the transformation before commenting on the manifestation.  

For far too long, we were a docile lot; affable, gentle, tolerant and always willing to sacrifice. Staring back, talking back and pushing back didn’t come naturally to us. We aren’t genetically built to do those things, some studies claimed. Eventually we reached the tipping point and then things flipped. We decided to change and we picked someone to lead us, who challenged the protocol and shattered the established ways.  

There are very few people who have the capacity to bring societal transformations. Such people can ignite dull, dead souls and enable them to think freely, express freely and hold their ground with dignity. They epitomize competence, they offer a higher purpose and they walk the path for others to observe and follow. Transformation doesn’t come from blind faith; it comes from witnessing it in action and very few people have the power to demonstrate.

We have been truly blessed to have found transformational leaders with the capacity to nudge our society on a path of positivity and dignity. Such leaders are not limited to governance, there are people in different walks of life who do the same in their limited capacities; be it in industries, businesses, technological and medical professions and in arts and sports as well.

If team sport is a reflection of who we are, then there is one man who fits the template of a transformational leader to a T, and it is Virat Kohli.

Some may argue that the transformation began at the turn of the century and it is true to an extent. The leaders prior to Virat did initiate the process and Saurav Ganguly more than anyone else deserves high praise for his role and service. However, just like the central leadership of that decade, his tenure was turbulent and dare I say inconsistent. Dhoni as his successor was tactically sharp and wise beyond his age but he too lacked the force to bring change.

What Virat achieved while he led was nothing short of incredible, not because of the trophies he collected, those are there for everyone to see but what he was able to do with the collective psyche of those around him. He stared back, he talked back, he did everything his opponent could with twice the intensity, weaker genetics be damned!

We always had the talent, what we lacked was strength and conviction to deliver. Virat showcased that strength can be acquired, literally and metaphorically. He had the dogged determination to achieve his objectives and he pushed everyone else to pursue the same. That his tenure more or less aligned with the resurgence of Bharat in this new avatar is a karmic connection no less.  

Virat represents this new Bharat, talented, tenacious and tough. I could go on and say a few things about his individual skills, his records and the dogfights he indulged in but that I believe is needless. Virat Kohli’s greatness isn’t limited to the statistics or the trophy cabinets, he leaves the field with a legacy which will be followed and preserved for generations to come.

Thank you Virat, it was a pleasure witnessing you in action. Sure, we have had our difference but they are too trivial to mention and get buried under the weight of your stupendous achievements. Your contribution will always be remembered as one of the finest examples of transformational leadership.

If wearing your heart on your sleeves is being an arrogant bully, then so be it. Sorry to disappoint you Mr. X, but the older docile India is not returning. Unlike what your tweet suggests, we never mock the weak and powerless, but then we don’t tolerate aggressions either. We have acquired the strength to hold our grounds and if necessary punch above our weight. We are fierce friends with those who embrace us and we are fiercest adversaries to those who challenge us. If someone hates us in this new avatar, then it is entirely their loss.

Bacha sawal aapki galiyon ka, to bhaisahab, humne hamara dum bhi dikha diya aur humne auron ko unki aukat bhi dikha di. Baki aap samajhdar ho aur jante ho ki, ye naya Bharat hai, ye…