Cricket, not hockey should be our national game

05 August, 2012

Given our success in cricket, it high time that we declare it as our national game, replacing hockey, which has of late only seen massive failures, with performance of our national team being the worst at the London Olympics.

HOCKEY IS our national game and Peacock our national bird but given our performance in the national sport and the rare presence of the bird close to human habitations, it is high time that we change both of them.

There was a time when Indians were on the top in any of the international competitions while now we are at the bottom, even finding it difficult to qualify for qualification. It’s very disgraceful. At times we are on the bottom even though only a half dozen teams are competing.

Those times are a thing of the past when players like Wizard Major Dhyan Chand and others were playing to the best of their capabilities and would always aim for the gold medal. But since our team failed to make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they were content to having qualified for the London Olympics this time.

They representing our national game but what they did was shameful, as they lost all their games. In this scenario, it is important to think of Hockey as our national game and given the success of Indian cricket team in the recent past, it seems plausible that cricket be made as the national game – at least it will bring repute to our national game.

Next on the list is our national bird -Peacock. Undoubtedly, it is a beautiful bird but is rarely found at places other than villages/ Jungles, etc. Children from metros or towns hardly recognize the bird as they have seen it only on TV or textbooks.

In Gurgaon, an alarming number of peacocks have died recently due to summer heat and ailments. Despite being our national bird, lack of proper care has led to the deaths.

When we claim to be the biggest democracy in the world, isn’t it right time to name pigeon – a sign of peace - as our national bird? This will send a message that Indian is a peace loving country across the world. Also the bird is quiet and good-looking.