A Magical Connection..

2 overs. 5 runs. MS Dhoni & Yuvraj Singh. Yuvi takes a single, fittingly leaving it for Dhoni to hit the winning runs! A huge backlift from Dhoni, sees the ball rocketing down the ground for SIX! INDIA have won the world cup!!!

The emotions running through my mind at that point were indescribable. It’s a feeling I have never had before in my life. India won the world cup, and seeing the emotions on the faces of the players fueled the feeling inside me even more!

You could see how much it meant to all of the players and a passionate team spirit had been displayed throughout the competition, with no exception at the point when the winning runs were hit. True sanskaars were shown on the field at the end, as the players immediately congratulated the captain, as he had guided and led like a guru throughout the tournament. Next they took the blessings from Sachin and gave him the up most respect as he was the elder in the team and one who had rightfully earned his respect through time, effort and class, serving the team!

I took a moment to think: I was born in England, my parents were born in East Africa, and there I was shouting ‘India, Indiaaa’ so the whole world could hear! I have only visited India twice in my life, yet for some reason I felt this magical connection with a country so many miles away! It is a connection that can only be felt inside. It is hard to describe. It is a connection that brings tears at the happiest and saddest of times. It is a connection that keeps you in awe of all the beautiful things that the country has produced, from the smallest of spices to the biggest of pioneering inventions and captivating personalities!

This connection was there long before the India cricket team lifted the biggest prize in the cricketing world, however it is this moment that made me realize the true extent of this connection.

I felt happy when England retained the Ashes, I felt happy when London won the Olympic 2012 bid and I have always been a keen follower of the England football team and English football in general. However, the feeling that went through me last Saturday, was filled with pride and a sense of belonging. I felt as if I had personally achieved something from this victory.

This brings me back to a conversation I was having a few weeks ago with some people on the eve of the India vs England match and the topic of who we should be supporting came up. Some argued India, because we had been brought up in Indian households, with an Indian culture and way of life. Some argued England, because we had been born and brought up here, we hold a British passport, got our education here, and lived and worked here for a number of years, if not our whole life. A few remained neutral. Then somebody came up with a nice summary. He said that for him, England was his ‘Karmabhoomi’ (the land where one works/carries out his actions) and ‘Dharmabhoomi’ (the land where his primary duties lie). However he explained that India was his ‘Matrubhoomi’ (motherland) and ‘Punyabhoomi’(holyland).

Now whether you choose to support one team over the other, I believe is irrelevant. For me, all 4 ‘bhoomis’ are all as important as each other and therefore it is unjustifiable to choose which is more imporant. When it comes down to it, it is a choice to where you determine where your karmabhoomi and dharmabhoomi to be, and this is obviously ever changeable.

However, with your matrubhoomi and punyabhoomi, this is something that is with you for life and is with you from the moment you come into this world. It is something you live, breathe and experience every day of your life no matter where you are in the world. And this is why I believe there to be a special connection with our Matrubhoomi and Punyabhoomi and thus India. This connection has moulded us into the individuals that we are today. India is the land which has given us our spiritual and cultural identity. The sanksaars that we have developed have stemmed from our Matru/Punya Bhoomi.

No doubt, our Dharmabhoomi and Karmabhoomi have played a huge part along the way, making us the unique individuals that we are today, for which we should be indebted to. We should always respect the land that has given us opportunities, knowledge, a place for shelter and the chance to move ahead in life.

However, your Dharmabhoomi and Karmabhoomi can be anywhere and as unique as that is in its own right, the magic of having our Punyabhoomi and Matrubhoomi stay with us wherever we go is truly incomparable.

I think that it is true for many of us, that no matter where in the world we may be, it is our rich culture, divinity and upbringing that has allowed us all to connect in some way, shape or form with our Matrubhoomi and Punyabhoomi, and be proud to call ourselves Indian. It is this unified connection that sparked celebrations across the world as the Indian team lifted the World Cup Trophy. For me, I don’t think it was just about the cricket, but more, everything else that comes with the great nation that India is and the pride that comes with calling yourself an Indian and attaching yourself to such a beautiful place.

Some may argue that their different ‘bhoomis’ lie elsewhere, but for me, I can safely say that India is definitely my Matrubhoomi and Punyabhoomi, and that magical connection will stay with me forever..