Let happy memories be (y)our judge!

- Bernard Fernandes

A mindless and heated controversy is raging these days, and we are but mere passive spectators to this drama unfolding before us.  I am not referring to the Presidential candidate ‘tamasha’ that’s being dished out to us by our fickle politicians, but the Paes-Hesh-Bopanna tennis triangle fiasco leading up to the London Olympics.  These are our very own internationally acclaimed and well established tennis players, and to see them messed up in this ‘ego’ battle hurts us their followers who rooted for them. 

The present recalcitrant attitude of the Hesh-Bopanna duo is a far cry from the perky, chest-thumping combination of Lee-Hesh of not so long ago.  And we wonder why? What went wrong? Two great players (am leaving out Bopanna from the conversation for the time being, since he never impressed me as much as Lee-Hesh in their glory days!) who toiled for years to gain their reputation and earn respect from the tennis legends of the world.  Together they conquered the world…and our hearts.  They gave us as much joy and reason to cheer as a Vishy Anand, a Sachin Tendulkar, or a Saina Nehwal.  No one can take that away from them.  And were we not emotional with moist eyes every time Leander would run around draped with the Indian tricolour after a Davis cup or Asian games victory? It was said of Leander that he would wear his (and Indian) heart on his sleeve!  

Glory years have elapsed...and so too their bonding.  May be it is the result of a professional circuit, or just human frailty.  What led Mahesh Bhupati’s emotional outburst at a press media a few days back is anyone’s guess. We are not here to judge him or them.  However, both are in the twilight of their career. One is 40 years, the other 39.  Their brilliant days are behind them, and before long they will have to bid adieu with grace.  Am not sure if they will ever combine together – however, am being a wee optimistic that they will play together for the sake of the nation.  All that I wish these two great persons is that they be judged and remembered with their achievements and patriotism of yore, and not the bitter battle that have they have been embroiled in at present.  Herein lies the bitter truth for all of us – memory is short lived, and we tend to forget the good.  However, the choice is ours to let happy memories be the yardstick by which we judge a person, and not the brickbats and wrongdoings! Here’s cheers to life!