Next Station: Maidan
अगला स्टेशन: मैदान
পরবর্তী স্তাতীয়ন: ময়দান (Parabarti Station: Moidaan) [Though I always thought the announcement was boroboti!!]
Well... Yes... they actually announce this in the metro after the "Robindro Shodan" Station. The pronunciation of the word "Maidan" is different. But that's got to do with the Bengali language. And just as differently they call the place, they see the place differently too. Maidan is one huge playground for us, but a completely different planet for Calcuttans (I hear they like being called that... over Kolkatans!!)
A Calcuttan's view of Maidan:
I guess, when a Calcuttan goes on a Sunday to Maidan to play, regardless of the time or sport.. this is what he/she sees:
A non-Calcuttan's view of Maidan:
When you enter the expanse of Maidan, all you can see is - PEOPLE.. People running... people running behind balls... people running behind small balls, big balls, white balls, red balls, chequered balls, colored balls, leather balls, tennis balls, soccer balls, volleyballs..
You will even see dogs, birds and horses running!! When a fast bowler is running at you, what you need to be scared of is not his short pitched delivery which might hit your head or the yorker which might smack on your toe. What you really need to be scared is a free kick taken by the "Man Utd" shirts team v/s "Arsenal" shirts team!!
I heard Ganguly grew up in stature in these grounds. No wonder he was such a good "fielder". There is always someone 2 feet from you ball, wherever you hit it. What's the need to field it huh??
And why is he regarded as one of the best captains for India? If you can manage to make your team play cricket in Maidan without getting distracted, you can def lead a country!!!
But Calcuttan or non-Calcuttan, if you are in Calcutta, you must play cricket in Maidan.. regardless of the commotion, cacophony and confusion, it is still one of the best places in Calcutta. Get a decent group, get a few stumps, a ball and a bat and you are good to go. Don't worry about rules, the more you play, the more of MCG (Maidan Cricket Ground) rules you make up..
And if you are in Calcutta and are looking for a Sunday morning cricket, do give me a buzz.. Will let you know!!
And yeah.. finally I have managed to explain no.7!!
Update:
Came across an interesting bit of "Maidan Belief" a few days ago while playing a match. The belief is that, the cricket bat should always be kept the blade facing up and never let the bat flat on the ground as..... wait for it....... "the runs will flow away from the bat to the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So next time you're playing cricket remember this:
अगला स्टेशन: मैदान
পরবর্তী স্তাতীয়ন: ময়দান (Parabarti Station: Moidaan) [Though I always thought the announcement was boroboti!!]
Well... Yes... they actually announce this in the metro after the "Robindro Shodan" Station. The pronunciation of the word "Maidan" is different. But that's got to do with the Bengali language. And just as differently they call the place, they see the place differently too. Maidan is one huge playground for us, but a completely different planet for Calcuttans (I hear they like being called that... over Kolkatans!!)
A Calcuttan's view of Maidan:
I guess, when a Calcuttan goes on a Sunday to Maidan to play, regardless of the time or sport.. this is what he/she sees:
I guess they get lost in the beauty and go ahead and pick any spot to play... ANYWHERE!!!!
And like all things in life, there is a flipside....
When you enter the expanse of Maidan, all you can see is - PEOPLE.. People running... people running behind balls... people running behind small balls, big balls, white balls, red balls, chequered balls, colored balls, leather balls, tennis balls, soccer balls, volleyballs..
You will even see dogs, birds and horses running!! When a fast bowler is running at you, what you need to be scared of is not his short pitched delivery which might hit your head or the yorker which might smack on your toe. What you really need to be scared is a free kick taken by the "Man Utd" shirts team v/s "Arsenal" shirts team!!
I heard Ganguly grew up in stature in these grounds. No wonder he was such a good "fielder". There is always someone 2 feet from you ball, wherever you hit it. What's the need to field it huh??
And why is he regarded as one of the best captains for India? If you can manage to make your team play cricket in Maidan without getting distracted, you can def lead a country!!!
But Calcuttan or non-Calcuttan, if you are in Calcutta, you must play cricket in Maidan.. regardless of the commotion, cacophony and confusion, it is still one of the best places in Calcutta. Get a decent group, get a few stumps, a ball and a bat and you are good to go. Don't worry about rules, the more you play, the more of MCG (Maidan Cricket Ground) rules you make up..
And if you are in Calcutta and are looking for a Sunday morning cricket, do give me a buzz.. Will let you know!!
And yeah.. finally I have managed to explain no.7!!
Update:
Came across an interesting bit of "Maidan Belief" a few days ago while playing a match. The belief is that, the cricket bat should always be kept the blade facing up and never let the bat flat on the ground as..... wait for it....... "the runs will flow away from the bat to the ground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So next time you're playing cricket remember this:
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