I trust this finds you in a swinging mood — which term, let me hasten to add, has nothing to do with the simian practice of swinging from branch to branch. I am painfully aware of how upset you and your fellow Aussie cricketers are about the ‘monkey calls’ allegedly made against you by Indian spectators during recent cricket matches. Believe me, as president of the BCCI I find this issue a real pain too. But let me assure you that I am taking the matter very seriously; and it is in this mood that I write to you.You must understand that racial, communal, linguistic, casteist, and parochial taunts are a part of India’s glorious heritage and culture. Indeed, we Indians quite routinely use beastly language with one another; this is especially so in politics. I fondly recall that in 1997, when my colleague Sitaram Kesari — then president of the Congress Parliamentary Party — withdrew support to the United Front government headed by H.D. Deve Gowda without consulting me, I affectionately remarked: “Bandar ke haath me talwar diya!” (We placed a sword in a monkey’s hand.”) More recently, my good friend, Karunanidhi of the DMK, described those who oppose the Sethusamudram shipping canal project as “jackals”. This project, by the way, involves cutting through a coral reef that joins India and Sri Lanka; according to mythology, this reef was built by a ‘monkey army’ called the ‘Bajrang Dal’ to enable Lord Rama to cross the seas. Interestingly, the most virulent opponents of the project are a band that call itself the Bajrang Dal!So lighten up, Andrew. Don’t care two hoots about monkey hoots from the spectator stands; it’s just what Aussie spectators do to our boys down under. It only goes to proves that many Indians still love to ape the white man.Yours, etc.
