Media knocked out on Boxing Day

In cricket-obsessed India, Boxing Day celebrations have always been associated with a Test match in Australia. How things have changed.

In cricket-obsessed India, Boxing Day celebrations have always been associated with a Test match in Australia. How things have changed. By 4 pm on Friday, Col P K Muralidharan Raja, Secretary General of the Indian Boxing Federation, had just about had enough. His phone had been buzzing since morning and with every passing hour, amusement had given way to mild irritation.

The new, proactive Indian media, and a few former players, had taken it upon themselves to find out why the Indian Boxing Federation, at the end of a year when the country8217;s pugilists had taken giant strides into the nation8217;s consciousness, had not bothered to organise any special function as part of the Boxing Day celebrations. Had they forgotten? Were they plain inconsiderate? With a national sports federation involved, could an inexplicable, inexcusable slip-up be far behind?

So many questions, one simple answer.

So Raja sent out at email, mildly sarcastic, with the subject reading 8216;Clarification on Boxing Day8217;. 8220;I have received many queries from people8230; as to why the Boxing Federation isn8217;t making any arrangements to celebrate 8216;Boxing Day8217;. This is to inform you all that 8216;Boxing Day8217; has nothing to do with the Sport of Boxing.8221; Controversy snuffed, he went on to explain: 8220;Boxing Day is the day following Christmas i.e. 26 December. Traditionally this was the day to open the Christmas Box and share the gifts with the poor. It is a public holiday in England and certain other Commonwealth Countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc.8221;

An 8216;Alms Box8217; was placed in every church on Christmas Day into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened a day after the Christmas, which is why that day came to be known as 8216;Boxing Day8217;.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Raja confirmed that he had indeed been answering phone calls since morning.

8220;Many were journalists, there were a few former players as well. They said that they had spoken to several boxing officials, none of whom knew what Boxing Day was.

They also wanted to know why we weren8217;t organising any function for our boxers. When I told them it had nothing to do with the sport, they would quickly hang up. By evening, the calls were still coming, so I decided to send out an e-mail to clarify,8221; he said.

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He did not take any names. To make sure he had got the message got through, so he wouldn8217;t have to answer similar questions next year, Raja ended his press release with: 8220;This mail was just to keep you informed about the correct meaning of the term 8216;Boxing Day8217;.8221; In boxing terms, that would be the punch line.