And so another inmate of death row walked out of the kangaroo court that was sitting in judgement over him. And he did it with poise, simplicity and dignity. This double hundred was flawless and like a master cutter shaping a diamond, VVS Laxman eroded the Australian bowling. They respect him there far more than we do in India and this innings was an example of why that is so. Maybe, like with the flagbearers of the new economy, now imperiled, we need to be careful of plans that come in fancy packaging; that cater to the here and now.

He was unhurried, as he has always been. And yet the scoreboard was moving. Like the smooth car that merely seems to glide on the road, that lets you take in the scenery and doesn’t require you to glance at the speedometer, Laxman merely seems to caress the ball into the gaps. His 200 came from 301 balls, 79 balls faster than Gautam Gambhir who had himself played an innings of extraordinary class.

There is something deeply satisfying about a man who doesn’t thump his own chest, doesn’t give the two fingers to the opposition, is in the news for the right reasons and doesn’t know what a brawl means. And yet, isn’t aggression all about trying to win a game, about ensuring your bowlers have the best chance? Have we lost this definition somewhat? Maybe we live in the era of gimmickry, symbolised at its very worst by reality shows where the most talented singers must know how to scam sms’ and organise newspaper releases; and where judges must be hostile and walk out of shows or do something equally demeaning to be noticed.

... contd.