Why Only Bigg Boss? Ban Cricket on Television in the Day Time

Sometimes it is hard to imagine that India is a democracy. Some decisions are so contradictory that they allow regressive shows on air but flinch at the slightest sign of trouble. Why should cricket be spared?

cricket in india

The I and B Ministry's decision to not air Bigg Boss 4 at the prime time of 9pm sounds like a joke on themselves. That is because while they believe the show promotes vulgarity and profanity, it would be hard to not find it anywhere else on television on Indian channels.

Ridiculousness touches new heights. They obviously had little problems with Pakistan cricketer, Mohammad Asif, whose ex-girlfriend, Veena Mallik, has made it her business to woo the men in the house. But perhaps the entry of Baywatch bombshell, Pamela Anderson, has caused flutters.

Parliament live on Lok Sabha TV is a matter to cringe about given the way politicians behave in violent manner with their fellow members, speak in crude language and argue over inane matters. Indian channels vigourously promote saas-bahu (domestic abuse ), establishing a pattern of viciousness spewing out of the female sex as if that were their only trait, all the while flaunting insane wealth.

Forget foreign channels, at this rate, perhaps they will now decide to ban cricket on television as well. After well with players calling each other "monkey" and "ma ki" and what not, how safe are young children from following sports?

Only yesterday the New Zealand coach has levelled allegations that Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan were sledging Kane Williamson. That the footage was not shown on television has spared cricket?

Ban IPL and ban game shows like "Kaun Banega Crorepati" because children are swayed by the lure of wealth. Their idols, cricketers, are making big money fast for little work and enjoy the glitz, glamour and glory. People are throwing money at cricket and demanding more of it. So, why not ban it too?

Ban cricket too; who wants to see Sreesanth crying or making a mockery of himself? Who wants to see the boisterous Australians having a go at the rest of the world? Remove the stump microphone as well because it captures the choicest of swear words. (The children will obviously not catch them anywhere else. Who would be stupid enough to think children do not have access to television after 11pm? In the age of the internet, it is hard to imagine that television alone will corrupt children.)

Oh wait. What happened to the switch off button on television? After all, if it was not a matter of choice, the button would not even be there in the first place, right?

Note: The article does not suggest that cricket be banned neither does it promote or condemn reality television shows. People are smart enough to decide their own viewing choice. It was a sarcastic observation on the archaic rules prevalent in the largest democracy in the world.