A tragedy called the Eden Gardens
The stretch from Esplanade to Maidan in Kolkata, is an area that boasts of some of the most historical sports grounds as far as cricket and football are concerned. You have the grounds of three of the oldest and most famous football clubs of India, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. You have the numerous small but lush green cricket grounds that hold matches at the local and districts levels, and then, you have the oldest and the most famous cricket stadium of India, The Eden Gardens.
It is one of those structures that stand out every time anyone visits that part of the city. From its inception way back in 1864, till this day, the Eden has been the mark of history and culture and has been the script on which the changing tides and times of Indian cricket has been written. The grass that was used in the stadium was actually imported from England, and there was a time, when the ground looked as if it was actually the perfect reincarnation of the Garden of Eden. It is the only stadium in India to have hosted a World Cup final and has made a special place in the memories of so many cricketers around the world. From Douglas Jardine to Lala Amarnath, from Allan Border to VVS Laxman, every one of them, across several generations, has some stories to tell their grand children that have been associated with Eden.
The story of Eden itself, however, is that of a fairytale, that does not necessarily portray a dreamy picture, tainted in parts, and incomplete at notches. What goes inside the famous B.C. Roy Club House that stands so proudly conjoined with the stadium, has been a matter of great curiosity to a lot of people, who wonder, why the stadium today, is slowly losing its reputation that preceded it for so many years. For it is unfortunate to see that the supposed Mecca of Indian cricket, does not have flood lights that can promise to keep glowing for an entire T-20 match. I shudder to think what would happen if BCCI took the risk of holding One Day Internationals at the venue.
We as spectators, do not know, and do not care to know the working of the administrative structure of the Cricket Association of Bengal, which is a body consisting of a group of honorary members who understandably take this very important job of managing the Eden as a part time assignment. But what we do care, is when we do not get our money’s worth when a twenty over match cannot be completed because of a ridiculous problem of electricity. We care when we see cricket being played on a pitch which is ideally suited for farming. And we will hold the CAB responsible for that.
When the first match of the Hero Honda Cup between India and Sri Lanka was washed out due to “heavy rain” in February, 2007, the president of CAB Mr. Prasun Mukherjee issued a statement that it was mainly due to the bad drainage system of the stadium that we have a problem of water logging. The very next day, the ex president and the recently defeated candidate in the CAB polls, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmya held a Press conference, and explained, in detail, with diagrams and all, proving that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the drainage system of the stadium and this excuse is made to cover the irresponsibility of the present administration.
Now, Mr. Dalmya might have a point. But the point is not really important. For at the end of the day, the cricket loving people of Kolkata were kept away from watching their heroes play because of a slight drizzle. And it is about time that the administration took responsibility. Cricket and politics, unfortunately, have always gone hand in hand in India. And when it comes to Kolkata of course, everything goes hand in hand with politics. But then, Eden is too precious a jewel to be sacrificed in the tangle of mind games.
Over the years, the reputation of the ground has been subjected to numerous beatings. Be it security issues like the semi final of the 1996 World Cup, or even the consistently below average quality of pitches that has been dished out to make the players play anything but cricket. And the CAB has consistently been indifferent to everything. And now, with the IPL coming into the foray, the stadium is getting more exposure than it had got in the last ten years, and the glitches are becoming more evident. And if the administration does not stand up and for a change and work towards the solution without harping on the problems, the hollowness of the majesty of Eden is only a few more goofed up matches away from exposure.
That will, in no way help the cause of cricket in Bengal, and in the long run, India. For it is a shame when a ground like Eden becomes stale in a country which has the richest cricket board in the world.
We hope for its revival, but then, we live in hard times.
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