Published: May 29, 2014, 08:16 PM (IST)
Edited: May 29, 2014, 08:27 PM (IST)
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) eased their way past the seemingly unstoppable behemoth that goes by the name of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Qualifier 1 at Eden Gardens. Tanmay Mukherjee looks at the spirit of Eden Gardens and the inherent Korbo-Lorboness that celebrates Kolkata every time a home team takes field.
Seven Congratulatory Texts had hit me at around 11 AM on May 28, 2014, because it was around that time Kolkata was graced by generous doses of sunlight after over 30 hours of gloom and cricket-lessness, which was just what Ravi Shastri’s doctor would have ordered. We were sweating again. And we were happy again. The curvature of Preity Zinta’s dimples will not go untested, then. The Indian Premier League (IPL) play off between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will finally happen.
***
The Net Killer Instinct quotient of Bengalis is confined within the realms of a Fish Market and the premises of the Eden Gardens Gallery. So when you say “a crowd of 60,000”, you massively underestimate the impactful aura of Eden’s crowd. The mood here is like Kurkukshetra combined with WB Yeats; unrelenting, fierce, ruthless, overpowering and overwhelming in a charmingly enchanting way.
Every time you walk into Eden Gardens with a firm resolve to hold on to your bucket of common sense, such as: Screaming out critical tips to Gautam Gambhir is a mildly stupid idea. I am neither cool nor stupid enough to get in sync with Mexican Waves. Expletives are bad. Screaming Kaay Kaay Aaaar in rhythmic desperation (50 screams in each round, one round every 10 minutes) is bad for the throat and insane for all practical purposes. Expletives are really bad.
But once you enter the zone, it’s a whole new world. When you enter Eden Gardens, you not only leave behind your plastic water bottles and matchboxes at the Security Gate; you also leave behind your unfinished office assignments, the frustrating daily minibus rides, the Kolkata summer and all those years of maturity you have gained since you were 14.
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As Eden was taking stock of the cloud cover, KKR vice-captain Gautam Gambhir (no, this is not a typo) walked out for the toss to a huge roar from sixty thousand KKR captains in the stands. When I say “huge roar”, I mean it.
Those of you who have never been to Eden would be thinking in terms of inches while we at the Coliseum go about setting our standards in miles. And to put the matter into perspective; the “huge roar” at the toss kept multiplying into godly proportions as the stadium warmed up to the KKR openers walking out to the centre.
This is where your knowledge of Neo-Tagorical Bengali language would come in handy as the august Eden crowd dives into frenzy; slogan-wise.
Sample 1: “Johnson ke keliye laat korey dey Utthapa”
Attempted Translation = Hey, [(Kick Johnson’s a**, raised to the power of 99] x Natural Bengali Poetic Sweetness Quotient to Smother the rough edges of the slogan.
Sample 2: “Preity Zinta ke ek Peti Chinta daao”
Attempted Translation= [Give Preity Zinta a Parcel of worries please] x Pun x Poetry x Mild Love
And so on.
Every time Shakib Al Hasan scampers hard for a second run, The Gallery pants. Every time Yusuf Pathan sees a long-hop bowled at him, The Gallery steps down the pitch. Every time a catch flies off Umesh Yadav’s bowling, The Gallery flies across the point region to complete the catch.
The field at Eden Garden’s is a well-camouflaged chessboard where players from the home team are mere pieces. The real game is owned, controlled and played by The Gallery. As a home team, you never take a step without The Gallery’s obvious consent — or at least that’s the belief that the Eden audience has been nursing. For decades.
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Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo. If Shahrukh Khan’s Management has hit one nail on its head, then it’s their anthem. The anthem tends to synchronise into the Eden-mood with some extraordinary panache.
When Piyush Chawla hit the last ball of the KKR innings for that cheeky boundary to help KKR reach 163, the KorboLorbo anthem felt enchanting to go with Gallery’s Kay Kay Aar chants. Eden knew; the score was competitive.
When Glenn Maxwell was trapped leg-before, KorboLorbo reached another level of enchantment. Gallery could sense that it’s going to be a happy farewell for the Knights from Eden this season.
***
Eden audience needs no cheerleader. Everyone carries a personal one for himself or herself; in the form of himself or herself. As KKR celebrated the victory, the prize money, the Orange Cap and the owner’s revenue, Eden Garden’s Gallery celebrated Kolkata.
There lies the happiness. There lies the enigma.
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(Tanmay Mukherjee is a Bengali blogger who loves the internet, food, cricket and Kolkata, and is keen on compiling trifles).
