I'm the last person to make generalizations; however, there's one question that intrigues me: can we define some Indian character traits? I'd like to draw a parallel to fuel some debate. Let' s compare the performance of the Indian cricket team and that of the Indian rebels during the British siege of Delhi during the Mutiny of 1857 (as described by Willam Dalrymple in The Last Mughal which I am reading).
The Indian cricket team has a number of successful players, but it lacks consistency, grit and patience in difficult circumstances. The team tends to fall apart, once a major Indian batsmen fails. Our bowlers tend to wilt under pressure while protecting a small total. We've had some wonderful victories no doubt (like yesterday's win over Australia in Mumbai), but in general we've lost a number of matches to poor teamwork/leadership and mental strength.
In Dalrymple's book, the British forces, very few in number and with poor supplies of food and ammunition, lay siege to the city of Delhi, whose inhabitants are protected by the magnificent Red Fort. With the fort, there number of bands of rebels from all parts of north India, eager to defeat the British. Fresh Indian troop reinforcements keep coming, and they continue attacking the British. However, just when the British forces could have been routed, a lack of leadership, infighting, and religious tensions cause the rebels to lose their focus and grip on the war. So from a position of strength, they descend into a precariously weak position.
Is there some connection between the two examples that may lead us to a vague generalization about "The Indian Character"?
The Indian cricket team has a number of successful players, but it lacks consistency, grit and patience in difficult circumstances. The team tends to fall apart, once a major Indian batsmen fails. Our bowlers tend to wilt under pressure while protecting a small total. We've had some wonderful victories no doubt (like yesterday's win over Australia in Mumbai), but in general we've lost a number of matches to poor teamwork/leadership and mental strength.
In Dalrymple's book, the British forces, very few in number and with poor supplies of food and ammunition, lay siege to the city of Delhi, whose inhabitants are protected by the magnificent Red Fort. With the fort, there number of bands of rebels from all parts of north India, eager to defeat the British. Fresh Indian troop reinforcements keep coming, and they continue attacking the British. However, just when the British forces could have been routed, a lack of leadership, infighting, and religious tensions cause the rebels to lose their focus and grip on the war. So from a position of strength, they descend into a precariously weak position.
Is there some connection between the two examples that may lead us to a vague generalization about "The Indian Character"?
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