I don’t like the idea of someone being forced to eulogize a ‘national symbol’ to prove one’s patriotism. I want to ask the people who are doing this, to embrace a tiger to prove that they are proud Indians!

At the same time, those who are trying to bracket patriotism alongwith religion should also take a hike.

Sing Vande Mataram if you want to… no compulsions!

But surely you should have no reservations about One-Day Mataram, my cricket blog!! :D

Announcing the resumption of play at One-Day Mataram after a gap of nearly three years, no less!! And considering that I had started ‘One-Day Mataram’ in January 2003, it is perhaps one of the oldest Indian cricket blogs!

I’ve posted on One-Day Mataram about the reasons behind starting that blog and the reason for resuming it now.

But I love to write about cricket. This does not arise from any great, in-depth, researched knowledge of the game. It’s just that having followed the game for so many years with enthusiasm, I have opinions. And what is blogging if not a way to voice those opinions! ;-)

With the 2007 cricket World Cup approaching and a fairly packed itinerary for the Indian cricket team, I thought I should revive One-Day Mataram. And given that today, i.e. September 7 2006, is significant from the point of view of Vande Mataram and that with so much controversy surrounding it, I thought this would be the perfect time to start singing like a canary on One-Day Mataram! ;-)

While I will continue to write about cricket on this blog too, One-Day Mataram will be exclusively devoted to cricket.

And I can’t promise that there won’t be any idol-worship on ‘One-Day Mataram’!! ;-)