IPL - A Shame on the Indian Economy

Though the recent launching of the IPL promises great entertainment, the repurcussions of it are huge. Just a look at the amount of money poured into IPL will result in jaws dropping. No one here grudges the right of the cricketers to earn money. But there is a limit to all this. A worthless no-show like Manoj Tiwary earning 625000 USD for a maximum of 16, 4 hr games is the height of insane stupidity on the part of all the rich investors. Why has so much money gone into an already cash rich lot of people???

I agree that it is the personal money of big business magnets like Vijay Mallya, Ambani, Ness Wadia or cine superstars like SRK,Priety Zinta. These people have been a value addition to our India. They ve brought glory to our country with their work in their chosen fields. But the avenue in which they ve invested is just not right. It sadly just projects them as greedy money making machines. Their responsiblity towards the Indian society is questioned as a result.



The Indian economy is hardly a flourishing one like the US of A or the European countries. People are suffering from unemployment, lack of food and other basic amenities. Poverty is hardly a thing of the past. It is a prevailing menace. Farmers are committing suicide due to poor outcome. India is a country of so much imbalance. On the other hand businessmen, cine stars rake in huge crores of money. The cricketers of the country also fall on this side. The amount of money they are earning from their playing and NON PLAYING avenues is monstrous. Sportspersons from hockey, athletics and other Indian sports are also suffering from poverty due to lack of sponsors, lack of good training facilities and lack of exposure.

The Sivaji film dialogue " THE RICH GET RICHER, THE POOR GET POORER " can't be more apt for India. In such a scenario comes this IPL with it's multi billion dollar deals for TV rights and player auctions. The people behind this are citing the idea of EPL and other cash rich soccer leagues. But they have conveniently forgotten that the majority of the European population is not reeling under poverty like the Indians.

This IPL ll only worsen the situation. The world ll just get to see this fine glossy side of India on TV. But all the dirt (poverty, hunger deaths, suicides) ll be easily swept under the carpet. These business magnets could very well have invested their crores in helping to improve the prevailing economic situation a la Rajinikanth in the movie Sivaji. They could have extended a helping hand to other sports. They could definitely have made a better impact with their crores. After all, money power cannot be underestimated by any means. Indian cricket is just becoming one fat rich cow which is being overmilked.

At the end of the day, I ll still watch the IPL action on TV or even in stadiums. But, as a responsible, educated Indian tax payer , I felt like highlighting the facts.