Far too many events in the recent time have given the impression that Australia equals Arrogance. The recent cricket victory over Australia has been a moment of national pride, not just for winning the cricket tournament, but also for humbling the 3rd world impression they have about Indians.
Australia is a very young country. Its history dates back to only a few hundred years when the first settlers were convicts sentenced from europe. The aboriginals (original inhabitants) of the country form a very small proportion and have been generally sidelined. Australia's population as we know today has been formed by migrants, mostly from Europe and America as it had been following a 'white only' immigration policy for quite some time.
In past few decades Australia has come up from being an isolated region to be one of the world's best developed and most liveable country. Unfortunately that has brought with it a huge amount of arrogance to the Australian name, atleast the recent events give that impression.
Recent events that I refer to include the severe mishanding of Mohd. Haneef case. The sensationalization of the issue was not because of inept police work, but the way the leaders and politicians thought they could openly get away by treating an foreign national that way. They talked about revoking of citizenship/deportation as if it was not a home to people but like a contract between state and people.
The way the cricketers from the subcontinent have been treated there (India,Sri Lanka) is a story that has hit the headlines quite often.
However, these turned out to be just superficial symptoms of an underlying attitude and impression of the countries of the Indian subcontinent (which are usually referred to as 3rd world contries there) among the common people.
You don't have to go to that country to know about common beliefs, just visiting any Australian chat room (on Yahoo! etc) would let you know how abusive they get towards the people of Indian subcontinent.
It is this respect that I think the Indian team has come up with fitting reply to their attitude. They have outplayed the Australians not only in the game but also psychologically. They have presented the taste of new India to that part of the world : no longer as a country of poor people, but as a country that does not take nonsense, does not submit to misbehaviour, and is willing and capable to take on the best in the world.
That truly is the meaning this victory holds for us : this subtle message was communicated well to the hosts.
Cheers to the Indian team !
