Indians success in US spelling contests to boost reputation of sport in country

It is heartening to note that spelling bees in the United States have become as much an Indian stranglehold as international cricket is supposed to be. Given India’s poor showing of late out on the pitch, however, it may be advisable to assiduously promote spelling bees in this country so that national pride can be salvaged in some small measure.

Indeed, the news that a recent spelling contest in the US actually ran out of words as both finalists — including one Indian, naturally —spelt all the words correctly, clearly shows that this sport plays to India’s traditional strengths such as prodigious memory banks, an affinity for rote learning and the distinct lack of need for physical exertion. The success of children of immigrant parents — especially Asian — should serve as a pointer for those seeking new opportunities in televised sport in this region.

If the prize is right, this sport can be quite a huge hit in India. And the resultant prolonged exposure to such competitions will help Indian children further develop the retentive skills that would be a bulwark against overdependence on aids such as spellcheck and internet search engines. But a word of caution: India’s proficiency in this field should not be gauged by the quality of spelling displayed on street and store signages or in mundane correspondence.