Celebrate NZ's Win Without Worrying

Quite fortuitously, India never has had any enmity with New Zealand. No wars fought. No conflicts through proxy parties. Neither country was carved out or liberated a part of the other with bloody consequences. No Indian talks dreamily of Akhand New Zealand. (Kiwis do know 'Auckland, New Zealand'.)

There has been no need to strike up kiss-and-make-up initiatives like the Biddu-Nazia and Zoheb Hassan Disco Deewane, or Aman ki Asha. There has been no irate Indian who, in a show of patriotic phlegmatism, told a fellow countryman he or she suspects of being 'anti-national' to pack his bags and 'go to New Zealand!' And, certainly, no chief minister in his or her right mind will jail anyone for celebrating Sunday night's Indian defeat by New Zealand in cricket, adding, 'Such an act will come under the category of treason' and that 'strict action' will be taken against them.

The reason for such a state of calmness between the people of these two countries is two-fold. One, India and New Zealand do not share a border carved out by a third umpire. Two, Indians prefer being het up about 'people like us' - 'people like them' being too distant to grapple with even as a distraction. Keeping such amity between the two in mind, some of us can safely, openly celebrate Sunday night's compelling New Zealand victory. Hurrah!