The Prasad That Heroes Share

On Sunday, when Novak Djokovic, after winning the Wimbledon title for the sixth time, rushed towards the centre-court crowds and handed 7-year-old Ivanka Li a racquet, he was following an old trope of public heroes sharing tools of their trade with admirers.

Perhaps it is just as well that young Ivanka is a keen tennis player and that the racquet from her hero — she held a placard spelling out N.O.V.A.K. as Number 1, Outstanding, Victorious, Ambitious and Kissable — will be put to good use.

When guitarists and drummers in concerts throw their plectrums and drumsticks into crowd, the chances of the happy ‘catchers’ playing the requisite instruments are usually slim. So, the purpose becomes more akin to that of godmen throwing flowers or distributing prasad among the devotees rather than direct encouragement to play a musical instrument.


In this department, political rallies are rather unimaginative, as lunch boxes are the standard fare given out by the person(s) on centre stage. Plus, the trade that politicians ply as public figures is less tangible, as they throw promises like confetti in the air. Objects gifted by public personalities also possess more than sentimental or reverential value. These find their way to the market. Their value — intrinsic and extrinsic — bears a strong similarity to relics of saints.