While Cool Katrina-Kaif made a dramatic entry on a motorised peacock on wheels in a blue gown to the song Teri ore and waving gaily to a frenzied crowd as late as 9.55pm, Shaan, earlier, sang his chartbusters like Main hoon don, punctuated with war cries Johar Jharkhand!
German glam model Claudia Ciesla had a blink-and-you-miss appearance as she only shook a leg to Shaan’s Gazab bhayo rama. The feelgood Aal izz well marked the end of the show with the Bolly brigade on centre stage and hundreds of Games participants, folk artistes, Chhaua mascots, et al on the grounds.
Adding to the grandeur was a synchronised show of lights.
Despite delays — the event ended more than 90 minutes behind schedule — and high drama – mostly surrounding Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi – the quality of the extravaganza helped the state shed its underdog status on the national stage.
For starters, Union sports minister Ajay Maken chose not to make it to Jharkhand’s capital for the gala closing ceremony of the 34th National Games. But for 32,000 plus others who were unencumbered by the Kalmadi factor, it seemed all roads led to Hotwar today.
They came on bikes, cars and even on foot, all in their Saturday best. The security glitches at the mega sports complex entrance gates — numbering five — and the slomo walk to Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, were expected. But smiles remained.
Two words, “last day,” rose in a collective refrain every now and then, in an emotional surfeit of contradictions — pride and loss — among people of a state, which had hosted its first mega event in its 10 years of existence.
The prelude to the evening’s grand Bollywood spectacle started on time. Army glider Vivaan, flown by Captain S.P. Sinha buzzed low overhead, scattering colours below the gold-flecked clouds. Though TV star and emcee Rakshanda Khan, in a sleeveless magenta outfit, played to the gallery with her catchphrase “bidaai ki shaam”, she also promised the parting would be “hastey kheltey”.
Punjab and Sikh regiment bands marched around the tracks, followed by a 1887 Brass Band led by Subedar Major Amarjit Singh.
Among politicians, applause was loudest for chief minister Arjun Munda, in regal black, who stepped in as chief guest in the absence of Maken, and lowest — almost muted — for Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.
The orange sun had disappeared, but the Games torch kept burning in its last hours.
The helicopter Augusta 1090, flown by Captain V.K. Singh, scattered petals on crowds.
Thousands of necks craned and mobile phone cameras aimed upwards to see the stunts of Air Devils, or Indian Air Force jawans, landing from 7,000ft on brightly coloured parachutes, and the applause was deafening as para-gliders landed one by one.
A jumbled march past followed, signifying the bonds of friendship of players. Host Jharkhand, with 33 gold medals (96 in all) and a creditable fifth position in their kitty, predictably garnered the largest cheers. So did Services, the overall winner with 70 gold medals (162 in all) and Manipur, the best-performing state with 48 gold (118 in all).
Players across India marched to the tune of the band playing “kadam kadam badhaye ja” and “hum honge kamyaab”. Many exchanged waves with spectators or clicked pictures of galleries. Chhaua, the mascot, also marched along.
Drama in real earnest started with speeches of dignitaries which seemed never-ending, throwing the schedule haywire.
Jharkhand Olympic Association president R.K. Anand came up with crowd-pleasers such as “the best-ever National Games”, “janta ka pyaar” and “we are fifth state in India in sport”.
Anand also started the refrain of converting the newly made grand sporting infrastructure into a sports university, which was subsequently taken up by almost all speakers, including Union minister of tourism Subodh Kant Sahay and state deputy chief ministers Hemant Soren and Sudesh Mahto.
Shibu Soren, who had nothing new to say, was not allowed to finish. Boos got louder till Soren gave up. “Halla kyun kar rahe ho? Main jata hoon (Why are you making a racket? I’m leaving),” he surrendered.
The plan to establish a sports university was officially announced by Munda. “The sports university will churn out the best athletes in the country,” he said.
If the crowds got restive by the string of speeches, there were shairees galore. Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh told state sportspersons that “manzil bhi milegi aur milne ka maza bhi ayega (goals will be reached with the enjoyment of arrival)”. Munda offered some unique ones such as Jharkhand’s potential to obtain “chattaan se paani aur paharon se aloo (water from rocks and potatoes from hills).”
Swimmers Richa Mishra (Delhi) and Veer Dhawal Khade (Maharashtra) won the best female and male athlete trophies, respectively, while Services won the trophy for best team.
And Last but not the least...... Suresh Kalmadi, tainted Indian Olympic Association president, with the sword of CBI hanging over him for the Commonwealth Games misappropriation of funds, chose to close the ceremony in a brief one line....!!
Regards,
AG..
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