By Air Cmde TK Chatterjee (retd)
Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver. To that extent, IAF was graceful in allowing the use of its aerobatic team for a cricket match in Ahmedabad. It is of course not known if the aerobatic display was requested by the BCCI or it was offered by some keen IAF brass for some brownie points, knowing that the PM will be in attendance. Whatever it may be, what is certain is that not enough coordination was done with the TV producers for coverage of the display, for all one saw was some funnily dressed ex-cricketers discussing if Virat Kohli was God himself or a messiah of the God of Cricket, when the nine aircraft aerobatic display was going on overhead the stadium. They did look up whenever the aeroplanes came too close, but more with an expression of displeasure on their faces for disturbing their discourse on cricketing wisdom. In contrast, during the innings break, there was full coverage of the entertainment programme involving a cluster of people dressed in attire from some zombie movies prancing on the grass to the tunes of some forgettable Bollywood numbers.
Normally the IAF display team is used during air shows and national events. It is also used as a publicity tool to attract the youth towards the profession of military aviation. Such events are not usually televised and hence are seen only by the people physically present at the venue. But here was an occasion where more than a billion people would be watching the ICC World Cup finals from India alone, let alone the rest of the world. Cricket is a religion not just in India but the whole of South Asia. Such events come rarely and maximum use must be made of it. IAF should have coordinated with the organisers to ensure full live coverage of the display, which did not appear to have been done.
That India is weak in information warfare, Indian armed forces in particular need no better use case. IAF assets are national assets and the government has all the right to use them everywhere that it wishes to make an impact. But it pains to see that such effort being underutilised or used with a sense of disdain. It takes a lot of resources to create, train, and maintain such a world-class aerobatic team. It also takes a lot of logistic effort to move the whole team with their full technical and non-technical support system from their home base to the display venue. Then there are practice sessions using all the nine aircraft and perhaps a stand-by. They are professionals and make it look easy, but those who have been there and done that know that it is a humongous effort and costs a lot of human and financial resources.
Strange is the fascination of India’s TV viewers and the TV channels intelligently cater to this strangeness indeed. Before the match telecast started, a small clip showed good wishes to the Indian cricket team for the World Cup finals from some celebrities. It was surprising to see that India has no celebrity except some fading actors of Bollywood. There apparently are no icons of any other sport, no scholars, no entrepreneurs, no scientists, no other performers except Bollywood actors. As it is the entire day on Indian TV one sees only cricketers and Bollywood actors selling anything and everything, from condiments to laxatives, which is quite boring but understandable since these are done for their commercial interests, but to accept them as the only bunch of national icons shows a sad amount of bankruptcy of intellectual fabric of India.
India losing the World Cup final is perfectly understandable. The Law of Averages had to catch up with the Indian team some time, unfortunately it did in the most crucial of the eleven matches that the team played. The fact that the team played so well all through the tournament speaks volumes about their professionalism. There will be lots of analysis and criticism about Mr Dependable, The Hitman, The King and the rest and their God-like status may get a bit tainted in the media. That notwithstanding, it was a remarkable tournament to watch.
It however still remains to be said that IAF should not allow its assets to be used at places where it is not fully appreciated for its worth. In India whereas “Fog chalta hai” under all conditions, a nine aircraft aerobatic display does not.
The author is an IAF Veteran.
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