Something positive about CWG

Missed deadlines, leaking stadiums, zero hotel bookings, corruption scandals, flooded roads, absentee athletes, Connaught Place looking like bombed-out Baghdad and Swagatham as our Waka Waka. Every day the bad news about Delhi Commonwealth Games gets worse. Is there any thing about the Games that’s untouched by controversy?

We decided to be optimistic and asked around for something positive about the Games. Interestingly, all answers had one thing in common… the phrase ‘at least’. Lyricist Gulzar, who was in the city, groped for words before saying, “At least Delhi is getting to host such a prestigious event.” Farid Ahmad Nizami, a lawyer in Nizamuddin Basti, said, “The dug up roads are an eyesore but at least you will see the difference after the Games, if not before.”

Commonwealth GamesAuthor Anuja Chauhan said, “The Games have given all Delhiites a feeling of oneness. We are united, at least in our outrage against the R 28000 crore scam being pulled here.” Madam Kamini, a eunuch in Shahdara, said, “The Games-wallas are eating money but kam se kam (at least) they are doing some work.” Gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi has a different take: “Lots of escort services and sex workers will be coming to Delhi to cater to the Games’s visitors. At least Delhi will finally know what professionalism is.”

Ram Lalla, an auto driver says, “Kam se kam sadak toh chowri kar rahe hain auto ke liye (at least I can drive my auto on wider roads now).” “Every publishing house is coming out with good, focussed creative works on Delhi,” says Sheema Mookherjee, senior editor, HarperCollins India. “At least, these books will last longer than the the Games.”

Even former union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, the most eloquent voice against the Games, has finally something good to say. “The Commonwealth Games have at least given Delhi an excellent airport (the new T3 terminal),” says Aiyar, “to fly out of once they start.”