The recent fever that grips India seems to be neither IPL T20 nor the general elections. It engages old and young alike. It is shoe-throwing. There were some speculations in the media on whether it will be made an Olympic event.
Shoe-throwing in India has a very recent history.
Shoe-throwing in India has a very recent history.
But competitive boot throwing has it's origin in New Zealand, where famers throw gum-boots. The one who throws it the longest wins. In America a similar sports called “shoefiti” is the one which involves throwing a pair of shoes with their lace tied together on to electric lines. It is a less competitive sports and serves the symbolic purpose of showing the availability of cocaine nearby or a gang turf.
The Indian version, no doubt, is a far advanced one, combining the best of the two worlds--the sportiveness of gum-boot throwing and the symbolic function of shoefiti.
The Indian version, or “Indian shoe-throwing”, as it is aptly called will be held mostly during election campaigns. It has its origin in America. It was invented by a Iraqi journalist named Mutander al-Zeidi on December 14, 2008.. Like all manias it crossed it's 'tipping point' within no time. It too had its share of rough time, as it is the case with any iconoclastic art forms or ideas. In February 2009 a shoe was thrown at Chinese premier Wen Jiabo, when he was speaking at the Cambridge University. But the news was censored in the local Chinese media.
The Indian version, or “Indian shoe-throwing”, as it is aptly called will be held mostly during election campaigns. It has its origin in America. It was invented by a Iraqi journalist named Mutander al-Zeidi on December 14, 2008.. Like all manias it crossed it's 'tipping point' within no time. It too had its share of rough time, as it is the case with any iconoclastic art forms or ideas. In February 2009 a shoe was thrown at Chinese premier Wen Jiabo, when he was speaking at the Cambridge University. But the news was censored in the local Chinese media.
SHOE-THROWING HALL OF FAME
The first game in India was held at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi. Jarnal Singh, a reporter of the Hindi daily, Dainik Jagran, is one of the pioneers who brought the game to the masses by throwing his shoe at home minister, P.Chidambaram. He was criticized for being fool-hardy by ultra-orthodox sports haters and for lacking enthusiasm by fans of shoe-throwing. Despite being thrown from close quarters it not only did miss the target but also lacked vigor and purposiveness to hit its target—a negation of the spirit of the game. It is said, it was thrown not to hit. But it served the artistic and symbolic purpose. Times of India aptly highlighted this with a heading:"Shoe lobbed at Chidambaram, misses him but may hit Tytler."
Just three days later on April 10th, a shoe was thrown at Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal.
The game also promises to unite people like no other sports have done before. On April 16th, Pawas Agarwal a former district president of the BJP threw his wooden sandal at Advani, during a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh.
And on April 26th a shoe was thrown at prime minister Manmohan Singh, in Ahmedbad. Hitesh Chauhan, a engineering student turned show-thrower demonstrated his on-field aggressiveness. He shouted "stop telling lies" and threw the shoe (analyst see this as the latest tactic of the sport, in order to intimidate the opponent)
But there is no arguing the fact that the game is in its infancy in India. Many remain divided on what the rules of the game should be .Is throwing itself is winning or should it hit the target? What is the distance the thrower has to maintain from his target while throwing the shoe? Still others argue t about the very nature of the projectile--stinking socks, aimed at the nose of the target, they argue, will be a better option than shoe.
Often, cops play a spoil sport. But thanks to the steps taken by the Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh, show-throwers are pardoned and let-off—a sign that the game is here to stay, at least during elections. At the worst the game will lie dormant in public memory and can be revived during elections.
The first game in India was held at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi. Jarnal Singh, a reporter of the Hindi daily, Dainik Jagran, is one of the pioneers who brought the game to the masses by throwing his shoe at home minister, P.Chidambaram. He was criticized for being fool-hardy by ultra-orthodox sports haters and for lacking enthusiasm by fans of shoe-throwing. Despite being thrown from close quarters it not only did miss the target but also lacked vigor and purposiveness to hit its target—a negation of the spirit of the game. It is said, it was thrown not to hit. But it served the artistic and symbolic purpose. Times of India aptly highlighted this with a heading:"Shoe lobbed at Chidambaram, misses him but may hit Tytler."
Just three days later on April 10th, a shoe was thrown at Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal.
The game also promises to unite people like no other sports have done before. On April 16th, Pawas Agarwal a former district president of the BJP threw his wooden sandal at Advani, during a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh.
And on April 26th a shoe was thrown at prime minister Manmohan Singh, in Ahmedbad. Hitesh Chauhan, a engineering student turned show-thrower demonstrated his on-field aggressiveness. He shouted "stop telling lies" and threw the shoe (analyst see this as the latest tactic of the sport, in order to intimidate the opponent)
But there is no arguing the fact that the game is in its infancy in India. Many remain divided on what the rules of the game should be .Is throwing itself is winning or should it hit the target? What is the distance the thrower has to maintain from his target while throwing the shoe? Still others argue t about the very nature of the projectile--stinking socks, aimed at the nose of the target, they argue, will be a better option than shoe.
Often, cops play a spoil sport. But thanks to the steps taken by the Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh, show-throwers are pardoned and let-off—a sign that the game is here to stay, at least during elections. At the worst the game will lie dormant in public memory and can be revived during elections.
Hmm. very nice blog:-)keep writing such humuorous pieces
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